End of the Year List-Making, I Learned from the Master..

I've never really been one for lists or cataloged events. Every New Year's Eve I feel the liberating awareness of a clean slate presenting itself but also the empty sadness of realizing that one day, I won't remember all those moments I left behind.

My friend Mason is always good with the warm, fuzzy, sentimental things and he showed everyone how heartfelt he could be when he documented ten moments from 2010 in his last blog post. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery..

Let's give this a go.

10. Start Spreading the News.. As junior year came to an end, my father made one of the most pleasantly surprising propositions of my short sixteen years: Hey Erin, how about you and I fly to New York for a week and visit the two colleges you've had your heart set on for the past year? We can stay in Chelsea, eat in Little Italy, spontaneously drive up to Connecticut to see Yale, and make it back in time for you to take your finals. Needless to say, he had me at fly to New York. In the short window of about seven days, I fell deeper in love with New York City, learned more about myself and my future, and grew a lot closer to my Father.

9. Le Promenade.. It has been written that high school juniors and seniors would go to an extravagant dance at the end of the school year entitled: THE PROM. This night is meant to be the BEST NIGHT OF THEIR YOUNG ADULT LIVES. Well that part doesn't exactly live up to the hype, but I had to document the only legitimate dance I've ever been to. Even if half of the fun is dressing up, taking pictures, and marveling at (while trying not to trip in) your shoes, it's worth it all the same. Though I showed up with a slick updo, heels, and a trailing black dress--I soon kicked off my torture devices, let the bobby pins fall out of my hair, and hiked up my dress to do the stanky leg, and be generally obnoxious with my confidante, Andy Marin.


8. We're a special kind of people known as.. Theater kids. They are in each and every aspect of my life and I wouldn't have it any other way. Although I'm not much of a dancer, I got to try my hand at pretend conducting last year in Curtains. Though I enjoyed waving my hands in the air while Gary, the director of music and director of the onstage band, smirked at me in the wings--it was the people in the cast of this show that made it noteworthy. I said good bye to a lot of my good friends last year in the class of 2010. Words cannot describe the palpable emotion present in the choir room the night of the last show. I will never forget the laughs, the runs in the fifty pair of nude hose I had to buy, and the pre-show jam sessions to the Lonely Island (courtesy of Kate Grogan).

7. The College Monster and How it Consumed My Life.. Though this might not be a very fond memory, it certainly characterizes a huge chunk of my senior year. I've always been looking obsessively toward the future: college, a career, moving out of my house. But it hit me like a ton of bricks at the beginning of senior year, the to-do list that was feet long, the things required of me before I could touch said future--a trillion essays, days worth of battery life on my laptop (to fill out the never ending questionnaires), letters of recommendation, resumes, and, perhaps the most difficult to procure, an ungodly amount of patience. My first choice has changed so much that I don't even pretend to have one anymore. But, let me say, all the work started to pay off when I received acceptance letters from four colleges about a week after submitting. The days following my submissions were some of the most relaxing of my life. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. It was unreal how good it felt remembering how to breathe.

6. Around Every Corner, You Find Something New.. The title of this addition comes from the song "Just Do It", the resident theme song of the place I've called my second home since I was six years old, Camp Esperanza. As most probably know, this is a camp for kids that have been diagnosed with, or already cured of some form of cancer. Though I graduated from summer camp at age fifteen, every September Esperanza offers a Teen Retreat to the kids that have graduated. As with all things, there comes a time to move on and that moment hit me head on last September. Every kid must say their good byes to Esperanza when they begin their senior year of high school, only to come back as either a staff member for Camp John Marc or a counselor for Esperanza (both require waiting a few years..). This year was a battle for me when I found out that my last retreat conflicted with the mandatory senior retreat my class was to embark on at Greene Family Camp. Crap, I thought. Both of these places are in the middle of nowhere, maybe hours apart. Both are very important. Why didn't God make me more patient.. But of course my Dad was there to save the day when he offered to pick me up early from my Esperanza retreat (in Meridian, TX) and drive me all the way to my school's retreat (near Waco). Yet another display of love from my Dad, I will be forever grateful for the sacrifice of his time and gas money.

5. Whose Money? Seven. Keys. To. Baldpate. Perhaps the most dramatic and interesting journey I've encountered in this theatrical life (only fitting, mirroring the melodrama of the show itself). This show fostered the growth of countless relationships and the discoveries of new ones. I experienced my largest role yet opposite an actor (and best friend) that I truly admire. Though a few guns didn't go off sometimes, some people accidentally got punched in the face, and I was, at times, out of breath from screaming so loud--this show was the cause of so much joy in my life.

4. The Jersey Shore, Season One.. In case you didn't know, my entire family is from up north. Though my mom's original roots are in Pennsylvania, she eventually moved to the place my father knows and loves--New Jersey. Thanks to television, the ridiculous cast of The Jersey Shore is now the face of my father's home state. Nevertheless, my family has been traveling to the shore every summer since I was born. As my sister and I got older, however, we began to tire of the whole "family bonding" concept..especially when this exercise lasted weeks. We asked for our parents to consider the possibility of bringing outsiders with us to the shore (non-Littles! Oh no!). To our surprise, they obliged. My sister quickly selected a girl friend to bring along while I lingered with my choice. I knew all along who I really wanted to bring, but I wasn't sure how my parents would react if I asked to bring my BOYfriend. After contemplating, my parents announced that my boyfriend of almost three years could come with us to the shore (and there was much rejoicing! Yaaaay!). And it's all history after that. So began the most memorable summer I've ever had (though we might have to top it this year). *Permission to be cheesy and romantic, granted* I will never forget setting up camp on our house's top balcony, looking at the always visible stars while the ocean swelled mere feet in front of us.

3. Art, Love, and Undeniable Magic.. This number is also serving as a placeholder of sorts for the innumerable amount of shows that my band, Rin Tin Tin, played for the benefit of a non-profit organization called Art Love Magic. ALM has been with Rin Tin Tin since we awkwardly "burst" onto the scene sophomore year. It was our second official show. Justin Nygren, one of the founders of ALM, heard us and immediately got on the phone, booking a show for us at Saxby's Coffee. It's been one hell of a ride since that incredible moment. I never feel more accepted, understood, and loved as I do when I'm surrounded by the people of Art Love Magic. Every show we've done: Art and Coffees galore, Underground, GirlShow--they've all shaped us as a band and as people. Indescribable love goes out to Michael Lagoki, David Rodriguez, and Justin Nygren for having unshakable faith in us teenage hooligans.

2. Blues.. January 8th, 2010. Rin Tin Tin played at the House of Blues in Dallas to a crowd of at least five hundred on a stage that's accommodated the likes of Jack White, M.I.A, and even Ke$ha. Although the show wasn't dedicated to us (twas a competition amongst bands, a battle you might say), the four of us took ownership of the stage for our short thirty minutes but nothing could prepare us for the bliss that we experienced when we walked onto that stage. The extraordinary state of bliss followed me the rest of the night as I wandered around and took pictures with fans (it still feels cool to say that). Most importantly, this show led Rin Tin Tin to grow as a band and as a collective unit.

1. You thought I was done copy-catting.. I didn't want to, but I have to list my incredibly personal speech from my class's senior retreat as my most memorable moment of the year. I couldn't think of anything else that so fully encompasses so many aspects of my life. As I said earlier, I had to leave my Cancer-Kid-Retreat to go to my Senior-In-High-School-Retreat only to give a speech about, what? My experience having cancer. I felt honored when I was granted the ability to do what I've wanted to do for a long time, be open and honest with my peers. My speech came last on the first day we spent at Greene Family Camp. It was pretty late and most of my classmates were shifting around, wondering how they would survive the next unending speech. I typed my speech with the full knowledge that I might not be able to get through some parts and that, as in everyone's worst dreams, I might end up staring out into the crowd like they were all in their underwear. To my surprise, neither of these things occurred. Instead of crippling self consciousness, I felt strengthening confidence as I looked out to the faces of my peers and saw concerned faces ready to receive what I had to give. I didn't see any of this, but people told me afterward that what I said made them cry, or that they were close to it. I don't think I've ever felt more support or love in one moment and I still replay it in my mind, my favorite moment of 2010.

Online Outlets for your Christmas List

Hello all! I've been blogging like a maniac lately (sorry for the spammage on Facebook). Maybe this is what happens when people try to make seniors study for finals...

Anyway, I've been spending a lot of my time on a few vintage clothing websites (making wishlists and what not). Although my personal Christmas list is miles long, mostly comprised of hyperlinks to various articles of clothing, I know a lot of people that haven't even started theirs! I want to share three fantastic websites to you, good for gifting, browsing, and procrastination (my personal favorite).

1. Etsy
Clicking on the above link will take you to a massively extensive treasure trove of not only vintage clothing, but wildly valuable vintage artifacts as well. If you click said link, be prepared to stay awhile. The site is arranged so that anyone can sell basically whatever they want. Merely set up a shop of your own, upload pictures of your inventory, attach some prices and watch the customers pile up! This site is a tremendous idea for gifts for anyone in your family. The meager prices appeal to just about anyone even if shopping has already burnt a hole in your wallet (as it has mine).

Some of my many finds on Etsy include:

An extremely rare issue of LIFE magazine from 1969. It features an exclusive interview with Woody Allen, one of the first reviews of Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five, as well as an article on Humphrey Bogart. Unfortunately, this beauty sold before I could get my hands on it.


Original signed "Beatlemania Lives On" photograph by Pocket Downey. Taken at a fan-crazed hotel in Louisville during a music festival. For a price of $7, this would surely make someone's day


The time has come for me to introduce you to my obsession. I found this vintage, 1960's dress about a week ago and have been in love ever since. Even the description pinpoints it as "very Audrey Hepburn"


There also comes a time in every post where I have to talk about shoes.. This is only one pair of the many I found within five minutes of online browsing.


2. Modcloth
I've been using Modcloth for awhile now. Most have probably visited or at least heard of this site before because it's advertised incessantly on Facebook (check your sidebar). This site can be pricey at times, but it's still a great place to look for retro and vintage inspired clothes made by independent designers. I've gotten a couple pairs of shoes (including my prom shoes) from Modcloth. Some of my favorites include:

The "Send Off Kiss" Dress

The "Deservedly Denim" Pants

The "Greenpoint" Heels

3. Nasty Gal
Nasty Gal is my newest discovery and has been eating up my time ever since I found it. This site is a steal because it not only sells vintage clothing, but also name brands at a reduced price. Among these brands are Jeffrey Campbell, MinkPink, Evil Twin, and BB Dakota. MAH FAVES:

Lilly Lattice Dress

Shredded Stripe Sweater

Overprint Drawstring Pants

I'm still racking these sites up! If you have a few that you'd like to share, comment on my page! It's greatly appreciated

On Sassy, Young, British Authors and Their Ironic Teeth Color Preferences

Make way, World, Zadie Smith is here and intends to blow your mind.



I picked this book up a few weeks ago when I noticed a trend amongst some of the more lit-savvy people I know. Everyone (yes, Ursuline seniors, everyone) has read this book, White Teeth. I had heard certain people speak volumes about this novel but never really got on board because I didn't recognize the author. After finishing Revolutionary Road, I bought this on a whim and, let me just say, once you get past the first page there is no going back.


Set in the suburbs of metropolitan London, White Teeth follows three families over a number of months. First presented separately, the book's plot escalates as all three groups overlap to form a hysterical, coming-of-age story about knowing your roots. The novel quickly grabs readers with one page-turner of an opening scene: a man seriously contemplating suicide. This man is Mr. Archibald Jones, the patriarch of one of the central families. The first third of the book takes you on a journey through the lives of the Jones's: Archie-- everybody's favorite straight man, rolling life right off his shoulder with a smile on his face, Clara-- a Jamaican goddess and ex-Jehovah's Witness that's spent her entire life running from an extremely fundamentalist mother that, during Clara's childhood, forced her to pass out leaflets and attend protests among other riotous foolery, and Irie-- a half Jamaican, half English pistol that carries the world on her shoulders as she attempts to make her way through her adolescent years.

Next we meet the Iqbals: Samad, the patriarch, is a painstakingly reverent Muslim and fought in World War II alongside his best friend of more than thirty years, Archibald Jones. Alsana: the jaded wife of a ranting, raving, religious mad man. She longs for a husband with more room in his heart and more patience in his soul. Her frigid demeanor makes for a tense marriage. Magid-- the first born twin of Samad and Alsana, a prodigy (to put it lightly). Magid lives only a few years in England with his family. Samad decides (without Alsana's knowledge or consent) that Magid's knowledge and potential would be more greatly harnessed back in India (where Samad would rather live anyway). Millat-- only two minutes behind Magid in his birth, but a lifetime behind in maturity, intelligence, and emotional capacity. Millat is the resident bad-boy of the story. Smoking marijuana at age eleven, having sex with the girls he plays tag with during recess, and joining a radical, dangerous, fundamentalist group of Muslims at age sixteen. Millat is a lost soul in pursuit of happiness but this only wins him cheap thrills. Irie Jones grew up with Millat and Magid Iqbal. She has been in love with Millat since childhood.

And finally we have perhaps the most indescribable familial eccentricity I've seen yet, the Chalfens: Marcus-- an esteemed, scientific scholar, father, and husband. Marcus has published countless compendiums of research concerning genetic engineering (his specialty). He takes noticeable pride in his intellect and leads his family in the practice of using their last name as an adjective, verb, or regular noun (Ex: Well son, what's the Chalfen thing to do? You sure Chalfened that last Biology test! I'm not sure if I like this new girl. She doesn't strike me as a Chalfen). Joyce-- a scientific scholar in her own right, Joyce excels in the study of plants (more specifically, gardening). A household name, Joyce has published many books in which she utilizes her tactic of relating gardening to relationships (check the self-help section, if you know what I mean). She is the epitome of the Overbearing Mother. Hysterically inappropriate and oblivious, Joyce's words made me laugh out loud in my room, by myself. True story. Joshua-- the lone Chalfen child. An extremely gifted kid, unsurprisingly interested in scientific fields. At the onset of the story, Joshua is the dutiful and loyal son, determined to follow in his father's footsteps. Later on, however, he rebels full throttle and is an integral part of his father's downfall (FORESHADOWING!).



OKAY DEEP BREATHS. That was a lot. If you were kind enough to read all of that, good for you! Brownie points have been awarded to you.

A word on the author...

Zadie Smith was born Sadie Smith in London in 1975. She was born to a Jamaican mother and English father (coincidence? I think not!). In her childhood, Smith enjoyed tap dancing and musical theater. For a few years she earned money as a jazz singer as well. She joined New York University's staff this September as a Creative Writing professor (LET ME INTO YOUR SCHOOL SO YOU CAN TEACH ME!!!!!!)


For those who enjoy...
Incredibly extensive character studies; Mysteries of Pittsburgh, anyone?

Because this is just nifty

Hello all. I just stumbled on a pretty interesting list of classic novels coupled with their almost-titles.


1. F. Scott Fitzgerald had dozens of ideas for the title of his now legendary novel, The Great Gatsby. Some that were in the running: Trimalchio in West Egg Among Ash-Heaps and Millionaires, On the Road to West Egg, The Gold-Hatted Gatsby, and The High-Bouncing Lover.


2. As my fellow AP English IV kids know, George Orwell's futuristic 1984 was, at one time, titled The Last Man in Europe.


3. One of the titles that Bram Stoker considered before arriving at Dracula was The Dead Un-Dead.


4. There's quite an amusing story behind the title of this acclaimed piece of fiction. At first, Heller wanted to call the novel Catch-11 but because the movie Ocean's Eleven was set to hit theaters around the time of the book's release, Heller's publishers nixed the name to avoid confusion. Later, Heller proposed Catch-18 but the recent publication of Leon Uris' Mila 18 kept him from the title (again, to avoid confusion). Heller finally arrived at the number 22 by simply doubling 11.


5. My last nifty installment concerns Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand's magnum opus. Rand referred to the novel as The Strike for awhile until she decided that the title gave away too much plot detail. Her husband then suggested Atlas Shrugged.



BIG PROPS to Stumbleupon for providing me with loads of incredibly interesting, procrastination-inducing information!

On Emma Watson's Untouchable Perfection

This post goes out to the short-hair-haters and the people that dare to scoff at Emma Watson's new pixie cut. I am not pleased.

Though I understand the stereotype that accompanies a hair cut like this one, I think the change is fashion forward, chic, and smart--just like Emma herself.



Now a sophomore at Brown University, Emma has come a long way since she starred in the first Harry Potter movie. Let's all remember what that looked like



Of course. Even with no make-up on and her hair teased Emma still looks adorable. But nonetheless, Emma is a grown woman now. Let's remember, also, how incredibly unique and stylish this girl is. She has her own British clothing line, People Tree, served as a model for countless Burberry campaigns, and never fails to look amazing walking down the streets of London, New York, or wherever she happens to be.



Minutes after cutting her hair, Emma wrote: "Dear all, Cut my hair off a few days ago… Feels incredible. I love it. I’ve wanted to do this for years and years; it’s the most liberating thing ever. Hope you like. Big love from Emma"

So to make a long story short, this girl knows what she's doing. She's adorable and perfect and haters will always hate. But you will always be wrong.

I gots the Oxford connections..

I'm just stopping by to share a new online shoe outlet I found today. As most of my close friends know, I am unhealthily obsessed with Oxfords. I have three pairs right now and I'm still collecting for my college days when I will definitely have no money.

The site is called Osborn Handcrafted and they specialize in pimping Oxfords and booties with hand embroidered designs.

Basically this is my new homepage. Hello Christmas list.

Here are some of my favorites! It was really hard to choose..





This shoe addiction is going to be a problem..

Frank and April Wheeler and How They Changed My Life

I was ecstatic a few weeks ago when, in a sudden rush of joy, I realized that I had
1. Applied to college
2. Paid to apply to college
3. Finished my Physics homework
4. Asked to borrow a certain novel from a certain friend entitled: Revolutionary Road

Though I hate myself for it, I had to take a rather lengthy break from regular reading. Applying to ten colleges took me several weeks and eventually sent me into a downward spiral of self deprecation and exhaustion but..ENOUGH ABOUT ME! I am here to write about the book that pulled me out of my rut and simultaneously pulled itself to the top of my Literature Favorites list:

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates


April and Frank Wheeler live in a perfect suburb in the perfect state of New York. They are the parents of perfect children, the owners of perfect clothes, and the patrons of their perfect, 1950's inspired stereotypes. But April and Frank's marriage is far from the self deluded, cookie cutter of a perfect existence that they seem so fulfilled by. April thinks Frank never "found himself" when he was younger. Frank thinks April lacks the foundational discipline that a parent is supposed to instill in a young child. April thinks getting pregnant at a very young age kept her from being a famous actress. Frank thinks April cannot see anything outside of her own, overinflated head.

A truly honest story analyzing the emptiness of the American Dream, Revolutionary Road is startlingly realistic as millions of married Americans speak through the increasingly vulnerable characters. I am dangerously fond of this genre of strong literary humanism so, as of right now, I deem this novel my favorite.

A word on the author

Richard Yates was born in Yonkers, New York in 1926 and died in 1992. Revolutionary Road was Yates' first novel and a finalist for the National Book Award. He has been endorsed by authors like Kurt Vonnegut and Tennessee Williams. His parents divorced when he was only three and he spent most of his life as a nomad, moving to different residences. Yates taught a writing course at Columbia before his big break in 1961 when he published Revolutionary Road.

For those who enjoyed..
The Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman




What do yoooouuuuuu think I should put on my list? Tell me! (Comment on my page, guyz)

P-P-P-Poetry

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay. So I am bereft of current event, fashion, or even literary inspiration tonight. But I realized that I haven't shared poetry in awhile.

Here are two poems I wrote a couple of weeks ago.


--En Medias Res--

En medias res, at medium’s best

I talk too fast, I hit too hard

I see the ground, I hit it running

Before considering walking

En medias res, my medium’s test

I try to see what’s below me, not before me

I take the world and mold it, never thinking to behold it

To take it for what it is

En medias res, the truths I professed

Never did seem to have meaning

For I ignored so much, appreciated so little

Paid no attention to the world I was careening



--Walls--

We cling so desperately to the writings on walls

To the trough of a wave, never its peak

Clouds crystallize, becoming one with the weather

Even letters come together to make all the words sound better

While we stand, transfixed, in front of the wall

As nature forms a circle, showing us its power and unity

We won’t lift our eyes from the wall, lift our eyes toward each other

And as objects find the time to sync, the people don’t take time to blink

Enchanted, as always, by the walls

Paramount, pivotal, provocative, but oh so petty are the things we’ve written on these walls

For as every person lives and as every person fights, there exists a space to occupy it all

The walls tell our story, of our pride and reluctant downfalls

The narratives number by the thousands

But you can only see your own handwriting

Drop a comment if you like. Let me know what you think!

Hairstyles are Dresses Now?

So I'll keep things short this week because it's HOMECOMING WEEK ZOMG!

But I saw some truly disturbing pictures of celebrities sporting "Mullet Dresses"
Before I even looked at these pictures I had to ask myself who came up with that fabulous name!? At that point, I didn't even care what the dresses looked like--mullets went out for a reason.

To prove my point, I'll just showcase some special failures involving mullet dresses.

First, we have Victoria Beckham (POSH Spice! Come on!) in a mullet dress that looks almost like lingerie.. On the red carpet at a MET Gala, too!



That's just disappointing.

As we move on to the biggest failure I saw, I challenge everyone to simply google "mullet dress". This picture will come up INSTANTLY because of how horrible it is.

This is Elizabeth Banks. B-list actress. Definitely Maybe, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, and other Oscar-worthy films. At a film festival in Cannes.



So now that we've seen these fashion failures, let's remind ourselves that there are some celebrities out there that can pull off ANYTHING. Let's redeem the mullet dress. Carey Mulligan and Anne Hathaway know what they're doing.

Carey Mulligan being beautiful and flawless as always. Wearing Prada.



And, to conclude my quick little fashion post, I will unveil one of the most gorgeous pictures I've ever seen of Anne Hathaway. WHY CAN'T I BE HER? At the premiere of Rachel Getting Married (which I love).



Have you seen any fashion fails lately? Let me know about them. They make me laugh.

Things Finally Get Political...

As we near what could possibly be the most stressful and exhausting week of my life, I've decided to share an essay I wrote in response to a question on the George Washington University Supplement. Of course a college in D.C. asks me to "Write about a political belief you stand by. Defend it and elaborate on it". ....If you say so!

Normally, I steer clear of politics in my writing because, let's be honest, no other topic gets under peoples' skin as quickly as political opinion. I'll say right now that if you disagree with my opinion, or anything in my essay, you are more than forgiven for closing the window and moving on with your life. But please, for both of our sakes, don't vomit your caps-lock, exclamation-point-ridden opinion on my page.

I chose to write about one of the more humanitarian political issues--No, not health care, the war, or where we should build mosques. I believe in the respect and dignity that all humans deserve. I believe in gay rights.

I now pronounce you man and wife. I used to take joy in this statement, weep for a family member that had found their soul mate and could publicly profess their love. This was before I knew about the heinous movement to deny rights to gay and lesbian individuals, ignoring their love just because they were different. I am disgusted by the fact that discrimination of this caliber still exists in our society. We live in America, home of the brave and the homophobic.

One of my favorite movies of all time is a documentary by Reed Cowan entitled 8: The Mormon Proposition. I had always supported gay marriage, but seeing this powerful and disturbing documentary only strengthened my feelings on the issue. Delving deeply into the motives of anti-gay activists, the documentary explores the clash of California’s gay and lesbian community and the Mormon agenda, namely to ban same-sex marriage for good. The beginning of the film showcases thousands of overjoyed gay and lesbian people as they line up outside city hall to receive a marriage license. Only moments after the decision was broadcast to California residents, the Mormon “prophets” started devising a plan to overturn the decision. From that day forward, the Mormon Church donated hundreds of millions of dollars to the campaign for Proposition 8 and forever became infamous for their overwhelming disapproval of gay marriage. A considerable chunk of that cash came from cornered members of the church, forced by their superiors to either get their checkbooks out, or leave the church forever. How do people so hateful and discriminatory still exist?

The Mormon Church is not the only assembly responsible for the plight of the gay community. Everyday people judge the same sex couples walking down the street holding hands, and especially the same-sex couples that fight for the right to express their love publicly in the act of marriage, how dare they? The opposition profusely claims the marriage is a sacred institution and that same sex marriage skews God’s vision of the family. In my opinion, divorce skews the vision of all families, yet fifty percent of the population thinks that’s perfectly fine. And if same sex marriage is such a divine gift, why are groups like the Unitarians and Presbyterians coming out of the woodwork and accepting gay marriage? It seems to me that only certain groups of people in certain divine institutions have decided that same sex marriage is out of the question, but where does that leave those of us that want to see change?

I was overjoyed when I saw this headline in the paper: Proposition 8 Overturned: Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional. I was immensely proud of California’s government for coming back to justice with this decision. Finally, a judge saw the despicable flaws in this proposition and deemed it unconstitutional. How far have we really come from slavery, discriminating against Mexican Americans, and denying voting rights for women? I would like to believe in a country that can stop this vastly degrading discrimination before it reaches the White House.

In what world is this acceptable? In whose mind is this blatant hatred and disrespect just? Are we much better, the silent bystanders? An entire demographic of people live their lives in a society fueled by discrimination, disrespect, and a complete absence of morality.


I, for one, will not tolerate it.












If you want to learn more about Reed Cowan's documentary, 8: The Mormon Proposition, go to:

http://www.mormonproposition.com/

America-Conscious and American Apparel

This past week I decided to mix up my reading pattern with a nonfiction selection. Okay well, it's more of a political commentary.

RADICAL CONSERVATIVES--CLOSE OUT OF THIS PAGE NOW!
For this book was written by none other than esteemed film maker, Michael Moore.



With chapter titles like "Kill Whitey" and "Idiot Nation", Moore's tone is blatantly obvious from the start. The book opens with a small foreword by Moore in which he explains the year long battle he had to fight with his publishers to get this book on shelves. Ironically enough, the battle began on September 11th. Moore wrote Stupid White Men in the sheer DAYS leading up to the memorable attack. His book was scheduled to be on the shelves by the 11th. Needless to say, Moore's publishers weren't too keen on the idea of releasing a harsh political commentary of America right after such a horrible tragedy.

They told Moore to rewrite the book. He refused.

Because he stuck to his guns, we have one of the most successful nonfiction books in the past two decades. Days after 9/11, people were barging into bookstores hungry for some tough love. They got what they ordered.

The first chapter, A Very American Coup, is a play-by-play of the Bush vs. Gore election--and how America was cheated. From Florida's mistaken ineligibility list, to Florida's governor, one of the lead conspirators, relative Jeb Bush--Moore has the facts, and he spits them like venom to wake everyone up.

Beyond the startling first chapter, Moore never ceases to shock but also comfort as his sarcastic sense of humor fills the pages. With full chapters devoted to the sorry racism of white men, and the possible end of the male race, Stupid White Men is entertaining from beginning to end.

*Deep breath* Now on to...



Anyone that's been shopping with me knows that I'm obsessed. I counted in my head today and I think it comes out to about 25 American Apparel pieces in my wardrobe. That means that just about every outfit I put together has something from American Apparel thrown in.

But more specifically I wanted to write about a trend I finally picked up on this afternoon, harem pants. Looking at them, one usually wonders "Are they supposed to look like that?". So floppy, so saggy, so awesome. With the help of a girl working in the store, I tried on some comfortable, 90's reminiscent, black and white harem pants today.



Just a visual aid for those that haven't seen these before. Mine are exactly like this, except black and white.

They're extremely comfortable, extremely trendy, and I hope to see more this fall/winter.

Thanks for reading!

Come Around Sundown, KOL Chills Out

So Kings of Leon, band of brotherly love, was so kind to release an album the day before my birthday! Thank you guys, this means a lot. Best birthday present ever.

Anywho, Come Around Sundown is hot off the..uh, CD-making-machines? Eh, well I don't think it's on Piratebay yet. That being said, I haven't read very many critiques. The band admitted to "calming down a bit" and producing a more "chilled out" album..which scares me a little. My Bible, the Rollingstone, mentioned the upcoming album in one of the July issues (Lady Gaga machine gun boobs cover). At this point, Kings of Leon had played a couple of shows debuting four new songs from the album. I admit that I'm not a bow-down-at-Caleb's-feet kind of person; I was newly converted when my boyfriend made me listen to Because of the Times and Aha Shake Heartbreak.
Since I don't pretend to have enough credibility to review the whole album, I'll take the four songs that the Bible interviewed KOL about.



1. "Radioactive"
Radioactive is intriguing, no doubt. The bright guitar tapping intro contrasts almost immediately with Caleb's earnest tone and the pounding bass line. Over all Caleb sounds anxious, looks sweaty and impassioned--that's just how we like him. Though a bit repetitive, the song has a gimmick. Caleb's voice takes it's wonderful liberties in the chorus, moments that weren't really captured on Only By the Night.


Oh hey, Caleb

2. "The Immortals"
There isn't a lot of video for this one yet. However, I think this selection is a testament to the band's pledge to "calm down". It's immediately pleasing with harmonies in the chorus and a very soothing tempo. Once again the boys work the contrast with a strong, popping bass line in the verses. This is definitely the most "chill" of the four.

3. "Going Down South"
Okay. Everybody makes mistakes, right? Even gutsy southern rock bands that let producers dial them down for a whole album..right? I won't lie, when the video for this song started playing, I had to seriously contemplate dying. Yes that was an exaggeration BUT this song sounds more like Kenny Chesney than the Kings of Leon. Did they sign some sort of contract that I didn't know about? Or maybe all the Leon boys have a soft spot for mainstream "country" music. Suffice it to say I am NOT impressed. The song has little energy and shamelessly trudges along. I bet Kenny was in the front screaming "Good job boys! This is mah jam!"



4. "Mary"
I saved this one for last because it's my personal favorite. The second the music starts I thought "This was a really good idea". Caleb plays lover boy standing outside Mary's house with his guitar and roses or something like that. The surf rock feel lulls the audience and you can't help but sway as you listen (even as I sit alone in my room, I'm swaying). Above all, the song is heartfelt. This is what we WANT from the Kings of Leon. I WANT to hear Caleb's voice crack. I WANT to feel his pain and longing. "Mary" is definitely a winner with me. Please go to Youtube and watch the video. It's so worth it!

Comment if you agree, disagree, or you just want to feed my ego. It all sounds good to me.

Doublethink, Telescreens, and Flies

As I say goodbye to summer with the rest of my BL comrades, I'm putting my time to good use..writing reviews of our summer reading. I DO HAVE FRIENDS, I PROMISE.

I was particularly inspired to put my opinions out there this year because, as seniors, my class read two phenomenal books, very different yet classic in their own ways.


Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Well here is your Survivor and Man vs. Wild gone horribly, horribly wrong. When their plane crashes on a deserted island, roundabout sixteen school boys are left with no adults, no food, and very little hope. At the outset, a seemingly normal boy named Ralph becomes the leader of the "clan". However, a pushy and controlling boy named Jack also wants power, and he's not ready to share. The story is essentially a power struggle between the good and moral (Ralph) and the cruel and self centered (Jack).
JUST TO CLARIFY
Yes, people get killed. No, they don't actually eat each other.

The story is revolutionary and the writing is fantastic, courtesy of Nobel Prize winning William Golding. However, the downside to this selection is the slow pace. The buildup seems to last forever. However, the last ten or fifteen pages make the slow climb worth it.

Favorite Character-Piggy
Favorite Scene-Ralph hiding from Jack's tribe
Favorite Line-"Sucks to your assmar!"


1984-George Orwell

Silence. I was stunned absolutely silent when I started this book. After merely reading the first line it's blatantly apparent that this book is a masterpiece. The sheer creativity and mind power required to not only create a haunting, completely different world, but to create characters as rebellious and dynamic as Winston and Julia. I've heard a variety of things from my peers, but this was an incredibly fast read for me. Of course buildup is required if Golding wanted readers to understand his new world.

In a world where people can be incarcerated because of their thoughts (Thoughtcrime), where everything is ruled by a small, bigoted group of nobodies (The Inner Party), where every normal person is required to install a camera in their own home (telescreen) so that the Party can watch their every move, who wouldn't want to kill themselves? This is precisely the view of protagonist Winston Smith. Although he works for the Party erasing all discrepancies from the publications, making the Party always right and the people always wrong, he dreams of a normal life. According to the novel, this totalitarian way of life began in the mid to late sixties. Though they are faint, Winston has memories of the past and he wants it back.

The chilling story of what Orwell calls "negative utopia" has been scaring readers since he published it in 1945. Winston's fearless rigor propels him into the life of an anarchist. Of course, he isn't safe for long. No one can be trusted in 1984..

Favorite Character-Winston
Favorite Scene-Winston and Julia being arrested by the Thought Police
Favorite Line-"The clocks were striking 13.."

Hopefully I didn't bore you too much! To the BL kids, I'll see you at school tomorrow *gag*. And to the rest of you who are going back on a reasonable day, suck it. Especially you Ursuline.

Welcome to the Monster Ball. Now Dance Mother Fuckers!

Lady Gaga's Monster Ball Tour hits Dallas.



Months ago, my Mother approached me proposing a "girl's night out" of some sort. Whoop. But the cards were in my favor because this girl's night would lead me to one of the most spectacular concerts I have ever seen.

I confess to being less devoted to Gaga than a lot of people I know, but I was excited nonetheless. As I walked into the American Airlines center to take my seat on what felt like a different planet than the glorious Earth Lady Gaga was dancing on, I felt nervous anticipation.

The lights dimmed and as the crowd cheered, a transparent curtain surrounded the stage. Fans could see Gaga's silhouette as she sharply posed, changing her poses to the beat of the music. Dancing in the Dark boomed through the arena as the opening song.



The Monster Ball tour is a brilliant concept album, as is every show in the world tour. Gaga explains that the Monster Ball is a terrific party thrown for all the misfits and freaks to free themselves without worry. At one point in the mere beginning of the show, Gaga stares into the crowd and with conviction says:

"Let's go to the Monster Ball where you are free to be yourself with all the freaks. And let me tell you, I like freaks!"



So Gaga leads her fans on a whirlwind of a trip to find this great Monster Ball. With themes similar to those of the Wizard of Oz, Gaga takes her role as Dorothy as she and her pals follow the "Glitter Way" to find the Monster Ball.

Now it goes without saying that Gaga's outfits were just as magnificently perplexing as they always are. But perhaps a new favorite from the House of Gaga is her gorgeous new piece, reminiscent of Glinda the Good Witch from the Wizard of Oz.



Though the theatrics, costumes, and dancing were breath taking (as usual), the real money of this show was in the multiple speeches Gaga gave to her loving audience. A strong advocate for gay rights, Lady Gaga constantly spoke of a charity she supports for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, and transgendered people. Inspirational quotes were ringing through the arena as Gaga said things like:

"Forget anyone that told you you couldn't do it because you weren't pretty enough, thin enough, or had a trashy mouth. You're a star and you were born that way!"



Known for her devotion to her fans, Gaga gushed many times about her love for her supporters:

"You mean more to me than any fame or any record I sell. I haven't always been brave but you have made me brave! Let go of all your insecurities. You've been brave for me and now I'm going to be brave for you!"

As I wrap up the Gaga madness, I'd like to share my three favorite memories of this show.

3. Gaga rocks a nun's habit for Love Games


I couldn't help but laugh as Lady Gaga pounces out of a subway car wearing a nun's get up. But the true hilarity didn't come until the catchy "Let's have some fun this beat is sick.." started to repeat itself at which point Gaga yells: "Now get your dicks out, boys!" Classic.

2. Speechless, written about Gaga's father.


As Gaga situates herself at the piano for what all fans know will be the viral slow-jam hit "Speechless", she muses about her home life.

"You know what I've realized lately? I know too many drunk assholes. All the men in my life drink too much. But I guess my favorite drunk asshole is my father."

The quote came way out of left field for most Gaga fans expecting a delightful story of some douche ex-boyfriend. But Gaga leans into her piano and begins to play Speechless saying: "This is a song I wrote about my father."


1. Lady Gaga, humanized


At one point in the show, Gaga is lying in a heap of smoke. Her back up dancers all watch as she wiggles around in theatrical agony (she's been fake bleeding for the duration of one song by this point).

As she stares to the sky, she offers her fans some truly inspiring words:

"Jesus, some people think you only love one kind of person. One race, one ethnicity, or one sexual orientation. But as I lie here, bleeding, in front of 20,000 people--I am sure that Jesus loves EVERYBODY!"

The crowd goes absolutely mad as Gaga jumps to her feet to claim her well deserved applause.



I knew I'd leave this show astounded, but I never thought good ole' Lady Gaga would touch me. She made me laugh too when, in a lull of near silence from the crowd she screamed: "It's hot as horse fuck here!"


Good night, all.

Ra, ra, ah-ah-ah..ro-ma, ro-ma-ma..Ga-ga, ooh-la-la
You know the rest.