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!