The Windswept Yellow Stickies of My Mind

People who are highly attractive:

2012-01-17T14:12:00.000-08:00

Aren't family pictures a joy? Actually, this time around, it was fairly uneventful. The tears only came AFTER the pictures had been taken, which might just be a first for the Avondets.

My Giant Soap Box

2011-11-07T10:09:00.000-08:00

I have a soap box. It’s big. And I like to get up on it and announce to the world what I think and that I’m right. I have never been afraid to express my opinions openly, as I’m sure most people know. In fact, I’m kind of crazy in how set in my ways I am. And I’m not afraid to admit it. I have been trying to be more open as I’ve gone through college and medical school. I always try to be respectful of people’s opinions, no matter how ridiculous or strange I think they are. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Who am I to say what someone else should think?

As a liberal in a family of conservatives, I have had to learn to defend my political leanings. As a Mormon, I’ve had to defend my faith countless times. I don’t care if someone ridicules me for my faith or my liberal ways because it’s not something I can change in someone else. If someone wants to have a civil conversation with me about my political or religious beliefs, I’m happy to do so. Even if, at the end, we have to agree to disagree. However, there is one place I draw the line. (It’s soap box time!)

As a woman entering the medical field to become a doctor, I shouldn’t have to defend anything I do. My life choices are just that: MINE. My passion for medicine and helping people -- a.k.a. my career choice -- should not be subject to derision by those who think they know better than I do.

So, pardon me for choosing something that will make me happy. Pardon me for attending a university that I like and that I respect for their dedication to students and patients. And heaven forbid that one day I marry, have children, AND plan to work too! I won’t apologize for being who I am. The last thing I want to be is untrue to 1.) myself & 2.) to what I want to become. There are days when I wish I could be content to do something else. Maybe I could be happy somewhere else. Maybe I’d be able to go to my friends’ weddings instead of having to study all weekend. Maybe I’d be able to see my family and friends regularly. And you know what, I would probably be just fine.

Here’s the catch. If I were anywhere but where I am right now, I can confidently say that I wouldn’t feel as fulfilled as I do right now. I’m living my DREAM! You know, the one I’ve had for years. I want to yell at certain people and say, “How dare you try to take this away from me?” And when my friends and family support me so much, I can’t stand it when people try to convince me that what I'm doing is "so wrong for me."

I truly admire people who can do the things I can’t, both in their career choices and their family lives. But right now, I’ve chosen to advance my career because I’m not going to sit around and wait for something or someone to happen to me. I’m going to move forward and become someone worth loving or worth even being with. And if that liberal hipster Mormon boy ever comes along to sweep me off my feet, then maybe I’ll be ready and I’ll be the person I should be. But, again, I’m not going to just sit around and wait for him to get here before I become who I want to be. He can join me for the ride if he really wants me.

So that’s my soap box. I’m off now. And I’m going to go study and pass my classes. So I can be this jerk’s doctor one day. And save his life. Perhaps then he’ll realize what he said was foolish and conceited. And that I meant it when I said, “I’m going to be a doctor. And I’ll be a good one.”

Apologize? For being me? Clearly, you don’t know who I am. So stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

Sanity is Needed Every Now and Then

2011-10-10T06:01:00.000-07:00

Yes. I am in medical school. It's crazy, busy, hard, rewarding, fun, exciting, and all of those other adjectives. So rather than bore you with medical school stuff, I will post about the stuff I LURVE that keeps me sane. When you're testing every week, practically living on campus, and studying all the time, you need a bit of an outlet.

Because I am ME and I like to have a lot of alone time (I'm kind of a hermit and love my room more than any other place on earth), I discovered some things that allow me to de-stress. And without further ado (and there was a lot of ado-ing), here are my happy things.

1. Looking at puppies I want to adopt from the Nebraska Humane Society. I am currently obsessed a black lab named Emma. She's perfect. And there are some puppies I just need to go snuggle all day too

http://www.nehumanesociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=PH_Dogs

2. Tumblr. Oh man. People on Tumblr are cool. It is full of nerdy happiness which makes me chuckle and even pulls at my little heartstrings sometimes. In fact, I'm going to recommend my favorite Tumble-blog right now. Try it. You won't regret it:

http://surisburnbook.tumblr.com/

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST (prepare for my fan-girling. You know what that means: lots of squealing and swooning)

3. Downton Abbey. BE. STILL. MY. BEATING. HEART. I love this show. British television is PERFECTION. If you haven't heard of it, I encourage you to watch it right this one one. If you are skeptical, I'll give you a rundown. Downton Abbey is about a titled family in England. Lord Grantham and his wife have three daughters and have no direct heir to the title. It starts on the day the Titanic sinks (spanning several years, the second season takes place during WWI) and the current heir, a distant cousin, is on board. He dies and the house is thrown into an uproar (AN UPROAR, I say!) because some new guy is going to come in and take the title. His name is Matthew Crawley. And I love him.

Matthew will inherit everything leaving the family with nothing when the Earl of Grantham dies. Thus, the Lady Grantham and Dowager (played my Maggie Smith, aka McGonagall the Bad-A) try to set up a marriage between Matthew and the oldest daughter, Mary. Drama ensues.

And that's the basic rundown. It's about politics, intrigue, scandal, the life of servants in the household of an Earl, propriety, and all of those good things. But, because I'm ME, my favorite part of the show is the LOVE. Seriously, the tension between Mary and Matthew makes my heart go a-pitter-patter.

I JUST NEED THEM TO LOVE EACH OTHER. I have never wanted to smash two people's faces together so badly in my life. JUST GET IT TOGETHER, KIDS. And if they don't, I will cry into my white lace gloves just like Mary does in every other episode.

And that, my friends is my life outside of medical school. Exciting, isn't it!?

Woof. I need a boyfriend.

Tune-age

2011-10-08T15:17:00.000-07:00

I have some music for the blog. The only problem is that Playlist is failing me. So I'm turning to Youtube for my playlist. It takes more effort on your part if you choose to listen. Sorry...

Bon Iver- Beth/Rest: 80's power ballad. Two versions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlO1DgvLSqA (piano version that doesn't sound like an 80's power ballad. But it does make me love Justin Vernon more than ever before)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UtQe0JOCnM (album version)

Bon Iver- Perth: YES. Just do it. This was the best concert ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo6lKQYVUBU

Coldplay- Paradise

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6ZWlDks0nQ

Jonsi- Grow Til Tall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQuz8jmUYDU

Fleet Foxes- Bedouin Dress

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87TB7GlJ3ZA

The Fray- Be The One

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJOHNS6ftG4

Chief- In the Valley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2T1ozSC8-8

Ra Ra Riot- The Orchard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qvk2QabUL0

Fanfarlo- I'm a Pilot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt4tj8TtXTc

Aushua- Hiding Place

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg8bt1o5FZo ENJOY!

A Love Letter That Stings: Erin's Relationship With the Cougars

2011-10-08T11:33:00.000-07:00

Cougar Football,

Missing you. I don't like the long distance relationship we have right now. It doesn't sit well with me. But because my love for you is so deep and long lasting, I'm willing to stick it out. We work well together when we both work hard and make this relationship happen. And I feel like I've put a lot of work into this relationship. And you have, too. I know it's been hard this year especially with me out of the picture. You have struggled mightily at times to make me happy and even made some major slip-ups. But I think we can work through this. Let's keep on trekking and I know we can make it. So Cougar Football, I hope that when we have our weekly conversation tonight that it isn't one-sided for me. Because heaven knows I've had enough of those already this season. And I am sorry for my unkind and sometimes even harsh words, but they felt necessary at the time (even now...I still can't talk about that time you...had a run-in with that trashy Utah team and let them take advantage of you). So I'm going to work hard here in Omaha as long as you promise to work hard in Provo. It will pay off one day. And on that day, I will come to visit you in Pasadena, New Orleans, Glendale, or Miami-- really, wherever you may end up when you make it big. I'll be there. Don't you ever doubt it.

Much love,
Erin, The Ever Faithful Fan

It's been a while. Sorry, I've been crazy busy. And cheating on blogspot with tumblr. It you want to check out my tumblr, feel free. It's mostly just me posting pictures and things I think are funny every few days. Basically stuff I like from movies and television...yep, I'm soooper cool!

http://ernbrella.tumblr.com

Nebraska: The Good Life (At least that's what the sign says)

2011-08-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

I used to live here:

And here (I kind of really miss this here right now. Boo on BYU for not having a medical school):

But now I live HERE:

And I like Omaha quite a bit. Still struggling with the four general cardinal directions. No mountains and it's noon? I'm totally lost. I don't even know which way is up. I have begun medical school though, and it's still so surreal to me. My white coat is hanging on my desk chair, I have scrubs for Anatomy Lab, I picked up my various packets (more like a tome for Anatomy), and every room I walk into has the words "School of Medicine" on the door. I feel like a total poser, but I'm excited to get started. It's going to be a long road.

Harry's my bestie. Ain't nothing you guys can do about it.

2011-07-13T20:52:00.000-07:00

We return again to my most favorite of blog topics. Harry Potter. The final film will be released in just over 26 hours as I begin this blog. I've been with Harry since the beginning, and now I will be with him through to the end.

But, as JK Rowling said at the UK premiere, "Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home." And I will force my children to read Harry so that the Harry Potter legacy will always live on. I do take comfort in the fact that I won't have to force them after the first book, because they will be MY children and they will want to read more than anything.

I dedicate this blog to all the Harry fans out there. And to all the people who can appreciate the goodness of tumblr pictures that are both hilarious and sentimental. I pulled these pictures from multiple tumblr accounts and thus cannot credit them accurately. However, none (except the last one) of them were made/taken by me. Thus, I do not plagiarize. Or at least I try not to.

In other words, IT'S A PICTURE BLOG!

Why yes, Ronald Weasley. I DO love you.

Anatomy Notes by an Anatomy Nerd

2011-06-06T08:52:00.000-07:00

As many people know, I am a human anatomy nerd. As in, I took the class in high school, then in college, and then I took dissection and I became a TA so I could teach others about my passion. It's an odd thing to be passionate about and you don't even have to think about it for it to be odd. But I want to dedicate this blog post to WHY I loved my anatomy class and why anatomy essentially changed my entire view of what the human body is and how absolutely magnificent (cheesy word, but true) it is.

I was a little lost soul before I took anatomy. I wasn't sure what in the sam-hill I wanted to do with my life. Did I want to teach history, make movies, or did I want to go to medical school? It was all up in the air and I was so confused. I liked too many things and was indecisive. So, I signed up for what felt like a million different classes to help me decide. I took film, history, and anatomy in the same semester. And though many of the classes I had taken were biology based, anatomy was the first that really allowed me to study the human body in detail. Of course, I found that I wanted to spend all day in lecture, listening to information about how alveoli fill and collapse during breathing or how myosin heads attach to actin filaments during muscle contraction. There were days in lab when I would hold half of a human head in my left hand and a heart in my right, an experience few people ever have.

So here's the part where I gush about how amazing our bodies are. The human body is arguably the most complex thing known to man. We have a limited understanding of how it functions and, if I'm going to be honest, I don't think we will ever understand it. But think about it: though we don't understand a lot of it, what we DO understand is absolutely amazing. The fact that we can breathe, eat and digest, move, speak, and most of all THINK, is absolutely miraculous. Just to breathe, we contract muscles, the pressure changes in our chest cavity, cells use energy, and blood flows to the right places. And that's not even the half of it. On top of that, the molecular mechanisms we use just to breathe are so small and fast, no one even thinks twice about it.

And then I think about the fact that we can do everything at once. We can walk, eat, and even talk at the same time. We breathe and our hearts beat without us even thinking about it. We can even train our bodies to swim, or play soccer, or throw a football 50, 60, 70 yards (distance is one thing, but accuracy...I digress). I guess, to say the least, our bodies are pretty fantastic.

I don't usually post things like this, but this talk by an LDS church leader, Elder Russel M. Nelson, who was once a prominent cardiothoracic surgeon, is amazing. I particularly enjoy the first section entitled The Remarkable Human Body. Elder Nelson is pretty straightforward about the miracle that is the human body and is much more articulate than I am. If you want to, read and enjoy.

http://jesuschrist.lds.org/SonOfGod/eng/faith-in-jesus-christ/articles/faith-in-jesus-christ

"No need to shout!"

2011-05-08T14:29:00.000-07:00

When I watch movies and TV shows by myself, I tend to say or yell things to the characters and the TV show or movie in general. And, for the most part, each show or movie has different phrases that go along with it. So, it’s pretty much what you would guess: a word or phrase I yell at least once an episode for a television show or several times throughout a movie. Let me provide you with some examples.

Chuck- (Chuck makes me swoon-y and giddy. Thus the things I yell are directed at just Chuck or at Chuck and Sarah together.)

“Eeeee! I love you, Chuck!”

“Stop it. Chuck is not (insert spy activity here.)”

“MAKE BABIES!!!” (Actually, this is not specific to Chuck. But I yell it more during Chuck than any other show.)

“They’re so cute and perfect.”

Friday Night Lights-

“Throw the ball, son!”

“You tell him, Tami. Tell him how it is.”

“Flip your sweaty hair, Tim Riggins.” OR “Cut your hair, you nasty kid.”

Alias:

“Hot Face!”

“Yep. Now Jack is going to shoot you in the face.”

“J-brams, why do you do this to me?”

“He’s so goofy!”

Star Wars

“Shut your face, Anakin.”

“But don’t mess with Darth Vader. He’ll getcha!”

“Angry, grumpy, moody Anakin. Why does Padme love him?”

And the list of films and TV shows goes on. I just never realized that I yell these things. Then one day, my sister opened my bedroom door, stared at me, and asked me why I was yelling. I paused and said, “Uh, I don’t really know.” Now, I’m super conscious about it. I’m working on stopping the whole talking-to-fictional-characters thing, since what I say doesn’t make one bit of difference.
†

That one time I made a PowerPoint to prove a point and it didn't even matter:

2011-05-01T22:43:00.000-07:00

(Heh! Look how cheap I am? I had to save the proof from my email!)

Just over a week ago, I drove to Provo to participate in a ritual that is as old as academia itself: GRADUATION. I donned that polyester blue cap and gown with my yellow Bachelor of Science tassel and sat for 2 and ½ hours in the Marriot Center (soon to be renamed The Jimmer) waiting for the 6 seconds of glory during which I would walk across the stage and have my photo taken by my parents sitting out in nowhere land.
To be perfectly honest, my parents practically had to force me to walk. I technically graduated in December and since BYU does not hold a graduation ceremony for December graduates, I thought I was home free and didn't have to walk. They'd mailed me a diploma and EVERYTHING!

Boy, was I wrong. And I still don’t know why I did it. I guess to make my parents feel validated or something. I practically threw a temper tantrum about having to do it at one point because I’m whiney, mopey and 5 years old. And then I tried another tactic and got creative: I made a PowerPoint about how I shouldn’t have to do it.
Give me a break – I was still in school mode when I made it and, obviously, it wasn’t even a good presentation because I still had to put that 4 cornered hat on. It made my ears stick out. Awkward.

(The program I used to upload this PowerPoint sort of squished the words together...sorry, I hope you can separate them)

Graduation

View more presentations from emavondet

But I was very grateful for one thing: I was glad to know that I had received a good education and that I was moving on. That chapter of my life is over (thank HEAVENS for that) and now I’m ready to move on to a new place with new things to do and more school to undertake. It’s coming up super fast but I am ready…maybe? I guess I don’t have much of a choice about being ready though, do I?

Good thing I’ve got until August to get there.

Ah, cereal guy. I love you.

2011-03-06T15:44:00.001-08:00

Why yes, I do live at home! (The playlist which has a song with a bad word)

2011-02-28T11:46:00.000-08:00

Another playlist of music I have found over the last few months while I've been living at home. Warning: ONE SONG DOES HAVE THE F-BOMB IN IT. Skip it please if you just can't want it!

Young Blood by The Naked & Famous

Go Do by Jonsi

The Cave by Mumford & Sons

Keep Yourself Warm by Frightened Rabbit (THE SONG WITH THE F-WORD! Avoid if you must!)

Feeling Good by Nina Simone

Marry You as sung by the Glee Cast

Run by Vampire Weekend

Just Say Yes by Snow Patrol

Lovers in Japan (Acoustic) by Coldplay

Give a LIttle Love by Noah and the Whale

Howlin' for You by The Black Keys

When I Go by Slow Club

Saeglopur by Sigur Ros

Waiting for a Year...or Whatever

2011-02-01T19:12:00.000-08:00

I am remiss in my blog duties. I apologize to the three people who might actually follow my blog. I will try to be better about writing on a more regular basis.

As many people know, I have spent the last 8 months applying and interviewing for medical school. It's expensive, takes up tons of time, and--most important of all--it makes you CRAZY. I cannot count the hours I spent worrying and stressing myself out over interviews, personal statements, extra curricular activities, and countless other pre-med things. Just ask my roommates.

There are up days and down days. Days when you think, "Yeah! I can get in for sure." and days when you despair and, in my case, call your mom and cry for an hour.

Even though there were times when it felt like I was just jumping through application hoops, it really isn't like that. It's necessary and you want your schools to know EVERYTHING about you. But at some point in the process, you kind of want to throw up your hands and yell "Okay! I've done everything. My applications have been in for months. Just accept me or reject me PLEASE. I won't be mad if you are honest and let me know how it is. This way I can plan my life: do I have to move to Texas/Virginia/Nebraska or wherever school is OR do I have to reapply? " When a school gets back to you quickly with a rejection, it might sting, but it is nice to know that your plans can continue.

During my senior year (and more), I worked in a lab with several pre-med students. We commiserated together about the MCAT and lengthy secondary applications. All of the boys (yes, all of them were male) in my lab are qualified, dedicated individuals. Every single one has spent years working toward med school, not exactly an easy feat. Most of them are just as (if not INFINITELY more) qualified to go to medical school as I am. And yet, a few of them haven't even received an interview invite. I am, to say the least, baffled by this. One of the guys I know from my MCAT class (A.K.A. The boy who ACED the MCAT. Seriously, he kicked some serious MCAT booty) is ever waiting to hear back from schools.

It really is absolutely awful and, at times, unfair. Getting to know these people and understanding their triumphs and knowing they deserve everything they want and THEN seeing their hopes dashed...it's not fun. But it is the way it is. There are, unfortunately only so many seats to fill, and it can really bite.

All of the guys in my lab and the people in my MCAT class will be great doctors. And I'm excited for them to hear back and go to the schools they want to attend. I hope they all succeed. Because I know who I want to call when I'm sick.

Life as a Idaho born BSU hater

2010-09-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: Many people who read this know about the content of this blog already, due to my outspoken nature. And I am sorry that you must be exposed to it once more. But, I just need the world to know why I feel the way I feel. My blog is now a grounds for punishment by my fellow Idahoans. Let the pain begin.

I’m an Idahoan, born and raised. I love Idaho with every fiber of my being, what with the potatoes and great outdoors. (And no, I did not grow up on a farm. I’ve never even been to a potato farm, thank you very much.) But if there is one thing I hate, it has to be universities based in Idaho. All of them. No matter the location, school mascot, or student population, I hate it.

And for some strange reason, I have a great deep and passionate loathing for Boise State. When they won the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma, I was very disappointed. I wanted Adrian Peterson to throttle them. To break them and make Ian Johnson cry like a little girl. I wanted Oklahoma to take it to them in every way possible. Even now when people try to convince me that game was the greatest college football game ever played, I always manage to come up with ten games that were better. Did ANYONE watch the national championship of 2002? Overtime with Ohio State and Miami? Seriously? Or, what I consider to be the greatest game of all time: The Rose Bowl, 2005. Vince Young and the Longhorns playing Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and the USC Trojans. That game was full of back and forths, ups and downs, and some of the most amazing football I have ever seen courtesy of Vince Young. Everything he did that night was perfect magic.

Now, please don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying the Fiesta Bowl of 2007 was not a good game. It was, in fact, an incredible game. Hook and ladder, statue of liberty, first real BCS buster (Yeah, Utah. You DON’T count)…but I still do not see it as the greatest game of all time. I’m guessing I feel this way because just thinking about Boise State makes me want to gag. I hate them enough to root for the University of Utah when the two teams play. And as a true blue, dyed in the wool BYU Cougar, that’s saying something. And the nice thing about the two of them playing is that one will lose!

I will, however, say three things that are positive about them. First, I will NEVER deny that they are a good team, as much as I may want to. They are solid defensively, offensively, and on special teams and I always have a hard time finding weaknesses. But just because they are good doesn’t mean I have to like them, just like the Yankees. Also, I think that Chris Petersen is a class act. He is well spoken and intelligent. He’s not like Lane Kiffin, the utter moron who runs USC at the moment. He coaches his boys with dedication and teaches them sportsmanship. Also, I think the fact that a so-called “mid major team” is doing so well is good news for anyone who is in a Non-AQ conference. It shows that the BCS is absolutely ridiculous and should be done away with. But now that BYU will not be in a Non-AQ conference after the season is over, I’m not that mad about it.

But those good things don’t change the fact that Boise State is everything that I hate in college football. Any foe they face, I end up pulling for the other team. Don’t ask me why or how I came to hate them. I honestly have no idea. I think back on my Boise State exposure and realize I have no legitimate reason to hate them. They have never done me any wrong. But the point is that I honestly can’t stand them.

There is only one kind of Bronco I will ever cheer for and he stands on the sideline of the BYU Cougars. I guess there’s only room for one kind of Bronco in my heart.

It's HARRY FREAKIN' POTTER!

2010-09-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

So, last night my roommates and I watched Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Two of my roommates had not seen it yet (missionaries...) so I ordered it on Netflix and we had a Harry Potter Pow-Wow in the basement of our little townhouse. And as we watched, one roommate had many questions about what was going on. And I, being the dork that I am, tried to provide as many answers as I could about it. And that's when I started getting all nerdy and excited about Harry Potter. I have discovered that I really could talk about it all day if I had someone to talk to about it.

This is where I need validation. Someone PLEASE tell me I am not the only Harry Potter nerd in this world!

Please keep in mind that you don't have to be a crazy nerd like I am. What it a crazy nerd? Let me explain:

When Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (the book) was released, I read it in a day. And then, my older brother, two older sisters, and I had a meeting in my room about Harry Potter and what we thought the 7th book would be like. For HOURS, we sat in my room and talked about Horcruxes and what we thought they were, how Harry, Ron, and Hermione would go about finding said horcruxes, and if Harry would die in the next book or not (still wish he had).

The day that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows came out in 2007, my family was up in the mountains for a family reunion. But, the fact that we were about an hour away from civilization didn't stop all of us from driving to Ogden, Utah to get our books at midnight from a local book vendor. There were 7 of us in the car and all 7 of us had a copy of our own on reserve. Fast forward two hours and visualize all 7 of us reading in various corners of the condo we were staying in. I finished at about 10 a.m. that morning. Ten hours of stress, jumping jacks, Dr. Pepper, and bliss. Problem: no one else was finished. To this day, I still have no idea how I kept the explosion of excitement inside. I had to wait until my sister Kate called me after I had taken my extra long nap to discuss it.

And then, last night I watched Harry Potter with the roomies. And I often forget how much I adore Harry, Ron, and Hermione (but mostly Ron because he's the best! I love me a ginger) but I was reminded of my love while talking with my roommates last night. But I'm not ashamed at all that I love Harry Potter because I grew up with it. Harry was 11 when I was 11 and I could completely put myself in his shoes as I read. I really wish there were something as fantastic to read now. Sure, there are popular teen and children's series out there (some better than others...i.e Hunger Games, which, if I may say, is a great series) but none of them can really stack up. None of them make me nerd out the way Harry does.

Plus, the trailer for the 7th and 8th movie is EPIC and amazing. How could you NOT get excited about Harry Freakin' Potter?!

Wishin' and Hopin'

2010-08-08T18:59:00.000-07:00

So, med school applications are in and now I wait. And while I wait, I make playlist after playlist to listen to while I do NOTHING. Now that I am done teaching anatomy for the summer (and have been unemployed ALL summer), I will go home and live in Idaho for a time while my mother feeds me and I continue to do nothing with other people. So, here is ONE of the many playlists I made. If you like it, good. If not...well, we won't go there.

Brainy by the National- You know how I feel about the National. He is fabulous.

Howl by Florence + The Machine- A band I discovered in January, but it took me a while to like them. To be honest, the lead singer is very strange and they sing about the weirdest things (if this song doesn't prove it, listen to more of their music). But, the more I listened to them, the more I loved them. And no, I did NOT start listening just because they were on the new Twilight movie's soundtrack. I listen to them because their music is kind of awesome.

Kids by MGMT- NOTE: do not watch the music video for this. Most disturbing thing ever. But the song is pretty much awesome.

Love Lost by Temper Trap-YES. DO watch the music video for this. It's pretty much EPIC. And I have developed a love for this band I never thought I would have. But, they are truly awesome.

Fury by Muse-The obligatory Muse song. This is from Absolution, quite possibly Muse's best album (but then again, has Muse ever had an album that doesn't ROCK?). I became obsessed with listening to this song in the car as I drive. People totally see me rocking out and judge me, but I don't care. This song makes me wish I were more hardcore.

In My Veins by Andrew Belle- Heard this song on Grey's Anatomy. And I fell in love. Of course it's probably the most depressing song ever written, but I still love it. Good choice, Grey's. Good choice.

Heavy In Your Arms by Florence + The Machine- Some of you will say that I should eat my words from above about Florence and Twilight. But this song is made of sweet awesome. I am obsessed. I will give props to the soundtrack people and say that they know how to pick bands that make me grateful to be alive. But at the same time it makes me bitter that little teen girls say they love bands they have never heard of. I'm actually legit.

The Call by Regina Spektor- I like Regina Spektor enough to listen to her occasionally, but not on a regular basis. However! I really love this song. Every time it comes up on my iPod, I always listen to it.

No One Does It Like You by Department of Eagles- I just grin whenever I hear this song. So happy. One of my current favorites.

The Wrestle by Frightened Rabbit- I have a love affair with the lead singers voice. That is one beautiful accent.

Trouble by Ray Lamontagne- Suzanne you made me love this man. I owe you forever. The end.

True Love Waits by Radiohead- Thom Yorke could not be more awesome than he is. Radiohead is still one of the best bands. Maybe ever.

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens- SUFJAN! I heart him. And I heart this song. His style is so distinct and fascinating to me. I want him to do albums for each state. I wonder what his CD for Idaho would be about? I assume he would sing about potatoes.

With You In My Head by UNKLE-Such a cool song. Listen and love.

Hazelton by Justin Vernon- Oh...Bon Iver/Justin Vernon. I could listen to him sing all day. Sometimes I do. Perfection.

The End

2010-05-21T21:23:00.001-07:00

LOST is ending this weekend. Despite my ups and downs with this show (I was obsessed, then I didn't watch for a season and a half and now I am re-watching after getting caught up one Sunday afternoon...yep, one day to catch up) I am back on the train and I am very depressed about the show ending. But, a friend of mine sent me this video and it cheered me right up.

Spring Playlist-ing It

2010-04-26T12:08:00.000-07:00

That's right. I made another playlist to post. Mostly because I'm bored and I don't have anything else to do. Well, I do have something I should be doing, but I'm to the point that I don't care anymore. I just want to stick it to the man. Anyway! Playlist:

Sleep, Don't Weep by Damien Rice

Kettering by The Antlers

Re: Stacks by Bon Iver

To Me You Are a Work of Art by Morrissey

Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want by The Smiths

Blackout by Muse

Son by The National

The Great Salt Lake by Band of Horses

A White Demon Love Song by The Killers

Black Mirror by Arcade Fire

Campus by Vampire Weekend

Oliver James by The Fleet Foxes

Contortionists by The Republic Tigers

Erin Avondet: Television Producer and Writer

2010-02-23T19:10:00.000-08:00

Following a series of extremely disappointing events on all of my favorite television shows and a long conversation over dinner with a friend about these events, I have decided to become a television producer and writer. In my dinner conversation, my friend and I rewrote a few TV shows to fit our liking. All of our rewrites made us downright giddy. We almost did a happy dance in the middle of the restaurant. This abrupt and desperately needed career change stems from one thing and one thing only: the inability of television-powers-that-be to make their characters happy.

I mean THINK about it. Have you ever watched a TV show where the character is actually happy? Legitimately happy. NO. Okay, well actually, with the exception of Jim and Pam on The Office, there are ZERO totally happy characters gracing the television. Something always has to go wrong. ALWAYS. And where is the justice in that? And how realistic is it? Not at all. They only get to be happy when the television network finally decides to cancel a show.

Example:
I'm going to take this example from Chuck because it's the one that has me mad. For those who do not watch this wonderful slice of heaven, Chuck, the adorable nerd, is in love with Sarah, the hot spy, who secretly loves him back. These two have clearly been set up from the beginning of the show to be together. Everyone knows it and it's no longer "will they, won't they?", it's "they will...but when?" Scenarios like this are beyond frustrating. Especially when they've confessed their feelings, had a steamy make-out session, and one half of the couple has asked the other to run away with her to live a life of baby making and bliss. How can writers logically and rightfully continue to keep them apart?

I know that everyone says once you put the two lovers together, the show loses its spark and the only way to get it back is to break them up, a.k.a. The Ross/Rachel Conundrum. I disagree. A show should not be based on the romance. One should be able to get two characters together and keep the show interesting by using the relationship. Jim and Pam have done it, and people are still watching The Office. Granted, it's not as good as it used to be, but that's not because Jim and Pam are boring. It's because the writers are running out of material.

On another note, making characters happy doesn't necessarily have to do with romance. It's about the character's interests and their desires. On Alias, Sydney Bristow is never happy until the end. Again, they use these tragedies and road blocks to set up plot points, but COME ON! Give them a little happiness every once in a while rather than giving them a taste and then totally ripping it out from underneath them. That's just cruel. Not to the characters. No, no. They're not real. It's the viewers I'm concerned about. I utterly despise feeling sad for fake people. And I hate feeling betrayed. And I really hate it when the writers are just dragging something out needlessly. It's one thing when it's believable (which makes it bearable) and completely another when the show just feels like it's being altered to keep the suspense.

Thus, I will become a writer. I will have a TV show of happy people who end up with the people they love after the appropriate amount of time, without the extra love interests that keep them apart for no reason and without the excess pains that most writers insert into the lives of their characters. My new show will make people across America (and possibly Canada) happy. And because I will be a television producer as well, I will never have my show cancelled. One happy TV show. That's all I ask.

How to survive the MCAT with MUSIC

2010-02-20T19:48:00.000-08:00

As of the first week of January, I have been diligently trying to study for the MCAT. It's pretty intense and most days I just want to 1.) cry, 2.) shoot myself, or 3.) burn something down. Thus, to deal with my anger and stage 8 depression, I listen to music. This may not be a wise decision considering the fact that my music is kind of depressing. My sister once told me that she just wanted to slit her wrists when she listened to my music. I'm still offended.

Closer by Kings of Leon- Yeah. This song is sexy. That's all there is too it. I have recently fallen in love with Kings of Leon despite his strange voice. But it's too good to pass up. I'm obsessed with this song. If you want another Kings of Leon song listen to Sex On Fire or Be Somebody. Those are my other favorites and they convinced me to love this band.

Blood Bank by Bon Iver- Bon Iver is straight up beautiful. I've said it one hundred times and I'll say it again: it's the chill, folksy way he sings. Everything about this song is great.

Get Up Get Out by The Rosebuds-I kind of stumbled across this band while music surfing. I'm still not sure how I feel about it...but I'm putting this song on probation. And it has a secret hilarious meaning. "Get up, get out" is an inside joke with some of my good friends. It has been yelled many times in my apartment.

Backwards Walk by Frightened Rabbit- ACCENT. Listen to this Scottish man sing. I think that's why I'm obsessed. Lurve it.

World Spin Madly On by The Weepies- I might be obsessed with this song too. Not shocking. I'm obsessed with lots of songs. This song has never gotten old in the few years I've known about it. I could listen to it forever. Chill guitar, great song.

Casimir Pulaski Day by Sufjan Stevens- With a name like Sufjan, how can you go wrong? My roommate and I have an imaginary love affair with him. This song is extremely depressing, but it's beautiful and almost heart wrenching. Sufjan has a very distinct style. Listen to more of him and you will see...

Lake Michigan by Rouge Wave- What a great little band. I love their cover of Maps by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Big fan of this one too. Fun background clapping and it's pretty catchy.

What Sarah Said by Death Cab for Cutie- De. Press. Ing. This song is also sad but in a totally different way from the Sufjan song. And I love it. Cynical and bitter. Sometimes you need that.

Black and Gold by Sam Sparro- Makes me want to be a spy so I can make my entrance using this song and then proceed to kick some serious bad-guy trash. And that's why I'll never be a spy.

Give an Arm to its Socket by The Republic Tigers- His voice is very different from anyone I've heard in recent memory. I can always pick it out of a mix of songs. The Republic Tigers are my favorite recent discovery.

Dream On by Aerosmith- Yep. I'm going old school on you. This song is sweet. And Steven Tyler is cool. Mostly because he's Arwen's dad. But also because he's in Aerosmith.

Signs by Bloc Party- Got to love that percussion at the beginning. I can't really explain it, but something about this song makes me grateful to be alive.

I Know What I Am by Band of Skulls- Awesome. They feel old school but...not at the same time. Their album Baby Darling Doll Face Honey is definitely worth a listen if you think this song is good. I know I love it. Death By Diamonds and Pearls is my personal favorite.

Human by The Killers- Why on earth do I love this song? Oh, I know, because I want to dance to it. Because I am not Human. I am Dancer. Wait...what does that even mean? All I know is that this song is kind of epic.

Exogenesis: Symphony Part 3 by Muse- I wanted to put all three Symphonies on here for everyone to hear, but that would just be excessive. SO LISTEN TO ALL THREE. Trust me. It's worth it. They are probably the best part of the newest Muse album, The Resistance. Matt Bellamy is too amazing. He integrates classical music seamlessly with rock. It's perfect. I adore him. Maybe I'll name my children after him...he definitely deserves it.

Dear Sicky:

2010-01-30T17:13:00.000-08:00

Over the last few months, with the out break of the Swine Flu, BYU has instituted a policy concerning sick students. If you are sick, contact your professor and DO NOT come to class. At the start of last semester, signs were everywhere. Literally. Every building was practically plastered in them. It was, however, for good reason. Why spread a sickness when the majority of the people living in Provo are students who have to go to class and the last thing they want is to get sick. I personally turned into a hand washing/hand sanitizer maniac. I was not going to get sick.

This policy of "if you're sick, please don't come to class" was and still is a good policy, despite the fact that The Swine is essentially dying down. It did, on the other hand, give people license to say that they had the flu and could not attend class for a week, when in reality these people were perfectly fine and decided to go to Disneyland instead of class. I'm not mad about that. THIS is what I'm mad about. I will preface with a story.

In my Advanced Molecular Biology class, I sit in the back of the room, in the same place every day. There is a boy who always sits behind me every class period. The other day, I sat down only to hear sniffling and snorting. That's right. He was sick. I looked over my shoulder only to see that he had bloodshot eyes and a red runny nose. Now, the fact that he was sick would have been bad enough. But no, he's not just sick, he's a mouth breather. As in "hey, sorry, but I can't breathe through my nose so I hope that it's okay that I breathe really loudly through my mouth instead and I hope you don't mind if I'm breathing RIGHT on your neck" mouth breathing. Needless to say, I felt so germy by the end of class that I wanted to bathe in hand sanitizer. But, oh. It gets worse. Just moments after leaning forward to get as far from sicky boy as possible, he started coughing. More like hacking. And the worst part was, he didn't really cover his mouth. As my roommate Emma said, "Doesn't he realize he broke like, 17 cardinal rules about being sick by NOT covering his mouth?" No Emma, I don't think he did realize. Now he was spreading his germs more by not covering his mouth and I was getting the full effect of it. I thought it couldn't get worse. But it did. He was sniffling and I knew he was going to sneeze any second. Oh boy did he. On me. At this point, I gagged. In fact I almost threw up in my mouth. I was ready to give him a piece of my mind when the bell rang and he was up and out the door. I turned to my friends in the class who just stared at me. One said "That...was foul." The other said, "Seriously? He has no manners."

So, to the Sicky Boy in MMBio 441: If I get sick within the next few days with a cold, I know that you are the one who gave it to me. I know where you sit every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning from 9:00 to 9:50. And I will come to drop off my bills for Tylenol and Nyquill to you. But I will not stay in class because I don't want to get other people sick. And I'll even wear a mask just for their benefit. But it will be because of you that I will be dying and I will show no mercy. You will pay me back and I will enjoy every penny. So you had better hope that my antibodies and white blood cells are awesome because if they aren't, it's on.

A word to all- please do not come to class (or if you don't have class, don't go out in public) if you are sick. And if you do decide to come, don't cough or sneeze or breathe on people. It's yucky. And it makes other people sick, which is generally not a good thing. Bring some tissues and sit as far away from everyone as you possibly can. That would be favorable.

Two Goals, One Objective

2010-01-15T19:59:00.000-08:00

This blog is about goals. Two goals I made over Christmas break in particular. One short term, the second not so short term. Keep in mind that both goals are not only ridiculous but AWESOME.

Over Christmas break, I made several short term goals that could be fulfilled over the break. These goals included reading several books, figuring out how busy my schedule this semester would be, making my mother's Christmas madness a little less crazy, and so on. But the most important goal was that I needed to get at least 10 hours of sleep each night. And since I am gradually becoming an old lady, that meant falling asleep by about 10 every night, 11 at the latest. At this rate, I did not get 10 hours of sleep a night. Oh, no. I far exceeded my goal, typically waking up at about 9:30 or 10 depending on how late my evening was (yes I stayed up till midnight on New Years. Granted, I was lying on the couch with my blanket, in pajamas, drinking wassail, and long blinking every five seconds while watching Star Trek with my dad. But I made it!) Sleep has never been more amazing. I think I would rather sleep than eat or maybe even breathe. But that kind of sleeping is called dying, so let's not go there.

My second goal is what I like to refer to as the "Spies have hot bodies, so why can't I?" goal. In other words, I aspire to look like the spies on television. Two spies in particular: Sydney Bristow from the now cancelled "Alias" and Sarah Walker from my favorite television show, "Chuck". On the one hand, both of these women are actresses and thus have personal trainers, wardrobe people, stunt doubles (to make them look cooler than they really are), and are basically born smoking hot. Since I have none of the first three (too non-talented in the actress department) and I've never really seen myself as a natural "bombshell", this goal has quickly evolved into the second most "difficult-to-achieve" goal I've ever tried to reach. But my motto is that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. So, I will embark on a journey to look somewhat like this:

Ooorrrrr this:

I don't think it will be too much of a stretch to have expectations to look slightly like these women. It's not like I'm going to go all Octo-mom and get plastic surgery to look exactly like them, facial features and all. That's just creepy. But I figure if I work out, I'll have a shot. I suppose the biggest work out will be this summer when I spend my time hiking and basically playing outdoors all day. Even if this goal seems unrealistic, I could care less. I just like that it gives me some motivation to be smoking hot.

In Edward’s Defense…Jacob can go DIE

2009-12-01T21:16:00.001-08:00

Okay, so after seeing New Moon and hearing various discussions on the topic, I feel like this post is necessary. And I realize it’s ridiculous and I actually don’t care that much (but part of me does because I think people are generally stupid/missing the point) and TOTALLY pointless. But this is my blog and I do what I want. JUDGE ME ALL YOU WANT! So, without further ado…

While I understand why the entire Twilight fandom and every teenage girl ever is ga-ga for Taylor Lautner’s abs and big smile, I just have one thing to say: Edward is still better.

Why would I say this? Well, I could give about a million reasons all ending with the fact that Robert Pattinson is basically the best thing since electricity to happen to this planet. I digress. So, everyone is all upset that Robert Pattinson’s body is not quite like Jacob’s. But then again, WHO IS? I heard a girl say “Wow, Edward needs to work on his body.” True, he’s not ripped and putting on 30 pounds of muscle (props to you Taylor), but it’s not like he’s made of nothing. Don’t believe me?

There. Now you can’t argue with me about that. I win. And I would like to say that I might respect him more for refusing to shave his chest. Most men are hairy and yucky. What Robert Pattinson has is basically NOTHING. Sorry people, but that’s a reality of life we must deal with: Men (Those with chiseled jaws and perfect cheekbones) are usually at least a little hairy. BOYS (17 year olds who play werewolves and are kind of illegal to look at like THAT) are not. Another thing: pale NEVER films well. Seriously, the fact that they made Edward look pale without making him look like he’s totally dead is a magical miracle. The fact that Taylor Lautner is already bronze skinned doesn’t make Rob Pattinson look as good. But that doesn’t stop me from wishing he were my boyfriend and would rip his shirt off to show himself to the world because he loves me and thinks I’m dead, and…never mind. Finally, it’s the scene. He’s depressed. He’s alone. He hasn’t showered in months (hello, he’s still wearing the same shirt from the breakup). Basically, he looks like hell. That’s how he’s supposed to look. Plus, who gets the girl? The good looking one, or the muscle bound behemoth who turns into a hairy nasty wolf?

Now it’s time for me to get up on my nerdy, Twilight soapbox (because I have one) and say something that has nothing to do with biceps or body hair. And I am aware that this will reveal me for what I truly am: a 21 year old girl who finds happiness in teen lit despite how awful it is.

First of all - I can’t deny that I actually found Taylor to be engaging. He portrayed Jacob just the way I pictured him. But…I still hate Jacob with a fiery burning passion. (What can I say? When you are team Edward, you are TEAM EDWARD.) Now to what I want to say. The story isn’t about Taylor Lautner’s body. It’s not about men running around in the forest half naked. In fact, in one scene when Jacob has his shirt off, I almost yelled “Put your damn shirt back on, you GIRL!” but then realized I might get murdered. Seriously, people. The story is about Edward and Bella, not Jacob’s or Edward’s body. That’s what it’s been from the start. It shouldn’t matter. Jacob can go die and nothing will happen to the core of the story. Can you deny that Edward and Bella aren’t made of awesome, sexy, deliciousness? Heh, didn’t think so. They are dear, sweet perfection. Well…maybe I should say “sweet, crazy, sexy, absolutely ridiculous, obsessive/possessive, kind of wrong, badly written, and weird perfection.”

And that is why:
1.) I win
2.) Jacob can go die.

To be a Cougar football fan is sometimes...AWESOME

2009-12-01T09:01:00.000-08:00

Ah yes. Sweet, sweet victory.

Fun on a Saturday night, a Saturday night...WHA?

2009-11-07T21:41:00.000-08:00

So today has been deemed Lazy Saturday. Well, at least in a way it's been lazy. Although I gave my apartment the ultimate scrub down (my kitchen glimmers, I tell you what), tried to vacuum (anyone have a spare vacuum they want to donate to the poor college kid fund?), and made sure that I finished all of my physics homework (100% baby!), I still managed to totally and completely chill out today.

While I cleaned, I listened to a glorious shutout by the BYU football team. I feel in my heart that a Wyoming shutout was just what I needed to make cleaning a joyous occasion. I adore listening to Greg Wrubell yell and shout. Whenever I hear his voice, I think of the Utah game in 2006 and him literally screaming "Throws behind him, it is....CAUGHT FOR THE TOUCHDOWN! Caught for the touchdown! Caught for the touchdown! Jonny Harline got it for the score! Harline by himself in the endzone! The Cougars win it! On the final play of the game!" The man is an absolute nut but, like I said, I adore him.

Then I proceeded to sit on the couch for the rest of the day. In fact, I am still there right now, and I sat down at about 2:00 p.m. It's now 11:00 p.m. I will say this in my defense: I did shower and I have eaten food. I even did my homework while sitting on said couch. So the reality is that I'm not quite as lazy as I seem. On the other hand, I have done a plethora of things I don't normally do.

First: I watched three football games. Okay, so actually...I do this every Saturday. But this time I actually watched them, rather than listening while studying for a test of some kind. Instead I was able to enjoy seeing games play out on my little screen. None of the games were as pretty/kick-A as the BYU game, obviously, but it was basically awesome.

Second: I watched interviews with basically every movie star ever. Well, maybe not ever, but I did watch a lot. I watched interviews with John Krasinski/Jim from The Office, Jenna Fischer/Pam from The Office, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Harrison Ford, the Slumdog Millionaire people, and just about everyone that was in a movie last year. I have discovered that I wish John Krasinski were my lover, Harrison Ford would shut up, and Robert Pattinson was my best friend. Sigh. Wishful thinking will get me nowhere.

Third: I decided to order pizza and drink a Dr. Pepper while I watched a movie. I chose Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, the film obsession of my younger years. I don't own it, so I got on Youtube and hunted down an HD version. The problem is, in this version, when the aliens speak, there aren't any subtitles. Sad thing is I DIDN'T NEED THEM. I knew exactly what they were saying. And I haven't watched this Episode since Episode III came out almost 5 years ago. Maybe even before that. I never realized how pathetic I was. But I will embrace the nerdy side of myself and chow down on pizza instead.

So now, I will finish my movie and snuggle up in my bed under my comforter on this Lazy Saturday. Hope all is happy in your world!

Yeah...it's been a while

2009-11-05T10:53:00.001-08:00

Whoops! Oh well. I've just been busy. So...I don't really have much to say. All I want to do is share some music with you because music makes me happy. Here's a new playlist of music that makes me happy. I just hope it makes you happy too. A real post is pending, as soon as I can figure out how I want to say it.

Epoch by De Yarmond Ediso- Now...I'm not sure who this guy is or if he actually has anything to do with Bon Iver, but he came up when I searched for tunes by my new favorite artist. And I am NOT mad at all. I think I might love him and his deep voice. It sounds like he recorded this in his back yard but with professional equipment, but I seriously cannot find anything wrong with this song.

Brackett, WI by Bon Iver- Oh my little heart. Bon Iver is currently my number one music choice on iTunes. Don't believe me? Go to the play count and see how many times I've listened to their albums (though Muse is almost dead even). Justin Vernon will sing at my wedding. HE WILL. And since it's my day, no one can question why I brought them to sing when their music is about as NON-wedding-ish as it gets. But they can just deal. My day, my music.

Deep Sea Diver by Grizzly Bear- Okay, so the beginning sounds like an alien trying to communicate with humans in the movie "Contact" or something. But once you get to the guitar strumming and singing, you'll see why it's kick-a. Personally, I don't think Grizzly Bear could get more indie and that works for me.

Collapse the Light into Earth by Porcupine Tree- I owe Tara for this one. This song makes me wish I had a movie to make and put it in. Well, I don't have a movie, but I do have a blog! And on said blog, I can share this song with you. Porcupine Tree has that fabulous piano based music that reminds me of Keane, The Fray, and Coldplay. But then they're more indie than those three. Plus his voice is kind of whiney and hot. I love it.

Nude by Radiohead- Thom Yorke...yum. His voice is like butta sometimes but other times it's kind of creepy, a combo I personally love. This song is chill, just like every other song on here. Sorry about that. My sister told me that my music makes her want to slit her wrists because it's so slow and depressing. Just listen to this song and tell me it doesn't rock. Then you will see why I love slow music.

Red Right Ankle by Decemberists- Wait...what? A song about a bicycle? The Decemberists write the coolest music. And his voice is is distinctive, it's easy to pick out once you've heard it two or three times. But, I love that they write songs about whatever they feel like talking about. I wonder if this song is a metaphor...I can't tell.

Neon Bible by Arcade Fire- So basically I think Neon Bible is one of the best albums I've heard in a long time. They have such a cool mix of sound and songs. Win Butler, the lead singer, also has a killer voice. I know I say that a lot, but that's the thing that usually makes me love a band more than most.

Undisclosed Disires by Muse- AHHH! Their new album is INCREDIBLE. Seriously, I feel like it's a crime just to put one song from it on here. Listening to The Resistance is an experience not to be missed. And the first time you listen, you have to listen to it all the way through, without stopping. It's amazing how every song flows and fits with the songs before and after it. And the best thing is that every song takes from a different influence. Example, their first song is a little more pop/rock and roll while their second song is totally Muse. This song is R&B while other songs have vaudeville or classical influences. Best part? They pull it off! I chose this song because Matt Bellamy manages to combine rock with R&B beautifully. I'm obsessed. And I get to go to a concert in December. And I will say this: I don't need drugs to have a trip. I have MUSE.

So Far Around the Bend by The National- I just started smiling when this song came on. It's so chill, just great. I tap my foot when I hear this song and sway back and forth. I heart The National, they have something no one else has. It's weird...but awesome.

The Sound of Settling by Death Cab for Cutie- Old school Death Cab (actually, not that old school...) is always great. This song may have already been on one of my playlists, but it's just that good.

An End Has A Start by The Editors- Another man with a hot voice. I adore how this song starts. And I adore the lyrics. Just listen.

You're a Wolf by Sea Wolf- I think the beginning for this song is what had me. I also thought that the lyrics were interesting. It's a strange song, but I definitely don't mind. The guitar and musical patterns are super catchy...love it.

Yellow by Coldplay- Yeah, yeah! Coldplay back in the good old days, with the song that made them famous. Every time I watch the music video, I'm amazed at how little/young Chris Martin looks. Yellow is not only catchy, but it's career defining for Coldplay. And Parachutes is a great album. Listen to it.

The Nerve by The Republic Tigers- I'm a big fan of this band. It's just awesome. The chorus? Happiness. Not much more to say about it. Listen. Love.

Forever by Chris Brown- I do NOT support Chris Brown in any way. He's a woman beater. But I DO support Jim and Pam and anything that has to do with their love. And if this song is played during their fictional wedding, I will listen to it and love it. Any time I get in the car, I turn this song on and turn it up full blast. The lyrics aren't great (Double your pleasure, double your fun? Really Double-Mint?) but it's a great dance tune. Yeah, it doesn't fit in this playlist...what can I say? I'm a rule breaker!

2009-09-06T18:32:00.000-07:00

Over the past three months, I have started probably a grand total of 8 blogs. This blog post is going to be all of the failed beginnings of these blogs. I hope you enjoy.

Blog 1 started May 3, 2009-
Ahem! I have something to say and I will say it now! (yep, that's all she wrote. And you will never know just what it is I was going to say.)

Blog 2 started May 29th 2009 entitled Running on Empty-
So, I have decided to start running again. If only I had the motivation to get out of my house and do it. The other day, I was sitting in my family room with Callie and Alan G, just staring outside and thinking "Hmmm, I should go running. That actually sounds good. Running NEVER sounds good so I should DEFINITELY act on this." So what did I do? I'll tell you what I did. I got up, walked into the kitchen and snatched two freshly baked chocolate chip cookies from the cooling rack and promptly shoved them into my mouth. FAILURE.

Blog 3, Started June 9th 2009 entitled Save the POLAR BEARS!-
For the last few days, McKay and I have been house sitting for my good friend Satyra's family. They are in Cancun enjoying surf, sun, and H1N1 Influenza. Satyra will single handedly bring swine flu to the BYU masses. Heneway: as we babysit the Taylor's beautiful new home out in the middle of nowhere (not kidding. It's just out there, in the country, by some fields) and eat their food and sleep in their basement, we also watch their movies. Correction: we watch their Planet Earth. They have a projector and a big old screen to watch on. It is absolutely terrifying to wake up from a long blink and see a giant great white shark leaping out of the water at you. Scared the living daylights out of me.

Blog 4, Started June 21st 2009-
Okay. REALLY Idaho? You decide to make it rain more than ever before in the history of Idaho, the exception being the Great Flood. And you know what? If it's going to be all gloomy and rainy here, and if it is going to be the rainiest place in the continental United States, I DEMAND that I have a sparkly vampire/Edward Cullen to love. Right. This. ONE ONE!

Blog 5, Started July 3rd, 2009 entitled "Erin, will you play dress-up with me in the playhouse?"
Oh good heavens. So many children, so little time. Seriously, I don't know how people have children right now. They are fun, adorable, and I love them all to pieces, but GOOD NIGHT. They wear me OUT. As in, I'm ready to DIE right now of exhaustion. The above quote is from my niece Audrey. Now picture me, playing dress-up. Hilarious, right? Well, Audrey is the queen of drama and dress-ups. I had to wear gloves, hats, feather boas, and all sorts of things I have never worn in my life. My problem is I can't say no to those little faces and their cute little voices! If anyone else asked me, I'd say "Aw HELL no." But here I am, in a pink hat, gauzy scarf, and a lacy skirt.

Blog 6, started August 2nd 2009 entitled Post-Wedding Letdown-
Errbody was here, and now errbody is gone. My sister got married on Friday the 31st of July and it was crazy. My mother was ready to have a coronary (really, Callie? it's FINE) and the house was full of people at all times. But I will say that it was a beautiful affair. We were all together and we were all happy. But now all of the siblings are gone. Cara and Tyson are in the Caribbean meeting Jack Sparrow and Will Turner, Jen and Brant and the crazy/adorable ones are in Kansas, Kate is back in DC (after I DROVE her to the airport because she coerced me into it using guilt and a long-held knowledge of how to make me do anything she asked me to), and I am sleeping.

Blog 7 started August 10th 2009 entitled Pie, Oh Glorious Pie-
For the last week I have been religiously watching the television show Pushing Daisies. I recommend it to all because it's HILARIOUS and charming. The show has an extremely interesting premise. Ned, a young man, has a gift/curse. He can make dead things come to life. Touch a dead thing once: alive again. Touch that dead thing again (a second time): dead for good. Keep that dead thing alive and don't touch it for 60 seconds, something else must die in its place to keep the cosmos in balance. But that isn't what I wanted to write about. Ned's profession is that of a pie-maker. Ned spends his days making delicious looking pies and all I want to do is EAT ONE RIGHT NOW. Seriously, every episode is full of rhubarb, strawberries, peaches, raspberries, pears, and sweet potatoes all being stuffed into a flaky, golden, and delicious crust. AND I NEED PIE RIGHT NOW.

Blog #8 started August 28th 2009-
I just recently decided I needed to indulge myself by purchasing something totally and utterly nerdy. Wanna see it?

YEAH. That's right. Tauntaun sleeping bag. I wish the tauntaun was my power animal...

The fall playlist that has nothing to do with fall...

2009-08-22T15:33:00.000-07:00

Time for a new playlist update. Enjoy!

1. A Message by Coldplay- I swear, this is the song that every WB (I guess it should be CW now) show uses during most of their love scenes. It deserves so much more than Clark and Lana confessing their love to each other. It's kind of cheesey, but it kicks some serious A. The best part is toward the end when we get a bit of an instrumental (for maybe 15 seconds) and Chris Martin comes in and sings some more of his awesomeness. Depressingly great.

2. Citizen Erased by Muse- Did you expect me NOT to put Muse on here? This is old school, from their 2001 album called Origin of Symmetry. This album is a little more hard rock than Black Holes and Revelations. This song is a great example of their style. It's loud and intense at the beginning, but it gets a little softer. A perfect blend of angry and soft. Go Muse.

3. Skinny Love by Bon Iver- I know this their most...recognizable song, but it is the the song that made me fall in love. And I fell in love fast. Bon Iver is chill and folksy. Perfect for lying in a hammock on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

4. White Winter Hymnal by The Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes are a summer discovery as well. I love the early-mid 60s feel of this song. It's glorious.

5. Keep the Car Running by The Arcade Fire- The Arcade Fire are absolutely perfect. This song had me from the beginning with it's mini buildup'

6. Milk by Kings of Leon- This one was hard because I don't like all of the Kings of Leon. His voice sometimes drives me a little crazy. But this one is great because of the bass in the background and the rhythms at the end of the song. And his voice isn't too non-singy

7. Africa by Toto- Okay, the player says the song is called Toto. But it isn't. This is the family theme song. My dad wants it played at his funeral (a wish I will grant) and all of us know the words. I karaoke to this song all the time. It's the synthesizer and all that talk about Kilimanjaro and rains in Africa. It's too much greatness in one song. And if you want to love this song more, watch the episode of Chuck where Lester and Jeff sing their little hearts out.

8. Single Ladies by Beyonce- Don't judge me. The music video is hilarious. And this song ROCKS.

9. Mexican Standoff by Elbow- This song had me with the instrumental at the beginning. And I sort of love his voice a lot. And I also love that the lyrics say "your sweet reassurances don't change the fact that he's better looking than me."

10. 9 Crimes by Damien Rice- Beautiful song. Depressing and gorgeous. But I like sad music. Probably more than anything.

11. Heartless by The Fray- This is a cover of Kanye West's song by the same name (clearly, seeing as how it's a cover). I heard this at The Fray concert I went to in July. They played it during their encore, which was fabulous. And as much as I love Kanye (which I don't), this version is greatness.

12. Recycled Air by Postal Service- Even though it starts out sounding like an Enya song, I still love the sound of Ben Gibbard's voice over anything. He's made of awesome.

13. Buildings and Monuments by Republic Tigers- A band I discovered on Megan's blog (thank you so very much Megan!) and promptly fell in love with. It's all about his voice and the fact that the song has a killer chorus.

14. Life in Technicolor ii by Coldplay- I'm inundating you with Coldplay, but I'm not sorry. If you've heard Life in Technicolor on Viva la Vida, you will love this one. It's the same as its previous version except it has LYRICS. And I just can't help it. When Chris Martin sings, it's like he's singing to me. (also, at the risk of truly overwhelming you with Coldplay, if you are interested, listen to the acoustic version of Lovers in Japan. It's also made of awesome)

15. Secret Meeting by The National- A my sister once said "Wow, he's got a hot voice." Indeed he does.

16. Everybody's Changing by Keane- Now whenever I listen to this song, I see the lead singer dancing like a maniac across the stage. This concert awakened a new love for Keane in my little heart. And I love how upbeat the song is (musically) but it's about everyone moving on and you trying to as well. It's an interesting combo.

17. Uprising by Muse- New single by Muse and it's a little more poppy and flashy. But I like it. Matt Bellamy is still a rock god and Muse knows how to bring it every time, hands down.

Robots in Disguise

2009-07-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

(Yes…appreciate this picture. He is pure beauty)

Last week, I went to see Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen at midnight. I found the movie to be long, loud, full of ridiculousness…but mostly enjoyable. I think the perfect description would be “junk food for the brain”. I grew up with Transformers so seeing them on screen was a blast. Correction: seeing Optimus Prime and Bumblebee kick some serious Decepticon trash was a blast. The movie is beautiful in one way: special effects. That’s the only redeeming quality. Michael Bay may not know how to direct or make a movie without crass humor/slightly whorish women, but he sure knows how to make a robot explosion or transformation look cool. And for those reading who have seen the movie, the best part was in the forest when Optimus Prime lays a serious beatdown on all trying to kill Sam Witwiky, that most beautiful man (Who knew the kid from Even Stevens and Holes could be THAT hot? Seriously.)
That still doesn’t change the fact that the movie had some serious issues. GAPING plot holes. And this article addresses every one that arises. Literally. Plus, it made me laugh. If you’ve seen the movie, it’ll make you laugh too.

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/smg-transformers-10-questions.html

2009-05-26T12:20:00.000-07:00

Only recently have I come to realize how much I absolutely love Summers in Idaho Falls. Granted, you can't beat a Summer in London. Not by any stretch of the imagination. But Summer time in Idaho Falls is absolutely glorious. This is largely due to the fact that 1) The temperature never gets too high like it would in Arizona, Southern Utah, California or some where that is typically warmer year round, 2) the air is rarely if EVER muggy and gross, and 3) I get to live at home while I eat watermelon and hamburgers straight from the grill while sipping homemade lemonade (which I didn't have to make myself nor did I have to go grocery shopping for the food which I have eaten) then proceed to sleep in a giant bed in a room that is all mine. Really, not much can be wrong with this picture. Plus, I get to play with my nephew all the time (yeah, he loves me best), watch all the TV shows I have missed, read more books than I have been a been able to in the last three years of college, enjoy snow cones from the shack by Albertsons, see the best fireworks ever on the 4th of July, go to the cabin, go boating, and play Guitar Hero/Rockband/Mario Kart Wii all the days of my life. And even the whole job thing is great. Not only do I get to draw blood, learn what various prescription drugs do, and shadow doctors, but I actually get to help with research and meet with patients! I get to do my very own research project. It's basically a dream come true for the nerdy pre-mad student deep within me.

But the purpose of this blog is not to tell you about my life this summer. It is to tell you about the object that will make my summer true, unadulterated BLISS. This object is a hammock.

Just last summer, my sister Kate purchased a hammock from an unknown store. For an entire summer, my family enjoyed the hammock until one fateful night, my dog, a chocolate lab named Molly, became exceedingly bored and proceeded to rip the hammock to shreds. We woke up to pieces of nylon rope scattered across the yard. Molly was very proud of her work despite the fact that it tore up her mouth. My dad almost killed her. Needless to say, we were all pretty depressed about it and I felt slightly robbed because I had been at school and in London when the hammock was in use. I had only been home for about a week when Molly murdered what was left of my summer. So, as I came home this summer to do a medical internship, I decided I needed a hammock to enjoy the back yard.

Consider the benefits of having a hammock: no lying on the ground with the bugs. Instead, you get to lie cradled in a colorful bed that swings back an forth. Plus, it's totally great for snuggling with someone you happen to like. Also, it's perfect for reading in while listening to some great summer music. Next, it's portable so that if you decide to go camping or something, you can totally take it with you. This feature is particularly important for me because that means I can take it away from Molly every night. And, you can feel like 1) a pirate 2) a soldier 3) a vagabond. SWEET. Last, outside is so much better than inside so why not spend as much of your time outside as you can. Hammocks are genius! HANDS. DOWN.

Just a Little Tidbit from the Reader's Forum

2009-03-30T11:42:00.000-07:00

Everyday in BYU's student newspaper, there is a section called the Reader's Forum where readers write in about previous articles or pertinent issues. This is what the Forum is INTENDED to be. But it is NOT what actually happens. Instead, the Reader's Forum has become a source of entertainment for hundreds of Daily Universe readers. Today's article about Saved By The Bell, the television show from the 90s, made me laugh out loud in the library. I will share it with you. (And I'm putting it in quotations so as not to cite it as mine. Because it's not.)

MORALLY CORRUPT

"It has come to my attention through reading two recent letters to the editor ("Saved by the Bell," March 6 and, "The shorter the better," October 3,2008) that some students at BYU believe it is acceptable to derive moral lessons from episodes of the television series, "Saved by the Bell." I am extremely troubled by this mode of thinking. "Saved by the Bell," or SBTB, as it is know to the extreme followers of the show, is morally corrupt. If we use the show as a moral compass, surely we will be led astray.
For example, in an episode titled, "Screech's Woman," Zach cross dresses and tried to make Screech think Zach is in love with him (Season 1, Episode 5). In season 2, episode 5, the "gang" holds a house party when a parent is out of town. Jessie is addicted to caffeine pills in season 2, episode 9. The list goes on and on. Cross dressing? Disobeying our parents? Consuming caffeine? Whatever happened to the essential nature of manhood, honoring thy father and thy mother and condemning all those who dare to sip a Coca-Cola?
I call on all BYU students and alums to boycott any reruns of SBTB and any further use of it as a moral scale. No longer may Zach lead us astray, as he did with his friends on "Day of Detention" when he convinces them all to help get him out of detention. Need I remind you that in the end, rather than freeing Zach, everyone winds up in detention (season 4, episode 8)?"

by Maria Miles
East Walpole, Mass.

Here and now, I offer my congratulations and my gratitude to the author of this letter to the editor. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. And even though I am 146% sure that she is being totally sarcastic, I am still just as grateful for the laugh. So here's to you and your sarcasm, Maria Miles of East Walpole, Massachusetts.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: March Madness

2009-03-16T12:56:00.000-07:00

So, this week, March Madness begins and I just wanted to talk a little bit about how much joy The Big Dance brings into my life. Selection Sunday is literally the best Sunday of the year...except when Christmas is on Sunday or my birthday. (p.s. Isn't that picture of Chalmers making the game tying shot a beauty?)

There are four things that I love about the beauty that is March Madness and the Final Four:
1. Basketball all day, everyday.
2. The hilariousness that are the fans of college basketball
3. I really enjoy the fact that out of a group of girls, I am usually one of the few that actually knows what she's talking about. Talk about confidence builder
4. Beautiful men that know how to play basketball on television. ALL DAY LONG. For a week.

Number one is the very best part of it all. All I have to do is turn on the TV and there is bound to be some kind of game on that is AMAZING and intense. I love Kansas basketball. It's a family requirement it seems. Last year was basically the best year ever for us when they won a thriller against Memphis. We will see if they can defend their championship. Plus, with March Madness comes a combination of coaching greats like Coach K (best coach ever to coach basketball, hands down), Roy Williams, and so on. The thing is, every good team plays at the same time with all of their really good coaches going head to head. WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE!!! It's so AMAZING!

Number two just makes me laugh all day long. There are normal fans, but they aren't the ones I'm talking about. Sure, there are fans that are a little crazy and paint their faces and dye their hair the school colors. What has to be remembered is that most of them are students. The fans that I'm talking about are the older men. The fans make it all great. And hilarious.

Number three is a bit prideful and narcissistic, but I totally don't care. I LOVE getting into in depth conversations about basketball. And I just love blowing their minds with knowledge. Mostly, it makes me feel really awesome.

Last, but not least: Beautiful Basketball Men. They're everywhere! The thing that makes them beautiful is the arms. I'm sorry, but basketball players arms are AMAZING. They don't have to have hot faces, but all of them have hot arms. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule in that their faces AND arms are a one-two combo of beauty.

And this year it will be complete and utter craziness because there are no standouts. Having the "Number One" ranking means NOTHING. It's basically a curse. I have no idea how my bracket is going to work out...it's going to be ugly. Unlike last year when I ROCKED IT and picked both the Final Four AND the National Champ! Holler.

So my children. Enjoy the madness.

All You Need is LOVE...in the "Libary"

2009-03-11T11:24:00.000-07:00

Yes. "Libary" is the word. It's how my little nephew used to say "library" when he was little. I am in the Harold B. Lee library right now, in the Accounting computer lab. And even though I have been coming here for months now, I have only just come to realize that it is CREEPY down here. No windows, weird accounting kids, and every other screen has some kind of online role-playing game like War Craft or something. I can't believe it took me almost three months to realize the strangeness of this place...oh well.

So the other day, I was facebook stalking one of my friends and I saw a continuing conversation between her and another of my good friends about grad school and summer plans. This link was in the post. And I must say that it just made me smile from ear to ear. I would like to comment briefly on the AWESOMENESS of this article and what it means.

If someone can get a Master of Arts in The Beatles, why not expand it? I would DEFINITELY try to get a Masters in Muse or maybe a Masters in Pride and Prejudice (which you can kind of do...meh) or a Masters in Comic Books/Star Wars. OR (personal favorite) a Masters in College Football! Shoot. I would do that. To know everything there is to know about every team ever and every player...I'd totally take that on. Maybe I'll submit something to BYU and show them this article so they might listen to me. Cecil and I could work something out for sure. Plus, I'd have to convince the Church Board of Education too. But they're all nice old men. I'm sure they'll listen to me.

(Side note: last night I hit my head really hard on the corner of my roommate's drawers. I knew head wounds bled a lot, but not THAT MUCH. It wasn't even that big of a cut! Good night, it was bleeding for forever. But I forgive my roommate for basically throwing me against the drawers. It was actually really hilarious.)

Playlist Time

2009-02-25T11:15:00.000-08:00

Lovers In Japan by Coldplay- Heard this song during the Oscars (Romance Recap for 2008 presented by Robert Pattinson...now do you see why I watched?) and developed this deep love for it. What can I say? Coldplay SPEAKS to me. And makes me want to play the piano again.

Syndicate by The Fray- The second this song started, I almost passed out because I automatically became obsessed with the beginning and lost all brain function. If the beginning is awesome, I'll want to listen to the rest. And the rest of this song is pretty ding dang good too.

Feeling Good by Muse- This cover is a little piece of Muse heaven. Takes the classic song and turns it on its head, "Muse-ifying" it, if you will. Eat that Michael Buble.

Crack the Shutters by Snow Patrol- Rarrrrrr. That is all I will say.

A Mirror is Hard to Hold by John Foreman- Jon Foreman of Switchfoot fame made some pretty awesome EPs last year. Not only do I love his voice, but I love these chill, sometimes super religious songs.

Abel by The National- Still can't get enough of them. They are just about the most awesome thing since sliced bread. His voice...

Brazil by The Arcade Fire- Ah! The beginning of this song is mostly awesome. And this song makes me want to sway back and forth while I do my homework like a little nerd.

Unconditional by The Bravery- I'm on a mission to find the full song to put on here. But I want to (and often do) yell this song while I drive. Not mad.

Can't Let Go by Landon Pigg- Um, this song hurts my little heart. I just want him to be with this girl. Plus, I love Landon Pigg (Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop? Listen to it.)

Brick by Ben Folds- Even though it's been forever and a year since this song was released, I still love it. It kind of makes me hate life a little, but I just the piano, lyrics, and Ben Folds in general. It's just that good.

Cleanse Song by Bright Eyes- Heh. A happy-ish Bright Eyes song! It's a miracle.

Delicate by Damien Rice- There is so much love in my heart for this song and for Damien Rice. I can fall asleep anywhere when I listen to this song. Damien Rice has succeeded where no other artist can. And that's not to say I think he's boring. He's soothing and mostly awesome.

Let It Rock by Kevin Rudolf- Don't judge me. I LOVE this song. It almost makes me wish I could go to a high school dance again just so I could dance to this song. I DO dance to it. Everyday. And it's a great walking to campus song.

Decatur by Sufjan Stevens- This is the first Sufjan song I ever heard. He makes me chuckle and makes me smile. I want to go to Decatur now...weird.

And just a p.s. for all of you who love orchestral soundtracks like I do: If you ever want to listen to a soundtrack that will blow your mind, just listen to the Revolutionary Road soundtrack. The music for the film is AMAZING. Maybe it's because I watched the movie and loved how they integrated music with images so flawlessly. And because the music was sweet and simple perfection.

A Proclaimation of LOVE

2009-02-23T13:48:00.000-08:00

I am here today to profess my love for something to the whole world (or just to the two people that read my blog). The object of my obsession is........SHOES.

Yes. I am here to tell all of you that I absolutely LOVE shoes.

I mean, let's think about this for just 2.5 seconds. Shoes are practical. Would you want to run around barefoot all the time? In the freezing cold? NO. That would be uncomfortable and your toes would probably fall off. They also save your feet from burning up on the hot pavement/asphalt. I know that all of you know what it feels like to walk on hot, roasting pavement. The first thing you want to do is run over to the neighbor's grass and just stand on it for a few seconds and pray that they just had their sprinklers on, right? See! Shoes=great. Then, on top of the fact that they are practical, they are pretty much ADORABLE. Granted, there are for SURE some ugly shoes out there. And when I say ugly, I mean should be burned or dropped off a cliff into the ocean. The best thing about shoes is that every pair can is made for a specific occasion: morning trips to the grocery store, dates, school, the opera, the beach. And do you know what that means? You have to own several pairs in order to be ready for said occasions!
This is what I have to say: whoever invented canvas shoes should probably be considered for Sainthood. About 75% of my shoes are canvas. My next purchase will be a pair of Vans or Keds (old school style) I seriously can't get enough of them. It's all about the stripes, plaids, and solids.
And now we move to slip ons. Just slide your feet in and WHAMO! You are good to go for the rest of the day. No tying shoelaces or fixing the tongue of the shoe. And they are like letting your feet sleep all day in a little warm sleeping bag. Only thing you have to do is make sure that your pants aren't pushed inside your shoe because that's awkward.
Then there's the flip-flop. Talk about your bare minimum. Now, wearing a flip flop is like just wearing your underwear. Barely anything but just enough. Okay, so that might not be a good analogy. For me it is. Flip flops are just like slip ons. Two seconds and you are ready to go. Just don't step in any puddles. Talk about uncomfortable. Just a step up from the flip-flop you've got the sandal. My sandal of preference is the Chaco...um, hiking through water? No problem, Chaco's got you covered. Plus, the suntan you can get is pretty sweet.
And, though this may come as a shock coming from the girl who doesn't make effort to get ready or look cute EVER, I love wearing heels. Sure they are a man's invention to make a woman look taller, make her butt look bigger, and all sorts of other stuff, but you know what? When I wear heels, I feel hot! Sassy is probably the best word for it. You can rock the heels, move those hips and still go to church and take the sacrament. No guilt! In heels you can be hot and ba-bow-ba-wow! and not be committing a sin. That has got to be a good reason to wear them.

(And just a p.s., KATE WINSLET! I am so grateful she finally won an Oscar, even though the Oscars aren't exactly the best judge of skill sometimes. That woman is basically the best thing to ever happen to the industry. PLUS: Coming Soon! A new playlist...ish. Maybe I should say "updated"? Yeah. That's the one.)

Best. Valentine's Day. Ever. HANDS DOWN

2009-02-19T23:19:00.000-08:00

So, a few weeks ago, my roommates and I made a decision that would forever change the rest of our lives. Okay...not really. But it did make our President's Day weekend 135% awesome. We all thought that since school is stressful, unfun, and fairly boring (right now, school is the worst thing in my life. Pure unadulterated LOATHING) that a vacation would be nice. So we ran to the BYU travel office and bought plane tickets to Long Beach, California. We would spend roughly 4 days in California enjoying sun, beaches, shopping, and, of course, DISNEYLAND.

The only downside was that the weather wasn't quite as cooperative as we needed it to be. Saturday, a.k.a. Disney/Happiest-Day-of-my-Life Day, was marvelous if not a little chilly. Spalsh Mountain at 4:30 in the afternoon was probably not the wisest decision we have ever made. But we dried off quite a bit by going on Space Mountain right after. And we also got an amazing picture out of it, so win win. Sunday was beach day, and it was windy and cold (cold meaning 55 degrees) but it was still pretty much amazing to play in the ocean for a few hours. Monday was cold and wet (torrential downpour, anyone?). But we made the most of it by going to a boardwalk and lighthouse despite the nasty weather. It was a blast anyway.

But the reason for this particular blog is not to talk about the weather or even the beach. This blog is dedicated to that marvelous day spent at Disneyland. I have not been to Disneyland since I was about 12. I went with my family. I love my family and all, but trips to amusement parks with them=MADNESS. There are just too many of us. This trip was with all fully grown girls. It was the most exciting, amazing, exhausting day EVER. And I will say this: I loved my Valentine's Day for once.

My feelings for Disneyland cannot be articulated into sentences. I just tried it. Didn't work. So, instead, I will post pictures of my adventures. Included are pictures from the beach and pier. But mostly Disneyland.

Feeling a Little Like Beth...

2009-01-24T11:19:00.000-08:00

I am wildly in love with the novel "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott as well as the movie by the same name. The movie especially. I love it mostly because it reminds me of my sisters (I have four). Secretly, I have always wanted to be just like Beth. Beth is the soft spoken, sweet, even tempered sister. However, Beth is always in poor health and manages to catch every disease of the day from colds to Scarlet Fever from the Hummel's baby. It's ridiculous, really. Note to Beth: just stay away from the sick people and you'll be just fine. But I digress. Though Beth is my role model in my endeavors to be virtuous and sweet (ha!), there is one thing about her that I do not wish to one day embody.

Beth is always the sister that does not leave home and does not do anything particularly exciting. She just remains at Orchard House with Marmie while playing her piano and snuggling up in her cute little knit shawls. What she does is not bad, it's just not fun. Her sisters go and do something else with their lives either outside of Concord or with a man (married of course). I would like to compare the March sisters to my roommates freshmen and sophomore years. There were 4 that were there both years: Gina, Kallene, Kaccee, and little Teresa. Then there was Britni from freshman year who ended up getting married the summer after. Finally, Lauren took Britni's sophomore year and we loved her just as much. After two years of greatness together, three girls decided to go on missions (Kal-Hawaii, Kaccee-Chile, and Teresa-Spokane, Washington) while another got married (Gina), and Lauren moved back to Boise because she was done with her program. I remained in Provo to continue on in my schooling. This school year, I was worried that I would have a crazy roommate that I couldn't handle (I knew two of the girls I would live with but not the one I would actually share a room with). But Susie was an answer to my prayers! Glorious and hilarious and a genuine lover of BBC films, Susie was my heartsong and more during the fall. But, like others before her, she left for bigger and better things that just happened to be in Washington D.C.

This brings me back to my Beth analogy. My "sisters" are all leaving me for foreign countries, beautiful men (Laurie!)and marriage, or to further their education/to go on an adventure in the big city. These are all great things and I support them wholeheartedly. But there are moments when I can't help feeling a little like Beth; stuck and a little left behind in the world. What I'm doing isn't bad by any means. I'm doing what I need to be doing. It's just that what I'm doing is...well, boring.

I figure, the only way I can really get ahead of those who have gone out into the world before me is to DIE like Beth. Like she says (or whispers) to Jo, "Why does everyone want to go away. I love our home...I do not like being left behind. But now I am the one going ahead." Yep. That's what I have to do. But I would DEFINITELY prefer not to. When I say stuff like this, I know that I'm being ridiculous. 95% of the time. My roommates are on to new and different things and, though it all feels the same to me, I'm doing new things as well. I wonder if this is how Beth felt too...

Christy, Robin, and Chuck/Blair! Oh My!

2009-01-02T20:20:00.000-08:00

I have discovered over the last few years that watching t.v. shows over the break is just about the best way to unwind from a long semester of school and the stress of finals. Thus, every year I make sure to watch at least one new t.v. series I have never seen. This year was no exception. And even though I have written several blogs about movies or television shows, I don't really care. I still want to express my absolute joy at finding these shows. And there are many...what can I say? I like to vege completely during the break.

Show Number 1: Gossip Girl- Don't judge me. I have a weak spot for CW television shows (One Tree Hill, Dawson's Creek, Smallville, and the list continues). You would want a way to completely rot your brain after a semester of Organic Chemistry too. This show hit the spot. Scandalous, full of pretty people, and just despicably delightful. But the thing that really pulled me in was the disturbing yet adorable relationship of Chuck and Blair. My mom thought I was talking about a gay couple when I was talking to my little sister about it, so I will clarify: Chuck is male, Blair is female. Blair - the ultimate drama queen/socialite - and Chuck - the dirty, nasty, hilarious, disgusting, awesome, spoiled preppy boy - make the most fun couple ever to grace the screen of the CW (or even the WB). She's funny. He's funny. They're hilarious. They're spiteful. They're utterly wrong but so right. I just can't walk away. You know you love it. XOXO, Gossip Girl.

Show Number 2: Arrested Development- Ooooookay. Hilarious. I watched several episodes before the break, but I knew I needed to sit down just watch. And what a great decision it was. The antics of the Bluths make me laugh so hard it gets out of control. I have yet to watch an episode where I can predict what will come next. Just not possible. I must finish this series. When, I do not know. But I will do it.

Show Number 3: Robin Hood (BBC)- I had heard about it from a few people, but I never had the opportunity to watch. So, when I was walking through my local rental store, I decided to grab a few episodes and give it a shot. It is truly fabulous. Every actor is excellent and it makes me laugh. Marian is my newest hero, Robin is quite handsome despite his British teeth, and, as a bonus, Richard Armitage of "North and South" fame is in it too. So really, an all around great television experience in both the aesthetics and entertainment departments.

Show Number 4: Christy- This was far and away the BEST show of my break. A product of the mid-90's, Christy is like "Anne of Green Gables", "Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman" and a Hallmark monthly movie all rolled into one. In other words, it is made of AWESOME. And while I have finished the series and I STILL don't know if Christy picks the grumpy, old, mean doctor (Neil McNeill) or the beautiful, perfect, amazing preacher (David Grantland), I still LOVE this show with every fiber of my being. I know that in the books (spoiler alert!) she picks the doctor. I just can't help but want her to pick the reverend because he's amazing! I also know that there are movies, but I don't want to watch them because the girl who plays Christy is different as is the man who plays the reverend and the woman portraying Miss Alice. I just can't want to watch it without all of the same actors. "Christy" was a great, wholesome rebound from the dirtiness of "Gossip Girl" and I recommend it to all. Now, whenever I look at the mountains, I can hear the voice of Kellie Martin - the girl who plays Christy - in my head saying "The Great Smokies. When I left my city home to be a school teacher in a backwoods mission, I dreamed of adventure..." And then I just giggle and smile about how much I absolutely love this t.v. show.

The Playlist: Altered

2008-12-09T14:39:00.000-08:00

As much as I love my playlist I have created specifically for this blog, the time has come for me to put a new one up. Hopefully you enjoy!

1. Summer Skin by Death Cab for Cutie- Lyrics. LYRICS my friends.

2. Typical by Mutemath- Don't know who they are? Well, listen to this song and you will WANT to know. I'm mostly obsessed with his voice.

3. My Sundown by Jimmy Eat World- Holy...there are no words to describe everything that this song is to me. When I feel sad or happy or any emotion, I listen to this song. If I can't sleep, I listen to this song. If I want to feel like I can do something, I listen to this song. It is far and away my favorite song. Has been for years.

4. Starlight by Muse- What kind of playlist would this be without MUSE!? If people have heard of Muse, this is usually the song they've heard of. It is made of awesome.

5. Catch my Disease by Ben Lee- His accent, his voice, and the greatness of this song. But mostly his accent.

6. Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron and Wine- Susie and I are obsessed with this song. We think it's so cute and precious. But...the lyrics aren't actually cute. They don't even make sense. But when Edward Cullen dances to this song, it makes it romantic automatically.

7. Fake Empire by The National- MEGAN WINEGAR: I am eternally indebted to you for introducing me to this song. My love for it has quickly become obsession. And I have converted my roommates to love The National as well.

8. Repetition Kills You by The Black Ghosts- I can't explain it. I love this song. Simple as that.

9. The Longer I Run by Peter Bradley Adams- The most CHILL music ever. I love his voice and the fact that he plays the piano and guitar.

10. 15 Step by Radiohead- This song rocks my world. Radiohead is 100% awesome and this song adds another 200% to their greatness.

11. The Past and Pending by The Shins- The Shins and Death Cab were my first real foray into the alternate music scene. This song will never get old.

12. Wake Up by The Arcade Fire- ...No words. Just listen.

13. The Resolution by Jack's Mannequin- Makes me feel like getting up on the table and playing the guitar in the middle of the library. I want to sing it at the top of my lungs whenever I hear it.

14. Disintegration by Jimmy Eat World- I'm pretty sure I'm obsessed with this song right now. When I listen to it, it makes me mad, sad, and angry all at once. This is what I like to call my venting song. And it's when I get to the chorus that all of the emotion comes out. And the three emotions I listed above don't even cover all of the ones I feel while listening to this song. Jimmy always speaks to me. ALWAYS.

Oh, the Nerdiness of it All

2008-11-22T20:59:00.000-08:00

I am about to announce something to the whole of the internet. I am a self professed Twilight nerd. There are times when I am embarrassed of my deep love for all things Stephenie Meyer, but for the most part, I don't mind. Instead I embrace it. However; I do take comfort in the fact that I still maintain a life outside the world of vampires, werewolves, and their love lives. Twilight is not and never will be "MY LIFE". It's just that when I like something, I like it with every part of me. Nothing can change it either. Just the way I roll I guess.

As I'm sure everyone knows, Twilight had a monster weekend this week with the release of the first movie in the series. And after an ENORMOUS (and when I say enormous, I mean huge, crazy, and double the budget) box office intake, the studio that made it is moving up production of the second movie, New Moon. And I am STOKED. Like, the 100%-absolutely-excited-and-psyched kind of stoked. Ah. The movie. I did truly love it. Cheesy? Yes. A little choppy and full of strange camera angles? Definitely. Ridiculous? To the max. Full of beautiful people? Ooooh yeah! Rob Pattinson embodied Edward Cullen in every possible way. From the sarcasm to the absolutely brooding beauty, he was true perfection. I might legitimately love him...okay, not really. But I do think he is fabulous. AND! Was it hilarious, sexy, charming, awkward, and filmed in a beautiful location? Done and done. All I had to do was overlook the little faults and focus on the performances of Edward and Bella. I found them to be absolutely adorable and even believable. Not to mention, they had sexual tension you could cut with a knife and participated in the hottest, possibly most amazing kiss I have ever witnessed. Believe it.

The thing is that people are bashing it. And I'm all for people having their opinions. It's a good thing. But when it comes to bashing, not okay. All I have to say is: WHOA! Settle down. It's just supposed to be a fun and entertaining movie. It's called an adaption for a reason. Yes, there were things I wanted to see that weren't there. And yes, I didn't like a few things. But that's okay. It's hard for me to find a movie where I liked everything about it. The most important thing to me was that I DID feel the exact same feelings that I felt when I read the book. The excitement, the pain, the anticipation, the tension, the desperation. It was all there. And that is really all that matters. That and seeing Edward and Bella, on screen and almost tangible. What can I say? I just love their love!

"As the Good Books says..."

2008-11-12T09:39:00.000-08:00

The title of my blog is taken from the film "Fiddler on the Roof". For those who have not seen the greatness that is "Fiddler on the Roof" (a love that happens to be a product of my childhood), Tevye, who is quite possibly one of the greatest fictional characters EVER, is an Orthodox Jew that mostly rocks. He sings about "Tradition" (much better than my dad who, bless his heart, tries to sound and dance like him), sports an awesome beard and hair shirt, and lives in Czarist Russia. Oh, to watch that movie daily. Well, maybe not daily because it is LONG as can be. A good three hours plus. It was "Fiddler on the Roof" that prompted me to read my favorite book, My Name is Asher Lev
because I wanted to know more about Orthodox Jews.

I have a reason for writing about "Fiddler on the Roof" and Asher Lev: I have made a decision to branch out and take a little bit of a leap with my education. While I will keep my major PDBio for now, I am going to try something new. And that would be looking into Jewish Studies as a major or minor. A minor at least, but I make no guarantees that I will keep my major what it is right now.

This all stems from not only my fascination with media involving contemporary Jewish culture but from a class I took last Winter about Judaism in the ancient world. I have never been so enthralled by a class. I loved going to it more than almost anything...except Anatomy. The curriculum required that I read a book called This is My God by Herman Wouk. It details what Orthodox Jews believe. It is a fairly comprehensive look into the everyday lives of Jews across the world. A Jewish Studies minor requires me to take Hebrew (how cool would it to be to write on my Med School application to say "I speak Hebrew"?)and a few other classes about Jewish beliefs and culture. To say the least, I am very excited. Keep your fingers crossed for me that it will work out...

Why So Serious?

2008-11-05T22:37:00.000-08:00

As a child, I loved Halloween more than almost anything. Christmas, summer, and Star Wars were the only three things that invoked more joy in my heart than Halloween. My mother would make us elaborate costumes and I would secretly trade my cute little pumpkin trick or treat bag for the biggest pillowcase I could find. I am fairly sure I have never been a girl for Halloween...Robin Hood, a clown, a pumpkin (both gender neutral), a fireman, G.I. Joe, Batman, Clark Kent, and the list goes on. This year would have been the first year I would have been portraying a female character if I had dressed up. I had a plan to be either Mariah Carey or Pam Beesley of "The Office" fame.

Over the last few years, I discovered I have little passion left for Halloween. There is only one thing I find to be of any value concerning this holiday: carving pumpkins.

I used to watch my dad carve pumpkins that were elaborate and pretty much awesome. I would try to imitate but fail miserably and end up resorting back to carving traditional triangles-for-eyes jack-o lantern. But now, I have a handy electric knife, awesome patterns, and a lot of practice under my belt. The only thing I don't have is matches. And so I decided to use my Christmas lights! They look a little funny because of all the different colored lights, but it works. And instead of carving one pumpkin, I went all out. This year it was four, one more than last year. My original plan was to carve Barack Obama, Jim Halpert, The Joker, and another unknown pattern. However, I was in NO mood to have my Obama pumpkin smashed by haters, so I altered the plan...

One of my favorite Pixar movies is "The Incredibles" and I thought since it was Halloween, I ought to do something kid friendly. Hence the Mr. Incredible

I did carve the Joker and when I finished and put the lights in, I was afraid. Oh yes...I was scared of a pumpkin.

And JIM! I just love him...happy!

Then last of all, we have Jack Sparrow. I carve him every year it seems. It's just that he's my favorite to carve because he's just so cool! I always screw up though...

And that...is all.

Yes We Can

2008-11-04T20:47:00.000-08:00

"She is my HEARTSONG!"

2008-10-30T12:55:00.001-07:00

When one thinks of T.V. shows of the 90’s, things like Seinfield, Friends, 90210, and even 21 Jump Street (Very young Johnny Depp? Watch it.), come to mind.
But one of the greatest and most underrated television shows to come from the decade of boy bands and ugly clothing was Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman.

Just a few weeks ago, my roommate Susie and I were discussing some of the things we love, even going so far as to discuss our guilty pleasures. Susie suddenly became very serious and turned to me. She bit her lip and giggled a little. “Erin,” she said looking ashamed, “I have always loved the T.V. show Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman…” I immediately shot up out of my reclined position in bed and yelled “ME TOO!” We both grinned and giggled, proceeding to talk about how much Dr. Quinn absolutely inspired us both to find a man like Sully and to be our own woman.

This blog is, you guessed it, entirely about the gloriousness of Dr. Quinn.

The main character is Michaela Quinn, the female doctor from Boston that rocks my world. How can a female doctor who adopts 3 random children, moves to the Wild West, and manages to woo a beautiful but rugged mountain man NOT be awesome? She is quite possibly one of the most beautiful women on the planet. And her dresses always seem to be very floofy and girly even though she always gets splattered with blood and guts. She also has a very strong moral compass. She’s always fighting about soe kind of moral dilemma going on in the little town of Colorado Springs. But there is one serious flaw she possesses: the woman does NOT know how to kiss. Every time she and Sully share a kiss, she ends up looking like a dead fish with her lips all puckered out. It’s just no good.

Dr. Mike adopted three random children when their mother unexpectedly died: Matthew, the brooding older brother who ends up being very good looking and kind of a rebel (and gay in real life…dern), Colleen, the girl initially following in Dr. Quinn’s footsteps to be a doctor but instead marrying the marvelous Andrew, and Brian, the goober of a little brother that is just a flat out idiot with a good heart.
In the first season, Matthew and Brian have utterly horrendous girly haircuts that resemble mullets or perhaps something a pilgrim might have had at the first Thanksgiving. Pretty unfortunate if you ask me. But luckily, they got haircuts at the same time and looked just fine. I thought all was well on Dr. Quinn. Oh no. Colleen randomly switched actresses! She was this obnoxious, sort of urgly blonde haired little girl (who happens to be really hot now. I think she was a Bond girl) to a foxy redhead who ends up wooing the handsome Andrew, another town doctor. Apparently, from what I’ve learned on imdb.com, the first Colleen didn’t want to stay on. I’m not complaining about the swap though.

One thing about Matthew that I think is funny. He loves this immigrant girl (can’t remember where on earth she is from) named Ingrid. Ingrid is nice and great for Matthew and they decide to get married. Happy right? False. The writers of the show decided Ingrid needed to DIE. So she gets bitten by some wild animal and dies of rabies. RABIES? Really, Old Yeller?

The other residents of Colorado Springs are what make this show great. Horace, the awkward and weird looking telegraph operator who is in love with Myra, the woman working as a…lady of the night in Hank’s bar. Loren, the nasty old general store owner. Jake the…what does he do? He’s lame. Hank, the bar and brothel/hotel owner. Dorothy (or Theadorthy as we like to call her) the woman the runs the town newspaper and is Dr. Mike’s bestest friend. Robert E. and his wife, Grace (I think), the adorable black couple that make the townies bearable as well as being the owners of a café and horse stable. And the Reverend, who isn’t very reverend-ish because he pursues every unmarried woman in town.

I will finish with my favorite part of the show. Sully…he is my heartsong. His first name is Byron, which is definitely grounds to go by the last name. Only old English poets should go by the name Byron. Sully is a white man that is secretly an Indian. His best friend is named Cloud Dancing (But we call him Dancing Cloud because it rolls off the tongue a little easier) and whenever they see each other they say “Ah-ho!” in greeting. We of Wellington 33 have adopted this method as well. Just don’t yell it across the way or people might think you are pointing out a particularly trashy woman. Back to Sully: he owns the most beautiful dog (a Husky…I want it) and he carries a tomahawk to hurl at people that threaten Michaela. It’s drama all the time with Sully. The only downside to him is that his hair is sick. It’s all long and matted. I mean, he is a mountain man and all, but if you are going to be that beautiful, at least get a haircut, brother.

Sheesh...Mer...Sheeshmer? Hersheys?

2008-10-27T14:39:00.000-07:00

My old roommate (wanted to say ex-roommate, but that would imply a falling out. There has been no such occurrence.) tagged me to fill one of these out. Might as well, right?

8 Favorite TV Shows:
The Office- I wrote a blog about it already. Read down below why I love it.
Alias- Butt kicking action, hot men with great tattoos, and Marshall the tech guy. Watch it. You know you want to.
Lost- Pretend that Lost doesn't rock for about five seconds.....done. Not realistic. A show full of great character development and slightly out of this world story lines. Let's remember and acknowledge that J.J. Abrams is basically awesome.
Chuck- So much love in my heart for this show. An extremely dorky but good looking guy and some hot chick that happens to be a CIA agent fall for each other...what more could you want? And I would like to be the mother of Zachary Levi's (the actor playing Chuck, the title character)children. I would do it for free too.
The O.C.- My guiltiest pleasure. When I feel sad or a little out of sorts, I plop down on the couch to watch Seth, Summer, and Ryan. But not Marissa. She's obnoxious and whiny. I am still very glad she died almost 2 years after the show ended.
Pushing Daisies- NED! He is the major draw for me. He makes pies and has that adorable little part! What a great guy. You know, minus the whole touching people that he loves and killing them...no good.
Friday Night Lights- I have NEVER been so stressed out in the pilot of a television show IN MY LIFE. I'm guessing it has to do with the fact it is all about football.
Smallville- Don't ask my why or how, but anything about a superhero just makes me want to watch. It's automatic.

8 Favorite Restaurants
Happy Sumo- A little piece of sushi heaven. I could eat sushi all day long on every day of the week. Mmmm!
J-Dawgs- Okay, so not technically a restaurant, but still. Provides the only hot dogs I actually like.
PF Changs- Chinese...Once I tasted that Great Wall of Chocolate desert they had, I was done for.
Pizza Hut- Pizza always seems to hit the spot for me. Pizza makes me feel like a little kid again.
Cafe Rio- Two words: Pork Burrito. Delightful.
California Pizza Kitchen- Reminds me of being with the roomies. I seem to celebrate most major occasions here. Even though it was the first meal I ate after BYU lost to Utah in 2005, I still have a special place for it in my heart.
Zupas- BUPAS! Fresh salads (Nuts About Berries= personal favorite) and a chocolate dipped strawberry (so Troy Bolton of them). That's all I need to make me happy.
Arby's- Roast Beef sandwich to go...that's all a girl needs in life. For REALS.

8 Things that happened yesterday
1. Watched High School Musical 3 illegally...heh!
2. Went to Sacrament meeting
3. Hung out with Garrett and Kimbre in a marriage prep class that isn't even in my ward
4. Made corkscrew pasta macaroni and cheese
5. Wrote a very creative story about Brian the Fat but Happy Rabbit
6. Sort of watched Tim Burton's The Corpse Bride on t.v.
7. Thought about taking a nap
8. Read a little for Chemistry

8 Things to look forward to
1. Thanksgiving
2. Harry Potter
3. The Office
4. Twilight Movie
5. A Great Night of Sleep
6. Christmas
7. The end of the semester
8. Playing in Idaho Falls

8 Things I love about Fall
1. Leaves
2. My mom making spider web sugar cookies and sending them to me
3. Football season!
4. I can wear a sweater
5. I can wear a jacket!
7. It always seems to smell amazing outside
8. It's going to SNOW! Snow makes my world a very joyful place

8 Things on my Wish list
1. Kayak
2. Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman complete DVD set (all 6 seasons and both movies)
3. A new iPod...Harrison is dying
4. Edward Cullen
5. Enough money to get involved with Doctors Without Borders
6. To get into Medical School
7. To see my sister Kate sometime soon
8. To go home and SLEEP!

Saddest of All the Days...

2008-10-19T20:27:00.000-07:00

I was originally going to write a blog entitled “BYU: Legitimate Threat.” It detailed why BYU deserved to be placed in a BCS bowl game in the post-season. It is obvious and extremely unfortunate that I cannot post that. Thursday night, BYU played TCU in a game that recalled back to the days of Gary Crowton and Matt Berry. I have not been so annoyed with a football game since Boise State beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl (and I’m an Idahoan, so I feel fine about being a BSU hater). But more specifically, I haven’t been so frustrated watching a BYU game since BYU lost to Utah in 2005.

My analysis of the game won’t be kind. But, after I will definitely try to uplift and possibly inspire. I hope I can offer some optimism to the Cougar Nation and prove to the doubters that the team can rebound and take their place as a legitimate team in the national scheme of things.

Coach Mendenhall seems to be a soft spoken but stern man. He has high expectations for his team as evidenced by his motto for the year: The Quest for Perfection. Ever since Gary Crowton left in a maelstrom of the football team’s various BYU honor code violations, Mendenhall has emphasized discipline, spirituality, tradition, and honor. He expects only the best from his boys on and off the field. And I can’t even imagine what it would be like for those young men to walk into the locker room after that virtual failure at TCU and look into the face of Bronco Mendenhall. I doubt that he would yell at them. I can imagine he would wear a look something like that of a disappointed father and proceed to say something about how much they had let themselves down.

The BYU Campus newspaper, The Daily Universe, has weekly ratings for the various teams after the games. They are on a grading scale similar to what one would expect in school; an A for an exceptional performance and all the way down to an E (because BYU doesn’t give F’s for failing, just E’s) for a poor showing. Friday’s paper gave the defense an E. I credit the two defenses for TCU’s win. TCU was practically flawless. They are known for their ability to completely shut down the run. But the most impressive part of their defense was the fact that they stopped Max Hall and his receivers. BYU’s offensive line was unaccustomed to the speed of the defensive line and linebackers, giving up more sacks than they had all season. The defensive backs were fast and skilled. Their coverage was exceptional at forcing Max Hall into throws he didn’t want to make, intercepting the ball twice and not allowing any touchdowns through the air.

The BYU defense was utterly deplorable. They were outstripped, outrun, and just flat out outplayed. Run defense? None. Pass defense? Ha! This week, if Bronco doesn’t put the fear of God into those boys, UNLV might find a way to trample them. UNLV has talent and if they watch that tape closely enough, this week might be another nightmare week. But I have the feeling BYU won’t let another game like TCU happen again.

One thing is for sure: the Cougars didn’t come to play. TCU was prepared. BYU was not. They let their previous great play get to their heads. I know, along with everyone else that was at the UCLA game, how dominantly they can play. In other words, it’s up to BYU to rebound. This game should give them the heavy dose of humility they need. Cross your fingers they can show UNLV what they are REALLY made of. Think on the bright side! At least now those people will stop throwing tortillas on the field when the Cougars score.

2008-09-25T21:23:00.000-07:00

At last...nuff said.

I just want to say that this was the best Dundies ever! WOOOOOOO!

2008-09-24T14:47:00.000-07:00

This has been a week full of madness. I had two tests (dominated both, sucka) and two papers AND I have a presentation on Formalism to do for a week from today. But you know what? Who CARES about me!? This particular blog isn't even about me or what I have been doing. Oh no, it's about something much greater: this week is the season premiere of The Office. Everything from here on out will be dedicated to the greatness of said television show.

The Office is good for me. Why? Because it is based in a real setting without mythical beings or other ridiculous story lines. The Office is a great show to live vicariously through because it has a pretty good basis in reality. Mind you, I have never met anyone like Michael Scott in my life and hope never to meet someone like him. On the other hand, do I wish to meet someone like Jim Halpert? Absolutely I do.

There are 5 reasons why I love The Office. And these are in no particular order until the last one which is the NUMBER ONE reason I absolutely adore this show

-One Liners- THings like "Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica" and "Absolutely I do." have become a common part of my vocabulary. Not only do I say them to people that watch the show and know what I'm talking about, but I also say it to people that probably have no clue what I'm alluding to. That is the glory of The Office. When I say these lines to people that watch, they laugh and we typically launch into a conversation about the show. On the other hand, when I say them to people who don't watch, they laugh. So...win win win.

-Jim pranks- I am so sorry, but a stapler in Jell-O? Putting Dwight's stuff in the vending machine and forcing him to buy it all back with nickles? Matching Dwight's mobile phone to his headset so he gets all of Dwight's calls? Faxes from "Future Dwight"? Oh, or my personal favorite, dressing up like Dwight and mocking him in every way possible. After I watch the pranks play out, I'm usually rolling on the floor laughing or lying on my couch/bed with tears rolling down my cheeks because I'm cackling with real laughter. It just doesn't get any better than that, my friends.

-It's not a sitcom...per se- It's still funny and considered a sitcom I guess, but it ISN'T. It's not typical and it doesn't follow the formula. A solution isn't found my the end of the half an hour block. Often it's only made worse. The beautiful thing about The Office is it has an almost uncomfortably slow pacing. The rhythm helps to reinforce the doldrums of Dunder Mifflin Scranton and contrasts with the zany characters. It's like watching real like with a bit of zing to it. Good.

I have something to look forward to- It is really something that just brightens up my day. Class? Boring and hard. No bueno. Tests? Ew. Papers? Sick. Life in general? Eh...could be better. And it is made better by the likes of Michael, Dwight, Angela, Andy, Jim, Stanley, Kevin, Phyllis, Pam, Merideth, Creed, Ryan (occasionally), Jan, Oscar, and even Kelly. Not Toby though. I'm on team Michael for that one. I am a Toby loather. I digress. Little, half an hour escapes from reality are good for a person. Just revel in the non-reality of their reality...which is kind of like reality...hmm...

-JIM AND PAM (you knew it was coming...it's me, for crying out loud!)- Ah...love. Their love inspires me to be a better person. No, really. After watching for three seasons of heartache, anguish, and unrequited love, we (the "Jam" faithful) were rewarded with a glorious "Well, it's a date" and BAM! PB&J was born and the rest is history. At last they are together. And if they don't get engaged by Christmas, I will personally drive to California, hunt Greg Daniels down and somehow force him to write it in. I honestly can't take it much longer. The proposal gag in the season finale was enough to cause a riot last spring among women across the country. If they pull a Ross and Rachel where they are meant to be TOGETHER ("TOGETHER" being different than "together" in that marriage and never breaking up is involved in "TOGETHER") but they aren't till...the last scene? Kill. If they want to portray this as a real relationship that works, then by golly! get those kids MARRIED! And let them have lots of cute and hilarious children. Get on that writers. Appease me!

And now to wait until tomorrow for my one hour of bliss. Just one more day. My mantra till 8 p.m. tomorrow.

Word: Motivation, Definition: Not Erin

2008-09-17T20:19:00.000-07:00

Word: Motivation
Definition:
1. the act or an instance of motivating.
2. the state or condition of being motivated.
3. something that motivates; inducement; incentive.

(Don't you love it when the word you are trying to define is part of the definition? So unhelpful)

I am surrounded by my science books (literally, not kidding, sitting on my floor, with Micro Bio on my left and O-Chem on my right with Astronomy behind me). They are there so I will feel motivated to do my homework. To be truthful, for some strange reason, this semester has brought a sense of laziness and a desire to sit around and do nothing. This has never happened to me in my ENTIRE LIFE. Usually, I am able to sit in the library or my apartment and just go. Once I got started, I could go for hours without a hitch. Not one problem on my horizon except whether or not this carbon would bond with that oxygen. But this semester? This semester is an absolute nightmare in terms of finding motivation.

Why?

Option One: My mind has suddenly become so focused on The Office starting up again that it can't do anything else.
Option Two: My brain is already full and cannot be filled beyond capacity.
Option Three: London has ruined me. I go there and I learn so much, see everything, and have the time of my life gallivanting around. Then I come back to Provo where everything is out of a book now. The U.K. transformed me into an entirely hands-on learner...drat!
Option REALITY: I have entered Senior mode two years too early. Seeing as how I will have to attend one semester beyond the "typical" (HA!) 4 years, I will graduate in December 2010...reality hits. I have 2 more years. My brain has just comprehended the fact that I will be here till the END OF TIME. Kill the world. So, attempting to exact revenge on me, my brain has decided to wipe out all motivation and replace it with desires to watch bad television shows, eat Otter Pops, and read teen lit.

Solution?: Maybe this is just self fulfilling prophecy. I'm going to stick it to the man. I will turn on Harrison (my little red i-pod), change it to my chill Peter Bradley Adam's music, pick up My Name is Asher Lev and read till I DIE!...and then I will finish that RIDICULOUS study guide for Astronomy so I can get it out of the way. To be honest I have no idea what in the SAM HILL I will do to remain motivated. But I am open to suggestions.

Erm...What?

2008-09-16T11:38:00.000-07:00

So I'm currently sitting in the library, a.k.a. the HBLL (pronounced H-Bill) and I SHOULD be studying. I keep staring at my astronomy (yes, I am taking astronomy and it is boring but comfortable in those planetarium seats that are padded and GASP! recline)and thinking, "Wow, I could be doing so much more right now...like watching Wentworth Miller on 'Prison Break' or even shoe shopping. Or sleeping. Or reading. Or not doing astronomy." But seeing as how my homework is due in a few days and I also have a test this weekend, I should probably get a move on that study guide. It's just that words like "diurnal" make me think of men's restrooms for some reason and then I start laughing out loud and people glare at me. It's a bit of dilemma.

SOLUTION: I will blog to get the creative juices flowing and the wheels turning in my brain. What will this blog be about, you may ask? Well, let me just tell you!

The playlist that ROCKS your SOCKS. I even put one together for your enjoyment...sorry if it interrupted YOUR music with it's automatic 'play' feature. Forgive me.

1. Glorious- Muse
Oh. Just listen to how that starts and then how it all comes together. Matt Bellamy owns my SOUL when it comes to music. I'm obsessed with the guitar in this song. I could listen to it all day long.
2. Dizzy- Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World never fails at putting out a song that makes me want to sing at the top of my lungs (did that with this song at the concert and I sung so loud and hard, I almost passed out...whoops!) or that has a real emotion that I cannot describe.
3. Why Does it Always Rain on Me- Travis
Just recently discovered on...who would have guessed it, Stephenie Meyer's website. Many of these songs were actually discovered there. I'm a big fan of his voice and the chill-ness of the music.
4. No Cars Go- The Arcade Fire
Where have The Arcade Fire been all my life? Really, I need everything and anything by them because they truly are musicians in every way. Again, I love his voice and the more retro feeling of this song.
5. Orange Sky- Alexi Murdoch
If I smoked weed (which I don't), this would be the song I would do it to. Chill, relaxed, and soothing: perfect weed smoking music. And he's got an accent. A British one to be exact.
6. Hang Me Up to Dry- Cold War Kids
Back to something maybe a little more eclectic, but I really like the bass and guitar in this song. Listen to it in the car and it's a lot more fun. I like how dark it is too.
7. The Scientist- Coldplay
My favorite of all the Coldplay songs. Chris Martin is an artist and this song is just amazing. The thing I love about Coldplay is that they use piano in almost every song. This song is just about the best one for that, except maybe Clocks.
8. Map of the Problematique- Muse
WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE. This song has the most incredible beginning, amazing guitar playing by Matt Bellamy, good bass for the car, and the lyrics? Oh...just steal me away Matt...I will go wherever you want me to as long as you play this song for me. Every time I hear it, I turn it up as loud as my ears will allow without my eardrums breaking.
9. We Looked Like Giants- Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab puts out good stuff. And I really love listening to Ben Gibbard's voice. It's very interesting and distinctive. Good, good stuff. This song is a bit of a scandal, but that doesn't stop me from loving it.
10. I'm Ready, I Am- The Format
My thanks to Megan Winegar for introducing me to The Format. I'm very much a big fan as of right now. And I'm very sad that they have broken up...tears.
11. Split Screen Sadness- John Mayer
John Mayer...my first real concert. And it was a good one. This song is my kind of song: slow and depressing. Love it.
12. Release Me- Mae
This song is for Annie Davies. We listened to it far too often in London. It's just...yum.
13. The Special Two- Missy Higgins
Missy Higgins is one of two female artists I like. The other is Sara Bareilles. Another slow song that just makes me happy. Piano...kills me.
14. The Lining is Silver- Relient K
I found this song randomly when I was trying to find a preview for The Office on youtube. But then I knew I needed to own it. So now I love it.
15. Gravity- Sara Bareilles
Oh...this song. The lyrics just rip my heard out and then stomp on them in a lemon and lime filled tub. DRAMATIC? Yes. Overly so. But it is STILL a great song.

16. Wouldn't it Be Nice- The Beach Boys
Heh. This song makes me chuckle. Besides, who doesn't love the Beach Boys?
17. Decora- Spoon
Just found this song today actually. Spoon is one of those bands you hear on t.v. shows like The O.C. and the new 90210 that makes you grateful they have good music but sad that it is on those shows. Indie rock like Spoon is what makes those shows bearable. And then you go and buy the soundtrack so you can have that one song.
18. Supermassive Black Hole- Muse
Pure sexy. That is the only phrase that can be used to describe this song. It is everything that is sexy in this world.
19. Invincible- OK Go
I love the greatness that is this song. It makes me want to start dancing like a maniac and scream the lyrics as loud as possible.

And now I return to the world, or rather the universe, of Galileo and Copernicus. Then on to the world of carbon double bonds and constitutional isomerism. Followed by DNA and proteins...it never ends. Will graduation ever come?

Finding the Comfort

2008-09-14T16:05:00.000-07:00

Every day, at some point, I think about my career choice. I struggle with what I have chosen to do and with who I want to be in my future. I want to be the best doctor I can be. I want to make the lives of those in pain easier. I want to see those little children with their eyes lit up with the excitement of a potential recovery. And strange as it may sound and hard as it will be, I am sure that when I lose that first patient, that first child, I will appreciate all that they will have brought in my life and made me feel. I don't want to be a doctor because I want money. I want to be a doctor because people are so unique, so incredible in their humanity that I want to see it everyday. I also want to get married. Contrary to what I always say about not wanting to get married, I really do. I want the life my parents have. I want to have a family even though it scares the...living daylights out of me. And I know that I can have both of those things. I know I can be a doctor and get married and have a family all in one. But that doesn't mean that I have any clue as to how I will be able to do it.

Often, when I tell people I want to attend medical school, I see something change in their eyes and I know exactly what is coming. The way they regard me is either confirmed or it does a complete 180. The looks and remarks I have received over the years have been nothing short of remarkable. While there are many who are supportive and who tell me that I should do what I feel is right for me, there are still those who adhere to the stereotype and expectations for me to marry and have a family. Today, most of the questions make me laugh. But initially (sometimes still) it was painful and hard to hear them. Some ask if I want a family or if I "even want to get married at all." Another question, probably the most hurtful of all, is if I feel comfortable taking the spot of a man who will need to support his family when all I have to support is myself and I could do so in some other profession.

My answer to this question in particular is always the same, calm and rehearsed answer. I say, "yes, I will take his spot. If he is not qualified enough to deserve it, I will take it so I can support myself and enjoy a career that I am passionate about." But I want to scream at them. I want to say "How DARE you question my passion, commitment, and above all, my ABILITY as a WOMAN to do as good a job as a man!? How dare you demean me and make me feel insecure about something that is a struggle every day of my life? I have a hard enough time reconciling who I know I need to be with what I want more than anything in this life, so don't you DARE EVER compare me to a man again."

My mother is one of the best, most intelligent women I have ever known. I respect her and my father above politicians, CEOs, world leaders, and just about everyone else on this planet. She is extremely well educated and is well informed in world and community issues. She taught me how to read, how to love, and introduced me to the good things in life. Her choice to stay at home and be a mother and teach her children is the one that has affected me the most in my life. She has never doubted me and always encouraged me in whatever I wanted to do. She is a homemaker and what she does is the HARDEST job on earth. The career path I have chosen will be difficult, but what she does everyday outshines and outstrips whatever I choose to do. I can only hope that one day I can be what she is to me to someone else. If I can do that with my family, even better. But one thing that I love about her is that she doesn't expect me to be her. She tells me to be who I want to be as long as I am a good person. I don't know if what I am saying here is contradictory to what I said above. It might be, but I just wanted to say that what I choose to do and be is my decision. And in my personal opinion, what a woman chooses to do or be is between her and whatever God she worships, not her and some stereotype that people expect. As of right now, I see that what I am doing is right and nothing will change that.

2008-09-04T18:06:00.001-07:00

The City of Luuurve...No, Not Paris.

Okay, this is the blog I have been meaning to write for a very long time. It's quite a delightful little blog, if I may say so myself. I hope you get a kick out of it.

To start off, as we all know, I HATE couples. They make me gag. I have rarely ever seen a couple that doesn't disgust me. To clarify a few points, I do not hate all couples. Only those couples that just can't BARE to lose contact with each other. Sick. Just thinking about it makes me want to upchuck. And, of course, because I feel this way, couples in said couple category always seem to find me. There are definitely cute couples out there.
Couple 1: Gina and Rob. Okay. These two are RIDICULOUSLY adorable.
Couple 2: Satyra and Sterling. I love them. And I just want her to wait and see if it works...just one more year!
Couple 3: Jim and Pam.
Couple 4: Wellllll....potential couple. Lauren and...do I even need to say it? Oh well, I will: Brocky! Three words: Little, hilarious children.
Couple 5: Tanya...I mean Sister Cutler and Uncle Cutler! I think they're cute. Really. Not lying.
Couple 6: See picture. Need I say more?

While there are cute couples, after London, I have realized that there are just too many SICK couples out there. London only enhanced my experience.

Examples of SIIIIICK couples:

Wicked-I was sitting in my seat at Wicked having a grand old time people watching when a couple approached our row and slid in next to me. They started talking and I realized they were both American. I thought "How nice. A couple on holiday together and they're out on a date. That's great." FALSE. Not great. I left momentarily to buy a program to keep as a souvenir and then returned to my seat to find a couple heavily engrossed in a steamy make-out session. With ten minutes left until the beginning of the musical, I thought maybe they'd talk or exchange a few quick pecks or something. Boy was I wrong. They went AT it. For the full ten minutes. I turned to Annie and Kristin and pointed out the utter atrocity of it all and the fact that I was gagging. But seriously? In public for more than 10 minutes in front of children? SERIOUSLY!? The play began and like a breath of fresh Idaho mountain air, they stopped to watch. At intermission I turned to Annie to talk to her about the first half of the play only to see her eyes wide and staring past my shoulder at the couple. "Don't tell me." I said. She could only stifle a laugh and nod. I had to look. It's like watching a car accident. You don't want it to happen, but when it does, there's nothing you can do but watch. I could only watch for a few moments because my medulla oblongota kicked in and my primal gag reflex acted up. For the entirety of intermission, they were entangled in one another, completely and utterly and blissfully in love and oblivious to the crowd surrounding them. I was dying of course and said a little prayer of thanks when the show started again and they ceased their...ahem...loving of each other.

Example 2:

The Tube-The London underground is a marvelous place. Full of magic and wonder. You can go ANYWHERE you want, whenever you want (as long as it's between the time of 4 a.m. and midnight). However, the underground is a breeding place for young couples passionately in love. The worst part is that most of them are like, 14 and 15 year olds. Though I witnessed this affection on multiple occasions, one in particular stands out in my mind. I got on the Circle Line with Annie to go somewhere and play. It was a particularly busy day and the Tube was packed and slightly stinky and sticky. I was forced to stand and hold the little yellow bar at the top of the car. After I squeezed into a spot and grabbed the bar before the train lurched forward, I looked up. Right at a couple. They couldn't have been older than 16. And boy, were they liking (no, not licking, LIKING...stop it Kaccee) each other. Like at Wicked, I couldn't look away for a moment. I finally turned to Annie who was DYING laughing. She finally choked out "I wish you could have seen your face when you first saw them. Your eye's got huge and your nostrils flared!" Then she broke down laughing again. I said, "But seriously!? SERIOUSLY? What would possess them to do that!?" Annie shrugged and laughed again. "You always seem to find them. Or maybe they find YOU." She busted up again and pointed to them, tongues and lips still working. I couldn't look. I just stared straight ahead and waited till they got off. As they went up the escalator, I saw them snuggle up and watched him put his hands in her back pockets. This set Annie off again and I just about fell over laughing too. (note: this is not the couple...I wish I had a picture of that...hilarious)

This is the part of the blog where I make a vow. I will never EVER be half of a sick nasty couple that does things like that. That is all I have to say about it.

I guess I can give a quick update. My apartment rocks, my roommates are pretty awesome (but let's be honest, they have a lot to live up to, kind of an impossible task), and my classes are good. I'm hunting for a job and I ate a polish from J-Dawgs today. And I am done now.