My New Mottos:

Things are really getting crazy here in Omaha.  Tests, quizzes, tests, patient interviews, and more tests.  Fun though that may sound, I just keep telling myself I only have 3 more weeks.  I'll be out of here by May 11th and back to Idaho.  Now that finals are upon me, I have little time to do anything but study.

And while I study, I remember that I just need to be as gung ho as can be, otherwise I will end up like this meme:

So I've made a few flashcards.  My arm is shown only for scale.  Jealous yet?  It's a good thing the material is interesting, otherwise I'd quit altogether.

Happy April!  See you in May!

People who are highly attractive:

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

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

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

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

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)

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.

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

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!"

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:

(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.

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

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

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

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!

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'

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

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

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

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.