I make lists.
I read books.
I like clothes, food, music, my fur babies, travel, and loads of other stuff too.
I may write about any or all of these things.
Early purchases for Christmas ~ I have a friend and her son coming from Texas to visit me and will be here Christmas Day. These will be on our tree awaiting their visit.
I shared this on ig and fb, and I'm sharing here too. No, this is not a Halloween prank. This is a real spider in my house. Thank goodness for Ricky. He ate it.
When your lip color matches your shirt perfectly, you take a picture. At least, I do.
What's going on here? I quit scratching Astro's belly. He sat there forever just staring at my hand wondering why it wasn't still scratching him. Yep, he won this battle. Scratching continued.
I know tattoos aren't for everyone, but I'm LOVING my leg.
Played a little Monopoly with my husband & stepkid. They decided to "merge their assets" to become a "father/son family business". I'm pretty sure that's against the rules. Needless to say, I lost.
Sunday dinner with good friends and their adorable offspring.
I was born on Father's Day. It has been said that I was a "daddy's girl" from the start. The story goes that he picked my name. Apparently, my mother preferred Meredith. Not that there's anything wrong with the name Meredith, but I have always felt like Erin suited me.
My dad calls me "Sweet Girl". Always has, and still does. My dad likes to spend time to pick out just the right greeting card for special occasions. (I picked up this trait from him.) On the envelope and/or inside, he address many of them to me as "Sweet Girl". I used an envelope from a recent card as inspiration for my next permanent piece of body art.
I met with Melanie (ig: melaniemilnetattoos) and talked about what I had in mind. I like sweet things, and the color pink, and strawberries, and cupcakes, and the fact that my dad calls me "Sweet Girl". She used his handwriting to create this tattoo around it.
I sat for about an hour. We chatted. We listened to Silverchair.
Then, this masterpiece was unveiled.
It's a little red & irritated ~ this is fresh off the press
I know tattoos aren't for everyone, and I have no problem with someone who never wants a tattoo. But, they are for me. In fact, my mother is messaging me as I type this telling me "no more tattoos." I love them. I love the stories behind them. I love the way that people express themselves through their body art.
Speaking of my mother, Melanie and I have one planned to honor my mother coming up in December. Whether my mom likes it, or not.
Do you have any tattoos that honor a family member?
This month, Erin and Jana are paying tribute to the music of the 1960s. The era of JFK, MLK, Vietnam, Woodstock, the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, the beginning of the War on Poverty and a whole bunch of other landmark events for America.
Also, music. So much music.
It was quite difficult for me (Jana) to pick a handful of songs from this decade but Erin had a slew of them which I'm sure is telling but I'm not sure what it tells other than while I'm tuned in (hahaha for my bad pun) to history, the music of the decade isn't high on my list. But I did pull a few to compliment Erin's and so without further rambling, here's our picks from the beginning of the decade to the end. Chronological order FTW! But there might be a couple of missing years. Specifically, 65. And OMG, was it difficult to pick a just few from 64. Choices are hard, y'all.
Have a listen to all the songs below! Also, please let us know what some of your favorite 60s songs are!
Please Mr. Postman--The Marvelettes
Runaround Sue--Dion (Jana's fun fact: This is one of my favorite songs. Maybe ever)
Crying--Roy Orbison
Twist and Shout--The Isley Brothers
Surfin' USA--The Beach Boys (anyone else ONLY think of Teen Wolf when they hear this song? No? Just me?--Jana; Erin's note: I've never seen Teen Wolf. Don't judge me.)
Louie Louie--The Kingsmen (why shouldn't Animal House be fully represented here? Also the 80s movie Coupe de Ville. Anyone else know what I'm talking about?--Jana)
Baby I Need Your Lovin'--The Four Tops
Can't Buy Me Love--The Beatles (HOLY HELL DO THE 80s MOVIES REFERENCES NEED TO STOP!!!--Jana)
Leader of the Pack--The Shangri-Las (Erin's fun fact: In 8th grade, a group of us lip-synched to this song in the talent show. Think "Lip Sync Battle", low rent '80s style...or '60s style.)
God Only Knows--The Beach Boys
Paint it Black--The Rolling Stones
Light My Fire--The Doors
Brown Eyed Girl--Van Morrison (THE anthem for every brown eyed girl on the planet)
Think--Aretha Franklin
Born to Be Wild--Steppenwolf
Fortunate Son--Credence Clearwater Revival
I Want You Back--Jackson 5 (For a fun dance to this song, watch..well, save yourself the whole movie and just see if you can find the scene from Clerks 2)
Come Together--The Beatles
Ramble On--Led Zeppelin
(Erin's note: I was going to add Suspicious Minds by Elvis to the list. I tried to do it. I got interrupted. I erased the whole post somehow. Had to pull the html from Jana and reformat again. Nothing is getting added. Just know that I really, really like Suspicious Minds too.)
Did you miss our post about 1950s music? Check it out here. Want to hear what we have to say about 1970s music? Come back the last Thursday of November.
By now, most of you know of and are possibly participating in Alyssa's "Back to Blogging" link-up. I've been enjoying what I've been reading, and I've been enjoying the challenge of the prompts.
Surprisingly, this prompt has/had me stumped:
1. Three (or however many you choose) songs that define your life and why
I love music. I love live music. I love listening to music, finding new music, feeling music, reading about music, and talking about music (as evidenced by my monthly playlist posts with Jana as well as other music posts on this blog.) So, why did this one stump me? Because I was overwhelmed with all the songs I love and why I love them. To ask myself what songs "define" my life...well, that's just tough, but a question I've been trying to tackle.
It's My Life by Bon Jovi - My love for Bon Jovi began in 1984, and it never waned, but it was solidified and stamped into my personal history with the 2000 release of "It's My Life". It bridged hair band '80s rockers with an updated, polished, new millennium band. It bridged generations of fans; some discovered this band for the first time with this song. It bridged teenage Erin with adult Erin; I was 11 years old when I first set sight and heard the sounds of Bon Jovi, and I was 27 when this song hit the airwaves. The simplicity of the statement "It's my life, it's now or never, I ain't gonna live forever" is strong and powerful for me.
Just a Girl by No Doubt - It was 1995, and I was 22 years old when this song was released. Already, I'd experienced a serious relationship with a very controlling man who wanted to mold me and fit me into his definition of what I should look like, how I should think, and what I should be when I grew up. That very year, I was ending that relationship with this person. No Doubt exploded onto my scene, and I was instantly in awe of Gwen. Gwen's tongue-in-cheek lyrics of "I'm just a girl, little ol' me" and singing "I've had it up to here" was my jam. It's exactly what I needed to hear at the time. It's still my jam. And, I'm still in awe of Gwen. She is creative and ambitious. She is a girly-girl who hangs with the guys. She is open, honest, and vulnerable (through her lyrics), but she is not scared to be strong and in-your-face. All of these traits are lovely little traits for "just a girl."
Slide by Goo Goo Dolls - Okay. You may think this is a weird choice. Basically, the song is about wanting "to wake up where you are". I choose to believe it's a love song of sort. So, why is this a song that defines my life? Well, I have loved and still love all things Goo Goo Dolls. But, it's this lyric: "What you feel is what you are and what you are is beautiful" that gets me every.single.time. It has served as a reminder to me at those times that I am feeling really, really ugly (both physically and emotionally) to strive to FEEL beautiful, so I can BE beautiful. Again, I don't just focus on the physicality that the world "beautiful" can signify. I focus on the beauty within as well. Even more so. How much does this lyric mean to me? Enough to get it tattooed on me permanently.
Scars by Papa Roach - This one. This one I've sung at the top of my lungs through tears more times that I can count. It is a song that embodies what I love about live music: people of all ages, all backgrounds, all ethnicities, religions, genders, identities, coming together to sing a song while squished together, swaying together, sweating together, hands and voices raised, because I've been in many Papa Roach live show pits experiencing this. I can relate to every.single.word of this song, but this is significant for me: "I can't help you fix yourself, but at least I can say I tried, I'm sorry but I gotta move on with my own life." Eventually, I realized after spending so many years thinking I needed to "fix" someone else, what I really needed to do was focus on my own self-worth, well-being, and happiness.
Take Tomorrow (One Day at a Time) by Butch Walker - If you've read any of my posts talking about music, chances are you've heard that there's this musician named Butch Walker that I love. I mean it. I love this man. This is from the album that made me fall in love with this man (yes, I was a fan before this album, but this album is when I fell in love.) This song closes the album and the sentiment is one that speaks to me to this day. "Give me all your fear, throw it all away, think of all the good things, no matter what they say, we'll take tomorrow, baby, yeah, one day at a time."
Worth mentioning: Any song by Willie Nelson. I am instantly taken to Texas when I hear Willie Nelson. I think of my dad. I think of road trips. I think of Lone Star and Shiner Bock beer. I think of honky tonks. I think of bluebonnets. I think of a man that is a legend and an icon who is unconventional and unapologetically himself. He isn't the best looking. Not at all. He isn't the best singer. Nope. But, he is Willie, and he embodies Texas.
10 points: Read a brand-new release (something published between November 1, 2016, and January 31, 2017).
My choice:Cross the Line by James Patterson (expected release date: November 3, 2016) - The Alex Cross series is the only James Patterson books that I loyally keep up with when one is released.
15 points: Read a book by an author of a different race or religion than you.
My choice:We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo - I picked up this book last week for $5 without knowing it would be a perfect choice for this challenge.
15 points: Read a book featuring a main character who is of a different race or religion than you.
25 points: Read a book with an alcoholic beverage (neat or cocktail) in the title. — Submitted by SCSBC16 winner Kerry. (And she was nice enough to come up with a long list of suggestions for you!)
My choice:Tequila Sunset by Sam Hawken - I've read two books by this author previously, they've been decent, and it fits the category. Why not?
30 points: Read a book with a character that shares your first or last name. (Alternate spellings are okay, e.g. Megan and Meghan or Smith and Smyth.) — Submitted by SCSBC16 winner Ericka.
My choice:Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks - This was tough. I had difficulty finding books to fit the category (besides 50 Shades of Grey and The Picture of Dorian Gray and I Let You Go, books I've read or not interested in reading.) My sister-in-law recommended this one, and I'll give it a go.
30 points: Read two books: a nonfiction book and a fiction book with which it connects. For example: A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie and one of Christie's mystery novels that features poison, or The Monuments Menand All the Light We Cannot See. The possibilities are endless, so have fun with this one! — Submitted by SCSBC16 winner Bev. (And remember you must finish both books to get the 30 points! No partial points will be awarded.)
My choices (both books about someone wrongly imprisoned): Getting Life by Michael Morton and Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein - CNV is sitting on my floor, already checked out from the library based on Megan's recommendation that I need to read this, and GL is sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read from purchasing it over a year ago.
40 points: Read two books: one by an author whose first name is the same as the last name of the author of the other book. For example: You may read a book by Martin Cruz Smith and a book by George R.R. Martin, or a book by James Joyce and a book by Joyce Carol Oates. The shared name must be spelled exactly the same, no variations. — Submitted by SCSBC16 winner Jamie. (And remember you must finish both books to get the 40 points! No partial points will be awarded.)
First up on November 1st: Code Name Verity - (edited from first publication: this will NOT be my first book read because it is due the 28th of October, and I can't renew it because another reader has it reserved, so I need to return it, let that reader have it, then check it out again. Dang it!)
...because I didn't have the time to put together a post...and that doesn't matter because anything I have to say at the moment isn't as important as what Kaity shared:
I think we all do it. We have ideas for blog posts, we throw something into draft to remind us to work on it later, then we forget about it, or it just never comes together quite like we want it. Are you with me?
That's why, when I read the following prompt from Alyssa, I knew I had something to write about:
"A blog post (or a list of post topics) you want to write but have yet to hit "publish" on"
Here's a sample of current posts of mine sitting in draft:
5 strangers that make my day better - Steph wrote this post ages ago, and it inspired me. It inspired me enough to create a draft, but I never actually listed or wrote about those people.
Still adjusting - The idea of this post is to discuss my life as an expat and some of the things that have taken me awhile to adjust to this life in another country.
Who's That Guy vol.3 - I intended this to be a series about my guy. I wrote two posts and then abandoned it from there. Oops.
The Boy - For his birthday, I had great intentions to write a sweet post about my stepson, his likes and dislikes, and the things that make our relationship special. His birthday came and went. I know, I don't need it to be a birthday to write this post.
Women born in 1973 - Speaking of birthdays, I have a couple of posts I intended to write during my birthday week. Didn't happen. This was one of them.
1973 Happenings - this was another birthday post that didn't get published.
Friday Favorites: Beauty Edition - I don't really do Friday Favorites anymore. I'm terrible with weekly link-ups.
Rockers done good - This post is about those rock'n'roll idols that use their celebrity status for good causes. This one is pretty much done. I'll have to look at it again to see why it's not published yet.
Repeat offender - This post is about the fact that there are so many wonderful places to explore in this great big world, but I have repeatedly visited some of the same vacation spots over and over again.
Sisterhood of the World Bloggers - This is one of those "tags" that I received from another blogger with a question & answer attached to it. Time passed, and I hadn't posted it. I questioned "did too much time pass?"
Tour packages - a look at past concerts tours that I've seen and the bands that were packaged together; a self-indulgent post that will probably not get many views, and it hasn't been finalized because I keep feeling like I'm forgetting bands/tours.
Australian vs. American English vol.3 - vol.1 and vol.2 were popular posts, why not a 3rd?
Things about me - Yep, clever title for a post, huh? Even better...all that's written in draft is "I love naps."
I confess these things annoy me - pretty self-explanatory
Lyrics - I have compiled a whole list of lyrics that have been meaningful to me throughout my life. This one may get massaged into another post for Alyssa's link-up.
Blogger Love vol.9 - I always have one of these in draft. Do I use it often enough? No.
Trends I've loved and trends I've hated - This is a fun one. I just need to dig out some old pictures of me showing off those trends that I loved.
Playlist: Songs from the year I graduated high school - I planned to post this last May while many graduations were being held. Obviously, that post didn't happen.
More serious talk - Every now and then, I tackle a difficult topic and express my opinions. This one is about legalized prostitution.
Do you remember when? - Rachel posted this clever and fun walk down memory lane for someone who enjoys traveling with others. I plan to steal it borrow it.
Our feline twins celebrated their birthday this week ~ Ricky & Ivy are 3!
The father-in-law had a birthday too. I celebrated by eating fried stuff with cheese on top (aka chicken parmigiana).
My step-mom sent this to me to wish me a happy Friday.
Friday, lunchtime, gelato with a view
In case you missed it, I rediscovered some fun things while "Spring Cleaning"...like this "Glamour Shot" of me from the '80s.
My sweet Sally girl ~ I love this face!
If you know me, you know I do not like cleaning house. I've never claimed to be domestic. This is my stunning self after 8 hours of cleaning with probably 2 more hours to go. Kill me now.
Why is it, when Alyssa gave a list of her "Back to Blogging" prompts, that the "hold my beer" moment is the one that I knew, without a doubt, that I could write? Is it because I've had a lot of them? Probably. Is it because I've drank too much? Probably. Is it because I've had a lot of fun during some drunken debauchery? Probably that too.
Here's a few things I love: music, rock music, live music, and yes, beer. I've been fortunate enough to see many of my favorite bands in concert, and believe me, there's been a lot of beer consumed at those concerts.
Stone Temple Pilots is one of those bands that I've seen at multiple gigs in different venues and at different times of their tenure. The songs are fantastic, the band is always tight, the crowds are always good, and Scott Weiland was always one of the best of all front men. I feel like I saw him at various stages of his drug addiction, but he still was always an incredible performer.
June 8, 2000 - STP returned to Houston, and a group of friends and I went. I'd seen them before, and I loved the venue selected for this show. It was a little smaller than where I'd previously seen them (holds approximately 2500). The venue for this show was all general admission with a floor section and a back section that had an incline or rise to it.
by artist Jermaine Rogers
For the opening band (and I don't remember who opened), I sat in the back section on the rise and many beers were consumed. This was a common occurrence for my group of friends, depending on the opening act.
We got to talking to this dad and his 13 year old son sitting next to us. It was the son's first concert ever, and he wasso excited to see Stone Temple Pilots.
(I swear my "hold my beer" moment is coming..........)
Opening band ended. More beer was consumed. Lights go down. Concert starts. Everyone stands and is getting into the show. The kid next to us is loving it. He's so pumped.
Again, I lovvvvvvve live music. I feel the adrenaline. I absorb the environment. I sing. I dance. I throw my arms in the air. I sweat. I shake. I love it. And, I like to be close and in the midst of it all.
At the time of this show, I was 26 years old (almost 27) and in my prime rock show music attending, concert going mode. I was not going to stay in the back. The band was pulling me forward. If you are a fan of STP, check out this setlist that was played that night.
"Wicked Garden" kicked in, one of my favorites. So, what did I do? I said "hold my beer" and grabbed the hand of that 13 year old kid, and yelled "c'mon!" (getting a nod of approval from his dad.)
I dragged that kid up into the middle of the mosh pit, and I just kept dragging. He was jumping around, singing, going crazy, and his eyes were as wide as saucers with awe and excitement. Eventually, I got us all the way up to the front of the stage, and he even slapped hands with Scott Weiland. We remained there at the front barricade for the rest of the concert.
Not only was my concert experience amazing, but I'm pretty sure I gave this kid a story to tell about his "first concert ever". At least, I hope so. All because I put down my beer.
Now, if only Scott Weiland could've put down the drugs...........
I think I'm at version #5 of "Stuff & Things", but I'm not 100% sure. I could check, but I'm lazy.
If you don't like "f" bombs or profanity, don't read any further.
I posted this in December 2015, and I'm gonna post it again: "Trump is a fucking embarrassment. He is a fucking idiot. Fuck him, fuck his hair, fuck his terrible spray tans, fuck his racism, fuck his bankruptcies, fuck "The Apprentice", fuck the political climate that has developed where people are actually supporting him. #goawaytrump".
Too bad I didn't include "fuck his misogyny" or that statement from 2015 would be my exact same feelings today.
If he is actually elected President, I wonder if the FBI will come knocking on my door because of that above statement.
In my voting lifetime, my home state has been a "red state". I have always considered myself independent. I have voted Republican in the past. Although, we are all products of our environment (hello, my name is Erin, and I majored in Sociology), I feel like I am willing to look at candidates regardless of the political party they represent.
That being said, I am disgusted, dismayed, disappointed, and disheartened in the Republican Party that Donald Trump is their nominee for President. How, how, howwwwww did they not have a person better prepared for this election?
SO many of the supporters of Trump (as evidenced by my facebook feed) support him because they hate Hillary. They think she's crooked, a criminal, a liar, a murderer, a career politician, etc., etc., etc. They can't get past their hatred of her or all things Clinton to examine the real Donald Trump.
Well, I can't look past my disgust with Donald Trump and the disappointment I feel towards the Republican Party for choosing him as the nominee for President of the United States of America.
Things shared by me this week:
This looks awfully photoshopped, but I'm sharing it anyway.
Y'all have heard me talk about this musical genius that I love named Butch Walker. Background info: He and Pink are besties. She made a comment on her ig, and followers got upset, and she gave a pseudo apology. Well, he went OFF on Instagram this week, and it's worth having a look. My favorite line: "And the irony of it all is YOU TELL CELEBS TO "STICK TO WHAT THEY KNOW".... Yet, a lot of you are willing to vote into Presidency A FUCKING REALITY TV STAR. Fucking hypocrites."
I'm a fucking hypocrite for sharing that badly photoshopped "#protectyourpussy" meme because I have been very vocal about my criticisms of irresponsible sharing of memes in this political climate.
*My husband looked over my shoulder and saw this post title. He giggled and said "I thought that said boobs." I replied "Uhm. Yeah. I know. It's a play on words." He said "oh, good one." That's about the most interest he's ever shown in my blog.
Jana & Steph are bringing us book lovin' bloggers our favorite day of the month again - Show Us Your Books day! It's the day of the month that my goodreads gets the most activity...and I do love myself some goodreads. Be my friend (if we aren't already.) Plus, our hosts are celebrating two years of this link-up. With many of us naming this "our favorite link-up", I think they've done us book lovin' bloggers a favor by hosting it. Thanks to Jana & Steph!
What I've read since our last link-up:
1. Sister by Rosamund Lupton - About 2/3rds in, I found myself ready for this book to end. I kept reading because I wanted to know how it all ended, but I wasn't a fan. 2/5
2. Blood-Drenched Beard by Daniel Galera - I don't have a DNF often, so when I do, it's worth mentioning. This one confused me. The reviews are great, and the synopsis sounds interesting to me. I sluggishly read 100 pages, and I had another 300 to go, but I wasn't into this book enough to care what happened. Not at all. So, I took a lesson from other book bloggers, quit it, and moved on. My tbr list is too long to waste my time on a book I think I'm *supposed* to like but don't. Plus, what's up with the lack of quotation marks for dialogue? Annoying and confusing.
4. Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin - I enjoy reading children's literature every once in a while. (I think this is considered "middle grade".) This is a poignant story that pulls at the heart, especially for dog lovers. 4/5
5. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison - The last few years, I've made a point to read a "challenged" book during Banned Books Week. This year, I looked at this list (since the theme was to celebrate diversity) and spied The Bluest Eye.
An examination of how racism leads to self-hatred, the loss of innocence, abandonment, misplaced aggression, and so many other devastating impacts. It's my first Toni Morrison book and won't be my last. 4/5
6. Private Paris by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan - Admittedly, there are liberties taken in this book that are pretty stretched, but it's fiction, right? For the enjoyment and entertainment factor, I will regularly read James Patterson books as long as he is publishing them. I prefer some of his series more than others, and I enjoy the character "Jack Morgan" in the Private books. Maybe because, by his physical characteristics that are described (tall, blonde, football player build, good-looking), I picture him to look like Chris Hemsworth. 4/5
7. The Dry by Jane Harper - A debut by an Australian author that was receiving lots of attention and rave reviews. Two separate mysteries are the central stories in this book that is tense and atmospheric. The author does a tremendous job at describing a town, its culture, and its characters. A well-written book for those who enjoy crime fiction. 4.5/5
Something to remember during the current political climate:
Next up (finally):Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart
Yes, this week's Sunday's Seven Snapshots is brought to you on Monday. Life happens.
The girls got new collars ~ fancy schmancy purple and pink leather ones with silver studs. My girls got style. The only way I could get a picture of them was to put a treat on the ground.
I am still salivating over these fajitas. I am thrilled to have found Arturo, my new favorite chef, even if he called me a gringo. Mexican food cooked by a Mexican chef five minutes from my house!
My mom sends me care packages. The latest one had these fabulous sandals. They are so "me".
Friday night drinks with my fellow Texas A&M alum living in Sydney. How 'bout that game between the Aggies and the Volunteers?! My dad was there, and I called him after to make sure he hadn't suffered a heart attack during the nail-biting double overtime game.
The stepkid turned 9 and had his birthday party at Jump Zone. A massive room of kids, trampolines, and loud music. What could go wrong?
My peeps
Niece 3 celebrated her 3rd birthday. I was happy to celebrate with her and eat chocolate cake.
