Now that I've lost all my readers, I'm back/N.C. Trip

Well, I miss blogging, so I'm back. I know I've lost my Lookie Lou's...Matt was even here! Geez. Hopefully they come back. Anyway, I just wanted to write a bit about a road trip I took last weekend with Mike, Brenda (Happy B-day!) and her boyfriend Henry. We visited Stacey, my bro-in-law AJ and my nephew Atticus at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. We left Thursday night at 7:30, which is just the wrong time to leave on a long trip. I honestly think we would have arrived sooner had we left the next morning; well, really we wouldn't have, but it would have been a better drive. Also, we took the Bug, which wasn't made for 4 person road trips, or even trips for that matter. It took us 19.5(!*!#@) hours to get there when it should've taken us 15. Mike deserves a pat on the back because he drove the bulk of the way. Basically that leg was the trip from hell.

But it was all worth it in the end because "the old gang" was back together. Their house is super nice! We didn't do much. A lot of eating, sleeping and Super Nintendo playing went on. We played a sweet Tetris/Dr. Mario Mix Match tourney with rankings and everything. No suprises.

Results: 1st: Brenda 2nd: Stacey 3rd: Mike 4th: me 5th: Henry 6th: AJ

The weather was nice there. 50s the whole weekend. We got to go to the ocean (see pic above). It was rainy and gloomy, but that's how I wanted it to be! It was the first time I'd ever been to the beach on the Atlantic, and when I thought about the east coast in the winter, I pictured cool, windy, drizzly weather and big waves. That's exactly what I got! Well, that's the most ambitious thing we did while we were there (it was too much for Mike; he didn't go). We left early Monday morning and got back in 15 hours; not too shabby. I'm so glad we all went. Atticus is doing great. So are Stacey and AJ. All's well that ends well.

If anyone happens to read this tonight (Sunday), flip on Animal Planet to see the weirdest thing ever.

Check out www.theraconteurs.com and hear some kick ass new music!!
"You can't buy what you can't find!!" -"Store Bought Bones"

-Erin

A classic picture from our bachelor/ette party in August of '02. Those shirts were perfect!! A great night that included bowling, Nick emptying the Crane Game at the bowling alley and general drunkenness.
Well, I'm in the home stretch for the pumpkin season...just one more day of tours and that's it. One of my co-workers said that she cries on the last day of school tours. She asked if I cried and I was like, uh, no. If a kid kicked me in the shin and told me my mom was fat I might, but other than that, no.
Last night was the last moonlight maze walk at the farm. Brenda and Henry were nice enough to come work it with me. It was fairly uneventful (not TOO much drunkenness, just a smidge). Stacey and I bought finger puppets for everyone and we all had a nice night. Dad has this catapult, well he has two, but this one is HUGE, like as tall as a 2 story house, and he shot a giant pumpkin 505 ft last night. Apparently he started jumping up and down like a little boy, he was so excited. Then he got drunk. Like drunk drunk. More than I have ever seen him before. But he was happy, so it was a good night.
So, it is time to start listing on Ebay again, after being on hiatus the better part of the month. I am excited, but my room upstairs holds a lot of work for me; hopefully I won't be overwhelmed. It's much better than having nothing to sell at all!!

Happy Birthday Josh and funny website

OK, so I'm a jerk...I obviously do not know Josh's B-day since I thought it was the 23rd and it's actually today. So to make up for it, here is one of your favorite pictures of all time, Josh. Bear wanted to send you a birthday hi-five anyway.
I also wanted to include this website where I read the funniest "article" the other day. I dont know how to post links here so you'll have to copy and paste into your browser. It's a laugh riot...

http://www.thephatphree.com/features.asp?StoryID=239&SectionID=11&LayoutType=1

"And I think it's wrong to judge every picture if a cheap camera makes a mistake..." -Rated X

What a weekend and for the love of all that is good will it stop raining already??

This picture is from our first 4th of July party at our house, which was back in '02. I posted it just for Josh since he is nice enough to come visit my blog now and then. Oh yea, Happy Birthday Josh! I know I missed it, but I didn't (completely) forget!
Saturday night was the first Moonlight Maze walk of the season. I like to work "security" in the maze. It basically means that I stand in one spot in the maze, yell at people that run (you know I enjoy that too much) and well, drink. Brenda and Henry worked security in the maze with me. Unfortunately, Mike was working, but came later. So the three of us found a spot way out in the maze and just started drinking and talking. We just told stories and laughed. But when it got to the point where Henry and I were trying to put Brenda up in a cheerleader's mount, IN THE MAZE, we realized we were drunk. At some point I was laughing so hard that I literally fell backwards...luckily the corn broke my fall. Stacey called and we met her up in the barn as it started raining (more on the rain later). We sat and started BSing with her, dad, Mike (he showed up somewhere in here) and some co-workers from the farm. A co-worker asks "Erin, would you like a Kahlua and Cream?" Uh, duh I want a Kahlua and Cream. Tip #1: Drunk girls will always want a Kahlua and Cream when asked. ALWAYS. So, she took me over to the fridge and made me one. I let Henry try it, so it was gone pretty quickly. So I made another. Tip #2: Don't show a drunk girl where your Kahlua is stashed, or she will drink it like it is her own. The second one was gone even quicker. The third, well, I'm pretty sure I spilled that one all over a table and then sucked it off the table. Then we decide to go to this haunted barn down the street with everyone from the farm that worked that night and Mike. I punched a few fake, stuffed people in the barn and then some real people (not too hard, I promise) and got yelled at. Then Henry, Brenda, Mike and I went to Mom's to visit with Stacey and Atticus. Henry puked a lot and Mike got to hold Atticus for the first time (yea!!). I woke up Sunday morning with a severe headache, but remembering everything, I think. One more maze night to go this season, but God willing I won't drink.
So, like I said, it started raining Saturday night and has been raining on and off ever since (Mike said it even snowed briefly in Munger). The rain is extremely local; only Bay City over to Munger and about as far south as Reese. And it's cold...highs in the upper 40s. I do school tours at my dad's farm and they are outside for the most part. The best I'm in all day is an unheated goat barn. Between the weather, A.D.D kids and severely annoying parents of the aforementioned A.D.D. kids, its been a crappy week so far. They say the weather is supposed to be the same tomorrow, so that blows a big one.
I also wanted to mention that The White Stripes were on the Charlie Rose show last week (God bless you, TiVo!) and it was a great interview. There was no audience, no commercials and no other guests. It lasted a half hour or more. Jack dodged the marriage question several times and we found out Meg doesn't get up til 4 in the afternoon. It really was interesting though... PBS will probably run it again, but if you know me, you can come over and watch it since we saved it.
"Thank you...hipsters, record collectors, people who have more than one White Stripes record, people who jumped up and down, people who stood still, your mothers, your fathers, God and Satan, thank you all..." -Jack White 12/6/01

Too funny...

I wasn't even going to post today, but I came across this picture and obviously this one needs to be shared. It is from Brenda's graduation in 2002. We were just hanging out in front of the school (which is what you DO after graduation in Reese) and I snapped this picture of Mike making a face. When we looked at it later, we saw Mr. Ellison (dunno his first name) in the pic as well. Between the look on Mike's face and a Hell's Angel wannabe being framed perfectly, it's priceless! I laugh EVERY time I see it. Sooo funny.
Anyway, yesterday Mike burned the Saturday Detroit Stripes show for me (keep an eye on your mailbox, Josh). Listening to it today was like reliving the show again! The recording really captured the energy of the show. "Cold, Cold Night" was exceptionally performed that night; probably the best ever. And yes, it is possible to know that.
I also want to get down in writing that my dad has returned to his old self and is so fun to be around again. Maybe because he got rid of his dog (get ready, Brenda...); who cares, I can call him a friend again!
Well, I better go check on my "dinner". I'm trying to make squash, but it is NOT turning out.
P.S. Got my best ever score in Minesweeper today...154 seconds on the expert level. Boo-yah!

Family (immediate and otherwise)

I think I will always try to start an entry with a really random, queer picture for two reasons. 1)So this Blog is not so boring to look at, and 2) it will provide a starting point for me to write something...sometimes it's so hard to get motivated. Anyway, I found this picture on the computer...it's really strange, but I can't pinpoint why. It's from Christmas of...2001?? Yea, that's right. I guess it was just a really weird time for our family. I have been through a lot with my sisters in the last 5 years. I think we needed to go through some shit to become the people we are right now...and that's a good thing. I loved seeing them grow up and become adults. Stacey's already married with a baby and will be moving away so soon. That will be sad, but she needs to live her life. I'll still have Brenny here...but who knows where she'll be in 5 years. I love them dearly, but they already know that.
The past few days have been pretty bland. Just working at the farm. Yesterday the Sweeneys had a baby shower for Atticus and Elijah, my new (adopted) cousin. Elijah is a scary baby...he is strong, has a big baby afro and looks angry all the time. Anyway, it's really amazing how, as you grow up, you start to see people in a new light. And you have to wonder if they were always this way, or your judgement was clouded because you were a kid. I have this aunt, who shall remain nameless, who seems downright mean lately. Say you got a bad haircut. First, she would laugh, like really sarcastically and second she would say "Geez, I can't believe you paid for that, it's terrible!" (Thanks Brenda for that comparison). I really don't know if she was always on a high horse, or if she just saddled up. Whatever...it's just amazing the different perspectives you gain as you grow and change.
In conclusion I will very randomly say that I am so happy that people are starting to post over on the best cd of the week blog. So fun to hear others opinions and share thoughts about music.
"I've been here for 30 years and 3 days and it's time to move on..."
-Jack White 10-2-05

Enough about the White Stripes! Here is Atticus!!! Also, my day today...

This here is my nephew Atticus. He was born on September17th to my sister Stacey and brother-in-law A.J. He is a great little baby that barely makes a peep. Atticus has blue eyes and reddish hair. He also has got a bump on his head, so uncle Mike fondly calls him "dent head". I try to visit Stacey and Atticus when I can. We all miss A.J., as he is in Rhode Island right now at Naval Justice School.
Today I went with Stacey, Atticus and my mom to town. It was his first shopping trip and he seemed pretty pissed off the whole time. But I got a new purse and Orange Chicken from Panda Express, so at least I was happy. This part of the day made up for the crappy part where some naughty naughty children came to the farm for a tour and didn't listen to a word I said. Tomorrow some more kids will come to the farm, hopefully they are more anxious to learn than the kids today.
Also, today my dad told me that he is going to be getting rid of his dog, Hailey. She is only 4 years old, but is already starting to "nip" at the small children that come and visit the farm. That and she is a handfull; i.e. needy, high maintenance, has seperation anxiety, etc., etc. Basically he is "breaking up" with her. Dad laughed when I said that, but agreed that is what he is doing. But he doesn't want to give her away to just anyone and asked me to think if there is anyone I know in a position to take her...haven't thought of anyone yet. Wish I could take her, but she can't be left alone for extended periods of time. Bear is here alone most all day; Hailey couldn't handle it. So if anyone out there is in the market for a sweet chocolate lab in need of love and a home, let me know.

OK...Here's the inchophone

I just wanted to post a picture of this little doodad and tell a little bit about it.
The inchophone is a small record player that runs only on batteries. It plays 3 inch records. For a brief period of time, you could get one of these record players along with 6 White Stripes singles (plus one bonus record) at their concerts. They sold out rather quickly (there were only 400 of these "packages" available), but I was lucky enough to get one. The special thing about this package was the "bonus record", titled "Top Special"; it is a new track available ONLY on the 3" vinyl. It's the only way to hear it since it isn't a single or anything. Everything shown in the picture cost me $130, which may seem like a lot, but considering the cost of pressing such a small number of tiny records and importing the record players from Japan, it's not really that bad. Besides, they are going for over $1,000 on Ebay right now, so it really was a deal. Call me crazy, but that isn't enough for me to consider selling it. Just having it all and being able to listen to "Top Special" whenever I please is worth a million bucks.
One cool thing that Mike found was every one of these records has a small number etched in the center between the end of the grooves and the label. Jack has this thing with the number 3; here are the numbers on all the records:
Top Special: 1
Blue Orchid: 999
Seven Nation Army: 33
Hardest Button to Button: 333
Dead Leaves: 9
Fell in Love with a Girl: 3
Hotel Yorba: 27
Pretty cool. Good eye, Mike!!