"i like pictures that look like things, but not stuff that you can't tell what it is" -the state

i'm sittin on some big ol' etsy news, although i'm not ready to spill the beans just yet. but when i am, you'll realize how this post is indirectly related.

so let's talk about ART for a second!

i can appreciate a lot of different genres and medias...but i'm not going to claim i'm some sort of classical master. in fact, far from it. i prefer low brow/pop culture art to anything, with sleazy themes like monster movies and tattoos. that being said, here are two of my favorite artists whose work i can NEVER get enough of.

the first is GIG, king of my heart in terms of the popular 60s/70s big-eyed craze. his big-eyed pity puppies and pity kitties are as endearing as they are pitiful. i just want to scoop them all up in my arms and hug the fuck out of them!! that sounds more violent than i intended, but i think you get my point.









BAD NEWS: for reasons i'll never understand, the big-eyed art fad was not to be. GIG paintings quickly went the way of velvet art and macrame, becoming highly regarded as "tacky."
GOOD NEWS: because everyone is purging their homes of items that have mushroom and owl motifs, GIG paintings turn up in thrift stores fairly often! i score a few here and there.
BAD NEWS: tacky is back in! "tacky" is the new "groovy kitsch" or whatever! now my kitties and puppies are a bit harder to come by.

it's a neverending cycle. sigh. i guess i have to just wait a few years for them to get uncool again and then i'll SCOOOORE. i'm always working on my collection (and i should have taken a picture but oh well, i'm too lazy right now), which is currently up to 7 kitties and 4 puppies.

my other favorite is SHAG. how can you not dig someone with themes like haunted houses and tiki parties? i love his skeletons. i love his black cats. and i love the colors he uses that give his prints such a cool, mellow feel to them.







i hardly have any SHAG stuff. in fact, i think all i have is a notebook with his print on the cover. i need to do something about that ASAP, which is why i have his book on my christmas list for this year.


and finally, on the topic of cool art: I GOT SOMETHING WONDERFUL IN THE MAIL TODAY!

my friend ben does a lot of art for bands, whether it is album covers or show fliers. i have been meaning to get my hands on one of his pieces for YEARS! literally! so i did and it came today and here he is:



handsome fellow, no?! i love it :)

ben isn't on etsy yet but he said he is looking into it. in the meantime, you can visit him on myspace at his ART FINK! profile and check out a bunch of his cool paintings! he just posted some new ones full of anchors and swallows and old-skool tattoo flash, so give it a look.

me.

i've really gone and done it now.

i got myself tagged by kate for 10 facts about myself, as well as being ORDERED by lacey to complete her quiz thingy. but it's not like i have anything better to do. AND SO...

10 facts about myself:

1. i met bernard lansky, elvis' personal tailor. he is a sweet old man with lots of good stories to tell.



2. one year for halloween, i dressed as bed-in era yoko ono. my cousin beth was john lennon. i wore a nightgown, with a long black witch wig to complete the outfit. beth had a jesus wig/mustache/beard combo and an old man's pajama set.

3. my parents named me erin after a character on "the waltons" because my dad thought she was cute.

4. every year for the past several years, whether it's christmas or my birthday, i get a package in the mail of homemade cookies from one of the dead boys. yes, you read that right: snot-nosed, punk-ass "i waaaaanna be a dead boy!" '77 punk rock DEAD BOY. sometimes he makes his mom's secret chocolate chip recipe, and sometimes it's my favorite pumpkin drop cookies with icing.

5. one time i dated an ex-skinhead. he was a couple years older than me. we met on the internet. he took me on a date to eat-n-park. we broke up because he was ignorant. (surprise!)

6. i have personally known 2 people that have died tragically on the 4th of july and made the news. the first was a girl who used to be my next-door neighbor and we grew up playing barbies together. she got hit in the head by a wayward rocket at a public fireworks display. the second was my little boyfriend in 7th grade. his neighbor, who was a policeman, shot him and his friends for being noisy and blowing off firecrackers in their driveway.

7. i have a tattoo that earns me "free records for life."

8. when i was a child and people asked me what i wanted to be when i grew up, i used to tell them i wanted to be a plumber.

9. i have never been drunk, or smoked a cigarette. once when i was about 12 and my cousin beth and i were home alone, we sneaked into the stash that was left over from our christmas party and tasted peach schnapps and cherry brandy. they were disgusting. we took our plastic cups and hid them outside under a pile of snow to destroy the "evidence."

10. back in the day when they would tour the united states a lot, i used to hang out with the band GOB every time they were around. we traveled anywhere close to go see them and didn't miss a show here in cleveland. some people say they were like the canadian green day -- they were pretty big in their home country. they would come over to eat lasagna we made them or watch "wet hot american summer." we would go out to dinner with them or hang out on sum 41's tour bus when they were touring together (gross, i know). one time in buffalo they gave us passes to watch the show from the side of the stage, and that was really cool. i have the GOB "candy hearts" logo tattooed on my wrist and people always ask me, "who's bob?" they were hilarious, awesome dudes. i miss them a lot.











The Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note completing the 36 "I’ve come to realize."

1. I've come to realize that my chest-size...is still growing, much to my dismay (and josh's joy!). it's really frustrating that so many of my favorite shirts are becoming too short, and i can't fit into a lot of cute stuff to begin with. grr.

2. I've come to realize that my job...was dominating every aspect of my life and making it miserable to LIVE. and no matter how nervous/stressed/upset i am about not working at the moment, it's NOTHING compared to how awful it was making me feel to be there.

3. I've come to realize that when I'm driving...i have a hard time controlling my rage when someone does something stupid. despite what the law says, i don't think EVERYONE should be allowed to have a license.

4. I've come to realize that I need...to stop being impatient and just let things happen like they are supposed to. everything happens for a reason, right?

5. I've come to realize that I have lost...a lot of years being unhappy and not making much of myself, when in reality i need to start going after what i want.

6. I've come to realize that I hate it when...josh tells me, "someday."

7. I've come to realize that when I'm drunk...or in my case, that when i'm sober i'm that much stronger of a person for being so.

8. I've come to realize that money...plays such a huge part in my life and the lives of everyone around me. and that makes me SAD. sometimes i wish i was just a hobo out in the middle of the woods.

9. I've come to realize that certain people...are never going to change, no matter how many times you give them the benefit of the doubt. that's why it's easier to just dislike everyone. ha.

10. I've come to realize that I'll always...put those i love before myself.

11. I've come to realize that my siblings...have very different ideas about life than i do, regardless of the fact that we were raised under the same roof.

12. I've come to realize that my mom...is still trying to figure out herself and her place in life.

13. I've come to realize that my cell phone...is the only way i keep in contact with a lot of people through texts, yet i still can't bring myself to dial a number and have a conversation. i find it too awkward.

14. I've come to realize that when I woke up this morning...i was not as happy with being unemployed as i thought i would be. i wasn't expecting the feelings of guilt and worry that have crept in.

15. I've come to realize that last night before I went to sleep...i am the luckiest girl in the world to fall asleep next to that guy, and i hope that never changes.

16. I've come to realize that right now I am...wishing that guy would come home from work because i feel like i never have enough time with him. even though we have spent every spare minute together since we first met over a year ago, most of that living under the same roof. is that crazy?

17. I've come to realize that my dad...is much easier to get along with when we are not living together. because we are too much alike with our tempers :)

18. I've come to realize that when I get on Facebook...i have yet to realize anything about facebook, and although i swore i never would i have to admit that curosity is really getting to me while i sit at home alone every day.

19. I've come to realize that today...was pretty much a waste.

20. I've come to realize that tonight...i will be hanging out with my boy and some rock'n'roll, and it doesn't get much better than that. except for the part where other people might be enjoying what i'm doing and are glad that i am.

21. I've come to realize that tomorrow...i need to start making things happen, instead of feeling sorry for myself.

22. I've come to realize that I really want to...take a chance and share things with other people, even though i am taking the risk that they might not care.

23. I've come to realize that the person who is most likely to repost this...has something beautiful.

24. I've come to realize that life...is too short to hold yourself back.

25. I've come to realize that this weekend...we're gonna live it up because it is pretty much the last summer weekend we have. and we're gonna celebrate by hanging out around hot cars, good jams, and FLAME-THROWING CONTESTS! mmhmm.

26. I've come to realize the best music to listen to when I am upset...is the kind that can say what i mean to say, but probably does it better.

27. I've come to realize that #27...oh. ok?

28. I've come to realize that this year...has been one of the most rewarding i have ever known, and it all felt so natural that i can still hardly believe it.

29. I've come to realize that my ex...still has some growing up to do.

30. I've come to realize that maybe I should...find something for dinner tonite so my hard-working boy won't be disappointed in me when he gets home.

31. I've come to realize that I love...being creative and letting it show, rather than bottling up all these ideas in my head.

32. I've come to realize that I don't understand...how people can prefer dogs over cats. curling up with a purring cat and watching how peaceful it looks when it sleeps is one of the greatest things in the world.

33. I've come to realize my past...isn't as ordinary as i sometimes make it seem.

34. I've come to realize that parties...are very uncomfortable for me unless i am the one throwing it. and even then, i'm a total nervous wreck, trying to make sure everything is just so.

35. I've come to realize that I'm totally terrified...of completely trusting someone and giving yourself to them totally, and then having them blindside you.

36. I've come to realize that my life...has so many things to look forward to still, and that even when it seems like i have so much behind me there is still so much left to accomplish.

bookworm, drew

i'm sure no one noticed, but i changed the picture on my blog. it's still nobunny, but this one fits on the page better. anyway.

nothing much has been going on, so i guess i don't have much to talk about. this is going to be a random entry.

i've been trying not to go out and spend money because i feel guilty that i don't have a job. today i went and put in an application at the book store because i have a mad crush on books and i would looooooooove to work at a book store. luckily i had a gift card left over from my birthday, so i got the following:

-camp camp by roger bennett and jules shell (full of photos and stories people sent in of their days at summer camp, mostly from the 70s and 80s. hilarious.)
-what a way to go: fabulous funerals of the famous and infamous by adele brown (describes the funeral service, last rites, final resting place, etc. some even have pictures from the funeral.)
-cowgirls, cockroaches and celebrity lingerie: the world's most unusual museums by michelle lovric (i love me some weird museums!)

i think i have a really great collection of books. lots of weird/creepy/disgusting/racy stuff. i love memoirs the best...the more fucked up, the better. i love true crime and reading about serial killers, and i can never pass up a good collection of crime scene photography. BRAINS! i keep thinking i want to start a new blog that has something to do with books, but i can't decide what to do. i don't want to just review everything i own, because i haven't even read everything i own yet. besides, do people really look at those kinds? i know there are a lot of fellow bookworms out there. any suggestions for what kind of book blog you would like to see?

i always wish i would get "tagged" for one of those blog things where your friends want to know random facts about you. i like making lists.

i feel like i have a lot of thoughts swirling around in my head and i can't get them all out.

stab a motherfucker in the back

so it's absolutely killing me that i can't afford to go budget rock # 8 this year. right about now, california seems like the farthest place in the world! look at what they are dangling in front of me:

-THE MUMMIES
-the necessary evils
-the brentwoods
-the fevers
-donny denim
-gris gris
-cheap time
-dan melchior
-sector zero
-thee oh sees
-black time
-the golden boys
-NOBUNNY
-the box elders
-hunx and his punx
-the fresh and onlys
-wounded lion
-personal and the pizzas
-johnny and the limelites
-the pizzas
-rock and roll adventure kids
-superior units
-wild thing
-outdoorsmen
-the primitivas
-young offenders
and more tba...

ohhhhhh. it hurts my heart. i keep pretending like it doesn't exist and it isn't happening so i won't think about the fact that i have to miss it.

josh and i set up a table at the bling bling bazaar at now that's class last weekend. we actually sold 2 photos! awesome. and i sold 3 hot trash t-shirts, which was an unexpected surprise. i almost didn't even pack them. i've been doing the radio show for almost 5 years now, and i still feel like no one actually listens. one of the shirts i sold was being sent to someone in florida who used to live in cleveland and listened when he did. or maybe he is still listening on the internet now that he relocated. either way, that's amazing to me and i love it.

i keep forgetting to take pictures of the new radio studio but i'll try to remember. maybe i'll do a little feature about it soon, so look for that.

i still have a few hot trash shirts left in various sizes and colors, so if you feel like sportin and showing your love for college radio and trashy rock'n'roll, get a hold of me. they all have this fancy RECORD MONSTER! design by my pal, johnny rattail. he just recently opened up shop on etsy, so go check him out!!

here is what the shirts look like. they are $5 if anyone is interested.





i never thought i would say this, but josh is at work and it's halfway through my last week of paid vacation from my former job and I'M BORED.

mermaid women and cotton candy

last friday was my last day of work. although i was sad to say goodbye to people (some of which i have worked with all 8 years) and i dreaded the thought of never having first crack at the useless junk from the back room anymore, i knew this was something i HAD to do. just after lunch i was up in the front of the store when my friend nick said we all had to go to the back for a meeting. i walked in to find everyone sitting around a cake (with pink frosting, since my nickname at work was "pink"), a card that they all signed, and a single pink rose. it kinda made me like the place for a second, until i remembered how miserable it always made me. it was very sweet of everyone though and it made it even harder to say goodbye to them.

here are two of my besties, john and mike. you never know what you will find here, so every day is like halloween for us.



this is my misc department partner heather (in my cat corner!), who made me cry first thing in the morning with a sappy card :(



SO LONG, ASSWORLD! I'LL (sorta) MISS YOU!!!


it had been a few weeks since i went to a show, so it felt good to go see bad sports at now that's class. my friend daniel asked me to set the show up a few months ago. i first met daniel from seeing his other band, the wax museums. the band was good and we hung out at hotel hot trash afterwards, playing 45s and arguing about who is the best monkee (for the record: it's peter. HANDS DOWN!) here is an old picture of me and daniel when we were both at gonerfest a few years ago:



i also finally got to a carnival this summer! me, josh and my cousin amy went to the cuyahoga county fair.



















not only was this this best thing i saw all day, it was one of the best things i've ever seen in my life!

MONKEY JOCKEYS!!

and not just monkey jockeys, but monkey jockeys racing each other ON DOGS!!!

















they even tried to have some freak shows! how cute. because what good is a fair without a good ol' freakshow?!?



i don't know why i'm so in love with tacky neon signs and candy-colored booths, but i am.





especially this one!



here is amy looking pregnant and refreshed. it isn't summer unless there's some sugary carnival lemonade involved! between the three of us, we pigged out on tons of carnival food including lemonade, beer, nachos, ice cream, gyros, cheese curds, icees, and stromboli. yowza!



of course, we spent a decent amount of time in barns.

















little goats are cute. i decided that we needed one. josh told me no.



this goat wanted josh's beer.



baby piglets are sooo cute. too bad they have to grow up to be so disgusting. i decided that we needed some piglets. josh told me no.











i never realized how cute donkeys are. i decided that we needed one. josh said MAYBE.



what's wrong with this kid?





nice beard.



look at these guys! HAHA! josh tried to convince me that they were in the klan.




in other news, josh and i added two new photos that can be purchased in our etsy store. one is the creepy-looking fireworks picture i posted in here a while back, and the other is of everyone's favorite half-man, half-bunny (without pants!) -- NOBUNNY! although i realize it isn't nearly as good as having him before you in person, it will have to make due until he hops into your town :) please take a peek at our store and see if there's anything you like! or maybe you need a unique gift for someone...our creepy artwork would make a lovely halloween present!

coming soon to our etsy shop: carnival rides, freak shows, an old creepy church, and some tacky signs...

and i'll leave you with a few of my favorite quotes as of late:

"blenders kind of scare me."
-my friend mike, watching me test a blender at work

"there's a chronic FUCKER at my work!"
-josh, after telling a story about finding several pairs of girls panties in a room at work

"MASTER OF CHEESEBURGERS!"
-one of my friends from italy in the band svetlanas, praising josh's grilling skills