ErinElise

NEW BLOG

2012-01-25T13:30:00.001-05:00

Please don't mind that I haven't posted on this blog in over a year :-)

I have created a NEW blog on which I will posting about media, makeup, music & MORE!

CLICK HERE to go there now :-)

Facebook Ettiquette According to Facebookers.

2011-01-14T15:00:00.000-05:00

This is a feature article I wrote for a class last semester. I did post it on my required blog but I'm pretty proud of this one in particular so I decided to post it on m regular blog as well. :-) Thanks to all who contributed! Enjoy:

He reads, “I'm eating breakfast and getting ready for work.” He doesn’t need to see their ‘pix’ from the latest party, get-together or drunken brawl because this seems too common. But he acknowledges that it is an effective way to stay in contact with people who might not have over time. “That being said, there is a reason that people fall out of touch and Facebook can make those reasons obvious,” says Dr. Geoffrey D. Hammill, an Eastern Michigan University Professor of Electronic Media and Film.

But how can one resist the rich and royal blue stripe at the top of a white vastness, or the light blue on the blank white page which makes the messages so clear to its addicts? This, my friends, is the internet’s 7-year-old child prodigy, Facebook. But even after being on the commonplace ‘10 Most Visited Websites’ lists for 4 years in a row – gaining ranks every year – its users still break the unspoken laws of Facebook.

But the fact that this much of the public’s time is being put toward one website is not the mystery – it is how they’re using it. Do social networking websites create bad habits? Are there actual rules of etiquette that can help people be better internet socialites?

According to Mark Zuckerberg himself, Facebook users around the world spend over 700 billion minutes per month on the social networking website. And in this new technologically obsessed decade, there are more than 200 million Facebookers currently accessing the website through their mobile devices at any given moment.

There are actual rules of Facebook – no nudity, commercialization, bullying, or hate speech – but there are also the other rules of Facebook which can’t be found in co-founder Mark Zuckerberg’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities.

A 2009 article from PC World lists the “10 Rules for Better Socializing.” The list consists of 10 rules that, in theory, will help one get friends on Facebook and keep them. Some of them include:

Choose friends wisely or else you may end up with thousands of ‘friends’ you’ve never even met in person.
Go easy on the updates; don’t over-share.
“Do not invite your friends to take a “Which serial killer are you?” quiz or any other quiz.”
Use the chat feature sparingly. Not everyone can reply back at your convenience.
Stop poking people; it’s the lowest form of Facebook communication. Just message that person already.
Avoid group-think syndrome. If one of your friends ‘likes’ a page, do not be afraid to click the ‘x’ instead.
Beware of embarrassing photos. “Resist the temptation to post every last photo from your birthday party on Facebook.”
It is completely acceptable to untag thyself in an unwanted photo reference.
Ignore whatever cause or game requests you want. You are not obligated to acknowledge every friend request or any other request for that matter.

These rules are all a part of those unspoken ones. But according to Facebookers from around Michigan, there is still more to be said regarding the unspoken etiquette of Facebook.

Some Facebookers get too creative with how they choose to portray their personalities and images. Alexandria Moise, 21, of Ann Arbor, says, “Stop adding weird stuff to your name like ‘Jane sexygirlwholikestoparty Doe’.” Regarding the same type of etiquette, Stephanie Christo, 21, of Detroit, says, “NEveR TypE Lyke ThiS.” Also, Matt Brushinski, 28, of Ypsilanti, says we shouldn’t cuss and or post pictures that could reveal things. He says, “Potential employers will look for you on Facebook and judge just on that.”

When it comes to getting an annoying amount of updates in one’s news feed, Derek McNelly, 21, of Center Line, says, “No one wants to see updates from every app [application] you use. Cut it out.” Also annoyed by the clutter of the news feed, Brooke Stefani, 20, of Ypsilanti, says we need to stop ‘liking’ everything on the planet. When a Facebooker likes more than one page, they can come up as multiple updates in a friend’s news feed, making their constant updates obnoxious and uninformative. Stefani says, “It's harder for me to stalk you if I have to hide you from my news feed.”

But Facebook communication can be frustrating for other reasons, too. Ryan Carter, 26, of Ypsilanti, says, “If I type a couple paragraphs and am taking the time to write you, please don't write something like this back, ‘doin ok. You?’ REALLY?! That was informative; glad you took five seconds to type that back! Also what gets me is I am not an ornament or fixture for your other friends to see how popular, or how many friends you have. Therefore, write me once in a while; friendship goes both ways.”

Others dislike when their friends are so vague that it’s annoying to watch them practically plead for attention. Carrie Neal, 24, of Northville, says we shouldn’t post statuses that beg for emotional responses such as ‘I can't believe that just happened! I'm so pissed off I could scream!’ She says, “To make it worse, they'll respond, ‘It's personal, don't wanna give any details.’ Well then don't post about it in the first place!!!” And along the same lines, it’s rude to talk behind someone’s back, especially if it’s not exactly behind his/her back. Kahilee Sky, 21, of Ypsilanti, notes her No. 1 Facebook etiquette pet peeve is “when people hint ‘people’ and wont just say their names.”

A rather interesting Facebook tale comes from another 21-year-old user. “In passing, I posted a comment on a female acquaintance's wall that I thought was humorous. She, however, thought it was a bit more serious, and after a couple of days exchanging texts, she came over to my house and initiated her plan,” he says. “After the deeds were done, I asked her why she thought I was interested in her. [She says,] ‘Well, you wrote on my Facebook wall, so I thought that obviously meant you wanted me.’ If this is what Facebook is doing to people, God help us all.”

Part of this etiquette experiment was to also define Facebook as either a tool or toy. Dr. Hammill, the EMU professor introduced earlier, has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism, a Master of Arts in Radio, Television & Film, and a doctorate in Mass Communications. Dr. Hammill generally logs onto Facebook once a day, but is not intrigued at all by what people are doing from moment to moment. He tends to be on both sides of the tool/toy spectrum but does have a bottom line for Facebook’s personal uses. “I like that one can re-acquaint with folks... And, for good or bad, it is a great way to express one's opinions and feelings (but mostly those things are best kept to oneself). It’s a toy,” he says. “It's a tool only for those organizations, corporations and individuals who seek to profit from it somehow.”

Another man reads, “I'm at Kroger and the line is long.” But despite the most common informative status updates, Paul Majeske, an Associate Professor of Communication Technology at Eastern Michigan University, claims a different opinion of Facebook’s uses. Majeske, same as Dr. Hammill, logs on at least one a day to check up on what his friend’s statuses have been lately, but defines Facebook as more of a tool now that it can be accessed via mobile phone. “I love that my Facebook profiles populate my Droid contact list – very useful,” he says. “Also, I can keep people close to me and connect friends that have common interests that otherwise would take a great effort to get together.” Majeske adds that Facebook is also a great organizing tool when used to promote events.

To Majeske, friendships seem to have the most utter importance in the term ‘tool’. He also says, “[Facebook] extends your circle of communication. There was really no way of keeping connected to people from your past before Social Networking or the Internet. You basically just remembered them in your mind and that was it – now you can keep them close and extend relationships for years – or a lifetime.”

And speaking of extending relationships, Ryan Larimore, a 21-year-old of Westland, happened to gain a relationship with an unlikely sibling from many years ago. “When my dad was 17, he had a potential child adopted away from him, before he had a chance to know if it was his or not. The woman forged my father’s name (my dad goes by Steve, but his real name is Lawrence, and the birth certificate actually says "Steve" on it) on the birth certificate and gave it up for adoption before my dad ever had a chance to meet his potential child,” he explains. “Twenty-four years later a girl messaged my dad saying that she found him on Facebook a while ago... and suddenly I had another sister. We met up and the experience was surreal. She looked just like a Larimore, and an older version of my younger sister, Ashley.” Larimore says she is married with three children, and his family has embraced hers as if they’d known them all along. He also adds that they will be at Christmas with his family for the very first time this year.

Now that there are 20 rules of etiquette and both sides of the tool/toy story, decide for yourself. Do you annoy your list of friends by breaking some of these rules? What does Facebook do for you? Regardless of whether you lean toward Facebook being a tool or toy, the website has crept into most of our lives in one use or another. The only question left is, how will you choose to use it?

100 Shuffled Truths.

2010-11-17T12:39:00.001-05:00

This is what I've been up to this morning. Sometimes it feels more productive to waste time than to be productive. :-) Read it or not - 'tis up to you! Enjoy.

---

(1) Turn on your MP3 player or music player on your computer.
(2) Go to SHUFFLE songs mode.
(3) Write down the first 15 songs that come up--song title and artist--NO editing/cheating, please.
(4) Choose 25 people to be tagged. It is generally considered to be in good taste to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I'm betting that your musical selection is entertaining, or at least amusing.

1. Sober - Tool
2. Socio - Stone Sour
3. Don't Tell Me - Madonna
4. Burning Bright - Shinedown
5. Pick Up Off the Floor - MIKA
6. Kidnap Sandy Claws - The Nightmare Before Christmas - Danny Elfman/Tim Burton
7. Stop - Spice Girls
8. Suckers - Reel Big Fish
9. Nasty Girl - Vanity 6
10. My Prerogative - Britney Spears
11. Hole in the Earth - Deftones
12. Eat Me, Drink Me - Marilyn Manson
13. She's Like Heroin - System of a Down
14. Down, Down, Down to Mephisto's Cafe - Streetlight Manifesto
15. Le Vie Boheme B - Rent

I didn't cheat!!! I promise :-) Fun Times.

---
Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 100 Truths about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. Tagged means "I'm interested in knowing what are your 100 truths". (To do this, go to "notes" under tabs on your profile page, copy and paste this note, erase my answers and enter your own, tag people (in the right hand corner of the app then click publish.)

1. Last beverage: Coffee
2. Last phone call: EMU's Records & Registration Office
3. Last text message: To & From Al Bonacorsi
4. Last song you heard: Something on The View involving Quincy Jones and Ludacris
5. Last time you cried: A couple days ago.

HAVE YOU EVER:
6. Got back with someone you've broken up with: Yup.
7. Been cheated on: Yup.
8. Kissed someone & regretted it: Nope.
9. Lost someone special: Yup.
10. Been depressed: Not clinically.
11. Been drunk and threw up: .. Who hasn't?

LIST THREE FAVORITE COLORS:
12. Green
13. Black
14. Purple

THIS YEAR HAVE YOU: (2010)
15. Made a new friend: Of course.
16. Fallen out of love: :-( Yes
17. Laughed until you cried: hahahahahha
18. Met someone who changed you: Not this year...
19. Found out who your true friends were: All the time...
20. Found out someone was talking about you: Not really - or at least, in good ways!
21. Kissed anyone on your Facebook friend's list: Yes!
22. How many people on your friends list do you know in real life: ALL except about 2 people. I DO NOT friend people I don't unless he/she gives me a REALLY good reason...
23. How many kids do you want?: About 2-3
24. Do you have any pets?: A froggy and Whitney's guinea pig, Dennis
25. Do you want to change your name: Maybe if I ever got famous and had to because of another with a similar name
26. What did you do for your last birthday: .... TURNED 21... what do you think?
27. What time did you wake up?: 8:30am
28. What were you doing at midnight last night?: Writing in my journal
29. Name something you CANNOT wait for?: Graduating with an EMU B.S. in April 2011
30. Last time you saw your Mother: almost every Thursday! We party a lot.
31. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life: noooooothing.
32. What are you listening to right now?: Channel 7 commercials
33. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: Haha yes. I think I know 5 Toms. I even dated one of them!
34. Who is getting on your nerves now?: Not really anyone... I keep toxic people out of my life in general.
35. Most visited website?: Facebook. fo sho.
36. Whats your real name: Erin Elise "eDouble" Accomando

37. Who's your best friend?: I would say I have at least 3: Dana, Whitney, & cousin Penny
38. Relationship Status: SINGLE, BABY!
39. Zodiac sign: Capricorn
40. Male or female?: feeeemale
41. Primary School?: May V. Peck Elementary
42. Secondary School?: Wolfe Middle School
43. High school/college?: Center Line HS, Eastern Michigan University
44. Hair color: Naturally? the ugliest mousy brown
45. Long or short: shoulder length right now, but I'm growing it out
46. Height: About 5’ 3"
47. Do you have a crush on someone?: always. If P!nk is alive, I will always have a crush.
48: What do you like about yourself?: Well, I like and love the fact that I have a hard time quitting/qiving up on things.
49. Piercings: Used to have my nose pierced, now just 3 holes in each ear.
50: Tattoos: two! my Egyptian-esque peace-sign eye on my right shoulder, and P!nk's autograph and quote on my left shoulder
51. Righty or lefty: Righty

FIRSTS:
52. First surgery: NEVA.
53. First piercing: Ears
54. First best friend: I think it was probably... Emily Belarski!
55. First sport you joined: volleyball. In 2002 I had a 100% serving rate on my middle school team :-)
56. First vacation: Um. With my parents and cousin Penny, in 2003, Colorado to visit Aunt Maria Dahling and Uncle Ken!
58. First pair of trainers: ..... trainers?

RIGHT NOW:
59. Eating: Fresh Kroger Raspberries. lol
60. Drinking: Water and coffee
61. I'm about to: hear from Dana because our bonding time in between classes is almost upon us!
62. Listening to: Action 7 News at Noon
63. Waiting for: my phone to ring ring ring

YOUR FUTURE:
64. Want kids?: Yes. When I'm 28-30 years old
65. Get married?: Absolutely.
66. Career: Music......... or something related to that degree I'm gonna have soon.
67. Lips or eyes: Eyes
68. Hugs or kisses: HUGS
69. Shorter or taller: Medium....?
70. Older or Younger: I don't care.
71. Romantic or spontaneous: both - SIMULTANEOUSLY.
72. Nice stomach or nice arms: Ooooo... I'm gonna have to say arms.
73. Sensitive or loud: LOUD.
74. Hook-up or relationship: Relationship.

HAVE YOU EVER:
76. Kissed a stranger: Yes - but TOTALLY on accident. I was FRAMED, I tell you!
77. Drank hard liquor: Yes.
78. Lost glasses/contacts: Actually, no.
79. Sex on first date: DEFINITELY not. I don't even think I've ever been on a real date...?
80. Broken someone's heart: Definitely. I'm sorry.
82. Been arrested: Nope.
83. Turned someone down: I worked at a bar in Ypsi. What do you think?
84. Cried when someone died: Yes.
85. Fallen for a friend: Yea... kind of.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
86. Yourself: Always.
87. Miracles: Always.
88. Love at first sight: Eh.... maybe.
89. Heaven: Yes.
90. Santa Claus: Yes.
91. Kiss on the first date: Yes.
92. Angels: Definitely.

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:
94. Had more than 1 boyfriend/girlfriend at a time: Haha no.
95. Did you sing today?: YES! I sang and danced when P!nk came out on Ellen to "Raise Your Glass"!
96. Ever cheated on somebody?: Not really. It's complicated.
97. If you could go back in time, how far would you go?: I wouldn't go back. My life is perfect today. I wouldn't want to pull a Marty McFly!
98. The moment(s) you would choose to relive?: meeting Dana, meeting Rob Zombie & Boston, the first time I performed PRE-GAME with the EMU marching band.
99. Are you afraid of falling in love?: No, but I think I know it's not for me right now.
100. Are you afraid of posting this as 100 truths?: Nope but I'll definitely make it my own :-)

Gaga-GORGEOUS!

2010-10-31T19:28:00.001-04:00

For the Halloween Bash 2010 at Billy's Tip 'N Inn with The Dan Rafferty Band on October 30th, I dressed up as, of course, Lady Gaga. Below are the pictures that I used as inspiration to put my version of the "Telephone" costume together.

Items can be found at Forever 21 (dress), Lover's Lane (gloves), Spirit Halloween (boots), Lady Gaga Official Store (wig), and my mom's house (the yellow police tap LOL).

The Dress:

The Makeup:

The Yellow Police Tape:

The Wig:

The Making Of:

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Love, ErinElise

Angel in Disguise

2010-10-25T10:40:00.000-04:00

Rules:
1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, mp3 Player, iPod etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Tag Your friends.
5. Everyone tagged has to do the same thing
6. Have Fun!

1. IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY' YOU SAY?
Broken

2. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Walk the Dinosaur

3. WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Ten Thousand Fists

4. HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Check My Brain

5. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Got the Life

6. WHATS YOUR MOTTO?
What Would You Say?

7. WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Dust in the Wind

8. WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Sick Bubblegum

9. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Turn the Radio Off

10. WHAT IS 2 + 2?
Hey, Mr. DJ

11. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND(s)?
Girl on Fire

12. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
I Will Survive

13. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Let's Do This Now

14. WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE ?
Sell Out

15. WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Kiss Me

16. WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Cease to Exist

17. WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Fox on the Run

18. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
House of God

19. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET ?
This is Halloween

20. WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
Right Now

21. WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Angel in Disguise

What are YOU thankful for today?

2010-10-13T11:33:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, October 13th, is an awesome day. I am thankful for it in 10 ways.

1. I have no classes today.
2. I am substitute-co-anchoring for Campus TV's Eastern Weekly today (thanks to @busystudent, Orlando Bailey!)
3. I am going to visit a old friend who has moved back to Ypsi with her husband and BABY!
4. I have no immediate homework to take care of.
5. I have the funds to not feel bad about getting Jimmy John's delivered to my apartment...
6. My coffee is delicious (thanks to WHITDAWG!)!
7. EMU's President Sue Martin release this on the EMU website. Thank God.
8. I am a part of a WONDERFUL group of people called The Dan Rafferty Band, who I get to travel to Cleveland with this weekend for business (I never thought I'd get to say THAT so soon!).
9. I have no allergies acting up today for the first time in almost a whole month. Perfect timing.
10. And lastly, I am thankful for my sanity; my emotional state; my newest ability to feel fine without having someone there to be dependent upon. I am single and not "talking" to boys. And I like it. No Pressure.

What are YOU thankful for today??

at peace.

2010-10-10T21:38:00.001-04:00

The title says it all; I'm feeling at peace today with my life. To make it even better, I've compiled some inspiring (and peaceful) images for you to chill out to.

Enjoy!

Do it.

A Letter from the Editor

2010-10-05T22:41:00.002-04:00

To Whom This May Concern:

You all saw it happen; my relationship status on Facebook went from 'engaged to Al Bonacorsi' to 'single' on Thursday night.

As a disclaimer, I want to say this is post is not about me venting about a relationship Dr. Phil himself couldn't save. This is about the people whom I love knowing that I am [almost] at peace with losing my other-half. And to those of you who have reached out to help me, I thank you dearly. I have never felt more alone than I do at this moment and you all are helping me through it marvelously.

But I know what went wrong.

Al and I fell madly in love when we were 15 years old and had the most perfect relationship in the world. Then, when we were both 16-going-on-17, Al made a good decision to leave the city of Center Line and continue high school in Plymouth, where he would live with his father, step-mother, and three siblings all under the age of 10.

I was devastated.

As we all know, the long distance killed us both and so early in 2006, Al took it upon himself to be the pants-wearer in the relationship and end it for the better. We didn't talk again until late 2007.

My relationship with another boy was ending violently and Al happened to be slowly returning into my life, with a few phone calls here and there regarding girl or music advice. Here lies the problem.

We partied at his apartment, went out with his friends, and did normal 19-year-old things; we felt as if we'd never broken up; we'd picked up where we'd left off. And it was beautiful.

About six months after the rediscovered happiness, Al made a decision, for our future, that would change everything.

On October 3, 2008, Al left for a 4-year stint in the U.S. Navy and never looked back. Of course, he proposed to me on September 21st before he left, to assure me that just because he was leaving, he was just as serious about the relationship as I was.

But the year he was gone I saw him a grand total of one month and it killed me. I went from seeing him everyday to drastically only talking to him less once every couple of weeks. During marching season, I'd miss his weekly Saturday morning phone calls and it hurt so much that even now I tear up thinking about it.

We got through the distance but I was never the same. He returned from the Navy right before Halloween 2009 and had no intention of going back. He was staying with me; I did it; I had him back, all to myself.

I had him back, all to myself, but I couldn't remember how.

After that year of dependent living as a college kid with 19 credits, a part-time job, a marching band, and a dream of a music career, I'd forgotten how to have a relationship with somebody in person.

He checked back in and I was already checked out.

For a year, we'd been struggling with time, or lack thereof. We had our differences but overall, they weren't big enough to worry over. We used to say that our biggest argument was debating whether or not Batman was a superhero... I only wish I could still say the same thing.

Through 2010 we noticed little things going wrong here and there. Then bigger arguments began occurring that involved picking apart each-other like monkeys picking lice out of each-other's hair... This transformation hurt the most. We had become two people who care about each other deeply but can't seem to be together for too long without getting annoyed with the other's presence.

That brings us to today. We grew up together and we grew apart together. We're not the same people we were before he left and that's not either of our faults. We can blame each other for changing, or for becoming more emotional, or for growing up too fast, or for not growing up enough, but what does that solve?

We care about each other enough to know that we don't belong together anymore. Our childhood love is in our memories and our most recently found love exists in the form of friendship, no longer romance. We lost our spark. It happens. I never thought in a million years that I'd have to say (or write) it but it happens.

I'm sorry for the way it had to brutally and slowly end, but we were both just too chickenshit to call 'em like we see 'em. I'm also sorry because Al loves me more than anyone in the whole world could love another person. And I took it for granted. We have petty differences; everyone does. But I couldn't let him love me because of them. And now I know what I had and it's gone, as corny as that may be.

However, we both do have a lot of growing up to do and I feel that this is simply a warning that if we don't do it alone it's gonna get uglier than it has been in the past. I don't think anyone wants to witness that.

The bottom line is this: We will always love each other, no matter what sort of childish shit Al pulls on me or what sort of emotional PMS I lash out at him. I always tell people, "If it's meant to be, it will be," and that's all I can tell myself right now. We will always love each other but it's just not meant to be.

TRUTH

2010-09-03T14:19:00.000-04:00

(an e-mail I received from my uncle)

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this - ever.

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voice mail . What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

20. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

21. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

22. I would rather try to carry 10 over-loaded plastic bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

23. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

24. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

25. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

26. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

27. Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber and dumber every year?

28. There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

29. As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate bicyclists, the rules of the road dont apply to them .

30. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

31. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet my ass everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 17 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

I am so influencable...

2010-08-20T10:13:00.000-04:00

I was doing some research this morning on the music that the DRB plays at our gigs and I realized something. There is not one bone in my body that isn't a piece of some influential music artist. My stage presence has nothing to do with me... and that's a problem to me.

I don't want people to constantly tell me that I remind them of this person or that.... and while that is a HUGE compliment, I'd rather people say that I'm different on stage and that no one else they've seen lately performs like that.

With Gaga on the scene, it's hard to be any more original than that stageshow...

But overall, my influences are a basic list of the following:
Alecia 'P!nk' Moore,
Brody Dalle (The Distillers, Spinnerette),
Monique Powell (Save Ferris),
Amy Lee (Evanescence),
Pat Benatar,
Etta James,
Steven Tyler (Aerosmith),
Michelle Branch,
Spice Girls,
Axl Rose (Guns N Roses),
Lauryn Hill,
Christina Aguilera,
Lady Gaga
Brad Delp (Boston),
Janis Joplin,
Michael Jackson.

I think that explains a lot about why I sound the way I do. But with all those people influencing me constantly, how am I supposed to find myself in there?

THE DAN RAFFERTY BAND Gig schedule :-)

2010-08-13T12:31:00.005-04:00

*VIDEO PROMO SHOOT* Friday, August 20th
59 West @ TBA
786 West Highland Rd.

not entire band - just singers* Thursday, August 26th
Waves @ 9pm
24223 Jefferson Avenue,
St. Clair Shores, MI 48080

Friday, August 27th
Plymouth Boulder's Club Night @ 9:30pm
1020 Ann Arbor Rd.
Plymouth, MI 48170

*MAC'S U OF M KICKOFF PARTY* Friday, September 10th
Mac's Acadian Seafood @ 6pm
104 E. Michigan Ave.
Saline, MI 48176

Saturday, September 11th
Billy's Tip 'N Inn @ 9:30pm
6707 Highland Rd.
White Lake, MI 48383

Friday, September 17th
OPENING for Joe Nipote's comedySLAM!
Also:
Weber's Inn Night Club @ 9:30pm
3050 Jackson Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Saturday, September 18th
Weber's Inn Night Club @ 9:30pm
3050 Jackson Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103

*HALLOWEEN PARTY* Saturday, October 30th
Billy's Tip 'N Inn @ 9:30pm
6707 Highland Rd.
White Lake, MI 48383

Friday, November 19th
Billy's Tip 'N Inn @ 9:30pm
6707 Highland Rd.
White Lake, MI 48383

Friday, December 10th
Billy's Tip 'N Inn @ 9:30pm
6707 Highland Rd.
White Lake, MI 48383

*NEW YEARS EVE PARTY* Friday, December 31st
Billy's Tip 'N Inn @ 9:30pm
6707 Highland Rd.
White Lake, MI 48383

MORE DATES TO COME!

I HEART the 90s!

2010-07-31T10:44:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I posted a new pic on Facebook and other social networking sites that seriously reminded me of the 90s. So I wanted to do a 90s tribute this morning. Here are MY top phootgraphs from the 90s that has seriously inspired me. Enjoy!!

The Deal.

2010-07-23T12:12:00.000-04:00

I can officially start to promote the crap out of the band I am in!!! They are called The Dan Rafferty Band and I have my FIRST public appearance with them in 1 week from today! It is the Saline Summer Concert Series from 7-9pm!! Click on the link for details on location!

Thanks for hanging in there with my hi-jacked information! I'm glad I can finally tell everyone!

I hope to see some of you there!!

Much love, ErinElise

I didn't win, but I totally won.

2010-06-06T02:05:00.001-04:00

So, as many of you know, I did not win the 1-yr position of WRIF Rock Girl. BUT based on the voting, I made it to the TOP 4! That's HUGE!! Thank you guys for all that support! I couldn't have gotten that close to the $40,000 without YOU!

However, I am getting an internship out of it now that I did not win. So this is why I say that I didn't win but I totally won :-) Either way, I was to get something out of it. The final details of my internship should be worked out by Monday morning.

The last few nights at work have been awesome!! In just three nights I made just under $400 in tips! Clearly, PUB13 is where it's at. You are always welcome to come and visit :-) Besides the rain/tornado warnings tonight, I can't believe how well I did! Serving is definitely a love/hate relationship with me... a night can turn bad very quickly...

So right about now I'm going to put in Freddy no. 5 (since I already watched 3 and 4 before work today), have some wine, and tidy up the apartment a little bit so the beloved roomie doesn't have to put up with it when she comes home in the morning... or so I don't have to put up with it in the morning for that matter... who likes waking up to a mess on the kitchen table?

"Not I", said the mouse.

Exotic 9 Bus Tour Update!

2010-05-03T21:24:00.007-04:00

So I've officially made the cut into the EXOTIC 9 (yes, 9. There was a tie and WRIF couldn't choose)!

Don't forget to "like" my fan page to VOTE!!

Here is the rest of my schedule for the next 2 weeks' appearances:

Thursday, 5/13/10
1st stop: 9-11pm Shorty's (Waterford)

Friday, 5/14/10
1st stop: 9pm Shawn Patrick's (Shelby Township)
2nd stop: 10:30pm Buffalo Wil Wings (Washington Township)
3rd stop: 11:30pm Santino's (Washington Township)

Saturday, 5/15/2010
1st stop: 10pm Avenue Sports Grill
2nd stop: 11pm US-12 (Wayne)
3rd stop: 12pm Rockstarz (Garden City)

Thursday, 5/20/10
1st stop: 5:30pm Appearance on 101.1FM WRIF with Meltdown!

Friday, 5/21/10
FINALS PARTY @ FILLMORE in Detroit - Come to the prior events to get tickets to see Lacuna Coil, Drowning Pool, Hell Yeah, and Seether!!!

Hope to see you at some of them!!

Love much
Erin A.

Clean funnies from Uncle Gary.

2010-04-30T12:47:00.000-04:00

Good morning, all - well, at least, morning for me :-) I found this funny in my e-mail this morning and thought it'd be some good, clean fun for all of us today. I know there are a lot but they are so funny!! Have a great Friday and make sure to check out my schedule for tonight's SEXY 16 Bus Tour in THIS POST !

Much Love, ErinElise (Erin A. if you are voting!)

They're Back! Those wonderful Church Bulletins! These sentences (with all the BLOOPERS) actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
--------------------------
The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
--------------------------
The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'
--------------------------
Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
--------------------------
Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you.
--------------------------
Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

--------------------------
Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
--------------------------
Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
--------------------------
For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
--------------------------
Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
--------------------------
Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
--------------------------
A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow..
--------------------------
At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.
--------------------------
Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
--------------------------
Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
--------------------------
Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered..
--------------------------
The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
--------------------------
Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.
--------------------------
The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
--------------------------
This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
--------------------------
Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM.. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. Is done.
--------------------------
The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast
--------------------------
The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
--------------------------
The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours..

SEXY 16 TOUR - 3 nights only!

2010-04-29T12:13:00.002-04:00

The voting is coming to a close on Sunday night! HAVE YOU VOTED YET?!

Well, if you have, or even if you haven't, come and visit with me at the last three Sexy 16 Bus Tour events Thursday (tonight), Friday, and Saturday nights!!

Here's my schedule:

Thursday, 4/29/10 - HAZEL PARK & FERNDALE

1st stop: 8pm at Kozy Lounge, 150 E 10 Mile, Hazel Park

2nd Stop: 9p at End of the Park, 634 W. 9 Mile, Hazel Park

3rd Stop: 10p at Sneakers Pub, 22628 Woodward, Ferndale

Friday, 4/30/10 - WARREN & ROSEVILLE

1st stop: 9p at JP Shakers, 15015 E. 13 Mile Rd., Warren

2nd stop: 10:15 at Joe Suds, 13791 E. 13 Mile Rd, Warren

3rd Stop: 11:30p at Shawn Patrick’s, 29047 Utica Rd., Roseville

Saturday, 5/01/10 - ST. CLAIR SHORES

1st stop: 9pm at Luna Kai, 37400 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores

2nd Stop: 10:20p at Boatworks, 29917 Harper Ave., St. Clair Shores

3rd Stop: 11:30p at Pepperbottoms, 24301 Harper Ave., St. Clair Shores

Hope to see you all there!

Love,
Erin A.

Oh, friend, you've left me speechless...

2010-04-27T15:44:00.002-04:00

I haven't blogged in a while but since I have next-to-nothing to do today I thought I'd jam to some Gaga and write off my life.

Recently, my last crazy school semester ended and since all the grades are up for me from it, I can tell you that I got a 3.67 overall (and cumulative) GPA here at EMU. I have to get 3.5 or higher to receive my scholarship so you don't know HOW happy it makes me that 3 A's, 2 A-'s, a B+ and a B- equals a 3.58 for the semester.... AHHH... I'm just happy that I am officially only 21 credits from having a bachelor's degree...

This past weekend, after I took three of my finals early to partake, I stood up in my fiance's brother's wedding (my future brother-in-law). It was in Isle of Palm, South Carolina, and it was b-e-a-UTIFUL. Al (my fiance) and I left Wednesday night with his mom, stepfather, and younger brother. The weather was awesome on Thursday for the rehearsal dinner and events, and even more perfect for the outdoor-evening wedding on Friday night. Then, we all had a day to just chill and enjoy the weather in South Carolina on Saturday. But of course, the weather was basically the same in SC as it had been here in Detroit for the pasts few weeks. It was cold, breezy, rainy, all of the above. I was angry... but nonetheless, it was a beautiful and relaxing weekend and I was sad to come back to moody ol' Michigan...

Also, if you've been keeping up with my networking posts, you know I've made it to the third round of the 2010 WRIF Rock Girl Search. I am currently in the top 16 girls (Sexy 16) and the voting ends on Sunday, May 2, to determine the top 8 (Exotic 8). Vote HERE I am SO excited to see if I make it to the next round or not. But of course, more conflicts come along with this adventure, seeing as all the events that are required for the girls to attend are on the same nights of the week I work at Pub 13... my life just won't chill out...

So I had a meeting with the Dueling Piano agent, Jason, today, along with one of the more experienced piano guys, Ryan. We did about 1.5 hours of training on the pianos at Pub and then went over to Tap Room for food and more talking about training and how to step it up a notch. Oh boy.

So now I'm home, full of bread sticks and ready for a nap, but all I want to do is clean the apartment and practice piano. I just don't think my body has that much energy left in it today. Nikki, Whitney and Al are all gone so I have no one to keep my company but myself. We'll just have to see where the day takes me.

Maybe go return Couples Retreat (which was totally hilarious) and go get another new release I haven't seen yet...

Maybe I'll go back to Pub later and do some karaoke...

Maybe I'll just practice for Dueling Pianos (from now on known as DP) for, like, 10 hours.

Who knows? Could be? Shoot me some ideas. Let's hang out.

It's been a while...

2010-02-22T22:25:00.000-05:00

I realize I haven't blogged in literally a month, but here are the reasons why:

1. BIGGBY shows in January were going so well that I decided only to do them until Jan. 31st, where I actually made about $50.

2. I decided to quit doing BIGGBY gigs for now because I am currently enrolled in 19 credit hours at Eastern.

3. My Eagle Radio show is well under way on its seventh show coming up on March 8th - Mondays from 5-7pm EST. I am the main DJ and the director of my student radio show for credit to graduate. Listen in at http://www.eagleradio.org/ or just click the link above :-)

4. I got a job at Pub 13 here in Ypsilanti, MI, and I've been working 3 nights a week, making about $100 a night, plus my bi-weekly check of about $100, as well; Not bad for a college kid attempting to pay the bills.

5. I have been trying to continue my work as a musician, and now with Al being home since Halloween, it's only gotten harder to find time to write music and lyrics. HOWEVER, I have a recording date with one of my coworkers at Pub who has a basement studio at his place. That date is March 2nd.

Now that we have an understanding, I want to thank you all for continuing to watch my videos and support me attempting to get discovered using this sill World Wide Web thing that has crippled us all so very much.

Despite what you may think, I am still here, alive and pumping through my Bachelor of Arts with only a few more months to go...

I will be famous one day; oh yes, I will be famous one day...

LADY GAGA!!! (Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI 1/13/10)

2010-01-17T12:59:00.000-05:00

Check out my two videos I made from the GAGA concert!!

Enjoy :-)

ZAZZLE!

2009-12-22T11:29:00.001-05:00

So last night I was bored and decided to create a merchandise store for anyone who wants to request certain images on clothing, accessories and MORE!!!

ErinEliseMerch is officially OPEN for BUSINESS!! See You There :-)

Design personalized gifts at Zazzle.

P.S. I do not get much of the profit at all - a few dollars on an average t-shirt - so it's really just to get my face and name out there in the world :-)

Thanks!!

ErinElise SPOTLIGHT on Eagle Radio's Afternoon Shuffle with Paul Hicks

2009-12-16T15:23:00.004-05:00

Hi all!
I've been posting segments from Eagle Radio's Afternoon Shuffle with Paul Hicks every week or so, but have not been keeping the posts up to date! Here is the complete list of posted material from the one-hour spotlight!!! Enjoy! Click here for the complete playlist...

Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7

Love,
ErinElise

PRACTICE MAKES your fingers hurt...

2009-11-13T07:38:00.004-05:00

Last night, I sat in front of my webcam and just played music.

Of course, it's pretty obvious, Al, the fiance, was here also...

7. Destiny's Child "Say My Name"
8. Cascada "Everytime We Touch"
9. Sixpence None the Richer "Kiss Me"
10. Evanescence "Bring Me To Life"
11. Shania Twain "You're Still The One"

Hope you like the new installments!

There will be MORE today @ BIGGBY (11003 Middlebelt, LIVONIA, MI) from 4-7pm!!!
It's free! Just come and sing-a-long with your warm apple cider, fun coffee drink, or even a double hot cocoa!!

Hope to see you there!

Love, ErinElise

What should I be doing today??

2009-11-07T10:53:00.000-05:00

My night was a mess, so now any mood I planned on being in today is also a mess. My eyes are pooooooofy and my hair is a bird's nest..... I think I need me some Kandee or Buck to turn this around...

I definitely want to go see MJ's This Is It today as a matinee, since I know that won't be sold out AND it'll be a little less expensive at the only theatre in Ypsi - the always overpriced Showcase Cinema.

I also REALLY need to go grocery shopping, but I also really want to start my story for JRNL 215 that is due on Tuesday, since I already have my interview's answers patiently awaiting my arrival in Gmail...

What to do, what to do?!?!

I, again, still need to add more new songs to the set list for Sunday. I've added about 6 already, but need more!! Requests are always a plus :-)

Nikki & Whitney are upstairs having a homework party - I feel like I should be up there with them, but I'm not sure that I'm in the right state of mind to write good journalism right now... blogging might be as good as my writing gets today...

11/29/09 Rainbow Variety Show Performance

2009-11-06T12:38:00.000-05:00

I have had much school work to do... no time to blog or make videos or ANYTHING!! But as you know, I did perform last week in the 2009 Rainbow Variety Show in the Student Center Auditorium at EMU! Here are my acts:

Solo: LADY GAGA medley with XTREME audience participation!

Duet: James Taylor Jr. and I sing Wicked's "For Good"

Between the two of us, we brought that house DOWN!!!

Also, I have another BIGGBY (11003 Middlebelt Rd, Livonia, MI, 48150) gig on Sunday, November 15th, from 4-7pm!

See ya all SOON!!