RarelyWrongErin

Swell

2012-02-09T11:56:00.000-08:00

We can be swollen with a variety of things. Sometimes those things are indefinable.

Sometimes we know exactly what it is.

Speak speak speak

2012-01-27T12:14:00.000-08:00

New video from Porcelain Raft!

Happy Friday!

The Prettiest Package

2012-01-23T12:10:00.000-08:00

My dear old friend, the very talented Jaime Rugh, sent me the loveliest package last week.

I ordered weavings from her, and they make me so happy! I am going to find perfect spots for them.

Every little component was so thoughtful and delightful.

You can experience the joy of receiving one of her beautiful packages, too! Visit her online store and order something....it will truly brighten your day.

"You were the first one..."

2012-01-19T09:54:00.000-08:00

VERY excited about Teen-Beat re-issuing the long-out-of-print Unrest album, Perfect Teeth! It's available for pre-order now and will come in its original form- six 7" record box set.

UNREST Perfect Teeth / 7" Box Set from Teen-Beat on Vimeo.

1993.......If you weren't on this tip then, I suggest you get on it now.

2012: Year of the Clean Slate

2012-01-17T12:14:00.000-08:00

(according to me.)

Le temps des copains et de l'aventure.....

2012-01-13T15:16:00.000-08:00

I can't help myself.....I eagerly await the new Wes Anderson film.....

Plus, the trailer features Francoise Hardy. Duh, of course it speaks to me.

La Femme D'Argent

2012-01-04T12:02:00.000-08:00

Listened to this last night while reading about Big Bang Theory, the theory, not the sitcom.

In need of an island, a stack of books, maybe some whisky....

Holly-Daze

2011-12-28T16:05:00.000-08:00

The end of the year has been a blur....

Rehearsing, rescuing, and making merry......Back to regular blogging after the 1st! xoxoxo

Treats and snoozing, snoozing and treats, that's it

2011-11-15T14:13:00.001-08:00

Big hearts for Marcel.....

And the first one, in case you forgot.....

Cheers up sick kids, big and small.

Weep

2011-11-10T17:19:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I feel too much...and then I realize that it's the weight of the world. That the joys, injuries, highs and lows....they resonate inside and it can be overwhelming. I'm reminded of the human experience and what that means....everything and nothing at all.

And, that's okay.

Atticus Presents a Music Monday Moment....

2011-10-24T13:16:00.000-07:00

Atticus has requested that I share his new favorite song/video with you......Yeah, I know.

Tethered

2011-10-24T12:42:00.000-07:00

I have been tethered by the constraints of time....but I haven't given up. Today finally feels like October....mystical, hazy, enchanted. And maybe a little uneasy, too.

Yeah!

2011-10-04T15:27:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share some exciting news...I recently found out that I received an Editor's Choice Award- part of the Eric Hoffer Prose Awards, and my winning story, The Last House at the End of the Street, is being published in the Best New Writing Anthology 2012. You can see the list of prize winners here, and better yet, you can buy yourself a copy of the anthology here!

The anthology is comprised of both fiction and creative nonfiction and includes the winners of The Eric Hoffer Award.

Yippee!

Baby's Arms

2011-09-20T12:28:00.000-07:00

You may have seen this already, as it is a few months old...dreamy Kurt Vile video, shot by Todd Cole, on a Windows phone....

Technology.

Finally.....Ask Erin!

2011-09-20T10:01:00.000-07:00

Ok, I am finally sitting down to answer some Ask Erin! questions. Thank you for your patience!

I am trapped. My bf and I broke up last month and we shared the same group of friends. Now, I feel like I have no one. I just can't bear to hear about him or hang out with people who remind me. Suggestions?

Dear Trapped,

It is quite common to be feeling this way after a breakup. If you've been with someone for a considerable length of time, then you're bound to have a bit of an identity crisis afterwards, particularly in the realm of mutual friendships.

Here's the thing- it won't feel like this forever. Don't throw your friends away, but focus on the ones you are closest to, and let them know that you don't want to hear about your ex, what he's up to, etc. Any decent friend will understand and accept that.

Also, it's time to do the things that you didn't do when you were in the relationship. Take a ballet class, learn another language, make a new friend, train for a marathon, start a book club, do something you've never done or have neglected doing. It will open up your world in a healthy way and expand your horizons beyond the social group that you shared with the bf.

Do something nice for yourself every day.

rarely wrong erin, i hate my job, like really actually detest it. not so much what i do, but the people i work with. every day is a small trip to hell. i had been looking for another job, but i can't find anything that makes sense. either its too far away or the salary is less than what i'm making. help! i am stuck in the mud. is it possible to have a mid life crisis at 30?

Dear Stuck in the Mud,

No, I don't think you are having a mid-life crisis, but you are having a just-entered-my 30s-what-the-hell-am-I-doing-with-my-life crisis! Ok, so your job is clearly making you miserable. You gotta get out.

Are these other opportunities really dead ends? Any way to negotiate the salary or commit to the commute for the sake of your sanity?

Or better yet, visualize exactly what it is you want. Write it down- what your ideal work situation would be...salary, colleagues, proximity to house. Be as specific as possible. Manifest what you want. I fully believe that we can and do accomplish this.

Let me know how this works for you!

xo

Keep the questions coming....and I promise to keep this a regular blog feature. To ask me a question, email me- rarelywrongerin@gmail.com or use the formspring box on your right. Your anonymity will be honored.

XOXOXO

Harvest Moon

2011-09-13T11:27:00.000-07:00

Singing moon, Wine Moon, Elk Call Moon....Show us all the things you would like to do.

I won't be hiding, in any trees.

I heard you like the bad girls, honey is that true?

2011-09-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

I am having a real Lana del Rey moment this Monday morning/afternoon.

Don't hate. Feeling it.

I wasn't sure I wanted to write this...

2011-09-08T10:47:00.000-07:00

“You can love Jesus and Glitz.” Or, so says the t-shirt of one of the tragically captivating moms on the reality show Toddlers and Tiaras. For the past few days, I have tried to write about the combined feelings of horror and fascination I have for that show, and for that world of Preschool Pageantry. I have mounds of opinion on the subject. It’s fairly easy fodder, yet an invisible wall keeps stopping me.

Three days time will mark the 10 year anniversary of 9/11. Frankly, a lump in my throat formed while typing that sentence. We were all affected by 9/11, as a nation, and as individuals. But, I have been avoiding any sense of reliving that day, minimizing what the impact was and still is, mitigating my emotions that surround the subject. Thinking that would work, I have gone about my business, ignoring the fact that my old pal insomnia has crept back into my bed, and equally ignoring the incessant anxiety dreams that have plagued what little sleep I have managed to amass.

Like a slap in the face, I am forced to recognize the date. I have to relive that day, maybe even write about it. It can’t be assuaged by trashy television and humor, at least not right now. The sadness associated with 9/11 is seeping through me and refuses to be silenced. Visceral in nature, I feel it in my bones, in the untethered tears that are just now streaming down my cheeks, in the parts of my brain that I’ve attempted to keep under lock and key. Akin to phantom limb pains, my body remembers. My soul remembers. The wound feels fresh, urgent, potent. It’s still there.

On the morning of September 11th, 2001, I was awoken by my roommate, Andrew. We had received a call, from a friend in New York, telling us about the first tower being hit. We ran downstairs, turned on the television, and watched awe-struck and impotent, as United Flight 175 crashed into the second tower. In some ways, big and small, the world was collapsing. I became cognizant of the fact that my father was flying to Los Angeles that morning, from Boston, on United.

I frantically phoned my father, my step-mother, his secretary, his best friend. I couldn’t reach anyone. For nearly 2 hours, I sat, in agony and fear, that my father was on that plane. Finally, in one of the best phone calls of my life, I spoke to my step-mom. My father had, at the very last minute, changed his flight, and boarded an alternate plane the night before. Sobs of relief washed away the adrenaline surge, giving me time to breathe before I absorbed the rest of what was to come.

Like many, I knew people who died that day, but thankfully, no one in my my immediate circle of friends and family. I cannot begin to imagine the complex affect that would have on me, on my son, on the past decade of my life. Ten years ago, on September 11th, I was in my mid-20s; still struggling, off and on, with a heroin addiction that began when I was 13; going on my first date with a man, who I would later have both a disastrous marriage and a beautiful son with; unclear on what direction my life would take.

Now, we are here, ten years later. I am in my mid-30s, divorced, following my dreams, and being a mother, to a beautiful 8-year-old boy who forever altered my life, in the best possible way. Try as I might to turn away from that day, from those ghosts, the memory persists for a reason. The phantom limbs of 9/11 linger, and they hurt, but they also remind me of how

profoundly grateful I am for all that I have.

Return....

2011-08-31T12:16:00.000-07:00

Seeing as Rarely Wrong Radio is on hold, for an undetermined amount of time, and taking into account the rather large backlog of formspring and emailed questions, I have decided it's time to bring back weekly installments of Ask Erin!

For the uninitiated, ask me...anything at all, and I will do my best to answer. Years of mistake making have qualified me to advise you. I promise to either answer your question, here, for all to see (your anonymity in tact, of course) or privately.

So, ask away. Inspire me. You can do so via the formspring box on your right or via email, rarelywrongerin@gmail.com.

A list

2011-08-31T11:12:00.000-07:00

A list of books that have been given or lent to me, or that I may have even purchased, but I have never read.

Twilight

Julie and Julia

The Lovely Bones

The Mermaid Chair

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Fight Club

Atonement

Eat, Pray, Love

Jane Eyre

They remain at the bottom of my very large TO READ pile. Am I unfairly prejudiced against their mainstream appeal? Probably not, but I don't know if I will ever read them. Do you have piles like this? I am an avid reader, but for some reason, I never feel like reading any of the aforementioned texts.

You are.

2011-08-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. - a.a. milne

It's sometimes hard to feel that way.

If you have nothing nice to say....

2011-08-29T11:51:00.000-07:00

Don't say anything at all. The Improv Everywhere video below is a perfect example of how kind words make everyone feel better, instantly.

I am going to make a conscious effort to avoid speaking negatively. Life is too short to waste time channeling negativity. It's a sad way to live.

Cutie Patootie

2011-08-27T12:22:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, you may have already seen this. But, I can't stop. I have been known to watch some questionable television from time to time. Occasionally, I catch an episode of Toddlers and Tiaras.

So, for those who have missed the trashy train wreck that is that show- Eden Wood is one of the creepy pageant children featured, and she has a song, called "Cutie Patootie."

Here is Eden singing the song on "The Talk."

And, here is the slowed down version.....

Can't stop.

Wait, there's more.....Eden talking about hairspray, slowed and slurrrrrrrred...

I feel slightly guilty from the amount of pleasure derived from this. Why is it so good?

they call me cutie, cutie patootie. rockin' out the pageant stage, shakin' my bootie.

I want to go to there....

2011-08-22T10:42:00.001-07:00

Who's taking me? Or, who's going with me?

Saturday Songs

2011-08-13T13:46:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday. Listen to some tunes...new and old.

Un-learning

2011-08-13T13:27:00.000-07:00

I've listened to Nicki Minaj's Save Me several times the past couple days and it was truly resonating with me. It had me thinking about how much I have had to un-learn in the past 10 years.

As those of you who know me, or those of you have read this blog regularly, may know, I spent my first 25 years looking to disconnect. This proved to be fairly self-destructive.

Maybe I was looking for someone or something to save me, and when it stopped working, that silvery wash of giving up would begin to work its way through me. I discovered that I gave up in all sorts of ways, sometimes imperceptibly. I gave up on people, relationships, career paths, love, myself, and in some instances, life itself.

Becoming a mother forced most of that out of me, and I am forever grateful for that miracle.

But, sometimes, I find that traces of that urge remain. Not in any concrete or truly destructive way, but rather, I sense drops of it, and I feel myself pulling away from whatever it is that stirs uncertainty. Truthfully, it's sort of painful, both to feel the need to disconnect, and also, to stop myself from doing so.

Un-learning. That's the journey right now. And how fortunate am I to have the luxury to do so? Extremely fortunate. (Admittedly, it doesn't always feel like good fortune to the selfish child inside.)

Words can wander.

2011-07-24T08:52:00.000-07:00

Hermine Van Dijck has embarked on a wonderful journey, a project called Words For Strangers. (Thank you, Jaime!)

She leaves tiny notes for strangers on their bicycles. So far, she has left notes in Antwerp, Ghent, and Paris, but plans to continue the project all around the world.

As someone who adores language and the assemblage of words, this hits my heart in just the right spot. I would be thrilled to come upon one of her little notes.

It reminded me of Agustina Woodgate, who sews little poems into clothing in thrift stores.

I love words. It makes me sad to think there are people who value them so little.

Holiday

2011-07-22T05:34:00.000-07:00

I have been on vacation and it's been grand. Truthfully, so needed and I finally feel completely decompressed. In fact, I would venture to say that it has been the most effective vacation of my life....and it's still going.

I probably don't wish you were here.....

Splitscreen: A Love Story

2011-06-28T13:01:00.000-07:00

JW Griffiths made this very clever short film. It is shot entirely on a Nokia phone. Enjoy....

Splitscreen: A Love Story from JW Griffiths on Vimeo.

From Scratch

2011-06-27T15:25:00.000-07:00

Because we all need to start from scratch, artist Judith G. Klausner's latest project involves making crafty projects from everyday food.

She makes things like Oreo cameos...

Embroidered toast...

Condiment wallpaper...

and my personal favorite, the Chex sampler...

Shut thy mouth

2011-06-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

As someone who spends a lot of time crafting sentences on paper, arranging words, it never ceases to amaze me how inept I am at letting them out of my mouth.

Sucker-Punch

2011-06-24T13:16:00.000-07:00

So, you may or may not have noticed that I have been a bit absent. I've been dealing with some fairly rough life stuff, as a parent....and it has occupied all available brain space during the past couple weeks.

I think that the hardest thing, for me, about being a parent, is coming to terms with the pain that my child might encounter....that sometimes things happen....things that I have been unable to prevent...and, as a parent, I am wading through unchartered waters.

No matter what advice or wisdom might come my way from others, I still have but a mere sketch of a map. And, day by day, sometimes hour by hour, I am learning to steer through it all.

The beautiful thing that has emerged from all of this is the immense gratitude I feel for my family and friends, who may not be able to navigate for me, but they are there, lanterns in the darkness, reminding me that there is light and that I am not alone.

Flare

2011-06-08T12:22:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, a solar flare caused the largest known eruption on the Sun. Atticus has a deep fascination with solar flares and has told me that they can make people act wacky. He is apparently not alone in this assertion.

I have never really thought about whether or not I believed it was true. But, I might be convinced now. Do you ever have those moments where part of your brain seems to be incongruous with your logic and rationale? I might have had one of those moments and maybe I can explain it via volatile solar activity. Or, maybe I am just fallible. In either case, I am left feeling....disappointed, in myself.

Beautiful and haunting and well, for lack of a better word, explosive.

Two-fer Tuesday

2011-06-07T15:54:00.000-07:00

Yeah, lame. I know. But, don't let that stop you from enjoying some music....

What makes me happy, might make you sad...

2011-06-07T14:10:00.000-07:00

or uncomfortable. I have mad love for Beverly Hills, 90210, which, if you are my friend, or have ever read my blog, might already know. So, this aforementioned love is why I have loads of appreciation for West Beverly High, a tumblr devoted to all things West Bev. Things like....

Isn't it always summer in the mid-90s?

Then I took the dust of a long sleepless night...

2011-06-07T13:39:00.000-07:00

and I put it in your little shoe.

Life has been busy and full and good and happy and a little bit magical too....which is my excuse for being an absentee blogger. Maybe your life has been all of these things too, and you haven't even noticed I was gone!

Hearts are funny like that.

2011-05-26T08:53:00.000-07:00

Author, filmmaker, and frequent contributor to This American Life, Davy Rothbart, is the subject of David Meiklejohn's documentary, My Heart Is An Idiot.

The film follows Davy as he searches for love, and seeks advice from a varied cast of characters (Newt Gingrich, Zooey Deschanel, Ira Glass....). There are limited screenings occurring now...and I am intrigued.

Maybe it's because my heart has been an idiot too. Aren't we all familiar with being a fool for love, at least on occasion? And, truthfully, my over-intellectualized, carefully controlled normal modus operandi, is served well by a little foolishness. Although it can sometimes bring heartache, it can also, once in a blue moon, bring a whole lot of happiness....and that makes it all worth it.

Because you love music too....

2011-05-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

Why not enjoy some music videos on a Wednesday? Go on....

Beginners

2011-05-25T11:21:00.000-07:00

Mike Mills made a film, called Beginners. It comes out next week and I am very much looking forward to it.

He also made a book, of drawings, to accompany the film....Drawings from the Film Beginners. It is divided into 3 sections: The History of Sadness, Scenes from 1955, and The History of Love. Awesomeness.

40 Day Dream

2011-05-21T13:23:00.001-07:00

Installment 3......

Common Heat

2011-05-19T10:01:00.000-07:00

Enjoy the new No Age video, why don't you.....

The art of noise...

2011-05-19T09:42:00.000-07:00

Swiss artist Zimoun constructs sound sculptures and installations that are truly mesmerizing....

Zimoun : Compilation Video V2.7 | Sound Sculptures & Installations from ZIMOUN VIDEO ARCHIVE on Vimeo.

I would imagine that the affect of these installations, in person, is quite awesome. They drown out the internal chatter, like active white noise. They make me feel silenced, in a good way....because truthfully, I don't always know when to shut up.

Just a reminder......

2011-05-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

You may recall that I told you about the amazing film, Fall & Winter, that my amazing friends are making.....Here's the new trailer....

3 days left to get it funded....Do something awesome....donate and please spread the word. It might make you feel good.

The heart of a horse.....

2011-05-14T16:02:00.000-07:00

I'm digging the debut I Break Horses video....

I Break Horses - Hearts from Bella Union on Vimeo.

Shatter-days.

Life in a Day

2011-05-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about Life in a Day? Producer Ridley Scott and Director Kevin McDonald invited the world to film a moment in their life, on July 24, 2010. After editing the stories together, the result is profoundly moving. I missed the live stream on YouTube....but the film will be released in theaters this summer.

Watching the trailer and many of the vignettes, and short films this project inspired, I got to thinking about all of the varied moments in our lives, and how exceptional and amazing each one is. As an eternal optimist, it pains me to see people blindly ignore all they have in front of them. Even in moments of pain, we are faced with a uniquely human experience. We have the opportunity to affect change in our lives, and in the lives of those around us. The beauty of that is overwhelmingly astounding.

My greatest hope for the ones I love, and even for the ones I struggle to like, is that these moments, these crystallizations of this short life, are not missed, are not taken for granted. And most importantly, are not wasted by the vanity of our egos. Your life is truly beautiful. You only have to choose to live it.

Things that go wump in the night....

2011-05-10T10:19:00.000-07:00

There is a monthly goth skate night, called Wumpskate (FB) at the roller rink near my house.....how did I not know about this before?????

Krissie G. and I rolled out last night, literally.

We fueled up on Roscoe's.....

And Jameson.....

And we were ready to hit the floor....

(The mystical iPhone turned me into a quasi-succubus.)

Roller skating is pretty pretty fun....especially when you're rolling around to Siouxsie and Specimen and The Cure and KMFDM and The Chameleons....it was like being in middle school, but with Jameson.

(I know that you can't tell, but that dude in the center is wearing a homemade denim Unrest shirt.....epic!)

Each month they have a different theme. Last night was Ninja night.....

(Ninjas doing Ninja stuff in the inner loop)

This guy was a bit more genie than ninja......

See you all next month!

(Mahssa was there too...but somehow she escaped the wrath of my crappy iPhone pics....)

Riding a loop all the way home....

2011-05-06T16:43:00.000-07:00

There's a man on the corner, coming on like Moses....

2011-05-03T15:35:00.000-07:00

Even as the sun complies by stretching out the days, I'm left still wanting more. Thankfully.

Permanent Error

2011-05-02T10:38:00.000-07:00

In Ghana, there is an expansive dump, comprised of technological waste, the majority of which is shipped in from Western countries. Photographer Pieter Hugo has been documenting this surreal apocalyptic landscape. It's hard to look at these images and not consider our individual culpability and participation in frenzied consumption.

"The UN Environment Program has stated that Western countries produce around 50 million tons of digital waste every year. In Europe, only 25 percent of this type of waste is collected and effectively recycled. Much of the rest is piled in containers and shipped to developing countries, supposedly to reduce the digital divide, to create jobs and help people. In reality, the inhabitants of dumps like Agbogbloshie survive largely by burning the electronic devices to extract copper and other metals out of the plastic used in their manufacture. The electronic waste contaminates rivers and lagoons with consequences that are easily imaginable. In 2008 Green Peace took samples of the burnt soil in Agbogbloshie and found high concentrations of lead, mercury, thallium, hydrogen cyanide and PVC."

Monday Morning Cure

2011-05-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

When you have a cranky 7-year-old who doesn't want to go to school, you might be able to switch things up, by allowing him to make his own Monday Morning Cure mix.....the results might just astound you.

Playlist courtesy of A.P.B....

There's really nothing else to say!

Gravitational Collapse

2011-04-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

Collapsing into something new.....

Dreaming Awake

2011-04-27T10:12:00.000-07:00

Sometimes those deeply hidden internal parts of us are revealed, the parts we know are there but seldom acknowledge. And when they materialize, and we become cognizant of them, it's as if we have been asleep for a long time, finally waking up to this other reality. It's all rather magical.

Have you contributed to Fall & Winter yet? Every dollar helps. Talk to me when you do.

Fall and Winter

2011-04-26T11:40:00.000-07:00

I am lucky to know amazing people. Some of these amazing people embark on incredible journeys and create profoundly important things....Things like Fall & Winter.

Traveling across the United States...exploring our global crisis, in an attempt to find solutions....

Fall and Winter Extended Teaser from Matt Manderson on Vimeo.

The result is breathtaking. Please visit their Kickstarter page, donate, and be a part of the process. Let's get it done!

Beggars Banquet

2011-04-25T17:23:00.000-07:00

It was the best of times,

2011-04-22T14:19:00.000-07:00

it was the worst of times.

When I was 14, I went to a Jesus and Mary Chain show and met a 19-year-old named Randy. He was in college and he was tall and had sweaty hands. We bonded over music and kissing. We went out a couple of times and then the fact that I was 14 sort of kicked in. I think he actually picked me up from school once to go on a date.

I always think of him when I hear them. (I hate disabled embedding.)

An open letter to the idiots....

2011-04-14T17:17:00.000-07:00

Recently, as you may have heard, there has been quite the uproar over this image....

Stop the presses! A little boy with pink nail polish?!

Well, Glenn Beck and Keith Ablow (who claims to be a doctor) are outraged.

Forget about the tragedy in Japan and the subsequent radiation issues, forget about Libya and Egypt, forget about the fact that our country values crooks (who after committing major financial crimes, that sent our country into an economic downturn not seen since the Great Depression, are unscathed and still receiving bonuses) over teachers that are responsible for shaping the next generation.

There is a little boy in a photo, with his mother, with pink toenails!!!! The world is ending!

In a piece for the Fox News site, these two morons have written the most inane, preposterous, untruthful and offensive drivel. (which I won't even bother to post a link to, as it is not worth reading.) Perhaps they are mentally disabled? I have no other explanation. We can disagree about politics, but this kind of crap is not defensible on any level.

Glenn Beck, "Dr." Keith, and the vast hoards of Americans of below average intelligence, you are wasting the water and oxygen for the rest of us. You are un-American. May the universe have mercy on your souls.

Impostor!

2011-04-13T09:59:00.000-07:00

Fake Lil Wayne. Cray-cray!

(thanks bg)

File this one under things that wouldn't be awful.....

2011-04-12T15:27:00.000-07:00

It wouldn't be awful if someone drove me around, while Bill Callahan sang River Guard, in the backseat.

Bill?

"Beyond the Wild Wood Comes the Wide World"

2011-04-07T17:33:00.000-07:00

It seems that so many people are waiting- waiting for things to change, waiting for something to happen, waiting for some miracle. But, they've got it all wrong. Waiting is a cop out, waiting absolves you of responsibility and, conversely, robs you of the joys of discovery. In the words of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Action is character.

It is painful to see people you care about sit and wait, rather than do. They may even insist that they are doing. But, those who do, have no need for explanations, because they are moving, not waiting.

The Spring winds are here to stir things up. Why not let them carry you somewhere different, somewhere interesting, maybe even somewhere magical?

What are you waiting for? The world has already invited you.

17 years

2011-04-05T14:44:00.000-07:00

is a long time and no time at all....

Fuck.

Teachable

2011-04-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

Recently, I watched an episode of Masterclass, which if you have yet to see, I recommend. The documentary series, that first aired on HBO last year (and is being re-aired now), chronicles an amazing mentoring program through Young Arts. High-school students are given an opportunity to be mentored from some of the world's greatest living artists, in various fields.

The episode I watched featured 4 young writers and the playwright, Edward Albee. He said something to these kids about writing that has been stuck in my head, ever since. The only difference between something that works and something that fails is that something that fails is arbitrary, something that works is inevitable.

Couldn't the same be true in your own story, in life? If something is truly not working, maybe it's not supposed to be there in the first place. And conversely, try as you might, what's supposed to be there, will be, despite your defenses. Although I do believe that we create the world we live in, we manifest our destiny, I also believe that there are certain inevitabilities, for lack of a better term, that have to exist, on that specific path.

The beautiful thing about these kids, is that they are willing to take some risks. They are willing to try something. They are willing to reject boredom. At a certain point, in adulthood, we begin to lose that willingness to learn, maybe to believe that we can learn. That is a very painful place to live. My worst fear is to be uninspired. To quote Soren Kierkegaard, Boredom is the root of all evil- the despairing refusal to be oneself.

I'm getting way too philosophical for a Monday morning, but I suppose that's just me.

Let's Hear it for the Boys

2011-04-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

Yuck frontman, Daniel, did a little audio and video recording in his home. Enjoy the sounds of Daniel in solo project mode, Oupa. Also, A Grave With No Name, and the always awesome Porcelain Raft. It's Friday, people. Wake up!

Forget - Oupa (live in Daniel's home) from Oupa on Vimeo.

Balloons - A Grave With No Name (live in Daniel's home) from Oupa on Vimeo.

Amateur's Feeling - Porcelain Raft (live in Daniel's home) from Oupa on Vimeo.

I don't get people who don't love music.

Between

2011-03-31T08:14:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, it is what's not said that we should be listening for. Silences speak when we cannot. For, try as we might, we are not made of wood.

Radio Days

2011-03-30T16:17:00.000-07:00

As you may have heard, I am launching a radio show, right here on the internets, with Brendan and Seth (BROTOGRAPHS). So, we've been spending some time in the studio....

Seth, waxing philosophical.

Our trusty sound guru, Jordan.

Brendan "Penny Marshall" Donnelly likes to wear sunglasses at night.

(There may have been some whiskey involved.) Mucho madness to come...The website will launch soon. In the meantime, follow us on twitter @rarely_wrong and email us your questions about love, sex, giraffes, chocolate.....or about anything you want to see and hear on our show. xo

Dirty Beaches

2011-03-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

I am completely fascinated by Alex Zhang Hungtai, aka Dirty Beaches.

Alex describes his music as "the sound of waves against a picturesque and putrid shore, the silent rumble of a Chevy as it speeds by in slow motion." Are you as fascinated by him as I am? He is a dude in a continuous lean, and I mean that in a good way.

The new album, Badlands, is out today.

Late Night, Maudlin Street

2011-03-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

Spring brings change. The stagnancy of winter starts to crack and new things are revealed.

It seems a lot of people I know have been suffering from insomnia lately. Insomnia and I are old bedfellows, so I just kind of roll with it. Eventually it passes and I sleep. Last night I slept, and I dreamt of a black horse.

Upon wakening this morning, I checked my email and I had a message from someone I haven't spoken to in quite some time. The timing feels strange, although I have yet to figure out why.

In processing what I read, I began to think of their hands, what they looked like, their size and texture. And I realized that I can recall hands with great detail. They exist in some card catalog in my mind. I spent some time pulling cards out and remembering fingernails and palms and veins and knuckles. I can lose myself in this sort of thinking. I think hands are easier to remember than faces, at times. They participate in all the non-verbal communication that exists between people. Sometimes, they even take on a life of their own.

Insatiability

2011-03-28T08:42:00.000-07:00

You may recall my love for Porcelain Raft.

Dude is radical. And, he's playing 2 shows in L.A. with Yuck (April 13th and 14th). Very exciting!!

Psst...

2011-03-24T10:27:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am doing a radio show, with my bros over at BROTOGRAPHS. We are sure to make you laugh or cry or both. Follow the launch of Rarely Wrong Radio on our twitter @rarely_wrong. Keep sending your advice questions and anything you would like to hear/see on the show!

Nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands....

2011-03-23T11:09:00.000-07:00

(one of the best lines from a beautiful poem in a classic film)

Do not underestimate the powers of the vernal equinox. Spring does strange things to people.

State I Am In

2011-03-22T12:15:00.000-07:00

A dear old friend of mine, Sarabeth Tucek, has a new video out today for State I Am In, the first single from her new album, Get Well Soon, which comes out April 11th. Enjoy.

Curran Street seems like another lifetime and also yesterday. xo

The Library

2011-03-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

"Books to me are like oxygen. I'm a fish swimming in the aquarium of the intellect." - Duncan Fallowell

Watch this short documentary about Mr. Fallowell's book-filled world. I find his narration rather intoxicating. Reading a book is such a tactile, almost sensual experience. Being read to is an even more sensual experience. When was the last time someone read to you? Or you read to someone? (other than your child) I don't understand how this is missed by people.

And on the ceiling,

2011-03-21T12:21:00.000-07:00

I see a lone shoe print. It's gonna be a good week. (You will only understand this if you have known me for more than 10 years, and even then, you might not.)

Under the spell of the supermoon.....

2011-03-21T11:54:00.000-07:00

As you know (or should know), we had a visit from a supermoon, this past Saturday night. There has long been a lot of folklore about the effects of a full moon on us little humans, and I would say that those effects are amplified when the moon is closer.

So, Saturday night I went to a party in the famed Hearst suite (yes that Hearst) in a well known apartment building, here in L.A. It was a very interesting night. It's difficult to put into words the nature, and sheer amount, of odd behavior and events that unfolded. I think we all spent the better part of Sunday recovering from the hijinks. But, damn, it was sure fun. (Even when we got locked in the rosebud bedroom. )

Underneath

2011-03-20T22:49:00.000-07:00

Underneath the noise
is a hunger
Underneath the hunger
is a restless soul
Underneath the restless soul
is a wound
Underneath the wound
is the truth
Underneath the truth
is freedom

Weekend Wild Out

2011-03-19T10:21:00.000-07:00

So it's the weekend and I know what you're thinking, weekends are for getting crazy. Well, I spent my Friday night reading The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements. And let me tell you, it is seriously an exhilarating read.

The author, Sam Kean, writes about the discovery of the elements, and the men and women who discovered them, with such enthusiasm and excitement. Plus, he's kind of a nerd babe.

Seriously people, I know my love for the periodic table may prejudice me, but it really is a fascinating and thrilling read, even for people who have yet to understand the beauty of chemistry. It's magical.

My heart skips a beat......

And if you are in the market to buy me something awesome, I still want one of Theodore Gray's wooden periodic tables.

True Story

2011-03-18T10:14:00.000-07:00

This morning, I had a dream that combined these two things......

and

Yup. I don't know what to tell you. My mind is a strange and intoxicating place.

More Barry and Levon.....

I loved The State. It received horrible reviews and ratings and didn't last. People don't know what's funny.

While looking for Barry and Levon, I came across this.....

I remember watching this, which means two things- 1. I have a good memory. 2. I am old.

Dinner for Anorexics

2011-03-17T16:18:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I am late to the party. This video was viral video of the year or something, in 2009. But, I saw it for the first time today.

Look, Ma, no calories!

WESTERN SPAGHETTI from Homestead Editorial on Vimeo.

You saw me standing alone.

2011-03-17T10:51:00.000-07:00

For some reason I woke up thinking about Roger Hiorns and his Seizure project. Have you seen it? Basically, he took over a council flat in London, lined it all in plastic, pumped in a boatload of copper sulphate solution through a hole in the ceiling. Crystals began to form after a few weeks, when the temperature of the solution dropped. The remaining liquid solution was pumped back out and this was the result.....

art+chemistry= the best

Let me ride like it's 1994.

2011-03-16T16:04:00.000-07:00

R.I.P. Nate Dogg

Remember that thing I said....

2011-03-15T12:24:00.000-07:00

about being an optimist? Today, I am hanging on to my optimism by a thread, a bare thread at that.

Last night, Atticus had a boat load of questions about what has happened, and is still happening, in Japan. Trying to be truthful about something like this catastrophe, while not terrifying him, is no small feat. I don't know that I succeeded. The discussion about Japan led to a discussion about his other concerns, which led to a few tears before bedtime.

He told me this morning that he felt sad when he woke up, about Japan. And truthfully, I felt sad too. But, forward we march. Perhaps that slivery thread of optimism is all I need to get me through to the next day.

Sorbet for the Soul

2011-03-14T08:58:00.000-07:00

A palate cleanser, if you will......

I am looking for a grassy hill, to roll down today. Who's in? (Thank you, Foxes in Fiction)

Making Sense of Things

2011-03-14T08:37:00.000-07:00

(all images via NYT)

As an adult, it is hard enough to sort out the scope of what has happened in Japan. As a parent, it is even more complex. Atticus is 7. The earthquake/tsunami/nuclear meltdown is the first real catastrophe that he has had to confront. Kids are talking about it at school. He sees things and hears things. I have been struggling with how to help him process all this information. He's at the age where it is no longer possible to shield him from the darknesses that edge life.

I guess that is where I would like the darkness to stay, on the edges. Despite everything, I am an eternal optimist. Without hope, we have nothing.

If you would like to help.....Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders. Stay hopeful.

Letters From Lauren

2011-03-10T11:17:00.000-08:00

There is a lady named Lauren who is writing one letter a day in 2011 and blogging about it here. She even takes letter requests! If you know someone who could use a letter, you can email her- lettersfromlauren@gmail.com and give her the deets (recipient's name, address, and a little personal info.)

I love letters. I enjoy sending them and I adore receiving them. I am going to take a cue from Lauren, and write one letter a week. I think you should, too. Go get a pretty card, or some nice paper, pick up a pen, and write. Things come out differently with pen in hand.

(Vermeer)

Winning

2011-03-02T11:57:00.000-08:00

Saw this video last week (Thanks, Ben!) and you probably have too. But, watch it again, or for the first time, and enjoy. This baby is totally winning.

(Fan page- full length film to come soon)

Spirit Ditch

2011-02-28T19:38:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it is easier to hold on to pain that it is to let it go. Perhaps you have held on to a pain or a loss for so long, you don't know who you would be without it. Maybe it drives you, defines you, shapes your days, carves out meaning, albeit desperate meaning.

But, maybe now it's time to turn your back to the wind and fall, fall back into unchartered territory. Isn't it better to fall than to stay glued- to one time, one place, one experience, one moment?

You can revisit that old wound, I am sure, if you really want to....but I believe you will find something new to hold on to, something solid and brave and hopeful, way down deep in your core. And maybe that new thing, that new hope, can drive you, shape your days, carve out meaning.

What do you think?

Forest Coast

2011-02-25T17:32:00.000-08:00

I know I have been a lazy lazy blogger, but don't let that deter you from this awesomeness.... Ben and Clarke have launched Art Book Club and published this awesome photo booklet, entitled Forest Coast. Support art and buy a copy here. You can also purchase one of the dreamy prints from the book to hang on your wall! Win!

Aren't we all just finding our way?

2011-02-16T12:10:00.000-08:00

I can't get enough of this guy. Enjoy!

I Found a Way from Porcelain Raft on Vimeo.

Come Closer from Porcelain Raft on Vimeo.

Porcelain Raft 'Dragonfly' from Porcelain Raft on Vimeo.

People, I suggest you get on this.

The greatest love of all...

2011-02-14T08:16:00.000-08:00

My hope for you is to know love. Why not start with loving yourself?

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

The Beat Goes On

2011-02-09T09:02:00.000-08:00

Inside me, the heart of a 13-year-old girl still beats and beats and beats.

Yuck!

Will I ever grow up?

THIS needs your help!

2011-02-08T08:51:00.000-08:00

Remember that awesome art show at THIS last Friday? Well, some nimrod stole a piece of art- Jason Lee's 8x10 polaroid of the late Dennis Hopper.

If you have any information at all that could help them retrieve this piece....email this@thisgallery.com or call 323.747.5301.

There is a $25,000 reward. Read more here.

Follow the curve....

2011-02-08T08:38:00.000-08:00

Todd Cole has done it again. He has made another beautiful film for Rodarte. Enjoy The Curve of Forgotten Things....

Elle Fanning: Rodarte's Muse on Nowness.com.

Beautiful behind-the-scenes photos over at NOWNESS.

Way to go Todd! And Sue!

THIS is happening....

2011-02-03T12:31:00.000-08:00

Dear Los Angeles,

Come out Friday night for THIS....

These Friends 2 looks to be a good time. See you there! xo

I can't sleep for thinking......

2011-02-01T13:10:00.000-08:00

Alright this insomnia battle I've been having goes a little something like this....
Insomnia-6 Erin-0.
Then, Insomnia-0 Erin-2
and sadly, now...Insomnia-1 Erin-0.

I hope to tie things up tonight. So, I will place the blame on Insomnia, for my lack of content here on the blog, as of late.

In the meantime, I am way into Lord Huron right now.

And he's playing at The Echo on Friday people....get on that (if you're in L.A.)

Ya dig?

Pressed against the glass...

2011-01-27T08:21:00.000-08:00

Internally, I am running full speed towards something I cannot see.
On the outside, I am paralyzed.
This state is the bane of my existence, simultaneously exhilarated and petrified.
It will pass, but I am also sure of its return.

I can hardly wait!!!!

2011-01-26T10:17:00.000-08:00

(Thank you Ben, again.)

Bill Cunningham New York Trailer from Gavin McWait on Vimeo.

This looks awesome. March 16th....you know where I will be!!!!

I hope you don't need me wide awake....

2011-01-26T08:27:00.000-08:00

I saw this video by Danish singer Agnes Obel over on Black*Eiffel, and it seems like a perfect ode to my insomnia.

While we're on the subject of brilliant photographers....

2011-01-20T11:03:00.000-08:00

(all photos via John Maloof Collection)

Have you heard of Vivian Maier? Ben alerted me to this video....

Watch it, you won't be sorry.

The guy that discovered her work is also making a film about her....

And, there is currently an exhibit of her work up at the Chicago Cultural Center, through April 3rd. Joy, it looks like I really do need to pay Chi-town a visit!!!

"The rich have their own photographers....."

2011-01-20T09:35:00.000-08:00

".....I photograph the forgotten ones."- Milton Rogovin

One of my favorite photographers, Milton Rogovin, has passed away.

He was 101 years old. As a social activist, he was targeted as a communist in 1957, appearing before the HUAC, and subsequently losing his optometry practice. From the age of 48, he continued his social activism by documenting "forgotten ones." He documented the poor, from families in his hometown of Buffalo, to the Appalachians, to miners around the world.

I first discovered his work in the photo section of the Los Angeles Public Library, main downtown branch, in the late 90s, and have been a major fan ever since.

If you can make it to Chicago, there is a Rogovin exhibit, The Working-Class Eye of Milton Rogovin, opening today and up until June 30th, at Roosevelt University's Gage Gallery.

Short Doc about him from 2003....

Thank you, Mr. Rogovin, for showing us....

Incantation

2011-01-19T09:15:00.000-08:00

Silent and frozen....

2011-01-16T08:49:00.000-08:00

Just like my heart! I kid, I kid. I want to go lay in the snow for awhile and just hear nothing. Delightful, no?

Two Fifty Three Kelvin from Bart van der Gaag on Vimeo.