December 1, 2008 by erinlynnparker
That’s right folks. It’s officially winter. Freeze your toes off, make your face hurt Winter. Hopefully you packed on a few pounds over the Thanksgiving Holiday so you have a little extra insulation to get you through the hard times –I know I did, thanks to Ed Mild’s fabulous cooking. I felt a little guilty for contributing nothing but my large appetite to the wonderful Thanksgiving dinner on Long Island, but then I entered a food-coma that left me feeling nothing but a full, contented numbness. Thank you Ed, Theresa, and Christine for giving me a family with whom to spend the day.
So, now I’m counting down ‘til Christmas. I actually ventured out into a mall on “Black Friday”. I never do that! Crowds of frenzied people freak me out, but it wasn’t so bad. I wasn’t looking for any hot items, so I wasn’t forced to punch anybody in the face over an Elmo doll. That was good news.
Speaking of news, this month’s newsletter actually has some news in it (what a concept!) so keep on a-readin’!
This photo was taken right before I dove into the butternut squash soup face-first.
Tags: cold, humor, newsletter, thanksgiving
Posted in Newsletter 4 - Nov to Dec 2008 | No Comments »
November 25, 2008 by erinlynnparker
Congrats to Beth N. Pannell of Philadelphia, PA for winning last month’s trivia!!
Q. _____________ sales average about 2 billion dollars annually in the United States.
A. HALLOWEEN CANDY.
Can you believe that? How much candy corn can you buy for 2 billion dollars? And how many times would you vomit attempting to eat it all? (That was hypothetical….don’t try it at home.)
(I’ll be sending you some candy soon, Dear Beth!)
NEW TRIVIA!!
Q. What is a common misconception about Pilgrim Attire…specifically their footwear?
The winner will receive a holiday drawing by me of turkey – hand tracing and all!! (don’t even act like you don’t want it.)
Tags: humor, newsletter, trivia, pilgrim
Posted in Newsletter 3 - Oct to Nov 2008 | 2 Comments »
November 25, 2008 by erinlynnparker
O where, O where has my rolling pin gone? O where, O where can it be?
Somewhere between the last few dozen places I’ve lived, my rolling pin has evaporated into thin air. I honestly can’t remember the last time I used it (or actually had room to use it). It wasn’t a fancy rolling pin, but it worked. I realized it was missing while in the middle of making a pie a few weeks ago. I was forced to use a salt container to roll my crust. I know. It’s terrible. I nearly died from the trauma.
I have since purchased a crappy short wooden rolling pin from the Key Foods down the street, but inside me lies a dream of a smooth, professional, long, marble rolling pin. Some day. Someday.
Tags: baking, erin, lost, newsletter, nibblets, pin, rolling
Posted in Newsletter 3 - Oct to Nov 2008 | 1 Comment »
November 19, 2008 by erinlynnparker
Can you believe that this sweet child’s father used to pin me to the floor and drip loogies (that’s fancy-talk for snot-in-the-mouth) within inches from my face and suck them back up again?!?
How did my brother have anything to do with this precious child?!? I mean, really. I fear that the devil might be hiding inside of her just waiting to come out.
Be strong Avery…be strong…
Tags: Avery, humor, loogies, newsletter, parker, snot
Posted in Newsletter 3 - Oct to Nov 2008 | 3 Comments »
November 19, 2008 by erinlynnparker
I’m trying to set a new record. I think that this is the 4th month in a row that I’ve had no friggin’ clue as to “What’s Next for Erin?” I missed a lot of the out-of-town-Holiday-Work auditions due to the P-neumonia so it looks like I’ll be in the city from now ‘til at least the spring-time when there’s (hopefully) another seasonal audition rush. The economy is not helping anybody these days – Lots of shows on Broadway are closing soon, so the talent pool here is huge and the jobs are few. My challenge is to keep my chin up while trying to stay sane and not quit. This is a big challenge – especially in the winter. I don’t know how the rest of you deal with cold nastiness, but it does wonders for my mental state. And by “wonders” I mean “horrible, horrible things”.
Thanksgiving is coming up. I believe I’ll be spending it at “Casa Mild” – My friend Christine’s family will be taking me in for the second holiday in a row! Stay tuned for details and unexpected adventures.
On our way to "Casa Mild" for Halloween
Tags: christine, humor, mild, newsletter, next
Posted in Newsletter 3 - Oct to Nov 2008 | 1 Comment »
November 14, 2008 by erinlynnparker
New York has the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. New Orleans has Mardi Gras, Rio De Janeiro has Carnival. And Carmi, Illinois, population 5,422, has “Corn Day”.
What is a Corn Day, you ask? Corn Day is a fall festival/celebration sponsored by the Kiwanis Club (and others) that dates back to the late 1920s. For over 80 years people of Southern Illinois have gathered on Main Street to participate in for pure, small-town-America fun on the second Saturday in October. Activities abound: A Cake Walk, Parades, Live entertainment, Chili Cook-offs, Pig Calling Contests, Gospel Concerts, Little Miss Too-Young-To-Be-Wearing-A-Formal-Dress Pageants, Running into people you haven’t seen for ages and pretending to remember their names, Overeating. Gossiping about what people are wearing, and if you’re in junior high, squirting invisible ink on the boy you have a crush on and/or throwing snap-pops at unsuspecting adults.
Within the past few years this celebration has developed into Corn Days (notice the plural) and has included the Friday night before the second Saturday in October as well, but I refuse to add the “S”. It’ll always be Corn Day to me.
When I attempted to describe Corn Day to my friend Candice (who was born and raised in the greater NYC area), her response was shock and awe. She admitted that while she’s seen small towns like that in movies, she has a hard time believing that they actually exist. “It sounds like…like…Toon Town!” Well Candice, like my city friends who came home with me for Corn Day during college would probably agree, you really have to see it to believe it. So here you go:
A pictorial of Carmi Corn Day 2008 (zoom in on the photos for greater effect and understanding…)
High Dollar Signage...
My friend Josh Wooten shows off his awesome t-shirt
Some Mid-Day Entertainment.
Seriously? Who eats this?
Waiting on the Parade...
The infamous Corn Car leading the parade
Look in the back seat...
Since when were there electric guitars in Marching Band? And what is the guy pushing the amp. being pushined for?!
Who knew this guy was coming to Corn day?! He even rode on a float!
Carson shows off his Corn Day parade-thrown-candy stash!
Me posing with SuperCornMan! (Notice the wee bit of terror on my face...)
Tags: humor, erin, parker, newsletter, carmi, day, illinois, parade, fall, festival, small town, corn
Posted in Newsletter 3 - Oct to Nov 2008 | 7 Comments »
November 12, 2008 by erinlynnparker
Not to toot my own horn (toot, toot), but I’m a pretty good baker. I know how to read a recipe. I can follow directions. I am not stupid. Yet, for some reason, I made the ugliest cake known to man last month. And I put all the blame on Martha Stewart.
There is NO POSSIBLE WAY that the recipe I followed could make the cake pictured in her magazine. I think she misguided me with a dummy-cake recipe so that I would feel inferior. Instead, it just made me hate her. It did taste pretty ridiculously amazing though, despite its droopy exterior. “Curse you Martha!!”…
(Erin shakes fist at sky while shoving her mouth full of cake…)
Martha's Cake
Erin's Cake
Tags: baking, cake, erin, humor, martha stewart, newsletter, parker, ugly
Posted in Newsletter 3 - Oct to Nov 2008 | 3 Comments »
November 12, 2008 by erinlynnparker
Stuff I can’t form into complete articles or even thoughts:
- Despite the fact that I could barely get around, I was able to perform in 2 of my NYMF shows. This was good for my soul. Maybe not my lungs, but sometimes your soul is more important
- Did you know you can buy non-toxic nail polish (and did you know that it seems to stay on better than the regular kind)?!? You can find it at www.iamapeacekeeper.com
- I got a free sample of a new Tide detergent at Ann Taylor Loft when I was at home and it smells amazing.
- Much to my body’s delight, I reduced my alcohol and caffeine intake to zero for nearly a month. I now have a moderate drink of either every now and then, but I’ve kind of lost interest in both. I am excited by the money this lack-of-interest could save me!
- My feet are very large for someone as short as myself.
- I am a little obsessed with push-ups. Some of you probably know this. When I was sick (post-hospital) I could hardly stand up. My dad chuckled. “Wait ‘til you try to do a push-up. Make sure there’s a pillow under your face!”. He was right. I could not do ONE. Now I’m up to 2 sets of 10. Two very painful sets…
- I ate my very first artichoke (not out of a can) this month. It was delicious. I loved the entire process of peeling/eating it. I am considering becoming and artichokatarian.
Tags: humor, erin, parker, newsletter, randomness, artichoke
Posted in Newsletter 3 - Oct to Nov 2008 | No Comments »
November 12, 2008 by erinlynnparker
Meet Amanda Sears.
She Lives in Chicago, but has no official connection to the Sears Tower. Her talents are many:
forward-thinking fashionista, superb actress and comedienne, great friend.
But she is also a painter.
Pictures of her artwork don’t really compare to the real thing as there’s so much texture involved. (I don’t know what kind of a testimonial this is, but when I first saw her work, I wanted to lick it. I thought it looked like it would taste good…but maybe that’s just me.)
You can get an idea of what she does by visiting her website. If you are in the Chicago area (or Miami in December), you should try to check out her work in “real life”, or if you’re really intrigued, she can send you a texture sample!
Don’t you need some art?
Tags: amanda, fabulous, friends, newsletter, sears
Posted in Newsletter 3 - Oct to Nov 2008 | 1 Comment »
November 12, 2008 by erinlynnparker
I love my new neighborhood.
I feel safe.
The laundry is closer AND cheaper.
There aren’t particulates in the air from constant industry and construction – meaning that my windowsills aren’t black every 2 days even if I clean them.
The trip into Manhattan takes no time at all.
And best of all, I live mere blocks away from several good friends!
My friend Matt (who I met in Michigan a over 10 years ago) only lives 4 blocks down the street. He borrowed sugar from me to make a cake a few weeks ago. Neighbor-sugar-borrowing makes me happy. Somehow the whole world is better when somebody down the street needs you. Even if it’s just for your sugar. (…and I don’t mean that in a pervy way.)
One of my other favorite things about my new neighborhood is “The Exective Deli”. Nope - that’s not a misprint. It’s spelled that way twice on their glorious yellow awning.
The first time I went into the Exective Deli, the owner told me the price of ice cream was going up. I don’t know if he mistakenly recognized me as an ice-cream-buying regular customer who should stock up before the Haggen Dazs bars go up 25 cents, or if he was just making conversation. Either way, it was nice and neighborly. I made an exective decision to shop there on a regular basis.
Tags: deli, exective, humor, neighborhood, neighbors, newsletter
Posted in Newsletter 3 - Oct to Nov 2008 | 1 Comment »
