Zine Fests!

The weekend before last was the Boston Zine Fair. It wasn't nearly as good as last year's (even though last year wasn't that great, either), and I was bored a lot on the second day. The organizers should either have it on only one day, or have it on a non-holiday weekend. Did they actually sit around and say, "HEY! I KNOW! Let's have it on St. Patrick's Day weekend! That's a really big holiday here in Boston, so maybe people will skip all the festivities and come to a ZINE FAIR!"

Well, at least I got to see my friends Elsie and Joe. I didn't sell that much, the room was freezing, I felt sick....but whatever, it was still worth it to see my friends.

This past weekend was the NJ Zine Fest, which was a bigger success. I was so happy to talk with Sage and Taylor, whom I haven't seen since the summer. Elsie and Joe were there, too, and their tables were right next to each other's. Pretty cool. I sold a lot of stuff, but ended up spending most of it on head scarves and zines for the distro.

Now I'm back in school, and I wish there was a zine fest tomorrow. I miss all my friends already :*(

Wow, I haven't posted here in...a long time. It's just that all my friends use LJ, so that's where all the action is. It's like I'm writing to myself here. And if you are thinking about posting an ad for something in my comments section, I'll kick your ass.

So, next week is the Boston Zine Fair, which should be fun. Some people that I absolutely cannot stand will be there, so I'm looking forward to giving them the "bitch, i'll kick your ass even though I'm a cripple!" look. You know, like dagger eyes. It never fails to put fear in my closest enemies.

I will also see some FRIENDS, like Joe, maybe Taryn, and those girls whose names I don't know but who were totally facinated with my pink skull barrettes. I really thought they were going to rip them from my hair. I don't wear them that much, so maybe I'll donate my barrettes to them. Anyway, this weekend my papa and mama are going to help me organize my zines for the table. I bought these neon price stickers so people can stop asking "how much is this?" It was actually funny, because one time this hippie dude purchased about 20 zines. And me, being the MATH GENIUS that I am, sat there for about ten minutes trying to figure out how much he owed me. I ended up asking my dad. Okay, maybe not a funny story, but I thought it was at the time.

Okay. Dilema #8927991 of my life: There is this boy. Well, man I should say. And I really like him x infinity. Which is fine, you know, this happens to me all the time. But THIS time is special because he is ACTUALLY SINGLE!!!!! I always fall for men who are engaged or something equally as rediculous. I don't even know why I bother thinking about them if they are hitched, you know? But I usually think about stupid things anyway. SO, here is the actual dilema. Do I tell him I like him even though I don't know if he likes me back? What if he says "Oh, HELL NO."....then what? I would have such a hard time talking to him after that, only because it would be so awkward. And if I don't tell him, and then he finds someone else in the meantime...THEN WHAT? Also, the fact that I'm suffering from major hormonal imbalance and hot flashing every ten seconds is *not* helping with my emotions. *head to desk*

WHEW.

I know I said I was going to write more on my vacation to Cape May, but then Hurricane Katrina happened and I kind of lost all interest in blogging and writing in general. Also, I didn't feel comfortable writing about a happy vacation when so many people were and ARE suffering.

The whole situation is depressing and infuriating, and my emotions back and forth between these two. Why did it take so long for these people to get help? Why weren't the poor in the city helped out when evacuations became mandatory? It makes me sick to think it all could have been prevented. Of course, the flooding and wind damage is not something you can prepare for, but those damn levees. The government KNEW they were not strong. THEY KNEW and did nothing.

And screw the people who say race and class had nothing to do with the government's response. That's such bull...do you really think this would have happened in a predominantly white and upper-class city/neighborhood? Racism and classism are still so rampant in this society (and really, all over the world), and it's like some people just want to live in a bubble of happiness and not come to terms with this.

I honestly don't know what to do with myself. I wish I could do more besides donate money, but really...what else can I do?

This past weekend, my family and I went to Atlantic City and Cape May. I had a great time, but both places were ridiculously crowded! In AC, I could not believe the amount of kids just hanging out by the doors of the casino while their parents gambled inside. AC is not a place to bring you kids for vacation - period. If you want to go to the beach, drive an extra half-an-hour and go to Wildwood! It's kid friendly!

Anyway, we all love to shop in the antique stores in Cape May. I found a beautiful cameo ring and bracelet, an old photo album, and some old photographs. I was also looking for a pretty parasol, but came up empty.

I'm going to write a lengthier post about my vacation later, but now I must work on my web page.

I'm really sick of having friends who don't care. One of my best friends, or former best friend, doesn't even call me. And whenever I try to contact her she says "oh I have to go!". One time I brought this up, the fact that she never calls me or contacts me - it's always ME contacting HER. Like I'm doing all the legwork in this friendship. Her response? "Well, I've been busy."

Too busy to make a five minute phone call? Too busy to say "hi Erin!" when you're on instant messenger? I seriously doubt it. Also, her away messages are like "i'm out with my crew at the bar!"....she obviously has time for THEM.

I have another friend who just got married and she doesn't contact me anymore. I get that you're now married, but so what? Does that mean you leave your friends in the dust? Last night I saw she was online, and tried to talk to her. She said she couldn't talk, but didn't sign off or anything. I don't know, I just feel like the people I thought were my friends just don't care about keeping up our friendship.

However, I do have a few friends who still contact me through letters and at least try and stay in touch. I know those people are my true friends.

....god, that sounded so high school-ish!

Who am I?

I was so excited just to be starting a new blog that I forgot to make a post about who I am and what I do. I tend to think that introductions are awkward and I always feel like a dork when I talk about myself. But I think in order to really understand what I write about you need to know a little about me. So I'll suck up my dork feelings and give you a peek at who I am.

I was born in August 0f '83 in a hospital in Elizabeth, NJ. My mom wanted to name me Scarlett after the main character in "Gone With the Wind", but thankfully my father convinced her otherwise. My parents then decided to call me Erin because...well...I really don't know the specifics. But I'm guessing it's because I had flaming red hair. I do like my name, but I'm still angry that my parents didn't feel the need to give me a middle name. Can we say "second child syndrome"? Really, though, I don't hold grudges. Generally.

At the age of 1 or somewhere around there, my parents noticed that I wasn't doing normal baby things like trying to crawl or walk. They took me to the doctors and he said something insane like I had 2 years to live. Of course, my parents freaked and got some tests done. Turns out I had Muscular Dystrophy and that doctor was wrong. Hot damn. I mean, MD sucks but at least I would live past 2.

By the time I was 3, I had my first electric wheelchair. I loved driving like a daredevil (I have indeed calmed down in my "old" age) and playing in the street with my friends. Growing up, I had the most awesome friends anyone could ask for. I never felt like I wasn't part of the group or that I was limited in what I could do. And I always knew that my friends would stick up for me.

Almost 20 years later, and I'm sitting in front of this computer typing away. I go to college and I'm in my fifth and final year. I'll be taking with me a degree in English/Gender Studies. One thing you must know about me is I can't spell. Yes, English major who can't spell - that's me.

Besides going to school and reading tons of books, I love running my online business. I sell zines and crafts by individuals, with a special focus on items by those who are disabled. A zine is like a self-published magazine where people can basically spill their guts.

As of late, I'm really getting into disability rights and advocating for myself. For the longest time, I just took everything that people did and how they treated me as part of life. Like, oh what could I do? This is just how people are going to act and there's nothing I can do about it. But then I realized that isn't true. I don't have to deal with this crap. I can let people know through different mediums that people with disabilities deserve respect and the rights that any able-bodied person deserves. Right now, my medium of choice is zines. Someday I may branch out into art or something, but I feel comfortable with zines at the moment.

So, that's me in a nutshell. You'll be hearing from me all the time, so keep coming back!

I love reading a zine that you can really connect with even though the zinester may be writing about something you've never experienced. The other day I finished Lauren's Quantify #6 which was just fantastic. The piece about protesting against the war in Iraq and feeling like she is losing hope really touched me. I've never been to a protest, mainly because of my disability and getting transportation, but I felt like I totally understood what she was saying. This issue also made me think about the activism I take part in and how sometimes I feel like what I'm doing isn't making any change. People will still think the way they do, and don't care to listen to what I have to say. But when I get those e-mails, the ones that tell me that their views on disability have totally changed after reading my zine - I know that I've done something. I may not be able to go to large-scale protests (the general chaos and police make me nervous) but I can make change by simply typing away at the computer and getting my stuff out there.

First post!

After a few years of using LiveJournal exclusively, I've decided to branch out and create a blog on blogger.com. I like the layout/features better than those of LJ. Plus, it's free.

Even though my user name is drivingblinddistro, I don't plan on using this blog for the distro at all...well, maybe I'll mention it a few times, but not that much. It's just that the user names bibliophile83 and driving blind were taken so I had to think of something to use instead. Damn you users, bibliophile83 and drivingblind!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy my blog and come back to read often! I'll try and post as much as possible.

Take care.