Backlight.org - Erin Weston

Erin Weston

Site: http://www.erinanneweston.com

Creations: 32

People inspired: 141

Crayons donated: 0

Live. Learn. Laugh. Love.

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Erin is inspired by

Despair Moving On Africa Originality Sex Children Ocean Faith Bolivia Healing Backlight Poverty Grad School Tim Keller City Lisa Thompson Brain Food Invention God Life No More Drip Too Much And Too Many To Count Relationship Home Freedom Chance Nora Dogs Contentment Hope Hurt Dreary Weather Pride Spain Desert Nature Washington National Cathedral Doubt Hands Roots HIV/AIDS Family History Sweet Tea Inauguration Prayer Reality Rambling Thoughts Rihanna Relationships Jack Hirsch Perseverance DC Hilary Webster Spontaneity Speak Freedom To Love Rejection Rock Sculpture Cherry Blossom Festival Absence Studio Nakedness Flight Past Identity Mourning Improv Women Being Real Gratitude Sun Fun Overcoming Fear Self-Preservation Truth Circles Community Mothers Friends San Francisco Grandpa Love Caleb Cargle Survival Risk Rebellion Sudan Washington Patience Suffering Of Good People Violin Melancholy Friendship Jesus Prostitution India Late Night Relaxation Beauty Loss Dad Sunny Day Zac Carter Fear Warmth Cancer Beach Voice Love Lost Abandonment Broken Character Letting Go Carl Winslow Respect A Hand Shake Family Long Walks On The Beach Photography Personal Discomfort Bolivian Youth Ministries Girls' Home Being Seen Music Good Conversations Refugee Passion Dry Pant Legs

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Leben ist Gut

Vacancy

The Voice

4 AM

Soul Suicide

Mom, Who Made Me

I Hide Behind My Hair

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Lies

The Prostitution Ring

Perpetual Nakedness

The Refugee

Tears of Joy

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Erin's Backdrop What is this?

What is the last movie you saw? Slumdog Millionaire

How was it? Yes, I loved it. I am one of the many. This movie brought India to life for me. While I'm sure the people who hate it the most are those in the slums seeing how profitable it is and not getting a dime, I think its value of educating others is immense.

I work on sex trafficking issues for vulnerable children in India and religious violence, so I'm well aware of the destitute need for people to intervene in these areas and the repercussions if they don't. See this movie. It's great and pretty accurate.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? My lack of sense of direction

Why? Who:

1) drives to Mocksville, NC instead of Charlotte, NC from Chapel Hill taking 7 hrs instead of the usual 3 without stopping for directions for over an hour

2) consistently forgets that Washington DC is NORTH of Virginia

3) loses her car within a 10 block radius for over an hour and has to call a friend to pick her up only to realize that the car was one block over

4) drives over a sidewalk because her GPS told her it was a road

I could go on and on...

What is your favorite flower? Lilies

Why? Calla Lilies are simple, elegant, and beautiful. I've always liked this flower.

If you could have any super power, what would it be? Flying

Why? That's easy. I could avoid DC traffic!

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What is your favorite time of day? Evening-Early Morning

Why? While I love to wake up early in the morning and seize the day, I'm more of a night owl and like to stay up talking into the wee hours of the morning...it just doesn't work with a 9-5 job :(

What is your favorite food? Macaroni and Cheese: Blue Box

Why? Don't try any of that home-baked crap with me. Give me the Kraft brand. No shells and cheese please, just regular old macaroni. I have started to grate real cheese into it to make my favorite meal a bit more refined.

Note: Favorite Breakfast food: Cereal and Blueberry Pancakes. These are regular dinner substitutes for me.

What song do you play to fire yourself up before an athletic contest, etc? Petey Pablo - Show Me Tha Money

Why? listen to it and see for yourself. mmm i love this song! and i love to dance to it!

What is your favorite movie? The Shawshank Redemption

Why? I never get tired of this [true] story that displays the incomparable value and healing power of friendship in a man's pursuit to freedom...

A man serves 19 years for a crime he did not commit, digs his way to freedom one day at a time until he can crawl out of the prison...through mud and human waste...in the middle of a lightning storm. The scene at the end when he makes it under the gate and out to the pond with his arms stretched out wide, rain pouring down and cleansing him, knowing that he had made it...what that must have felt like.

The crime he did commit was never really living his life. The redemption is the 'dead' man becoming alive again, ironically in the absolute worst prison possible through an amazing friendship.

What's your favorite sport? Indoor Volleyball

Why? When you're 5'5" volleyball is a tough sport, but I learned to embrace it at a young age. I used to be so small and scrawny that I couldn't serve the ball over the net underhand. I worked for 6 months on my serve with my mom in 7th grade, started playing more, lifted weights, and made varsity by 9th grade, which was a great accomplishment at my school. Volleyball taught me perseverance, team work, positive attitude, and more than anything, that a 23" vertical will surprise people at the net. Some of my best memories come from playing this sport. I love it.

I am happiest when I am ______? laughing

Why? While I enjoy being alone and indulge often in that sweet chance to think and play my guitar and write in my journal, I draw so much energy from being with people I care about. It can be a big group or just a best friend and a cup of coffee, but knowing that I'm loved and that there are people who want to know me and invest in me brings me a lot of happiness. It keeps me smiling and laughing. Happiness is also working with those people to make a difference in other people's lives. It can't just be self-contained.

What is your favorite drink? Hot Chocolate on a Cold Day

Why? I drink a lot of water and not much else, but my guilty pleasure comes in the form of hot chocolate and chai tea lattes when the leaves turn colors and the air is crisp. I love hot chocolate because it warms me--my hands and on the inside. There is nothing better after a few hours of snowboarding or being outside on a cold day that to come in for a cup. It brings back childhood memories, campfires, and s'mores. It's always a friend on a blanket under the stars at night. Adding mint can also be a nice touch if you are concerned with hot chocolate breath :)

What is your favorite TV show? Seinfeld

Why? Though it is off the air now, the reruns never fail to make me laugh. The show about nothing is pretty much my life! What genius...

I am a _____? ball of energy

Why? People always ask me where all of my energy comes from. I don't usually drink any caffeine. On more than a few occasions I have been falsely accused of being intoxicated because of the incredible high I get when I am having a good time with people. I have been known to do push-ups in parking lots, do running leaps through the air while singing show tunes, and on my best days, laugh until I am uncontrollably snorting in a ball on the ground...oh, it's attractive...

If you could learn any one thing, what would it be? How to Plan or A New Language

Why? I'm torn between these two. I would love to learn Arabic or Hebrew or Korean, but I totally fail at logistics and that might be a more pressing need. If I really set my mind to something, I can do it obviously, but I wish I could learn to pay more attention to detail without it stressing me out. I admire people who can think through an event or a day and connect the pieces of travel, personal interaction, lodging, touring, meetings, etc etc etc without getting too worked up. It's just not my gift :)

What was your favorite Saturday morning cartoon? Bugs Bunny

Why? Bugs always had an ingenious plan for everything. He was a charmer and a smoocher. I still find these cartoons enjoyable. I dream of a day I can use my kids as an excuse to watch old cartoons again. Not that you really need an excuse for Bugs Bunny!

What is your favorite type of weather? Thunder Storms and Heavy Rain

Why? Most of the time I like it nice and sunny, but on those days when the clouds darken and the rain begins to pour and the thunder rolls and maybe some lightning, I absolutely love to pour myself some hot tea, curl up in a blanket, and sit by the window watching the storm. If I'm at home, my mom and I have a late night tradition of staying up and just sitting in silence together watching the storm. Heavy rain drumming on the roof always lulls me into sound sleep and I love the feeling of not having to do anything on those days. Or, if I'm feeling bold, it's my favorite running weather as well.

What artist are you embarrassed to say you like? Britney Spears

How can you live with yourself? I just love her. Can't help it. Gimme some!

What is your favorite Winter activity? Snowboarding

Why? A family ritual we have is to go to Colorado every year and tear it up for a week :) I love this time with my family as much as the sport itself. I just wish Snowboarding companies could actually figure out some warm sock technology. I am by no means an expert boarder, but I love the challenge of carving a mountain and always having hot chocolate to warm up at the end of the day.

What is your favorite song? Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls

Why? This song has stuck with me for sometime. I guess what I like about it is that it has this whole sense of truly understanding those you love. At the end of the day, "everything's made to be broken; I just want you to know who I am"

What is your favorite book? Girl Meets God

Why? Lauren F. Winner has a unique perspective as someone who was raised Orthodox Jew and converted to Christianity in her early twenties. This book has special meaning for me and really helped me understand some of the most important people in my life a bit better. I recommend it to anyone raised in a dual faith home. It gives you a lot of perspective!

What is your favorite tree? The Willow Tree

Why? Weeping willows have a special place in my heart. I think it all started with Pocahontas (can you paint with all the colors of the wind?), but I find them beautiful in sort of a sad/tragic way. I like envisioning them as beautiful old people...sounds kind of weird, but sort of majestic in their aging. They are most beautiful when they catch the light just right.

What song are you in love with right now? Who is it by? Laughing With by Regina Spektor

Why do you like it? I've been asking a lot of questions about God versus the different ways people view God. I like the way Regina seems to question this with such ease and beauty--you hardly catch the sarcasm in her lyrics because there's so much truth in them and they're quick.

No one laughs at the concept of God in a crisis, but when it's appropriate, God is a funny, almost flippant concept used to make jokes or laugh at when people say "funny" crazy things about everyone who is likely going to hell because he hates them so much. haha.

I like to think she's pointing out the hypocrisy of it all, and also to think that she's saying if God exists, he must be greater than just these two or three purposes that seem to be isolated day in and day out depending on the circumstances.

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Erin's Wall

Danny Cox said: (on Apr 12, 2010)

Finally added something - the rap song that Brad and I along with two other friends at Stanford sang when we were running for class office. Pretty funny stuff. And we just found the song after a decade. Congrats on your CD release.

Lisa Reveland said: (on Jun 8, 2009)

Thank you for being inspired by some of my photos =D

Winter Minor said: (on May 13, 2009)

Thankyou for your comment :) It is always a process of letting go and forgiving.

Natalia Ricotta said: (on Apr 15, 2009)

Hi Erin, I put up the pictures from the Acts of Intolerance exhibit. You wanted to see them, so I thought I'd let you know.

Winter Minor said: (on Mar 5, 2009)

Thanks Erin, I love your music :) you have an amazing voice!!

Sean Duncan said: (on Feb 26, 2009)

Thanks Erin, checked out some tunes. You sound good, i like the harmonies.

Chris Ayer said: (on Feb 23, 2009)

thanks so much for coming! great to meet you, and awesome of you to bring your friends out. hope to see you in the DC area sometime soon!

Walter Kmiec said: (on Feb 20, 2009)

haha, nice! perfect little smirk you got there...

Megan Whyte said: (on Feb 12, 2009)

I'm doing better. Well enough to survive a day of work at least. Thanks for your concern. :)

Megan Whyte said: (on Feb 9, 2009)

Hey, thanks! Just trying to get a feel for the site.

Jonathan Lipps said: (on Feb 6, 2009)

Great backbrite. Bloody love.

Steve Kaliski said: (on Jan 30, 2009)

haha, thanks. i'm gonna poke around for a while and see what this is all about!

Hannah Pool said: (on Jan 28, 2009)

great backbrite!

Chris Ayer said: (on Dec 5, 2008)

would love it if you could make it! really enjoying your songs and your creations

Renee Cole said: (on Dec 2, 2008)

your comment was so encouraging, thank you! i agree with you, love is a mystery as surely as God is... but the struggle to figure it out is intriguing enough to stay in the mess of it. i hope to never meet the day when comfort looks more desirable than the crazed, relentless war that entreats our hearts.

Brad Wolfe said: (on Nov 25, 2008)

what an amazing backbrite! and that song you wrote awhile ago, liberation, is beautiful.

Stacey Weston said: (on Nov 24, 2008)

oops, i get it never mind!

Stacey Weston said: (on Nov 24, 2008)

What did your post mean about being little and not picking on you?

Alexandra Ball said: (on Nov 24, 2008)

Well, it WAS growing, but now i'm kinda stuck :( yay creative roadblocks!

Benjamin Nelson said: (on Nov 24, 2008)

Cochabamba was one place I did not visit. A six week travel in Bolivia was part of my summer this year. I got a quick overview of the country and some idea of its dynamics and tensions. We came in from Brazil to the lowlands in the east. Through the Jesuit mission circuit and on to Santa Cruz. Then up to the highlands. Sucre, Potosi, Uyuni and north to the disputed capital at La Paz. An incredible country and a life rocking trip!

Benjamin Nelson said: (on Nov 24, 2008)

Hablas bien el espanol? Donde en Bolivia estavas trabajando? Y hace cuanto tiempo?

Heidi Goodroe said: (on Nov 20, 2008)

Thanks for the comment on my backbrite!

JR Woodward said: (on Nov 13, 2008)

That is cool about being a ball of energy. People tell me I have a lot of energy, but I have to say that my morning Chai Latte's probably help, not sure.

Malone Sams said: (on Nov 12, 2008)

I think I like this. I miss you too dear friend. We need to catch up. This is ridiculous. D.C. always makes the world seem so small but at the same time D.C. feels SO big. Sorry I haven't been around in so long.

Alexandra Ball said: (on Nov 11, 2008)

hey. i posted something. :)

Jonathan Lipps said: (on Oct 28, 2008)

What happened to dark, mysterious, and pointillated?

Jonathan Lipps said: (on Oct 23, 2008)

I now have 17 creations. Booyah.

Brad Wolfe said: (on Oct 18, 2008)

23" vertical??? bring it.

Jonathan Lipps said: (on Oct 16, 2008)

Yeah, I saw Burn After Reading as well... I agree with your short sentiments regarding the film... Something about the absurdity of American superficiality indeed!

Erin's BackBrite: "Roots"