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somaybe
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Name: a. parker
Birthday: 10/3/1929
Gender: Female
Interests: Painting, despite having multi-colored arms. Spontaneous talks that continue into the early morning. Writing. Swimming.Designing. Dancing, my newest passion. Yoga, my seven+ year passion. Cooking for people. Theater. Rainy days. Coffee (three times a day is just about right). Vintage. I love my vintage...and the 20's are the best.
Occupation: Artist
Industry: Art
Message: message me
AIM:  aparker1929
Member Since:
12/2/2003
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| It's kind of a long story, but this xanga is ending and I am now under:
scarlettomandalin
Come visit. We'll have coffee (or tea, as some of you prefer). | | |
| What a week! So much has happened since my last post that there is no way I can go into much detail because I would overwhelm everyone involved. I'll try to keep it short.
I had an amazing weekend in Youngstown(ish) with Janine, and got to see some senseless violence at a party. Don't worry, a hitting contest at a church party. Guys, you baffle us. I can safely say that girls don't really thrive on seeing who can stand being punched in the stomach. We got to see the fabulous Peck sisters, a dead fish (ultimatly less thrilling than the Peck sister, of course), and one of the cutest little cafes I have ever seen. All around fabulous.
My mom will start working at the Naz this coming Monday. In celebration of our new jobs, we both got our hair cut and had a girls night. It's pretty interesting to be going through the same things as my mom. We're both adjusting to new jobs, houses, friends, etc. It's also interesting that we are opposites, so we're both handling it all very differently. It's been fun, though.
Speaking of hair, I took the plunge and cut it all off. It was past my shoulders, close to one length, and now it has more layers than I can count and at its shortest point touches my nose. After finishing it, the woman who cut it said, "Oh, that's sexy. You look like a rock star". A comment like that is never bad in my book.
I was offered a job with a newspaper this week. I've never met the woman, and she's never seen any of my work. She just called and said that there was a part time (32 hours part time...) position, did I want it because they need it filled. Now, this may sound great, but every fiber in my body and every ounce of my very soul has been telling me not to take this job. The only problem is that I need the money. The woman was awful on the phone, and I've talked to a few people who responded with, "Um, you may want to talk to some people before you take this..." Apparently there have been several students in this position. The last guy made it a month before quitting. If I did take the job, I would work 32 hours there, 10 at the Naz, 2 at the Enerazan (almost finished!!!), plus 3-4 on the Bicenntinial poster. Plus teens, plus small group, plus painting. This all adds up to an unusually stressed me. Well, this morning I was simply euphoric to find another, nicer, less demanding job offer in my email. I get to cancel my appt. with the newspaper and move on. The fibers of my body and the ounces of my soul are relaxing as we speak.
My job at the Naz continues to be great. I'm working on speeding up my designs and adding some flava to those Naz postcards and newsletters. Templates aren't thrilling, you know? My boss is awesome. She brought in Hair magazines from the UK for me, and they were all artsy and edgy. She also let me listen to her new White Stripes CD while I worked, and that was fabulous. It's just fun to have someone artsy. I'm pulling a Kimmy Blair. I always though the art students were so weird, and now I am one.
One last note: 10:14, I'm gonna have a red room. Over. | | |
| District BLAST is taking place at this very moment on the campus of MVNU. I have a break between keeping score for hotshot basketball and an actual basketball game, so I'm hiding out with the MAC in the library basement...with about 25 high schoolers. It's been a really great day. I've been able to sit and just watch a lot of the things that go on, and I'm more interested in what goes on outisde the events than in. Standing in the main lobby during check in was my favorite moment of the day.
I feel awful for the people doing anything sports related today. It's amazingly hot and humid and our gyms aren't air conditioned. These kids are really incredible. I don't know much about basketball (how did the art major get the basketball stuff?!), but I know by the scores coming in that everyone is doing really well. My heart has gone out for a few kids. There are a few that come in and you just know that they are serious, and good, and dedicated. Then there are some kids that come in and you know that this kid is trying to figure out where they stand, and what they are good at. You know that this is not their place, and yet you have to sit back and let them figure out, in front of the other kids. I always want to cheer a little louder for the kids who are figuring it out.
It's so interesting to come this as a volunteer as opposed to a participant. I remember the excitement that came with the competition and the friendships that were formed. Now, as a volunteer, looking in on all of it, it seems so different. I'll probably have to come back to this one, because I'm still very much in contemplation mode.
Well, I'm off to keep score for a basketball game (pray for me), and then to hand out tickets. If you're in the area, you should stop by and check it all out! If you're not in the area and in need of some great, rock your world entertainment, check out the music video on Barrester's xanga site. You won't be disappointed. If there still exists a need for even more frivolity, check out waxy.org links (look for the Nutri-Grain commercial!) . Have a wonderful day!
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| I realized that my entries have been ridiculously aimless these last few times…It isn't really my usual style, but it was fun for a while.
I've spent enough time on the road this week to do plenty of thinking (and go through my CD collection at least once). Several questions have been answered and some things are strikingly apparent.
I've been running in quite a few new social circles lately, and that can be, at times, exhausting. My most comforting moment this entire week was a very long, much needed hug of a close long-time friend. For about a minute I was close to someone without the uncomfortable space of the unknown. The whole incident had me questioning why I'm so happy and yet so exhausted. My new 'circles” have been amazing and I am so happy and thankful for everyone that is in my life right now, but I'm still not really myself in these new places. I realize that I'm very much trying to figure out who I am at a time in my life with EVERYTHING is changing. I'm really trying to figure out exactly who God wants me to be right now, so that when I go back and forth between dramatically different groups of people, I don't lose myself in what that group expects. This all a little hard to explain, but if you've ever been in this place, you know what I mean.
Another issue on my mind lately has been the point of my life. God really got me with this one on church on Sunday when they actually showed a video about finding the purpose in life. I mean, I get up (way too early), go to work, run errands, watch a movie/hang out with friends, and then crash (way too late). I'm exhausted by the end of the day, and yet I've really accomplished nothing. This is something that I've really been working on in my personal life and God is really showing a few different ways I can go to reach out to people - very exciting. I know some of you have or are dealing with this same issue…just know that your “aha moment” will arrive. “When you find your life most empty that you are most willing to fill it completely with what has in store for you”
One more thing before I wrap up this rather long entry: Last night I went ballroom dancing (yay!) and on the way home, I was pretty tired. I had spent a good five or six hours in the car and had only been home long enough to eat dinner. It was around 11:00 and I was on the home stretch. The night air was cooler, and I was finally able to put the windows down. In the breeze, there was the smell of honeysuckle and wildflowers. It was amazing. There were no cars anywhere around, just me on a curvy little road with the night wind and the smell of flowers. God picks us up right when we need it!
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| So, Jesus Christ Superstar rocked my world last night. I felt like I was on Jesus drugs for about two hours (hopped up on the JC, as we say on the streets), but I mean, really those would be the best drugs to be on, right? That whole thing sounds so awful. It was a great movie, despite a few questionable additions to the story. I've decided that it would have been awesome to live in the seventies. And by the way, I've never been on drugs. And Jesus is way better than drugs. I quit.
In other movie news (suddenly, all xangas are about movies), Big Fish is incredible. It definitely makes my top ten list. My brother and some of his friends watched it the other night and I saw a few parts. It's one of those movies that makes more sense every time you watch it. For instance, after a certain experience, a part of the movie that was only kind of clear before is crystal clear now. It is, after all, a movie about life, and the more you live, the more you understand. First of all, watch it. Secondly, if you're wondering what I'm talking about, find me later. We'll talk Big Fish.
I started my small group today and I am SO EXCITED. I'm really ready to be involved in church and can't wait to get started. With school it was hard to commit to much, but this summer is a great oppurtunity for me to get started on things that I can stay with throughout the year. I'm getting to know some great people and really feeling at home.
Some great advice:
Me, in a design meeting: "Yeah, we could do that...it didn't take me too long..."
John Donnely, after the meeting: "That project didn't take you fifteen minutes. That took you twenty years of experience. Never sell yourself short."
Can I just say that feeling confident about something that you've worked really really hard at is a wonderful feeling? To walk into a room, to present yourself and your work, and to be respected...Wow. 
Hope everyone is staying cool this week! Ciao!
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