a girly post, on hair.

I said, "The girls at the front desk were giving me a hard time about my hair. It was all in fun, but what do you think, boss? Is it unprofessional?"

*Jenn stares at me intently*

"No... no, I think your hair is fine. But I'd be willing to pay if you wanted to get your eyebrows waxed. I think you'll find that it makes a big difference - you'll have a whole new look!"


So I took her up on it, today. I'd never been to get anything waxed before. Angie kept trying to prepare me mentally for all sorts of pain, but it didn't hurt as badly as tweezing does, so I was like, whatever! She kept saying it looked so good, my brows were so thick and long and this is such a smart move and "you could really use a wax on your upper lip too, come to think of it...."

She held up the mirror when she was done, with a huge smile on her face. I looked at myself and smiled in response... but I didn't notice that much of a difference. I mean, we went overtime! She waxed, she trimmed, she thinned them out. And it's not that different. Okay, granted, I have wild eyebrows and they ARE very nicely cleaned up now. But with all the hype, I was expecting... something.

I walked into the office to show Jenn and she got this quizzical look on her face right before she said, "She could have gone so much thinner!" So, I dunno. Maybe I should ask her to shape them more next time. I mean, it's nice not to have to bother with doing the maintenance myself, but... I dunno. I've always been an au natural sort of gal, but maybe they'll grow on me. Er, pun not intended. At least it's a cheap procedure, especially with my discount.

(yes, that is Henry's butt in the bg, lol)

okay SERIOUSLY

You don't have to watch the whole thing, but oh my gosh, this is so pathetically hilarious. Little guy just won't quit. His persistence is what gets me! I got it off of Ben's Xanga, LOL.

stripes?

Blegh. I'm sorry guys. I'm having a rough time getting this scanner to do what I want it to, and it's 1:30 am and I don't want to do it again. :-/ Anyway. You get the general idea, I suppose. This is the one that I'll be turning in for "project 2."

She's all like, "that's a cool shape," and I'm like... "I know."

Design!

Project 1: develop a shape and repeat it in three or four rows of seven... then introduce some sort of variety, keeping the piece as a whole, a piece of art.


Project 2: three columns - the first in perfect symmetry (horizontal, vertical, or both), the second in approximate symmetry, the third done asymmetrically in a radial fashion, where there is a central element from which the other elements radiate.

Heeeeey, I have a scanner/copier/printer in business! Unfortunately, I just figured out how to remove the lid in order to accommodate for these larger sized pictures, but I know for next time. We weren't supposed to glue down our final project that's due next week - she sensed that we didn't have a good grasp of what she wanted, so she said we'd work on it in class on Monday. When I do get everything finished, I'll scan that one in, too.

So... I mean, granted, there was a lot of restriction on one's creativity for the first project, so anything else should be more interesting, but come on. I thought my cat's eye was a good idea. :'( Oh well.

(click on the images for a larger size. :) )

pride in my work?

I got a hundred on my first design project. Art teachers usually like me and my work, so this wasn't a big shock, though I was ready for anything since I don't know this teacher yet and wasn't quite sure if I'd done well or not. Apparently this was a big deal and not everyone was so fortunate.

Of course, that means I have no where to go but down.

We were to bring in our ideas for the next project today. I had one that I thought was great - a really interesting and "dessi" idea that looked really neat in my head. I explained my sketch to the teacher, and she said no.

What?

"No. Your theme is already overdone. I've seen it a million times. And it doesn't live up to the standard I saw in your last work. You need to come up with something else."

Just like that. My original idea that I was excited about executing was tossed out like so much garbage.

She thought I was mad at her, and I was a little, I guess. Not, I think, because she'd insulted my creativity or forced me to start all over again, but because I didn't understand. In my mind, this was a much better idea than my last one. I have a clearer idea for it and know exactly how I want to do it. And as the class went on I got more frustrated because she was trying to give the class more specifics on what it was she wanted this project to be... and I'd done exactly what she was asking for.

I couldn't come up with a better idea. I couldn't come up with many ideas at all, but certainly none that were better than my original. They all look boring in my mind, no interest, no movement.

Then she came by and said that a doodle on my pad looked like a really great shape and that I should use it and I was like, what the heck? How? I've been mulling over this shape for a while already and can't make it work. What do you want me to do?

By the end of the class, I just decided that I couldn't care about it. I'm going to have to do a project that won't make sense or look good to me but will hopefully be what she's looking for. I think I can do what she's looking for, even do it well, but I won't think it's very good. But she's the teacher so I have to be okay with that.

I'm going to do my original idea as well, on my own time. It's freeking cool and I don't even care. plbth.

specks and planks

Luke 6:42
How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.


If we're all to fully remove our own planks first, when is there room for admonishment? My eyes will never be clear, perhaps most especially regarding the sins I can see in others. How do YOU balance this?

I mean, you could quote Matthew 7:1, OR you could cite Hebrews 10:24. Or maybe you've thought of another solution. Whaddaya gonna do?

I recently found myself trying to encourage another, only to see that I needed that same encouragement in the same direction. But isn't that sometimes the point, for those who are willing to see it? When we speak truth to those around us, it's bound eventually to seep from our minds and mouths to our own hearts, isn't it? If I hadn't seen a sin, a fault, a weakness in my friend and spelled it out for their ears, I might never have thought it through enough to see that I too was guilty... and having already processed through it, be better equipped to deal with it myself.

Still, it's awful saying, "I know you and this sin well enough to see that you too are caught in it. Will you let me fight along with you against it?" Both parties would need such humility that it seems hopeless. "You don't know me. And you're no better; who are you to challenge me?" "I can't see her heart. I don't want her to be hurt that I'd think something ill of her if it's not even true." Perfectly natural reactions... both full of pride.

I'm being confronted often by the topic of community. Of humility and openness among fellow believers, allowing them to see and point out your sin because of their love for you. Of building relationships where it is understood that "I want you to help me see what I'm blind to in my life and I will listen, even if my pride is insulted." I guess it's something I've been butting heads with for a very long time, but it's in a new chapter for me now, and it's thrilling.

Parisian Mountaintop Experience

I climbed a mountain today. It was wonderful. And cold. I had enough layers on my torso, but I could have used a pair of leggings, gloves, and earmuffs.

I got to the top and found myself walking in a winter wonderland, as it's been cold enough to keep the snow up there. Positively beautiful. See?

Keeping busy. Don't have class tomorrow night due to the holiday, but I do have work. I was supposed to get my first paycheck (for all of one day! woo hoo...) on Friday, but they forgot it and I'll get it tomorrow. In two weeks I'll be able to see how much I'm actually making. In the meantime, I have another week's worth of cash tips to tide me over... unfortunately they're already almost gone, hehe.

Really tired... will try to write something real, soon, but no promises. In the meantime, we have this posted in our break room at work:


Love... in the eyes of a 4-8 year old.

• Love is what makes you smile when you're tired. Terri - 4
• When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth. Billy - 4
• Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French frieds without making them give you any of theirs. Chrissy - 6
• When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her tonails any more. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love. Rebecca - 8
• Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other. Kari - 5
• During my piano recital, I was on a astage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my Daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared any more. Cindy - 8
• Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford. Chris - 7
• Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day. Mary Ann - 4
• Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen. Bobby - 7
• If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate. Nikka - 6
• You really shouldn't say "I love you" unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget. Jessica - 8
• Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross. Mark - 6
• I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones. Lauren - 4
• When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you. Karen - 7
• Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well. Tommy - 6
• My Mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night. Clare - 6
• Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it every day. Noelle - 7
• Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my Daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him to make sure the taste is ok. Danny - 7
• Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the last piece of chicken. Elaine - 5
• Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss.
  

still here

I've been thinking about a lot of different things, but for some reason I haven't been able to write about them. I think I need to warm up to my computer before I can say anything of emotional significance to it... and I've not had internet long enough in one sitting to do that yet. I've been able to make a connection today, though - somebody nearby who isn't protecting their access. I have to reconnect every five minutes or so, and it usually takes me another five minutes to get it to have a solid connection... you get the idea.

It's always interesting to me when I have those, "God really DID know what He was talking about!" moments. Like with this new job. "Love your neighbor as yourself. Go the extra mile. Serve others before you." It's not a natural mindset. We like to cut corners, take the easy way out, look out for ourselves. By and large, though, that is simply not the overarching mentality at The Spa at West End. Not because they're a Christian establishment, but because it works. It's what people respond to. It's love. It's the way we were supposed to treat each other and when you make that click, it's like everything falls into place and makes sense. It's like a little bit of heaven.

I'm working on a timeline of my life for the last couple of months. I want to be able to see at a glance just how quickly everything fell into place here... how quickly GOD put the pieces together. I still can't believe all that's happened.

Daniel finally came by and installed the shelf for my closet so I could hang my clothes up and store stuff in there. He didn't paint the walls though, so I pushed the furniture back again. If he doesn't care, that's fine with me. I just wanted him to be able to fix his house the way he wanted it.... BUT! I can organize my room now! Maybe Thursday I'll install the shelf on the wall above my desk for my speakers... I think that's the last big thing I have left to do. Except for that little bookshelf I brought from VA. It doesn't assemble just any old way - it was handmade and I can't figure out how it goes together. *slaps forehead* Pictures of the place and my beloved kitty to come soon, I swear! :-/

I went to the funeral of the sister of one of my very dearest and best friends last week. It was sobering and it made me think really hard. Then I texted my brother and told him I loved him.

Guys, I'm so excited about art classes. Seriously. You don't understand. Ohmygosh. And I have my first project due on Wednesday and I don't have time to do it. This makes me angry. This is pride - that I know I'm not the worst artist in there - some of them don't even claim to be artists! But I'm worried that I won't put out a good product because I'm spending so much of my time these days working. My weird schedule throws me off at home - I just need to get into a routine and use the time I have when I have it rather than freaking out that I don't have time when I feel like I should.

I went to Denny's tonight. I think it was a bad idea... Denny's often is.

Okay. I'm going to put on part three of Atlas Shrugged (W000000T) and see if I can get some work done on this project before I pass out for the night. Luv n hugs!

more of the same

I talked to Daniel early last week and he was supposed to come by the house yesterday to fix my closet and paint my wall spots away while I was in Cola. Then he texted me saying he "went out of town" and wouldn't be able to come by. Said he'd be available all this week; was there a day that was good for me? By this point, I'm so sick of not being able to move into my room that I asked if I could just do it myself. I did ask if he could knock a little off next months' rent - it is his house after all, his responsibility, and I'll have to pay for the supplies. But I could have it all done in a few hours... and I'm tired of waiting. *pout* I responded early yesterday afternoon and haven't heard back yet.

I just want to be HOME, y'know? I don't have a lot of free time, I want to be available to get to know my roommates, and I want to be comfortable letting them in my room. But I get this itch - when I can't rest in my own room, it's hard for me to rest anywhere else. And it's been in such limbo for so long that it's really getting to me. I think I just need completion. I'm planning on being here a while; I want to feel like I really AM here... if that makes any sense.

The regular work week starts today. I'm anxious to see what it will be like in comparison to the overload of the weekend shifts.

Classes also start today. Monday/Wednesday night for the one class and Thursday night for the other. Except I haven't been able to get to campus since I've been back and I need to switch my schedule (to the above; what I need it to be to work around my work schedule) and no one was able to tell me what my required texts were, so I still don't have my books, and I really don't want to buy them from the bookstore because they're so much cheaper from Amazon......... ack. At least I was able to find where I wrote down the classroom numbers... this morning I had the horrifying realization that I didn't know where I was supposed to go, LOL.

I HAVE A KITTY! She slept with me all last night. Raquel was eager to see how she and Jax (her itty bitty dog) would get along. Marie is definitely boss, LOL. She swatted at him a few times with her declawed paws and gurgled little growls at him and he runs away now. Also, she uses her litter box like a big girl and likes the food I bought for her (not the same brand she'd had before). She's SOOO cute!!! Awwwwwww. Pictures soon, I promise!

I need moar internets!!

"Didn't I just see you online?"
"Yes, but I wasn't home. I'm frequenting coffee shops these days."

So I went to initiation on Thursday and was told that I'd get orientation on Friday and start massaging on Saturday. Then I went home and the called me, saying, "Sabrina can't come in tomorrow. Can you come in earlier and cover three massages for her and get in some orientation training in between massages?" So instead of working 3-6:45, I was there at 10:30 and we didn't get out of our "Spa Ritual" meeting till 7:15, LOL. I wasn't expecting to be completely spent afterwards, but I definitely skipped care group and was asleep (after foot pads and five pills of varying sleep vitamins) before nine. Hadn't slept much the last two nights, so this was a very good thing.

Day two was intense, today. Woke up at 6-something (not so early when you think about when I went to bed ;)) and got breakfast at a shop up the road from work. There at 8:15 to gave four one-hour and two 30 minute massages. O_O Stacy (my boss) wanted us all to come to Frankie's Fun Park (video arcade, putt putt, laser tag, etc., for you non-SC readers) and dinner as a team tonight. Don't know if she would have fronted the bills or not, but I really couldn't be around people any more, nice as they are. Sorry.

They really are an awesome group of folks. Mostly girls, of course... I can only think of two guys - one in massage and one in hair. But we're all a team - no "massage clique" vs. "nail tech clique" or such nonsense. We're all in it together and everyone's got such a good, positive attitude. We love what we're doing and we love the people we're serving. It's like... the way service should be EVERYwhere... but few are willing to go that extra mile. Our motto is something like, "We're the only ones who do what we do the way that we do it," or something like that. And it sounds a bit stuck up, but I bet it's the truth. I'm so pleased to be working with them. When dad asked if the business was a good place to be, I said, "Yeah, they're great. I don't know if I'M good enough for THEM, but I'm glad to be here!"

I've gotten good feedback so far. I don't know what "bad feedback" there may have been thought but not voiced, but the impression I'm getting is that I'm doing okay. Also, the tips are included by credit card or cash and the cash is handed out at the end of the day (credit is included in your paycheck, which is biweekly). So I got "paid" today, as two of my clients used cash. Very exciting.

My schedule is something like as follows:
Sunday: CLOSED
Monday: 11-5
Tuesday: 2-8
Wednesday: 9-3
Thursday: OFF!
Friday: 9-6
Saturday: 9-6
I think I might really like having two mini-weeks and weekends per week, but we'll see.

Okay, there's more, but this is long enough already. ;) Will be in Cola for a bit tomorrow. Love to all....

The Last 24 Hours

Was able to sleep, but kept waking up.
Got out of bed at 4 to take Josh to the airport.
Left for SC from a different part of town than normal and got all turned around and added lots of time to my trip.
Stopped at WalMart and smiled to myself as I wished someone were there to take a picture of me, carrying knitting yarn, a shower curtain, dry wall screws, and nails. Oh, the dichotomy. I'm officially worse than a geek now. I'm a handyman. "I'm a real boy!"
Made it to Greenville a little after 3 and immediately set to putting my room together.
Ran to Lowe's and bought my first piece of lumber ever because the support to go under my mattress didn't stretch all the way across the frame. Used my new measuring tape, special "star" shaped screwdriver heads, hammer, nails, and hack saw in the process of putting the thing together.
Put off the sanding of my old bookshelf, though, for tomorrow morning. (don't have to go into work till 1:30)
Am enjoying the extra space (it's quite noticeable to me as I'm setting up) but wish I could get a hold of the landlord so I know what it is that he's trying to do to my room so I can allow for it - "Don't push the bed against that wall! I need to paint there!"
Can't wait to get the shelf/hanging apparatus set up in the closet.
Still pondering how I'm going to get my assemble-yourself dresser from my back seat to my bedroom. Not going to worry about it though until he's done with the room... which means I can't move my clothes in yet. They're draped haphazardly across my big green chair.
Finally, I think I do want to adopt the bedside table and desk that Sara offered... but I worry that she may have gotten attached to them being in the dining room at this point.

Now I'm at the coffee shop. Don't have internet yet. -_-