Alison 2.0 is RED. And feeling fabulous.

So for months, years possibly, I have been excited about moving to Chicago, starting seminary, and beginning the next chapter. Though I was (and will be) scared to pieces with the thought of change, it has a way of giving blessings in strange and almost miraculous ways.

I am so happy here. Something about this past week has signaled that a change has taken place. Do you ever do that? Get so busy you don't notice that a change has occurred? Then you step back and go, wait! How'd that happen?

Well, Whit has affectionately termed this new me, this big adventure - "Alison 2.0."

I think there are both external factors and internal ones. Ones you could see and ones you couldn't. I think this is the case with all change, however. It permeates into every facet of your life. Right?

So, let me try to explain this update version, this Alison 2.0 to you.

I feel like I am exactly where I need to be. Like so much of my life has been leading up to this place at this time. What first comes to mind is being in Chicago on the eve of a very important presidential election in the same neighborhood where my hopeful is from. Why is this exciting beyond the obvious? ---I am finally getting into politics. As recent as a year ago, I hated them. Yes, I am using the word, HATE. Politics divided people and someone was always full of shit and missing the point. Why waste time arguing and going around in circles when it wasn't going to change anyone's mind? But, something changed. Something shifted. I actually enjoy talking to my TN friends who are going for McCain and discussing why they are excited about Sarah Palin. Maybe I have exceptionally unique friends in that we don't argue - we discuss - but I think a lot of it has to be on my side of things, too. Who would have ever thought I would have enjoyed politics??

The outward appearance of me has changed. Of course it is easy to see the glasses. Something about them however, and the coinciding shift into Chicago fall/TN winter has me feeling good about the way I look. I feel cute in my glasses. My hair is a good length. I am really enjoying playing with layers and looks and my scarves (though the shoe department is lacking at the moment in closed toed shoes). My fabulous roommate even told me she loves the way I dress. Let me make it clear - no one has EVER loved the way I dressed. Why? I never really cared. Well, I would care a few days out of the month. Funny how those were the days I got complimented on how I looked (no matter if I was dressed up or dressed for work - as long as I cared, I got noticed). So with the glasses, with the layering fun of a winter wardrobe, and slightly more positive outlook, I feel great. I also took the advice of my George friend and went shopping today with T. I got a really beautiful light purple scarf and an adorable red and black checked top at the Gap.

I will continue later with more updates on Alison 2.0. Thoughts and comments so far?

Dirty Dancing is not red, it seems to be pink!

If you've known me for any good length of time, you know that I've been obsessed with Dirty Dancing my entire life. And no, that's really not an exaggeration. I've been watching the movie for as long as I can recall. (Yes, as far back as I can remember, I have been watching Dirty Dancing. It has only been in the later part of my life that I ever realized all the subplots. When I was little, I just liked the dancing.)

....I was thrilled to find out it was going BROADWAY. And even more thrilled when Dad and I got tickets for his birthday visit to see the show during its pre-broadway run in Chicago. Sweet!

It completely lived up to my expectations and exceeded them! I was grinning and squealing the entire time. They had all the really good lines and the amazing scenes. I was fascinating with the set that cleverly employed modern technology (think about all the scene changes in the movie...). The guy playing Billie was phenomenal. Amazing singer. Really talented actor. (Whit, I promise I will look up his name and ask you about him soon). The show was just really, really fun. We had a good time.

Bonus: I am now the proud owner of a Kellerman's shirt. Watch for its appearance on my person soon. ;)

My glasses are not RED, they are brown and cream

Here are my glasses, for you....

One on the side as well so you can see the pretty design... and the profile. I love them!!

My journal is partially red, and greasy, and crumbled...

Wreck this journal check list:

Put a page through the washer and stuck it back in.
Took it in the shower with me.
Threw journal across the room as a random destructive act.
Used journal as a hat/umbrella in the rain.
Burnt a page. Smeared marshmallow goo over another page.
Had friends sign where they did damage.
Smeared dinner across a page. Used the opposite page as a napkin.


It's going well. And I just bought paint for future projects involving vegetables, my hair, and various objects from "the office."

I GOT THE JOB!!!

I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!

Did I tell you I was applying for one? I've had a little too much time on my hands... to spend money that I've not been making at the coffee shop. Yes, apparently no other store in the world will ever be as awesome as my store is. The lady in charge was completely disorganized and I just couldn't work for her. That and I felt it was time for something new.

So about a month ago, an email was sent out asking for applications for a student assistant for the candidacy office. I immediately went and applied. I interviewed this last week. It is all to do with organizing and confidentiality. Right up my alley. And... I just got the email that I got the job!! I'm so excited! New glasses and a job all in one day? It feels just like Christmas. :)

*Sigh* I'm so happy.

Matchbox Twenty is... RED? Perhaps Yellow?

So I woke up with this song playing in my head. Not sure why as I haven't listened to Matchbox Twenty in years. Perhaps I caught a few notes on someone's radio as I walked by yesterday? Anywho, the lyrics are good for me:

--------------------------------------
"BURN"
I thought about leaving but I couldn't even get outta bed.
I'm hangin' cause I couldn't get a ride outta town.
Now anyone who really wanted me to be down, Come 'round.

Thought about singin' but I couldn't remember all of the words.
Breakin' but I couldn't get the pieces apart.
Laughin' never knowing what the joke was about.
Now I'm down.

And I wonder how I never got the burn,
And if I'm ever gonna learn
How lonely people make a life
One strain at a time.

Forgot about everything and everyone I needed before.
Tryin' to get a handle on a reason to shine.
Pickin' up the pieces that are falling behind takes time.

So I wonder how I never got the burn
And if I'm ever gonna learn
How lonely people make a life
One strain at a time and still shine
(Chorus repeats)
------------------------------

So there's that...

I've had a fairly productive week. I went to get my eyes checked yesterday and ordered new glasses!!! I can't find a picture of them online anywhere so you'll just have to wait until they're on my face and I take a picture. I CAN'T WAIT!! I hope I didn't make a hasty decision with them. But they just fit me, so I couldn't say no. Anyway, that feels like a huge weight off my shoulders. I'm so excited!!!

Guess that's all the news I have. What are you up to?

EDIT: They called around 2 to say my glasses were ready. So guess what I'm wearing now.... ??

Life is not RED, unless you are having a case of the Mean Reds with Holly

"Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say I love you right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
Ive looked at life that way

Well somethings lost, but somethings gained
In living every day.

I've looked at life from both sides now."
-Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now

Yes, Joni. I've looked at life from both sides now. From up and down. Well, I haven't died and come back to life or anything so dramatic. In a way, however, I feel on top of things that I used to feel I was drowning in. There's something freeing about praying over your to-do list and for ONCE getting it done. I don't like praying over my to do lists or my goals for the day or week. It feels cheesy. It feels like I'm bugging God and asking her to help me with things I should be capable of all on my own.

Then again, it works...

I don't know what exactly it is. I have more focus. When I start to listen to music or do something random, my thoughts shift back to the task on hand. Normally at that point I would simply give up and say, "eh." I am the queen of procrastination. I've got it down. And despite how many people are diagnosed and misdiagnosed with A.D.D., I really think we've all got a little bit of it. It's human. We get distracted!

But I've actually been calling places. I'm getting my eyes checked tomorrow and hopefully figuring out some new glasses soon. I called my future (hopefully) CPE site. I'm working on the application. I did laundry. I went grocery shopping. And I even wrote a note to my old landlord. It feels good to be productive!! I had forgotten....

So, thanks for listening. I'm going to go eat some chicken casserole that I made today (yes, that grocery shopping thing is amazing) and read before class. :)

*Hugs*

Country Music tagged as cure for depression

So you may have realized that last week I was depressed. Missing home. Feeling a little heart broken. Behind on homework. The week just was not fabulous.

I couldn't tell you exactly what cured me... what liberated me from my funk. I did get to dance a little bit. I socialized. I turned in some homework. I got over my broken heart. I got mail.

...and I listened to country music.

I don't know what it is exactly about country music but I feel like it gets me. I'm not saying I love it all. Some of it ridiculous, twangy, and trite. But there's so much more to it than that. Sometimes, you need a little corny in your life. You need someone crooning at you and telling you that love is possible, believing in God is possible, and holding onto who you are is possible. Life is possible. "Every heartache makes you stronger! But it won't last much longer. You'll find love, you'll find peace, and the you you are meant to be. I know that's not the way you feel right now, but one day you will...." That'd be Lady Antebellum. Whitney sent me their cd. (God bless you, Whit.)

I'm not sure why I feel so at home listening to country music. It could merely be the attachment to Nashville and Tennessee that I will always have. Is country music just a piece of that? Well, you could argue that, I guess. But sometimes, those cheesy country lyrics and twang are just EXACTLY what I need to get through the day. I realize I'm a girl... and I'm a word person that loves lyrics... and my love language is words of affirmation.... but country music gets me.

Sort of like bad poetry? Sometimes you don't have the energy to see the depths and nuances of really amazing poetry. Sometimes you need simple straightforward words that say that roses are red and violets are blue. I love country music, how about you?

Words are GOLD, so are Patens

On another note, you know how you hear a word once that you've never heard before and then you hear it two or three more times within about a week?

Word of the Week: ** PATEN ** (no, not a patent)

Who's heard of it? Yeah, I hadn't either. Until this week. Then it was woah.

1st occurrence: I was listening to Alela Diane's song, "Rifle" (that I've been listening to on repeat and missing my brother because of it). She's got this line, "Brother I'm so sorry that you watched the Patens burn. I've been holding onto the gold when letting go would free my hands." I figured she was saying "painting" with an accent, like "paintin's" or similar. Then the gold would be the frame on a painting. Right? Well, I looked up the lyrics and it says "patens" with a capital P. Odd, huh?

2nd occurrence: Today, in church. I don't remember exactly when I saw the word but I chuckled at seeing this random word for a second time.

3rd occurrence: Okay, I'm cheating by calling it the third occurance because I really just came home and looked it up on wiki. According to wiki, "A paten, or diskos, is a small plate, usually made of silver or gold, used to hold Eucharistic bread which is to be consecrated." So it is the little plate that we put the bread on during communion. Sweet.

In the eastern church, however, it is far more fascinating. "For Christians of the East, the diskos symbolises the Virgin Mary, who received Christ into her womb, and gave him birth; and also the Tomb of Christ which received his body after the Crucifixion, and from which he resurrected."

Wiki also says that "During the Divine Liturgy it is not only the Lamb (Host) that is placed on the diskos, but also particles to commemorate the Theotokos, the Saints, the living and the departed. Thus, on the diskos is represented the entire Church: the Church Militant and the Church Triumphant, arrayed around Christ." In non-Jesus-talk, the entire church (Jesus, his mother, the saints, the living members of the church, and those already dead) is atop that paten.

So how much cooler did the song just get? A LOT COOLER.

==> Brother, I'm so sorry that you had to watch the entire church burn. But I'm holding onto it when it'd be so much easier to let it go.

Woah.

Kiss his hand, receive bread.

I heart the Greek Orthodox church.

The visit this morning was fabulous. I absolutely loved the Priest. The service was long and mostly in Greek... and we stood for a lot of it, but it was all so beautifully worded ("the mercy of grace") and the building itself had all these gorgeous icons on the wall and the canting.... *sigh*

Maybe I just missed church. I haven't been for a few Sundays. I always forget that when I go there I feel at home. It doesn't even matter if it is an entirely different tradition than my own. There's something about prayer that feels right within me.

That, and since I am learning Greek, it was amazing to sit and listen to it being read/sung by these beautiful voices. It was so rewarding to recognize Greek words and to see them in use. I loved it...

I've also been listening to Josh Groban all day. So mix a little sentimental Josh Groban music with a little Greek canting and you have a day that feels like sunset. :)

"Through darkness, don't you ever stop believing. With love alone, with love you'll find your way." -JG