engagements.
families.
music.
personal.
seniors.
i know a lot about closing doors, but not enough about what opens up yours.
Posted on August 30, 2010
Still working on getting settled back into “normal life” (I use the term “normal” very loosely). Spent the majority of the weekend in Oklahoma City, so it was great to see my friends again. I loved my team, but I did miss having my weirdo friends around.
Just a heads up, I just updated all my print/product pricing. I haven’t raised my print prices since I started my business three years ago, and it was about that time. Everything is listed under “investment”, and if you have any questions about any of it just shoot me an email!
Now a little randomness… Because I missed that.
1. Andrew freaking Belle
I have a tendency to become a little obsessed when I find a new artist I like. Lately it’s been Andrew Belle (courtesy of Laura). I don’t even have a favorite song…his “The Ladder” album is lovely.
2. My hair is back to normal.
(Again, using the term “normal” loosely.)
I finally took the cornrows out yesterday. Mostly because I was tired of being stared at like a crazy person.. I may make it my life goal to make it okay for white people to have cornrows. COME ON AMERICA!
Anyway.. I couldn’t resist taking some photos. I only liked one. haha
I call it, “Afrocan”.
I am also retarded.
3. BEN KWELLERRR!
Got to OKC Friday night, and my sweet friend Jessica informed me that Ben Kweller was playing at OU. Heather will vouch for this…there was more than one happy dance. I was so excited! I didn’t take my camera with me and we didn’t stay for long, but it brought back so many good memories. He’s such a goofy looking cat but he’s one of my favorite people to see live. Bless him.
4. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Heather and Cash talked me into watching this Saturday night.
I was fairly skeptical when Heather started describing it to me, but I actually loved it. And that’s saying something…I can never sit through movies.
5. Jumped right back into W.R. when I got home.
I kinda missed that too.
Tonight I shall stay up. My sleep schedule has been so…normal…since I got back. I’ve been going to bed before 2am and waking up before 10am. SO LAME.
So tonight I’m going to stay up until sunrise and work on a freaking huge (36×48) painting for my big brother. Honestly, I’ve never been so nervous about a painting…it’s almost as big as I am…
peace.
-ak
P.S. New favorite boots!
listen to. –> “oh my stars” by andrew belle.
| Send this post to a friend
Leave a Comment
6 Comments so far
i need a second wind of hope now. i need a second wind, a second to myself now.
Posted on August 26, 2010
I have been sitting here staring at a blank Word document for a good hour now. I wrote out a shorter, funnier post earlier…but that’s not where I’m at right now.
So what do I say? You’d think the third time around I’d have it down, but I’m still figuring this out. Still processing.
How do I describe that odd feeling of both relief and fear after being thrown back into my own comfort zone?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned the last couple of years, it’s that the first month home is the hardest. I always find myself judging people and not understanding why no one is as sensitive to these issues as I am. I can put on my happy face when someone asks how the trip was, and I’ll say “It was indescribable” and wait for them to prod some more, but they rarely do. Deep down I’d love to throw out all the unsolved issues, all the unanswered questions. Just list everything I saw…everything I’ve seen the last three years. I could go on for hours if they’d let me.
I feel like I react to Africa a bit differently than everyone else. I put my tough face on when I’m there. I can go through an entire month of hearing stories that would blow your mind, and I don’t cry. I can hold the hand of a homeless 15 year old, and it doesn’t faze me. It’s like my emotions get shut off while everyone else is dealing with what’s going on around them.
And then I come home. And everything I should have felt while I was there hits me all at once.
And at the same time it kills me that I have no solution, and I feel like the best I have to offer when I’m there is just sitting there, listening to a language I don’t understand, and holding their hand. I’m not the most compassionate person in the world. I can be very hard-hearted. Half the time I wonder what good I’m even doing by being there. But I keep going back.
And I’ll keep going back until I feel like I’ve given all I can.
[Photo taken by Asher Wood]
[Photo taken by Asher Wood, edited by me]
[Photo by Brandon Stone]
[Photo by Whitney Shugart]
I’ll swing back into my regular, weirdo self soon enough.
peace.
-ak
P.S. Still rockin the cornrows and fro. I feel like a lion.
listen to. –> “add it up” by andrew belle.
Leave a Comment
4 Comments so far
Older Posts »
That shot of you and the hair is pretty amazing, actually.
Mark
Where on Earth did you get that shirt in the first pic from WR? LOVES! And I like your hair all crimpy and wild! So cute!
uhm, hi. my names Mollie, and i misssss you beautiful.
whoa. your hair is getting so long!
i’m glad you got to enjoy Mr.Kweller.
also, you’re really pretty.
I just wanted to tell you that your pictures of yourself and of the world around you are magnificent. Every time I see your pictures I get goosebumps. They are perfect you capture the world the way every one should see it. I would love to have just half your talent. I just thought you should know just how moving your photos are.
that first photo of you is GORGEOUS! i absolutely love it. love your wardrobe photos, too.
and andrew belle is magical. seriously.