hair plan update

Brandon Barker could take credit, and perhaps the Barker family as a whole, for many of the good ministry experiences I have had along with a mannerism or idea here and there. One of which would be the hair plan. The Barkers like to ask what your hair plan is. Mine is usually a gradual progression from short to long. It could also be summarized as lazy or frugal. It could fourthly be classified as intuitive. When I feel in the core of my being that my hair has become too long I decide to get it cut. That feeling happened sometime last week and here's the result. Mind you, I'm alone at home right now and my hair photographer/husband is not around to help. Be forgiving in your critiques.

If you'd like to talk about something completely different with me, I'll admit to feeling this odd sense of nostalgia last night. Often times after I got back from studying in London I would dream of being back there and would miss it intensely the next day. And I think with due reason, as God did a lot to comfort and strengthen me while I was over there. And I met some amazing people and lived in London. But yesterday I was in a great mood and partly because I was emotionally remembering a few different times and people. It was a relief in some ways from being stressed or frustrated. I'm not sure. But it was nostalgic, which doesn't seem like a viable feeling if we're not thinking of the 1950s.

More like Laborious Day...

...If it's backwards you want, then you want Multnomah. (alternative title)

So it ends, my twelve hour work day on this white collar holiday (as my co-worker so aptly put it). Unfortunately, I was wearing my black polo at work and wasn't able to participate in the festivities. For some reason the seminary decides each year to completely disregard the American convention to not have class on Labor Day, thus putting me at a plastic gray table for three hours for a discussion on biblical theology and leaving me with the sad revelation that I don't like biblical exegesis. My degree is primarily in biblical exegesis. If only I'd known when I started I would have gotten a Master's in Trinitarian Theology. I digress. What I really wanted to complain about (as I have for the past three days) is the fact that I had to go to work and class on Labor Day. Bah! I sort of feel (as I did last year) that my rights as an American had been revoked as I marched to class. I should have pulled out my passport, then they would have known. I understand Multnomah, we're to think of ourselves as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, but could we just have this one day?

Oh, well. I would like to extend a quiz to you, my devoted reader. What are the origins of Labor Day? I feel like it has something to do with a world war or the New Deal. Prove me wrong. And with that we'll put this fine and ambiguous holiday to rest.

Oh, Beautiful.

Watch out international waters (and lands), I've got a legitimate passport. One more official document that identifies me as both Hispanic and very very white at the same time. I got the prized possession in the mail yesterday. Apparently, I got the "Stars and Stripes" edition. The U.S. government decided to step up their passport technology by implanting an electronic chip in my passport's neck and the designers refused to be out done. Each page is a sweeping mural of amber waves, purple mountains and the like. Very inspiring and more so a bit ridiculous. Have you seen the new passports? They ooze patriotism. I suppose it's because you only need a passport when you are leaving the country and the U.S. government doesn't want you to forget America's greatness. "Look traveler, we've got Mt. Rushmore. We've got eagles. We've got Abraham Lincoln chiseled into rock. Uruguay doesn't have that. Come home, won't you?"

So, I told some of this to my co-closer at work last night. Her first question: "Where are you going?" As if I got a passport for the functional instead of the sentimental value. I've got nothing as far as international travel plans go, though I'd like to change that. My motivation in getting a revised passport was this thought: what if we win a trip for two to Japan and I'm stuck at home? That would be sad. But if I have a functional passport it's logical that travel will follow. Jon and I are both graduating in May and getting Master's degrees, so I figure we've earned ourselves a trip (let alone a career). I'm also thinking it's been too long since I was last in London and England as whole. I'm going to do my best to convince all involved that we need to take a trip back there. If the flights are expensive it would be balanced by free admission to the museums. Well worth it. Besides there are some people I'd like to see again. The Queen for starters.

Back to School

I have to admit it--I've put myself in a pissy mood the past couple of days. I find myself at work mumbling, "Grumblecakes, grumblecakes. Grumblecakes, may I help you? Grumblecakes, do you want your iced coffee sweetened? Grumblecakes, can't you get your coffee somewhere else?" And I'll also apologize for all that grumbling. Jon and I got back from visiting family in Santa Cruz on Monday evening. We only had a few days before school started on Monday for us both, and gosh darnit we were going to make the most of it. Right? In some ways we did. We went with Andy to see Wilco on Wednesday and entertained an out of town friend of a friend on Tuesday. But then I had deadlines and headaches and little motivation to do the things I wanted to do. And every hour I spent at work sent me barreling toward fall semester and the inevitable forfeit of all freetime and relaxation--no break, no long sigh or moment to think. It was closing Thursday, closing Friday, working all stinking day on Saturday, Church on Sunday and then class on Monday morning, meeting Monday night, more class Tuesday, work, class, work, class, dishes. School. Boo. School.

And we're going to take a sigh. *sigh* and put away all that negativity. Here goes.

Here's what I'm taking this fall class-wise: Biblical Theology with the hobbit like Dr. Baylis, Ethics and General Epistles with a new professor (oooohhh, new professor) and Acts, Pauline Epistles with Kim/Johnson. For the last class I'm looking forward to sitting in the back, protesting any group projects and writing down all noteworthy quotes. (Walls, people, We've got to build up our walls!)What else? Non-class-wise, I get to hang out with Imago families on Sunday, which is very good. Tonight, Yuka taught me the differences between Japanese people (guitar pick shaped heads), Korean people (rounder faces, wider noses) and Filipino people (round faces, widest noses and darker skin). That alone should be enough to keep us all happy.

travis came to town and then we skipped it.

we've been busy i suppose. in the midst of our various socializings i thought i'd take some time to post two photos for you enjoyment.

Look at me, Injury.

I'm going to go ahead and blame it on being the youngest in the family, but I have a knack for making a big deal out of very minor injuries. Big enough to point out bruises not easily observable by the naked eye. Big enough to sound like Tobias from Arrested Development. Enough to keep saying, "I threw up yesterday," while looking around for any sign of validation. It's my own damn fault really. My clumsiness has reached the point that at work I often feel like I'm just flailing about. Flail. Flail. For the betterment of society though, I thought it would be best to direct my whining and injury into something more productive. A little doodle perhaps?




Leaning down to put some of a friend's personal belongings into her car, thus helping her move, I launched the bridge of my nose into the ski rack on the roof of the car. Checking up on my injury I observed a swollen oval on the right side of my nosebridge and quickly moved to reduced the swelling. The result was a barely noticeable bruise that probably looked more like a pimple and ended up leaving behind a few blackheads as souvenirs of the event.



I had a massive headache Monday morning that echoed into Tuesday morning when I took one more migraine pill around 9:46am. For the next 24 hours the pill left behind a phantom lump in my throat collecting memories of all the things I swallowed that day (frosted mini spooners, green beans, risotto). It took two doses of hot tea (joy and then refresh) among two days to purge the collection.



The day before that though I threw up. I haven't done that in six years, not since freshman year when Bo and I collectively shut down both bathrooms in our hall. Those were the days. I sat this one out alone at around 6:23am Monday morning. Later that day I refused to let Jon eat the leftovers of what I deemed the cause of the hideous digestive crime.

Iowa = Portland

I'd like to extend a warm welcome to a few native iowans and friends (at the same time!) who will be visiting Portland this week. Andrea, Adam and Travis, would you please stand up?

I've spent a good part of the summer months thinking through and whining to jon about the transitional period our sense of community has been going through this past year. Our friends of old are back in town, going to a different church, dating different people, not talking to us as much, coming over during the week for dinner, asking us to help them move, inviting us to their wedding. As you can tell it's a mixed bag that has caused me some to much anxiety. By the time we get to the obligatory weekend-night with no obligatory plans I keep asking, "do we have any friends? jon, we don't have any friends." thanks to iowa, that's no longer true. not only do we have dinner plans for sunday night, but we also have someone staying with us, visiting and eating with us. what a happy change. then we'll whisk ourselves away to become out of town guests in aptos, california. oh, august, you are being so socially good to me.


by the way, if you want to see travis in his iowa=portland reunion tour let me know. he's staying with us, eating our waffles and using our toothpaste.