For those of you who don't know, I work at an insurance company (breaking news, I know). I was recently promoted (more breaking news... not!), and I really, really, really like my job (woo hoo!). Who would have guessed... Julie + insurance = happiness?
One of the perks of my job is that word got out that paint and I have received several commissioned jobs from various Markel employees. The above painting, is probably one of my more meaningful painting as of late. Why you ask? Well, there are 2 reasons.
First, this is the painting that got me really excited about painting again. I am very pleased with it and it was definitely a challenge. I didn't know how I would do at painting the everglades. As I glance up, I can answer: pretty flippin' well.
Second, this painting was commissioned by the president of my branch, and she has ordered 8 more paintings (holla!). This equals more money for immediately, which could not be more needed as I have decided that I am moving out of my parents house in 3 weeks. I've decided the place too, despite having not seen it yet, and I'm so set on it, I've already started packing. This better not fall through...
Anyway, I digress... The second meaningful part continues. Not only has it led to 8 more paintings, it has allowed me to network with the president of my branch, and she is a very cool lady. I now have one more person I like that I work with, but I can further make my mark on my company. She knows me and by knowing me, knows how much I like the company, my future aspirations of moving up, and knows I have a strong work ethic. Pretty cool stuff.
As I am writing this, I am sitting at a counter in the kitchen of Quincy University's Friary (which I just got mayorship of on Foursquare. I'm mayor of the home of God's advocate, can you say the same?) Many of my friends do know my reason for being out here (he's currently playing cards with my sister Martha, thus my typing now). My great Uncle J.J. is a priest who lives and works at Quincy University in Illinois, and he is dying. His doctor's have given him 2-3 months to live, so I am trying to make the most of any time I have left. Yesterday he and I had a few moments to spend alone. We discussed a lot of things, one of those being that I was sad he would not be the one to marry me. We talked about my relationship with Ryan and then he came to say that he had never seen me so happy. Something as simple as this article and him saying this and being here, I agree. I have never been happier in my life and I am grateful for every day. I hope I can always hold on to this feeling, because I can honestly say that every day I am grateful for my friends, my family, my boyfriend, my job, my hobbies, being alive and just everything. I am especially grateful to be here right now, spending time with my uncle.
To end on a happier note, and at my cousin Jennifer's insistence, I want to share a moment that we had this morning, and all surrounds a movie that Jennifer and I found in the Friary last night. Everyone here pretty much goes to bed around 8/9. For us, who stay up a bit later, this is boring. So last night we went to the TV room and tried to find a movie. The Priests' and Brothers' collection is a strange one: Existence, Saw, a copy of The Green Mile and Ali which have not been opened, the entire Golden Girls collection, The Shawshank Redemption and last, and most importantly, Strange Days starring Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, and Juliette Lewis. Jennifer and I decided this seemed like a semi-decent cast and after reading the back covered, we decided, why not? If it was bad we would turn it off after 5 minutes.
We watched 20 minutes of this film. In those 20 minutes of film, this movie was nothing but sex, violence, and drugs, and it was terrible! Why did we watch 20 minutes you ask? WE COULDN'T TURN IT OFF! The entire 20 minutes we were just ripping on this film, and it was hilarious. Why was this in the Friary? Why was this one of the opened films? How many times had they watch this? Why did Juliette Lewis get naked for this film? Why did she roller blade in her underwear? Why did her character roll topless over to this sink and splash water on herself seductively? Is this a move men like? Why was this movie made? As reviewed on IMDB, was the statement that there were "at least five climactic scenes toward the end, which must break some kind of record" true? You can see the many moral and life changing questions we were confronted with. Ellis chimed in with many a hilarious comment, stating that if he was friends with any of this actors, he would continually invite them to hang out to watch Strange Days, saying it was his favorite movie. We postulated that the people involved in the film must regret this and have started a campaign to retract and destroy all copies of this film, naturally overlooking Quincy University's Friary, because seriously, why did they have this film?
This morning, Jennifer brought this up to JJ. We had to know why they owned this film. JJ pleaded with us not let anyone know of this blight against the Friary's name. Amidst laughter, he charged me, as Mayor of the Friary to keep the PR up and not let this leak out. But as Mayor of the Friary, I can not be derelict in my duty and not inform the world of this horrible movie.
All in all it was delightful morning of laughter shared with our family, with our Uncle JJ. and one of the memories that, if I were Ralph Fiennes, would use that weird drug S.Q.U.I.D to recall later.
In closing, I'm pleased with painting and, why was Strange Days in the Friary?