I set myself up for Greek Word of the Day emails in preparation for our vacation next month.  I also ordered a workbook to learn basic Greek, and downloaded about a dozen iPhone apps.  However, after a month of emails I still don’t know ANY Greek.  I don’t even know the Greek alphabet.

Probably because I haven’t opened a single email, picked up my workbook, or started any of the apps.  I am just hoping they speak English for my benefit.  Yes, I am the typical American tourist.

1. What an atom search feed is (vs an RSS feed) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atom_(standard)

2. The health benefits of cherries:

Nutrients found in Cherries

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin A
• Bioflavonoids
• Ellagic acid
• Perillyl
• Anthocyanins
• Melatonin

Health Benefits of Cherries

• Help fight cancer
• Aid in prevention of heart disease
• Relieve Pain of Arthritis, Gout, Headaches
• Ease the symptoms associated with Fibromyalgia Syndrome
• Provide a healthy and safe way to produce melatonin

3. Passwords to my Wordpress Blog and Tumblr Blog, which have been forgotten in the almost year since I have actively posted

4. How to connect my Wordpress blog posts to Tumblr

5. I spent too much money when I went shopping during a tornado this week - but forgot to spend the $50 gift card I have from my birthday way back in February.

This is a sketch of the art I made for the Shave Dallas auction.  You can read here all about how it was stolen by some immoral asshole.

Description:  11 x 14 mixed media (felt pen, media cuttings, letter stencils, oil pastels) collage on bristol, with or without 16 x 20 black wood frame with double chinese white matting.

Last seen: Sometime between 10a. and 1:30p on Saturday, July 31st 2010.

Of course, you have to know it was way more awesome the first time.  For beginners, that torso with the head of the pope collaged onto it was wearing a sea-foam green leotard.  That’s right.  Sea-foam green.  And all the letters were stenciled, because why do things the easy way in the digital age, when you can do it the hard way and make it look imperfect?   Of course, the smoke looked better, there was some color, the rope actually looked like a rope, and the peg legs actually looked woody.  And there was an exclamation point after “AWAY.”

You know, people can really suck sometimes.  I mean, I don’t steal their collaged pieces of charity art, why should they take mine?

If you see anything like this, then give me a shout so I can tell whoever has it what a bad person they are.

Someone stole my art.  Well, what had happened was, well, we kind of lost track of the piece of work I made to donate to Shave Dallas.  I even framed it!

It was by the door and I said, “Everything by the door needs to go in the car.”  When I was walking out of the door and the art was no longer there, I assumed it was in the car.

No, I did not check the car to verify.  We went to meet my uncle and aunt, had lunch, loaded the wine (which they donated for the event), and headed off for set up.  We got to the location, and by george, there was no charitable art in the car.

We called the apartments where I live, and they said there was nothing in the parking lot when we asked them to check.  We called the restaurant where we had lunch, and they said there was nothing in the parking lot when we asked them to check.  We looked everywhere in my car, including under the seats and in the glove box (though the framed mixed media drawing was 16 x 20 – probably not in the glove box).  No art.

So, it appears there are several points in the day at which my masterpiece could have been misplaced.

First, during the process of loading the car, it is imaginable that the framed drawing was leaned against something to make it easier to put all my other crap in the car, and then left.  At this point, any one of the 5 million kids running around my apartment complex could have decided to take it just because it was there.

Actually, call me stuck up if you want, but I can’t imagine anyone in my apartment complex having any better motivation than just because it was there.  Or maybe they liked the frame, but I mostly imagine them as a group of people who would prefer paintings of bluebonnets, or posters of rappers and hot chicks.  Maybe a nice sunset beach scene, with one set of footprints in the sand and a bible verse in gilded cursive script.  It DID have the head of the pope incorporated as a collage element, so maybe they were Catholic?

Perhaps someone just decided it was garbage and threw away a perfectly serviceable frame and obviously unique drawing type thing.

I assume it was taken between the loading of the car and the leaving, because I’m pretty sure I would have noticed it chilling outside, or at least heard something when I ran over it.

Second, I could have possibly taken the alleged ‘art’ out of my car at the restaurant, and leaned it against the car while putting my other crap in the trunk.  Of course, I think I would have noticed.  Especially if it was still there when we finished the meal, because, again, I would have heard myself run over it.  I think.  I hope.  Maybe.

Third possibility is I have been transported in some mysterious way into a VERY similar alternate universe, where everything except the existence of that drawing is the same.  This is really not that far-fetched considering my personal (unproven) thoughts about the way energy, reality, and belief systems work, but still unlikely because, in my experience, only the things you don’t notice shift in major ways when you’re not looking.  And also unlikely because I am not the only one who remembers the drawing, and everyone knows you never end up in the same alternate universe as the version of a particular person you knew quite well in the starting-point universe.  Ummm…yeah.

Of course, there is also always the possibility that either of the good samaritans we called and asked to check either 1) didn’t bother going to look,  2) they sent someone else to look, and that person just went to smoke a cigarette, or 3) they found it and decided it was such a nice frame they would throw away the piece of crap ‘art’ and give the frame to their wife.

Anyway, its gone and we don’t know where the hell it is.  An artist’s rendering of the art will be available soon.  Please keep your eye out for a mixed media drawing on bristol board, 11 x 14, possibly with 16 x 20 black frame and double chinese white matting, featuring a torso in aerobics gear with peg legs and the head of the pope wearing a feather, a smoking rope, the word “Waist” marked out in red, the words “Waste” and “Away” at the top, and the phrase “OMG” and “(weird)” at the bottom.  Signed ARK CLARK.

I thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.

doodle15Jul10

Since the implementation of a very busy schedule, I have been less prolific in the Art and Drawing category of my existence.  The problem, I find, with falling off the habit is you lose your groove.  When you’re working regularly, everything builds and builds and changes and is awesome.  But if you stop, you have to start back at the beginning.

Well, here’s to 563,213th new start in my life.

Just a few ideas to get you out in the wonderful Texas summer (that was sarcasm, btw):

Horse Races(Lonestar Park) - my friend Christina told me about this one…its not free but general admission is only $5, and you can use $10 or $20 to spread around a bunch of $1 or $2 bets to keep it interesting and hang out for the day.  Take a big hat, drink whiskey, pretend to be British – I’m sure you can find ways to amuse yourself.

Sports - I’m a Rangers fan.  I know it doesn’t seem to jive with anything else about me at all, but I grew up with baseball and I’ve always loved going to games.  You can get $6 cheap seats for weeknight games, and if you don’t mind walking you can get cheap or free parking.

I don’t really care for other sports, but I know Dallas hosts an entire network of independent and minor league teams: baseball, hockey, soccer, AFL, roller derby…whatever you like.  And I know that you won’t pay as much to see them as you would to see the Cowboys.

Cinemark 8 Dollar Theater – Its in Lewisville, and the movies are not new releases, but its $1!  75 cents on mondays!

Ice Skating - May have been a lucky fluke, but last Monday we went ice skating(for my first time EVER) at the Dr. Pepper Star Center in Carollton for free. It was just an hour session, there were tons of kids, and I had FUN.  We just happened upon the info in the Dallas Morning News Quick, so I advise you to stay sharp.  Fun is lurking everywhere!

Roller Skating  - Interskate in Lewisville has $3 skating on Tuesdays from 5-9 p.m.  I probably don’t have to explain how it would be weird to go by yourself, but its a blast if you can talk all your friends into going. (Thanks again to Christina and Brian for this one)

Cedar Ridge Preserve(formerly Dallas Nature Center) – go for a hike.  Go for a guided hike if you want.  Just go.

I’m glad you asked!

Mostly non-fiction these days because my schedule has magically suddenly become very crammed full of excitement.  Plus, non-fiction is much easier for me to put down when there is something else that needs to be done.  If I am reading an absorbingly phenomenal fiction, it becomes the only thing on my to-do list, the priority of my life, my morning wake-up call, and my constant companion.  Really.

REWORK* from Jason Fried and David Heinemer Hansson of 37signals:  Very easy read, lots of illustration, and some great ideas about starting a business, running a business, and maintaining your sanity.  They have a useful, realistic approach to business which overturns most assumptions people make about themselves, their employees, and the way things are ’supposed’ to be done.

Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion** by Robert B. Cialdini, PhD:  Actually found in the psychology section of your book store, not the sales, marketing, or business sections.  Though I don’t think this book contains the final definition in what motivates people to buy, it will definitely give you something to think about (especially if you’re not from a sales or marketing background).  The original copyright is way back in 1984, but people really haven’t changed much in the intervening 26 years so Cialdini’s “six weapons of influence” are absolutely relevant.   Bonus: the examples Cialdini uses to illustrate his research are so early ’80’s – tupperware parties, hare krishnas, Amway…not relevant, but points for flashback quality!

Reinventing Yourself: How to Become the Person You’ve Always Wanted to Be** by Steve Chandler:  Yes, this is a self-help book.  Steve Chandler is a motivational speaker, and you can tell from the cheesy, mundane stories he uses to illustrate all the ways you are holding yourself back, how you can reinvent yourself, the path to reach a higher, purely spirit level in your life, etc., etc., etc.  What I find remarkable about this book is not the terrible writing (why do all middle-aged marketing types use the same bad prose?), but the way it manages to touch on so many elements I consider relevant to overall emotional and spiritual balance.  For me, this was one of those books that echoed a bunch of different ideas and concepts I’ve had floating around.  Once you get past the self-help-y-ness, there are some things to think about here.

Soul Music by Terry Pratchett: If I haven’t outright said I’m obsessed with…okay, not obsessed, just very very very very very fond of, Pratchett’s work, then, well, I’m saying it now. Funny, but in a British way.  I’ve heard more than one person compare the feel of his humor to Douglas Adams, except with dwarfs and trolls and magic and stuff instead of spaceships and aliens and junk.  And its safe for me to read when I’m busy because I’ve already read this book at least 5 times.

Something you think I should read?  Feel free to tell me all about it!

One false dichotomy you can use to define people (if you’re looking for one) is people who know a little about a lot vs. people who know a lot about a little.  In other words, some people know only a few details about a lot of different topics (quiz masters, you know who you are), and other people know one subject in depth.

I usually assume anyone who really excels in a complicated, highly technical, or theoretical domain knows very little besides what they do really well.  I’m not saying this is true, just what I assume.  My reasoning goes along the lines of:  I don’t know many people who are really so absorbed in their profession or pursuits, probably because they are not very social, so they therefore must not be any good at social interaction (cause I know so many people, right?), which is obviously due to the fact that they don’t have anything to talk about besides brain surgery or rocket science or construction or pets or video games, thus why I assume they only know a lot about a little.

On the other hand, I know a lot of people who know a little about a lot, and a moderate amount about a few specifics.  Of course, I’ve just described the entire population (did I mention its a false dichotomy?).  Really what this boils down to is I beleive I’m special because I know about a lot of things.

Or, at least I think I know about a lot things, and will be sure to let you know my Opinion about any topic of choice.  I won’t even wait for you to ask! How lucky are you?

Marking a personally momentous occasion…I am now published.  On a blog that’s not mine, even.  Okay, so its not the first time, but you probably don’t want to read my really boring advice on how to succeed in school (if I’m wrong, let me know and I will be glad to hook you up with my Opinions on the subject).

This was published on the Social Media Delivered (where I am currently undergoing an internship procedure, even though I’m too old to be an intern, but its experience, its fun, and its better than worrying about if your iced tea needs a refill) site on Monday.

You can see the original post here.

The Work Place & Personal Social Media…Proactive or Problem?

Being born early in the first year of the official Gen Y bracket;   (I could just tell you I’m almost 30, but I would rather you do a little research), I barely qualify as a member of this up and coming generation that’s getting a lot of buzz about their place in the workplace. I mean, I can’t really say I “grew up” with technology and I don’t have the characteristic A.D.D. attention span.

I am, however, concerned with access to my personal social media in a work environment. My (mostly younger) peers have been getting a bit of press lately regarding their role in the workplace, and one statistic has stuck in my mind: 21% of workers would turn down a job offer if they would not be allowed access to personal social media and email. Yes, even in our current tough job market.

This is from Clearswift’s 2010 Report ‘Web 2.0 in the Workplace,’ and though I originally heard this statistic in reference to recent graduates, they are not speaking specifically about Gen-Y. Have you heard the term ‘Generation Standby?’

Generation Standby are those of us who never seem to fully switch between ‘work’ and ‘home.’ You know, doing your online shopping on the clock and checking that email from the boss after dinner at home. Because of increased pressure to work longer hours, employees become adept at switching between work and personal obligations.

The 25-34 age bracket is feeling the most pressure, and while only half of these individuals are also usually considered Gen-Y, the group embodies the Gen Y characteristic of connectivity and living a highly social, technological lifestyle. I certainly qualify, considering I am writing this blog in my living room.

Demanding access to social networking and personal email at work seems like a tall order, considering there is a lot of press about companies considering it a drain on productivity or a security risk. Good news: only 15% of companies polled for the report claimed to actively block or discourage use of Web 2.0 social networking.

While many companies are still struggling with establishing company policies regarding the use of social networking, the trend is definitely moving toward a more delineated work environment and communication freedom for employees. What is your company’s policy?

I welcome your thoughts on the ‘company social media policies’ discussion; thanks for reading!

- Amelia

E: Amelia@SocialMediaDelivered.com
T: Twitter.com/dishPit
L: LinkedIn.com/in/AmeliaClark

I changed my blog title.  If you’ve been visiting, you may have noticed but sometimes I like to point out the obvious.

So the other day after a meeting with my boss, I began to feel…overwhelmed.  I’m the kind of person who thinks about EVERYTHING at one time, even if it is fun, not required, or has a deadline many months in the future.  When there are a lot of goals, projects, requirements, to-do’s, un-marked list items, and/or social engagements, I start to feel like I am slowly tipping forward.

I normally just take a deep breath and start doing something.  Activity always relieves anxiety.  Action maintains balance.

But you can still feel it in the background, following you.  If you don’t move fast enough, get enough done, stay on top of The List, it will creep up (or run up, depending on how hard-core it is on any given day) and tip you off balance (or run right over you and leave your face all squished to the concrete with little tiny bits of gravel in your teeth).

Last week I started thinking about how I just went from being unemployed to having a job (Internet Marketing Assistant for a software consultant in the Dallas area) AND an internship (part time with a social media company), I’m helping with this fundraiser thingy (Shave Dallas, check it out), my house needs to be clean, I haven’t been to the grocery store in 2 weeks, my student loans are coming due soon, etc., etc., etc.  I started worrying about when I will find time to write and draw and cook and maintain a social life etc, etc, etc.

And then I remembered (this is where you get the personal revelation…don’t get too excited) why my life looks and feels the way it does right now. I have been pursuing kismet/fate/serendipity/whatever-you-want-to-call-it, and choosing those things for myself I believe are personally progressive.

I got my job because my boss read my blog and, though my writing is self-indulgent and unrelated to Internet Marketing, felt I would be a good fit with his company. I took the job because 1) its a huge learning experience, while still utilizing a wide range of my skills and 2) I like people who like my writing.  I got my internship because I was volunteering at the Dallas Contemporary and met Amanda, who then set up an interview for me and introduced me to her boss.  I accepted the internship because it is also a huge learning experience and I believe the universe put me in this position for a reason (remind me to tell you about my version of faith at some point).

As far as not having enough time…well, I have enough time for everything I WANT to do. Priorities, yo. Just a bit of shift from hunting for things to keep me occupied.