Christmas, etc

Well, another Christmas pageant is behind me. After months of preparation and endless rehearsals, The Celebration Choir shared a concert of inspirational Christmas songs. After a short intermission, we presented a short play about The Journey to the Manger. It's all about the 'true' meaning of Christmas. Needless to say, we are all exhausted after it is over, but it is worth every minute!

Anyway, besides working in the world of hair, that's where I've been the last few months.

The wreath is on the front door, the mantel is done and that is the extent of my Christmas decorating because I'm headed for sunny Florida in a few weeks to spend Christmas with 'The Girls'! Yay!!

Today, my little doxie, Elvis is 1 year old. I wanted to get him a cake and take pictures, but I have been grounded to the house today because I caught a stomach virus that was going around during pageant. At least I didn't get sick during that time, though.

Later, Ya'll!

Still Kickin'

I just have not been in the mood to write much lately. A lot has been happening, though. My niece moved back home with her Mama almost a month ago. Let's just say it was a learning experience for both of us and leave it at that. She went for a weekend visit and decided to stay. It must have been something I said! All her clothes are still here. Princeton, (the cat) is here also, and will be staying for a while longer. He will be moving to his new home in about a month. By then, the new puppy should be here. Yes, I am getting another mini doxie...a bro for Elvis. His name will be Presley. I hope The King accepts him and that they become buddies.

I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's hard to believe that this will be my second holiday season in the new house. Even though things haven't turned out the way I expected, I have enjoyed being here. The neighborhood has changed considerably in the last year, too. Many of the families that have moved in relocated here from Louisiana, in the wake of hurricane Katrina.

There are lots of kids, running all over the cul-de-sac. I wish their parents would teach them to get out of the street when a car is approaching. The little ones are allowed to run amok all over the place. The big ones move their portable basketball goals out to the curb and shoot hoops in the street, almost daring me to hit them! At least they could step to the side and allow me to pass. I'm going to go to the next home owners meeting and say something. I'm not a mean, old, grouchy woman yet, and I realize that children need to play outdoors, but NOT IN THE STREET where I have to drive to get to my home! That's what driveways, yards and parks are for.

Enough ranting about the juvenile delinquents. I'm still looking for a Halloween costume for Elvis so I can take his picture. All I want is a black t-shirt with something on it. I'm afraid he might eat/tear up anything else. He is such a destructo-puppy! It would be cute to get Princeton a matching shirt, too. I'll go look tomorrow after work.

I'm going to go read cookbooks. I'm having a luncheon here in a few weeks and I need to work on my menu. I'm thinking pasta salad and stuff to go with it. Pumpkin bread or mini pecan tarts sound good, too. I found some brownish/amber plastic plates at Target today that will go perfect with my Fall theme. They were marked down to 98 cents each! I bought 14 of them and a salad bowl to match. I love finding a bargain like that!

It's almost time for Dr. G, Medical Examiner....I love that show!

Take care, ya'll

Life Goes On

I'm still painting! I was almost finished in the family room when I started getting sick with a sore throat. I laid on the couch Sunday and Monday looking at a half painted wall! Hopefully, I can wrap it up next week. I'm having a luncheon for a few of my girlfriends the first week in November, so I still have time. I've been in my new home for a year and none of my friends have seen it. Mainly because I'm just now getting it decorated properly. Until recently, All the 'domestic issues' kept me from really having the desire to do anything. Now that things are finally getting resolved and I plan on staying in the house, it's time to get on with my projects.

The window treatments in the family room look great. I like them even better than I thought I would. I'll take pictures soon. I found some velvety looking moss green panels for the window in the front room/sitting room at Ross. They are perfect! I still need to decide on a wall color for this room, too. It just never ends! One thing leads to another, but it's so much fun. Anyway, I need to get it all done asap.

The holiday season is fast approaching, which means Christmas Pageant, which means lots of work and rehearsals. A friend and I have been asked to re-work and repair about a dozen or so large banners to be used in the pageant. It sounds like a fun project, but will take some time. We will need to ask for volunteers to help, I'm sure. This Friday evening and all day Saturday is our Choir retreat, where we will really get into the music and CRAM! Lot's of work, but oh so rewarding!

My niece moved back home a few weeks ago. She missed her family and they missed her, in spite of their differences. She is still searching, but hopefully, she will find her way. I hope I made some sort of impression on her, although she thought I had too many 'limitations' (her word). What she called limitations I called expectations. Live and learn, Miss Sophie.

Yes, Life goes on, ya'll

High Maintenance Women

Here's the question: Are guys intimidated by attractive women? I recently asked a gentleman acquaintance this question. He said, 'Yes, in most cases they are, because an attractive woman usually means 'high maintenance'...(which, of course means Big Bucks). I said facetiously, 'You get what you pay for'!

It is possible to look H.M. without being H.M. However, the reverse is also true!

This debate reminds me of a quote by Dolly Parton, ' It takes a lot of money to look this trashy'.

Or, to quote my Mama, 'You can't judge a book by its cover'. I had a hairdresser friend that used to say, 'You cant make chicken salad out of chicken s***'!

Aunt Era used to tell me that it doesn't matter how pretty you are on the out side, if you're not pretty on the inside.....She'd say, 'Pretty is as pretty does'.

As for me personally, I love to dress, love my jewelry, love my having my nails done, love pedicures and facials, love playing with my hair color..I love all that girly stuff, but that doesn't make me high maintenance because I don't ask or expect anyone to bankroll my personal indulgences. In fact, I call it 'creative marketing'. I am, after all, in the beauty business. I must constantly endeavor to perfect the art and science of looking high maintenance, while not breaking the bank. I love my job!

So guys, the next time you see an attractive woman, don't judge a book by its cover. But, FYI, if you happen to run into a gold digger, their motto is: 'If you wanna play, you gotta pay'! Hmmm, come to think of it, that doesn't sound like such a bad idea! Just kidding...maybe!

Excuse me while I go attempt to balance my checkbook. I need to see if I can afford to go to SteinMart tomorrow. It's the perfect place for girls like myself, who have Champagne taste on a beer budget!

Just doing a little creative marketing, ya'll

My New Walls

I love this taupe color in the Family room. It's Martha Stewart 'Tumbleweed'. You can see the contrast with the unpainted wall to the right. I'm still looking for just the right window treatments. On the mantel, I arranged a colorful Fall swag with red votive candles nestled among the leaves, enhanced by clove scented pillar candles. I'm thinking about antiquing the mantel...what do you think?
Here is the entry hall. The wall color is actually a bit darker than the picture shows. It too, is a Martha Stewart color called Jasper, a soft sage green. It contrasts beautifully with the creamy taupe in the family room. I love the way it brings out the richness of the dark brown metal side table and other accessories.

I love it Ya'll!

Me and My Chicas

A few of my good buds met me for lunch today. My birthday isn't until Saturday, but Wednesday is the day we all get together to celebrate special days.

Of course, if you go to a Mexican place, they always sing and make you wear a silly hat!

Ole! ya'll

Where Were You?

What a perfectly beautiful morning, I thought as I hung up the phone and looked out the back door. A perfect day for flying...I had just finished talking to my daughter in Florida. We were both excited and making plans about our visit. I was scheduled to fly out the next morning, September 12, 2001. My birthday is on September 16 and my son in laws' is on the 14th. We thought it would be fun to celebrate together. I remember thinking, as I continued to get ready for work, 'I wish I had left yesterday (the 10th), I would already be there having fun'.

I had the radio on, as usual, listening to my favorite DJ's on KSBJ, a Contemporary Christian station. I looked at the clock, it was about a quarter to eight. I was running a little late because I had stayed on the phone too long. As I ran to get dressed, the DJ broke in to announce that there had been some sort of explosion at the World Trade Center in New York City. I quickly turned on the TV to get more information. To my horror, there it was; live coverage of this horrible event. I couldn't believe what I was seeing and hearing! Suddenly, I saw an airplane heading toward the second tower, the first tower already in flames. The plane crashed into the building and appeared to come out the other side. I watched in utter disbelief as pandemonium broke loose.

I had to leave for work and by the time I got to the salon the whole world seemed to come to a halt. All of the local radio stations were broadcasting live reports. Everyone seemed to be in shock as we listened to this unbelievable tragedy unfold. As the day wore on, I realized that I wouldn't be boarding a plane the next day because all flights were grounded...every airport in the nation was shut down. At the end of the day, I went home and turned on the TV, once again seeing the Towers being assaulted, watching as they tumbled to the ground. Over and over, they showed them as they fell. By this time, the reality of what had happened became clear. The hijacked planes, the attack on the Pentagon, people running in the streets. I finally had to turn it off. I was numb. I called my daughter, my son...every one in my family.

The next morning I got up to another perfect day, weatherwise, but I wasn't going anywhere. I turned on the TV. There it was again, footage of the Towers coming down. Stories began to unfold...it seemed to go on and on. I was so sad and angry. I had to turn it off and get out of the house. I put my bathing suit on and went out to the pool and floated around all morning. I lived close enough to the airport that I could hear the planes as they took off. They flew over my house as they coasted in to land. The noise of the airport was just a part of our daily life. But not this morning. As I floated around looking at the perfect, cloudless blue sky, there were no planes, no noises coming from the big airport. The world was eerily quiet. The trees were almost perfectly still. There were no birds chirping or flying about. No dogs barking, very few cars passing by. It was as if the whole universe had been paralyzed by this tragic turn of events. I began to pray; God help us all! Then came the tears. Our world was forever changed that day. Now, five years later, we are still shaken...WE WILL NEVER FORGET!

Remember the heros and those who lost loved ones, ya'll

The OTHER Sister

Aw, ain't he cute? His Auntie just wants to give a big ole birthday kiss! It's kinda hard to pucker up with these buck teeth, though.

Seriously...

Recently I crossed paths with a young man whose political views and philosophy on life is totally opposite from mine....someone who, if I encountered him on the street, or saw him hanging out at the mall, I would label as a skater or a punk. He's a 19 year old kid after all! Why would he and I have any inclination to want to know each other?

Well, certain events lead us to meet, along with a few of his friends. They seemed uncomfortable, even though I tried to make them feel welcome in my home. I'm sure I represent a lifestyle that they have had very little exposure to. Nevertheless, I tried to make them feel comfortable for the short while they sat in my living room. I admit I was a little uncomfortable myself.

I silently sized him up while the introductions were being made. I immediately noticed the cold, blank look in his eyes. He seemed emotionless, as did his buddies. It was as if he didn't want to make eye contact. There were none of the usual social gestures made. No "Hello, pleased to meet you" from him or the other boys. He had a small boom box with him and began checking the batteries. He then asked me if I had any extra ones he could borrow, as the batteries were dead. How weird, I'm thinking. So, for the remainder of his brief stay he concentrated on changing out the dead batteries.

Because of circumstances that I can't go into because of privacy issues, I felt it necessary to find out "where he was coming from". Through Myspace I started a dialogue with him. ( I had checked out his site and was a little shocked and concerned at what I saw). I began by telling him it was nice to meet him and that I hoped they enjoyed the reggae concert. I asked about his family. I asked about the *ska* lifestyle. He told me his people were a bunch of rednecks from Mississippi and that he didn't fit in with them. He came here to visit his brother and decided to stay. He's more punk than ska...he's also an anarchist, not into religion and believes that the bible was written by some random guy, and just like Harry Potter, it's stupid. He has morals, he says, but people judge him and call him a satanist when they find out what he believes. Politicians invented religion to control us, America is the next Hitler and on and on! The boy was getting fired up! I'd heard enough! I never could get him to tell me why he believes as he does. Ironically, he signed each post; peace. I wonder, how can a person who believes in chaos and lawlessness have true peace in their life?

No, it's not up to me to judge him or anyone. That's God's job. As a Christian I feel sad for him...for his young soul. What a shame and a waste to be filled with such negativity and bitterness. Of course, I pray that his heart will soften and that he will come to know that there is a better way to live. I wanted to tell him more but he stopped communicating with me when I (politely, I might add) called him down for being disrespectful. The *Mother* in me was starting to kick in!

If the eyes are the windows of the soul, I saw nothing but emptiness and darkness when I looked into his. There's only one thing that will light up that lost soul...the light of God's love and grace! I pray that he finds it!

Know God
Know Peace

No God
No Peace

Bless Ya'll!

Goofin Off

I've been painting my entry hall all day. No, this is not what I look like right now. Let's just say that I look like I've been painting all day and leave it at that. A lovely Martha Stewart sage-y green. I'll take pictures when I'm done.

I like my hair color this week, so I took a few pictures so I wouldn't forget what to mix when I touch it up next time. I hate my nose! Oh well, I'm not going to bother getting it 'fixed', so I'll just live with it. If I were going to spend money on plastic surgery, I would have *the girls* whittled down and made to stand at attention. I still dream of wearing a hippie halter top. Anyway, back to the hair...I never can remember from one time to the next what I've done. I'm always experimenting..to see what I come up with. Better on me than my client, dontcha think?

I like to name all my hair colors after desserts, spices and other food. I did a tri color hilight/lowlight combo the other day...called it gumbo, you know, two shades of spicy red, and golden roux . My client is from Louisiana originally. That's why I called it gumbo. She liked it!
I do a choco-latte/french vanilla combo that is yummy. Then there's gingersnap and cinnamon.
Golden vanilla is pretty. Clients love it!

I love these sunglasses. I found them in Dallas when I was at a Hair Show. In the bottom picture I'm saying something goofy so I enhanced the picture when I edited it. That's not dirt on my lips, it's just the 'cartoon' effects on my editing program. My hair looks rather brassy too.
I don't do brassy...ever!

I'm pooped! Can't you tell from the content of this post...such randomness!

Think I'll go soak these weary bones in the garden tub and crash.

Night, ya'll

I'm Being Random

Don't worry 'bout me
I'll get along
Forget about me
Be happy my love

Let's say that our little show is over
And so the story ends
Why not call it a day, the sensible way
And still be friends

Look out for yourself
Should always be the rule
Give your heart and your love, to whomever you love
Don't you be a fool

Darling why stop to cling, to some fading thing
That used to be
If you can't forget
Don't you worry 'bout me

I ran across this poem at www.girlontheright.blogspot.com. I don't know whether she wrote it or not. Whatever, it's good.


Ok, now that it's been a year since **Katrina** can we move on? How long do the leeches and whiners think someone should pay their light bills for them. I don't care if their meat IS defrosting in the freezer! BTW, I don't have a freezer full of meat. I had to pay my light bill instead of buying meat!!

And......where was Jesse Jackson when Nagin was popping of on 60 minutes the other night about New Yorkers and the 'big hole in the ground'? Hmmm???

And......I'll be glad when the weather gets cool, so I can plant some pansies, and a few crape myrtles.

Poor H-town weathermen, Ernesto kinda fizzled...but I'm glad he didn't come this way. I think I'll go to Galveston this weekend after all.

Ok, I'm done, ya'll!

Your Aura is Blue

Your Personality: Your natural warmth and intuition nurtures those around you. You are accepting and always follow your heart. You in Love: Relationships are your top priority, and this includes love. You are most happy when you are serious with someone. Your Career: You need to help others in your job to feel satistifed. You would be a great nurse, psychologist, or counselor.

What Color Is Your aura?

I don't have a degree in psychology, but I I use a lot of it in my profession. And yes, I do a lot of counseling. Helping others look their best gives me a lot of satisfaction.

Meet Princeton

This is the newest member of the family. He is a rescue kitty from a vet's office in the area.

I have been so busy since my niece has been here, getting her all settled in and working has been taking up most of my time. I must say it's nice to have a girl in the house again. We went shopping last Saturday after work. It was the tax free weekend and the mall was packed! We literally shopped til we dropped! She likes Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe, of course. We went to another store called Buckle. Found Sophie a cute pair of sunglasses with rhinestones on them.

We had a good time, but I was exhausted when we got home at 9:00 pm!

Between Sophie, Elvis and Princeton I have my hands full, so I may not be writing as much. After I come home from work, someone wants/needs my
attention. Sophie, just like all teens these days, communicates with her friends on the computer and MySpace, so we have to take turns with the computer, too.

Guess I'd better go see about Elvis. He and Princeton are still getting acquainted and he's a little too rough with the little guy.

Night, ya'll!

My New 'Roomie'

This lovely young lady is my niece. She recently moved in with me. She is also my assistant (slave) at the salon, sweeping hair, washing and folding towels, cleaning color bowls, 'ripping' foils, ( doesn't that sound like fun?) and anything else we need her to do. She has been a great help to me and the other stylists. We enjoy having her there and she loves hanging out with us.

My clients have also enjoyed getting to know her. She's quiet and a little shy, but we're working on her. Before long she'll be just like the rest of us goofy, air head hairdressers. Who knows....she may just decide to become a full fledged twister of hair one of these days. I became a hair dresser like my aunt before me. Wouldn't it be neat if my niece carried on the tradition? Of course, I want her to be what ever she chooses.... but ya never know!

And how about that hot haircolor she's sporting? It's a dark, rich red brown with copper highlights. Very tres chic!

She's been keeping me busy, showing me the ropes over at MySpace and teaching me the names and songs of all the current music artists, who is Gnarls Barkley??? But then, she has to listen to me nag her about school, going to bed at a decent hour so she can get up and go to work. Remember? She's my slave! Ya gotta love her! She's a keeper!!

Girls just wanna have fun, ya'll!

More Florida Pictures

Bathing Beauties!
This pair of Sandhill Cranes wandered through the yard one day. When they saw me taking their picture, they curiously came closer, as if they were posing for me. Very beautiful, majestic birds.

Fun in Florida

This was fun. T and I went to a place called DinnerDone. http://www.dinnerdone.com. Check it out. I want to find a place like this in the Houston area.
My girls in their formals. I made the pink satin and lace one for T when she was in the eighth grade. She is wearing her purple prom dress, which still fits, albeit a little snug. C-B is wearing my gold lame cocktail dress. I wore it one time at a hair show.
The big thing in Florida is Vera Bradley purses http://www.verabradley.com. Here are the girls modeling theirs. Cutie patooties!

This is me and my 'gurlfriend', Barbara (she's the blonde). Her daughter and my daughter are friends and we hit it off, too. We had a multi-generational slumber party at her apartment with our daughters and grand daughters. We stayed up late and watched the Disney Channel...'Hannah Montana' and 'Read it and Weep', ate junk food, danced and caught up on all the happenings in our lives.

More later, ya'll... Elvis wants to play

A Few Words Before I Go

What a week this has been. I must have cut, colored and highlighted a ton of hair this week. It never ceases to amaze me how busy I get right before vacation. I mean, most of my 'regulars' pre-book so they can get in before I go. So, I'm already busy, but then I get calls from people I haven't seen in ages, new referrals plus all the procrastinators who always call at the last minute ( mainly men!) They wake up one morning and suddenly realize they need a haircut, or their wife tells them they have a wedding or some social event to attend, which of course requires them to get the hairs trimmed out of their ears. (I don't do nose hairs!) I even have to wax a few uni-brows occasionally. It is soo funny the first time I rip that wax off from between their eyes! I know it hurts like the dickens, but heaven forbid that they let me see them wince in pain. I really do love my male type clients, though! Hey Mike, ( you know who you are) ever had anything waxed? How about you, Jason?

Well, friends, I must finish packing. I bought some of those Space Bags that you put your clothes in and suck all the air out with the Hoover. They are so neat! I'm taking my daughters' prom dress to her, she's getting all nostalgic, I guess. It's been a few years since she wore it, but I ain't sayin' how many. Anyway, I wanted to to be able to get away with just a carry-on bag, so I sucked that frock down flatter than a pancake! I figured I had room for her pink satin and lace formal, so I sucked it flat, too. What fun, ya'll! I can't wait to suck the life out of some pillows...oooh, do I sound sadistic?

But that will have to wait until I return, for I must go find my sparkly flip flops and beach wrap. Florida is beckoning me. My girls await my arrival, 'cause
Mema Texas made lots of moolah this week and we gonna shop 'til we drop!
And do lunch, and do hair, and go to the movies, the beach, have a slumber party, etc. etc. etc!

Back in a week or so!

Ciao for now, ya'll

Vacation's All I Ever Wanted!

Just six more days ya'll! I'm going to Florida to play in the sun and sand with my girls.

As always, before I go away, I get extremely busy at work. Everyone wants to come in and get their cuts and color done before I get out of town. It's the same way when I return. I'm already booked solid the week I come home. That's ok, because I will be completely broke by then!

I haven't been posting very much lately because I have been pre-occupied with a family crisis concerning my 18 yr old niece. She has been staying with my son since Father's day when I took her, her mother (my sister) and her two younger sisters with me for a visit. Now, she doesn't want to go home. I won't go into the details, but we have all seen this coming for several years, so I wasn't surprised when things came to a head. To make a long story short, she is coming to stay with me. I will go get her when I come back from Florida. She's not rebellious, just misguided and confused. She has wanted to live with me for quite some time, but because of all my marriage issues, it hasn't been possible. Now that all my drama is about to be resolved, the time is right to reach out to her. It's a little scary, but at the same time, I know that it is the right thing to do. I hope that I can be the positive influence that she needs at this precarious time in her young life. Pray for me... It's been a while since I've had a teenager in the house!

Meanwhile, I'm ready for a Florida tan, ya'll

Friendship Garden

As I was rummaging through some files, I ran across this poem I wrote a few years ago. Thought I'd share with ya'll.

Friendship Garden

As I tend my friendship garden
And go about its care,
I so lovingly appreciate
The pretty flowers there.

I till the soil so carefully,
I plant the seeds with love.
As my friendships grow, I see,
They're blessings from above.

My lovely friendship garden,
I watch it as it grows.
I don't expect a marigold
To smell just like a rose.

I give each friend lots of room
To grow in her own way.
With tears of empathy and prayer
I water every day.

I fertilize so generously
With laughter and with cheer.
As each and every friendship grows,
I hold them all so dear.

My pretty friendship garden,
In it I persevere.
When I spend my time there,
I know that God is near.

I have been blessed with so many wonderful friends over the years. However, I also know that friendships need to be developed and nurtured in order to flourish. Friends come in many 'varieties'. Just like flowers in a garden, each one is unique in it's own way. I even have a few cacti in my garden...prickly on the outside, but all mushy on the inside.

In recent months I have added another dimension to my friendships, through blogging. I have enjoyed getting acquainted with people from other parts of the country and even this city... even people whom I may not have associated otherwise, because we are from such different backgrounds, ages or social circles. It has been a learning experience, for sure!

That's a good thing, ya'll

What Happens When I'm Bored

Since I have decided to stay in the house, I thought it was time to get back to decorating. I've been wanting to paint the guest bath, so I stopped by Lowe's after my nail appointment this morning and picked up this beautiful shade of garnet paint for one wall and a neutral taupe for the remaining walls. The towel bar was originally on the red wall where the picture now hangs. It was a cheapo, so I want to replace it with a new polished pewter one I saw at Lowe's. I'll hang it above the toilet.

I get nervous when I first start painting because it always looks so dark. This red really scared me but I got a semi gloss finish so it would have a little shine. Once it dried completely it looked perfect. The taupe looked dark also, but once again, it dried to a perfect shade. When I put all the pewter accessories back in, everything came together beautifully. I added a small lamp with a beaded fringe shade in the corner of the vanity to give an extra punch of illumination.

I love it, ya'll!