I need a haircut!

[WRITE]

some of you may remember that weird experience with my last haircut- I suppose it was good in one way, it's ;asted ages, and a funny thing- I don't seem to have as much grey now its growing back??? Can that happen?

Anyway- I need another.

I bumped into my old hairdresser in the week, she's from Iran, she laughed when I told her about my experience ( I have turned it into a funny story by now ) and promised to be kind to me.

I also got a pedicure this week.

Just think- some women ( and men I guess ) do all this all the time without even thinking about it!

[moonlight52]

Write ,I am getting my hair done, nails and pedicure on the 6th .

I can not wait .My girl friend has a salon .We have been friends for 15 years.All the Ladies there the talk about kids etc It will be fun.

Write I do remember your last haircut experience they cut your hair really short  right.

She has been doing my hair for 15 years and we are  pals .How are you doing.What do you think of the Yank's Fourth of July?

Hugs
Moon
P.S Hope you are sleeping well 

[WRITE]

What do you think of the Yank's Fourth of July?

I did a concert this morning, lots of jokes about a Brit commemorating Independence Day..../
Star Spangled Banner- I apologise, another Brit. war/ etc

I guess given our UK pull away from any kind of jingoism I am uncomfortable, though I love America, but it feels especially weird to celebrate US superiority at this point in time. Today's news was horrible, to think modern soldiers can rape and murder seems so wrong.

We got so out of the habit of any kind of nationalism in my country, to the point that historical songs like 'Land of Hope and Glory' became tainted with the problems of empire, and are not de rigeur to sing on patriotic occasions freely...and whilst intellectuals debated that racist groups have comandeered our flag.

There's a certain sensitivity, a distinctiveness about being British.
Born of long years thinking you were right then realising you were wrong I suspect: to people who thought things were more clear cut, it must have been difficult to adapt.

To some we were 'the civilisers of the world'...to many we took away their rights, autonomy and wealth.

I don't think the Americans will be singing their patriotic songs in 250 years, either.

[axa]

Hi,

I do think it is amazing that people treat themselves to all kinds of nice things on a regular basis.  I am so bad at it though I did have a massage last week which alerted me to my anger and I made an appointment ot have another next week.  This is the stuff I so need to do.  With regard to hair and haircuts.  I left mine go so grey that last time, because I was too busy to get to the hairdresser, that I hardly recognised myself.  It is so much easier for me to give to others than myself but I am making this a priority.

I think time of silence and reflection and stillness are very important for my personal growth and I run away form this also.  I would like to put out here that I will for five minutes a day be still in my mind and my body.  5 mins seems like a long time............wish me luck.


Axa

[pennyplant]

For me my hair is a symbol of being an outsider.  Because often I am the only redhead to be found.  In my family, in school, at work, on the street, etc.  Have had many frighteningly bad perms etc.  Which made me feel humiliated and really ugly.  The last few years I purposely have done little with my hair except keep it trimmed and washing it with the good shampoos so that it is really shiny and smooth.  I get lots of compliments on it and people often don't realize I'm 45 because with this coloring and look and my size, from a distance I look like a kid.

Once, when I was really angry at my husband for an important decision he made without me, which affected me in a big way, I went and had my hair all cut off.  I was going for a completely different look.  It wasn't suitable for me at all.  Regretted it pretty quick.  But I was angry and afraid and that was how I showed it.  As it started to grow out, it turned out I looked quite a lot like my mother!  That was disturbing.  Not that she is ugly or anything.  But I didn't want that look, that life, those values.  I wanted to look like me, I wanted to look young and sexy.  Not like my mother.  And she has never been able to admit that I look at all like her.  Always said I look like my father's side of the family (who she never liked).  What's that all about?

Hair is kind of a touchy subject for me but I've mostly come to terms with it being so different and attention-getting.  Also, I like not having to work hard to take care of it.  I like it being healthy.  It's not going white very fast or drastically, so that is one lucky thing for me.  Won't have to face that for a long time.  It just seems to be gradually getting lighter is all.  Never thought I would see my hair as an asset!!!  What a surprise that has turned out to be.

Pennyplant

[lightofheart]

Hi Write,
For what it's worth, please accept my sincere apologies for the worst of smug American behavior; it makes many Yanks uncomfortable, too. Hope you've met lots more welcoming folks than not? A close friend moved to Austin last year and says arrogant 'patriotism' is common in Texas; outside of Austin, she often gets looks/comments just for saying she's from the East.

Wishing you an excellent and soothing haircut. 

Hi Moon,
Could you tell us what color you pick for you nails? Am fascinated by color choices, especially as you're an artist, would like to picture your bright Moon-nails. 

Hi Axa,
Here's luck for your five minutes of stillness. My un-psychic prediction: you will do it, the stillness will feel amazing, you'll do it again.

Hi Penny,
Kudos to you for enjoying your outsider hair and all that shine!  At the risk of sounding sexist (yikes), imho, a woman's hair has some commonalities with FOO stuff: there are all sorts of embedded emotions/self-perceptions there, and any age is a wonderful time to be proud of enjoying your hair, 'cause some people come to accept what they have. I grew up strawberry blonde and freckled in a very dark family (am blonder now, near the beach); they used to call me the 'Milkman's Baby'. Took me years to get the joke...thought it was about my chats with the milkman, as I often met him on our porch at 5 am in my insomniac wanderings.

Best to everyone,
LoH

[Stormchild]

What do you think of the Yank's Fourth of July?

I did a concert this morning, lots of jokes about a Brit commemorating Independence Day..../
Star Spangled Banner- I apologise, another Brit. war/ etc

I guess given our UK pull away from any kind of jingoism I am uncomfortable, though I love America, but it feels especially weird to celebrate US superiority at this point in time. Today's news was horrible, to think modern soldiers can rape and murder seems so wrong.

We got so out of the habit of any kind of nationalism in my country, to the point that historical songs like 'Land of Hope and Glory' became tainted with the problems of empire, and are not de rigeur to sing on patriotic occasions freely...and whilst intellectuals debated that racist groups have comandeered our flag.

There's a certain sensitivity, a distinctiveness about being British.
Born of long years thinking you were right then realising you were wrong I suspect: to people who thought things were more clear cut, it must have been difficult to adapt.

To some we were 'the civilisers of the world'...to many we took away their rights, autonomy and wealth.

I don't think the Americans will be singing their patriotic songs in 250 years, either.

Write, I went to a friend's wedding, in England, on July 4, 1995, and it was the best 4th of July celebration I ever attended. I missed the wedding supper because I spent that time with a guest who had lost her husband to a heart attack maybe six weeks earlier, but still wanted to be there - she couldn't quite hold it together for the dinner, and I went with her to a Little Chef, and asked for the story of her beloved's last days, and how they met... my we were overdressed for the place... my it did her good to talk, without feeling guilty... then she dropped me off for the dancing. I still remember the barn dancing! And people being kind about me missing my holiday, do-si-do, and me laughing back that we had one every year, but this was soooo much more important, in their lives and in mine, alleman left!

[pennyplant]

Yes, Write, we are an immature nation.  Maybe it's the lack of any real suffering such as has occurred in other nations?  The native Americans are certainly not patriotic in the same flag-waving, smug way.  And Columbus Day is something of a day of mourning for them.  So, I guess it's all in your life experience, historical experience, or lack thereof.

Now, switching from the fourth of July--I was wondering how you want to look.  What do you usually do with your hair and what does the right look mean to you?  Do you work with its nature or do you do things to it to "improve" upon it?

LoH, I don't think it's sexist--it's the truth about women and their hair.  The only thing I can think of with the men is hair loss--that seems to signal a loss of manhood on some level for some.  Or is it something else?  But a bald woman!?!?  That's something of a disaster.  Oh for sure.

Stormy, what a wonderful 4th of July story you have shared.  I bet the woman you spent time with that day has never forgotten you for that.  Coincidently, just a few minutes ago we learned that the father of my son's close friend died last night after winning two car races.  A real lively person who had three daughters and wasn't even old enough to have retired yet.  His one daughter plans to marry in September.  What a sad wedding that will be.  Yesterday was probably a great day for him doing what he loved so much.  But how very sad to have it end like that.  Now his wife and daughters are just beginning their new journey.

Write, I don't mean to change the subject.  (Not looking for comments, just wanted to comment to Stormy.)

So interesting all that has come up on this thread so far!!  Pennyplant

[WRITE]

Write, I don't mean to change the subject.

no, that's fine- it's just a chatty thread, it's so lovely to hear everyone's different experiences ( happy and sad ) and to feel validated in what are probably 'silly' things to worry about to people who haven't had traumas or who aren't so sensitive about these things.

Yesterday was probably a great day for him doing what he loved so much.  But how very sad to have it end like that. 

an old friend of ours died on his fast motorcycle a few months ago, it was comforting to know he was doing what he loved, he was always a daredevil. We took him to see the bullriding here and he loved it!

I spent that time with a guest who had lost her husband to a heart attack maybe six weeks earlier, but still wanted to be there - she couldn't quite hold it together for the dinner, and I went with her to a Little Chef, and asked for the story of her beloved's last days, and how they met... my we were overdressed for the place... my it did her good to talk, without feeling guilty... then she dropped me off for the dancing

Beautiful. The Dalai Lama says 'if you want to make people happy, practice compassion; if you want to be happy, practice compassion.' It makes my heart leap to think of you sitting there, she divulging confidences from her life, animated as she talks, and you enjoying her unburdening....priceless.

I just read this by Ella Wheeler Wilcox:

"So many gods, so many creeds,
So many paths that wind and wind,
While just the art of being kind
Is all the sad world needs."

***

Hope you've met lots more welcoming folks than not? A close friend moved to Austin last year and says arrogant 'patriotism' is common in Texas; outside of Austin, she often gets looks/comments just for saying she's from the East.

most of my friends aren't from here, fortunately it's a very multi-cultural city.
A lot of Texas people sadly are deeply unpleasant when you get to know them- the religion and politics and patriotism isn't good and healthy but often ugly and harsh.
Sexism, racism and a sense of entitlment and attachment to material possessions, and a lack of appreciation of just how much they truly have.

I find if I do make a friend who is from TX they are very well-travelled and have seen other ways of life.

Austin is TX liberal enclave.

I imagine people form middle-eastern or any olive-skinned race are now regarded with suspicion as 'communists' once were...there is an obsession here with terrorism now.

***

 I would like to put out here that I will for five minutes a day be still in my mind and my body.  5 mins seems like a long time............wish me luck.

you could start with a couple of minutes twice a day, then build it up?
I find when I am agitated it is so difficult to meditate or breathe slowly.

I am learning I hate the TV too, all the noise and clatter, I just love solitude and peace.
Walking can be a great way to get that.
Good luck, I think it's a good thing to focus on.

***

What do you usually do with your hair and what does the right look mean to you?  Do you work with its nature or do you do things to it to "improve" upon it?

I've done both- changed it drastrically at times, but now I tend to just cut with it and though I've been a redhead for a few years ( I love red hair! ) I am thinking some blonde highlights would be good, the sun is fierce here and as I said the grey seems to have gone and it looks sort-of different lighter strands now.

I'm not very good with styles that require a lot of maintenance and it just occured to me- since I hate noise it's probably the hairdryer which I like to use minimally ( or not at all most days )

[moonlight52]

WRITE ,
I can not wait to get to the salon.Not only to get my hair done .

But to get into my regular routine which has been interrupted by all the emotional events lately.

I do not think I have let my hair grow this long in years.My hair has natural wave and strawberry blond

My 2 tiny girls have have hair like their Greek Dad dark .As for nails some shade
of periwinkle blue...................

Love to All

MoonLight

[moonlight52]

Write ,I like to have quiet time in the morning and evening .I am very sensitive to noise.

T.V. SEEMS TO FEED SO MUCH NEGATIVE ENERGY.I need peace and quiet as well.

I just can not take noise.And I have keen hearing.
This really makes my teenagers mad when they are talking in the kitchen and I am in the living room .

I do not mean to hear them Its just my hearings so good.They laugh.So I do not like noise either. Write is this a bipolar thing ?
I do not know but I am with you on the peace time out at least 5 mins a day 

Hugs ,
MoonLight

[Hopalong]

Hi Write,
Thanks for the reminder about a little pampering. I bit off my fingernails lastweek but my toenails are still there! I'd love to get a pedicure too...and even a massage. There's a massage school here where they're quite cheap.
As to hair...I'm 2/3 of the way through growing out the white. Quite a difference in how it feels inside and out, but on balance it feels good. It's pretty striking because it's so completely white...sort of bright in the sunlight. Anyone see The Devil Wears Prada? Meryl Streep's hair is that way. I'd like to break more rules by also wearing it quite long, once all the blonde is trimmed away.

I normally enjoy the 4th of July simply because of fireworks displays...in every community I've lived in I've always gone. It's a nice community event, to stand in a crowd that's all going "OOOOOO, I like that one!" And the children. Where I live there's a park across the street where the local fireworks display has been every Jul. 4th since I was a little girl, so I enjoy it for that feeling of continuity. My dog does NOT enjoy the fireworks, sticks her head under the bed.

One other July 4th I went to the home of a president where there was a lovely induction ceremony for immigrants. It was very moving to see all these people stand, one by one, from so many nations. But that was back when we were still (or thought we were) "The lamp of the world." Maybe if we can get the insanity out of the administration we can restore international goodwill and partnerships again, but I'm afraid it'll be the work of generations.

Happy 4th either way, it's still okay to love the place. Over half of us did not vote in these ruthless hawks. I sincerely believe that another president would not have squandered the international compassion that was flowing toward us in the days after 9/11. But this president not only squandered it, he threw it back in their faces. What could have been the near-instantaneous formation of a truly international force against terrorism became ... well, we all see.

Good grief, too early in the a.m. for politics (and I hope Mud's not reading this)!
Off to shower, more later....

xxoo,
Hops