Hair Again....

Well it had to happen. I badly needed my hair cut again and I was far away from my beloved stylist in San Diego. I don't think I'll ever get over losing her. Sometimes I time it just right and get my hair cut while I'm down there and everyone lives happily ever after. Other times I just get desperate and my hair gets so out of control that it just needs to be cut.

My last hair cut was a cut/color combo. It didn't go horribly but the fact that it's only been two months and already my hair needs to be cut again tells me something. Usually I go six months. She also managed to get two different color dyes in my hair (not on purpose) one of which was too dark for my complexion and she ended with putting something in my hair (probably hair spray) that made it so sticky that I couldn't even run my hands through my hair to get rid of the part she put down the middle.

The last two weeks my hair has been refusing to cooperate in the slightest, so I knew I needed to do something about it. I didn't want to go to the last lady and I was really nervous about trying some one new (we all know how that goes). There's a lady about a half hour south of here that generally does a good job but I really didn't feel like making the drive, especially now that I've got a miserable cold and I'm trying to get packed for the big move.

So I chose going to someone new. But I had a plan. I would go in with specific instructions. Merely saying "the layers need to be freshened up" is not specific enough. I realize that most stylists like to express themselves and showcase their talents, but that would not be happening on my head, not today, no ma'am.

The stylist (we shall call her Michelle) noticed me looking through a book of hair styles that I had settled down with being as I was 15 minutes early. "Did you find a style you like?" Oh boy. "Oh, no. I was just browsing, I already know what I want".

So we went back, got all tucked into my cape and discussed what needed to be done. I told her I wasn't looking to go shorter and the big problem here is mostly with the layers. I need 1 to 1.5 inches taken off the overall length and the shortest layer should be no shorter than shoulder length. She clarified by pulling my hair to my upper arms and asked "You mean shoulders here, or shoulders here" and rested her hands on top of my shoulders. Right, see now we're communicating and being specific. I put my hands on top of my shoulders. "Shoulders here. Also, my hair is really curly in the back but totally straight on the sides. The curls relax as my hair dries and flatten out (I'm now seeing where this conversation took a wrong turn). Usually I wear it straight."

We got my hair washed and went to cutting the hair. I could already tell I was not in love with the way she was cutting my layers. I've noticed there are two types of layer-cutters. One will leave all your hair down and grab at sections, lifting them up above your head and cutting them at an angle. I suppose that's a perfectly acceptable way to go, but that's not how my hair looks best and I'm just now beginning to realize this. The other way to cut layers is to separate hair into how it falls off your head, cutting the longest layer first, releasing and cutting the next layer, then the next and so on. It layers beautifully and grows out well. The first technique layers ok but does not grow out well.

After cutting, she grabbed what looked like mousse and put it in my hair. Damn-it, she's going for the curls. This is another thing that my stylist in San Diego has never done to me. Why do some stylists do this? Did I go in with curly hair? No. Well then unless I specifically ask for it, then it probably means I do not want to leave with curly hair.

As I watched myself in the mirror and she fluffed my hair and dried it, I got a little irritated. Let it go, it's just style, you can wash it out when you get home. I thought about running home to shower before I went to the store, but decided to go ahead and see how I liked the unruly curly look (never mind the fact that the reason I went to cut my hair in the first place was because it had turned unruly). And just so you know, I sometimes like the unruly curly look. It can be cute and sexy. Sometimes I even like it on me, but mostly I like it on other people.

So here's what it looked like when I got home. Mind you, I am sick and don't look so fantastic at the moment, and the pictures are lacking in quality.

The only actual curling that she did to my hair was two chunks in the front that don't curl naturally. Now, I haven't seen the movie, but it reminds me of the girl in "Brave". Crazy curly red hair. Maybe after a day of surfing, not this day.

When I got home I washed and dried it. Usually I let it dry on it's own and comb it as it dries so that the curls will flatten out, but for the purpose of this blog I decided to actually do my hair.

So the two photos above are after just drying it. It doesn't look bad at all and if for whatever reason I dried my hair one day, I would just stop there. It's still a little poufy though and would need to be tied back. 

Then I took a straightening iron to it which I normally reserve for special occasions. It doesn't change it much but takes the pouf out of it so I feel comfortable leaving it down. As I straighten it, I give it a slight curl at the end.

See that? Simple. Maybe that's the problem. I don't think stylists want their clients to leave with a "simple" do. But I am not incredibly concerned with how other people like my hair to look. I am however, very concerned with how I want my hair to look. 

When I move to San Jose I'm either going to have to find a new stylist or only get my hair cut when I go to San Diego. I might just wait until I'm in San Diego. Looking at the layers that are in it now, I can forsee a haircut in the next few months. This one won't last 6 that's for sure.

Not even a long run...

It's 2pm...and it's not getting any warmer. I'm about to go run 5 miles in the cold, with a cold, and without warm enough clothes...because the Weather Channel said it was going to be 50 degrees today. Well it's not. It's 35 degrees. Screw you Weather Channel.

Airport Musings

My flight out of Medford is "delayed indefinitely" so I'm re-booked onto a more complicated plan: Medford to Portland, Portland to Seattle, Seattle to Phoenix. I still get in around 6 pm, so it works for me. Someone standing behind me trying to re-book flights was commenting that they could just drive. I looked at my watch and started counting on my fingers. Yep,  could've driven. Side note: my spell checker says "could've" is not a word and I'm too tired to figure that one out. Could have? But could does not look like a word to me. Anyway.

So while getting my flights re-booked, someone radios to the lady helping me that another plane is delayed due to iPad technical stuff. I asked the lady if I heard that right. Are you kidding me? I'm about to go on a rant about technology, even as I'm using a notebook laptop in an airport to write this.

The more technologically advanced something is, the more opportunities for failure. I was discussing phones with a co-worker last week and commenting on how I keep hearing people with SmartPhones saying "my phone was dead" or "my phone died". Not that smart then are they? I told him I never have that issue with my phone. He replied "That's because your phone doesn't do anything". Well, it makes phone calls, which is way more than a dead SmartPhone will do. The battery on that thing lasts forever, and if it's getting low you have at least a 2-3 day lead time in which to find a way to charge it.

An issue with an iPad is causing the delay to Seattle, which isn't my flight but it irritated me slightly anyway. Maybe it was because I hadn't had breakfast yet. Planes flew fine before iPads came along, why on earth would you install one of those things in and rely on it to be able to fly? Technology is crippling us people!

I did, however, get a $12 voucher for breakfast for my troubles which is awesome because I needed to get breakfast anyway...and I sat waiting for my breakfast while reading my Kindle...so I know, I'm guilty of the technology thing too. But at least if my Kindle dies it's not going to cause flight delays.

So I read a really great quote on my Kindle this morning that I also wanted to share. I've been making my way through "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin de Becker. It talks about survival signals and intuition that keep us safe, how to listen to that intuition and also how not to be paranoid. After covering an entire book of sources of violence in our lives, he ends with a discussion about how our survival signal of fear is different from anxiety and phobias. He ends with a great conclusion:

"Though the world is a dangerous place, it is also a safe place. You and I have survived some extraordinary risks, particularly given that every day we move in, around, and through powerful machines that could kill us without missing a cylinder: jet planes, subways, busses, escalators, elevators, motorcycles, cars-conveyances that carry few of us to injury but most of us to the destinations we have in mind. We are surrounded by toxic chemicals, and our homes are hooked up to explosive gasses and lethal currents of electricity. Most frightening of all, we live among armed and often angry countrymen. Taken together, these things make every day a high-stakes obstacle course our ancestors would shudder at, but the fact is we are usually delivered through it. Still, rather than be amazed at the wonder of it all, millions of people are actually looking for things to worry about."

Put that way, it does make me marvel at it. I have phobias and anxiety about things. I don't want to call it fear anymore because as the book points out, fear is a very specific emotion that arises out of a need to survive. In a car accident for example, you feel fear just as it starts to happen. When someone puts a gun to your head, that's fear. Fear is not walking to your car in a dark lot thinking someone might pop out an kill you. That's anxiety. Fear is not thinking a friend who didn't return your text must have been in an accident, that's worry. These are things we make up in our own heads. I'm not saying these things can't happen, because they certainly do, but they aren't happening or they haven't happened yet. This is what I'm very guilty of. I assume the worst and have anxiety about things the could happen to me.... but that haven't or may never happen to me, or isn't happening now.

Gavin points out that we can be aware of our surroundings and learn to listen to survival instincts, but that we must also not put anxieties and worry in our head because they can block out survival signals from real dangers. It's a very good book and I highly recommend it.

Now I'm off to over-caffeinate myself.

Boston Bound (BB) Long Run #1- 8 miles

I was laughing at myself this morning as I was trying to get ready to go for my first long run of my Boston training plan. The conversation in my head was amusing enough that I decided I should blog about my long runs, especially since it's been several months since I've posted anything (and no I never figured out how to wrap those darn portable food things, I just gave up).

0945- You can't be afraid of 8 miles. Ok, I guess I'm really not- it's the cold I'm afraid of. I hate the cold. I've gotten as far as 2 cups of coffee and oatmeal. I've taped my toe that I may or may not have broken to the toe next to it and put on my compression socks. My Garmin GPS unit is on the charger. I look outside- it's cloudy, Garmin might not work. Ok, 8 min/mile for 8 miles is 64 minutes. Run for 32, then turn around.

Girl, please. You're out of shape. Better make it 36.

It's a whopping 33 degrees out there. Ugh.

I've pulled up all the running inspiration I can find on Pinterest and I'm feeling a little better. Maybe I'll try a little honey in my water bottle to keep the cold out of my throat?

I imagine doing something remarkable at Boston. I feel recharged.

My stomach hurts. I don't want to go.

Well, I have to run because of all that chocolate almond toffee I ate yesterday... and so I can have more after my run.

Ugh. What an ugly gray day. Not bringing the Garmin. I pull on my running clothes and braid my ponytail.I take a Zantac to keep the acid down, put on chapstick and pee one last time. Pull on my gloves, earband (headband?) and a light jacket.

1202- Well I made it, and as always, it wasn't nearly as bad as I had envisioned. I did overdress so I got home soaked in sweat. It's been a couple of months since that has happened, so that's actually kind of nice. 41 minutes in I realized my legs knew what they were doing, they hadn't forgotten how to keep going when my mind was elsewhere. The last two miles were a little rough but I got the job done and managed about an 8 min/mile pace.

I've stretched, had another piece of almond toffee and now I'm icing my IT band (chronic injury). I've got leftover steak in the microwave and then I'm off to the hot tub which will be sorely (get it, sorely?) missed when I move.

Man I stink.