Happy Valentines Day Blog buddies!

Yesterday I had such a stressful day! My 23 year old son went in for minor surgery, but let's face it... if you're having anesthesia.. NO surgery is minor.. I was a WRECK! It's not something you plan or expect on being, but any Momma out there knows, You worry over your kids! No matter their age!
Having had 3 sons, Trust me when I tell you, I've been through many injuries and broken bones and surgeries. BUT..You never get immune to it all. Each time I find myself totally spent when all is said and done. To make it even more stressful, I had promised long time clients I would do their hair later on in the day, a promise I made BEFORE he had the date for surgery and a promise I felt bad to cancel, since they were going on vacation. (always trying to be the good business woman). After the clients, I felt that maternal need to make my son his favorite dinner.Which meant a trip to the grocery store! When we finally were done with cooking and dinner and he was feeling okay and settled in... My husband and I then had to attend a wake for a friends Mom. When I finally came home, I thought I was going to just collapse in my bed. BUT.. my sweet, recuperating son Asked us to watch INglorious Basterds with him. So we settled down in our comfy Den with two of our kids and watched the film.. I was SO surprised by how much I loved this movie! Only Tarantino can make you laugh and cringe at the same time! I thought Bradd Pitt did an amazing job!

Today, the patient is doing so much better than I expected he would. The doc told me he was going to be in Lots of pain. Thankfully, he isn't! I was so busy at work today, I would have felt awful if he was in pain and I was at work. One of the highlights of my day today.. was when one of my ladies, who I love so much, brought me a MeATbaLL! (I'm always telling my family.. that I don't get enough meatballs in my life!) She was so cute, she had just made them and it was still hot! I was so busy all day, and knew I wouldn't get time for lunch. ThAT meatball REALLY hit the spot! It was a florentine meatball, a recipe she got from Rachel Ray.. that I WILL defintily be making for tomorrows dinner! Later in the day, Another client kept asking what my husband was getting me for Valentines day.. I explained to her that we weren't exchanging gifts this year. She kept saying...OH No! He WILL get you a gift..you'll see... (she is in her 70's and very sweet).. I said.. No,Angie.. I will be mad at him if he does, We are not spending money on gifts. I didn't get him anything. And again...she smiled and said..Oh lu... You'll see.. I bet he comes home with something tonight! ( she was so sure of MY husband!?) how funny, no??
but I knew I was right, I recently bought new expensive bras and underwear and he and I agreed.. Let's consider that my valentines gift, since we're on a budget.
Welll... I guess I should call Angie tomorrow and make her smile...
Mr. petals ( or should I call him Mr. WonderfuL?) Walked in the door from work tonight.... SMilING from ear to ear with A box from my favorite bakery with my favorite blackout cake AND a gift certificate for a fancy pedicure! You know what? I wasn't mad at all! I just hugged him and said 'the answer is YES!!!' he asked 'Yes???" YES!! I will be your valentine for the 33rd year!
Hope everyone has a special day tomorrow! Give some love and you will surely get it back.♥ ♥


mmmm this is the actual cake from our bakeries website! mmmm

I got hammered at work

I feel like this is going to sound so bitchy, but I am going to write it anyway!
I attract LOONIES!
Today was just one of those days. THREE loonies in one day! I feel like I am going to explode.
I have spent a good part of today just being Hammered. That is the only way to describe it. Like someone is just hammering me into the ground with their incessant, non-stop bullshit about Nothing! If you are a client reading this Please don't think I am talking about You! If I gave you my blog address that means I actually talked to you! That means I like you. With These hammers, I, like any common head nail, remain VERY quiet in their company.(Quiet, but still professionally polite). When someone has something better to say about EVERY freaking topic and they are authorities on EVERYthing and they interrupt others and just have to hear themselves speak- I don't try to OUT-talk these people! I just do my job, cut and color and blowdry their hair and take the hammering while quietly imploding. Besides torturing me, I feel most awful that these narcissistic clods are torturing my other NON-hammer clients. It's truly bad for business. To be subjected to an annoying hammering just because you happen to have an appointment at the same time as one? I have actually had some of my NON-loons (who thankfully most of my clients are) BEG yes BEG me... "PLEASE, don't book my appointment at the same time as that Nut ever again! But, seriously, like I just said recently to a non-loon that I really like,-"that would be so difficult for me to remember, it's just not possible". So she replied, "DON'T worry, I will never forget her(the hammers) name, I will remember to ASK you if she will be there or not, and if she is, I would wait a whole week to see you, rather than be subjected to her"!! THAT should give you an idea of HOW Loony these loons actually are!! I KNOW I've been more intolerant lately than ever before, but seriously.. It's NOT just my perception!

Of course, who gets the brunt of my frustration? Poor Mr. Petals. I met him for a lunch break today and I was cursing my head off! I was also questioning, WHY? WhY do I have so many fucking loonies?? AM I a loony too? Is that why? After my enraged rant was over, he very sweetly said to me.. "Most loonies aren't welcome in too many places, You are so kind to those whack jobs, thats why they like you and come to you. YOu make them feel like they can be themselves, where so many other hairstylists would be really rude to them". So how does that theory make me feel?? I really don't know! Maybe, like a moron? WHY do I have such a difficult time being honest if being honest will hurt someone. Even if that someone is an obnoxious, Ball Pein hammer!(or more apropos- pain in the balls)
It's not just because I am fearful of losing their business meaning earning less money. It's because I think that One unkind word can wound someone for their lifetime. Don't get me wrong though! I HAVE said some really awful things, BUT that usually ONLY happens to me, when someone gets nasty with me. I don't do well with nasty!!...

Years ago someone sent their Aunt in to me who had been in the hospital for a long time and needed a cut. AFTER I got done washing her hair, she told me how good it felt 'cause she hadn't washed it for FOUR months!! I very nicely said, "ooh Mary, in the future I wish you would let me know that, I would have preferred to have had gloves on." AS NASTY as NASTY can be she snapped loudly at me- "WELL IT'S NOT LIKE I HAVE BUGS OR ANYTHING!!" So what did Sweet Lucy Petals reply?? Very calmly and professionally I replied "well, neither does Dog shit, but I wouldn't want to handle it"
I thought MR. Petals was going to explode from holding in his laughter! He COULDN'T believe his ears! He later told me HOW proud he was(and shocked!) that I had stood up for myself. BUT, unless my hammers become Nasty hammers... I fear I am stuck being an battered nail.

special travelers

As we journey through our lives we share our journey with many fellow travelers. Many of these travelers stay with us through most of life's journey. Some journeyers jump off for a personal detour and leave no forwarding address. Some detour for a short time and meet up with you on a path many years down life's ever changing road. I thought about some of my fellow travelers before writing this. The friends that I felt were so close to me and then suddenly they just grew distant. The Co-workers that became dear friends and were 'Everyday comrades'. Sometimes exposing to each other more about our inner souls than our dear old friends knew. Friends who swore to keep in touch when I decided to leave the job... but alas didn't keep that promise. I also thought about my clients through the years. They are definitely fellow travelers. We share many laughs but many, many heart-wrenching, heartfelt and intimate conversations. I've watched their children grow up, their parents pass away and some of their marriages fail. I feel like I've been an important road stop for them in their travels. I know many have been so important to me. I reflect on all these important people as I travel my path on life's purposeful journey. However through my 48 year pilgrimage there has always been another significant constant accompaniment. My beloved Dogs. Ever since I can remember I have always had a dog in my life. My faithful, loving, fellow traveler. Affectionate, genuine, tried and true friends. Soulful eyes knowing my every mood. Watching my journey with loyal, unending devotion. Since as far back as I can remember in my life, a little sweet dog-friend has always been there. My earliest memory is of Mr. chips. Then (Miss)Daisy, then Lucky and little Cocoa. Later on with my husband there was Blinky ( who we thought was John Belushi reincarnated, He was born on the day of Johns death and had a similar personality ) and Maggie (intelligent, sensitive, sweet baby) Today we share our journey with Molly and Cosmo. They are cherished members of our family. Cosmo ( pictured above in his baby blue shirt) ran off a few days ago. One of my sons friends forgot to shut our gate. When I realized he was missing ( early morning, when it was still dark) It was this Baby blue shirt I spotted across the street. I was able to yell "come!" and he thankfully returned home safely. If he wasn't wearing his 'silly shirt' ( my family made fun of me for buying it), I know I would NEVER have spotted a black dog in the dark (without my glasses) and the thought of him being lost or god forbid hit by a car was simply Terrifying. I Pray Mr.Cosmo and Miss Molly will walk along with me much MUCH longer on our joined journey through life.