Lincoln

After weeks of talking about it, Pablo and I finally made it to a movie! We chose Lincoln, because I cannot tell a lie - I have wanted to see that one since I read some of the reviews about Daniel Day Lewis's portrayal of the president. I wasn't disappointed!

I didn't realize that Sally Field (I remember Sally from her Sister Bertrille days - the Flying Nun. Loved that show as a young Catholic...our nuns wore habits back then, but no funny hats) had been cast as crazy Mary Todd Lincoln until the movie started. She did a masterful job of showing the president's wife to be on the edge of sanity - loving the president, yet driven wild by the sorrow and guilt of the loss of her son Willy. I loved the scene at the party, when she pulls herself together to greet guests, when she royally gives it to the Finance guy Tommy Lee Jones.

Director Steven Spielberg does a masterful job of showing the pressure on the president. Between the stress from family, the desire and drive to get the 13th amendment passed, the strategy of war and the sadness of the effect of war on the people, President Lincoln ages 10 years in a year.

Hmmm and I get stressed about garbage and recycling. I have had some other stuff going on these past few months too though...no wonder my hair has been falling out! I remember it doing this another time in my life after I'd had surgery. Sarah, my stylist says anaesthesia is hard on hair. And I had it twice in 2012 - Imelda my elbow tumor and then the shoulder manipulation. Add that to the stress of the move and illness and death of our beloved Bolder. I hope it snaps back soon - I can't deal with this limp crap on my head...

Back to the movie. Spielberg made me want to meet Lincoln! What a lovely father, boss, thoughtful man, and funny storyteller. Though sad, the movie had some chuckles. The ending was somewhat jubilant, followed by the inevitable - which was handled nicely. Damn you John Wilkes Booth!

The theater (Jordan Creek 20) was pretty full on a Friday night. Popcorn wasn't that great - made me miss the Creston Theater, where movies are $6 and popcorn is good. I did like the seats and pop holder though, with the cool sound system. Why, when one pays $10 for a movie, do we have to sit through a bunch of commercials before previews start?

A woody

My woody experience is a failure. Get your mind out of the gutter - not that woody. Woody the hairdresser at Hair House (I know - what a name...I picture a house made out of hair - creepy!).

I had such luck with Amber there. You may recall I sadly broke up with my longtime hairdresser, cute Sheri Keefe from Hair Designers (see, much better than a house o' hair). I just couldn't keep going to Corning while commuting to Des Moines - it's the wrong way. Patti recommended Amber - not sure why as she didn't go to her...

So a year ago I began seeing Amber for my minimal hair care needs - a trim every 4-6 weeks and hi/low lights every three months. Amber up and got married in August, and decided to actually live with her husband in Bettendorf - I know, weird who would do that?? So she moved away on me.

I let my hair grow for the past 6 weeks, and then last week couldn't take it anymore. I panicked and called Woody - he owns the joint where Amber worked. He's very nice. But dang - he gave me a bad doo.

I explained my lack of the hair doing gene. He whipped out his curling iron whilst he was cutting. Now that's just not right - don't be doing something I won't be doing to it. Yeah, I know, he was working around my unfortunate hair incident (involving manicure scissors and my bangs). But it's kinda mullet like.

I'm going to have to break down and get me a big city hair doer. One that understands my needs.

And...as a side note - I had my massage needs met this week by Chris of Soul Essentials. Damn she is a magic worker - my neck/shoulder is in good hands with her. I only did a halfie (half hour) this month - but it did the trick! Tomorrow night I will be under the tender touch of Pablo the Pool Boy. He won't be concentrating on my back! (avert eyes you youngens).

Bits n pieces

Haircut this a.m. thank goodness! I was getting pretty shaggy. Amber, snippest to the stars, or at least to lots of Crestonians (perhaps not 10,000 but close) did the dirty job. She's such a pleasant lass.

Then I was on to the Union County Courthouse, where I used to spend some time in my past life as Prairie SWA director. Saw the sheriff, Angie (who is done at that job Friday - heading to a water works job), and others. Chatted with Sandy the Auditor for the past 10 years or so. Her kid, Spencer was born 2 weeks (and 2 pounds) after Jud. S and I were preggers together at FNB. S is a very nice person and easy to talk with. I'll never forget her story (told during the monthly stuffing of FNB statements) of the Christmas when she and her cousin were told to burn the trash. Evidently the trash and the Christmas presents were on the porch and unfortunately they burned it all! Ashes to ashes. Funny true story.

Anyways, catching up on kids was eye opening. Her oldest is married and stationed in England with the airforce. Second son is Amy's age - he worked a bit with me at the landfill as work-study - nice kid. He's laid off from Pepsi and is considering going to DMACC for some type of mechanic study. Then there is Spencer - Jud's age. Didn't graduate HS, presently in the men's reformatory at Anamosa.

I bitch and worry about the Goldy kids, but I can't imagine what that fam has been thru. He fell in with the wrong crowd - didn't fit in. He was born huge and has been well over 6 ft. tall since he was 12 years old. That tends to separate a person from their peers at that age! Sandy has not been to see him yet - a painful subject I could tell. I hope and pray things turn out okay for Spencer and his family.

How I'm off to T's to sit by the pool. No swimming for me due to surgery but I'll dangle a footsy.

Breakin' up is hard to do

Photo at left shows me with my sisters - demonstrating that they got the hair gene that I'm missing. Left to right Betso, Me, Cindo and Suso. (youngest to matriarch).

Breakin' Up

I had to break up with my hairdresser this week. (Are we supposed to call them that? Or are they all stylists now?). It’s not her, it’s me. I just can’t drive to Corning for my monthly ‘do now that I’m commuting to the Big City.

It WAS hard to do – we’ve been together now for some 10+ years. We took a break a couple times – when she had babies. But we always got back together – because she cared enough to write me and invite me back. I worked in that area each month so it wasn't a special trip just for hair.

Letting someone invade my personal space isn’t easy for me. I don’t let just anyone touch my head! Add to that, the fact that I’m inept when it comes to doing hair, which is embarrassing in a way. Since I am a girl and we’re supposed to be good at that stuff. So when I get used to a hairdresser, and they understand that about me, I usually stick with him/her.

During the past twenty two years that we’ve lived in Creston, I’ve really only gone to three different people. Last Friday, I just knew it was time, so I dialed Hair House in Creston after consulting with Patti about potential hair-doeers during our a.m. walk. I made an appointment with Amber who was very nice and did a fine job on my locks. So today I wrote a short “Dear John” note to Sherry to let her know I won’t be back. It’s was the right thing to do, but I’m kinda sad though. I enjoyed hearing about her young family and filling her in on mine.

Alas, my hair is now getting gray enough that I can’t just highlight it to hide the cursed offending hairs. Sherry had been preparing me for this day for the past couple years. And Amber at Hair House confirmed it. Time to move onto Lowlighting and Highlighting. Shit! Wonder how much that’s going to cost?

I wish I had the type of hair that just turned a pretty silver overnight. I could live with that. But no, it’s a butt ugly salt and pepper, blotchy and wiry. Gray hair and wrinkles I curse ye! (that’s me having a moment, disturbed by signs of aging) But that doesn’t make them disappear. So I’ll continue, at least for now, my battle through the miracle of chemical enhancement. With my new hair guru.