| My offiial birthday. |
Sep 11, 2007 4:54 am
908 Views | Today I turned 48. Uh... I was supposed to stop smoking. I guess I've got till midnight or so. West coast time.
A couple weeks ago Hubby had managed to get ahold of tickets to see Michael Macdonald here in Portland. Then the concert got cancelled. (Insert sad face here.) This morning I got up to a card and a small wrapped gift on the kitchen counter. It was a beautiful card from Hubby and a Michael Macdonald CD with a note inside from 'Michael' saying how sorry he was that he wouldn't be playing Portland after all but that it was his manager's fault. LOLOLOL!!! 'Michael's' handwriting was strangely similar to Hubby's handwriting How odd.
Then a little while ago my cell rings and I look at the number...uh oh, it's the ex. Had a decent call from him wishing me happy birthday and we discussed what could/should be done about our Girl Child right now, whether it warrants a trip to California right away or if I should wait a few more days for all the tests to come back. I talked to her and she said I shouldn't come till she gets her apartment cleaned up. LOL! That's my girl.
Got a text message from an Air Force buddy of mine that I reconnected with about 3 years ago. Nice how a few messages from people make a gal feel less invisible in this world. Life is good.
Boss Guy made a couple of smart cracks to/about me yesterday. I think he is just incapable of saying anything nice outright but the jabs get old. I told my client that it sounds like he wants me to give notice. He said, Well what makes you think I wouldn't accept it??? (There was my perfect opportunity........) I said OK, consider this a 2-week notice. He laughed and walked away. Won't he be surprised in two weeks? I really don't think he took me seriously. However, several of his clients and all of mine told him yesterday that his music sucked and they thought it didn't belong in a salon. By the time I got back from the Doc's the music was down at a background level. (I don't care, I'm still not changing my mind.) One of my Dancer girls came in to show me her new hair color. I thought that was sweet that she thinks well enough of me to come ask my opinion. And she made an appt for a new girl for me. Lovely.
I'm staying home today, listening to Michael and doing a little spiffing up around the house. Last night turned into an impromptu birthday dinner here at home with pasta alfredo, salad, garlic bread and wine, and dishes up to the ceiling. It was beautiful. It was perfect. It was not planned that way and nothing can top it.
I love my husband. | |
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| cranky cranky cranky |
Sep 10, 2007 4:48 am
620 Views | Boy am I a bear this morning. I should be very happy though. My son called from Iraq and for once I was able to talk to him directly instead of him leaving me a voicemail. In his little encrypted way he was able to give me somewhat of a time schedule for when he will be heading back stateside. YAY!!! Happy birthday to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
I tossed all night worrying about my Girl Child and about going in to the salon today. Boss Guy will be back from his latest vacation. Yikes. I've got a doctor's appt this morning as well but I expect to see clinical improvement there so that's good. Ever since getting that dang tooth out my meds have been working more efficiently and my blood sugars have been coming down nicely. Maybe the doc won't tell me I have to go on insulin just yet.
I have a hair appt today as well. I'm thinking that it's time to make a drastic change with the color. Something in a nice shade of purple would be nice but now I'm not sure if I should do that with the new job coming up. However I will be working in the basement level and not visible to the public, so maybe...............
Wow. As of tomorrow I will be 48. Sounds freaky to say it. I've been practicing. Last few years I have just been rounding my age to 50. Remember how in school they taught us to round up or down? I figure this way I get to spend 10 years total at just being 50. Works for me. Hubby was precious this morning. Told me I don't look my age anyway so that was sweet of him. Actually I have alot of people tell me that. Maybe that comes from years of not having alot to laugh about (no smile crinkles) not being in the sun much (no sunspots on my face) or being fat for most of my life (kept my skin nice and moisturized) I often wonder about that. Fat is a natural lubricant for the skin and you do see how skinny women tend to look a little older than their years. And dry hair and brittle nails. I hope now that I've lost 87 pounds and kept it off for 4 years I don't start to dry up and get wrinkles.
It's raining. That should cheer me up. Soon as I get my lab work done and get some coffee in me. Lordy Lordy I am dreading going to work today. | |
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| Fun night!!! |
Sep 9, 2007 4:09 pm
425 Views | So there we are sitting at the club where my Dancer clients work, having a Corona and watching some poor Groom being tormented at a batchelor party - when they made him climb the pole. Let's say his ascent was fine but his descent and dismount left alot to be desired. Hubby likes that I don't get mad or am embarrassed in the club. To me it's a business kinda thing. The girls I do nails on were all working and they had a couple of other dancers that are interested in getting their nails done by me so it's a chance to hand out business cards. It's so cute to watch how the other men react to Hubby when we are there. Not many men come in with women in the first place, but when the girls we know come up to us and are so friendly they just kinda stare at him. One night a guy even came up and asked him what kind of cologne he was wearing that always gets him special attention from the dancers and hostesses. They just like him. When he's been around for their appointments he treats them so kindly. And this weekend he helped keep one's son occupied while I did her nails because she couldn't find a babysitter. I always hear how they would love to find a man like him and how lucky they think I am. I think so, too.
Today was supposed to be a big charity motorcycle run not too far from here, but it was pouring rain, so we went to breakfast with the in-laws and dropped off a gift and then went to a local fair in the town of Litchfield. We watched some horse pulls (love draft horses), ate some fries then headed home because the rain just did not let up. Once we got back we took a little nappy nap and listened to the rain. Life is very very very good.
I got a call from my daughter in California as she was on her way to the hospital. A few years ago she had a devastating infection throughout her whole body and was pretty sick. Today she woke up with similar symptoms and went to the hospital where she was put through the wringer. The answer so far is a virus that's causing severe, severe vertigo. I might go to California for a few days. Just because. | |
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| Well I did it.......... |
Sep 8, 2007 5:45 am
577 Views | I've been hired by a big company here. I have no idea how I'm going to tell Boss Guy when he gets back to town but the job doesn't start for a month so I've got time to figure it out. It's not going to go well but I had to do it. It's a temp position but will go from Oct-Mar and will be a good check through the winter. During that time I may be able to make some contacts for doing nails and if at the end of March if I want to get back into a salon I will have a few people to go with me into a new location. Or not. If I accept the permanent hire at the end of it all then I can still keep dabbling in nails at home on my own time. Either way I will be in a more pleasant environment.
Today I have two of the dancers coming to the house for me to work on. One of them couldn't find a babysitter. She's the one that translates for the other girls and I'm also doing the other more quiet gal. Boss Guy will be perturbed because the translator has always been his own client but she has been telling me for a long time she would rather come to me. What he DOESN"T know is that I brought everything home yesterday and will do them here in my house so her little boy can play with the dog and watch TV. I'm thinking that since these three women are the more adventurous ones I would like to keep doing their nails even if it is at home for free in my spare time.
I think what has me torn so much is that I know he has a dream for this new salon of his and it wan't til I came on board that he took the step to do it. He has so many plans. I had that dream as well at one time and owning your own place can be a joy like no other. What makes me sad for him is that he has no idea how to conduct himself in a professional manner and it will destroy his business in the long run. I don't want to see that happen to anyone. When I stop paying rent it's going to hit him hard financially. But no one can ever say that I had no intentions of sticking it out. Even he won't be able to argue that point. God knows I put almost as much into opening of the new place financially. I won't be taking anything with me but product when it's over. The furniture and things I did for the place will stay where they are.
I pray when he gets back that he will hear me out before he gets hysterical and forces me to leave on the spot. I pray that in time something will soak in. | |
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3 Comments | |
| When God closes one door... |
Sep 5, 2007 4:22 am
391 Views | another one is usually already open.
Holy schmoly. I'm dubbing on the computer this weekend and I get a notification from Monster.com. I had a resume up there about a year ago and I haven't erased it. Out of the blue on Sunday morning I got an email from Monster. I usually delete without opening but for some reason I clicked it. Had a listing for a company here in this area that is one of our major employers. Just for grins I applied. Then I went to face Hubby and told him what I did. He was quiet. I couldn't read him on this one. Monday he said nothing. Tuesday I mustered up all my strength and went to work after my superior dental cleaning and exam.
I made a mental note to myself to step back and examine my work environment as if I was a new client walking in for the first time. Here's what I noticed:
The raunchy music was already playing at about 100 decibels.
I was greeted with "About damn time."
My first client and I were having our own chat about my little dog that will be going in for a neutering at the client's office this Friday and just having a happy time and Boss Guy and his client were trying to add their 2cents to our conversation.
Boss Guy's 3rd client rescheduled and he told the next 2 clients what a dumb bitch she is.
Owner of adjacent business walked through parking lot and Boss Guy went into a tirade about what a dumb fat bitch she is. Oh, and stupid, too.
Boss Guy stressed over final client of the day because she is new, well to do, and his partner's assistant, so he wanted to make a good impression. He cleaned, spiffed, rearranged - did everything but call in a professional decorator. Within 20 minutes of beginning her service he was relaying what a bunch of stupid bitches she works with, most of them fat and just plain ignorant. Hmmmm. So I assume if this woman is smart she figured out that the women in her office are either clients in this salon or that HER boss goes home and talks to Boss Guy about the women she works with. Final straw was when the new client mentioned that she was previously a salon owner herself. So she must know by now that she will either be the next person talked about by Boss Guy and that she would be the topic of conversation that night when Boss Guy and his partner were alone together.
I can't do this anymore.
Toward the end of my night I finally pull out my cell phone and find 2 voicemails waiting for me. One from my son in Iraq (thank God he is safe for one more day) and one from the employment division in the company I shot the application to. Her message begins "Hi. My name is __________ and your husband was in my office today and says that you are a woman I should definitely talk to. If you are anything like him I think we have something to talk about. I have your resume and can't wait to hear from you."
What the hell. And that place is packed with women. I'm sure I can find plenty of nails to do in my spare time to keep that part of me alive.
My final client of the evening was one of the dancers and as usual I got to 'express and explore my creativity." I love that part of what I do. I really do. It's what I am. But I can bet that my old nail table (still in my possession) will work just as well here at home and we can listen to whatever music suits whoever I am working on. I don't even care if I ever get paid for nails. I just have to do them. | |
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| Long hard thinking this weekend |
Sep 4, 2007 4:02 am
462 Views | I applied for a job at a local company this weekend. I don't know what is up with the nail world out here. Women are just plain afraid to do anything with their nails. I'm not giving up entirely - I will keep my license current this time - but I have never seen such a big bunch of babies in my life. Pedicures have carried me through the bulk of summer but that season is dying down and for some reason I still have bills to pay. I'm sick of manicures. All I get are the clients boss guy doesn't want cause they are all big pains in the ass. For crying out loud when a woman gets wrapped up in what she thinks might be a piece of skin on the side of her nail (I kid you not, she brought a magnifying glass to show me where she THINKS it might be) then it's time for me to find another line of work.
When I have filled in for him and his clients have liked what I have done he won't schedule them with me again. He'll come in on his day off or at 6 am rather than book them with me. He's got these big plans of how he's going to expand next year (and of course raise my rent) but I'll be telling him I am looking for work somewhere else today.
What is so scary about having a small flower painted on your nail??? I'll be honest..... the clients I am getting are all older women, most too 'large' to get close enough to the table, think my prices are too high, but don't say anything about it till they pay me 5-10 dollars less than the posted prices and then tell me they could have gotten the same thing for less at an asian salon. To them I say:
No, you couldn't. The asians wouldn't have listened to you whine and moan about your kids, your job, your husbands. They wouldn't have let you change your mind about the color three or four times. They wouldn't have gotten up to refresh your coffee a few times no matter how nice you asked. They wouldn't have given you the half-hour hand and arm massage because you had a bad day. They wouldn't have booked you an hour and a half for a service that should take 45 minutes just to make sure there was time to give you what you want because you never really know what you want.
Last week I had a first time client that didn't stay for her full service cause Boss Guy had Guns and Roses blaring "You're F***ing Crazy" before moving on to TOOL. When she stated that the music wasn't very relaxing his words were "Oh well, I like it." I'm done. At the very least, I am done there. | |
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| Taxes looming. |
Aug 30, 2007 5:39 am
391 Views |  | Well, I couldn't get this tax stuff squared away before the deadline so I filed an extension. Coming up on the deadline for that and STILL can't find everything I need. I think some of it must have gotten lost when I moved. I just can't find it. So it's time to hire someone who knows how to get the things I'm missing and help me. Boy will this hit hard. Considering I'll owe penalties as well by now. I feel sick.
So here I sit waiting for normal business hours so I can make an appointment somewhere. Might as well blog.
Here's another pic. These werent so good but they were time consuming and fun. Isn't that what matters? I'm having fun. Maybe I can do this from my jail cell if I don't get my taxes done in time. |
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| Let's see how this looks here. |
Aug 29, 2007 6:25 pm
460 Views |  | Trying to get a pic of one of the dancer's nails. Hope these look as good here as they do on the ends of her fingers!!!
If you click on the pic itself you'll get a bigger picture. It's crystal clear acrylic with gold and copper leafing embedded in it. And a little other stuff, but you get the jist of it. Enjoy!! |
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3 Comments | |
| Would love a rainy day right now. |
Aug 29, 2007 4:40 am
373 Views | I'm a freak. I love rain. About the only thing I miss from growing up in northern California is the rain and fog around Sacramento. I loved living in England because of the sometimes gloomy weather. I love Maine for the gloomy days. It makes me enjoy the sunny days a little more here. But living in Southern California I had so damn much sun and heat I feel I could live without it for the rest of my life.
The Farmer's Almanac is out and says we are in for a colder, snowier winter than usual. Kinda looking forward to that - at least until I have to get up at 4 am for the first time and clear the driveway.
I think if I have one really bad attribute it is my ability to pack up, pick up, and move without a plan or second thought. Sometimes I just take a look at my surroundings and think to myself "Alrighty, I'm pretty much done here" and off I go. Sadly this also happens with a few people in my life. I'd like to know the root cause of that.
From another angle I think that is also a strength. I look around me here and talk to people who have never moved or even wondered what it's like to live anywhere else but where they grew up and I think of how much they have missed. I just can't imagine being so attached to a place that one is paralyzed. Is it attachment or fear that keeps them in one place? For a couple of months I have been thinking to myself that I would like to live in New Mexico. Or northern Nevada. Where did that come from?
I'm being pestered (in a good way) from my daughter in California. For a couple of years whenever I would call her I got the "I'm really busy right now, Mom, I'll call you later" routine. So I quit. Just quit. I cancelled my MySpace account long time ago so I don't get to read her blog and really don't know what's going on with her which is a good thing. I didn't raise her like that. That's all I'm saying. I did my best, she's 21, and I have no money to lend/give her anymore. She's got her dad for cash. She's got her friends to talk to. She's got whatever she needs out west. So I quit trying to play a part in her day to day life. Do you think she would appreciate me stepping back and letting her live her life????? Oh no. Now I get text messages, phone calls, IMs all damn day. She's starting to annoy me. LOLOL! She's tattooed, pierced and dyed whatever color comes along and yesterday she called to tell me she has been dating a Pastor's son. I have no idea who the boy is but I suspect he is rebelling. | |
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| Coffee anyone? |
Aug 28, 2007 4:21 am
397 Views | Is there anything better than Iced Coffee? I think not.
Today is a day for the history books. I have no nails on. Over the last week I think I have put on and taken off 5 full sets just out of sheer boredom. I did it three times while I was home milking this tooth extraction. Then I put on a new set my first day back at work because I got some wicked new black acrylic. It was sharp as hell. I buried some rhinestones and metal stars in a layer of clear acrylic over it and thoroughly enjoyed it for two days before I had a bright new idea for something different. But when I took this set off last night I thought to myself I should give the filing a rest. My little fingers are a tad sore right now but my own nails are intact so I'm going to see how it goes.
Got a word from Boss Guy yesterday that really kind of annoyed me. I started working with him on a reference from a lady that owns a beautiful salon a little north of Portland that wasn't looking for a nailtech at the time. She has her nails done with us (as do 8 other people 'in the biz' cause we are good) Turns out she had asked him some time back if he thought I would consider working at both places for a while since she now needs help and I'm not getting much exposure at his place. He never told me. Now granted she could have approached me herself but I feel like he also could have let me know. I would do it in a heartbeat. Pay a fulltime rate with him and a part time rate with her - not a problem.
They are best friends so I feel a little weird here. I don't want to cause issues between them but I spend at least two days completely open where I am now. I could cruise up to her shop and do a little stuff there. Today is a day that I have nothing on the books here so I just might take a little drive north.............
Hubby and I are doing very very well this week. No fallout from me putting my foot down. This is new to me. I spoke, he listened, we talked, we adjusted and everything is fine. How the heck am I supposed to deal with THIS???? LOLOL! I have married the right man. I just have to quit waiting for the other shoe to drop. Habit.
I got a heartwarming text message from my son yesterday. It included a pic of some baseball memorabilia at the Fair in Antelope Valley, California and a message that he thought Hubby would like to see that and to send his love to him. Wow. That makes all three of my kids that have really accepted my husband. When my son was here he commented that he could tell I am really happy and that he doesn't ever recall seeing me like this. He also said that he felt bad for me though because he could tell we don't have money and don't live in the kind of surroundings my kids were raised in and he is used to seeing me in. I told him I do not feel bad and he said he could see that. He also said that my ex bombarded him like crazy when they got back wanting to know everything about me and Jeff, specifically whether or not we had gotten married. I have not told my children outright that we are married but I think it shows. We are holding off with the news till November when my other son returns from Iraq. We weren't supposed to get married till then anyway but just couldn't wait. Hubby pestered me for the longest time to just marry him for insurance but I didn't want it like that. But we do consider this our binding arrangement but that it won't be an official marriage till we repeat our vows with my kids present like the original plan. But if the ex finds out I'll have hell to pay. He still ocassionally contacts me to let me know he would give me another chance if I have 'learned my lesson'. Oh yeah, Buddy. I learned my lesson good - that's why I will never be back. There's more to life than an endless supply of money, know what I mean? One more call or email like that from him and I'm going to tell his current wife.
My birthday is two weeks from today. | |
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