I'm so sorry to hear about your fish.  We have a tank with several fish that are more than 8 years old!  I'm always amazed that they are still alive.  We can't put any new fish in the tank or the old fish will attack them.

I understand your misgivings about the "on call" situation.  Hubby and I both do on call duty.  Hubby's is the worst.  He's on call one week a month and middle of the night calls are common (we count how many nights he is NOT paged) plus he has to work 10 pm Sat night to 8 am Sun morning one weekend a month.  It is a bummer, but after 15 years, we have adjusted. 

On the hair front - why not try a good clarifying shampoo and vinegar rinse to see how your hair responds?  Then follow up with a nice moisturizing conditioner and enjoy your hair!

OMG, I'm sorry about your fish..  Wow, I didn't know they could die so quickly.

I hope the promotion works out for you!

Cynde

Ohhh I'm sorry to hear about your fish I hope you're having a good holiday in other respects.

(((Angel Spun)))

Anais

Thank you kindly for the sympathy, one and all.

Yeah, losing all of those little guys was tough. But it's a big relief not to have the hassle of an aquarium anymore, to be honest.

The dæmon roommate is up to his usual old tricks again. Leaving all cupboard doors, drawers, etc. open, not bothering to rinse anything before putting it in the dishwasher, etc. I really think he's doing it just to spite me now. SO mature. 

Yesterday morning, my boyfriend admitted that he has a "thing" for some other girl...and has during the entirety of our relationship. So naturally, this was the last freaking straw. I told him then & there that I no longer wished to be his girlfriend. He didn't speak to me for a day and a half.

I've pretty much known the entire time that he wasn't The One, but I'll be doggoned if I didn't give him a fair chance at it.

After all he's put me through just in this past year, my love, trust, attraction, et al have dwindled down to nothing. For a long time, I loved him just by a thread. Yesterday morning, I could literally hear that last thread SNAP!
  I've typed a letter to him communicating only a few of the biggest problems I have with him because he's never around to discuss them. I'm not really sure what good it will do, but I figure I can't leave without some fair explanation (even though I really don't need to give one).

It's a scary prospect. I know that I need to leave him, but I may lose my nerve. I don't want to draw the problem out any longer, but I also don't want to leave any "loose ends" untied.
    Also, there's the fact that I have nowhere else to go besides my parents' place where I am already not welcome, and my freaking ex-husband lives there to mention! 
  It seems a lowly thing to do, leaving him the week before Christmas...but after all of the lowly things he's done? I don't know... 

Ahem. In HAIR news.......... UGH. It's just a nightmare of late. There's dryness, there's LOTS of breakage. I'm not sure whether it's stress, the rough treatment of my bull-in-a-china-shop boyfriend or the result of switching medications, but it's looking like a pretty hopeless case.
    My mother and sister have both noted its poor condition (it was quite healthy before I hooked up with this clown), and it's embarrassing to me that they notice. For years, I've been renowned throughout my family for having very soft, shiny, healthy hair and now it seems in utter ruin. UGH!!! Why can't life just be simple for once?!

The reason I haven't posted in awhile is because our copy of Windows expired and (thanx to the dæmon and his obsessive porn addiction) loaded with viruses. So my boyfriend took it to his buddy's house to have him fix it. I'm using one of the computers at work to type this. 

Anyway, I'll try to pop in later. Try to understand if I can't, however. Hopefully things will have improved with my next entry.

Love & Blessings, All.

Curlygirl: WHY in the freaking HECK does my freaking EX live with MY freaking parents? 
  To be quite honest, I really don't know. That is unfortunately just the way things seem to have ended up. But let me share the facts with you and offer my own theory.

My former husband was a computer programmer...to an obsessive degree. He was quite successful at his last job, where he made about a $40K annual salary.
  He lived alone in an apartment, and his after-hours activities consisted of drinking, singing karaoke and singing briefly with a band.
    About 7 months ago, he decided to switch careers and quit his programming job to attend flight school. Through his younger brother, he got a part-time job delivering pizzas. I don't think I need to tell you that this doesn't pay well. He told my family about his career switch, and that he was moving out of his apartment, as he could no longer afford it.
  His younger brother (and his own family) and his uncle (who is married) are the only relatives living in the same state as he. His parents live in Missouri, and he has no friends.

My parents, knowing that 1.) he was down and out, 2.) they now had an extra room available because I had just moved out, offered to let him stay in my old room at a rate of $400 per month while he went to flight school. This was supposed to be a very temporary arrangement.
  My parents (specifically my father) have a "soft spot" for kids ("kids" being anyone younger than, say, 30) and the less fortunate ("the less fortunate" being mostly the hopeless cases who can't, or rather, won't get their acts together).

My theory, naturally, is that they heard that his life had taken a turn for the worse (albeit self-inflicted) and took pity on him. I also suspect that they did not anticipate that things would turn out as they have.

Weird, you say? I can assure you that "weird" does not even begin to describe it. It is unnatural, unhealthy and awkward to say the very least.
  It is a nightmare, if I may speak from a psychological standpoint. For one, it sends the (very unhealthy) message to him that he is still an active part of my life even if we are no longer married and see each other FAR less often. He needs to be by himself for awhile, and learn to heal and accept the fact that indeed he ISN'T part of my life any longer.
  For two, it's a big source of stress for yours truly. I try not to visit my parents' house for any reason, knowing that he will likely be there. I daresay that this one singular decision stands out to me as The Stupidest Thing that my parents have ever done.
  For three, it's a tremendous source of unnecessary awkwardness for my boyfriend. When he first heard that my former husband had moved in with my family, he took it personally. He thought that it was their way of saying that they didn't approve of him and wanted me to get back together with my ex. There have indeed been times when my boyfriend has come with me to visit my parents...and my ex was there. Awkward.
  For four, it is a source of stress for my family, as they have slowly begun to see my former husband for the person he really is. They are all very aware that he is an alcoholic (he often drives under the influence!!!) and that he keeps very irregular and disruptive habits. My mother doesn't mind him, but my father and sister want him gone in the very worst way.

From a financial perspective, he is a liability. As I've mentioned, he has lived there for about 7 months and has NEVER paid the agreed amount of rent. Not one copper cent. Being of technical/electronic persuasion, he uses a great deal of electricity, and also eats them out of house and home. All without reimbursement of any kind.

My parents have admitted that allowing him to move in was a mistake. My father wants him gone by the 1st of January. My mother thinks that allowing him to stay until the spring would be better.

In any case, I hope that answers some of your questions. If you're still confused, well, join the club. 

thankyou angelspun for the explanation. God will reward you if you are patient.  Unfortunately life sucks. But with wise choices we can try to make the best with what ye have. Goodluck to you!

Why do they wait until January? Or even worse, until spring?

I must say, I cannot start to imagine how you must feel.
I have heard quiet a bit in my life, but that's a first.....

Pantene is now promoting the heck out of their new "Winter Rescue" products, which are really the same old Daily Moisture Renewal ones that I had been using for years.    The little silver snowflake on the bottle is cute though. Reminds me of a necklace that I have.

This morning I woke up to find that my boyfriend had been playing Santa into the wee hours, because my mini tree was on, stockings were hung on the wall just above it, and wrapped presents laid below it. What a nice surprise. 

Just before he left for work, he said that my real Christmas present would come "at the end of next month." That's after my birthday, of course, but whatever. I am filled with curiostiy and anticip.....pation! 

I washed all of my combs & brushes in the dishwasher last night, along with my car keys, my oil spray bottle, the coffee pot and other random, assorted items. They all came out clean as a whistle.

I used my Rachel Stephens #45 comb to detangle my hair before getting into the shower. Then I did the usual clarifying routine: Pantene Purity shampoo, cold water rinse, vinegar rinse, cold water rinse, Purity shampoo wash again, cold water rinse. Followed with Pantene DMR -er, "Winter Rescue" conditioner, cold rinse, then a light conditioner after, and finished with a cold water rinse.

My hair was difficult to comb out, not having had cones in it for so long. The tangle & oil factor what whas made me decide to switch from Herbal Essences in the first place.
  I used both Pantene's light spray conditioner and Daily Moisture Treatment spray before running my Rachel Stephens #45 through it. While still damp, I sprayed the usual mixture of 1 part  baby oil, 2 parts water onto the ends & called it good.

Now I'm scarfing popcorn with only 7 minutes to get to work. Aaaaah!
  I'll try to write more later!