hehe thanx, Nan.  

Alright, I think I have time for an entry.

Today I treated, using the last of both my Pantene Deep Fortifying Treatment and Intensive Restoration Treatment. Washed first with Pantene Restoratives shampoo.
   I'm really not sure how long I left the treatment in for, but I chased it with the Restoratives conditioner afterwards.

Used Pantene Light Spray Conditioner before detangling with my RS #45 as usual, but my hair dried before I remembered to oil it! Drat! I have to remember that when using a gel shampoo, my hair dries in like 0.2 seconds!  

So hmmm...what else?
   My boyfriend is still a jerk. I only had until 5:00 this evening to be here and he chose to spend the day playing disc golf and at the beach with his friends.    But whatever. If I'm not "entertaining" or "interesting" enough for him then....whatever.

So what's going on at 5:00 that I have to leave for? Dinner with my 3 young cousins, of course.    I haven't seen them in so long.... I'll be housesitting for them for 3 days this week, so they need to introduce me to their new pets and show me how to take care of them. They have a new puppy & kitten, so it should be fun.  

I talked to the guy that I mentioned yesterday and realized that his comments weren't directed at all goths, just the poseurs in his area. But still...he acted like a jerk all day yesterday and I really think it would be for the best if I just severed the ties with him. Or at least if we didn't talk as often. It's just a gut feeling I've had for awhile.

Exercise is going well. I'm finally starting to see some definition in my abs...thank goodness....it's been almost 3 weeks!!
   Unfortunately, I'd need way more than the next 11 days to cut away all of the excess flab that's been hanging around that area, but other areas need worked, too. I can always come back to this one.
   I wanted to go to the beach with my boyfriend this afternoon to score some cardio, but didn't have time & he didn't feel like waiting for me to get ready. *sigh*
   Ah well. I have all summer to boogie board my brains out...and I plan to, no matter what the cost. I hope my hair won't dry out hopelessly...I'll try to remember to oil it heavily before pulling it through the waves every day. I can't stand the idea of wearing a swim cap...at least for now.

But on the subject of hair, why does everything I use have to suck in some way? I swear... Pantene's Daily Moisture Renewal was my main squeeze for years, and now all of a sudden, it leaves my roots greasier than motor oil.    And not just DMR...I've recently noticed that ALL of the basic Pantene lines do this.
   Herbal Essences rocked my sox, but they've changed their fomulas yet again and are now targeting the teenage pop culture mass market more than ever. It's no longer about the sensuous experience anymore...now it's all about style and colour and trend. Just like everybody else.  
   Pantene Restoratives seems to be doing well for my roots, but the conditioner thins out drastically when applied  ???  and leaves a chemical burn akin to the ones that Herbal Essences used to cause.

Unfortunately, I don't have the option of just never washing my hair again (which kinda sux, I mean think of the $$$ we could all save!), so I'm really at a loss as to what to do next.
   For now, I think I'll just use the crappy stuff I have, buying some time while I think things over. Oy...why can't something just work?!

Hey Angel,

I feel your pain with not knowing what to use on your hair.  Just seems like no matter what I'm using lately I'm just not getting the results I want.    I'm still playing all withing the Pantene line, but the ones that used to be my fav's just aren't doing it for me lately, maybe it's just my hair!

Good for you on keeping up with your exersizes, that takes a lot of discipline, makes me really miss going to the gym!  I actually had a six pack going this time last year, the winter ate that right up! 

I hope you and your family are getting along ok without your furry buddy, we've been through it too, I know it's hearbreaking and far from easy.  (Hug)  I'm so attached to my pup, it's rediculous!  I think she fills the void in my life where I feel kids should be, so I'm probably way too attached to her and she's by far a very spoiled dog, I'll be destroyed when her time comes.

Take care, my prayers are with you!

maggie

(((((((Angel))))))))  Big hugs to you, hang in there girl.

Egad!!  

Grease! Tangles! Breakage! I just can't win! And WTF is up with my ticker?!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*shoots everything*



Last night I washed and clarified as planned with my Pantene stuff, but only got as far as the Intensive Restoration Treatment before tiredness took over. I left it in for an hour, rinsed, then went to bed with wet hair, tired as heck and not really caring about anything anymore.

Just as I'd feared, when I woke up this morning, my roots were grease city.
 
BB: It wouldn't be the conditioners because those never touch the roots of my hair. Pantene shampoos cause this well enough on their own. But the leave-in's make it worse.
   I now understand why my hair was so disgusting at my grandmother's funeral. It's like I owe it to her to stop using Pantene...or something.

Lisabelle: ((((((((((((((((hugzzz)))))))))))))) Thanx, girl.  

Oy. It's my last day housesitting. Thank goodness. I can't take much more of this, and neither can my skin. It's been drying out terribly for days and the only lotions in the house are loaded with irritating oils & perfumes.

One thing, though...I am definitely going to ask my boyfriend (yet again) about getting a handheld showerhead like the ones they have here. They rock!

*sigh* I miss him.    This week has been crappy for both of us. I'd really love to do something this weekend, just the 2 of us. Maybe get away somewhere, maybe just stay home & enjoy each other's company for once.    Yeah right! He'll spend the weekend downing caffeine & cigarettes, playing disc golf and working on his truck. I'll be alone to do whatever as usual. There won't be any time for "us." There never is. What am I thinking?    Silly, sorry little dreamer.

Anyway, this morning I woke up early, did my morning exercises and jumped in the shower. Washed with Suave Daily Moisture shampoo and followed with the 2 Minute Recovery Deep Conditioner. It's almost time to rinse that out.

One more week of ab training. Upper abs are tighter & more defined. Everything below the waistline is crap. The waistline itself is crap. *sigh* I wish I had never taken Ortho Tri-Cyclen.  

After a few loads of laundry, some packing up and some housekeeping, I'll be done here....and not a moment too soon! The animals are driving me crazy!! Especially the psycho kitten and the puppy. The lack of discipline that this family exhibits is deplorable. But I don't think they view pets as important enough to pay that much attention to. Pets aren't treated as family members, they're treated like...animals. Little creatures to fawn over when the mood strikes and otherwise ignored over the more "important" things in life. When one dies, they just get a new one like it's nothing. I'm sorry, but that entire mentality disgusts me.
   
Alright, time to rinse. My next entry will be made safely from the familiar surroundings of "home."

Angel,that kitty is just way too hilarious!!!  I totally relate to your and Maggie's hair dilema.  I'm not so happy with either Pantene,Biolage,Dove,Quidad or anything else that's on my shower tub ledge.  I think maybe this may be a call back to nature,so to speak.  Maybe soemthing all natural?  I may give it a try or maybe pick up some Nexxus Therapy and Humectress.....it's been a couple of years since I used those and maybe my hair would be shocked and curl the "right" way or I may be in a single braid or bun permanantly!!  Can't be so bad if I'm going to use my collection of LL sticks!!!   Hang in there girl!!

Today marks 4 weeks of ab training. I have only 3 days left. Those 50 crunches a day are easy now, and I swear the upper half of my torso is smaller. It appears that way every time I see my reflection somewhere. Perhaps this zone training idea was a good one for me  after all.    For now, I won't worry about numbers. Just about how I look & feel.

Actually got a lot of work done at my 2nd job today...and still made it home early! I also mended fences with my "goth-bashing" friend. 

My boyfriend has said that he will spend more time with me. He seems determined, at least in word. But circumstances haven't, of late, played much in our favour. Though they haven't been terribly hindering.
    Last night, work kept him out until 9:00, when I was supposed to be going to bed, for my early shift the next morning. But he came home and insisted that I get ready to go out. Even though I was exhausted, I agreed, and we ended up going to dinner.
    Tonight, he helped yet another friend move and locked his keys in his truck. 

After a long and confusing struggle, I seem to have found a solution to my hair problem, too! 
    For the past few days, I've been trying something, having it go terribly awry, then having to clarify the next day, then trying something else the next day with the same repetitive results. So yesterday I finally just clarified with my left over Herbal Essences Clarifying shampoo & Clean Rinsing conditioner. No leave-in's.
    This morning, I washed with Suave Daily Moisture shampoo and conditioned in kind. Followed with TRESemmé Detangle leave-in conditioner, detangled with my RS #45 and just let my hair air dry...even though it was cold, overcast & drizzly today.
    But ohh man! My hair felt so soft & light! It was good. A little oil and it might have been perfect...but the ends dried before I could oil them!

I definitely liked the old Herbal Essences better, but I absolutely refuse to buy the new version. Pish posh, there's nothing herbal about them anymore! 
    So Suave it is...at least for now. I'm just relieved to finally find something that works.

The back of my neck is badly dried out from so many harsh chemicals and clarifying washes. 

And the truly bad news? I got sick over the weekend.     Changes in the weather have not been kind to my sinuses.
    I went to work yesterday with almost no voice at all, and what little I had came out sounding like a cross between Kirstie Alley and Steven Tyler. It was husky, faded and about an octave deeper than usual...like I'd spent the last 20 years of my life chain smoking. 
    Although a customer who called my work actually said that it sounded sexy.    She was this funny Asian lady. "Oooh wow, you have sexy voice! Is very husky and smoky and sexy!" LOL Thank goodness we were only talking on the phone because I'm sure I turned beet red. 

Anyway, dinner was interesting last night, having no voice and my boyfriend choosing a very noisy restaurant. The waitress could barely make out what I was saying, and I had to write down everything I wanted to say to my boyfriend in the pocket journal that I carry with me, and slide it across the table to him. 

Today I'm a little better. My voice has come back a bit more. I sound more like a hoarse lady once again, rather than a chain smoking guy. It will be awhile before I'll be able to sing, though, for all of the build-up that's still in my throat.

That's where I'm at right now. No longer on a shooting spree.    For now.

Hope you are feeling better quickly and your voice returns.  However, having a deep sexy sounding voice might not be ALL bad!