Trish: Because all of my obligations are here in SoCal, unfortunately. And with so much riding on me financially at the moment, I cannot take any time off of work. 

So today was a veritable "hair day."    I took a shower in my parents' bathroom this morning. haha They have the better showerhead, after all, and if they're going to keep it, then I'm going to use it. And that I did...smiling and laughing wickedly to myself the whole time.
    I washed twice with Pantene Restoratives Breakage Defense shampoo and my hair felt instantly luxe and silky. Then I squeezed the excess water out of my hair with my microfiber towel and applied Restoratives Time Renewal replenishing mask. After leaving that in under a shower cap for an hour, I rinsed and followed with Restoratives Breakage Defense conditioner and then with the horse conditioner that I'm still hanging onto. My hair really needed that kind of a moisture boost, and I knew that when it dried, it would probably (hopefully) feel better.

Detangled as usual. My TRESemmé leave-in conditioner was almost gone, so I just emptied the rest of it into my bottle of Pantene leave-in. Which totally reminds me that I forgot to clean my RS #45 comb and rinse out the TRESemmé leave-in bottle and recycle it. Whoops.    But I was in such a blinding rush this morning to get things done...I can't remember everything. 

After oiling the ends, I let my hair air dry as usual. Now it's braided and behaving. Seems a bit better off today.

I didn't get a chance to do a heavy EVOO last night, as once again, I got home way too late. I'll probably do it tonight, as my hair still needs it. It feels pretty replenished now, but it could still benefit from an EVOO slumber.

Also, I must go to Target tonight and buy another Conair seamless comb. The one that I'd been keeping in my "hair drawer" at home has mysteriously disappeared.

In other news, my new RAZR phone is on its way. It's currently in Oakland, CA, so I'm not sure whether it will arrive later today or tomorrow. Either way, I'm stoked and can't wait to get it! Soon, I'll be talking and texting to my heart's content...and no one can say a darn thing about it. Well, they can, but I won't listen. 

My long-distance sweetie received the things I sent him, too. And they arrived intact. Huzzah! He really dug the black pansies that I pressed for him, and he loved the little skull charm on the lock of my hair that I sent him. Our hair is very similar in nature, though he says that mine is "a little bit darker and a whole lot better-kept." 

Anyway, I'm off now to plan my evening. Morning shift awaits...oh goody. 

Ahh, Trisha. "Considered" would be a grave understatement. Moving to WA has been a lifelong dream of mine. But even the dreams that we've always carried with us can be interrupted by "life." 

Last night, I was finally able to do the overnight heavy EVOO treatment. I was desperately tired and went to bed at around 10:30. But with the infernal sleep cap, I was waking up every couple of hours. 
    For the past few days, I've been so tired that I could've dropped dead at any minute. My body wants to keep nodding off, whether I'm at work, online or even driving.    I need to get some sleep soon, but the daily obligations won't permit it. Not an inch of leeway. Quite typical.

Today, I must go straight home from work to finish my laundry. Hopefully, I'll get that done before the 'rents get home. Then, it will be time for my power walk, after which I'll wash up for bed. After that, I'll either head up to my uncle's office to score some chatting time with my guy or go with my family to do something with...well, my other family who is here from WA. *sigh* No breaks. Really, I'm used to this. 

In the midst of all of my running around,  I suppose it might be helpful to eat something.    heh We'll see...

Haven't heard from my sweetie all morning. I'm really hoping that he's already hot on the job search rather than sleeping half the day away, as usual. *sigh* Don't say anything there...I already know.

So in addition to the overnight EVOO, this morning, I washed once with Restoratives Breakage Defense shampoo, conditioned the length with the like conditioner, then conditioned half of the length with the Cabellina horse conditioner that I've taken possession of.
    Detangled as usual (it's nice having just one bottle of leave-in conditioner to worry about) and oiled the ends. Oh drat, I just realized that I forgot to use my other Breakage Defense products. Zut alors...well, it might help if I actually took them out of the armoire in my bedroom and put them in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. That way, I could see them every morning, and if I could see them, I'd use them. Probably. 

Anywho, hair is down and completely dry now. Thanx again to Pantene Restoratives, it has also been returned its luxe liquid gold properties. Now all it needs to do is just keep growing.
    At this point, I'm not sure whether I'll stay at 24" for awhile or continue to BSL. The ends of my hair could really use a trim, though that would probably mean needing another in 6 months...which would total 2 trims in a year. Typically, that wouldn't be a bad thing, except, as I've mentioned, my scissor lady likes to take off about 1½" at a time.    Not condusive to the whole growing it out thing. If I did it that way, I wouldn't make BSL by the end of this year.    Not sure what to do.

Anyway, it's almost time for my break, so I'll catch y'all later.

Alright. Saturday night was my father's b-day. I had enough time, surprisingly, to put my face on before we left for dinner. Actually, I wore makup for 3 days straight up until today.    With my relatives here, the pressure is always on.
    We went to a local fish restaurant, and at the end of dinner, the staff brought out a guitar-shaped cake with chocolate music notes everywhere...candles on top and an airbrushed message wishing my dad a happy birthday. It turned out to be a carrot cake that my father's cousin had made from scratch. Very cute! I wish I had a picture of it to post here.

Anyway, after dinner, the lot of us (12 total, I believe) went to the bar where my father's band was playing that night. Mother and I and a family friend blew up balloons with a helium tank from work, then I carried all of them in and we tied them to things in the area where we would all be sitting.
    It was a good time. All of us talking, laughing, dancing...the band sounded great. Especially the lead guitarist and keyboard player, who attributed their musical magic to the fact that I was there that night (they both have raging crushes on me).    They said that I was their inspiration...and I muttered something under my breath about "liquid inspiration," being that we were in a bar. 

In any case, it was fun. I really don't remember the last time I danced before that. And at the end of it, we all helped the band unplug and tear down...in record time. After exchanging hugs and handshakes among my family and the band, we all went our separate ways.

Sunday morning, I'd been absolutely fed up with the new showerhead in my bathroom, so I took a bath instead. Not sure how clean I really got, but it was interesting. Floating my colourful can of shave gel in the tub and watching my hair sprawl out underwater like a mermaid reminded me a bit of bathtimes as a kid. 

Rather than spraying and combing my hair while it was wet, I simply ran Restoratives Breakage Defense leave-in crème through the length and let it air dry. Thus, I also learned that the Breakage Defense leave-in crème does my hair no favours whatsoever. My hair stuck to itself and felt gummy. So there's $4 down the tubes. 

I also finally made it to Target in hopes of replacing my missing Conair seamless comb. And discovered that Target either no longer carries them or Conair no longer makes them or both.    So I'm sunk unless my other seamless comb happens to turn up. Or I manage to find an even better one. *sigh*

What else...? I'm still taking vitamin E every morning, and I'm still walking every other night. I didn't get to walk Saturday night because of my father's birthday, so I had to walk last night. My legs are still sore and I have to walk again tonight. heh I'll get used to it.

My new phone should be here no later than Wednesday. I'm excited...even though they're sending my order in 3 separate shipments! Whatever. So long as I get all of it eventually. My phone, my plan, my business.

Anyway, today was a slightly better hair day. I suppose I'll gradually adapt to the sucky new showerhead. That or throw a screaming fit until it's replaced. hehe
    Another simple WCC today, then wet detangled as usual, this time using my Pantene leave-in spray conditioner and Restoratives Breakage Defense strengthening spray. They both contain castor oil, which I'm not thrilled about...but so long as it stays away from my skin, it shouldn't be too bad.

Now it's time to (say goodbyyyye...to all our companyyy - wait, no) run home, have dinner with the family, walk and see about maybe getting a load of laundry done, as my sheets smell terribly like burnt peanuts or something.    My mother gave me these strange rice and herb-filled items that can be frozen or heated in the microwave...I usually throw them in the microwave for a few minutes and put them in my bed to warm it up (my room naturally maintains the average temperature of a morgue and my parents refuse to run the heater, so I have to compensate. God, I am forever compensating...). Well sometimes the herbs burn when overheated. 

So, yeah. See ya.

So...at the risk of rehashing what everyone else has already brought up, it's the 1st day of spring. Whoop-de-friggin'-do.    This means that it's time to buy new sunblock and set aside my "summer makeup"...and that I'll have to wait 6 months before the seasons are decent again. *sigh* Until then, I guess I'll just focus on growing my hair out and staying indoors.

But new seasons mean that time is progressing, so what better way to greet this new phase of life than with a stress-free WWCC? I used my parents' shower again this morning, which is actually less comfortable than my own, but their showerhead is far better, as I've mentioned. It really helps things.

Wet detangling now consists of Pantene leave-in spray conditioner, Restoratives Breakage Defense strengthening spray and, of course, my broken RS #45 comb. I didn't have the chance to oil today, as my hair dried while I was on the phone with tech support, manually activating my new MotoRAZR. 

I need to do some sort of treatment soon. Late nights mean late mornings and I rarely have time to deep condition before work...at least not at often as I'd like. So tonight, I may do a heavy EVOO and deep condition on Friday.

In other news, after some minor setbacks, I finally got my new phone working.    Oh, I haven't actually customized any of its settings or used it for anything yet, but it's nice to know that I can. When I get home tonight, I might finally begin programming numbers into it and really making it "mine." And who knows? Tonight, my far-away sweetheart may get the call that he's been hoping for for days. 

The no-service problem sounds familiar.  Hubby and I don't have cell phones, but my daughter (who lives w/us) does.  We live 10 miles away from a good-size town, but there are no towers out where we are.  The only place daughter can get reception on her phone is sitting on her bed.  --Not outside the house, not anywhere in the house, and not anywhere else in her bedroom.  ONLY while she's sitting/lying on her bed can she get reception!    

Alrighty...

On the hair front, all's well. Been doing the usual WCC's, detangling, oiling when I remember, all that jazz. Hair is luxuriously soft & getting longer every day.

Everything's cool with the boy and myself, too, as I mentioned. For not having a steady income (), he's managed to save up quite a bit for his trip out my way. Hopefully it won't be too much longer before he's finally here. Cross your fingers for me, if you would.

As for the bad news, and there is a lot of it, well...

On Friday evening, as I was pulling out of a parking space at the bank, I accidentally backed into someone's fender!    At first, the lady who owned the other car freaked, but she ended up being pretty cool about it. We exchanged info and gave each other a hug. Nothing like that had ever happened in my life, so I was terribly shaken and have been beside myself ever since.
   At first, I was overcome with guilt and felt bad about deriving enjoyment out of anything. I haven't even been able to listen to rock & roll.    The first few days after the accident, it was all classical. Today, I finally branched out into pop. Slowly and cautiously working back to my hard rock roots, I guess. It's weird the way stuff like that will affect you.  
   But it was hardly limited to music. I felt tremendous guilt for things like going to dinner with my family, and I stopped shopping altogether, unless absolutely necessary. I don't think I really got much enjoyment out of my hair - everything in that regard had more or less become routine, free from passion. Any little thing, it seemed, that could be perceived as pleasurable...I either denied myself or felt guilty about doing. *sigh* And you best believe that I was driving like a paranoid old geezer.  

On Tuesday, I finally called Cricket and cancelled the service, which had been completely useless to me. The past few days have been spent arranging a refund for the products that I purchased through them. I had to fight through this and jump through a lot of the proverbial hoops - to a pretty ridiculous degree - but then, the whole situation was ridiculous. Anyway, hope all goes well there, too.

Tuesday night, I had to say goodbye to my grandfather, as he was heading back to WA the next morning on an early flight. He'll be back in late May.
   My mother had to take him to the airport on Wednesday morning, which meant that I got stuck with the morning shift.    And again today.      Sooo fun.

After work yesterday, I stopped by the bank and opened up a savings account. I've not had one in years, but I needed a safe place to put the check that my grandfather had given me during his visit, after emptying my IRA. It wasn't a staggering amount, but most certainly life-changing and very helpful.

I also arranged for a lovely arrangement of spring flowers to be delivered today to the lady who's fender I hit on Friday.
   My insurance covered everything, I suppose. I didn't agree with her decision to go through our insurance companies to resolve the issue, because I am still on my parents' plan, and it caused their rates to go up.  
   However, I am not without sympathy or compassion and I most certainly don't wish to be ill-thought-of. I hoped that the flowers would properly convey a sincere apology on my behalf, and I hope that they will help her to feel better about things for the moment. And that they will help to offset the otherwise negative impression that I've imposed upon her memory. Hopefully time will help her to forget it.

Anyway, so...today. I have the bloody morning shift again, as I mentioned. And I've not eaten a thing all day. I think I'll head out to Panera after work for some soup in a breadbowl. After that, I'll do what I can to ship my stupid phone and its components back to the stupid company that stupidly screwed me over. Argh!
   This evening, I'll resume my power walking routine, come home, clean up and head out to my uncle's office. My MI music man owns me after that.
   Busy day.    But it sure beats having nothing to do, I guess.

Anyway, I'm collected, braided and ready to take all of it on.

((((((Trisha)))))) Thanx, girl. 

Yesterday: After lunch (at Panera, of course  ) and a nap at home, I did finally get my useless phone shipped back to Cricket. Good riddance...and they'd better hurry with my refund. 

That evening, I resumed my power walking routine, which I'd taken a break from for a few days, as I'd washed my shoes and was waiting for them to dry. My shins were screaming halfway through it, but I pressed on without sympathy.
    After I'd returned home, rested for a few minutes and had started to wash my face, the rest of my body broke out in a sweat. I felt weak, ill and shaky, as though I would faint, and I knew that I was having a hypoglycemic attack. A big one.    So I tried to finish washing up as quickly as possible, when all of a sudden, the phone rang.

My father answered, and I knew within seconds that he was talking with the lady who's fender I'd backed into last week. She had called to thank me for the flowers.    Apparently, she'd been moved to tears when she got them, and she thanked my father for raising such an amazing daughter. *blush*
    She broke down in tears again when my dad handed me the phone and she got to thank me in person, using terms like sweetheart, beautiful person, wonderful human being, etc. etc. etc. It was a great feeling knowing that I'd made her day and that I'd succeeded in leaving a better impression of myself upon her mind. 

After that, I adjusted my metabolism by stopping by a local drive-through before heading out to my uncle's office. It took an hour or so before my hands stopped shaking, but at least I knew that I would live. hehe I even ordered an Andes mint shake, which was quite awesome.    The rest of the night was spent in the office, chatting with my sweetheart. All of our communication has been reduced to online and snail mail while I don't have a cell phone. It sucks rocks. But it won't be like this forever.

Today: Oh how I longed to stay in bed longer than I was able to this morning.    But time waits for no one and I had much to do. So I got up, gathered my shower things and took them into my parents bathroom for a WTCC. Washed first with Restoratives Breakage Defense shampoo, then treated for an hour with Restoratives Time Renewal replenishing mask.
    While the treatment was working its magic, I rushed around the house in my sexxxy shower cap, robe & slippers doing laundry and dishes and refreshing my new manicure (wickedly dark, metallic purple  ).
    After an hour's time, I rinsed out the treatment and followed with Restoratives Breakage Defense conditioner and the Cabellina horse conditioner respectively. Ahhh...

In the rush to get ready for work, I didn't have time to spray and detangle as usual, so I just let the wet, snaky strands air dry.
    I had some difficulty braiding this afternoon, but managed to make it work. All's well enough.

Musically, I'm still gradually breaking down my barriers and cautiously approaching rock again. I've been listening to mostly edgy pop and progressive stuff, so it won't be long before I'm Back In Black, as we say. 

Today, I've also completed my 3rd month on vitamin E. I should be able to start seeing the results, if there are any, after now.

So I've managed to survive the immediate issues at hand. Thank goodness. Now all that's left to do is eagerly greet a much-needed weekend. Peace!

Clarifying day! 

The usual routine in my parents' shower with Pantene Purity shampoo, a 1L vinegar rinse, Breakage Defense and Cabellina conditioners (didn't leave either one in as I finished the rest of my shower, just rinsed them out).
    One thing I noticed about the Purity shampoo is that during the 2nd wash, after the vinegar rinse, its scent is akin to a dry, grapey white wine. At least, it strikes me this way. Not that I ever partake of anything alcoholic, mind you.

The usual air drying, nothing extraordinary. Hair is down, at least for the moment.

After a brief review of my records, I've learned that my hair is ¼" ahead of its progress last year. Encouraging...