Not too much going on on the hair front these days. Still doing the usual WCC routine every day, with the occasional overnight heavy EVOO treatment or replenishing mask treatment thrown in when I can. Still spraying, combing, misting and braiding. Pretty uneventful.
   The short pieces underneath (from where I severed a lock of my hair and sent it to my guy) are still short, but slowly growing. The short, frizzy ends throughout the length are still there. I don't like them, but I'm getting used to them. Nothing else to do while they're growing out...if they're growing out. And the length is still slowly creeping down my back. It's encouraging to think that I'll reach BSL this year, even after my upcoming trim.

Had to take a shower in my own bathroom this morning. The inconvenience of the new showerhead makes me mad enough to swear. A lot.    It took me almost an hour and a half this morning because the infernal contraption doesn't rinse anything for crap and the water pressure in there is a complete joke.  

But anyway, I finally updated my résumé yesterday and was able to print out a simple, fax-friendly version on plain white paper. It still looked great.    After tomorrow, if the finances allow, I'll get some new ivory (or maybe even gray) parchment paper to print it on for the instances where I'll actually be handing it out. A great-looking résumé is an important and empowering tool for any woman to have, I think. And it seems even more an accomplishment when said woman has a.) finally found stability in the corporate working environment and b.) finally conquered the Résumé Wizard program by learning how to duplicate the #@%& fields!  

Why all the fuss over a résumé? Well...next month will mark my 2-year anniversary with my current company. With this sort of stability on record, I must venture out in search of additional, possibly other employment altogether. My current job is very secure, which I greatly appreciate, but it fails to support my financial obligations entirely. It covers the basics, but there is very little leeway for crucial things like savings or unexpected disasters (the latter of which occur quite often in my life  ). So, the time has come to explore the deeper waters...or at least supplement the shallow. A new phase emerges.

As for the long-distance love affair, it's still going strong. It should only be a matter of weeks before *he* finally arrives for a visit. We've had enough of waiting for luck to bless our unfortunate situation (the distance, I mean). It's time to make our own luck. No more unanswered prayers or pennies tossed into fountains carrying wishes for our present and future. No more waiting for the perfect opportunity to present itself. That might never happen. It's up to us now to make the perfect opportunity. Perhaps only then will our hopes be validated. God helps those who help themselves.

If I sound melodramatic and incoherent, it's because I am.    9:20 in the morning is too early for my nocturnal cells to function. And I've been trying to make them work since 5.

Hair: The usual WCC today in my own shower, which was frustrating as usual. No spraying, no combing, no detangling of any sort while my hair was wet. I separated some of the serpentine strands, but that was it. My hair was dry when I arrived at work, so I slipped into the ladies' room and combed it out. It's still down at the moment, but I might braid it during my break if it becomes a bother.
    This morning, I was able to free up some space in my "hair" drawer when I removed the craft supplies that I'd been keeping in there. Found a use for the little storage container that the Easter bunny gave me yesterday.    Now it's stored in my armoire, along with my art supplies, and my drawer has  more room for lovely gothic hairtoys, when I finally get around to making them.

Other Stuff: Just when everything was in order...the long-distance relationship thing is strained yet again. *sigh* And we were doing so well, too.    You know what just occurred to me, too, is that his attitude seems to change dramatically whenever he gets his hair cut.    Absurd, isn't it? But I think the last time we had a row...or rather, the last time I tired of his behaviour and distanced myself from it...was the last time he had a haircut.    Whatever. I still love that child, but I'm afraid that he has much growing up to do.
    I've also realized that it's asking far too much for him to visit SoCal when he hasn't a proper, stable source of income. It isn't fair to either of us setting such a lofty goal right now. So...it rests. Yes, I have the means to visit him in MI...but given the current circumstances, that would not be the best decision on my part. In any case, it's time to be realistic. A real life meeting for us isn't going to happen anytime soon. That's all I care to say on the matter.

As for me, well...one day at a time. It's time I started focusing on myself again and addressing my own immediate needs. After all, in the end, I'm all I've got.

La Diosa: The long-distance thing has been going on for over 7 months now. We have the typical ups and downs like any other relationship (not that ours is official), but generally, we have both been very committed to it.

I don't need to tell you how difficult the distance part can be. You already know. Of course, you and yours were already married when you had to go through it, so I'm sure that makes it both easier in some ways and more difficult in others. More difficult, obviously, because it's the worst thing in the world to be so far apart from the person you love most. Easier, though, because your marriage brings you the reassurance that he'll be coming back to you eventually.

Of course, being that the boy and I are not married, it also makes it easier for me to walk away if need be.  

ETA: As far as moving into the same city (I don't know why this slipped my mind earlier), there are no current plans in the works as yet. We're both quite attached to different states - he to MI and I to WA - so I just don't know...

Hair: Today I washed once with Restoratives Breakage Defense shampoo and finished off the bottle. After finishing my shower, I gave my hair a final rinse and squeezed out the excess water with my microfiber towel. Then I applied a luxe version of Snowy's Moisture Treatment. This consisted of 1 tsp. EVOO, 1tsp. honey, 1½ tsp. aloe vera gel, 3 tsp. Pantene Deep Fortifying Treatment and 1 tsp. Pantene Restoratives Time Renewal Replenishing Mask. And I drizzled some more honey on top of that just for fun.
   Anyway, left this concoction in my hair for over an hour while doing dishes, etc. and watching TV with my sis (we so rarely get to hang out anymore  ). Then I rinsed the stuff out with warm water (yes, warm water today because cold activates cramps  ) and ooh la la! Very silky. Even more so after the horse conditioner.  

Today, I also sprayed in the usual leave-in's and wet combed with my broken RS #45. Didn't have time to oil, though.    Hair is down for the day, but I'll braid it when I go out for my walk tonight. Missed last night. Dangit.  

Other: Yeah...nothing that I care to talk about right now.    

Last night, I actually managed to get some sleep. Huzzah! It wasn't enough, and I didn't want to get out of bed this morning, but it beats another anxious, tearful, sleepless night for sure.

I tried to take a nap when I got home from work yesterday, but to no avail. By mid-evening, I was in the early stages of an anxiety attack. But after dinner and a power walk and a glass of water, I was doing a bit better, as I knew I would be. Talking to my far-away friend helped, too...though the latest problem is far from over. *sigh* 

Today, I'm a little better still. Did a WWCC this morning in my own shower (I don't suppose I'll be using my parents' anymore  ). Sprayed and misted before wet combing. I ran out of my Pantene Light Spray Conditioner, so I emptied the last of the bottle's contents into my Restoratives Strengthening Spray. I'll probably have to swing by Target tonight and pick up some new Light Spray Conditioner. Maybe some new hair stuff altogether.
    I also rinsed out my oil bottle and made a new solution, which I used on the ends of my hair when I got to work this afternoon. Right now, everything's back, braided and behaving.

Something interesting...my sweetheart had a dream a few nights ago in which I had hip length hair!    My hair is always very long in his dreams, which I think is cute - I hope he isn't disappointed when he finally gets here. heh Then again, by the time he finally does get here, my hair may be down to my toes! 
    But still...why can't I ever have long-haired dreams?

Speaking of the boy, things are a little better on the pseudo-relationship front, although far from perfect. It still has a long way to go before it can be completely functional/healthy and I wonder whether we have what it takes individually to see it through. There's definitely some evolution needed on his part. Time will tell, I suppose. In the mean time, we'll keep praying.

Still no refund from the stupid wireless company. I shipped all of the products back to the warehouse and I know that they received it last Wednesday. But I also know that it will probably be several weeks before I see any of my own money back...which is ridiculous. 

Anyway, a much-needed weekend awaits. Wonder what I'll do with it...

Curlygirl: You are the sweetest thing. Thank you kindly for all of the "hair wishes."    If being in love makes your hair grow faster, all the better. I'll take all the help that I can get.

Hair: No complaints. Well, except for the wispy bits sticking out everywhere in the middle of the length. Other than that, my hair has been very well behaved of late. Just long, smooth and straight. I didn't have time to oil the ends today, and my hair looks decent enough that I suppose I'm just going to leave it down. I brought barettes to work with me so I can pin the sides up during my break. Princess hair.    I'll worry about the braiding and oiling and whatever else tonight.
   
Still doing the WCC's with Pantene Restoratives Time Renewal S&C and Cabellina horse conditioner, but...the back of my neck has been dearly paying the price. It's dry and flaky from chemical burn once again and I'm pretty sure that my current conditioners are the cause.
    So this weekend, I went a little crazy and bought tons of new Pantene products.    Huge bottles of Ice Shine S&C, a new Light Spray Conditioner, Deep Fortifying Treatment, Intensive Restoration Treatment and Intensive Replenishing Mask. I'm thinking that I shall return to Target this evening for a huge bottle of Daily Moisture Renewal conditioner to use for my 2nd conditioning.
    Tomorrow will be another white grapey clarifying day. New start. Can't wait.

Other Stuff: The boy and I are back on track.    I asked God to help us restore the relationship, and we did. Thank heavens for small miracles.
    Things are still going well in that general area. Quite honestly, I'm still hearing wedding bells, but shhhhhhh...let's just keep that on the low for now, shall we?      I will say that if things work out as we're both hoping they will, it will be a blessed thing indeed.

After my father's Saturday gig (which I caught the last hour of) at a local car show, he and I went shopping around town for my new laptop. Yep, I'm getting a brand new laptop!!    No more wasting gas driving to and from my uncle's office to use his dysfunctional old computers. Soon...very soon...I shall have my own.
    While we were out, we stopped at Radio Shack where we replaced my broken old cell phone with a brand new one and reinstated my service.    I'm still trying to figure out all of my new phone's features, but I imagine I'll learn quickly. Such is my innate way with all things electronic.

So a rebirth it certainly is. Good things are unfolding from every side...quite the welcome contrast from last year!

But, some sad news also...a longtime neighbour of mine was taken to the hospital in an ambulence yesterday morning, and they have since discovered that his liver is beginning to fail. He is in the final stages of cancer and will probably not make it much longer. My family and his (he has a wife and 2 teenage kids) have known each other since they moved into their current house across the street from us about 16 years ago. I used to babysit his children, in fact, when they were young.
    So it sux big time. The dreadful disease has worn him away to almost nothing, and it shouldn't be long now... I feel terrible for his family, and it hits close to home for mine, given how many of our loved ones cancer has already claimed. So I'll pray for him. Nothing else one can do.

Anyway, that's about it for now. Peace.

*shoots down the &@#% wedding bells and stomps on the fragments*

Perhaps I spoke too soon... 

Haven't heard from Mr. Inconsistent since last night when, after an hour-long phone call and the most casual goodbye ever, he promised to call back...and didn't.    I still have no idea what's going on on his end and am a bit concerned, but my gut tells me that I have more cause to be angry than worried. UGH - men!! 

Anyway, everything else is fine. Did a clarifying wash this morning in my own shower...which went as well as could be expected with the utterly dysfunctional showerhead. 
    Yesterday, I picked up a huge bottle of Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal conditioner, and am more than ready to jump back into Ice Shine. I'll be using a collection of products that work best for my hair from Pantene's basic lines. My hair always loved the Daily Moisture Renewal conditioners and treatments, but the shampoo was horrible. It loves Ice Shine S&C, so I'm using that and of course the Detangle Light Spray Conditioner and Deep Fortifying Treatments, which have always worked quite well. This way, I'll be able to alternate treatments according to my hair's needs and my mood at the time. Oh yes, and avoiding the chemical burn that Restoratives products have caused on the back of my neck is helpful as well.

Right now, hair is braided and just being.

No laptop as yet. I might drag my father to Best Buy with me tonight to finally buy the one I want. It doesn't have a 10-key, but I suppose I'll just have to work around that. Anyone know how to do Alt commands on a laptop?