RTG! Welcome back! *hug* glad to see everything's going well for you!

oops, thanks JD! yeah it's been really busy and while i still do things to be nice to my hair, i haven't been on the boards much.

well its about two inches from brushing my shoulders! yippee, although i've been guilty of dorky hairstyles at this length. i've  tried pinning it all up,or at other times, pulling it back with a claw clip. some days it falls really nicely, but not always.

also, i'm not talking to my friends about it (obviously except long locks friends) as they are suggesting that i "get it cut again to grow it out". i.e. "get it reshaped." since i've been keeping it trimmed, it's pretty healthy, just not shaped. i'm wondering though how i could keep it growing if i get it shaped all the time-as when i used to do that it just would get shorter again as stylists interpereted me wanting a short cut. so i'm going to skip the shaping and just get trims as needed.

my hair has been more straight this year-i'm thinking it's hormonal as i've been on a new prescription for something. i still like the jason shampoo  (lavendar strengthening) and it seems to really help my hair feel thicker at the ends. maybe that's my imagination. anyway-i've been eating well so that may be part of it.

work is going really well and really busy-i think that' the norm for most people and i just need to find my balance in the midst of it. i'll post a new pic soon. just need to get hubby to take it.
: )

Well Angel and jd, the picture might be a while as I'm dawdling over taking it. My hair still seems pretty short when compared to how I want it to be, although to give credit where it's due-it has grown 6  1/2 inches in 2006 (since I had it in a pixie cut last Jan.)  So if I can log that many inches next year, I'll be to bsl length in not too long. I'll try to post something soon.

I've kept up with the three day wash schedule-even tried to go longer with it, but since my hair is still just barely at my shoulders, it doesn't seem to make that much difference to my "length" if I wait longer to wash-but does make my scalp greasy. So until its longer, I'll stick to the 3 day schedule. I was very happy to stumble upon the Jason lavender strengthening shampoo at my neighborhood grocery store, as I usually have to plan ahead and buy it at a health food store. I've also been wearing it down much more, and happier with how it's falling around my face. It does seem as ridiculously short as it was (keep in mind that this is all relative, as many of you have much longer hair than me-I'm just comparing to how mine was a year ago

Well Christmas is almost here, and I'm excited about it. I'm glad we'll see family, and have some time off together. Work is going well, but keeping me busy, and at some points stressing me out, as I suppose all jobs can do if one lets it to get to her.  I do like it though, so I just need to keep my perspective-and nothing helps restore that like a few days off for Christmas. Although we see family, we keep it low key-not too many presents. More emphasis on
spending time together, singing carols, having dinner as a family, playing Scrabble, etc.

Due to some stomach issues I've been having this year, I'm on a more careful diet now and doing yoga daily instead of only a few days a week. Since I switched over to this, I've been sick a lot less often, although this weekend I have a stuffy nose (inevitable since many friends have it too). I've totally cut out caffeine, which made me a bit sad as I love my morning cup, but since I have it's helped my stomach hurt less so that's worth the trade off. Perhaps in the long run this will help my hair be more healthy from the inside out too.

Well, it's snowing again. I have some errands to run today but am feeling so cozy on the couch here, I may just read a book. It is-after all-the weekend. 

I know EXACTLY what you are talking about (the part in the back of your head) and i HAAAATE it!!  Let me know if you find any useful solutions for this and I'll do the same. 

thanks angel, i'll give that a try.

Hmm, I just spent about ten minutes in the Target shampoo aisle looking for a good natural deep conditioner-but maybe that's not the right store if i'm looking for cone free stuff-which i am. So for tonight i'm just going to leave in some Jason conditioner and olive oil in a cap. Mmm-greasy-but THE HAIR is so soft afterwards, so it's worth it.

The next two weeks at work are insanely busy. I planned to bring some work home with me, and I did-but right now I find that after a  full day of work, lounging on the couch and reading Longlocks and Robert Jordan is just much more appealing. 

THE HAIR is doing well, growing out more slowly it seems now in Dec. and Jan, but that maybe related to our frigid weather. Or is that a rumor? Mine at least seems to like summer better, or at least I do.

Hey, RTG, long time no see! Congratulations on being able to make the twin braids.  I'd love to see pictures. How far have you gotten in The Books? Did you hear that Robert Jordan's widow has officially chosen an author to finish the last book? I've read a couple of chapters of one of his books, and I definately think he can do RJ's story justice. http://www.dragonmount.com has a news story on it, and an interview with him, if you're interested and/or have time.

*hugs* glad to see you're still around.

arggh, i just wrote a longer post and it was deleted somehow. must have bumped a button.

hey jd,i will need to read up on your journal. it's good to hear from you again. here's my new pic.  on the "show off your locks" link i posted an old pic from june of last year so you can see how much it's grown since then. it's still not nearly as long as i'm going for, but it is progress which frankly-i've been needing to see. and seeing two pictures of before and after helps me keep perspective and patience.

i was going to post one of my first braid also, but it's still pretty messy so i'm going to keep working on the braiding skills and should have a nice one in a month or so after another 1/2 inch of growth on the sides. those pieces are just still short enough to come untucked. the best braid for me so far has been two side french braids with the ends tucked under as BB suggested. i'm hoping to have a good french braid by summer which is when hubby and i will be going to france! i've never been but we've saved up and with a generous gift from family are able to go for a bit. should be great. so i will have french braided hair in france! can you tell i'm very excited at the prospect?

well it's freezing and snowing again. i'm reading Annie Dillard as a reprieve from Robert Jordan (whom i still love, k!) she writes about nature so vividly, the images stick with me throughout the day. it's also making me miss living in the country-and though i like our big city for many reasons, close proximity of friends, museums, etc, i still love the memories i have of growing up in the country. jumping in big piles of leaves, biking down along old railroad tracks, etc. horseback riding! there are places to ride in the city, but way too pricey and lots of rules and liabilities that are annoying.

work is going well, but i've had a cold the last few days. ick. am starting to feel better now with lots of tea and sleep. i've been pretty healthy but this seems inevitable with all the friends and family passing it around .  well, back to reading.