Hair: WTC with a white vinegar rinse. Indeed, I've switched from ACV to DWV again. Changed vinegar rinse bottles too.
   Treatment was the Strengthening Mask for over an hour. The usual leave-in's. Style was a flipped ponytail. The serum seems to have made the ends rather gummy & gunky.

Conditioner supply is running low. I hope to be able to fix that before it's gone altogether. When that time comes, I've decided to switch from Ice Shine conditioner back to Moisture Renewal.

Etc.: Gawd, what a day it's been. Today was payday, but the bank has a 5 day hold on my paycheck. Of course, my car was running on fumes when I got out of work, so the timing was perfect. Thank goodness for the odd $2.60 in change that I was able to scrounge up - it bought me just enough gas to make it home. Of course...the gas station was a typical mob scene when I got there and I had to sit for a bloody half hour in the car with the engine off (read: no a/c) in 90° weather, waiting out the crowds.

So, my weekend plans are dashed and I have no idea how I'm going to get to work and back for the next week. Fantastic. Thank you, Chase, for screwing me yet again.

Oh, what the hey...

Curlgirl: Of course I'll be changing banks. As soon as possible, though that rather goes without saying, doesn't it? Actually, I plan on transferring to a local credit union.

Hair: Yesterday, I did a CWC and used 3 leave-in's: spray conditioner blend on the length, serum on the ends and Sunsilk volumizing crème on the roots. The latter did nothing, but my hair ended up in a twisted updo anyway, so none of it mattered. When I took it down at the end of the night, it was a right mess that would've pleased Medusa.

This morning, clarifying was essential. I'm actually somewhat surprised that one washing and one vinegar rinse were enough to get all of the sunblock and styling nonsense out of my hair. But thank goodness.
   Today's only leave-in was the spray conditioner. Style, as usual, will be a single braid.

Etc.: My health finally seems to have taken a turn for the better. My head is draining. The congestion that's plagued me for over a week is beginning to relinquish its pressure. I can hear clearly now and I can sing again if I'm careful.

Oh my God, a co-worker just sent me the funniest anti-Walmart e-mail ever. I'd replicate it here if it wasn't so long.

Anyway...my mother took pity on my penniless arse and gave me $10 for gas on Saturday ...which enabled me to meet my friend T at the mall yesterday. He bought me a Chocolixir from Godiva since my ulcer has healed, and I shared the free key lime truffle that they gave me with him. His first time trying Godiva, I believe.

After that, we walked around Balboa Park until dinner time. Then we randomly stopped at a pizza place down the street from Lestat's. It had probably been a year since I last had pizza and the cashier reminded me a bit of Yul Brynner. T scarfed something loaded with pastrami and touted the benefits of a meat-filled diet while I smiled indifferently, savouring a slice of vegan eggplant. Yin and yang.
 
Next, it was down the street for coffee. There was another cute cashier there. Thank God I'd worn makuep that day. It helps me feel slightly less insecure than usual. Just a wee bit less. Though I was a bit disappointed when the barista referred to T & I as a "couple." A couple of what exactly?

We sat on a bench in the window for an hour, shooting the breeze with the usual subjects: work, sports, music, Disneyland, Tim Babb, and other social taboos. I finished my drink and part of his. And he stole my phone for the second time that night. The first time, I tickled him until he gave it back; the second time, I conned him out of it. Maybe he was jealous of my current wallpaper pic.

Anyway, then it was back to the mall, and my car, to go our separate ways after one of the most awkward and uncomfortable hugs in history. I think T stays up some nights plotting his creepy hug techniques.

This afternoon, I texted him to remind him that he turns 30 in 2 weeks.

Trisha: And ruin the most ironic friendship in history? You crazy, chica?

Hair: CWC this morning + the usual leave-in's. Style is a flipped ponytail.

Music: Last night ended up being a quazi-band reunion when I went out with the 'rents to a restaurant where Boscoe was playing. Lizard was there, as well as the hostess from the house party where our band last played. I got to meet and listen to some of the most talented musicians in the county. This is one area of my life in which I've always felt incredibly blessed. Not many people are born into musical family environments - and of those who are, how many of them even come close to the level of talent that I grew up around? Very few. It definitely sets me apart in ways that I've always been extremely grateful for.

Anyway, toward the end of the night, Lizard was the worse for drink and began asking everyone aloud what he was going to do about the next Picus show. I did agree to record some vampire songs with him (heh...we'll see, won't we?), but it was late by then and I really just wanted to get out of there. We ended up getting home after 11:00 and I was up before dawn getting ready for work.

Etc.: First day of fall. You'd never know it here in SoCal. It's going to be in the 90's-100's all this week.

I wasn't aware that adult men could do that.  Which... is why I have a small inkling that perhaps T likes Angel romantically, but I decided to .  

I lost a few friendships in my teens with guys as well, for that very reason.  

Hair: CWC + the usual leave-in's today. Style was a flipped ponytail, which I just took out. I've been experiencing the dreaded end of summer shed.

Today, I furthered the rationing efforts on the conditioners that I have, diluting one and mixing another. The boundless evils of my bank have ensured that I won't be able to replenish any waning supplies for at least another week so I must make do with whatever I have.

On That Note: I also wasn't able to get gas this morning, and had to drive to work on fumes. I was extremely lucky to have made it. Getting back home, of course, was another thing altogether. Adding to the stress was the fact that I had to take the long way out of town. Sodding traffic.
   Again, my mother took pity (sort of) on my penniless keister when I told her of my troubles. She gave me another $10 and reminded me that I owed her. *sigh* I also stole $3 from the desk drawer at work where mother puts donations from co-workers to keep our candy dish stocked. And when I got home, I made a few coin rolls and gathered whatever spare change I could find - an extra $6 total - and dropped that into my gas tank as well. Hey, desperate times, desperate measures...every little bit helps.

This morning, I also discovered that my bank allowed my last check to clear before they removed the hold on my accounts. Naturally, I don't have access to my own money, but someone else does...and of course they tacked on more overdraft fees after that. Because what's injury without insult? Altogether, they've charged me more than my next paycheck will cover.

Indulging my curiosity, I did a little research and found that I'm not the only one having problems with this particular bank. In fact, there are countless reports out there from dissatisfied customers like myself, detailing how they've been screwed from every possible angle. Oh, I wish I'd had the foresight to get out of it sooner...and the really sad thing is that the battle is only half over, and it may get worse before it gets better. This particular industry can take advantage of part-time employees like myself all too easily. That's how they make money for themselves. Oh, and I've read stories far worse than mine. It's disappointing, though not surprising, that this is how they treat the taxpayers who bailed them out of debt.

Anywho, I wish I could expose these corporate creeps for what they really are. I would stand outside the local branch picketing, stand crude signs next to their establishments or send very angry letters to their headquarters, but it's all been done before with little consequence and I haven't the time.
   I have, however, been warning everyone I know who is involved with JP Morgan Chase to do their research and take their business elsewhere. They are one of the sleaziest establishments out there with a penchant for preying upon their customers and giving terrible service.

Alright, I've spewed enough contempt for one night. I'm out.


If I said I'd lost my way
Would you sympathize
Could you sympathize?
I'm jumbled up
Maybe I'm losing my touch
I'm jumbled up
Maybe I'm losing my touch
But you know I didn't have it anyway

         -Echo & the Bunnymen, Rescue

MichelleR: That was my stance at first too...just wait and see whether the Chase conversion is a good or bad thing and whether I would even be affected by it. Well guess what?
   Now, I'm not trying to change your mind, but it certainly wouldn't hurt you to at least look at some of the complaints lodged against the company that you've chosen to give your money to. Many financial institutions offer free checking, and some of them can waive monthly fees. Have you considered credit unions? Of course, the choice is still yours ultimately, but it never hurts to be an informed consumer instead of following blindly, eh? Cheers.

Hair: WTC. Today's treatment was the Deep Fortifying variety for the usual hour, and again, the chaser was my sister's Moisture Renewal conditioner. Spray conditioner blend was the only leave-in. The style is a single braid.

Once our weather finally changes, I'll probably start wearing my hair down much of the time. If it was cooler out, I would already. It's good to leave it out for Nature to play with every so often. Plus, it looks better that way with coats and scarves and things.

Music: Today, I've brought Willie Nelson's Stardust album into the office with me. Such a classic, and it has my favorite version of September Song ever recorded on it. I've got Sinatra in the car...guess I'm in a standards sort of mood, which seems to relieve my stress levels a bit.

Angel vs. Her Bank: The swine have finally relinquished the hold on my last deposit, a sodding week after the fact, but the damage is done. Now I have to figure out how to live on limited resources (or in some cases, simply do without them) for another week while my accounts lie in paralyzed ruin. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if they suddenly decided to close them without warning and send me a bill for the remainder, along with a nasty reprimand for the overdraft that they helped create. Buggers. Bring it on.

Etc.: Nothing I love more than heading into the weekend totally knackered. Perhaps I'll use being stranded at home to my advantage and finally give my car a good cleaning. And maybe my bathroom. And maybe my bedroom...


Liberty or death
What we so proudly hail
Once you provoke her,
Rattling of her tail
Never begins it
Never, but once engaged,
Never surrenders
Showing the fangs of rage

     -Metallica, Don't Tread On Me