Well, it's a new month. After a week-long flirtation with Herbal Essences, I'm back on Pantene. Even the most devoted Pantene users take breaks sometimes and that's ok. It's good to try other things - especially new things - even if you just end up going back to whatever you were doing before. The key is to go back to it before your new obsession causes harm.

After a week, HE was up to its usual tricks. Dryness, tangles, etc., but I stopped using it before it got worse and avoided dry skin patches entirely. So yeah...it was fun for the time but I'm over it.

Earlier this morning, I made a list of all of the different Pantene products that I can still use, which was reassuring. There's actually quite a lot. I'm still bummed that they discontinued their Purity shampoo and changed the base detergent in most of their new shampoos to SLS but it's not the end of the world.

Anyway, today I clarified - HE Drama Clean shampoo, ACV rinse, Pantene Medium-Thick moisturizing conditioner, blended leave-in spray conditioner. Already my hair is in better form. There really is no substitute for Pantene as far as moisture goes. On Wednesday I'll have to see about doing a WTC.

For now though I want to get outside to run around town and let my hair dry. Our KS guests have gone back home. They said goodbye last night while I watched an old Frankie movie and their plane left early this morning. So I have today free to shop...or whatever.

Health wise, I've had to stop working out for awhile as a 17-year-old back injury has resurfaced. Guess I slept on it weird or something. Also not the end of the world; I just have to be careful not to breathe too heavily.

Cabin fever is setting in now so it's time to brush my teeth and hit the road.


You Are Old Fashioned



You think that the best things come from the past. You love anything vintage or retro.

You have are drawn to the darker elements of life. You like a bit of grit.

Art excites you. You try to bring it into your everyday life as much as possible.

You are interested in a plethora of things. You love to learn.

The Bookstore Test

Hair: I'd wanted to do a WTC today but my mother and sister stayed home so it didn't happen. There's no way I can get away with that kinda stuff when Mommy Dearest is around to freak out about it. My sister isn't a problem.

So it was another CWC this morning. Still using Pantene Volume shampoo & Moisture Renewal conditioner - loving it. Why the heck did Pantene have to change?!
    Anyway, leave-ins were blended spray conditioner and serum. Style is a bun.

Late summer shedding seems to have started already. It usually happens around August. I might have to start doing scalp massages every morning to prevent having to pull loose hairs off of myself all day long.

Finally got around to measuring today - 28.75". Just a quarter inch from the last time I measured so the growth has obviously slowed down for summer as well. Hot weather & I just don't get along.

Etc.: No band practice this week. We have a show on the 20th.

Tomorrow brother Moon Pie is coming over so I can help him put a decent résumé together. He's been unemployed even longer than I have and the only advantage to that is that he can tell me what to expect. He's been really cool about explaining the UI process and reassuring me when I start freaking out. Almost no one I know has a job anymore. It's total crap. Hopefully companies will start hiring like crazy in the fall.


You Are Intense



You are a bit quieter than most people, but you have a lot of thoughts and emotions brewing.
You are moody and dramatic, but you tend to keep that on the inside.

You have the makings of an artist - especially a novelist. You've got a lot to get out of that head of yours.
It's hard for you to take anything lightly. You feel more strongly than most people.

How Does Your Cookie Crumble?

Hair: Weirdness. No luck with the new Pantene leave-in spray for fine hair. It left a disgusting, gritty coating on my hair and killed the shine completely, as if I'd powdered it with chalk. So I returned it and got the kind for medium-thick hair, which works better but still isn't the greatest.

Aside from that, things are pretty much the same. Same routines, same styles. I'm quickly running out of bobby pins as the protective ends like to slip off and I have to keep getting rid of them.

Etc.: There was a band practice scheduled tonight but dad & I didn't go. It's my parents' anniversary and they wanted to stay in.

We also got a new washing machine. Fun stuff.

Trisha: Hear, hear.

Hair: Finally, an honest to goodness WTC. Washed with the old Pantene Volume shampoo, treated for an hour with the Deep Fortifying Treatment, then chased with Suave green apple conditioner.

Leave-ins were blended spray conditioner and serum. The latter didn't make the ends greasy or wonky so there was no need to hide them. Thus today's style was a flipped ponytail.

Etc.: What else is there really? I'm tired as heck and will inevitably sound like a broken record anyway. Blah blah blah music, blah blah blah fashion, blah blah blah unemployment, blah blah blah quiz.


You Are a Kitten



You are playful and sweet, but you also treasure your alone time.
You're pretty independent, and you resent anyone trying to tell you what to do.

You don't get bored easily. You are quite good at entertaining yourself.
Deep down, you are quite sensitive and intuitive. You are less standoffish than you seem.

Are You a Puppy or a Kitten?

Hair: CWC again. I'm now using Suave ocean breeze for a light conditioner and Pantene Medium-Thick, Dry-Moisturized conditioner. What a mouthful. Maybe the latter should be abbreviated to MTDM? Then again, with all of the other abbreviations...ACV, W-CWC, S&D, MTDM? WTF?

Anyway, my poor hair's been put through the wringer today between being tossed and blown around, exposed to much sunlight, twisted and pinned up before it was dry, taken down and shaken out. Then I had to run a brush through it because my seamless comb was no match for the resulting tangles. It did more ripping out than detangling, I'm afraid. So when I can afford it I will be getting another set of Conair Velvet Touch brushes, which I've always loved.

Yes, I know seamless combs are best. I've been a LongLocks member for almost 5 years now and have heard all of the arguments against plastic brushes. But you know what? I've also heard all of the arguments against cones, sulfates, Pantene and pretty much everything else I've used on a daily basis for the last 10 years. For every argument, there's a counter argument and breaking the rules is nothing new to me.

Etc.: This afternoon I went with my sister and her bf to a park by the beach for her friend's b-day party. It was warm and dreadfully sunny so I hid in the shade as much as possible. I did get a ton of pix, however, so much of tonight will be spent uploading and editing on Photobucket.
    The birthday girl loved the card that I got her as well as the wrapping job I did on the gift from my sister. She also told me that I was tiny and cute and smelled great. Hope she likes my pictures as much, even though her bf is a professional photographer.

After the party, I got home, changed into my painting clothes and touched up the newly green walls in what used to be my sister's room. My parents had been painting it while I was away and I'm a bit jealous of the color. It's a very rich, almost-aqua green. Quite similar to the color that my room was while I was growing up.

Speaking of paint, according to the Behr brand, my eyes are "Pacific Sea Teal." At least in indoor light. Seems fitting considering I grew up on the Pacific.

Well, that's enough blabbering for now I suppose. Time to get some laundry sorted.


You Are Pie



You are sweet, but there's more to the story than that. You're quite complicated.
Sometimes people don't appreciate you as much as they should. You are really quite special.

You are deep, thoughtful, and get better with time. You are subtle but powerful.
You are very traditional, and that's a good thing. You remind people of simpler and happier times.

Are You Cake or Pie?