Hair cut-astrophes!

Okay, I'm gonna need a little moral support, girls.

I can't be the only one who FREAKS OUT when I go to get my hair cut.  For me, my hair doesn't define me.  I had short hair all while I was growing up (I think because my mom decided how my hair would look and she was tired of me not wanting to have it brushed.  I can understand that .... a little.).  I even donated my hair to Locks of Love as part of my first 101 in 1001 list a few years ago.  I had grown it out for about 5 years and I was ready for a change.

Since then, I may have taken it too far.  Over the last few years, every time I go in to the salon, it seems to get shorter and shorter (yes, I understand that's the point of a haircut!).  It was a shoulder-length bob for a while.  Then I moved to a regular bob which came about 1/2 way between my shoulders and my chin.  Then I entered the 90s (in 2009 no less) and discovered the stacked bob.  I think before then the stacked bob had always been too "out there" for me.  What can I say?  I'm a straight-laced kinda girl.

I may have taken it too far this time.

I swear when I walk into the salon, I nearly break out into a cold sweat.  Maybe it's because I don't have a regular stylist.  Maybe it's because a haircut isn't something you can really undo all that quickly.  Oh sure, it will grow out, but until then every day is a hat day and I really don't look good in hats!

Last night when I went into the salon, it was no different.  I eyeball the stylists and, fair or not, I judge their skills at cutting hair based on what their hair looks like.  Let's just say my prospects were not looking good!  But I steeled myself, plopped my butt in the chair and explained what I wanted.  About 20ish minutes later I had a new (quite short) do.  Apparently when I told her that the length in the back should START tapering at the occipital bone, she took that to mean 1 1/2 inches ABOVE it!  Egads!

Let's just say this hair-do is SHORT!  Crazy short!  I-don't-have-to-use-much-shampoo short!  I-stepped-out-of-my-car-and-the-lesbians-that-live-next-door-to-me-said-"CAUUTE haircut" short!

The jury is still out.  If I decide I like it, maybe I'll share a picture with ya'll.  Maybe.

#24 Completed - Buy fruits/vegetables/flowers from the farmers' market every week for a month - COMPLETED 05/26/2010

I've mentioned before how wonderful it is to work in downtown Indianapolis.  One of the perks is the Farmers' Market held every Wednesday just a block away.  It takes place from May through October from 9:30 AM to 1:30 pm and this particular farmers' market has everything from your standard fruits, vegetables and flowers to a beef farmer selling frozen cuts of meat, a couple of vineyards (who will let you taste their wares!  yum!), honey sellers and a man who sells oils and vinegars.  You never know for sure what you're going to get from week to week.  In the spring, there are lots of strawberries and tomatoes.  The fall brings pumpkins and squash to the market.

Back when my friend Stacey still worked with me, I used to get down to the market at least 3 times a month, but since then I usually don't remember until about 2 in the afternoon.  Doh!  So I decided to remedy that.  I love the idea of supporting local farmers and I especially love the fresh fruits and vegetables of spring and summer.  Sure, with modern grocers you can usually get most things year round, but buying it a store doesn't have the same feel and texture as buying it out of the back of the truck of the guy that actually grew it!

My original plan was to buy fruits or vegetables or flowers from the vendors during the month of May, but instead I bought some wine (yay!), a couple of dog bones from the meat vendor, and a few dog treats from the dog bakery that comes to the market.  (It's a good thing Sasha's not spoiled or anything!)  In the 4 weeks I made it to the market during May (thanks for joining me, Jenny!) I did actually manage to buy some flowers and a HUGE tomato though.  I'm looking forward to visiting the vendors more often over the course of the summer.

If you're in the downtown Indianapolis area on Wednesday mornings, come check it out!  Parking near the market is very reasonable.!

NOW - The ones we love

Over Memorial Day weekend, I took some time to go up and visit my parents (#21 on the list).  It was good to get to see them and it was actually a fairly relaxing day for the three of us.  I watched the race on TV (with Dad) and worked on some craft projects (with Mom).  In the evening we decided to go up and put some flowers on the graves of my mom's mom and dad as well as her brother that died in 2000.  May 20th marked 10 years since he died and so many things have changed in our lives and relationships with my aunt and cousins since then that I never could have imagined.

There are lots of thing that I regret that I didn't say or do before they each died.  My uncle Steve battled brain cancer for quite a long time and I wish that I could have done or said more for him.  I know that his wife was struggling (and probably in denial) and that his children (they were 14 and 18 when he died) were probably not prepared for his death when it came.  After all, how can you be when you're just a child?  I wish I had been equipped with the words that they needed then.  I wish I could have told them how much I loved them.  I wish their hearts would have been open to hear what I had to say.  Unfortunately things have changed too much since then and I fear the wounds that are there can never be healed.

My regrets about the things I didn't say or do for my Grandpa are even more.  I remember the last time I saw him.  It was at an Easter party at my aunt's house and I had gone out to take a walk.  I was gone for probably an hour and when I got back, he had left to go home and I didn't get to say goodbye.

I didn't get to say goodbye.

A few weeks later, I thought about going up to visit him over the weekend.  He lived about 3 hours north of me and I didn't go to visit nearly enough.  He was in the midst of a divorce and I think that he was probably a bit lonely living so far from his family.  I thought about the visit and then got busy with my life here.  That was the weekend he died.

I didn't get to say goodbye.

There were so many conversations I wish could have had with him and so many questions I wish I had asked.  He was a WWII Navy Veterans and enjoyed telling stories about his time in "the service".  I wish I had listened to more stories.

I can't go back and change those things, but I can try to do things differently now.  Those regrets that haunt me are the reason that I put some of the things on my list.  My parents were young when they had me, so they are still pretty young.  The problem is that none of us is getting any younger and when I think that the number of Christmases we may have together is dwindling, it makes it even more important that I try to see them as often as possible.

I'm trying to use the time I have now the best way I can.  When given the choice between spending time with my loved ones or doing the laundry, I know that the laundry will always be there.  My loved ones may not be.  Now is when they are here and now is when I try to tell them I love them. 

NOW - Furry love

This week I had my orientation for volunteering at the local animal shelter.  This could possibly be one of the most dangerous things I've ever done.

Oh, I'm not afraid of being bitten or attacked by a dog or cat.  No, the danger I fear is much greater.  I am in danger of falling in love with all of the shelter animals and ending up with a house full of cats and dogs!

Right now I have 2 cats (Phoebe and Munchkin), who are officially "geriatric", but I think they are quite spry!  I got Phoebe the day after I moved here to Indianapolis back in 1997.  She was the first cat I ever got and it never ceases to amaze me that she's already 13 years old.  It seems like just yesterday she was a 1 pound ball of fur that needed to grow into her gigantic ears.  Even though she is pretty youthful and I don't enjoy having to clean up her occasional mess, every day I catch myself sadly contemplating the day when she'll no longer be a part of my household.

I got Munchkin in 2000 a few weeks after another one of my cats got very ill and died suddenly.  At the time I was hurting and didn't want another cat, but she somehow came home with me anyway (thanks, Mom!) and now I'm very attached to the tempermental little girl.  She enjoys being petted, but her attitude can turn on a dime and if you're not careful, you could lose an appendage.  For some reason I have to convince other people that she's sweet.  Go figure!

And, of course, I have Sasha.

Clearly, 2 cats and one dog are MORE than enough for me in my little bungalow home.  I don't need any more.  CLEARLY.

The problem is I'm a softy.  I see those sweet eyes and furry faces (whether they are mine or at the shelter) and I want to pet them and protect them and make sure nothing bad ever happens to them.  To put it simply, I just melt.

So this is my chance to be strong and listen to the advice of the trainer who spoke to us at the shelter the other day.  He said, "Love them....here."  What better way is there to concentrate on the NOW?  Whether it's playing with Sasha at the dog park, snuggling with Phoebe and Munchkin in bed at night or walking the dogs at the shelter, I'm going to try to be in the "now".  I'm going to try to remember that worrying about the shelter animals finding a good home or fretting about when the end will come for my own pets only diminishes the joy I experience now.

Wish me luck and go give your pets some lovin's.

Call me Crazy

I am crazy.  I freely admit it.  I know others probably say it behind my back, but I think life is too short to go through it on a "normal" course.  There are just way too many things that might be completely and totally fun.  How will I know what those things are until I try them, right?

So, what makes me crazy this time?  I bought a kiddy carrier to pull behind my bicycle....for my dog.  It's okay.  I'll wait until you're done laughing.

Here's my explanation:  A great convergence occurred.  1)  I'm a big fan of multitasking and 2)  I've been on a kick to get some things crossed off of my list lately.  My most recent obsession is getting those 1000 miles ridden on my bicycle.  I could always head to the gym and ride them out on a stationary bike, but the weather here in Indiana is finally beautiful and I'm going to get out and enjoy it, darn it!  The only problem with going for a bike ride is that I'd love to take Sasha with me, but I'm afraid of her leash getting tangled up in my bike and bringing us both down.  Besides, she's not a very big dog (40 lbs) and despite her everlasting supply of energy, I didn't know how well she'd do running alongside me on a long bike ride.

So, I headed to Dick's Sporting Goods store and explained to the sales guy what I was looking for.  I was suprised to hear that lots of other people use those carriers for their dogs as well!  Perhaps I'm not as loony as I thought!

They've come a long way in the design of these carriers!  Once you attach the bracket to your bike (it stays on there and takes up very little room), you simply insert a toggle pin and you're ready to ride.

Sasha wasn't quite sure what to make of the ride at first and she REALLY didn't like the cobblestone road that I rode down, but she relaxed into it.  We rode from Troy's house in downtown Indianapolis up to the Broad Ripple area where there is a dog park.  Sasha was very excited to see all of the other puppies when we arrived and after an hour of playing at the park, she nearly fell asleep during the 6+ mile ride back to the house.

It was completely and totally a great afternoon!  When we got home that night, we both slept very well.  Even all those giggles I heard as other people passed us on the bike trail were well worth it.

NOW - National Organization for Women

From my "Believing in Ourselves" daily quote calender (Sunday, May 30th):

"I never set out to start a women's revolution.  I never planned it.  It just happened, I would say, by some miracle of convergence of my life and history, serendipity, one thing leading to another."

- Betty Friedan, writer and cofounder of the National Organization for Women

As I sit here today, free to write this (and most any other thing I want to write which promotes the welfare, rights and privileges of women), I thank Betty and the other brave founders of NOW who have done so much for the women of our society.  NOW continues to promote the welfare of women and other oppressed groups in other countries around the world.

NOW - Veruca Salt

Okay, I do so hate it when I fail to follow through on something. I promised that I would post an entry every day in May as a part of NaBloPoMo. I made it 10 days and then....life happened. There's a lot of stuff going on here in my life that I may or may not share at some point. Sorry...some things have to be private, right?

Then I had a week of vacation that I took off from work to rest, relax and take care of some stuff at my house.

I know these are pitiful excuses, but they are all I have....

Anyway....I'm gonna give it another go and try to complete the month of blogging (since it's on my list and all, ya know).

This month's topic over at NaBloPoMo is "Now". Now THIS is something I can get on board with. After all, my list is all about taking advantage of those wonderful opportunities I have around me every day. Besides, for better or worse, I'm a master of instant gratification and I think that definitely lends itself well to the topic of "Now". I'm actually looking forward to this writing assignment!

So, what was the first thing that popped into my head when I read what the topic was?

"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory". For those of you who aren't up on the whole thing, this is NOT the "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" movie starring Johnny Depp made a few years ago. No! This is fabulously wonderful 1971 cinema starring Gene Wilder at its best. I swear I have seen this movie no less than 100 times. At least! I can recite every line and sometimes break out into songs from it for seemingly no reason. My all-time favorite song from it is "I want it NOW" sung by the character Veruca Salt. She is an uber-spoiled girl who is used to getting everything she wants at the drop of a hat.

I am most certainly not a fan of spoiled children (or grown people for that matter), but there is just something about this song that makes me smile. Perhaps its the fact that I know it would be COMPLETELY socially unacceptable, but there are times that I would like to sing it from the highest roof top. Take a listen and tell me you don't feel the same way sometimes.