Flying Seperately

My Mom took my sister and myself to go see Kodo Drum Ensemble at the Meany Hall "World Series." Im sure whoever came up with that name is still patting him/herself on the back. They are a Taiko Drum Ensemble from Japan. For those of you who dont know what Taiko is, its both further evidence that Japanese people are alien creatures designed to do any and everything as well as that thing can be done, and proof that there was a landbrige that stretched from what is now Asia to what is now North America, and "Japanese" people crossed the bridge and became, through many trials and tribulations as well as a damn long time, Native Americans. THe similarities between the songs and dances of Kodo and those you can see at any all nations powwow are no coincedence.
If you've ever taken a yoga class, and who among us hasnt, honestly, you know what a bitch it is to be in Warrior one, even for two minutes. Well, these young men, clad either in black leggings and short kimonos or, the Japanese uniform of choice for almost any strenuous activity, the little white diaper (that reminds me of a funny story about my archeology teacher at bard...later perhaps,) stood in a low lunge while playing these huge drums, very very vigorously with large wooden sticks, arms overhead, competely sychronized with each other for fifteen to twenty minutes at a time. No sweating was visible. It was pretty amazing. They have no physical limitations, and it is incredible to see. At times it was so loud and repetitive that I fell asleep (I remember that happened to me at one of the new Star Wars movies too...whichever one had Jar Jar Binks, God it was loud.)When the three of us were on the way, in the car, paying nine dollars to park under meany on a desolate friday night in the U District, we were discussing my Sister and my mom's upcoming trip to LA. It came up cause Ariel was feeling guilty that she got to go see everyone while I had to stay here and toil in the Salon and at the dark Village. Then she did a triple toe lutz of guilt and said;
"At least if something happens, there'll be one of us left,"
(Me)"God forbid! Jesus, Ariel!"
(Ariel)"What? Its true, Mom maybe we should have taken seperate flights!?!"
(Me)"Ahahaha Thats hilarious! I cant believe you thought of that!"
(Mom) "Hilarious what? My parents always flew seperately whenever they went anywhere! Especially long flights, and when the kids were young. Its sensible."
(Ariel) "See! Why wouldnt you tell me that? Its a sound idea!! I could have easily gotten a seperate ticket!"
This is the pre-vacation conversation folks.
Today I bought an awesome barber chair from a guy in Renton. I found it on craigslist. It was 80 dollars, the chair is motorized so you just press a button and it raises or lowers, it tilts back (read great in-sink shampoos!) and its totally 70's, brown on brown on wood scheme. I dont even think they make them like this anymore and if they do, they cost scrill. Even crappy salon chairs are like at LEAST $500. I had no idea it was electric when I bought it. School is pressing on. The weeks fly by. I am having the new experience of getting "regulars," and its hilarious. Each quarter when the fifth quarter students are about to graduate, the clients who have been coming to the salon for anywhere from 5 to 20 years look around for the new talent and who they want to be passed on to. Its great because they feel like theyre passing on this amazing gift to you of getting to learn their hair, or their service. I have to say, I've gotten some pretty cool regulars. Mr Washington comes in every wednesday with his wife and he picked me. He gets a Manicure, Pedicure and a Lineup. He is an older black gentleman who landed in seattle with the service about 25/30 years ago and never left. He will crack you up with his comments about the new students as they walk across the floor with their fashion victim do's and trying too hard outfits. He is a very well manicured man and has to have everything just so. He folds his had neatly on my station the same way every time. We sit in the same pedicure chair everytime, and always use alcohol on the back of his neck to keep the bumps away after I line him up. He is great. Once a month he swaps the pedi for a facial. Ill be getting those nail and skin hours after all!Then I have Ms Napoleon. She is an elderly black lady who wears a black baseball cap with the words "high maintenance" embroidered on it in sequins. She isnt kidding. She loves to tell crude and hilarous man stories. She gets relaxer and color touchups, roller sets (she has a few tracks in the front that she was just sure I wouldnt be able to figure out...she still has some trepidation about picking me and having a white girl do her hair but im killin her with kindness, its a challenge now!)and an occasional marcel. I also gave a facial mani pedi to a woman who has been coming in the salon for 12 years. She booked me out till I leave. She owns an independant publishing company...something to keep in mind...I got her card.
I did Nellie's hair on friday, I could tell how much faster and easier it was than the last time I did it! I must be getting better. I did it with the razor, similar to Chieni's and it came out much more like what I had in mind. Her hair is so beautiful, it comes out of her head this golden color and gets natural white blonde highlights all through the front. Natural blondes are always a little amazing.
On advising day I did one of the second quarter students' hair. She has been asking me to do it for a long time but I was nervous because what she wanted was so drastic that i couldnt imagine that she really wanted it. I bleached all her hair (note to self: apply lightener to cold shaft first, let it sit and then apply to roots because they lighten three times as fast,) then colored the bottom third eggplant purple, the middle third hot pink, and the top a cafe au lait caramel color. Her hair is very soft and curly and was originally a level 2, almost black. It came out pretty well. I didnt straighten it so i couldnt see it as well as youll be able to with it all straight. The pink was the weakest spot because it was a store bought manic panic type dye and it just wouldnt take like the other ones which came out really beautifully. I was especially proud of the caramel color because I had to formulate to incorporate her undelying pigment (UP) which was really orangey yellow after the bleach. For that I had to use a beige/green based color even though I wanted it golden. So the UP provided the gold and the color toned the orange with its complement, green. I cant wait to get a different pink on there, cut it to show off the striation and flatiron it. Then Ill know how it came out for real. Not much else...did a color touch up and marcel on an older lady who had had a stroke. It came out well and i didnt burn her at all. Huzzah.
I watched Alien vs. Predator at Frannie's house Sat night before getting quite loaded on cheap white wine at the montlake house of my friend's Tyson and Brian. Their parties are always super sausage festy. But its a nice change of pace for me and I needed to blow off some steam. Then we went to a dry party stocked with Tom Douglas restaurant employees. Even endless champagne, oysters and cupcakes couldnt save that one. Alien vs Predator was rediculous, really. Those alien eggs and resulting slimy parasites that suck onto your face, throttle you, and spew their larvae into your chest cavity to incubate are unbeleivably repulsive. The spidery spindly finger legs on those things? Yech!!! HR Geiger or whomever came up with that whole movie concept is so truly sick. The predators are cool, i like how they can bee translucent and the only way you can see them is from the blood dripping off their..hands? I dont know what youd call them, theyre not really hands. I also like that they have dreadlocks. Violent Rasta Aliens!!
Oh yeah, just so you all get some closure you should know that I called and acted a fool with the Bellevue Chapter of Evil Lexus Assholes one last time. The Guy from retail parts tried to say that something must have happened to the key in the mail as he put it into the box himself. I told him that was going to be his problem as I had paid for the key, didnt have one and by all means wasn't going to accept that I'd have to buy another one. Hed have to get creative and find a way to work it out, as I was sure that he didnt want to become one more part of the completely fucked up and unsatisfying experience Id had with them so far. I asked them not to mail it and just call me and Id come and get it, since the mail wasnt too successful last time. I got it in the mail Friday, I think he was too much of a pansy to call me back after I cussed him out! WHATEVER!! How would he feel getting an empty box in the mail??? A body can only take so much.
Happy Valentine's Day all, I hope you find endless romance and love...if only with life the universe and everything, cause other people are a shifty investment.Yours Till Niagara Falls. V

Oh yeah, one more thing! Yesterday, Tiffani, you know the paragonic apex of passive agressivity who is the other receptionist at my work? She had her review in which I suspect she was ripped a new one about how she treats me. THe note leaving, the talking shit about me to other employees, the constant unwarranted criticism of my work. So she come in to, get this, make VALENTINES with me. For all the people in the office. So I had to spend three hours sitting side by side at our desk cutting pink and red paper with pinking shears to make paper conversation hearts, spelled wrong (like "yer kewl" and "bee myne," Kall mee" and "sew nyce"...her idea of COURSE) and glue stick them onto cards, all the while thinking "you hate me, I know it!! why are you here???" It was crazy. Gaslighting, its whats for dinner.