So, as I have previously mentioned, I had been growing my hair out for Lock of Love. LoL is an organization that provides wigs for children who have lost their hair through disease and could not otherwise afford them. If you're interested in such an easy way to give to children in need, be sure to check out the Locks of Love website.
So today I was getting kind of antsy, and decided to call the salon I had been to last time I had my hair cut, Seven Salon in Bellevue. They had an appointment open, and the receptionist informed me that if I was donating my hair, the cut would be complimentary. While I was aware that some salons participated in this manner, I had no idea that such a nice (and somewhat pricy) one would.
Well, I went in with hair this long (sorry for the cropping):
My stylist Cassie had me leaving like this:
If your hair is getting to be a bit on the long side, I would definitely recommend checking out Locks of Love. It's a very passive way to do something good for a child who is losing part of their identity.
To my loyal readers, I want to thank you for sticking with me through the dried-up desert of a blog that this has been lately.
But now you shall be quenched! In case you were wondering, part of the reason for the lack of bloggage was due to my trip to Lynchburg, Virginia to catch up with some friends. I missed both my friends and Lynchburg like crazy for these past two years and was so thrilled to finally be going back. Some highlights:
1. Adventure in Roanoke with Cindy
2. Having "secret" conversations behind our menus at a diner in downtown Charlottesville with the girls
3. Dropping by Laura's office and not finding her...twice! haha Eventually she showed up and we were able to make plans
4. Introducing Cindy and Sarah to my favorite South Park episodes (the WoW & Scientology ones)
5. Exploring Lynchburg's history in the Old City Cemetery
That will have to do for now, but know that I do love you!
While achieving humongous goals are wonderful and all, there is something to be said for checking off those smaller ones. They bring about quite a bit of joy as well.
This weekend, I can check off a few of those small accomplishments.
1. Try foie gras. Okay, I wasn't exactly sure what this substance was, but now I know; I have eaten duck liver. Yes, it was just a sprinkling of fried foie gras over pecorino gnocchi, but it totally counts.
2. Learn how to apply fake lashes. I have tried this numerous times, all to no avail. Well, Friday night I decided that I wanted to look fierce since I don't go out that often, and Trinity was having a Holi celebration to remember with a performance by Jay Sean. I just grabbed a set of lashes and this time it miraculously worked.
3. Grow my hair at least 10 inches for Locks of Love. I've surpassed that mark, but since the longest layer isn't really that thick, I'm gonna let it keep on growing a bit longer.
Life is full of goals, big and small. Sometimes the big can seem a bit out-of-reach, but the smaller ones can have a significant impact, too.
I have been told many a time that love find you when you aren't looking for it, and that constantly seeking it out will do nothing.
Lately, my friend Koko and I have noticed a few things. A lot of our friends are coupled up, actually married, and some have started the whole baby-making thing. There are also some who are out partying every moment they get the chance. We fall somewhere in between. It's a sick relationship version of the Twilight Zone.
After discussing the idea that love tends to find you rather than you finding it, and that we are not really wanting to hang out at the bars all the time, we decided to make a change. We realized that we want to focus more on enjoying the life that we have by experiencing new things and places, and basically getting out of the stagnant waters.
My goal right now is to focus on things I want to do, places I want to see, and things I want to try. We discussed going more often to the museums, taking part in the Belltown Art Walk, and today I even had my very first Yellow Leaf Cupcake. For the unimpressed readers, Yellow Leaf is amazing.
So there you have it; I am giving up on love. If it wants me, it knows where to find me.
Sometimes it is inevitable that people will get a bit burnt out doing the same thing over and over and over. Such is certainly the case with musicians. When this happens with a lead singer, it seems that most bands just break up. Some, however, seek out a new member. They are the rare ones; it is often too difficult a task to try to replace a lead singer, especially if the band is well-know. This was the task that was presented to the Newsboys, and more famously, Journey.
The Newsboys have had a few singers over the years; John James at the beginning, Peter Furler as his replacement, and guitarist Phil Joel would occasionally lend his vocals on songs like "Entertaining Angels". Peter Furler became the sound of the Newsboys, but he, too became burnt out from so much time in the studio and touring all over the world. In their song "RSL 1984" you can hear his gentle goodbye and his yearning to return home to Australia. Furler's replacement came in the form of Michael Tait, former member of DC Talk. While I loved DC Talk (they all attended my college, p.s.), the Newsboys are Australian and New Zealander. Michael Tait is American, and his voice is nothing like what the Newsboys are known for. Below are the original and Tait versions of the Newsboys hit "Something Beautiful":
Original with Peter Furler
Michael Tait version
Journey had a similar dilemma when Steve Perry left quite a while ago. Rather than turning to an established singer, they decided to check youtube. They ran across a Filipino singer named Arnel Pineda, and they were hooked. It was quite fortunate for them that there happen to be two people in the world with identical voices. Compare them for yourself with these versions of "Don't Stop Believing":
Original with Steve Perry
Arnel Pineda version
Sometimes differences are not for the best, and sometimes they save a truly epic band.
It was the type of situation that you would see on "I Love Lucy" or some other comedy. Of course, when it's you it doesn't always seem as amusing.
As often happens, some dishes got a bit dirty. So I put a little bit of detergent into the dishwasher, and turned it on. Easy peasy, no? I grew up without a dishwasher, so I'm not especially accustomed to this magnificent machine.
As I was sitting in my bedroom watching "Millionaire Matchmaker" online after having finished leftover quesadilla, my roommate yells across the house "What did you put in the dishwasher???" I come out, stating that I had put in some dishes and dish soap.
Upon reaching the kitchen, my jaw drops as I take in the sea of foam that used to be our kitchen.
Moral of the story: detergent used for handwashing does not work for a dishwasher. Be warned!
Growing up, I didn't keep up with all the current movie releases. Instead, I watched what my parents allowed me to watch, and I fell for some of the classic movies. I remember rejoicing the first time that we watched AMC. I was in heaven! My sister and I would get up early to watch episodes of "Laurel and Hardy", and after our schoolwork, we would often turn on films from the 50's and 60's.
One of my favorite leading ladies was (and still is) Doris Day. Whether she's playing a country bumpkin from the depths of Louisiana, or the witty housewife of a hypochondriac, she always pulled off her roles with style and grace.
For your viewing and listening pleasure, this is a clip from "The Man Who Knew Too Much" with Jimmy Stewart.
Too bad I couldn't find a "Tammy" clip. Oh well. Que sera sera!
