Party

TT and I were supposed to go to a party on Saturday night. We got our favorite punk threads on and we get a knock at the door. Drat, there she was, the old bat. Why does his granny always show up at the wrong time?

To make matters worse, TT drops me and takes HER to the party. My friends called me the next day, said how she was bragging on him being a Gulf Power executive (!!!!) and that he always shows up the "first of the month to CHECK up on me." Yea, right.
What really made me mad is they said they thought I looked a little like her. Good thing we were on the phone. I don't usually get violent, but them's fighting words.

So, what did you all do on Saturday night?! 

Mountains

My daughter says I am a mountain climber, that I am not happy unless I am tackling a huge task. Hmmmmm, is she right?

Let's see.

I am moving my business during the holidays. I haven't moved salons for ten years.

I am in the middle of twenty back decompression therapy treatments. I go at 7:45 a.m. five days a week. (It seems to be working, thank God- literally!)

Five and one half weeks ago, I stopped smoking. I also stopped abusing alcohol. I have a couple a couple times a week, at the very most. I am not coughing as much and my wino tummy is significantly reduced!

I have reconnected with my first love, my Lord and Savior and am learning to live from a loving Christ-centered perspective, instead of wandering around aimlessly and fearfully.

I just found out our homeowner's insurance will increase to $4900 a year. Two years ago, it was $795 a year. I will begin the fight to find a more reasonable rate.

So, doesn't it seem about time for me to take on a new project? Why not go VEGAN right before the holidays?!

Okay, this is what happened. I go into the breakroom and one of my friends is reading the SKINNY BITCH book. She and I share enthusiasm for eating like Peter Rabbit. I read a couple of lines and chortle over the sarcastic humor of the authors and decide some more such amusement would help my stress level.

Oi. I was not prepared. Chapter Four, "The Dead, Rotting, Decomposing Flesh Diet" shook me up. Chapter Six, "You Are What You Eat" knocked the air out of me. And Chapter Nine, "Have No Faith: Governmental Agencies Don't Give a Shit About Your Health" finished me off. (BTW, for those in Europe, you don't have the same issues. You don't have the animal cruelty and pesticide and preservative problems we have in our "progressive" U. S. society!)
So, the cover was simply a front. Using my vanity, the authors hoodwinked me into the true intent of their book, which was to save my life.

"Hey, TT, I am reading this great, funny book. Wanna read it after me?"

"Sure HG. I always love to read what you read."

I love my husband. Next day.

"I stayed up half the night reading. HG, I have to tell you, I cried over Chapter Six, 'You Are What You Eat.' I feel so bad I ever ate one hamburger or one chicken wing. We live in a barbaric country and I have been a part of it."

He has been a beef addict. Any time he came up missing, all I had to do was drive to Wendy's and there he was, salivating over his ninety-nine cent piece of a dead cow.

See why I love him? What a heart. This is as big as me quitting smoking and not getting loopy every night.

So, I went to the health food store today and bought every soy and veggie meat substitute I could find. Y'all please pray for his taste buds. He is really being a great sport.

And we have both been cheese addicts, ice cream nuts, eggies, the whole dairy bit. (Chapter Five, "The Dairy Disaster")

I have eaten vegan before. I got really thin. Not sick looking. Yeah, I was the Bitch, the Skinny Bitch!! It was fun. I could eat mountains of the approved foods and not gain an ounce and felt GREAT!!!

But this was a lot to throw at TT, right before the holidays. Hey, I get tired of climbing mountains alone! 

Punk

This one is for you 4D!!

We had so much fun doing the whole punk/goth thing. First of all, TT amazed me he would let me cut him in a mohawk!

He said shopping at WalMart was quite the experience with that style. Apparently, men, women and children LOVE the mohawk action!

Dot was a go-go gal. She made her own dress. She has in ingenious design sense, just like my mother.

What made the night so much fun was that TT was a total HIT!! I love costume parties. I only hope the birthday girl ha as much fun as we did!

celebrations

Saturday night was a wedding. TT and I had so much fun. Here I am, smoke free, only having a drink (or three!) at times of celebration! This was such a special night. The wedding was one of the most touching ceremonies ever. They wrote their vows. I doubt there was one dry eye.

Then, they broke lose at the reception. Major rock, rap, metal music. Lotsa love and laughter as all the stylists partied together.
We spent much of Sunday afternoon talking about how much fun we had. Doesn't he look handsome?
This is the new salon owner. He is the kindest man, next to TT of course. TT is not breathing fire, just the lights/flash issue! Dot was her usual dazzling self.

Okay, I am having a problem. This coming Saturday, TT and I are going to a friend's 30th birthday celebration. It is a ROCKER costume party! Help!! I am not a rocker. I like punk more. I was thinking about doing TT's hair into a fauxhawk and maybe black eyeliner on him, heavy cross necklace, jeans and his Doc Martins and his usual black tshirt with the sleeves rolled up. . . whatcha think?

Me, I have black lace mit/gloves, lots of black chokers/heavy crosses. Black tank, tight ripped jeans, black Doc Martin-like shoes. . . hair spiked on top, close on sides a la Rod Stewart.

I don't want to spend money on costuming. Very tight right now.

Help!!!! 

Pink

(Photo looks coral, but in real life, it is PINK!!)


Pink has never been my favorite color. It is my daughter's, my assistant's, and Breast Cancer Awareness'!!

So much in this world is pink. Chi Blowdriers and Flat Irons and Wahl Clippers. . . now if Chi would just come out with pink brushes. The red brush next to the pink drier is a bit much.

Pink and brown, pink and grey (our next salon!), pink and black, pink and white. . . all nice soothing combinations. But pink and RED? Where are my sunglasses?!

I wish someone out there would come out with limey green or aqua for the color of their cause. Or what about a lovely copper brown? But somehow, those colors don't have the same punch as PINK!

So, this is one of my cool clients. She has had me cut her hair in every imaginable shape and has sported just about every color, too. I have to say, the above look tops the list.

What sort of pink things have you bought lately? Can't wait to hear from 4D and Pup on this one!! 

P.S.

Front Row: TT and Boyfriend Back Row: Dot, Hattigrace, TT's brother and TT's mom

This is the last photo for TT's birthday post. Our friend M was standing on the counter entertaining us. . . ah, it was one fun night.

TT is the eldest of twelve children. One died shortly after birth. Brother that attended party is 45. So, TT's mom had twelve babies in fifteen years!! And look how great she looks, at 78! She loves God, always has. She laughs a lot, and gives even more. She is forever cooking and taking it to lonely people.

We all thanked her for having TT!! 

TT's Birthday

TT's sixtieth birthday is today. We celebrated yesterday. We have decided, at the prompting of one certain Dot, to adopt a retired greyhound. The day was clear, cool and breezy. We had the top down on the PT Cruiser and drove out to the country to the Greyhound Rescue Center.

After looking at several dogs, we settled on sweet Caleco, who we have already nicknamed Callie. She is two years old, very sweet and shy. I am a bit nervous, but I think it is another one of those faith things. TT will be taking her for her twice daily ten minute walks, so will be good for him and good for her.

We left the Rescue Center and drove by this tiny airfield to see this plane landing.
Long story short (I am sure TT will post the long tale on this one!), TT got a free ride in this 1942 Stearman biplane!!! What a dream come true for him. I said that had to be his birthday gift from God, because I never could have made THAT happen!!! All he could say is "WOW WOW WOW WOW!" He is still smiling!!

He had told me for his birthday he just wanted to go out to eat with me, Dot and Boyfriend. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I did not believe him. D and B offered their house, so we have been lying and scheming for weeks to pull off a surprise!!

Thinking he was going to their house for dinner the night before his birthday, he seemed oblivious to the tension of the night! Boyfriend said, "Hey TT, you gotta come out back and see my new firepit!" At that, about a dozen of our dearest friends shouted out, "SURPRISE!!"

Then, Boyfriend said, "Hey TT, turn around, we have another surprise for you!" And TT turned to see his mom coming down the steps! She lives in Orlando. They are very close. TT's brother flew her in for the party.

So, they hugged and cried. Then, Boyfriend said, "TT, just when you think there couldn't be any more surprises, look again!!!" Then, I cried. TT's brother, the one who's wife died this spring, came down the stairs! I had asked him, but he declined because of work and such. At the last minute, he DROVE all the way from Orlando. What a gift!!
Dot and Bebop (TT's mom) had cooked all day, making lasagna, a fabby salad, pies, cookies and such. It was quite a celebration. We laughed and hugged all night! I am so proud of Dot for pulling off such a wonderful event. Okay, I had another photo that neither Picasa nor blogslip will post, so I will have to do a PS later!!

At any rate, it was a fabulous celebration, thanks to the love of family and friends.

Happy Sixtieth Birthday, TT!