High Noon at the Salon

I don't like my hair. Whenever I got home from Great Clips or Fantastic Sam's I'd look in the mirror and see a guy with crew cut and something like a furry rodent on top of his head. I'm not sure why it took me so long to realize this.

In any case I decided I was done. No more haircuts for me, I'd just use the clippers I got from Wal-Mart, put on the six guard, and buzz it. Leah said she was OK with that, except somehow a few days later I had an appointment at a salon.

The salon was about five minutes from my house so I kept my appointment. Leah must have factored that in of course. She said she didn't think it was a fancy saloon, I supposed that was a good thing, but I started to get nervous when I pulled into the gravel parking lot. This isn't some old lady's house is it?

As soon as I walked in my fears were allayed. That place was hopping. "Call me Maybe" was thumping and there were people everywhere. I talked with the lady at front desk and started looking around for other males. I found two, we exchanged manly nods. Meanwhile 16 women were buzzing around the place like bees. I sat down and waited my turn.

After ten minutes or so, Buffy was ready for me. She asked what to do with my hair and I told her that was up to her. Just something low maintenance please. No I don't use product.

She clipped away and we had a nice conversation about family, school, and work. I found out she does hair and makeup for the Golf channel, and has to wake up at 2:30 AM. I told her sometimes I'm still up that late. "So you're one of those crazy people I see with the lights on!" After a little while she's stops clipping and sticks a little product in my hair anyway.

Nobody told me you had to pay with cash. So I went to the bank. I left her a good tip, took her card, and went to pick up lunch.

It's been said many times, many ways

Freestyle

I'm going to try something a bit different today. I have absolutely no idea what I'll write about for this post. I see it's been a month since my last post, so I figure it's high time.

Who is the target audience for this blog? My family, my friends, and my future self. What would I tell those people? December 13, 2012. Almost the end of time. I'm 29 years old. Levi is four and Noelle is ten months. I've been at my job for seven years. It's in the game. I've come a long way at work, but there is still much more to learn. I think the most important thing I've learned so far is the only thing to fear is stress. Work hard, work smart, and refuse to worry. This is all you have to do, and all you can do.

I was thinking on the way home from work today that there is always more I could do. I could be a much better employee. I thought, don't I feel guilty for leaving work left undone? Guilty!? I answer myself, I'll tell you what I feel guilty about: not being with my baby and my four year old son.

The one mysterious and vital variable in this equation is time. Yes, I'll do my very best at work, but how much time? I could always do better by working more. Spooky. Spooky I tell you. I wonder if I'll get to the point where my desire to avoid too many hours will prevent me from further career progression. What if I'm much closer to that point than I realize? What would I do instead? You see... I have this desire to achieve things, to accomplish things. I don't think it really matters what. It just needs to be difficult. Something I can be proud of. Often, usually on Sunday or vacation, I sit around and think about what I want to accomplish. Oh what I could! It only takes time and energy, but I find often my desire to achieve ends up being less than cost of commitment, and I begin to believe the only way to achieve something truly difficult is to work towards it even when you don't feel like it. Something I call force. Why force personal projects? It's not clear if the end goal is worth the sacrifice.

All that being said, I have to carry a heavy burden that most everyone else has to carry as well: I have to make a living. This means work. This means you have to do it even when you don't feel like it. What if... I channel that force into achieving something difficult? BAM! Two for one! This leads me to something I often have to remind myself on those rainy Sunday afternoons: I accomplish at work.

I've often thought that working late every night is taking the easy way out. I want to achieve difficult things. It's much more difficult to be successful at a demanding job while still leaving time for other things in your life. So I reckon I'll try.

I guess all that work stuff was on my mind, lurking below the conscious line. Behold! I shine the spotlight of reason upon thee! Feel better? Yeah, I think so. I mean I felt fine.

I'm going to watch Alias with Leah now.