California, here I come!

Right back where I started from....

Hey everyone!

It is the eve of my first trip back to California since moving to SC!

I am so very excited to see everyone, and so sad I didn't give myself NEAR enough time to do and see everything and everyone I want to.

My only explanation is that when I was living in CA, I literally could not afford to take more than 5 days off of work, so I always worked my vacations into long weekends. I kind of carried that over to here, and since I found such good airfare 9 months before I would actually go....I didn't realize I had that much time to save, and make sure I could take a nice, long trip for a proper visit.

So, I am cramming all I can into a short 4 day trip (the 5th day is travel).

If I don't get to see you this trip I am sorry, BUT, I am happy to announce, that I found an equally good airfare to bring me back for a PROPER weeks visit in December! YAY! Details to follow, I haven't even left for THIS trip yet! lol

Chris and I are doing really well, and surviving the heat of Summer much better than last year this time, when we had just finished moving into our new Apartment!

Work is slow, as always in the Summer, with kids home, and family vacations, but it's steady. Many changes going on at the salon, but I am interested to see how things pan out.

It's the perfect time for a trip home to see family and friends!

I finally got a new camera! Yes, yes, I am officially in the digital age now!

It's a Canon, to replace my Canon film camera. I can use my old lenses on the new camera which is very cool. I can't wait to get pictures of the kids, and everyone! Here I am...

I am most looking forward to...(besides SEEING everyone)... REAL Mexican Food, Souplantation, cooler weather with no humidity, the FAIR!, the B-52's concert!!, meeting Miss Catie Craycroft, Jack in the Box, the Pacific Ocean, and the sense of being "home".
I can't wait to be there! See many of you tomorrow! or days from now, and many more in December!

Love you all.

Hair Show and Thunderstorms

Well, Summer is rapidly approaching, and the usual thunderstorms have started. We unplug our computers, but I have the trusty laptop, so I can work offline. Also, being Summer, there's nothing on tv. I have lots to update, so here goes.

Last month I went to Asheville, NC. Its been on my list for a while, and I finally made it up. Asheville is is in the Western part of NC. Only about an hour and a half from Columbia. It's at the start of the Blueridge mountains, and is famous for the Biltmore house, the largest house in America, with more than 250 rooms. It's a very ecclectic town. Sort of hippie, college, artsy, San Fransisco-y feeling town. I just went up for the day, to say I've been, and check it out.

I shopped, walked, and took just a couple of pictures. Mostly of churches, since they were the most interesting thing I saw.

I went to a great Indian food restaraunt for lunch, and found a really cool bead shop and went into an old 5 and dime that has been turned into a cool place with individual stalls for artists to sell there wares. I didn't make it to the Biltmore, because people tell me that it takes all day to see everything, and it's a bit expensive. Next time.

I've been looking forward to this month for some time, because of the Premiere hair show in Orlando! Last year, I had just started at Image Makers, and couldn't afford to go. Co-worker Christine and I were the only ones from the salon that didn't go. This year, we were the only ones TO go. And she now works at another salon!

I drove down by myself, which normally wouldn't bother me, but I hit a particularly bad thunderstorm in Jacksonville. It's very stressful when you can't see, and you don't know the area, but I made it through, and was on my way through flat, but lush Florida. Met up with Christine, and we went to the Hard Rock Cafe at Universal City Walk. It's the biggest one in the world (so says the waiter) and I believe him. We had a good dinner, and fun driving around the town.

The hair show was the biggest I have ever been to, and I was told my whole career that Long Beach was the biggest hair show in the country. hmmmm

The big highlights for me were the Nick Arrojo razor class, and the Paul Mitchell color class. I made both, and was really inspired! I love Nick Arrojo. (he's the stylist from the tv show "What Not to Wear", for those who don't know)

I got a few tools, and saw a lot of cool stuff, and some really BAD hair do's on the attendees! lol
Sunday night I went to the "Stylist Choice Awards". It's an awards show for hair care products, voted on by stylists. I kid you not. It was really lame, but all the top name hair gurus were there, and I got a gift bag with 16 full size products to try for the price of admission.

I get so inspired after hair shows I can't wait to get back and start doing hair! Alas, I returned to all men's haircuts! Figures. No matter, I will continue my education, and keep trying to update myself and my clients!

Now I can check Florida off my list! I didn't see Disney World, that will have to be another trip. All in all, a good time.

5 more weeks until I go to CA! I can't wait to see all of my family and friends! Until then, I love you all, and hope you are well and happy!

Spring '09

Spring has sprung in the Carolinas. The flowers are blooming, and the trees are almost all full now. We really do have a beautiful Spring here.
I planned to but didn't get a picture of the pollen (pine) that blankets everything in yellow. Even the rain doesn't wash it away, it just makes pools of yellow water! You really have to see it to know. So far I haven't developed allergies, but that's a whole lotta pollen to try and fight.

April was a very busy month. Tons of April Birthdays, including MINE! :)Anthony, Emily, Olivia, Nancy, Richard and Brandon. Happy Birthday!
Also Happy Anniversary to Malcolm and Danielle, Anthony and Karianne, and Mom and Tom!
For my birthday, Chris and I went to Charleston to see my favorite comedian Brian Regan! It was great for me that he was here in SC! It was the first time I have ever seen him at an auditorium, and was surprised that he took requests for his encore! It was Chris' first time seeing him live, and he really had a good time.
The next day was another gift to see my friend Melanie and her son who were here visiting from Ohio.

April also took me to Minnesota to see Mom and Tom! It was a fun weekend seeing them, their new home, and be there for their Anniversary!
We had a good time playing Bingo and Poker, and Mom did best out of all of us, at BOTH! ha!


This month is restful as I gear up for my first trip to Florida!
I'm going to the "Premiere" Hair show in Orlando, the first weekend of June. I am driving, and looking forward to the scenery along the way! I don't plan to go to Disney World this trip, but maybe I will see it! All I know is....it's gonna be HOT!

The heat is coming on here now, and I am not looking forward to Summer, but it's slower coming this year, so I am grateful.

Chris is off this Monday, as it is (get this) Confederate Memorial Day.
State employees get the day off. We plan to see the new Star Trek movie! Neither of us are "Trekkies" but it looks great, and is getting good reviews, so let's go!


We hope you all are happy and healthy, and I want to wish all the Mom's a Happy Mother's Day! Love you Mom!!

Interesting Week

Hey all!

It's been an interesting week to say the least.

I always have this blog in the back of my mind, and know I need to update, but when it comes down to it...what to say?

I know I owe you some more South Carolina life stories, (and they are coming) but first I'm gonna tell you this......

This week, Chris and I bought a new sofa! Woo! lol

Long story, but we NEEDED one, so said my back. Found one, went to pick it up, got it home, started removing plastic, HOLE. Right there. On the arm. Crap.

Back to store, of course there aren't any more there....But Value City Furniture made good and delivered our new sofa 2 days later for free, and it was PERFECT! YAY!

Man oh man, it's soooo nice to have new furniture!

Behold. Our sofa...

So, the very day the sofa was delivered, I went out with the manager of the salon to find decorations for our product displays at work. We were driving to lunch when I mentioned to her I had been thinking of getting a new car, that I had been researching, and emailing dealers, etc.... She says..."let me call my guy".

"He has a 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser, Fully loaded, leather, sun roof, turbo, auto, power, etc, etc, 35,000 miles. *Great price*." WHOA.

"Can we go look at it?" I ask.

SURE!

Yeah, I drove it home that night, brought the Civic to him the next day, and now I have a *new* car!

Some of you may know, I have ALWAYS liked PT Cruisers, and I drove one and tried to buy one before deciding on my Civic. Boy am I glad I waited.

It's beautiful! And while I don't have a picture of me with it yet, here is basically what it looks like.

I LOVE IT! It's sooooo fun! I'm having a ball driving it!

That was Thursday, I got home, was checking emails, Chris was doing laundry when all of a sudden he says..."did the dryer stop?"

Dryer took a dump. Dead.

So Today, we bought a new dryer! LOL, GEEZE!

I'm sorry I don't have a picture of THAT for you, (yet, heheehe) but it should be here tomorrow.

So, it's been an interesting week, to say the least, but we have lots of fun new stuff!

What did YOU do this week? ;)

Love you all!

The Good, the Bad, and the Fried.

OK, so I guess I'll start with Food.

When I first got here, even to visit, I was really excited by all the restaurants I saw here that I had never seen before! I was like, WOW! What's "Waffle House"?!?! Chris would say it's a greasy spoon, and that it (and YOU subsequently) smells greasy and smoky, because it's an open kitchen diner. Smoky? Oh yeah, at that time....just over a year ago, you could still smoke in restaurants. *sigh*

I wanted to know about ALL of the new places, and was very enthusiastic about trying new places to eat.
One of my first favorites was 'Bojangles'. "Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits". I had an egg, cheese, and bacon biscuit and was craving them 2 days after coming back to CA! Unfortunately, that is pretty much the ONLY thing I can eat there, since ALL the chicken is fried. Something I found to be a trend here. And not JUST the chicken. This is the land of many things fried! Even oysters! hehehe

I still love Waffle House, and mostly because I can get breakfast anytime, and it's like 7-11 in CA. One on every corner practically.

The next placed I was fascinated by was 'Cracker Barrel'. They seemed to be plentiful here, yet I had never heard of it. We went there, and I was instantly enamored by the rocking chairs out front where patrons can sit and rock while waiting for a table! I love that! The chairs also have price tags, and I wish to buy one someday. (I also saw said rocking chairs at the Charlotte airport in the terminal, and think this is a very cool Southern thing!)

Have any of you been in a Cracker Barrel? It even says on the sign, 'Old country store'. The lobby is PACKED with country JUNK! lol (in my opinion) Seriously, it is like your pack-rat Grandma's living room! I was feeling a little claustrophobic in there! Now, I think it is probably a great place to go and get your friends some cheesy South Carolina gifts, so it does serve a purpose.
It's a pretty good restaurant, actually. Country cooking, pick your side dishes, and roll on out to sit in a rocking chair before heading home.

My one HUGE complaint about food here? NO MEXICAN FOOD!!

Oh there are posers. There are "Mexican Restaurants", but they are sad, pathetic counterfeits. I know this sounds harsh, but it's unfortunately true for me. You can't grow up in Southern California and not become somewhat of a Mexican Food snob I guess.

They use ground beef in the tacos. Rice and Beans are SIDES. You can see the plate. There is NO shredded cheese. They use this fake liquid 'goat cheese'?!?! What?!?! Sour cream and Guacamole are sides. There is no real salsa, or salsa choices. I will only go to one passable place here, and get a chicken enchilada. It's sad for me. No El Pollo Loco's here. No Baja Fresh. No Rubio's. No El Cholo. No Mi Casa. I have to move on.....

The South is known for it's BBQ and wings. There are so many Wings' places here. Chicken fingers are a staple. "Wild Wings" is a big chain here that has like 25-30 different marinades or dipping sauces for your wings or fingers.


The BBQ pork or pulled pork is to die for tho, and I love it! The Mac 'n Cheese? Awesome.

There are many places I still need to try. Places that just sound really funny, like "Lizard's Thicket".

I just wish there were more healthy choices. We are so spoiled in CA.

I miss going to places like SoupPlantation, or Mimi's Cafe, Marie Calendars for pie, or even Claim Jumper! I have to drive practically to North Carolina just to go to a Jack in the Box!

I have tons of sandwich places to go to here. The new cool one is called "Which Wich?" They have bags you fill out with the fixin's you want, and they fill your bag! I also have a "Tropical Smoothie" next door to the salon, which is our version of Jamba Juice.

There are some really good restaurants in this area to be sure, and I have yet to get to many of them, but I am working on it. People here really Love to eat out, and it is very common for people to eat at a restaurant 4 days a week.

I don't want this to sound like a bad review of SC food, I just have a limited diet, and there aren't as many choices for me here as there were in CA.

If you come here, there are GREAT places to eat, and I will take you to any of them!

Or we could just go to Waffle House! :)

New Year and one year in SC!

Oh Dear!
I haven't posted anything since New Year? OOPS!
Happy New Year! hehehe
I have no excuse, other than I don't know what to write about.
I've been home the last couple of days with a bad cold, and have some time on my hands, but what to write about?
I'm going to let YOU decide.

Do you want to hear a rant on the bad drivers in SC, and the freeway/road differences?
The differences in food and restaraunts? or
Blue Laws and alcohol?

Leave me a comment, or email your choice, and I will tell you about that thing, and then follow with the others later.

January 21st marked one year since I moved to SC! It's flown by!
I am really happy here, and still have much to explore.

January also has some good birthdays including Chris and his sister, so Happy Birthday to all you January babies!

OK, let me know!

Remembering '08

Happy December everyone! Just a little later than usual.

Just to catch up....Thanksgiving in Beaufort was great, and just like home. There was no crazy uncle out front with a deep-fryer on the lawn, promising us the most juicy turkey ever. Just a home full of people all helping to prepare, nibble, talk, eat, watch football, do dishes and lay around miserably full until you found room for dessert! Chris' mom made some wonderful dishes, and we got lots of left overs!

December has been busier at the salon (of course), and I finally feel like I am building a clientele. I don't know if I've mentioned it, but I have been using Paul Mitchell color since moving here, for numerous reasons, but mostly because of the cost effectiveness, and the education I can get. Well, they have opened a Paul Mitchell School here in Columbia, and some of us from the salon went to the opening. It was great to see something so modern and fresh come to Columbia! I think it will bring much needed style, professionalism, and trendiness to this area. One of the cool things was to get my picture taken with John Paul DeJoria!

The other cool thing was to find out that I could get into education with them, as a guest teaching something I excel at, or I can take a class at the State level, and become an educator for the company, full or part-time. Not sure what I will do yet, but I love thinking of the possibilities to take hairstyling to another level for me.

The weather here has been weird. It gets really cold, like 50 for the high, in the teens or 20's for the lows, and then the next week in the 70's. Needless to say many are sick at this time of year, and I don't think the weather helps that. I have been lucky in the health dept. so far, (knock wood).
Chris had a bout with some stomach thing that of course had to hit the day of the Governor's Christmas reception. He felt well enough for us to go, but we didn't stay long, and he was out for the next 3 days. Poor guy.

It was really cool to go to the Governor's mansion, here's a picture of the outside, built in 1855.

I understand they recently remodeled inside, and it is quite beautiful. They had a lovely spread of food for us, and here's something you won't get in California....A Grits bar! lol Pretty cool.

We had our salon party the Sunday before Christmas, and that was fun. They do the White Elephant "steal" a present thing just a little differently, but it was all fun, and my co-worker Laura made all the food for us! I have to say, she did a magnificent job! So much good food from one person, she really outdid herself!

It was fun for Chris to meet the rest of the crew too!

Now I'll have to work extra hard to lose the last 10 lbs I've gained since moving here! sheesh! It's not only the food, (not that I can eat any of the fried stuff they have in such plentitude) but the weather keeps me indoors more often than in CA. Though I've been able to get out and walk much more now than when I was working at Starbucks.

Christmas was nice and relaxing, as our plans to go to Beaufort got changed since none of Chris' other siblings were going to be there until Friday. So we got to hang out together at home for our first Christmas together, which was wonderful!

Santa Chris brought me some binoculars so I can see all the critters here that are new to me! I hope to see the owl responsible for all that hootin' right out back!

YAY! Thank you Sweetie!

Chris is in Beaufort now with everyone, and I stayed here to work.

I hope all of you had a very Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah!

Now the last thing besides Happy New Year, is to let you know I am coming to CA in July for a visit! I booked my flight already as I found an EXCELLENT deal. I will be there July 18-22. I really hope to see as many of my friends and family as possible, and go to the OC fair! (and hopefully see Weird Al)

I'll keep you posted as it gets closer.

2008 was a fun adventure, a new chapter in my life, and I look forward to all the new adventures to come in 2009!

I miss and love you all! Chris and I wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year!