November?! Already?!

Oh man, I'm a big slacker! It's been way too long, and I'm sorry. I have no good reason. It's pure laziness.

I can't believe it's Thanksgiving week already! Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm going to recap before I go into what I'm Thankful for.

You know, if I did this more often, I wouldn't have so much to type! sheesh.

I'm feeling great after the colonoscopy and treatment. Yoga and walking also keep me feeling good.

October is Fair time here, and you know I loves me some Fair! :) Chris and I went on the first dry day after the fair opened. So did EVERYONE else! It was fun tho, I brought my camera.

We ate the pre requisite fried food: deep fried mushrooms this year. (I just can't do the Oreos, Snickers, chocolate covered bacon, etc.) And, as is tradition, we shared some funnel cake at the end. :)

We watched the crazy kids on those spinny, whirly, upside-down rides knowing how only the young can endure that! I swear tho, the look on this one kids' face as he came down on that free fall ride was worth the price of admission. We ROARED with laughter.

The only ride we like is the Ferris wheel. I like the view from above, and it's slow.

Anyway, I took some really cool photos, and then textured a couple (I'll tell you later) to make them look 'old timey'! They came out so good that I made "The Daily Click" (photo of the day) on Shutter Sisters (an Internet photo site) for Nov. 1st! Here they are

Business was VERY slow at the end of October, beginning of November. As a way to not get discouraged, and stay creative, I poured myself into photography. I feel it keeps creativity flowing in my life, and it's fun!
I am constantly saying, so forgive me if it's too much, how Beautiful this State is! Well, this Fall has been AMAZING! I really am like a 6 year old discovering all the cool nature here! I see mushrooms and I say "COOL!" I found this whole mossy ecosystem growing on the side of a boulder, and I was just sooo happy!

I have been to the Riverbanks Botanical gardens twice now, where I have seen the most gorgeous flowers, some for the first time! (seriously, like a 6 year old!)

I love my camera, and I love nature. God is great.

I have been quite zealous about getting good shots, so much so that I threw my back out! It's much better now, but I am still sore in my lower back, and very much look forward to a massage with Frankie when I come to CA!

I have many new photos up, and was a finalist again with this photo

on a fellow bloggers monthly "pix" contest! It really is a great feeling when people like and appreciate your art.

Flickr has been the most incredible thing for me lately. It is a photo sharing site online. (mentioned in previous post) That's where I learned more about texturing, and get a lot of my inspiration. I have taught myself a lot, and I'm pretty proud of some of my work! If there was something I wanted to learn, I would Google it, and find a tutorial. There is A LOT to learn.
I am using Photoshop Elements, and that is where the 'enhancing' takes place. :)

My friend Anthony suggested that I make a book of my textured photos, so I have! When I get it, and see what it's like, I'll either make them available for sale, or start all over again! :)
I could go on and on about flowers, nature, photography, textures, Flickr and all of that for days, so I'll just say, go see my photos if you get a chance, and feel free to comment on anything you like!

Now the phone is ringing again (Thank God) and I am getting busier at the salon as the holidays near.
I am doing many things to get busier. Connie and Jeanne are helping by introducing me to people in Lexington. Hopefully, I will soon be busy again in my new location.

Chris and I are headed to Beaufort for Thanksgiving, and will stay for a couple of days. I am Thankful for so many things. My health, and the health of my family and friends mostly.
Our dear friend Ann is battling cancer, and we are praying for her health, and comfort. I am thankful for my home and all the beauty that surrounds me. I am Thankful for my boyfriend and the love and support he gives me. And I am thankful for all that God has provided for me.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

One last thing...I'm coming back to CA in less than 3 weeks! WOO HOO! Get excited people! lol
I can't wait to see many of you. Dec 9th to 16th.

Love you all!

Update for Fall

It's Autumn again, and I think it's been too long since I've written! Lots going on, time just gets away from me.

August was relatively quiet, and marked a couple of anniversaries for me. My 3 year quit smoking anniversary, and a year since I quit Starbucks. I don't miss either, except for my co-workers from Starbucks! I miss how Starbucks USED to be. Back when all they cared about was coffee, and not trying to make one thing for everyone.

Recently the weather has gotten good enough for us to go out and enjoy the zoo, and I have really been into taking lots of photos with my new camera!

Here's Krissy the giraffe, and

Chris feeding the Lorikeets.

I went to the butterfly exhibit downtown, and am truly amazed by natures beauty! Lately we've been taking drives around town, and looking for things to shoot during our errands!

More recently, the salon I was working for closed. Without getting into all the drama, lets just say the lease was up, and the partners decided to dissolve the partnership.

Luckily I found a really cool place to work, in a very unique setting. Only here in South Carolina (I think) could I find a salon INSIDE a country store! Hard to describe, but it works! It's called Hello Gorgeous! Isn't that cute?

A cool old barn looking building, that the owner built a salon in the middle of for a lady that had been looking for a new place to work about a year ago. As fate would have it, she was ready for another stylist to join her, and as she was calling the newspaper to place an ad, my co-worker Jeanie was on the line calling her for a job! She got TWO new stylists, and we are all cozy and happy in our new place.

Here is my room in the salon, and the outside of the building.
We share the store with the owner who makes sausages from his father's recipe, and 2 guys who make pastries for local restaraunts, and cakes for weddings and parties.



I have also been getting back into yoga, and am really enjoying it. I found a cool studio here and feel better after every session.

Also keeping healthy by having my first colonoscopy since moving here to SC. I have been seeing a very good Gastrointerologist, and he was kind enough to give me a free colonoscopy since I don't have insurance. It was just this past Friday, and aside from the yuckie prep, it went really well! I am happy to report that I had NO polyps! This is great news since I had to have my surgery due to a cancerous polyp. He did put me on a flash dose of prednisone, but it's only 20 days, and does a good job getting the inflammation down, so I can deal with that.

That's it really for now. I am happy to share my photos with you if you want to see my favorites, go to this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/flair4hair/

I am feeling very blessed, and grateful for all I have.

I love you all, hope to see many of you this December, until then, enjoy your Autumn, and tell me what you're going to be for Halloween! :)

Hello from hot and humid South Carolina!

I had a great whirlwind trip to California! 4 very full days of visiting, and catching up! I wanted to wait until everyone got their photos before I wrote about the trip. I want to post some of the pictures here, but didn't want this to be the first place you saw them!

Everything went as planned, and I couldn't be happier that everyone was available to come out and play with me! :)

My flights were smooth, and I have learned that curbside check-in is my friend! When I got to Charlotte, there were 4 missionary groups trying to check in the same time I was. I'm not a big stress person, but I get a little stressed before a flight until I am through security.

Landed in LA, picked up my car, and jumped into traffic (2pm) headed to Orange County! I got to see everyone at Maxwells Salon, except for Shannon and Rob. pssshhh. What_Ever. hehehe

Then to Danielle and Malcolm's where I got to meet their sweet, and adorable little Catie!

I think she is the happiest baby on the planet, and I got to see her crawling and pulling herself up the sofa. She is going to be a baby on the run soon. She was the first muse for my new camera!

Got to relax and change before Anthony and Karianne came over to go to SouPlantation with us! It's their daughter Gillian's and my favorite salad bar! I miss the food there so....

I had a nice time catching up, and sitting at the table sharing a meal, made me realize how much I really miss my friends. I thought how nice it would be to pick them up and take them home with me! Little Miss Gillian wasn't feeling well, and I'm sorry we didn't have more time together, but turns out she had the flu! Poor Sweetie. She's all better now. I love the picture she drew for me, and her ballerina photo!

The next day was the OC Fair and my neice and nephew Emily and Jackson!

Eric brought the kids down, and we enjoyed the rides, games, animals, and the mister they got to cool us down! I'm glad I wore Catie's 70+ sunscreen that day! It was so great to see them, and it was totally worth lugging the camera around for all the awesome pictures I got of our time together!

I had to leave the fair and get back to Danielle's for a fun BBQ with some more friends, and get ready for the B-52's concert! YAY! I'd been looking forward to that for months! Danielle, Malcolm and I met up with our friend Stephanie, and we had a great time, as the band never disappoints! They still rock! So fun! Thanks guys!

Monday I left OC, and went down to San Diego county to see Ann and family, then to Julie's that evening. I had a very nice visit with Ann, and it was great to catch up with her one on one, until her grand babies came home!

I got to see all of the kids this trip, and it warms my heart to see them so grown up, and happy! I missed the rest of her family, but I got to see Sandy, and look forward to coming back in December, for a full days visit!

Off to Julie's in Oceanside, and the cool ocean breeze! It was great to see my Sister!

They have such a great house, and their new kitchen is fantastic! Greg did an awesome job! Everyone was home (which was a feat with teenagers!) and again, it was great to see the kids! I can't believe how grown up and tall the boys are! Ay carumba! When did that happen?!?

Soon after I arrived, so did my friend Flicka and her 2 daughters! WOW are they grown up now too!

We had a great time sitting around in the kitchen, talking, laughing, catching up, snacking, and laughing some more. A nice Surprise was my friend Sharon coming by to visit after work. I feel very blessed that my friends went out of their way to come visit with me. It was so fun to just sit and talk like no time had passed. We cracked up, and took lots of fun pictures. A fun night.

Tues was my last day, and no shortage of things to do. Off to Laguna Beach to meet with my high school Spanish teacher Andrea, which was a last minute treat to have some tea there at Main Beach. I do miss the Pacific. Then lunch with my friend Frankie, and a little shopping, before jumping back onto the freeway headed back to LA and my cousin Nancy's house! Are YOU tired yet?

We had a nice visit alone before the family got home, and we all went out to Casa Vega for Mexican. I got a good fill of Mexican food this trip. I should be ready again in December! It was really nice to be just hanging out there. No parties, no more people coming over, just some actual down time so I could regroup, and repack for the morning. Family is good for that. You don't feel like company, that has to be entertained. I love that.

Up the next morning early to get the rental car returned, and to the airport for curb-side check in, security, and *sigh* I made it! Now I just relax until my flight. I had a great time in CA, and was ready to go home. I wish I had more time, but I sure made the time I had count!

I was ready to be home to my man, my bed, my shower, etc.

I just love flying into the Carolinas, with all the trees and rivers. From the air it's just beautiful! We got in early, and I was on my way, when a MASSIVE thunderstorm started. GREAT.

The lightning was so bright, I had to put my sun visor down! It was really bad in parts, and I could only go about 45mph. It took me a good 2+ hours to get home. :( Only to have it raining so hard at home I couldn't even get out of the car! Chris put on his swim trunks and came out to greet me. I parked in the loading zone, left my bags in the car, and we made a mad dash for it!

SHEW! What a long day! So glad to be home. Needless to say I slept very well that night! Good planning to take the next day off.

Thank you again to everyone who let me stay with them, and to everyone who took time out to come eat, play, or hang out with me! I had a great time, and look forward to seeing those of you I didn't get to see when I return in December!

I love you all. Thanks for reading all of this!

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!