Hair Day

Hair Day started before I moved into my current neighborhood so I am not sure how it started or who started it but I'm pretty sure they should patent it.
Here is the concept.
Someone finds a really good hair stylist who is willing to come to a private home. (This isn't too hard because the stylist makes out well. None of their fees need go to a salon.) A specific home and time are arranged based on a number factors. The home has to have running water, room for at least four women to sit, dry and/or sprawl - and a broom. It is beneficial for it to also have snacks and entertainment for any accompanying children. The time should be arranged around stylist's availability, pediatric appointments, the current school bus drop off time, soccer, Girl scouts, gymnastics, job interviews and naps.

Here's how it works.
All participants arrive within an hour of the appointed time. (Things happen.) The stylist assesses everyone's needs and wishes then plots her plan of attack. The participants rotate their way through the day and comply with all cutting, coloring, rinsing, drying, waxing and blowing-out directives and assume the necessary positions.
It is understood that any participant may be required, at any point, to get a drink for a child that is not their own, arbitrate pre-school squabbles, let the dog out or burp a baby. All activities are to be completed before 3:40 p.m.

Inherent benefits.
Benefits will be things such as - getting to know your neighbors, (Nothing bonds women more than talking about Brazilian waxing out loud while wearing no make-up.), catching up on neighborhood gossip and spending a day not cleaning. The most obvious benefit - good hair.

Repeat every 5 to 6 weeks.

R.I.P. Flip

Okay - this is not really Flip. This is a Flip stand-in. Now that Flip has past away, I realized that we never thought to photograph him. Were he a puppy, he may have been in many birthday, backyard or travel photos. But he was a fish. Fish don't travel well.

I used to tell the kids that he was the best dog we ever had. He would greet us each evening by pressing his little fish lips to the front of his tank waiting for his 5 - 8 pellets of floating food. Much to the kid's delight, I would speak to him as if he were a dog. "There's my good boy!"

I said goodnight to him every night.

Now that he's gone, (well - waiting in the freezer for a spring funereal), and even though he was just a fish - there are voids in my day. I find myself coming down stairs and looking to his bowl's former spot on the diningroom cabinet to make sure that the sun is not coming through the window - cooking him. When the kids spill into the house after getting off the bus - my mind automatically goes to "Who's turn is it to feed Flip?"

The kids had the expected response to Flip's passing. Claire cried through dinner, homework and right through to bedtime. Riley got anxious at Claire's constant was crying and used all possible means to divert my attention. Mostly he threw things.

But all is not lost - the twins down the street, (Michael & Gabriel - really), have an adorable little white dog named Lena. She's going to have puppies soon.

R.I.P Flip.

Riley's creativity

Sometimes you can be pleasantly surprised when you realize that your 8 year old has been very quiet for a long time. Fearing the worst, I discovered that he had spent his time creating this wonderful assemblage. While thrilled that I thought it was photoworthy - he was less thrilled to have to take it all down because he had built it in front of his sister's dresser.

the start

it's a start