Blah...Blah...Blah...JabberJabberJabber at the Nail Salon

Friday, May 2, 2014

I took my daughter (who is graduating from college tonight) to get a well-earned manicure and pedicure last night.  We had to go to a different place than usual because where we usually go was closed due to tornado damage in Vilonia this past Sunday.  We like going to our 'regular' salon in our small community because they have gotten to know us over the past few years - and we them. We are use to the small salon owners (husband and wife team) talking to one another in their own particular language.  It's annoying at times - but it's usually that way every where I've ever been in the past 25 yrs that I have been getting manis and pedis.  I generally just enjoying talking to my dgt or my sister, whomever may be with me at the time.  If I'm alone, I tune out everything and try to zone out of the world for those precious few minutes.  I value that time.   No such luck today.  Maybe I'm being overly sensitive because of the tornado that ravaged two small towns in our county last Sunday night - coming within a half mile of the land we call home - and many of our friends and neighbors having lost everything but their lives.   And lives were lost, todays count stands at 15.  Maybe it was the stress, angst, and worrying about my 85 y/o mother who recently moved from my hometown - closer to her 3 children - but AWAY from the only place she's ever lived - and - away from relatives, her church family and away from her sweetheart.  So...Yes, perhaps I may be stressed out and overwhelmed with parts of my life right now.  Maybe it's the cumulative effect of a lot of stressful things.  Even so, what I witnessed today at this salon blew my ever-lovin mind!  Frankly, it's always rubbed me the wrong way how one can be 'mistreated' at such establishments.  For example, if (for whatever reason) I found it necessary to visit 'another' salon - my old salon ALWAYS knows about it!  I can't count the times I've been 'scolded' at the appearance of my nails - pouncing on me practically before I can get comfortable in the chair!   "Tssk...Tsssk WHERE have YOU BEEN?"  Picking up each finger one by one inspecting each one meticulously - as if they were delicacies about to be eaten!  I have been 'scolded', chastised, and even yelled at one time and with a shakin finger in my face to boot) about the horrid condition of my nails.  And honest, folks - they've never looked THAT bad.  I swear!  I've never gone longer than a month without getting my nails done in the last 20+ years. Even when I was in the hospital, my sweet manicurist visited me there! Usually, I take my punishment, look up at the (clearly angry) worker with puppy dog eyes and give them a lil pouty lip, suck it up and move on.  My goodness, you'd think I'd broken some unwritten 'nail abuse' law the way they carry on sometimes. The truth is - their behavior irritates me. Afterall, I am paying them good hard earned money for a service rendered and I don't really appreciate getting bawled out. But today crossed the line - things went too far. Hit.A.Raw.Nerve - IMean. Ok ok...here's what happened. The pedis were pretty much uneventful 'cept for my dgts cute twists and turns in her chair as she is extremely ticklish. But when we separated for the manicures - things got dicey, at least for me. The manicurist started in on me. I thought here we go again - no matter where I go - some things never change. Once again, each finger was inspected. OneByOne. "Where did you have these done? Look how thick they are? This is bad, very very bad. They don't look natural. I know you didn't get them done here, we don't do 'sloppy work' like this!" I proceeded to tell her where I usually go and that the business had suffered damage from the tornado. "Tskk...Tskkk...." She shook her head and then started speaking in another language and got the entire shop in an uproar and they went on and on back and forth for a good 20 minutes. Here's where it gets dicey and down right rude. The other workers suddenly stopped what they were doing (I guess she 'summoned' them over) and began to parade around one by one to take turns inspecting my fingers. They then started snickering and even laughing out loud. I could understand the word, "Vilonia", enough to realize they were snickering and making puns about our town. Not only did I find that behavior offensive but distasteful and cruel. To make a long story short - I will never be visiting that salon again and told them as much. There's a time and place for most things in life and I realize different cultures have differing norrms and values. But again, this was just plain wrong. Kindness and compassion should be universal and I'm saddened to say - it is NOT. They were in the wrong here and I've decided I WILL NOT TOLERATE being treated like this EVER again. Not at my regular salon or any other. But maybe I'm being too sensitive?   I think NOT.

Every Day is a Gift

I don't know the original writer of this note - but it speaks the truth and touched my heart many years ago. I printed this off the internet on March 4, 1999. Two weeks to the day before the accident that changed my life forever. Interesting timing then – and now. Found in a box recently - as I went through years of my personal belongings during an office move. Touched my heart all over again - hope it touches yours!

***********************************

My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister’s bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package. “This,” he said, “is not a slip, this is lingerie.” He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite; silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of beautiful lace. “Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion.” He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment, then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me. “Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you’re alive is a special occasion.” I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed when I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores that follow an unexpected death. I thought about them on the plan returning to California from the Midwestern town where my sister’s family lives. I thought about all the things that she hadn’t seen or done. I thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special. I’m still thinking about his words, and they’ve changed my life. I’m reading more and dusting less. I’m sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I’m spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings. I’m not ‘saving’ anything for a ‘special’ occasion. We use our good china and crystal for every special event – such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia blossom. I wear my good blazer to the market if I feel like it. My theory is, if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries without wincing. I’m not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware stores and tellers in banks have noses that function just as well as my party-going friends. “Someday” and “one of these days” are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it’s worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it NOW. I’m not sure what my sister would have done had she known that she wouldn’t be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted. I think she would have called family members and a few close friends. She might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think she would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her favorite food. I’m guessing because I’ll never know. It’s those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew that my hours were limited. Angry because I put off seeing good friends whom I was going to get in touch with – someday. Angry because I hadn’t written certain letters that I intended to write – one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn’t tell my husband and daughter often enough how much I truly love them.

*************************************

I’m trying very hard not to put off, hold back or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experience to savor, not endure. I’m trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them.

Every day, every minute, every breath, truly is…a gift from God.

Relationship Rescue - Or Not?

From the album: Timeline Photos
By "You Are What You Think" (facebook)

Love yourself enough to know when enough is enough....

So many people prefer to live in drama because it's comfortable. It's like someone staying in a bad marriage or relationship - it's actually easier to stay because they know what to expect every day, versus leaving and not knowing what to expect. - E.D. -
----------------------------------------------------

Although I have mixed feeings about this subject, I can see BOTH sides. No matter how FLAT you make a pancake - it will always have two sides. I look at it this way: When we get married, traditional vows say, "in good times and in bad, through sickness and health, poverty and wealth, etc....till DEATH do us part." Sounds pretty simple and crystal clear. So, who died? You're suppose to stay together forever no matter what, right? But every relationship is different and should not be judged by anyone but God. He knows our circumstances before we even have circumstances. Judge not, lest ye be judged. It's hard to know for sure when to 'let go'. Personally, I have had two divorces. I was the first in my immediate family to get divorced. I felt shame and embarassment. My brother and sister both have been in marriages that have endured 40+ years! My own parents were married nearly 50 years before my dad died. But, for whatever reason, I was not so fortunate in the love department. But, everything that has happened in my life served a purpose. If I had stayed married to number 1 or 2 - I would not have my precious Courtney Lindsay. So, going through the heartache no matter how heartwrenching was worth it if it resulted in her being born. On the other hand, I married the first 2 times TOO YOUNG. We were high school sweethearts - together for years, but married for only 3 months. TOO YOUNG and DUMB. We might still be together if our parents whipped our butts and sent us back to our new home instead of inviting us back to their home. Who knows? I don't know anything for sure except that I am on number 3 right now and it's not the best marriage in the world - but it's lasted almost 26 years. That's a world record for me! He has been a wonderful father and is a good man. I may tease and gripe about him and could box his ears most days, but I'm content. Sometimes he is my soft place to fall and I trust he will catch me if need be. And in today’s world, I'd say that's a good thing - it's a good thing to just be content. Courtney might have preferred we get a divorce through the years as she's heard her share of fussing and disagreements we've had. But deep down, I think she's proud to say her parents are still together - I don't really know, you'd have to ask her. And sometimes it's just easier to stay than to deal with all the hassles of leaving - that is the saddest situation I can think of but I know a lot of people in that very boat. Whether it's finances, children, property or other difficult matters, it takes a lot of energy, money, and lawyers to work these things out - so yes, sometimes it's just easier to stay put. That is - UNLESS - there is abuse involved - then it is NEVER and I mean NEVER wise to stay put. GET OUT OF THAT SITUATION PRONTO! And whether or not you want to participate in having another relationship/life partner in the future could also be a determining factor in your decision. If you are happy and secure just being in your own company and not really feeling the need to be loved in that way anymore, then leaving wouldn't be a high priority in the scheme of life. Especially if you both feel that way. But really, who doesn't want that romantic kind of love? Don't we all? Probably not, obviously not. Everybody has differing needs in that respect. But, as I said before, at this moment - I'm content just to be content - and that's my two cents.
 

 

Chess Pie

This pie recipe was sent to me many years ago by my late maternal grandmother, Ruby Iris McGougan Tate. Mamma Ruby (as we lovingly called her) loved to cook and I spent more time at her house than I did my own. We always had a FUNderful time! When I spent the night, we stayed up VERY LATE and some of my fondest childhood memories are watching Sivad (Fantastic Features) on Saturday nights ... and of course, all the time we spent together in the kitchen. I thought it was oddly wonderful (back in the day) when she would cook up a delicious breakfast (after midnight!) Simply put, we had the time of our lives together! And I have often wished I could make mamma's famous chicken and dumplings like she made them - but have never been able to duplicate them and have never had any better than hers! Ohhh...there were many special things about Mamma Ruby - but one that always comes to mind is that she made everyBUDDY feel like they were the apple of her eye! All I know is - she WAS the apple of mine!
CHESS PIE

1 cup butter (2 sticks)
3 cups white sugar (you can use 1/2 sugar and 1/2 splenda)
3 teaspoons vanilla flavoring
6 large eggs
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3 tablespoons white corn meal
2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
2 (9 inch) unbaked pie shells

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a large bowl, mix the butter, sugar, and vanilla. Add the eggs and mix in the corn meal, lemon juice, and vinegar - beat until smooth. Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven at 300 - then turn up heat to 350 degrees and cook for about 20 more minutes. Let cool completely, about one hour. Cut and enjoy! You will think you died and went straight to heaven!

NOTE:
Sometimes, I change up the recipe a little, although it's perfect when made exactly as stated above.

OPTIONS:

• Add a little more lemon juice if you prefer more lemon flavor.
• Adding a little fresh flake coconut to the ingredients OR toast a little coconut and sprinkle on top.
• Add fresh crushed pineapple or pineapple extract
• Add a few pinches of fresh lemon zest

BlogLovin

Follow">http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/11622259/?claim=r2zu89d5hw8">Follow my blog with Bloglovin