I have a cold

I feel like crap.

And I have to work all day tomorrow. Holiday my ass.

Maybe I'll actually feel like writing a proper blog tomorrow.

Discovering new music

DISCLAIMER: Turn off (or pause) music player before watching videos!
(haha thanks Sheila!)

If you've been reading my blog for...pretty much any amount of time, then you know that music is a big part of my life. And for someone like me, there's few things more exciting than discovering a band for the very first time and falling in love with them.

Three days ago, I was looking around youtube for videos from this year's Projekt Revolution tour. Basically torturing myself because I wasn't able to go.

So during this search on Tuesday afternoon, I discovered this amazing group of percussionists.

Street Drum Corps.

(that's not the first video of them playing that I found, but it's way better quality)

While looking for more stuff from them,
I found this!

w00t! Go Shannon!

Anyway, the next day I went out and bought their first CD, which is a-freaking-mazing. I would have bought their second one too, but Best Buy didn't have it. I need to look around for it some more.

Whenever I discover new and exciting music, I always like to share. So there ya go. =]

Writer's Workshop Wednesday

I wish I could draw.

Or paint.

Or sculpt.

Or anything artistic like that.

I mean, I can barely draw a stick figure. No joke.

I have this one friend named James. He draws, paints, does computer art (he has a degree in computer animation), writes, plays guitar, bass AND drums. Most importantly, he does them all very well. He has more talent in his pinkie finger than most people I know have in their entire bodies.

He is one of my best friends and I love him to pieces. But I am jealous. I am jealous of this wealth of talent he has. Talent I wish I had.

I am most jealous of his artistic ability with drawing and painting. He's been drawing since he could put crayon to paper. Granted, it's taken him years to hone his skills to what they are now. But this ability is something I believe one is born with. Either you have it or you don't.

And I don't have it.

I was half-jokingly voicing my jealousy to him once. He said to me: "but you know, I couldn't do what you do. I probably couldn't do anything with a head of hair if my life depended on it."

That made me feel a bit better. I suppose everyone has their gifts.

Lots of randomness

I'm going a bit widget-crazy on my blog. I've seen worse though. I think I'm done.

For now.

DUN DUN DUUUUN!!


Anyway....

The Colbert Report has been reruns for going on two weeks now. You'd think with the Conventions getting underway, he'd be all over that shit. But no. It makes my face sad. =[

I bought a Swiffer Duster. That's the best damn thing ever. I have an antique coffee table that the ex-hubby was kind enough to let me keep when we split up (it belonged to his grandmother) because I loved it so much. It's in a corner of my bedroom being used as a display table for my collection of candle holders. Using the Swiffer to clean that is SO much easier than taking everything off of it, wiping it down, then putting everything back on it again.

I haven't heard from Jade in a while. She was fine the last time we spoke. I hope she's still doing alright. I think I'll text her here in a bit.

Still no idea when the Metallica tickets are going on sale, or how much they're gonna be. Hopefully I'll get some kind of heads-up so I can plan my spending.

Sharon un-quit. Not sure how that happened, or why. I'm just glad it did. She's a good manager to work for.

Since my CD burner went tits up, I finally invested in one of those whatchacallemthingies to play your iPod through your car stero. The only problem I'm having is finding a frequency where it'll come through without static. It's kind of annoying.

End of randomness.

I shit you not...

This was an actual conversation between a customer and I today as I was cutting his hair.

Dude: How old are you?

Me: 37.

Dude: I'm 38.

Me: Oh yeah?

Dude: So how come you're wearing that thing in your eyebrow? (indicating my piercing/jewelry)

Me: I've had it for a long time and I like it.

Dude: Isn't that for younger people?

Me: Well, I really don't care. I like it.


Are you fucking kidding me?? I'm apparently too old to wear a fucking piece of jewelry? Well at least I don't look 45, nor am I losing my hair. So fuck you, dude. You're lucky I didn't stab you in the head with my scissors.

Woohoo!

Congrats guys!

Here we go again

So I got to work today to discover that Sharon had quit on Tuesday. I knew she was thinking about leaving, but I didn't know for sure or when. So now we're down to 3 stylists, 1 floater (she splits her time between us and another location) and NO manager. In all honesty, we really don't need a manager. We went without for something like 5 months before Sharon and did just fine. We only need a manager because Corporate says so. We've been through 7 managers since I've been there (nearly 7 years).

This is exactly why I turned down management both times it was offered to me. I do love working for this company. I've been with this company longer than any other I've worked for in my career. But if Corporate made management worth it, we wouldn't keep losing managers. That says something right there. Besides, I'm the kind of person that just wants to come in to work, do a few heads of hair and go home. I don't want to deal with all the other bullshit.

I had a couple of other things I was going to write about, but now I've totally forgotten what they were.

Hmm...

Another music survey thingy

Because I'm off work with nothing better to do.

What was the last concert you attended?
Mindless Self Indulgence

What bands have you seen in concert the most, and how many times?
Static-X, Otep, Linkin Park, Mindless Self Indulgence, twice each

Do you have any setlists? From what bands?
Nope =[

Are there any CDs in close proximity to you? Which ones?
Nah, they're all downstairs or in my car.

What band are you in the mood to see live right this second?
This very second? Metallica

Have you ever been on a tour bus?
Not yet! Haha

Have you ever partied with a band?
See above answer. lol

How many states have you been to concerts in?
Only Virginia, actually.

What bands did you see live the month of May?
That was when I last saw MSI.

What CD are you addicted to at the moment?
Metallica S&M

Who is one band that you used to like, but now you cant stand?
No one comes to mind.

Have you ever been on anyones guest list? Whose?
Again, not yet.

Last band person that you got a picture with?
No one. I suck. =[

Do you consider yourself a groupie?
Jared thinks I am. Hahah I kid!

How old were you when you went to your first concert?
13? 14 maybe.

Who was it?
Cyndi Lauper. THAT'S RIGHT BITCHES! lol

Which artists havent you seen yet that you want to see?
Metallica, 30 Seconds To Mars, Mudvayne, Marilyn Manson...oooh lots of M's

Are you wearing a band shirt right now?
Yes I am! I bum around the house in pj pants and band shirts.

What band do you own the most merch of?
Probably Korn

Do you ever do anything crazy at shows?
I used to when I was younger.

What are your favourite venues to go to shows at?
The NorVa

What band do you have the most performance pictures of?
Static-X

Would you ever get a tattoo representing a band?
I plan on getting the Metallica star logo:


How many concerts do you average a year?
As many as I can afford, which is normally one or two. I went to 4 last year. I've only been to 2 this year.

Upcoming shows?
If it doesn't cost an arm and a leg, I'll be seing Metallica for the first time ever(!!) in January. I have no plans for any before then. But we'll see what comes up.

My last 2 posts were friggin' depressing...

...so let's lighten up with an iTunes shuffle survey!

You know how it works.


What do people assume when they first look at me?
No Shelter - Rage Against The Machine

What will be a big challenge in life for me?
Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2

Am I a good boyfriend/girlfriend?
Power To The People - John Lennon

How will I die?
Coming Undone - Korn

Is someone trying to kill me?
Goodbye To Romance - Ozzy Osbourne

What should I do instead of this quiz?
Tears Are Falling - KISS

What is a bad habit that I should try to stop?
Gender - Orgy

What's for dinner tonight?
I Don't Mind - Drain STH

How does the world see me?
Here To Stay - Korn

Will I have a happy life?
Shut Me Up - Mindless Self Indulgence

What do my friends really think of me?
Wishing It Was - Santana

Do people secretly lust after me?
Back On Earth - Ozzy Osbourne

How can I make myself happy?
R-Evolve - 30 Seconds To Mars

What should I do with my life?
Imagine - A Perfect Circle

Why is life full of so much pain?
Wasteland - 10 Years

How can I maximize my pleasure during sex?
Faint - Linkin Park
LOL

Will I ever have children?
Tearjerker - Korn

Will I die happy?
Mastermind - Mindless Self Indulgence

What is some good advice for me?
Tales - Wolfmother

What is happiness?
Liar - Korn

What is my favourite fetish?
Suffragette City - David Bowie

How will I be remembered?
I Can't Stand It - Eric Clapton

How do I get more sex?
Superbeast - Rob Zombie

*insert uniteresting title here*

So I talked to Jade today. They've already let her out of the hospital. I'm glad she's feeling better and all. But I think her release was way too hasty. This was not her first suicide attempt. She needs to be put back on her meds and monitored for a while. That's my opinion anyway.

Thanks to my bloggy-friends for the support. You guys rock. ♥

The space between a blink and a tear

About 10:30 last night, my friend Jade called me. I know I've mentioned her before.

We spent about an hour on the phone. She and he husband had gotten into a huge fight. He said some really horrible things to her. Things like he never really loved her and he only married her because she was a porn star. (Yes, she's done porn. No, I haven't seen any, nor do I want to.) Needless to say, she was really upset.

During the hour we were on the phone, she started telling me all these things I'd never known about her. I knew about the psychological issues, the heroin use, the fetish modeling, the dancing (she HATES being called a "stripper"), the porn, and the fact that she's been raped. What I didn't know about was the childhood neglect, the molestation, and the fact that she's been raped more than once.

She was just spilling her guts to me about everything. I didn't really talk much. I didn't know what to say.

Before we got off the phone, she told me how much she loved me and what a great friend I've always been to her.

About 4:30 this morning, her husband called me. Right when I was about to rip him a new asshole for being such a douchenozzle, he told me Jade had tried to kill herself. She'd taken a bunch of ambien, xanax, vicodin and oxycontin and chased it with a bottle of vodka.

He'd gotten her to the hospital in time to help her. They pumped her stomach, then told him she was going to be fine.

She's going to be under psychiatric evaluation for a while. I hope she gets all the help she needs.

He assured me that he did, in fact, love her and the he said the things he said out of anger. He felt horrible because he felt she did this because of him. He said he's going to do all he can to make it up to her. I want to believe him. He did save her life.

I really do think that this was just a cry for help. I think if she'd really wanted to die, she would have done it some other way. Or done it when/where there was no chance of being found until it was too late. But she's alive and she's getting help. That's all that matters now.

Get better soon Jade. I love you.

Caught in a mosh

It's been one of those days...

Why Don't You Listen to me when I try to talk to you
Stop thinking of yourself, for just a second fool
Shut up, shut up, I don't wanna hear your mouth
Your mother made a monster, now get the hell out of my house

Can't Stand It For Another Day
I Ain't Gonna Live My Life This Way
Cold Sweat, My Fists Are Clenching
Stomp, Stomp, Stomp, The Idiot Convention

Which One Of These Words Don't You Understand?
I'm Caught In A Mosh
Talking To You, Is Like Clapping With One Hand

What Is It? - Caught In A Mosh
What Is It? - Caught In A Mosh
What Is It? - Caught In A Mosh
What Is It? - Caught In A Mosh

Don't tell me how to do my job
There's the door, your name's on The Knob
You're always in the way, like a beast on my back
Were You Dropped As A Baby, Cause Brains You Lack

Can't Stand It For Another Day
I Ain't Gonna Live My Life This Way
Cold Sweat, My Fists Are Clenching
Stomp, Stomp, Stomp, The Idiot Convention

Which One Of These Words Don't You Understand?
I'm Caught In A Mosh
Talking To You, Is Like Clapping With One Hand

What Is It? - Caught In A Mosh
What Is It? - Caught In A Mosh
What Is It? - Caught In A Mosh
What Is It? - Caught In A Mosh

Think - Before You Speak
Or Suffer, For Your Words
Learn, To Give Respect
That Others, Give To You

Hey Man
I'm Trying To Reason But You Don't Understand
Talking In Circles, We'll Never Get It Straight
Just You And Me In Our Theatre Of Hate

Can't Stand It For Another Day
I Ain't Gonna Live My Life This Way
Cold Sweat, My Fists Are Clenching
Stomp, Stomp, Stomp, The Idiot Convention

Which One Of These Words Don't You Understand?
I'm Caught In A Mosh
Talking To You, Is Like Clapping With One Hand

What Is It? - Caught In A Mosh
What Is It? - Caught In A Mosh
What Is It? - Caught In A Mosh
What Is It? - Caught In A Mosh

- lyrics by Scott Ian

Stuff I forgot to write about yesterday

First and foremost: I found out Metallica is playing in Washington DC in January. That's a mere 4 hour drive away from me. They're my favorite band ever and the reason I listen to metal. I've never seen them live. I'm very seriously considering a road trip.

I also found out yesterday that my salon is getting remodeled. I'm pretty stoked about this. We're getting made-over to look like our newer salons, which look really pretty. I can't wait! =]


THE SHOES!

Aren't they cute?

Pantera makes me drive fast

I was driving to work this morning listening to Far Beyond The Great Southern Cowboys' Vulgar Hits! and somewhere in the middle of "Goddamn Electric" I glanced down at my speedometer. I was doing 60mph in a 45mph zone.

I've discovered Rob Zombie has the same effect on my driving.

I'm grateful there were no cops around.


I bought a really cute pair of shoes today. I realized I didn't have any heels other than boots, so I decided I should get some. I was looking for a picture of them online to post, but I can't find one. Maybe I'll just take a picture of mine later.

Geese!

At the park where I walk.



Work yesterday was sooooo much better. It was nice and busy with great customers and fat tips. I made $53 in tips. It was pretty sweet.

My work schedule is all weird this week. Instead of working this morning like I normally do, I'm working tomorrow morning, where I'm normally off. Then I'm off on Wednesday as per usual. The good thing about it is that I'm off today. The bad thing about it is that my days off aren't back-to-back this week, which is what I love most about my regular schedule. It just kinda throws my whole week off.

But after tomorrow it's back to normal.

Woman at work

I took that yesterday during the 20 minutes I had when I first got to work before it got busy, which it was for the rest of the day.

I was supposed to work from 9am to 3pm. Those are not my normal Friday hours, but Sharon needed me to switch with her.

Sharon wasn't able to make it to work at all because she's in the middle of moving. She thought she'd be done in time to make it to work, but she wasn't. No problem. These things happen.

She called one of the other shops to see if they could send somebody to fill in. No problem. I'd stay till she got there.

The girl was supposed to be there by 3:30. She showed up at 4:45.

Four-forty-fucking-five!

After picking up a couple of things at the store and then sitting in rush hour traffic, I finally got home about quarter-to-6.

Then I ate some dinner, watched Highway (which was really good), then watched part of the Olympic opening ceremonies.

It was nice to get home and relax.

What a day

So I get to work this afternoon and the gate is pulled shut with a sign on it that says "On break. Back @ 2:00."

I was wondering to myself as I opened the gate why Donnie (my co-worker) couldn't wait until I got to work at 2 to take her break. But I really didn't think that much of it.

When I get to my station there's a note on it from Donnie saying she's gone for the day because she had an appointment and that Sharon (our manager) knew about it.

I was like, fine...whatever. I'll just hope it's slow enough at some point so that I can shut the gate and take a break.

All in all the day went fine and I was able to take my break. But it was pretty busy.

The highlight of the day was seeing one of my regular customers. I've been cutting Ian's hair for maybe 4-5 years. He's maybe 25-26, tall, flirty, a good tipper, and adorable as hell. I have a bit of a crush on him. Nothing's ever gonna come of it, and that's fine. But it just makes my day when he comes in. =]

And to top it all off, I came home from work this evening to discover that the book and DVD I'd ordered from Barnes & Nobel had arrived. Woohoo!

Oh, and the Stuck-In-My-Head Song Of The Day is Cemetery Gates by Pantera. In case anyone was wondering. lol

Also, I'm working different hours tomorrow. Instead of working the evening shift (2-9) I'm working in the morning. Sharon had something come up and no one else can work, so I switched with her. I hate it when my schedule changes up...

Hooray for lazy posts

Random conversation with Jared from yesterday.

Joker on Mars: cherlyn.
Joker on Mars: i want a zinger.
Gr8Cookie71: a zinger?
Joker on Mars: mhm
Joker on Mars: rasberry goodness with creme filling
Joker on Mars: and i want a coke
Gr8Cookie71: i love the raspberry zingers too
Joker on Mars: wait
Joker on Mars: is there any other kind
Gr8Cookie71: chocolate
Joker on Mars: oh yeah..forgot about those
Joker on Mars: theyre not like ding dongs
Gr8Cookie71: they taste pretty much the same though
Joker on Mars: hm..not really.
Joker on Mars: nothing compares to the hocky puck kind of ding dongs
Gr8Cookie71: yeah those are pretty awesome
Joker on Mars: remember they used to come in tin foil
Gr8Cookie71: yep i remember that
Joker on Mars: they dont anymore
Gr8Cookie71: yeah i know
Gr8Cookie71: damnit now i want ding dongs
Joker on Mars: hm. i got a ding dong for you.
Joker on Mars: i might have some tin foil around here somewhere
Gr8Cookie71: i so saw that coming
Joker on Mars: yeah im cheesy that way


And a little from today. I just thought this was funny.

Gr8Cookie71: so what are you up to today...other than recovering from jet lag
Joker on Mars: im dragging ass
Joker on Mars: in fact im waiting for the knock at the door and its my ass, dragging in.

Taggeriffic!

Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1) My favorite part of any movie ever is...
DANTE: 37! My girlfriend sucked 37 dicks!
CUSTOMER: In a row?
- from Clerks.

2) Heath Ledger died on my 37th birthday.

3) I share a birthday with the former (and also dead) singer from INXS, Michael Hutchence.

4) I had heart open surgery at the age of 3 to repair a ventricular septal defect. I have a foot-long scar down the center of my chest.

5) I last smoked a cigarette on October 19th, 2005. I had been a smoker for 18 years.

6) When I was 19, I was married to a man that was verbally/emotionally/mentally abusive to me. He never laid a hand on me. But there were times I wished he'd just hit me instead of saying the things he said. Physical scars fade. Emotional scars last a lifetime.

7) Sometimes I feel like I'm way too immature for my age. But I really don't care.


Wow...that shit got deep...

I'm not going to bother tagging anyone, because not that many people read my blog. Not that I'm aware of anyway. So, if you read this and you haven't done it...
TAG BITCHES!

Look what I just bought!

AND!

I'm hoping it's not as bad as J says it is. lol


I'll do the tag thing as soon as I think of interesting stuff to tell. =P

Grr!

My CD burner is all fubar'd.

Goddammit. >.<

In other news: I got tagged by Shelby. I'll get on that later.

Sometimes I hate youtube

I saw a sketch on Saturday Night Live last night that that had me laughing until I was nearly in tears. I went to look for it on youtube this morning because I wanted to post it on here. No go. Probably because of NBC copywrites. But still...annoying.

I have to go make myself all pretty for work now. lol

Changed my song

It's The Call Of Ktulu by Metallica, for anyone who's interested.

When I die, I want this song played at my funeral. I'm not kidding.

Nobody writes 9 minute metal instrumentals anymore.

Lughnasadh

August 1st
Lughnasadh/Lammas/Midsummer

Lughnasadh means the funeral games of Lugh (pronounced Loo), referring to Lugh, the Irish sun god. However, the funeral is not his own, but the funeral games he hosts in honor of his foster-mother Tailte. For that reason, the traditional Tailtean craft fairs and Tailtean marriages (which last for a year and a day) are celebrated at this time.

This day originally coincided with the first reapings of the harvest. It was known as the time when the plants of spring wither and drop their fruits or seeds for our use as well as to ensure future crops.

As autumn begins, the Sun God enters his old age, but is not yet dead. The God symbolically loses some of his strength as the Sun rises farther in the South each day and the nights grow longer.

The Christian religion adopted this theme and called it 'Lammas ', meaning 'loaf-mass ', a time when newly baked loaves of bread are placed on the altar. An alternative date around August 5 (Old Lammas), when the sun reaches 15 degrees Leo, is sometimes employed by Covens.

Traditional Foods:
Apples, Grains, Breads and Berries.

Herbs and Flowers:
All Grains, Grapes, Heather, Blackberries, Sloe, Crab Apples, Pears.

Incense:
Aloes, Rose, Sandalwood.

Sacred Gemstone:
Carnelian.

Special Activities:
As summer passes, many Pagans celebrate this time to remember its warmth and bounty in a celebrated feast shared with family or Coven members. Save and plant the seeds from the fruits consumed during the feast or ritual. If they sprout, grow the plant or tree with love and as a symbol of your connection with the Lord and Lady. Walk through the fields and orchards or spend time along springs, creeks, rivers, ponds and lakes reflecting on the bounty and love of the Lord and Lady.

Blessed Be!