Wednesday, September 24, 2003

 

Queen for Half a Day

Oh my, did I have a nice evening last night! My friend from work and I went over to the Beauty School and had their Spa Package (only $25!) It includes a facial (for an HOUR) a manicure (another hour) and a pedicure (one more hour). THREE hours of deluxe spa treatment, most of which is being massaged with various lotions, toners, scrubs, oil-free massage creams, gels and aromotherapy products. MY GOD it was wonderful. They massaged my face, my neck, shoulders, arms, hands, legs and feet. Oooheeee. The actually went twenty minutes over time. Hey, no problem, keep it up!

My fingernails and toenails are now bubblegum pink with pink sparkles on top. They're so cute! But, I can paint my nails myself. The great part is all the massaging.

I highly recommend the treatment. If you can find a similar deal, absolutely go for it. This kind of treatment in a pro spa would run you at least $120.00. But, at a beauty school, you get SUCH a great rate, and it's not like you're getting a haircut, where you can walk out of there looking stupid. The worst thing they can do is give you a sloppy nail polish, and really, that's no big deal. It's not permanent, you can always take it off when you get home if you don't like it. PLUS, beauty school students are eager and enthusiastic, and they haven't gotten bored with the whole treatment yet.

My skin is so smooth and clean and fresh looking today.

Now go! Get beautiful! It's great!

posted by Krizzer 10:25 AM

Tuesday, September 23, 2003

 

Small Man/Small World

I had my first day of school last night, first day of college in years, like since 1997. For some reason I don't count the 2 accounting classes I took a couple of years ago as school, or at least not college. Maybe because:

a) They weren't supposed to be leading anywhere, like to a degree or certificate or something
b) They were just plain easy
c) I didn't have to write any papers

Anyway, I was excited and a little nervous to return the hallowed halls, and start my new career. I'm very determined to succeed. But I don't have much of an idea of what this class is going to be like. It's a "Telecourse" in Anthropology, which means that we are issued a set of videotapes to watch about other cultures etc, and then we take tests and write papers on the material. The idea is that they can expose you to a lot better and more effective material that way than just by traditional lecture. So, I didn't really know if we were even going to be attending class at all. And I'm a little nervous about who is going to be teaching, after all, he or she could make what COULD become a really boring subject into a really REALLY boring subject, and hard too. My dad is a college teacher in this town so I'd asked him "Do you know A. Reid? Is he/she a good teacher?" Nope, he doesn't know this A. Reid. And, I'm 30. Will I be surrounded by a bunch of nineteen year olds? Will I be the old lady? You know the one. There was always at least one grad student in your class that was WAY older than everyone else. I always felt bad for that old man/lady - did they feel excluded? Did they make friends ok? NOW that old lady is me!! I tell myself "Just sit back and don't make a spectacle of yourself. Just be cool."

So I walk into class, not really knowing what to expect. And the first thing I see is this very familiar looking little bald man sitting at the table in the front of the class, obviously the teacher. He looks at me with the same "hey, don't I know you?" look on his face as I must have on mine. Then, just as I'm about to place him in my mind, he says it, right in front of everyone "Hey, aren't you that girl from that band?" My face burns and I laugh and nod and say "I knew you were going to say that!" And I take off my sweater, settling myself into a seat. Under my sweater (don't get excited, Mike) I'm wearing my "Beaver Inn" T-shirt. (The Beaver is my favorite local bar, I've been hanging out there playing pinball and darts and drinking beer and chatting with friends or the owners since college. Since college the first time.) And he says "Oh YES! You hang out at the Beaver too! I DO know you!" Ah, yes. That's where I've seen this guy before. He's one of the "Aren't you that girl from that band," old dudes who come up to me in bars and then make me really uncomfortable. I'm not good at taking praise to my face, and especially from creepy old dudes in bars. Suspect. Clarification: I'm not saying this guy is a creep. I don't really know. He seems perfectly normal. I just assume men who come up to me in bars are creeps.

Anyway, this magnificent entrance spurs a lot of conversation among the other students, suddenly I walk in and we're all talking about bars and how much the Beaver has changed over the years, and people are asking me about the band. So much for not making a spectacle of myself. As for playing it cool...well, I look around and realize that I'm not the oldest one in the class, but even if I was, the young people have GOT to think I'm cool now!

Now I just have to get over the weird-out of having this familiar bar-fly as my teacher. He keeps making comments like "If you want to come see me in my office, the hours are blah to blah, or you can email me and we can arrange to meet downtown in a favorite "gathering place," (*wink-wink* aimed at me). Which is fine, and I'm sure he means sincerely, but makes me feel conspicuous, which was the opposite of how I wanted to feel. I wanted to be just another student. Now I feel pressure to perform. Which I don't need, I'm giving myself enough pressure as it is.

BUT on the up side, the first thing he says is "Don't buy the book. It'll cost you a C-Note, and you don't need it. The study guide is plenty good enough for your needs." Which is ALWAYS good news!

Then he says "There are 3 test days in this class, and you turn your assignments in on those days. Since this class is all about the watching the video-tapes, it pretty much teaches itself. I don't see any reason to get together every week, do you?"

I turn to the girl behind me "Hey, this guy is awesome! First 2 things he says are "don't buy the book" and "don't come to class!" Hey, now tell me not to do the assignments, and you'll give me an "A" and you'll be the perfect teacher. Kidding. (maybe)

I watched the first video-tape last night when I got home. I think this class will be fun, the tapes are 1/2 hour programs on other cultures, much like the shows I watch just for fun on the discovery channel. I like being able to rewind, or rewatch the tapes. And I like school.

But uggghh. Getting used to writing papers again. I know I'll do fine, I never had any problem writing papers before. But it will involve flexing a muscle I haven't used in 6 years!

posted by Krizzer 12:33 PM

Monday, September 22, 2003

 

Monday Manners

From the chapter "At Table":

Don't eat soup from the end of the spoon, but from the side. Don't gurgle, or draw in our breath, or make other noises when eating soup. Don't ask for a second service of soup.

Well, here I'm just floored. I mean, I had no idea, but I've been eating soup WRONG all these years! (no I don't GURGLE) I'm an "end of the spoon-er". But if I eat (drink?) it out of the side of the spoon, won't I spill soup in my lap? My unprotected by my useless napkin lap?

posted by Krizzer 3:38 PM