Women's Haircuts

So, it's been over four months - I am due for a haircut.  Also, I, like millions of women in America, have gotten in this crazy habit of highlighting my hair.  My mom told me, when I first let dye touch my hair 'once you start, you'll never stop'.   I am pretty sure cocaine is an ingredient in hair dye.

Anyhow.  My hair is long, straight and thin.  And I've pretty much been getting variations of the same haircut for the past 12 years.  Still, it is, quite possible screw it up - as I have experienced.

A couple years ago, a good friend recommended a good hair girl within Chicago.  She does well.  I cannot say that I am in love with her - but she has gotten the job done.  Maybe it is not possible that I would get a haircut that I am 'in love with' - in fact, I'm not sure it's happened.  (Don't we know if we are in love?  Can only love break your heart?  I digress.)

Ok - recently - she has changed locales.  And prices.  I am not sure exactly what I was paying before, but now she is up to $55 for a haircut and $85 for a partial highlight.  No.

So, I have cold called a new place which got good reviews on yelp.  I will be getting my hair cut for $35 and my highlights done for $70.  I have called around.  This is on the cheap end, if we take supercuts/greatclips/etc. out of the running.

Ok - how much does a woman's haircut cost in Chicago?  How much SHOULD a woman's haircut and highlights cost?  Does everyone pay around this amount?  I have raised this question in the ultimate forum, facebook, and got a mix of responses.  Someone suggested that the real issue is supply and demand - there are enough women out there who are brainwashed into believing it's necessary to spend this amount of money to get a good haircut.  How much is a reasonable amount to spend on one's hair?  Is a hair salon really any better of quality than Supercuts?  Your thoughts?

My Feelings on Sweet Valley Confidential

Ok - before I get started - let me add one quick disclaimer.  I read the various Sweet Valley books growing up.  However, it wasn't my primary series.  I can't say I read all the books.  So, therefore, some of the supporting characters were a complete and utter question mark to me.  And, I suppose, this disclaimer implies that I might not know the main characters as well as some of the diehards.  

Anyhow, moving right along.  Another important sidenote is that Francine Pascal, the writer of said book, is the creator of the series.  However, most of the series was written by ghostwriters.  I know this is a common practice.  This bothers me, and I don't know why.  It's not as though I know Francine Pascal personally, or that I could blindly identify her writing, so I am not sure why it should matter that the stories were written by another author, as long as I liked them.  Cue for the quote about a rose by any other name smelling less sweet?  

Third sidenote:  SPOILERS GALORE.

So, in short - Francine Pascal CREATED these characters.   However, other writers (I believe Kate Williams to be one of them) crafted them into the characters we knew.  I'm guessing Francine Pascal felt she had the poetic license to do whatever she wanted with them, because she took all of them in a completely new direction.  She drastically changed almost all of them.  Now, I'm not going get into the long debate about whether or not people change, however, what the diehard long-term fan readers (basically, the only demographic that intends to read this book) wanted was a where are they now-esque continuation of the characters we knew, not this random piece of fiction with completely-newly carved out individuals she made from the shells she once created 20+ years ago.

Jessica and Todd?  Seriously, no one buys this.  I get it if she didn't want Elizabeth and Todd together.  Maybe Elizabeth should have ended up with an older man, because of her maturity (maybe that one scandalous English teacher?) or perhaps some completely new man.   Maybe Todd could have fallen into a deep depression/drinking from the loss of Elizabeth.  And Elizabeth and Bruce?  No.  Just no.  I can't even begin to explain why it's wrong.   I kind of oddly liked Bruce with Lila - as in Sweet Valley University.  Maybe they should have ended up married.  Or already divorced - there we have it!  That would have made sense.  And I do realize that SOMEONE had to come out of the closet, by definition of a 'where are they now' book - but not Steven Wakefield.  They should have hung the 'I've grown so much' persona on him instead of Jessica - I could see him as a married father trying to do the right thing.  The one thing I liked and found believable was Jessica succeeding in a PR career and being twice divorced.  The gay character should have been Winston.  Or maybe Enid?   Or maybe thrown in a third husband for Jessica who leaves her for a man.  That, and additionally, I HATE the betrayal that takes place between the twins.  HATE.  No one believes that even shady, selfish Jessica could do this, or that it could be somehow overcome in under 300 pages. 

Anyhow.  In short, one of the ghostwriters (or even a random diehard fan) who had a better respect for the characters should have been commissioned to write this.  This might as well have been a complete and total original piece of work, as opposed to a continuation of these pre-existing characters.  When I went to check amazon and various other places for reviews, it appears as though I am not the only person offended by Francine Pascal's new direction with all of these characters.  Several diehards pointed out some historical inaccuracies about when certain characters first met and even character's names!?!  Oh, and apparently someone came back from the dead.  Seriously, Francine Pascal, what were you doing?  Clearly not reading the Sweet Valley series - perhaps just collecting a fat check.  Hmm.

Anyone else read Sweet Valley Confidential?  Your thoughts?

Editor's sidenote:  Ann M. Martin (or one of her ghostwriters) - Baby-Sitters Club where are they now?!!

More Personal?

So recently, a good friend commented that (he or she) thinks my blog needs a little more of a personal touch.

I always appreciate feedback.

The more I thought about this comment - I thought about other blogs.  Most of the blogs I read are people talking about what is going on in their lives.   I've noticed, with the new blog network I've joined (more on this in a little bit), a lot of people do share very detailed personal stories.

Now, I don't intend on changing the format of my blog entirely (dating and relationship opinions, reviews and critiques, random observations, thoughts on facebook, etc.).  However, shall I add in some 'personalized' stories?   Granted, I've always maintained the idea that I enjoyed reading personal stories in the blogs I follow - usually because I know (or feel like I know) the bloggers on a personal level in the first place.  However, I assume the general population does not care about such stories, and I like to think of my blog as one for the general population, and I want to keep it that way.  I assume random strangers don't care to read about what's going on in my life.  However, since I've been part of the 'blogging network', I've been pleasantly surprised by how entertaining it was to read some people's random personal trials and tribulations (especially when they are trainwrecks - I kid!  sort of).  I suppose it's like reading a book - it surprises us how we can get invested in characters we don't really know.

Not that there's a general rule for what a blog should be - but readers, what do you like?  Do you like reading more personal stories?  In-depth posts?  Your thoughts?  (Editor's sidenote:  Dear friends, family and future dates of Jaime - please understand you may end up here....)

New Edition

So I read on facebook, the ultimate source of all knowledge, that today is the one year anniversary of the 'like' button.  I do believe I have some leftover birthday cake for the occasion.

In celebration of said event, I have installed said 'like' button.  Or, as I call it, a little piece of genius.  Facebook, you're welcome for the free advertising for your product.

Please feel free to unapologetically like my blog.  It has feelings, you know.  Or, at least, its owner does.  

Being a Blogger, Part 2

So, whilst being a part of the 'blogging community' (if you will) - I discovered someone else's brilliant blog:

My Very Worst Date

Dear two gentleman who I'll hopefully never see again who shall remain nameless:

Your stories are about to be told.  I will gently change your names because I believe in protecting the (not-so) innocent.

You're Welcome,

Jaime

(Editor's sidenote:  How are there two 'worsts'?  By definition, that doesn't work, you say?  Explanation to come.  Cliff notes version:  one was worse to spend time with, but the other left me with the bill - so, give and take.)  

The Biggest Challenge of Being a Blogger

What is the biggest challenge of being a blogger, dear readers?  Consistently putting out material.  (Nevermind whether or not it's GOOD, meaningful, substantial material.  That's another can of worms in and of itself.)

I remember reading a statistic somewhere about how half the blogs out there on any given day won't be in existence a year from it.  I notice quite a few of the blogs I enjoy and follow haven't updated in quite a while.  I notice there are often longs gaps between updates; I also notice some blogs slowing down in their regularity of updates.

I am curious why this might be - other than the obvious 'life is busy'.  Is that it?  Is it a lack of material?  I feel I have exhausted several subjects I have enjoyed writing about in the past.  Is it a lack of an outside motivating factor?  Since most bloggers' blogging is a self-employed experience - is it that there are no deadlines and little to no consequences for not putting out new material regularly that plagues us?  Now, I've always liked to think that I'm a rather self-motivated person - however, there are several things over the past couple years that I decided, on my own, that I wanted to accomplish.  Not all of these things have been done.  I've been super busy is a good go-to excuse.  

Anyhow.  Do my fellow bloggers agree that this is the biggest challenge?  How do you stay on top of blogging regularly?  What does the rest of the blogging community do to combat these challenges?  Where do my fellow bloggers get their material?  How do you all stay motivated?  Your thoughts?  

More of San Diego

Once again, in no particular order....

Is that a door?  It's the entrance to the bar we went to - Vin de Syrah.  It took us a few seconds to find it.

outside the bar

I ran into my mom's favorite restaurant in San Diego.

This picture is simply an attempt to elicit jealousy.

ditto

just let them know.

the beautiful Coronado hotel

more of the Coronado

sunset cliffs

our trolley tour

Stacey and I like to live on the wild side.

Our quirkly adorable hotel - Humphrey's Half Moon Inn.  Just my own personal individual opinion - LOVED IT!  Highly, highly recommended!

Some San Diego Fun

In no particular order whatsoever....

The oldest house in San Diego.   Or something like that.

Sorry, dudes, I ordered the crab cakes....

I think I've experienced the first before, but not in beer form.

Coronado beach.

Ocean Beach.

maybe the bag ate some oysters?

the work of a dork.  and no, not me.

good shopping.

Biking on Vacation.

Some girls I know should be proud.   I know I am.  What a beautiful bike.  Stacey let me have it - no contest.

Birthday Recap

Just a Question.

Why on earth do we care about Will and Kate getting married?  I think the general population should be equally concerned about my next facebook status update....

Fears.

When I was little, I was afraid of flying.    I think, from the experience of having done it a bit, I've gotten over it.  However, Southwest Airlines is apparently putting this to the test with their recent, uhh, sunroofs on their aircrafts.  (Editor's sidenote:  I kid.  Sort of.)   My experience flying Southwest in the past was pleasant - I am hoping for a repeat without any surprise technical problems....

I will let you know if I come back in one piece.