Ooopps I did it now!

If you've been reading this blog, you do know I've been toying with the idea to shave it off, my hair that is!

I didn't want to go all Alpha, that's a bit much even for me...  But I think it looks great on her.

When I got up, my hair was a mess, like it always is, but usually within a  few minutes with water and a comb, it's viable... today there was this fold that wouldn't let go. So today was the day!  Yep!



Here is how it went down. 

This is me before the shower...

The clipper is now charged and I go..
.

First clip...

A few more clips, and it's starting to take shape, or rather I'm starting to worry?!

Too far gone, must continue!

My hair wasn't 'that' long, but it is thick... and as I'm stepping it in is is so soft...

All mine...

There's this strip in the back of my head that I can feel still long, and for some reason can't seem to be able to clip... so I have to call the husband...  I think it scare me more to see his reaction than the end result of this crazy endeavor of mine... When he came in the bathroom, he looked at the hair on the floor and said: "Had a feeling this is what you were doing.  I could hear the low buzz..."
When asked what he thought:  "It's cute! and it will grow back."  He clipped my neck and asked for me to do his hair after, since there was hair everywhere.  He is such a practical man!

I actually kept one strand of mine, that I'm sending to my mother...  Remember as kids, that first haircut and mothers used to keep à strand to put in baby journal and such?  She will freak out, I'm sure, as she doesn't read my blog nor has she been on Bacefook for a while now... Sending it along with a few pictures.

So, here is what a Coronavirus, confinement induce haircut looks like!

To my surprise there isn't as much white/grey as I thought I had.  Even with by fat/round face, it doesn't look that back, me thinks, anyway.  And like Hubby said so well "it will grow back".

Sent a picture to my hairdresser and she loved it.  She didn't think I would do it, but I did!

It is done, and I like it!

Je le fais ou je ne le fais pas?!

Je ne sais plus à combien de jour j'en suis rendue, car il me semble que ça fait un bout que je suis à la maison.  Je ne m'en plains pas, j'aime être chez nous - une chance puisse que je travaille de la maison et suis presque toujours là même sans restrictions dues à la pandémie - j'ai la chance d'être en santé, à la maison avec l'internet, la télé et tous plein de trucs à faire, alors je suis bien. L'isolement n'a pas changé grand chose à mon quotidien, sauf pour mes deux soirs de méditation, le reste est pas mal pareil. Oh, et le fait que le mari est aussi à la maison! Le juré est encore en délibération à savoir si c'est mieux ou pire...

Blague à part, j'aime bien avoir de la compagnie même si j'apprécie beaucoup être seule, comme durant les semaines ou il était aux Açores.  Ce qui est différent est le fait que lorsque je sors à l'extérieur de chez nous, je me sens sur le qui-vive, je n'ai pas peur mais je vois les gens autour de moi et comment certains sont inconscients, voir même insousiants. Ça ça me fait peur!  En ce moment j'entend le mari tousser, et ça aussi ça me fait peur, de penser qu'il pourrait être atteint car contrairement à moi lui sort, c'est lui qui va à l'épicerie, qui fait face aux lignes d'attentes, etc.  Il dit que ce n'est rien d'anormal pour lui cette toux, je l'espère... le temps nous le dira.

Cette semaine, ma coiffeuse et amie m'a téléphonée pour m'offrir un kit de teinture qu'elle préparerait et que je pouvais passer prendre (sans contact) chez elle.  J'ai appréciée l'appel, surtout que j'ai besoin d'un rendez-vous. Ma dernière visite au salon fut le 12 février, pour une couleur et coupe. Je prends habituellement un rendez-vous aux cinq ou six semaines. Depuis quelques mois je jongle avec l'idée d'arrêter la teinture.  Ma coiffeuse était bien excitée par l'idée, j'avais même pris un rendez-vous, cet automne, pour me faire bleacher la tête avant de passer au gris/blanc, car j'ai beaucoup de cheveux blancs ou gris, mais la journée même j'ai changé d'idée et ai fait faire ma couleur habituelle.  J'en avais parlé avec quelques personnes et les avis étaient très partagés.  J'ai eu la trouille et j'ai couvert le pâle avec mon brun régulier.  C'est l'idée du bleach qui m'a déragée et je n'avais et n'ai toujours pas vraiment l'intention de faire pousser le gris.  Je ne veux pas avoir l'air de ça...

Je me doute bien que je n'aurai pas la même allure puisque mes cheveux sont courts, mais quand même, l'idée du deux tons comme ça ne me tente vraiment pas.

Lors de ma conversation téléphonique avec ma coiffeuse, je l'ai remercié de son offre mais j'ai décidée de passer mon tour.  J'ai déjà une bonne repousse, mais le pire pour moi est la longeur. J'ai le toupet dans les yeux et mes cheveux sont épais alors j'ai chaud.  Cette semaine j'ai commencé à mettre un bandeau pour retirer mon toupet.  Hier j'ai mis des barrettes.  Une chance que je ne sors pas de la maison, car j'ai vraiment l'air de quelqu'un qui est souffrante à la maison.

Il y a quelques semaines j'ai lu un article sur une artiste locale qui avait relevée le défi des têtes rasées et elle est vraiment belle...

Je n'ai pas 30 ans (si elle a ça!), ni son visage, mais l'idée d'avoir les cheveux courts comme ça me parle.  Cette idée me parle depuis la première fois que j'ai vu Annie Lennox avec sa brosse et ses cheveux orange.  Ça date, hein?

Avouez qu'elles ont de la gueules quand même. J'ai demandé au mari se qu'il pense de mon idée d'éviter les repousses deux tons en me rasant la tête... disons que l'idée n'a pas fait fureur.

Il a (surement) pensé à quelque chose comme ceci...

J'y ai aussi pensé, mais au pire, si je rate je peux toujours continuer pour quelque chose comme elle...

Mais au fond, ce que je veux c'est juste ça...

Qu'en pensez-vous?

Yay or Nay?

The Paw is Alive!

Despite a very rough start to 2017, I'm happy to report I'm still alive!  After two full runs of antibiotics which made me dizzy and really nauseous and the other gave me diarrhea, and felt like shit for many, many days, and lots of sleep, I'm starting to feel human again.  Well, let's face it, as human as I can be or feel.  I was home for almost two months, doing nothing be read, sleep and eat a bit.  It wasn't a fun time, that's for damn sure!

We did very little socializing.  Managed to catch up with some people we met during our trip in Dominican Republic in November.  A very nice couple who actually live about five minutes from us, small world.  We met up with them for a drink (while I was finishing my second runs of drugs), it was nice to catch up and to see that we still clicked even dressed and sober, ah!

Managed to go see, with a girlfriend, ''Fifty Shades Darker''.  It's a love story with a bit of very soft porn.  I liked it, but then again I liked the books too (sue me!).  We also started watching ''The Fall'' with Jamie Dornan (oh man!  Just googled him for a cute pict. to put up and just saw he was born in 1982, O.M.F.G. I could be his fucking mother!!  Geez!  That's a kick in the teeth!!) - a series he did before the Fifty Shades movies, and he's fucking creepy in it, but I love it!  He's so twisted, and in a way not that far off from Christian Grey... If you haven't and want to hear what he really sounds like, with his cute Irish accent, I strongly suggest watching 'The Fall.'

Anyway.  Despite having quite a bit of snow at some point this winter, we haven`t done one single outing of snowshoeing, either because I was sick, felt sick or by the time we felt like we could go, the weather turned, got really warm and melted a lot and then froze over. So no snowshoeing!

About two weeks ago, we went to our jeweler to get a new battery for one of my watches and noticed that he made some silver bracelet like the Ani and Alex ones - which I have a few - and since he had done a little paw for me as a charm on a chain, I asked to have a bigger one done and to have it mounted on the bracelet.  Today we went to pick it up... and I love it!  I love my paw!

Ain't it purrrdy?!

Other than that, life is good.  Can't complain too much.  Hubby is busy, we still enjoy our new place, and liking the neighborhood more daily, so life is pleasant in Pleasantville, and I'm thankful for it all!

Countdown to Half a Century...

It has begun!  I've been counting the days before I hit that milestone, the BIG 5-0, and I'm not even thinking of Hawai'i, my big 5-0!

In nineteen days I will turn fifty.  I thought that writing it down might make a difference, nope, still cringes... I know it is just a number.  I also know that I don't look it, or feel it - but, depending at what time you ask me that question, you will get a different answer, that's for sure.

In thirteen dodos we are leaving for the sunny beach of Punta Cana, in Dominican Republic, at least I'm hoping it will be sunny, because I sure need to crash on the beach and do nothing but decide with bathing suit to put on and what drink to order!  I always thought I would celebrate my passage to being half a century...  I've celebrated my 30th and my 40th, in style, you know, renting a room, DJ, catering, the whole shebang... My fiftieth (yuck, ugly looking word!) I thought I would celebrate in Disney, but turned out to be too expensive and I/we had different priorities, like getting this place organized...  I would have loved to be surrounded with friends and enjoy it all but instead Hubby and I will crash for a week in an all inclusive, which we haven't done in a few years, by ourselves.  It will be nice to recup together, he needs it more than me since he's been working hard lately. He's being pulled in different directions by many people, and he's not really wired to manage it all that well.  He likes his peace and quiet, and lately he hasn't been getting much of that.  He feels like a pooper scooper at even if that can make one feel good at times, it can be very tiresome as well.

Talking with Hubby earlier, we realized that we haven't been to a beach (read sea or ocean) for a good two years.  We were by the water in Bodø (Norway), but it was so friggin' cold it's not like we swim or anything of the sort.  I did go to Rimouski in June, but that as well wasn't really the best condition for a fun time at the beach... 

This summer I swam once, in a pool in July and it was friggin' cold that one time.  Did it anyway, because I like water that much, but time was not wasted between the pool and going in that night, that's for sure!  We are well past our expiration date in regards to some fun in the sand.  Time for me to build something, like a turtle or a Hawaiian Sandwoman... I just love the feel of soft sand in my hands or between my toes...  As Young Dory says: "I like sand. Sand is squishy."  Then again, I've recently watched a short movie made by the daughter of a friend (you can check it out here, very well made and quite interesting) where she talked about Tardigrades, those little water bears that live in the sand, reads all cute but I think I won't be able to help myself and think about them all as I crash upon them...

All in all, my brain has been on overdrive for some time now, and getting away, if only for one week, will do me good. Being away from a computer will also be a good thing for me.  As we are about to enter week 46 of this year 2016 - and a big week this will be as well, with the American Election Day on Tuesday - I can only sit here and wonder not only where did those past fifty years go to, but this past year seems to have gone by as one big blur as well...  Many things came and went at us in 2016 and the year is not over yet:  just this coming week, I have to visit my osteo, then my neurologist, then my dentist to have two crowns put in (can you hear the cash register?!), then next week it will be the hairdresser, annual check up with our family doctor and the esthetician. 

I did laugh when I saw this picture, even if I don't shave (I wax), this image feels true.  Since I'm thinking of joining the Y this winter, that might not work for me, darn!, but still love that image.  Another pleasure of aging is those hairs growing on my chin... never had that before, now every now and then I have to pluck one dark one away... strange and oh so ugly!

Before I get in the TMI space, I shall close.  I do find that people are over sensitive about every little damn thing.  It's unreal how you can not say anything without someone being offended or frustrated.  It's ridiculous.

I miss the days when as kids we were afraid of strangers and/or neighbors, not because they would abduct or hurt us, but because they represented authority and that was respected.  They could and would tell us to get lost or to go plain somewhere else, and we did without crying to our parents about it.  We feared authority and showed respect towards it.  Nowadays nobody says anything.  The kids, read brats, run the world and it's normal. Argh!  Nobody respects anyone no more.  We're all afraid to say something when we see something that is wrong, like a kid who won't give up his seat on the bus for an elderly, nobody says anything. A few years ago, we would have gotten a smack behind the head for remaining seated.  Times have changed.  I have grown old...er... and one thing for sure, I'm damn happy not to have had any kid.  I wouldn't want to be raising kids today.  I'm not saying that we should hit kids (well... no, I'm not!) but we should teach them to respect others and their elders.  I hate it now, when I speak (French) with a young person and they use "tu" (informal way to address someone) rather than "vous" (formal way to address).  It's a little thing but it does make such a difference, it creates a little gap, a little difference, it shows some form of respect. 

O.M.G. I read like such an old broad!  OK time to close up, and go drink my cup of hot tea...  Geez...

Hoping and hopefully...

Nineteen days since I last came by here, and to be honest not much as changed.  The work has not begun in our condo yet, some issues with the kitchen estimation. The insurance company sent their guy to re-appraise the work to be done earlier last week.  I'm hoping to hear from them soon.

Our moron of a neighbor didn't provide a written confirmation that his unit is working correctly and that the issue which caused the damages has been resolved correctly.  We had to get a lawyer involved, and mandate a professional consultant to confirm everything.  Hopefully that guy will come by this week.

When the cabinet guy came by last week, I did ask him about how we would proceed if we were to do some upgrades, like changing our counter top.  While he was measuring and examining our cabinet he did mention a possible problem we might have with doing so.  Our current top is shaped and set a certain way and replacing it might not be as easy task.  We will have to see a professional and make sure it can be done... I'm hoping it will be a possible project, since it would be a superb upgrade in our place.

We went to see our jeweler and he showed us the new rock that will be on/in my new ring, which he had a wax mold of.  It will be quite a change from the ring I had for fifteen years.  Hopefully it will be even better in gold and meets all my expectations.

My postcard online shop is up and running.  I've made three sales this far.  It would be a lie to say I'm not disappointed.  I'm waiting for a few more new designs from the printer, which will broaden the types of cards I offer.  I've also created another few, but haven't sent them to the printer yet.  I'm hoping to sell some at the Québec meet on Saturday.

I've organized a Postcrossing meet in Québec city.  I was planing to drive there with Hubby, but he mentioned not being too hot about spending time alone while I was at the meet up, so I've asked a member if she wanted to share my room.  I didn't want to drive there alone and turns out that I will be driving there with two women, so it all worked out.  At the moment we are about ten postcards addicts attending, should be interesting.  Hopefully it will be a nice day, hate to drive in the rain.

As you can read, these days I'm going on hopes... hopefully it will all work out... one can hope, right?

Not all bad...

Well, in ten days things have been moving, or I have... whichever way you want to look at it.  On the condo front though, nothing moved.  No repair insight just yet, we are awaiting the moron's confirmation that it has been fixed correctly and it seems like he's ignoring the requests from the condo association...

My new wedding band is in creation and we actually got a nice credit for our old gold jewels. A nice chuck of that came from Hubby's mother, may she rest in peace.  I had kept her charms bracelet, you know the old style with huge charms, and that puppy weight 111 gm in gold! Between that and my wedding ring, with its diamond, it added up, which is nice since the new ring will be a little more pricey... Yeah this girl likes purdy and shiny things!

Speaking of shiny things, while at the jeweler, I had noticed a pendant he had made, and last time I was there I could no longer resist it.  It is so me, Stinkypaw!

Chuk's Creation

As you may have noticed, on the sidebar, there's a new gadget pointing to my new online store!  I've decided to take the plunge and open an online shop where I would sell postcards.  For now, as I'm building my portfolio, the selection isn't grand, but I'm working on it.  I have some strictly related to Postcrossing and since the selection of Montréal postcards in local stores is not only lame, dated and always the same, I've contacted different people I know and asked if I could use their photos.  The answers have been coming in slowly.  Things are moving and I'm excited about it.  If you have a chance go visit my little shop and let me know what you think.  There's also a blog on my store.

Today, I actually was pleasantly surprise by Canada Post.  I've been collecting pictorial cancels.  What is that you ask?  It is a cancellation stamp that some post office have to commemorate something of the area, like there's one not far from here of the Notre-Dame Basilica.  Here's what it looks like.

Some are really pretty, some are funny and it's an inexpensive souvenir.  I've started that because of Postcrossing, same as with the stamps.  Some countries have gorgeous stamps, like Russia, Finland for example. I've been contacting different post offices asking them to cancel my stamp (on a postcard, of course) with their postmark.  I will say this, Canada Post's website isn't up to date for this at all.  I had contacted this post office in Ontario, which had a postmark showing Canada's First Polish Settlement.  Today I get an envelop from Canada Post addressed with the label that I had put on when I had sent my request.  When I opened it, it contained my postcard, stamped as requested but with another cancellation, and on the note I had attached (my original request) there was a hand written note from the Postmaster in which she informed me that the Wilno post office had closed down, and their stamp was taken out of circulation.  She, instead, cancelled my card with her post office's special stamp.  How sweet was that?  I was really surprised, especially since I've started this, many were simply returned with no explanation.  It is nice to see that some people still care about their clients.

Really? Already?

I knew this day was coming, not only did I know but I could see it. Was I ready for it?  Not really? I am not ready for it at all!  Wondering what I'm talking about? Well, you know?  It's that time of the month...

 Oh!  I don't mean that time, no, please!  No, no, it's just time for me to get a haircut!

Since we've first talked about doing this thing in Norway, one of the (many) things I thought of was my hair.  It (most likely) may be a women thing, but I've been faithful to my hairdresser.  I've been seeing her since 1999.  Even after we've moved downtown, I've kept going back to her in the West-Island.  I like what she does. She changes my color, the cut and yes sometimes it is a little funky, but I've often said it: I change what I can easily do, and my hair is one, plus it does grow back, so it's all good.  When Hubby talked about this "move", we both agreed that it was long enough that both of us would have to commit, and by that, we would have to find a hairdresser.  He gets his hair cut every four to five weeks.  I get mine done every six weeks.  Hubby and I shopped for him.  We walked around and went by feel mostly.  He also wasn't willing to pay too too much, especially since his regular cuts are about $25.00 back home.  He managed to find a barber, a little shop not far from our flat.   It cost him 250.00 NOK, which is about $40. The guy did a nice job, different from his regular crew cut, but nice.

Just before we went for our weekend in Oslo, I thought of giving a try to a salon next door.  I guess I'm not as loyal for my waxing as I am for my hair.  Or maybe it is me not being as chicken?  No matter what, I made an appointment and went for a waxing.  The lady I was assigned was nice.  She was also Sami (native of Norway).  She did it quickly and all was well.  It cost me 395.00 NOK for a half-leg, which is about $66.00.  Back home it cost me $25.00 for half-leg and bikini.  I didn't ask for the bikini, wonder how much extra that would have been.

I need to get my color done, and I'm not worried about that; as long as my grey is covered it will be good.  For the cut that is another thing.

In my younger days before I had a regular hairdresser, I've ended up looking like a poodle, too curly and so puffy - I think anyone you went through the 80s looked like this at one point or another - everything that could be wrong was wrong.  Now with short hair I know the worst that can happen is that it's cut too short, but then again, the last two visits back home, the back and sides of my hear were almost shaved so, it can't be that bad, right?  Right!  My bangs could be chopped off and that would be bad, even if they will grow back, I like my bangs!  If they're crooked that can always be corrected, but once cut there's no much to be done, but wait...

So, tomorrow I will walk around and try to find a frizør - there are so many of them around, one at almost every corner around the Sentrum - that might be just why I'm concerned... why so many salons?  And they all look like the places like my mother goes to... which is scary.  Call me snob, I don't care - I am, I assume it! - but when a place has posters hanging on their walls which look like that girl above, I know it's not the place for me.  Hubby told me to go feel the different places, I've spotted a few, so tomorrow will be the time for me to address that time of the month thing and go for it!  Wish me luck!

I guess I am a strange bird

It hit me at some point during the day, that even if I haven't seen much of it, for whatever reason, half of October is already done with.  This whole year is zooming by at incredible speed.  I normally always count the months before Christmas as soon as we hit the 25 of any month - I'm one of those twits who say "Can you believe that in three months we'll be done with Christmas?" - what can I say I like Christmas.

I don't like the commercialization of it all; what I like is all the lights and decorations.  I loooove to sit by my tree and admire it.  I haven't done a tree in a few years, because I was too tired one year, we traveled the other, but this year I will be putting me tree up (Notice to Hubby, if you're reading this!).

Besides the rain and some cooler days, we can't complain too much about the weather.  Granted I would love for it to be sunny and warmer year 'round, but it is not the climate we live in (for now, hopefully that will change one day, before long).  We have to make due with what we have, argh.  I've started to wear socks again, proof that summer is over.  I like my toes to be warm, but wearing shoes isn't my favorite.  I much rather be in flip-flops or barefoot.  This is reminding me that tomorrow, I will have to start breaking in some new heels I've bought a while back but never worn yet.  We have a wedding on Saturday and I'm planning to break in these babies.  I'm not use to high heels, and these puppies are high - about 2.5" - that's high for me.  Good thing Hubby is tall.  Tomorrow, the plan is to wear them in the house so that I get used (some) to walking with them and don't look like Bambi on ice!

To add to the excitement of attending this wedding, I've booked myself for an appointment not with my hairdresser (my hair is so short I (think) I can manage it myself), but with a makeup artist.  I will get my face done. Ah!  I had been thinking about it, and decided why not give it a try.  I rarely wear makeup (other than eyeliner, mascara and some lip gloss), so I thought it would be different.  I just hope it won't be too much and most of all I hope not to feel dirty.  Time will tell.

That's it for news, for now.  Much more simmering.  Stay tune!