Holiday Traditions

I've looked forward to the Fourth of July holiday for years. This is mainly due to the fact that my town has it's annual Heritage Days celebration. It started when I was in ninth grade and was supposed to only be held for a few years until Ford City celebrated their bicentennial. By the time that arrived, the festival was too big to stop.

It is basically five days of ethnic food and crafts. Add in the carnival rides, petting zoo, 5K walk/run, parade and fireworks and you got yourself a tradition. Most people come home for this holiday. Class reunions are planned for that weekend. You will see people you haven't seen for years.

Over the past five years, the festival had been going downhill. It was mismanaged. The good crafters pulled out. The entertainment was not much to write home about. Last year, everyone feared it would be the last year.

The old committee retired. A new committee was formed. New blood, young blood and they promised to revitalize a family tradition. I have to say, I think they are well on their way of doing that.

After being a pedicure and nail whore for two days, trying to fit three days worth of clients into two, I ended up with a UTI. Working 12 hour days and forgetting to take regular bathroom breaks finally took it's toll on me. I spent the entire Fourth of July in bed. For the first time that I can remember, I missed the fireworks.

Yesterday, I was able to venture out in the evening. I got to see the parade, which is always highlight for me. The parade was shorter than in years past. I remember the bicentennial parade lasting until 1:00 am. Nick said at one point that next year we need to bring a kid with us. I looked at him and realized he meant so that we could get some candy. I quickly proved to him that "I" can get candy from firemen! I just waved at all of the ones that I knew and an abundance of candy flew in our direction. He ate every single piece of it too.

Since we have missed all but two days of this festival, we have some ground to make up. Usually, we plan our days by what we eat, spreading out the goodies all week. With only two days, that's a lot of eating. We made sure we got the Polish Platter (piergois, cabbage rolls and mashed potatoes) last night, as well as Apple Dumplings with Ice Cream. Tonight, we have to get our Pastrami Sandwich and hopefully some Cabbage and Noodles as well as a Bavarian Waffle with Ice Cream. Oh boy, I hope I don't come home with a tummy ache like last night.

We always visit the petting zoo. I am an animal lover and am drawn to any kind of animal. Some don't agree with petting zoos. These animals seem very cared for and very well fed. Every year, I visit with the llama. It's the same llama every year. I like to think of him as being named something regal like Kensington. He has an air about him, like he feels demeaned to be in a petting zoo. I can just imagine him speaking in a high class voice saying "I can't believe that they have me in here with these barnyard animals. What an utter embarrassment"

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend, filled with their own holiday traditions. I know I sure enjoyed mine, UTI and all!

Nail Tech Superstar Wannabes

The Internet is a powerful force. You can network with others around the world for just about anything. I've been networking with other nail technicians online since 2001. On the Internet, anyone can be any person they want to be. Most people are themselves, and portray themselves accurately. Then, there are those that want to be something that they are not, but portray themselves as though they are.

I am getting very tired of these "wannabes" ripping on manufacturer educators. One of these "wannabes", who I for now on refer to as the Queen Be, takes great enjoyment in rallying a posse of other wannabes in trying to discredit current educators work. They rip on demos done at shows, classes, networking events and photos of work that is posted online for educational purposes.

I find it interesting that this Queen Bee has all of these years of experience, yet you don't see her listed anywhere, but in one trade mag where she gave a couple of quotes. Again, anyone can say they are something, magazines rarely check that.

She has stated that she has owned all these salons, yet there is no record of them anywhere. She posts pictures, of her salon, which you can tell are ancient.

She states that she has been an educator for years, yet she hasn't attended a show in years. She quite frankly boasts that she doesn't go because no one can teach her something she doesn't already know.

She brags about how she is working now, has a full book, is so busy that she can't take anyone new. Funny, how she is online, posting continuously. When the hell is she servicing these clients? Between keystrokes? She will cut any one's posted work down, yet there are NO pictures of her work. She is a product jumper. She pretty much ass kisses whatever product she has a hard on for the moment. Once the hard on drops, she is cutting the product up.

So, why am I writing all of this, you say? Because people need to stop believing everything that they see and read online. Why get sucked in by someone who doesn't attend shows, doesn't work in a salon, doesn't educate, yet she wants you to think she does. Ask yourself, if she is so great, why hasn't she been asked to do a cover of Nails Magazine or Nailpro? Why hasn't she competed and won trophies? Why isn't she listed in the freakin' Yellow Pages under Nail Salons? Why, because she is nothing but a WANNABE!

All photos are examples of my work. Go ahead, rip away, I know you can't come close to touching my ability or my integrity.

Confuscius says....

This was an actual fortune I got in my fortune cookie last night. Well, I've passed the age limitations for Miss America. I can't become a Solid Gold Dancer due to the fact that the show has been cancelled. I guess this must mean Roller Derby!!!!!!!!!

I can tell you, it sure as hell does not mean marrying Psycho BOB! OMG, I better be careful. He's like Beetle Juice, if you say his name three times, he appears. I wonder if typing it counts?

Memories

Upon news of losing another classmate, I pulled out my yearbook. I graduated in 1984 in a class of 140 students. As of today, we have lost seven classmates. We may have lost more that I don't know about, but I know of seven for certain.

Five died from illness, one in an accident and one overdosed. This is sad. Next year will be our 25th reuinion and we've lost 5% of our class. I don't know if this is a normal statistic, but to be in the 42 year old age bracket and have five people die of illness is scary.

Know what else is scary? Reading the stupid write up that you put into the yearbook 24 years ago. OMG, WTF was I thinking???? Marry that psycho????!? At least I came to my senses. As you can see, I've always liked purple!

Dog Pile

Sometimes, you just have to let things roll off your back. You need to kick back and let off some steam. Nothing makes you feel as good as jumping into a dog pile. I am talking real dogs here. Tonight, I just jumped on the bed while Travis and Riley were romping. OMG did that feel good. I got licked, nipped, Travis even ripped my bandana from my hair.

I was screaming and laughing until I was crying and nearly peed my pants. What a release that was!

My boys rock at making me happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Price of Derby

Derby requires sacrifices off all kinds. There's the monetary, the physical and the emotional.

Monetarily, it costs me $30 per week to attend two practices in gas. Sometimes I make three a week, for the most part, I usually make 10 practices a month, which amounts to $150 a month in gas. Add in our dues and you got $180 a month. Add in lost wages of $240 for quitting work early every other Thursday for practice and my grand monetary sacrifice is $420 a month. This totals $5,040 per year. This total, of course does not include equipment or other expenses.

Then you have the physical sacrifice. Being a 41 year old skater, things just don't heal as easy. It's much harder to get up in the morning. Every bone in your body creaks. You experience the multitude of bruises and injuries. You are constantly playing catch up to the young skaters.

Lastly, you have the emotional sacrifice. This is the one that I am having the most difficulty with lately. I have never in my life suffered from such a low self esteem as now. I feel humiliated weekly, degraded, looked down upon and sometimes, just made to feel like shit. It's my own fault. I allow it.

So, I add up the monetary, physical and emotional sacrifices and I ask myself... Why do you put yourself through all this? The jury is still out on that answer.

I've got a swimmer!

Last year, I purchased a large blow up pool for Riley. To my dismay, he refused to get in. This year, I decided to blow it up again, knowing that Travis wouldn't hesitate. I wasn't wrong. As soon as I opened the door, he ran out into the back yard and proceeded to bark at the strange, new, purple thing in his yard. It didn't take too long to encourage him to jump in.
He already knows the first rule of pools - NO PEE IN THE POOL, he jumped out and proceeded to pee in the grass.
I started to throw the ball into the pool, Riley wanted the ball so badly, but there was no way he was going in.
Instead, he let Travis have all the fun!

Happy Birthday Riley!!

Today, my precious Riley is 6 years old! I can't believe it's been that long since he came home. It seems like yesterday. This morning, in honor of his birthday, I let him sleep in with Daddy and closed the door so that Travee wouldn't pester him. We are having a cookout later today and he will get his own burger for his special day.He doesn't usually get people food, so it will be a treat!!!

Travee Tails......

I guess it's time for an overdue Travee update! Travis is now 7 months old. He has grown into a little stinker. He is the typical mischevious little brother. You have to always be on your toes when he is around.

Last week, I was working in my office and I smelled a horrible smell, like something was burning. I asked Nick what was burning as I walked into the kitchen. There was smoke in the kitchen. Nick, who is surfing the net on his laptop said that he didn't have a clue, that it was coming from the dishwasher, but couldn't figure out why. I walked to the dishwasher and opened it, difference is, I acutually "pulled out the bottom rack" and low and behold, I saw what the problem was immediately! Down, on the bottom, laying against one of the heating coils was a PIG HOOF, burning. Now when the boys chew on one of these things, it smells like a dirty butt. My house and dishes now smell like burning, dirty butt.

I remove the pig hoof, at which time, Travis strolls in with a look on his face like "Oh!, That's where I put that" I have to totally rewash the dishes and can't get that smell out of my head for days!

Fast forward to Thursday. Travis is following me around the house with a tennis ball, begging me to throw it for the millionth time that day. I am taking my dish to the kitchen to put it in the dishwaher. I open the dishwasher and just slide the plate in. This takes me about 2 seconds. I go to shut the door and it won't shut. I try again, still won't shut. I open the door fully, to see his tennis ball wedged between the door and the bottom shelf! My clients seem to think that he either wants his stuff cleaned, or he thinks the dishwasher is his new toybox.

This morning, I go to let him out and I see this. It acually makes me chuckle. Earlier this morning, when he went potty, he found a ball that he left outside. This was a special ball that he loves, Auntie Suzan gave it to Riley at Goldstock. I guess he wanted to put it in a safe place so he wouldn't lose it again.

Riley and Travis have become snugglebugs together. They spoon often, especially in my office. My office is small and cluttered, but they don't care, they want to be with me at all times. Here's a shot of them this morning, wearing the wonderful, matching collars from Auntie MJ.

Here is one from a couple of weeks ago with Riley using Travis as a pillow.
And the time I found them spooning in bed.

Travis likes to lay like an alligator, some call this laying like a frog. It freaks me out, it makes him look double jointed.

The boys still love their walks, especially now that it's spring

They really enjoy sitting out on our back patio (we are all here right now). We have a pond, with a frog living in it, bird feeders and bird houses with a family inside and a squirrel feeder that has two visitors daily, a gray one and a brown one.

Block of Love

May 17, The Hellions took on The Slashers. We lost. 'Nuff said. I am bruised, but I am not broken!

No, it's not a rabid clown, it's Bekkie MK-Ultra, making a miraculous recovery from a "compound fracture" to her ankle in April's bout against The Bitch Doctors (RUMOR). I love the look of joy on my face in this photo, it really shows my love for roller Derby.

Watch out Bitch Doctors, The Hellions are coming!