Whatnots

As my vacation is drawing to an end, I'm a little sad, anxious and depressed all rolled into one at the prospect of going back to work. Speaking with another resident, I know this is not uncommon. I do like my work, I do, but being at home is ever so nice. Ahhh. . .

And what is up with the weather??! It's 70 degrees out there!! It's lovely if only Global Warming wasn't so menacing.

Hiro just got back from his neuter surgery. Poor little guy, his testicles (both) were undescended and the doctor had to make a wider incision and go exploring in his abdomen. Hiro is getting some much needed rest while I'm on the computer. If I go about my chores around the house, he'll be awake and attempt to follow me everywhere so I'm doing computer work so he can rest.

I went out to watch "I am Legend" last night with hubby. I go to the movies like once or twice a year and I wish I hadn't done so this time. It was the scariest movie I've ever seen in a long time. It was something about the darkness and rabies-crazed humans that just struck a wrong chord with me. Hubby, on the other hand, enjoyed it much. However, I loved "Evan Almighty", which we watched at home a few days ago. Funny and positive, just like movies should be. I know I'm corny and boring.

Yes, I really did have a good week off, albeit too short. I had quite a few people advising me and hubby to take a trip for this break. "You HAVE to go somewhere", "Get away", "If you don't do it now, you'll regret it after you have a baby." For a short while, we even contemplated a short Mexico or Carribean cruise, but now thinking back, I don't think I would have changed my vacation a bit. Movies in bed with hubby, savoring my mom's steamed pork buns, highlights in my hair, finding that perfect velour hoodie/pant set at Macy's, meeting friends' brand new 2-week old baby, seeing old friends, etc.

Hairy business

Hiro got his first professional grooming session shortly before New Year's. And he really needed it, just look at his before/after pictures. Apparently he was a very problematic client for the groomer. He was squirming, biting, and fighting every step of the way. The groomer had to put a muzzle on him and a usual 30-minute affair turned into a 3-hour ordeal. I suppose it's very hard to make a puppy understand why someone has to clip his toenails, pluck hair out of his ears and all the while he has to stay still. But again, he will get use to this particular quirk of human domination like other unnatural habits and tricks he's now accustomed to.

BEFORE.

AFTER.

Hiro's poodle-ness really comes through, not so much maltese.

And guess who else got a hair cut? Moi!! I was getting so tired of the ponytail hairstyle I've had for ages. Only in the last two years I've adopted side swept bangs. I liked my last hair cut and perm in Taiwain in May of 2007, but since then the perm has grown out. For the first time in my life, I got my hair highlighted. Actually, there are "lowlights", too, but I have no idea what the difference is. You can't tell from the picture, but there are blonde to light brown to red highlights/lowlights in my hair. Hubby calls it my "New York haircut." I suppose he's not used to anything but a conservative undyed pulled back hair on me. Now I understand the craze of Asian girls with colored hair. It's so neat to see the color variations in your hair. Like many other sought-after things in life, it breaks up the monotony. I'm definitely in love with the salon. I went to the Toni & Guy salon in North Park mall.

Before.

After.

I'm so over curls (for now) in pursuit of sleek straight hair. I had a self-tutorial in flat irons over the internet and purchased one. I got the Solia brand as it had the best reveiws. I can't wait for it to arrive! And then there's leave-in conditioners and thermal protectants for the hair. I can't believe how much there is I don't know about beauty products and hair care. There are middle-school girls posting on Youtube about the use of flat irons! I'm such a virgin at this, but I get a feeling that my shampoo-and-air-dry days are over. But if work ever gets too hairy (a pun!), I'll have my pony-tail to fall back on.

In search of beauty knowledge, I came across gel overlay French manicure. Now I'm dreaming of getting a full set. What is that? Before yesterday, I didn't know either but it's the newest technology in artificial nails using dental-grade material, a step above the old acrylic nails. And I haven't even entered the world of facials and spas. I think I've opened a Pandora's box!

I was just pondering of the sheer expense of being a woman in the pursuit of beauty and vanity. By habit and by upbringing, I was the "au naturale" girl, but now I definitely see the light of "artificial" beauty. It's not all about superficiality. I believe the confidence boost we get from a new hairdo or putting on make-up carries over to our family life and our workplace. We all have our boundary of what is too much and each woman need to make that decision for herself and hopefully not judge others for making different choices. Some women draw the line at using a little lip gloss and other women draw the line at getting breast implants. The common denominator is, as women, we need to feel good about ourselves and be proud of our femininity. As the Revlon slogan says (and this is in no way kowtowing to the commercial industry but simplying plucking a kernal of truth from a message), "because you're worth it.

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