hair affair

i was given a lot of pretty great qualities in life, my hazel eyes, fabulous fingernails, charming sense of humor... when it comes to feeling good about myself, i really do think i do ok in the self-esteem department.

but there is one major quality that i detest, however, and that's my fine stringy hair. i've had an on-going battle with my hair my entire life.

the funniest thing is that i graduated in 1988, the age of big hair. i managed by keeping my hair shoulder length and permed to somewhat fit in with the other big-haired girls.

the problem started in college when i went to the salon to get my ever lovin' perm and the stylist refused to give me one. she felt i had done too much damage to my hair and that it was time to give it a rest and let it grow out for a while. well, needless to say, i was devastated but deep down inside, i knew she was right...i needed to give my poor hair a break.

so all through college i kept my hair straight which worked out ok with the whole hippy, college thing anyway.

later in life, though, i wanted my full hair back but after all of that time being perm free, i just couldn't go there again. i decided i would embrace my straight hair. so i grew it long and didn't think too much about it. not that i loved it, i just tried not to worry about it too much.

but now that i'm in my 40s, i want it to look neater and more styled. i cut my long hair off about 6 months ago and every time i go to the stylist, it gets a little bit shorter. unfortunately, now it's a boring in between length and i feel like i need something a little bit edgier.

which brings me to today's post. should i or should i not cut my hair shorter than i have ever had it in my life? it's just so crazy how some females hold on to their hair as being a huge part of their identity. i envy those girls who can take a risk and play with different hair colors and styles. i have never been one of those girls. i think since i have fine hair, i'm afraid that if i keep cutting it, one day it just won't grow back...which is completely ridiculous, i know.


i have always admired leigh lezark's straight black hair. and while i'm sure her's is considerably thicker than mine, i think i could actually carry this one off. what do you think?


i like this cut a lot, too, i think it's just a little shorter than the one up above.

which one do you like best?

the only problem is that my stylist has corrected my hair color from it being too dark to a more natural auburn color. do you think this cut would look ok if it wasn't so extremely dark? of course i love black hair, i just don't think my stylist (whom i love and has save me from bad hair)will let me go there again.

i have a few weeks until my next cut so i will ponder this and let you all know.

happy valentines my loves!

happy valentines day to all of my lovely readers all over the world! it is very wet and rainy here in portland so i thought this is a fitting photo for today. i hope you all are having a beautiful day with your friends, families and critters.

and to lorenzo, raven and our doggie and kitty babies, i love you and are so happy you are in my life.

xoxoxo

(photo by jenna holme)

i remember you well at the chelsea hotel

i have long since been fascinated by the chelsea hotel. i don't remember why, exactly, except that all of the artists i love seem to have a chelsea connection.

it must have started with leonard cohen and from there joni mitchell, janis joplin, and jimi hendrix. although, i really don't know who came first. but the chelsea has always been on my mind.

several years ago, i was in new york for work and as i was going to finish my job with a few days left over. i thought i would extend my stay and get a room in the historical hotel. my good friend was going to join me in the city so this would be the perfect opportunity to check it out...i don't think i would have ever had the nerve to stay there on my own.

well, needless to say, it was eerie, very eerie. other than the tenant on the other side of the wall who seemed to be on a coke binge, the hotel was uncomfortably quiet. in a city of honking horns, sirens and screams, the chelsea seemed to reside in it's own little universe.

i had my friend snap a few photos of me outside of the hotel but as it was one of the coldest nights of my life, they did not turn out well. there was a blur of me in front of a blur of a lit up neon sign that frankly could have been anyplace. i'm ok with that, though. i've always wanted to stay there and now i have and it was an experience that i will never forget. unfortunately, i haven't been able to go back to get some better shots.


so, my whole point of this rambling post is that i was given for my birthday the new patti smith book, just kids, that documents her life with the photographer robert mapplethorpe, much of which took place at this famous residence of the weary artist.

reading this book took me to so many places that, although i have never seen them on my own, they are very real to me...as if i have read about them so many times, that i may have actually been there.


patti's recollection of their years together was such an honest, heartfelt memoir that i found myself in tears, even though i was reading it in an airplane, a restaurant or a hotel lobby much of the time. it took me to a different time and place entirely. one that i wish i could have been a part of, had i not been born a few years too late on the opposite side of the country.

and not that this time was entirely romantic, we can't forget the incredible people we lost in the 80's due to a tragic misunderstood disease. however, would we have given these artists the respect they so deserved if they were still walking among the living? i really don't know. but for now, there is still the memory of the chelsea hotel...

still shopping after all this time

hi everyone. i'm soooo sorry it's taken me so long to get back to my favorite little blog.

the holidays were crazy and january was filled with a month full of work travel. i am now happily back at home with my family and critters!

i was most recently in new york for work where i had to make a pilgrimmage to the no. 6 store and bring these beauties home with me (only mine are cuter because the heels are stained dark). and what a cute little shop it was. it's always so much fun to see the flagship stores of the brands that i love.

as i've promised many times before, i hope to keep the posts coming more frequently now that life is back to normal. and for more on my new york trip, go to my portland blog to see me in the ny times!