Jane gray

My lovely lady is finally transitioning to her natural gray hair, and I couldn't be happier!

It actually started maybe six months or so ago. I've wished she would go gray for as long as I can remember. Plus I've never been a big fan of hair coloring. So, she finally talked her hairdresser into doing it (he was not a fan). They've gradually been dying to get there.

Supposedly her hair appointment this past week was the last "coloring." From here on out she will just need hair CUTS!

Of course I love her in any color, but I am a fan of natural if at all possible.

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In other gray matters...

I actually learned this week the difference between grAy and grEy - as far as the color goes.

I don't even know why I googled it. I suppose I had to write it somewhere. So... according to the interwebs (and this site in particular), it can properly be spelled with an "e" or an "a". However, Americans tend to use the A, and the British more commonly use the E.

So, there ya go. That's all I've got for this Friday...

Haircut and furnace fail

I can't remember if I've still been posting haircuts or not, but I did give myself one yesterday. I used a #2 instead of the 1. Since it's getting colder, and our furnace quit working again, it helps to have even a 1/4 inch more on the head. Also, I don't know if I've been noting this either, but I've started shaving along the top of my forehead, rounding out a more definitive hairline. I think it possibly gives the appearance of more hair on the top of my head (at least from the front), or maybe it's all in my head.

One thing I've recently noticed though, or noticed more, is this crease in the back of my head - right where I'm balding. I don't know if it's getting worse or I just notice it more, but it looks kind of like a butt on the back of my head. So, great.... I'm a real butt-head now. I guess it's just one more thing I'm learning to live with. Jane doesn't like it when I shave my head, or even cut it with the #1, but to me the way it is now makes the crease stand out even more. It's almost like I'm highlighting for all the world to see, "Here's the butt in my head!" But.... (ba-dum-bump).... I can only see it if I look in mirror so.... I won't.

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In other news, the furnace started acting up again last night, so I just shut it off. I was sitting in the recliner watching football and I noticed it turning on and off a lot and making funny noises. I thought that was weird since it wasn't all that cold outside. So I went in and watched it, and it appears there is either something up with the thermostat, or possibly the igniter/heat exchange area. There is definitely a breakdown in communication somewhere and it seems to be confused about what it's supposed to do. So, we will go without the furnace for a few days and I am going to have to suck it up and call a repair person tomorrow.

Haircut

I gave myself a haircut today. Just used the #2 all over with minor #1 trimming around the edges. I was surprised by how much was cut off. It does seem it's been awhile since my last haircut - though I'm too lazy right now to check.

I don't mind the 2, but I may actually cut it again in the next week or so with the #1. I just kind of like the cleaner feel, but we will see.

I am still leaving the little bit of hair under my chin as well. I think I've kept that since I shaved the beard off. Which reminds me... did I record that on the blog?? Well, if not, I shaved my beard off several weeks or months ago (I can't remember).

Haircut and jane visits home

I gave myself another haircut yesterday. I just used the #2 on my head and the #1 on my face. It's a pain doing it, but it always feels nice to have nicely trimmed hair. Though if I were able I would still grow it down to my butt.

Also, since I had to work Saturday, Jane went back home and visited my parents again. I'm so glad she doesn't mind doing it. I think it helps my mom out a lot. Carrie also went and took the kiddles along. Sounds like they had a fun time.

Other than that, there's not a lot going on. I guess I missed church Sunday. I rarely miss. Apparently I forgot to set my alarm and I didn't wake up until after TEN O'CLOCK!!! That's what I get for staying up late Saturday night and watching stupid movies. I don't even remember the movie, but then I started watching the old TV show "Twin Peaks". It's kind of stupidly funny. Anyway, I felt bad about not going to church. Not because I feel guilty for missing, but I LIKE attending our worship gatherings. I miss the people, and I think it does me good. But, such is life. Apparently I needed sleep even more this week.

An extra day off

Jane and I both took the day off yesterday. We thought we might could use it after driving to Atlanta and back. I'm glad we did. I really only wanted to accomplish a few things yesterday and without taking the day off I probably wouldn't have done any of them.

First off I was able to put up a post about Isaac's graduation. Next I gave myself a haircut and beard trim. I intended to trim everything down to a #1, but instead used the 2 on my head and left my beard a little longer on the chin. After the haircut I mowed the lawn and did a little weed trimming. Mission accomplished.

We did go out for breakfast and I was also able to get in a nap/meditation period. Later on we went over and saw the grandkids for a bit before their bedtime. That was an added bonus. We also stopped by Jane's office for a minute.

This morning I skipped my regular workout - just can't get back into the groove (I'm writing this post instead). I also start back to work today. I REALLY don't want to do that. Immediately following work we are once again manning the church parking lot for tonight's Tincaps game.

So, there ya go!

Motorcycle serviced, haircut, and other saturday stuff

I love lazy Saturdays. We woke up naturally around 8 am. Unfortunately Jane had a nasty headache - possibly a migraine - but other than that we just lazed around a bit.

While she was sleeping/resting I decided to give myself a trim up top. I used my beard trimmer and used the #2 on top and #1 on the sides. It hadn't grown much since the last haircut, but looks much nicer when it's cleaned up. I also trimmed the beard and shaved the bare spots.

Once Jane was up and around we drove up to Redline Honda and I picked up my motorcycle. They called Thursday and said they were done with the oil change and check-over. I told them I would pick it up Friday (yesterday) but wasn't about to ride it with snow and ice on the road. I was glad that it was only $158, and apparently everything checked out okay. I also picked up a battery tender quick-connect. It was only $7 and now I won't have to take the seat off to charge it. Jane and I also looked around at the other bikes in the showroom. There were some nice ones. One of these days maybe...

After taking the motorcycle back to work (where I store it), we went home and got our workout stuff. We then went to the Central Y and worked out. I did the elliptical for 30 minutes and then the treadmill for 20. That's the longest I've ever done the elliptical. Jane did the treadmill and then sat in the sauna for awhile in hopes it would help her head/sinuses. I have no intention of ever checking out the men's sauna unless I am the only one in the entire building.

Now we are preparing for the arrival of the kids. We are babysitting the three grandchildren tonight so Carrie and go watch Drew's band play. I think we're going to take them to Chick-fil-a for supper.

And... that's about it for this nice lazy day.

Haircut and beard trim

I cut my hair yesterday. And if my blog records are correct - and I can't imagine that they're not - this is the longest I've gone without a haircut in a long, long time. The last recorded haircut I have is October 20th. That's quite awhile for me nowadays, though I used to actually go a year or more between haircuts at one point in my life.

I was going to try growing my hair out some, but it's just too obnoxious and I hate trying to cover up the balding so.... I'm settling with 1/8-1/4 inch hair until there is no more.

I started out using the #2 (1/4") and then used the #1 (1/8") on the sides and back. Then I decided to trim along the front with no shield and I accidentally cut into my hair all the way down. So I went with an extended #1 all over. I also cut the back too far up. It's difficult because I have this line of gray along the bottom of the back and it looks like I should just cut all that off, but I shouldn't. Oh well, having a messed up haircut will be good for my vanity.

I also trimmed my beard some. Instead of just cutting it down with the electric trimmers I actually used scissors and a comb on a lot of it. I think I'm starting to understand how barbers trim with the comb now, and I like it. I need to watch some Youtube videos or something though because I'm basically just going by looks/feel right now.

So, that's what I did last night. It always feels nice to have a clean smooth look.

Haircut

I cut my hair this morning. I can't believe it had only been a month since my last one, but I was not very happy with it. I'd asked that it be rounded in the back, and she did, but she left two strips on each side down the back of my neck. Anyway, so I just buzzed it off with a #1 this morning before I went to work. I wasn't going to, but I was rushed for time and it's just easier that way. It's actually easiest to just shave it, but Jane doesn't like it like that. So, it's the next closest thing to it.

I paid for a haircut

I was planning to cut my hair yesterday morning. I had an extra half hour before work and it needed cleaned up around the edges. I finally decided I was too tired to do it, so I signed in online at the Great Clips by my office and paid to have someone cut it instead. It was totally worth $15 to be able to sit in a chair and have someone massage my head with clippers and a comb.

Usually I use my own clippers and just do a #2 cut all the way around. The only difficulty I have is doing the back. Sometimes I have to have Jane trim a straight line (or rounded line) along the back. Sometimes it's better to let someone else do it.

I hope Michelle (the person I had yesterday) wasn't offended that I just closed my eyes and didn't talk. Everyone else was making chit chat, but I treated it more as a meditative moment. I'm wondering if it wouldn't be a good idea to just do this once a month. It only takes 5-10 minutes for my hair, but it's 5-10 minutes of total relaxation. And I swear just having someone run the clippers down the back of my neck would be worth it alone. I love that feeling.

So, we will see. I am hoping I won't be this stressed and constantly tired all the time for much longer. For yesterday, though, a haircut was a nice way to start the day.

Haircut and a new trimmer

I gave myself a haircut last night. It was long overdue. I just did a #2 cut all over. I wasn't too concerned with how it looked, but just wanted to get it done. I kind of messed up the back, but Jane kindly said it didn't look too bad.

I also got a new beard trimmer thing. My old one quit working, and I just got the newer version of it because it had always served me well.

That's about all I've got on this rotten fucking day.

Haircut

I gave myself a haircut yesterday afternoon. Used a #2 all over. It's the first one since I tried to do it in Myrtle Beach with sunscreen in my hair. I did it while the grandkids were here for the night. They were all watching TV while I did it. It always feels good to get a haircut.

Bye bye beardie

I cut off my beard last night. I've kind of been wanting to for awhile. It takes a bit of work to maintain a long beard, and I've never been one to like to spend a lot of time on grooming. So... I thought since we were keeping the grandkids overnight that would be a good time to do it. I wanted them to watch so they wouldn't be freaked out the first time they saw me.

Anna seemed pretty excited about it. Although I think she thought she was going to get to cut it. She watched with mild amazement the entire time - as well as when I cut the hair on my head after I was done with the beard. She said I didn't even look like "grandpa" anymore. Bennett didn't seem to care. Caleb just looks at me. I think he was a little scared at first, but he's starting to get over it.

I do have to say, I was surprised how different I look. Besides an occasional trimming, I hadn't cut it since Nov. 2, 2014; so what started as a 'No-shave-November' ended up lasting over a year. My face/head seems so small now. But I'm glad I did it. I didn't shave, but just trimmed it down to about a #1 on the clippers. My head is a combination of a #1 and #2. I thought about just a #1 all over - which is probably what I would prefer to do - but Jane doesn't like when I buzz my head too short.

So... other than that, we had a pretty good day. We had the boys from noon on, and Anna came over sometime in the afternoon - after getting a haircut herself. Fortunately it was 65 degrees and sunny yesterday, so we spent the entire afternoon playing/working outside. That made us all tired, and I think the kids were all asleep by 8:30. We followed around 9:30. It was a good day.

A haircut at home and other sprucing news

I decided to go back to cutting my own hair again yesterday. I needed to tidy it up around the edges, and it just seems such a hassle to go somewhere else and have it done. So I got out the clippers and was going to try to do the #4 on top and #2 on the sides like the stylists do. It's just too hard for me though, so I ended up cutting it with the #2 all over. I really don't mind this look (at least from my perspective). It is clean and super easy to take care of. Using a #4 on top always results in me having a slight fohawk after a week or so. This is much easier to maintain. The only thing I miss is the calming effect of having someone else cut my hair. I especially like when they run the clippers down the back of my neck. I suppose I will survive.

Other than that, yesterday was a busy day around our house. We did sleep late in the morning (again), but we both managed to get a run in, and then we set about cleaning and de-cluttering the house. Jane ran outside and I did a 5k on the treadmill. Ugh. It took me 50 minutes! Still, it felt good to sweat again.

Jane tackled the area in the basement under the steps. I don't even know what all she keeps under there, but she emptied several boxes and two plastic tubs. I went through some things in our basement closet. I emptied two large tubs myself. We rarely have any garbage other than recycling items, but yesterday we filled our garbage bin to overflowing with just junk. It was mostly old clothes, stuffed animals and broken toys, as well as miscellaneous items we'd long forgotten we even had. We could probably do this every night for a month and still have way more than we need/want. Still, it feels good to clean things up - whether it's my hair or the house.

This afternoon (after church this morning and lunch with the Feipel5) we both read for a bit. Jane finished what she termed "one of the best books she's read in awhile" - Rachel Held Evans's book 'Faith Unraveled: How A Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask Questions.' I started a kindle download of Michael Frost's book 'Jesus the Fool: The Mission of the Unconventional Christ.' I'm pretty sure I downloaded it for free, or $1.99 or something. I also downloaded 'Exiles' at the same time. Not sure how I never read that back in the day. I always connected more with Frosty's writing than his mate Alan Hirsch, so I'm looking forward to these.

So... there ya go.

Holiday haircut

We got to close our facilities at 3 pm today for the Thanksgiving holiday (and we are closed tomorrow). We don't get paid for tomorrow, but they paid us for a whole day today.

I decided to get my hair cut after work at the Great Clips by where I work. I've went there the last few times, and like it better than the one by our house. I actually signed in ON LINE for the first time too. It was a good thing, because when I got there the place was packed. I was fourth on a list of about ten people waiting.

Tori cut my hair, and she did and excellent job. We chatted a bit, and she trimmed my ears and my eyebrows. She also went over my hair with scissors to catch any strays she'd missed with the clippers. I liked her. It was the usual $12, plus a $3 tip.

Haircut

I got another haircut today. For the second time in a row I went to the Great Clips on Dupont. I was on my way to the bank and saw that there weren't many people there, so I thought "What the heck." I like that place. It's super convenient, and I've liked both haircuts.

This time I had Lakendra. She gave me a nice cut, but she was also just so relaxing. She didn't talk much, and when she did it was very soothing. This was just the relaxing kind of haircut I needed.

As usual it was the #4 on top and #2 on the sides, with the back rounded. She also did my eyebrows. I keep thinking I'm going to start cutting it myself but sometimes it's nice to just sit and have someone else do it.

Haircut

I tried out a new place for a haircut Friday. I was on my way to the bank from my office and I noticed a Great Clips in Pine Valley. I'd been meaning to get a haircut for a couple weeks, so I just swung in and asked if I could get in. I did! And I really like this place. It's smaller than other Great Clips I've been too, but seemed to be busier. Plus I had Morgan cut my hair, and I really liked her! She was nice, polite, didn't bore me with talk about her live-in boyfriend or troubles with the law like the girl I kept getting on the south side, and she did a fantastic job on my hair. She did all the little things I used to get at a previous place. So, I was happy. Oh... once again, a #4 on top and #2 on the sides; rounded back.

Haircut, hamburger, and... a storm

I got another haircut yesterday. I seem to be getting them about every 2 months now. I should probably start doing it myself again. Honestly, it's just easier to pay someone to do it.

Anyway, I went to the same Great Clips I've been going to on our side of town again. And I got the same girl (Ellyn) that I swear I've had almost every time. She does an okay job of cutting my hair, and is nice enough, but she talked the ENTIRE time I was there - which, fortunately, was only about 15 minutes. She told me about getting a different car, and before she got the insurance switched, someone hit her and did $4,200 damage. She didn't understand why the insurance didn't want to cover it because it had only been 10 days and she hadn't gotten around to switching the insurance. Then she complained about her ex-husband, and... I'm not sure what all else. I could only hear about half of what she said due to the clippers and blow dryer and things. I mostly just smiled and tried to make appropriate gestures/gasps whenever I could.

So... that's that. I arrived at 5:15 pm, and was leaving the parking lot at 5:30. It was $12, plus a $3 tip equaled $15.

We went to the library downtown afterward and got hamburgers (the best hamburgers in town as far as I'm concerned - and they're only $4). It started raining as we were waiting for them, so we didn't stick around to listen to the music (which they ended up not having). Instead we ate our burgers in the car, then decided to go get groceries. When we got home there had been a rather serious storm - and what looked like a tornado - had went through our neighborhood. There were several trees down, and branches all over the streets, and our street was unpassable due to water that was thigh deep at the other end. It was crazy.

Haircut

I got my haircut Saturday. I went to the Great Clips on our side of town again. Jessica cut my hair. She was nice, and she did alright, but I've noticed that the people at this particular place don't do quite as thorough of a job as they did at the other place. They never offer to do my eyebrows, and yesterday I was actually going to have them trim my beard, but she didn't offer. It was a pretty quick haircut. But, like I said, it was okay; so I'm not complaining. Again it was a 4 on top and 2 on the sides.

One funny thing was... she asked how I wanted my bangs cut. I looked at her and asked, "bangs???" We both laughed. I haven't had bangs for a long time. She said she meant the top front.

I may start cutting it myself again now. I don't know. It's almost worth it just to have someone run the clippers on the back of my neck. That feels SOOOOOO good. We'll see.

Haircut

I paid for another haricut yesterday. It was almost 2 months to the day since my last one. I went to the Great Clips on our side of town again. And I got the same person as last time - Ellyn. Once again, she was nice, but she really talked my ear off. She cut it the same way as last time - a 4 on top, tapered to a 2 on the sides. It's okay. Whatever. I kind of like paying for a haricut again, even if it's probably not worth it.

Haircut

I got a haircut yesterday, and actually paid someone to do it again. It seemed like it had been awhile since my last haircut, and I haven't had someone else cut my hair since June of 2013. I just felt like - since it's the holidays and all - maybe I would get a nice haircut. It didn't exactly turn out how I wanted it, but it was better than when I do it myself.

I went to a Great Clips, as usual, but went to the one over by our house. I got right in, which kind of surprised me on a Saturday afternoon. They had plenty of people working though. Ellyn cut my hair. She was nice enough, but she kind of talked my ear off. Whatever. At least I didn't have to say much myself. The haircut was $12 and I gave her a $3 tip.

I've been lately thinking about maybe trying to find a regular barbershop. You know, a small, local spot. I don't really know of any though. So... we'll see.