What you might hear at the hairdresser's

Had my hair done today. Here's what I heard.

My hairdresser was talking to another customer about drinking, as in alcohol, and how young people are being led to believe that wine is good for them, and they should drink it. Both of them disapproved of that idea. So do I, but I said nothing because I wasn't part of the conversation.

As they continued to talk, they began commenting on the behavior of people who drink too much, or who get drunk. My hairdresser said, "I always say, 'That's when you're the smartest you'll ever be--when you have a few drinks in you.'"

Then they recounted the story of the 18-year old freshman at U of I who got drunk last month at a frat party, tried to walk home, and was found the next morning under a bridge. He got lost and froze to death.

The other customer told this story. Two friends went to U of I--it has a reputation as a drinking school, in case you didn't know. The two friends, girls, both entered fully into that life style, but before very long one of the girls decided that was not the life she wanted, so she quit drinking. Her friend tried many times to get her to start drinking again, without success. Finally, she said, "You're no fun any more since you don't drink." Her friend said, "Funny, I think you're no fun any more because you do drink."

You think it's a small thing

I have winter thumbs, and they hurt. You know, the skin splits, and those splits are deep and constantly irritated. Try not using your thumbs. Can't do it.

I have put vaseline and bandaids on the splits overnight, but in the morning it starts all over again.

I've put clear nail polish on the splits, and you may not know it but that burns. Last night I did both
treatments, and my thumbs throbbed all night. My next plan is to go ask a pharmacist what is available for such an ailment. I'll let you know.

Update: Sad to say my pharmacist, a nice young man with a lot of hair, could only say, "That looks sore. But I don't see any infection."

As for remedies, he knew of none.

I am using liquid bandage, something I showed him--$7.19 at my SavOn Pharmacy in the Alberstons store near my home, by the way. I drove to Winco and bought the same stuff for $2.83.

I have applied it. Hope it helps. Will also go online and look for Palmer's cocoa butter.

Oh Brother!

Today is the 100 year Rosa Parks birth anniversary. Learn how to be a true leader

This from WikiHow. Okay, I'll remember Rosa Parks with respect. But do you think I'm going to let WikiHow teach me about leadership? Pretty funny, since last week they were going to teach me how to blow a bubble with bubble gum and, before that, how to eat chocolate seductively.

So helpful. Oh yes, WikiHow is my handbook for life.

Still, I'm happy

I hear my washer working out there. It's an okay washer, better than the big beautiful expensive Samsung. It gets the clothes clean. Cleaner than the Samsung. And it spins okay. Better than the Samsung, believe it or not.

But it isn't as good as my old Kenmore or as good as my sister's Whirlpool, which is several years older than this one of mine. My Whirlpool is not exactly a whirlpool, if you get my meaning. It's just average. It agitates more slowly, more carefully, I guess is the right word.

For my safety, no doubt.

And, though I am no child and not likely to stick my arm into an agitating or spinning washing machine, it has--as did the Samsung--a lock. Yes, that's right, for my safety, the lid locks as soon as the washer fills with water and begins the wash cycle.

I find this feature annoying.

Just another weather gripe

I suppose there are other things to talk about. I suppose. But I can't be sure because it's the weather everyone is talking about. We've had winter before, like every year, but not like this one. And we're sick and tired of it. I know, tough toenails.

Now, today, after zero degrees and below every morning for, like, 10 days, it has warmed up. It's in the 20s. That should rate a hooray! but it doesn't.

Why?

Because we had a freezing rain over night, and every surface I've been on outside--including my own driveway and the roads to my little gym and their driveway and walkway--are slick, treacherous. My ABS brakes went dut dut dut dut dut every time I stopped. I had to hold onto my car as I made my way to the sidewalk by the door of the gym. And when I left, my car slid sideways just turning from the FitClub parking lot to the driveway that leads to Apple Street.

Even the ducks were slipping and sliding as they walked across the road. And that's not funny.

As I went carefully along Apple toward Boise Avenue, where I turn left, some guy in his big red pickup with big lights and big wheels came barreling down upon me just as I was saying, "No, I'm not going anywhere else, if I make it home." He paid no attention to my speed. Guys in big red pickups fear nothing, not ice, not old women in the cars in front of them. Thank goodness I could move into the turn land before he drove right over me.

I made it home, and my neighbor called to say, "You went out?"

Every school district has closed for the day, even College of Idaho. Except Boise and Meridian School Districts. And why they didn't close I don't know.

I know. This is enough.

And again, how cold is it?

Come on! Where do we live? Minnesota? The Yukon? It's cold here. Zero degrees this morning and not yet to our hoped-for high of 19.

I grumbled to someone who said it's warm in Alaska. My granddaughter in Great Falls, Montana, said it's in the 40s there and no snow on the ground. Someone else said it's supposed to get up to 28 next Thursday. Formerly, I wouldn't have thought 28 was a good thing. But now, I can't wait.

What's the deal? I'm tired of this, and I'm not the only one.

So, she's still a good person

My friend who says coherse likes to talk. That's fine with me. I'm a good listener.

The other day she was telling me about something she bought at one of those little places in the mall. "You know," she said, "those little stands in the center. Can't think of the word."

"Kiosk?" I asked.

"Yes, kioss," she said. "This kioss is down by the Apple store." And so on.

I said nothing. Well, I may have said kiosk one more time, but what does that matter?