trying something new

There are a few things that I do with little inhibition or reserve. Cutting my hair is one of those things. It may seem trivial but it is my philosophy that experimenting with your hair is easy and if something is messed up it always grows back. My hair style is the one style I have control over. When I was in London my sister and I both got our hair cut for free at the Toni&Guy Salon Academy. We were basically final projects for the students. It was nice to get a free hair cut and I was in need of one so it worked out. As that style grew out, though, I liked it less and less. A couple of weeks ago I decided it was time for a change, something very new and very different. When I was in France the first time (6 years ago) I really wanted to get my hair cut here. It never worked out then but today I was finally able to fulfill that dream.

If there is anything the French do really well it's luxury. Usually you see this need for satisfaction in food and clothes but I learned today that that same desire for luxury is seen at the coiffeurs. When I first came in they took my coat and instead of a shapeless cape they gave me more of a dressing gown to put on over my clothes. I was offered "un café ou un thé" which I gracefully declined. They then washed my hair. I have to admit that getting my hair washed is one of my favorite parts of the hair cutting experience. This particular wash was fantastic. The chair I was sitting in was actually a massage chair and instead of just a quick wash the guy massaged the conditioner into my scalp. If I ever become really rich I think I may pay to have someone wash my hair. Any who, the actual cutting was very standard although she used a razor for most of the cut but I think that was mostly because of the style I requested. Over all it was a fantastic experience. I should note that I did end up cutting off a lot of hair. I hope you all like it!

give me five...up high...

...down low. That's right, I would like to dedicate this post to the universal High Five. Everyday when I pick Jack up from school he says goodbye to his friends. On almost every occasion the farewell consists of a high five. I love to watch these little 8 year old boys as they clumsily give each other a high five. I always tend to remember all my failed attempts at giving high fives. I've decided that high fives are something that everyone fails at at one point or another. There is something about the coordination of two hands making contact mid air that has the tendency to go awry. There are also those moments when you over do a high five and you end up with a hand that feels like it is going to fall off. Most elusive of all is the moment of a perfect high five. Those moments are never easily reproduced but they are always remembered.

from big city life...

...to small town living. I was talking to my mom the other day via skype (the best thing ever!) talking about my eventual return to the States. She was giving me a hard time about wanting to leave France to come home. As an example she started telling me about all the political brouhaha going on currently and implied that no one in their right mind would want to leave France for endless debates on healthcare bills and approval ratings.

I'm sure if I were still living in DC I would be overly informed on all the political goings on. Nothing against all the politicos out there but when that's all any one ever talks about it's hard not to know it all. It isn't that I don't read the news, I check BBC and CNN daily and I'm up to date on all the major topics but after DC I feel slightly detached. I've decided it isn't a bad thing though. It gives me a chance to figure out how much I really care about things like politics.

I don't really care for politics. I will remained informed so that when my input is necessary I can contribute but that is as far as it goes.