So, I'm growing my hair long (again).  Again, you say?  Why yes.  You can see what my hair looked like in 2002 (there's a pic of my sister and I at my wedding on Rapunzel's customer gallery) and in August of 2004 it was at the small of my back.

In a fit of annoyance after a very bad day with it, I went to the salon and had about 14 inches donated to Locks of Love, and had the rest cut off in a super short 'do.  Out of lazyness, and a couple of moves, I haven't had it cut since.

Now, I'll confess - I've never been a long hair person.  I always had short hair - in fact, I had a CREW CUT at one point.  When my hair was long, I had to learn how to braid, how to put it up in something other than a ponytail, and how to take care of it.

Even now (after 3 years of long hair) anything more advanced than a pony tail, simple braid, french twist or a bun is pretty much beyond me.  Complicating that is the fact that I have A LOT of hair.  When it was at the small of my back, the tip of the braid was almost as thick as my wrist.  Very heavy.

So, not only am I going to grow out the hair, I'm going to learn how to keep it nice, and do nice things with it.   :P

8)  Took the first step in doing this right last night.

I wandered into the salon across the street from my new condo, to see if they could fit me in for a damage control trim.

I was lucky - the stylist who worked with me was very understanding about what I wanted.  Without complaint, she just  trimmed off the damaged ends.  It ended up being about an inch, all told.

I don't know what she washed it with (I got a shampoo/condition too) but today my hair is SO SOFT, I couldn't get it to behave, so I'm ponytailing it today.

It's so nice not to have an inch of straw on the tips of my hair.   :D

Glad to see you started a journal.  I think journals help those who are growing out their hair so that they can look back and see the progress they have made over time.

Your trim sounds like a good one - keep up the good work.

Welcome and congrats on starting a journal!   :)  It sounds as if you have the right frame of mind--taking good care of your hair is the first, and most important, step, and you're doing that.  The rest will fall into place in time.  Take care!  

I did mention this was going to be about my *trials* as I do this, right?   :P

I had a horse show this weekend, it was hot, it was humid and it was gritty.  When my hair was long last time, I wasn't riding very much, and I wasn't competing at all, so this is a new wrinkle in the long hair thing.

I now have to deal with hairnets.  They are the devil incarnate, and I hate the tricksy things.   ;)  I can't put my hair into my helmet, or it won't protect my head, but I need it up and out of the way.  A braid or low ponytail aren't really options, as my hair is just long enough now that it sticks to my neck and falls into my collar (which was the final straw back in 2004 causing me to cut it all off) and as it gets longer, it wouldn't stick to my neck, but it will obscure my pinny, and that's a no-no.  I fought with my hair (and the hairnets) during the entire show.

So, I now get to try to figure out how to deal with it before the next show, or this'll be one of the shortest journals out here.

Welcome, Berkanna! I'm new to the site too, and to growing out my hair. I've also had it in a super short cut. Now it's just to my chin, but at least it's healthy as I grow it out. A long process, but I'm motivated for it.
Ooh, horse shows- I'm so envious.I used to ride a lot, but have never owned a horse. Now I live in a city, not near any stables, but I still ride whenever I'm able to. Have your tried a french braid with the bottom pinned up under itself? This shouldn't be in the way of the helmet.

This idea may be way off, but what about consulting with a wig place?  I have a lot of hair and needed to wear a wig for a recital I was doing so I wanted help on how to get all of my hair under a wig without it looking silly.  So, the lady was extremely helpful and I was able to wear the flapper wig which may be a bit like your helmet.

Good Luck and let us know how you solve the problem.

Unfortunately, I can't wear my hair under my helmets - studies have shown that they're not as protective with hair between them and the scalp.  I was in a really bad riding accident in 1998, and it was only because I was wearing a properly fitted helmet that I'm still alive today, so I refuse to mess with the safety and fit of my helmets!

What I have been collecting all my hair into 2 'nets, and then doing a standard ponytail folded over 2 or 3 times at the base of my skull.  Here's a photo from April of this year, so my hair may have been about an inch shorter than it is now?  I really think this picture was just so they knew the woman in green & burgundy on the chestnut was #49, but it does show you my hair - sorta!

http://www.photoreflect.com/scripts/prsm.dll?eventorder?photo=0EBK00101A0008&start=0&album=0&adjust=-1

Oo!  Same show, different phase, and a better back/hair shot:

http://www.photoreflect.com/scripts/prsm.dll?eventorder?photo=0EBK00101A0012&start=0&album=0&adjust=-1

Anyway, it's starting to not behave with this little folding thing - and there'll (hopefully!) be a point that folding won't work, cause I'll have too much hair.  :p

Hey!  In digging about looking for those pictures, I found the only picture that exists of my long hair (mostly) down!

This is May of 2004, holding a horse while my sister gets ready off camera.  My hair is in a scrunchied ponytail and through the hole in my baseball cap.  The ends are about chest-length in this picture, so all down it was probably 4 or so inches longer at the time.  Oh, the horse is Artie, my clydesdale cross who I sold to a wonderful family in October of 2005 - my sister was showing him for me.  That's her husband with me - we're watching my sister put on her tall boots.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/berkanna/CroppedPre-show.jpg

I almost forgot, showed that day too!  I wore my hair in a snood, but it's really hard to see in this picture.  You can see it hanging past my collar, which is not really 'acceptable' in the horse show world, but it was a last minute decision to compete and I had to do something with my hair!  The horse here is the same one you can barely see in my previous post - Allie, my off the race track thoroughbred mare.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/berkanna/andi_allie6.jpg

And finally - this is October of 2004, two months after I cut all my hair off, and what I've been growing out ever since.  Oh, and the falcon is Lucky.  He's not mine, but he was fun to work with!   :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/berkanna/Luckyandme.jpg

Holy crap you did cut your hair off!!!  Did you go that short all in one chop?  Yikes!!
Sorry I didn't understand about the hair & helmet thing.  I'm glad you were wearing it properly and are safe & sound today!!
My next suggestion would be a snood-Lady McSnood makes some awesome ones in several different sizes and many different patterns and colors which you get to pick!
Could you braid your hair and put it down the back of your shirt?  How about 4 mini buns at the nape of your neck?

Ok, I'm out of suggestions.  Thanks for sharing the pics!

Thanks for sharing the pictures.  A co-worker of mine went nuts over the horses - she LOVES horses.  Do you work with falcons?   You look very comfortable with him on your hand.  

Your short cut is what I will probably go to when I decide to cut my hair.  No plans for that just now, but I know when I do it , it will be drastic.

But back to your question.  I'd suggest a french braid with the end tucked back under.  You can wear your hair like this for quite a while.  As it gets longer, you can allow a little loop to show.  A nice black bow clipped on to hold the end up always looks nice.  Let me see if I can find a picture - I know I've seen them around..

Here's a hairnet that might work...
Petsmart Hairnet

Here's a hairbowor flat bowthat also has a small snood.

Here's a pic of the tucked french braid.

This is a pic of me with side twists going to the back and looped up and held with a bow.  The same thing can be done with a french braid.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1266/4428415/9365261/177368778.jpg

Yeah, what they said :)  I unfortunatley have no additional suggestions but, I love the pics!  

Good luck with figuring out your hair. Allie and Artie are both  beautiful horses!  

BB - thanks for the tips!  That hairnet in the first link is what I've been using.  I think I need new ones, my sister finally helped me on Saturday and complained about my no-elastic hairnets.  :p  I worry about using the show bows (the nets attached to the bows) because they're the french clips, and those suckers really rip out my hair.  I have a beautiful barette I never use because of that.   :-/

I think the french braid (eventually twin braids) tucked under is going to be my best bet.  Unfortunately, I really suck at braiding, I guess I'm out of practice!   ;D

Yeah - that was the one-stop-chop back in 2004.  They cut it all off at the nape of my neck to send off to charity, and then cut the rest off into that short look.  A bit drastic, but it was a REALLY bad day with my hair.   ::)

Braiding, especially french braiding does take practice.  When I was learning, I would french braid my hair every night before going to bed.  Neatness did not count when I was sleeping.   ;D  It didn't take too long before I could do it well enough to be worn in public.  

So...... practice, practice, practice!

My braids still suck, and the fact that I still have some layers make them suck even more.   :P  My hair isn't *quite* long enough for me to want to braid for sleeping, but I figure I better get cracking with the braiding thing, cause my hair will be at BSL in about 3 months, and I know I'll want it braided while I sleep by then!

When my hair is dry, I can't get it to behave at all when putting it up in sticks.  It falls out and is very frustrating.  So, since I wash my hair every other day, I've gotten a routine now: Sticks on washday, scrunchies on the offday.  I want some plain sticks to wear, all I have are LongLocks sticks, and while they are BEAUTIFUL, they really aren't a day at the barn or make a quick run to the grocery type hairstick.    ;)

I've been using Garnier Fructis shampoo and conditioner, and it works well for me, but since I'm running out I was thinking of trying something a bit more natural, either LUSH or Burt's Bees hair stuff.  I love LUSH bath stuff, and I love Burt's Bees lipsticks, gloss and moisturizers.

wrote on Aug 31^st, 2006 at 2:50pm:

I want some plain sticks to wear, all I have are LongLocks sticks, and while they are BEAUTIFUL, they really aren't a day at the barn or make a quick run to the grocery type hairstick.    ;)

WHY NOT? ? ? ?  I wear my LL sticks when gardening, hacking new trails in the woods, whenever...

However, I do have some water-safe plain sticks for when I am putting my hair in a bun while still wet.  My favorites for this are made of a resin impregnated wood laminate that is best known for use on knife handles, archery bow grips, and turned pens.  I've bought them off eBay.  There are a couple of "regular" sellers of these types of sticks.

wrote on Aug 31^st, 2006 at 2:57pm:

WHY NOT? ? ? ?  I wear my LL sticks when gardening, hacking new trails in the woods, whenever...

Er, cause I'm a klutz of the highest degree?   :D

Susan has already repaired at least one of my pairs of LongLocks, and I've got another broken pair that are sitting in my jewelry box.

I need sticks that I won't cry over if they break - cause I do break them!   :-[

Breaking a $4 pair of plain wood sticks won't make me as sad when I pull a typical berkanna-move, or when a kitty chews the end, or when a HORSE chews it.  All of these things have happened to hair accesories of mine!

My husband dispairs - he is always afraid to get me nice things.

How abour cheap chopsticks?  Just sand 'em and maybe put a clear coat on them.

Tell hubby to get you nice things, and then tell him to take you nice places where you can wear them.  :-X

Good Luck!

wrote on Aug 31^st, 2006 at 9:17pm:

How about cheap chopsticks?  Just sand 'em and maybe put a clear coat on them. Tell hubby to get you nice things, and then tell him to take you nice places where you can wear them.  :-X Good Luck!

lol, don't mind me if I just quote myself.  I hit the wrong button to change a spelling error.  Maybe I need another nap?

OK, I'll relent to the possibility of breakage.  LL hairsticks are just too pretty to put at risk to breakage.  I guess I've been lucky to have never broken any.  I have bent a few of the pins with the beads, but I've never broken one.  ::crosses fingers::

So - after a bit of searching around here, I discovered what seems to be the standard measuring technique, and as of Friday I'm at 22 inches - give or take.  My cats were facinated by the measure tape and caused some "technical difficulties".  So, my hair could be anywhere from 21 to 23 inches.  I gave up before I could get a solid number.  :p

Tonight is yoga, tomorrow is auditions for a production of Pride and Predjudice getting a part in that will be added incentive to keep the hair long, as I detest having to wear wigs, falls or extensions on stage - I always worry they'll fall off.

I've been french braiding my hair in the evenings.  About an hour into it, the last remnants of my bangs (which are now about an inch past my chin) decide they wish to be free.   ::)  There will be no braid-wearing in public for some time yet.

Good luck on the audition.  The American Idol auditions are going on right now here in Minneapolis - what a zoo!  I hope all auditions are not as crazy.  :D

Keep practicing your french braiding, before you know it you will have braids worthy of public viewing.  ;D

Yes, good luck on your audition.  I'd love to do plays and such, that sounds like so much fun!  

My cat's love the tape measure too, I guess they all do. You take it out attempting to measure something however, to them it's play time. :)

No part in P&P for me, although my husband got Mr. Collins.  Yay for him!

But, that means he needs to cut off all the hair he'd grown for his last part - Rev. Witherspoon in 1776.  AND, he has to shave off his beard AGAIN.  Boo to both.

Not getting the part is a mixed blessing, actually.  There was a horse show on one of the performance weekends that I really wanted to do - so, now I can do it!  :D

On the hair side of things - nothing new to report!  I let it go for a while, today was the first time in 4 days that I washed it.  I forgot how much oil my scalp produces.   :-X

Sorry you didn't get the part berkanna but, at least you get to participate in the horse show!  And you can help your husband rehearse  :)

It's so good to be able to ignore your hair sometimes and just let it grow.  I definitely haven't been doing that, I've been experimenting with so many concoctions lately, I probably need to give my hair a break as well.

Whoops - spoke too soon.

Turns out someone who'd been cast had to drop out, so I was brought in as a replacement.  I'm the 3rd daughter - Mary.  There are two problems with this - I'm in EVERY SCENE, so I've got rehearsal almost every night and I'm not going to be able to do the horse show.

Ah well - that unused entry fee will allow me to buy some fun stuff for my hair, right?  ;)

Speaking of which - the costumer would like me to go red (well, redder than my natural color) so I'm thinking of henna, instead of Lady Clarol.  I've got 2 months, so I may try it soon, and see how it turns out.   :-/

Congrats on the play!!!

Yeah, I'd think henna would work, and it's more gentle on the hair.  

Great,extra cash for hair toys! It's always fun shopping for new hair toys (or for anything as far as I'm concerned! ;D) and you can buy ones that'll compliment your new color! :)

Hi Berkanna!

Lovely to see you've got a journal of your own going, I wish you the best on your hair growth journey.  Your horses are so beautiful, I've never had a chance to ride, but I would love to some day.  Geez, there's only about a hundred farms within a 10 mile radius here, you would think that this is something that I would have done by now.  Not to mention the fact that I have a friend who's family has their own farm and plenty of horses to go with it! :P

Your hair looks beautiful and thick, and it seems as though you don't have too much struggle when it comes to the gaining length part, sounds like your hair grows pretty fast.  I think that the red henna would be a great idea for the play, it would be so much better for your hair than regular hair dye.  Congrats on the role in the play!

The play (as expected) is taking up so much time and energy that other parts of my life are falling behind.

This really hit home this morning as I was giving pettins to Sidian, my 17 year old kitty.  She's a long hair, but she has some issues with her coat, and tends to matt up if I don't take care of her.  I haven't been, and her ruff is full of mats.   :'(  The wonderful thing about cats (well, all animals, really) is she totally could care less that I'd been neglecting her, she just was full of love and purrs as I gave her two handed drubs.  I don't normally give her the two handed treatment, as it tends to cause mats, but since she was already a mess...

On Sunday I got first place in a horse show - even though I fell off during my stadium course.  Allie decided it would be more fun to go THROUGH a fence, rather than over it.   ::)  Luckily, both of us survived with not even a bruise to show off.  Of course, I haven't ridden since then - the play has sapped me, and I've been having trouble getting up early enough to ride before work.  My monthly goal of 15 or more rides is in jeopardy!  

On the hair front:

I'm doing the henna this weekend.  Wish me luck.  I'm also scheduled for another trim next week, to continue to even out these layers that are driving me batty.  I finally realized my braids are a mess because of them, and if I can get them evened out, I'll actually be able to put my hair up in sticks and combs without needing 82 barrettes to keep the various bits in place.   :P

Also, I read everyone's journals here, and I find myself thinking, "Gee - everyone does so MUCH with their hair!  I wonder if I need to do more with mine?"  All the wonderful oils and treatments y'all do, and my hair just gets brushed out a couple of times a day, and washed/conditioned every other day or so.

My ultimate failing is my unending laziness.   8)

wrote on Sep 21^st, 2006 at 2:33pm:

Also, I read everyone's journals here, and I find myself thinking, "Gee - everyone does so MUCH with their hair!  I wonder if I need to do more with mine?"  All the wonderful oils and treatments y'all do, and my hair just gets brushed out a couple of times a day, and washed/conditioned every other day or so. My ultimate failing is my unending laziness.   8)

LOL!  Don't feel too bad.  My daily routine consists of, combing out my sleeping braid, putting my hair into a bun.  Taking my hair out of my bun, oiling the ends a bit if they need it, combing my hair and braiding it for sleeping.  I wash and condition my hair about once a week.

Congrats on taking first in the horse show!  

Trimming up the layers will certainly help with neater braids.  Also - when braiding if your hands are wet/damp, it will dampen the hair which will keep the sticky-outie hairs more in place.  If water doesn't do the trick, try some aloe vera gel or a light oil like jojoba.

Howdy! I tend to practice the "less is more" philosophy with regards to my hair.  Shampoo & condition every day, oil the ends and ignore it most of the time.  My hair "dos" consist of piggy braids at night, and for day either a bun or a ponytail, or wearing all of it down.  That's it!  No fancy stuff for me because, yes I admit it:  I am hair challenged.   :)  So don't you go judging yourself by others, Berkanna.  If you're happy with your routine and it works for you, then stick with it.   ;D

Ooooo,  Susan just put more of your hairsticks in your Collections folder.  I love the red, black and white pairs - I could see wearing one of each with a black outfit, white blouse and a hint of red somewhere, like a scarf!

Yeah, Rapunzel had me under two names - my maiden name and my married name.  When she realized I was the same person, she found the rest of my collection.

I'm wearing Foiled Again right now!

You can see I have a bit of a theme.  Those blue ones I bought for my sister really do stick out.  :D  The red ones are the ones I had repaired.  Less than a week after I got them back, I chopped all my hair off.

All the ones I've been eyeing recently have sold!  I wanted to wait till my collector's membership had been reactivated, and I lost out.  *sigh*  

Ah - henna is fun!   :D  Messy, but fun!

One heck of a mess in the kitchen, 6 hours with a saran wrap cap, and a fully installed closet organization system later, and I have quite the mass of red hair!  I was daring and didn't even do a strand test.  My husband was more worried than me!

I've never had copper hair before - but I do now!  Thankfully, the director likes it, which is a good thing, cause I really didn't want to try to do a synthetic color over the henna.

I've actually got before and after pics, if I ever get around to uploading them to the computer, I can show it off.

Oh - I also bought two new pairs of sticks to celebrate.  :D

You have pictures and you haven't posted them??  :o  AND new hairsticks!!  :o  Sounds like a good day for you!  Please do try to post your before and after pics - I'd love to see them.  Let me know if you need help getting them posted.

Please, pardon both my very messy bathroom AND my sad attempts to take a picture of my own back.   :P

8/31/2006:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/berkanna/dcp_0632.jpg

Today:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/berkanna/dcp_0670.jpg

HEY!  I just realized, I'm now a chestnut, just like my mare!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/berkanna/scan0001.jpg

Yeah, any excuse to show off my beautiful horse.  I admit it.   ;D

Your new color looks really pretty, berkanna.  :) What a beautiful horse you have!! I LOVE horses! That's also a very nice picture, I really like the background.

I love the color of your henna'd hair!  (It matches your horse!) [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Hi Berkanna, I like your new henna do and your horse!!! Very nice!!!  
Question, you mentioned your cat matting.  I'm still learning how to take care of my long haired boy, how do you get the matts out yourself, if it gets to that point?  Do you cut them or use a special brush? Gracias in advance. :)

Godyssey wrote on Sep 28^th, 2006 at 7:36pm:

Do you cut them or use a special brush? Gracias in advance. :)

Erm, yes.   ;)

It depends on the mat and the cat, really.

I can brush most of Sidian's out, but she's 17 and I've been de-matting her since she was 4 weeks old.  She's an old hand at the whole process, and I think she just enjoys the attention really.  I use a metal comb and just start at one end of the mat and gradually pull it apart.  When they're really big, (we're talking about 2 inches in diameter) I use a sharp pair of scissors (my split end scissors, actually) to either snip the mat in half to then comb apart or to just snip the whole thing out.  She's got a super thick undercoat and a thinner, oily topcoat, which makes using a slicker brush impossible on her - so I try to comb her out at least once a week, but even so, she still gets small mats.

Visa is our retired barn cat, also a longhair.  He gets smaller mats, but he's such a pig about mat-combing that I cut all his out.  It's best just to take the slicker brush to him weekly (which he loves) to avoid the mats in the first place.

Ferdinand, our third longhair has a PERFECT coat - he doesn't mat at all, even though I hardly ever brush him.  It's almost impossible to brush him, because he thinks it's playtime and tries to attack the brush.   ::)

And just for completeness' sake - Memre is a shorthair, but I take the slicker to her about once a week.  She enjoys it, and it keeps the shedding down.  :D


Also, since this is supposed to be my HAIR journal - I thought I'd just say that henna is a great conditioner, my ends have been super easy to deal with since the henna.

Thanks again berkanna.  I think I'm going to have to take my cat to the groomer, I can't get the matts out before his patience wears thin and I think the scissors frighten him, oh well.  Okay now back to YOUR hair!!!  [smiley=laugh.gif]  I'm glad the henna is working out for you.  I read somewhere that henna's a little drying so, I'm glad it's conditioning in your case.

Well, I figured out why I didn't have any drying issues with the henna.  I used henna from a company called LUSH - and they mix cocoa butter and clove oil into the henna and sell it in blocks.  So, I actually did both a henna and conditioning treatment when I colored.  :p  I just need to remember this, if I ever do use a different henna.

However, I'm noticing a bit of drying on about the last half inch of my hair - I found a bottle of jojoba oil and have started oiling the ends.  My hair likes it very much.  Unfortunately, I'm not very good at getting the oil on that last bit that needs it.  I'm supposed to get a trim on Monday, to start trying to even out the evil layers, I figure that'll help a good deal.

I got my LL display case on Friday, but I already need a second tray.   :D  With my case, I got my two new sets of LL sticks - the first I've bought in two years.

The first pair is Frozen Summer - the first all green ones (all my other 'green' sticks have had green gems or crystals, but the stick itself was another color)  They're also my first ArtiStix - so vibrant!  I need to remember that the pictures tend to be just at tad darker than the actual sticks!

The second pair is Montanna Stardust - they're more in line with my 'standard' type of sticks.  I'm wearing them today for the first time.  These are my first Holostix, sparkley!

Lastly, I've figured out why I'm having so much trouble getting my hair up in a bun, twist or braid when I really had no trouble before.  It's the layers!  Yes, it's taken me this long to figure it out.

Yes!  Layers will make it much more difficult to make a nice looking bun.  Congrats on your new sticks!  I'm sure you love wearing them.

Well, I chickened out and cancelled the hair trim appointment.  My excuse was I've not yet met with the woman who is doing hair for P&P, but in reality I think it's because I'm not quite (mentally) ready to lose another 1/2 inch of hair.   :P  Even if losing that 1/2 inch will start getting rid of the evil layers that are keeping me from doing a decent bun.

Bock... bock... bock!

My wonderful husband was out shopping Friday and picked up a nice Burt's Bees shower gift set for me.  Full sized bottles of Grapefruit & Sugar Beet shampoo and conditioner and a full sized bottle of Citrus and Ginger body wash.

I tried it all yesterday - and I think my hair liked it, but it's so UNRULEY!  Basically, when I can't give my husband a kiss without hair getting in the way, it's just a little crazy.  He's been calling me the wild woman of Borneo.   :D

Lastly - proof that Allie and I match!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/berkanna/AndiAllieFPP.jpg

This was Sunday (two days ago) before our XC school.  We're both the same shade of red!   ;D  ;D

That sounds like a nice Burts Bees gift set :)  I hope you're able to get the unrulyness under control,  maybe a little oil might help tame it.

I love the picture of you and your horse, the two of you really do have the same hair coloring.  :)

Yep, you and your horse are a matched set.  :D  I love the color.

Continued with the Burt's Bees this week, and it's given me so much body I can't get my hair to LAY DOWN.  Interesting effect - and I find myself wondering if the 'cones in the Garnier Fructis kept my hair a bit more flat.  The Burt's Bees is a bit more drying than the Garnier Fructis too - I found myself having to oil the tips of my hair twice last week.

Now that the woman doing hair for the play has told me that under no circumstances am I to cut my hair, I REALLY want to trim off that bottom layer.  What is it about someone telling me NOT to do something that makes me want to do it?   :P

I need to find someplace that sells heavy-duty hair nets.  The ones you can get at tack shops are flimsy little things and really don't hold my wild hair very well.  Yesterday I had a show, and I just gave up and had my hair in a ponytail for the jumping phases.

Cones do weight the hair down.  I've found I use more oil on my hair since giving up on the cones.  I prefer the oil over the cones.

As for the hair net - have you thought about a crocheted snood?  

I've contacted Lady MacSnood regarding a custom snood for my mass o' hair.  She thinks she can do something for me.  Yay!  Of course, I'm done showing for the season - I won't have to worry about it again until late March.   :P

I've realized that the plays, while fun, takes up too much of my time.  I'm dragging so much right now, I feel pretty crappy, honestly.  So, I think P&P is my 'swan song' - berkanna's last stage apperance!  I'll still do backstage stuff when my husband gets a part in a play, but that is SO much less time intensive.

I'll be moving Allie to a new farm in December.  I'm very excited for a few reasons - everyone at this farm events, like me, and they have some high level trainers come in weekly for lessons.  I SO need lessons!   :-[  Overall, I think this is going to be a great move for both of us.

Specifically, in regards to my hair - I've finally gotten it to stay in a french twist today!  I'm guessing my shortest layers are finally long enough to be captured.  I guess I should pull out the tape measure and see where I am, length-wise.

Happy Samhain, everyone!

Not only is it final dress rehearsal for P&P tonight - it's also our 4 year anniversary!  Yay to me and my husband, we haven't tried to kill each other yet!   ;D

As of last night, my hair is at 24 inches.  I locked the cats out of the bathroom so I could measure in peace.  Depending on if I was at 21 or 23 inches in early September, that's either a GREAT deal of growth, or not so much.

I hope to get some pictures of me in my P&P costume, makeup and hair so I can share them with everyone.  It's pretty darn impressive, and I really don't look like me at all.   Which, I suppose is the point.  :P

Congratulations on your anniversary, and I wish you many more happy years together!   :)

Happy anniversary, Berkanna!

And congrats on reaching 24 inches! That's my short-term goal, too (like you couldn't tell that from my ticker)!

Well, the first weekend of the show is done.  We survived 3 performances, go us!

Unfortunately, my hair is not doing so well.  My show hairstyle requires a small clip-in hair extension and lots and lots of bobby pins.  To anchor the extension the stylist puts 3 elastics in my hair.  They're "hair friendly" ones, but they're still ripping out bits of my hair, and after 5 days of wearing this style I now have a small halo of short, broken hairs.   :(

What annoys me most about this is that everyone has acknowledged that if they'd KNOWN my hair was as long and thick as it is, they never would've bothered with the extension - but now that they've gotten used to it, they don't want to change.

Bah.

berkanna wrote on Nov 13^th, 2006 at 10:22am:

What annoys me most about this is that everyone has acknowledged that if they'd KNOWN my hair was as long and thick as it is, they never would've bothered with the extension - but now that they've gotten used to it, they don't want to change.

Sorry to hear about the breakage, I'd be pretty upset too.  Congrats on getting through your first weekend! :)

My hair is causing headaches.  It's so heavy right now that it weighs down my scalp when I just pull it back into a pony.  Of course, a pony is my basic go-to when dealing with my hair because the layers are STILL keeping me from a decent braid, bun or french twist.  IE - over half my hair won't stay in any of those 'dos for more than 10 minutes.

Another problem is the breakage from the show extension 'do.  It'll be some time before that grows out.  Grrr...

I am beginning to think that my best option is to cut off the bottom 2 inches or so to try to even up the ends so that I can possibly put my hair up in something OTHER than a pony.

*sigh*

On the plus side - my hair is SO soft, sleek and shiny right now!  I haven't changed my hair care routine (such as it is) at all, but my hair really seems to be thriving under it.

Long time no post!   ;D

Life came at me hard the end of last year.  Moved Allie to the new farm and started working there 3 nights a week to defray the cost.  Found out our condo was transitioning back to apartments, so we sold it back to the builder and had to find a new place to live.  My job got crazy busy as two people left and I took on most of their responsibilites.  My 18year old cat was diagnosed with cancer, and my 15year old cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism.  Add in the normal insanity that seems to happen with the holidays and I felt like I was drowning some days, but life seems to be calming back down.

Both kitties are doing very well - we haven't had to put the hyperthyroid kitty on meds, although we probably will eventually.  The cancer kitty is responding SO well to a very low dose chemotherapy, you'd never even know she was ill.  

We did find a place, and were able to sign a month-to-month lease at the current place (apartment now, I guess) while we wait for the new house to finish being built.  Very exciting there!

Another exciting bit is that Allie and I have moved up to the next level of competition.  Unfortunately, we've had an outbreak of a virus called EHV-1 here, so most of the barns in the area have started self-quarantining, and competitions have been pushed back to later in the season.  Thankfully, the state vets seem to have caught and contained it quickly, so I think this will be all over in a week or so.

I did break down and cut 4 inches off early last month.  While that may seem like a lot, I'm already back at 24 inches.  The breakage from the show hair-do isn't as noticable, and my hair is healthy along the whole length.  Since all my hair is the same length now, it's easier to braid and put up.  I decided my hair actually is more manageable with 'cones, so I use the Garnier Fructis regularly and use the Burt's Bees as a clarifying system.  It's working REALLY well.

Now that I can put my hair up in a french twist or bun, I'm not having to deal with the headaches so much.  Also, when I'm relaxing in the evening reading, I just let it down, and occasionally talk my husband into a scalp massage.  Tension headache?  What's that?   ;)

Glad to see you back!  But I'm sorry to hear things have been a bit rough for you.  Hopefully things will improve with spring's arrival and everything is re-born.  I hope your kitties do well.

Yep - many people find that even though they cut several inches of hair off, the end result is good.  It can remove the damaged hair and get your hair all one length, which is easier to work with.  Congrats on reaching the conclusion and feeling the rewards for it.

Welcome back berkanna! :)  You have been through alot lately but it's good to see that things are beginning to look up for you again.  Hope we see you around more often! :)

Thanks guys!  Nice to be back.

I now have a third kitty with health problems.  My little lone shorthair may have bladder stones.  Which will most likely require surgery to remove.  *sigh*  I'm waiting for the vet to follow up with me to discuss options.

Speaking of kitties, I bought a FURminator last night, and went to town on all four cats.  That gizmo is awesome!  I got more fur out of them in about 15 minutes with it than with hours of grooming with a regular brush.  They didn't mind it at all, even V, who normally hates being brushed.  Working on Mem (the shorthair) was the coolest - I had no idea she shed so MUCH!  We'll see if that will help us keep the fur on the cats (or in the trashcan) instead of everywhere else.  :p  Four cats (3 longhairs) means there is a LOT of fur floating about.

Not much else is going on here.  It's been terribly dry recently, so I experimented with a leave-in hair conditioner from Garnier Fructis.  It seems to be working, as my hair is the only part of my body that ISN'T dry lately.   :P

Sorry about your kitties.  My cat recently had been diagnosed with dental disease and had to have 7 teeth pulled. :o  I never realized how susceptible animals can be to various ailments, it can be rough sometimes.  I hope your cat gets better soon. :)

I looked up the FURminator and saw that they had lots of different products.  Exactly which one did you buy?

wrote on Mar 6^th, 2007 at 2:16pm:

I looked up the FURminator and saw that they had lots of different products.  Exactly which one did you buy?

The small blue deshedding tool.  Everyone with pets must own a FURminator!  The video of the cat?  It's 100% true.  Now take that and multiply it by 4, that was my Monday night.   ;D

I'm tempted to take it out and try it on Allie since she's starting to shed her winter coat.

Thanks, my cats could definitely benefit from this. :)

I would love to use this on my bunny.  He has been shedding something aweful this time and I have already got a baseball size ball of fur off him. :D

We had a bit of a kitty scare.  Memre, our tortie shorthair had to go to a specialist yesterday.  The word 'cancer' was floated about a bit, but our regular vet recommended the specialist for a definitive diagnosis.  Seven hours at the specialist, and we find out it's most likely NOT cancer, but we'll have to do a follow-up in 4 weeks to confirm that.  My husband and I are so happy - we were downright despondent when we got the initial word.

We're both beyond sick, as well.  He came down with the creeping crud on Thursday, and I succumbed on Sunday.  I feel like a stretch of bad road.   :P

YAY!!!  I'm so glad to hear that your cat may be okay! :D What a time to get a cold with spring so near, I hope you and your husband get well soon!

Glad to hear your kitty should be OK.  Hope you and hubby are feeling better quick as well!

No more flu!!!

Husband and I are past the achy, feverish, gods-please-just-let-me-die stage of the flu and are now at the head stuffed like an extra-firm teddy bear stage.

Ugh.

Memre has finally forgiven us for taking her to the vet 3 times in as many weeks and is back to her cuddle-bug self.  Which is a good thing, as I spent all day yesterday in bed and she was the perfect bed warmer.  :D

Of course, it's been 70 degrees and GORGEOUS outside while I've been dealing with the flu.  Now that I'm feeling better?  It'll be in the 30s tomorrow, and there's talk of sleet.

My hair is starting to feel dry on the ends.  I think I'm going to up my use of the leave-in conditioner from once a week to twice a week and see how it goes.

berkanna wrote on Mar 15^th, 2007 at 11:06am:

Of course, it's been 70 degrees and GORGEOUS outside while I've been dealing with the flu.  Now that I'm feeling better?  It'll be in the 30s tomorrow, and there's talk of sleet.

Yep, that sounds about typical. ;)  Glad you're feeling better.

Thanks for mentioning the FURminator, I just got one and I love that thing!  Only problem is that my cats don't want to stay still for very long.:P

An odd footnote about colds/flu - occasionally, the bug will infect your eye, causing the most beautiful case of pink eye (also known as conjunctivitis).

Which makes you have to throw away your contact lenses, dig out your new eyeglass prescription that you've not done anything with in 4 months, go to the eyeglass store to get new glasses and go to the urgent care clinic to get antibiotics for your eyes.

So, I have new glasses.  They are the square, narrow type that seems to be all the rage now.  In fact, that was really my only option - all the eyeglass place had was the square, narrow type.  I think they look odd on me, but everyone has told me they make me look pretty sassy.

I *almost* went and got all my hair cut off yesterday.  I think it was the glasses that caused that temptation.  When I was wearing glasses regularly (as a kid) I had long hair, and I was a mousy and unattractive child.  When I got my contact lenses, one of my first acts was to chop off all my hair.

It was a very strong temptation, but I resisted.  My hair is very attractive right now - shiny, healthy and still holding a tinge of the red from the henna.  I had to remind myself of that.  We'll see if I can continue to resist.

DO NOT CUT YOUR HAIR!!! :o :)  Soon your pink eye will be gone and you'll be back into your contacts again.  Resist the urge, resist the urge... ;)

Eeeek, berkanna! *steals your scissors & hides them* Nooooo cutting!  ;D

Perhaps if you tried a funky new updo or added a few new pieces to your wardrobe, it would drive the "mousy kid" image out of your mind.

I haven't cut my hair yet.

I prefer the look of my hair down with the glasses.  Even so, I've been putting my hair up because I really can't stand the feel of my hair on my face or neck.   :P

I've got hairsticks in for the first time in over a week.  My hair just doesn't behave in sticks when it's dry, and I tend to wash my hair at night (since I shower after coming home from the barn).  My friend calls my hair "slickkery" - it's so thick and healthy, it's slick and just slips out of most hair toys.  If my hair is EVER so damp, it sticks together a bit, and behaves in toys.

I have my first horse show of the season on Sunday!  New hairnets are in order.  Yet another season of fighting to contain my hair for shows!  Whee!  :D

Well, no horse show for us yesterday.  In fact, no riding for some time.  Allie is quite lame, and the vet isn't sure why.  We're treating it as a bruise, and if she's not improving in 5 days, then we x-ray.  I'm worried about my horse, and I'm feeling guilty, because I'm annoyed about missing the show, even though I know she didn't go lame on purpose.   :P

Continuing with the animal theme - I've switched my cats to a new food.  I'm worried about the stupid pet food recall.  Now that a company has pulled a brand of kibble due to contaminated wheat gluten, I've decided to go the safest route I can.  They're now getting a canned food with zero wheat gluten made from human food grade ingredients.  They LOVE it, although they're not sure about the peas.  I've got a 50% chance of finding a bowl with some peas licked clean rolling around in the bottom.  It makes me laugh.

So, my cats are now eating healthier than my husband and me.   :-[  I should do something about that.   ;)

Hair?  I still have it, still taking care of it, and it's still annoying me by refusing to behave in sticks.

I hope your horse gets better soon! http://smilies.sofrayt.com/1/950/bouquet.gif

Have you ever had Reiki done on your horse?  I hope she's better soon.  Sorry you didn't get to do your show.  Its a tribute to Allie that you were looking forward to showing with her, of course you are disappointed!

Sorry about your horse, berkanna. And about the missed show. I can sympathize.
   One of our horses has navicular, so we're quite accustomed to the cycles of lameness that he goes through.

*hugzzz* Hope yours recovers soon.

Too bad you had to miss your show, I hope your horse gets better.

I was meaning to ask you if you how you were handling the pet food recall.  We've been giving our cats Purina Naturals lately.  It has ground whole wheat, not wheat gluten.  Finding the peas on the floor would make me laugh too, cats are so weird.:D  

Since birth, I'd been giving my cats bottled water just like I drink. However, recently when I discovered my cats drinking out of my bath tub, I realized their strange preference for tap, go figure! ;)

Allie is improving - she's no longer lame at the walk, just barely lame at the trot.  I re-wrapped her foot, and noticed a reddish color in the wrap (the medicine is green) so I think there was an abcess that finally popped yesterday.  But, since her shoe is still ON, I can't be sure.  Regardless, I'm very relieved that she's improving.

Sakina - I've just recently begun to research Reiki for myself.  I've decided that it's time to take care of myself as well as I take care of my animals!   ;)

Allie gets a monthly massage.  The massage therapist always comments that she's one of the best horses she works on - relaxed, flexible, fit, healthy and with a super shiny coat.  This is only the second time in 5 years that she's been lame.  A VERY good thing.

On the hair front - the broken hair (from my play hair-do) has grown out enough that it's starting to curl.  Very odd looking!

Sorry about your horse,Berkanna.  Time will heal.  Give Reiki a try.   I give myself Reiki,my birds and dog,too.   Sakina and I are both give and receive and I'm sure she will agree,too that nothing bad would happen because it is only given with good intentions and an open heart. :)

I was looking forward to my first SPRING weekend taking care of the barn, but a combination of 40 degree weather (and snow Saturday morning) AND Allie popping a SECOND abcess means it was a bust of a weekend.  Soaking Allie's foot and packing it with ichthammol salve has drawn out most of the infection, and I expect her to be completely sound (again!) around Tuesday.

In other animal news - 3 of my cats went to the vet Friday.  One was re-tested for hyperthyroidism (he was exhibiting behavioral symptoms, and had been borderline back in November) one for excessive vomiting (after every meal!) and the last is my 18 year old who hadn't actually been to the vet in almost a year (whoops!)

The two boys are 100% healthy - the boarderline hyperthyroid has stabilized in the perfectly normal range, and the vomiting was hypersensitivity to the new food, which was easily resolved with a steroid shot.

Poor Sidian is now in the beginning stages of kidney failure, in addition to having alimentary lymphoma (intestinal cancer).  Switching to the new food was the best thing I could've done for her.  Since we caught it so early, that's the only treatment for now.  Eventually, we'll have to explore other options.  Oh, and she's exhibiting no side-effects from the chemo.  Excellent news, and I must remain optimistic.

I'm happy to know that 2 of your cats are healthy.  I'm sure it must be tough to have even 1 cat sick though, it's great that the chemo is working!:)

So, Allie is sound, we've been riding in preparation for a clinic with a BIG name rider next week.  It'll be fun, a whole two days of just horse stuff.  We're not at all ready, but I'm sure the instructor will understand, since Allie was lame for so long recently.

All 4 cats are doing well, although we had to switch our vomiting boy back to Iams kibble, his little tummy couldn't handle the healthy new food with peas.  Now he's 100% back to normal.  Yay!

Our new house has drywall up, trim installed and all the painting is done!   :o  They're moving so fast.  We haven't even begun the pre-moving purge yet, much less getting boxes to start packing!

I was messing with my hair the other day, and I saw some minor split ends.  How annoying.  If I'm going to have to trim every other month or so, I'm never going to get any longer than 24".   >:(  Of course, then I remember, I'm not the kindest to my hair.  It's tough to do so when you're a tomboy like me.

Bah.   ;)

I'm back!  (Y'all didn't even know I was gone, did you?)

Allie and I just did a 2 day clinic with Lucinda Green.  Who's Lucinda Green?  This link will tell you the basics:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucinda_Green  Basically, she's a top level rider, and I got to take 2 whole days (4 hours!) of lessons with her to work on our cross-country skills!

She's awesome, and she loved my little firecracker of a mare, and said I rode a "very difficult horse" very well.  I'm still floating after such a complement.

The big thing is how much she helped our confidence - on the second day we jumped this without even thinking:  http://www.wingreenxc.com/images/lucinda2.jpg  Three days ago I NEVER would've thought about jumping something that big!

Hair plus:  I bought some new hairnets - they're thicker and stronger than the ones I used last year and my hair behaved very well.  Yay to that.  Hair minus:  Long, thick hair in a ponytail seems to attract ticks.  I found two of them in my hair last night.   :o  EW EW EW.  Reminder to self - ALWAYS braid hair when at the barn from now on!

Speaking of hair - I need a trim.  However, I'm waiting for the EW EW EW feeling of ticks-in-hair to pass, or I'll probably get it all chopped.

How exciting for you!  Spending so much time with such an expert must have been fantastic.  My riding experiences are quite limited, but I certainly understand how much your level of confidence affects your riding.  You must be floating on cloud 9 after receiving such a compliment - congratulations.

Quote:

Long, thick hair in a ponytail seems to attract ticks

Oh, Lord, how i HATE those things--ICK.  My head is itching just thinking about them!   ;D

LOL!  I'm itching too!;D

How long is your hair now?

Congrats on your riding lesson results!

wrote on Apr 27^th, 2007 at 6:17am:

How long is your hair now?

I have no idea!   I suppose I should measure it soon.  :D

The flyaway bits from the P&P hairstyle breakage are about 2 or 3 times longer than they were, which is good cause they're growing out, but annoying because I end up with a halo of hair whenever I do an updo (which is all the time, since I detest my hair touching my face).

Also, my hair is now 'puffy' at the bottom.  The weight of it keeps it flat against my head at the top, but then it 'puffs' out at the bottom - it's almost wider than my shoulders!  I've also noticed it's got more body as it's gotten longer.

I should take a picture.   :P

Well, after cutting another 2 inches off, my hair is at 22" exactly.  I suppose I'm destined to never have hair longer than 24" ever again.   :P

I've got a horse show this weekend.  I think we'll do well, especially since Allie is behaving again.  Last weekend she was VERY bad during my lesson - bucking and kicking out and tossing her head.  I figured out it was simply because my instructor had moved the bit up in her mouth (to the proper position, mind) and I guess Allie found it too restrictive.  Once I dropped it back down, she was happy and behaving again.  I suppose I have a horse that is a bit clausrophobic about her mouth - she acted the same way when I put a flash noseband (which holds the mouth closed) on her last year.

So, wish me a happy horse and a good time this weekend!

Good luck Berkanna! I hope you and Allie have a great time this weekend, and come back satisfied with your results!

Good luck, Berkanna.

Good luck!  Let us know how it goes...

Good luck at the show Berkanna! :D

Thank you for the good thoughts - they helped.  Sorta.   :-/

We had a solid dressage test, considering Allie had to be next to the evil COWS (she's very afraid of cows) during the day, and our test was in the indoor arena, where she was convinced everything was going to eat her.  Even with her mental state of TENSE, we got an accurate test, which is a big deal.

Unfortunately, we were SO not in the game for cross-country.  I was feeling a bit over-faced, and I wasn't able to bluff Allie into believing all was well.  She refused Fence #1, I got her over that, then she refused Fence #2, and I realized I wasn't up to fighting with my horse over 18 fences, so I retired for the day.  I figured it was better that than an elimination being on her permanent record, and I'd rather have a positive ride, instead of having to chase her over everything and getting both of us tense and upset.

Now I'm at loose ends about what we're going to do for the rest of the season.  I'm just not feeling up to ANYTHING right now.   :(

Sorry about the test. :(  I hope things turn around so that you and Allie can have a good season!

I worked at the barn this weekend, so hair care = tuck into a ponytail and forget it until I showered when I got home.  My hair is feeling pretty nice today, but it was to slickery to put up in anything other than a basic pony.  Again.  

Saturday after morning chores I went over to my Mom's house to deliver some tulips for mother's day.  She took me out to an interior design place to look at window treatments for our new house (we settle on the 30th!) and then to a nearby resturant for lunch.  I had the most delicious steamed sea bass with ginger and soy.  YUM!   :P  Since the resturant was in the mall, Mom ended up in a retail mood, and I ended up with a new Coach bag.  I learned long ago that when she's in the mood for 'retail therapy', don't say anything but thank you, or I'll be sorry.  Very, VERY sorry.

Sunday was Mother's day, of course.  Ages ago, I surprised my husband and got him tickets to see his favorite musical artist - Peter Gabriel.  Since it was June, I got a little silly and got him a Father's Day card and signed it from the cats and horses.  Ever since then, we both get gifts from our 'children'.  This year, they got me a new Nintendo DS, a game for it, and some accesories.  I was very surprised, as I'd mentioned thinking one would be fun, but didn't think I'd be getting one anytime soon.

I spent way too much time with it last night.  It's a time-sink of epic proportions!   :D

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I spent way too much time with it last night.  It's a time-sink of epic proportions!   :D

Funny how gaming systems can do that, isn't it?  ;D  The internet is another one.

That's awesome about you and your husband exchanging Mother's/Father's Day gifts from the pets. Sooooo cute! I might have to borrow that idea in the future.  ;)

And Peter Gabriel? I must say, your husband has wicked good taste in music.  8-)

wrote on May 14^th, 2007 at 12:38pm:

And Peter Gabriel? I must say, your husband has wicked good taste in music.  8-)

Wicked good?  Yes.

Eclectic?  Even more so.  His 3 top musicians are Peter Gabriel, Loreena McKennitt and Kate Bush.  His second tier is Public Enemy and Rage Against the Machine.  And he has a very odd fascination with 80's pop.

:-?

His iPod is the total definition of 'eclectic'.   ;D

lol Being surrounded by musicians all of my life, I'm quite familiar with eclectic tastes. I think that anyone with a real passion for music does have eclectic taste because they're exposed to so many different styles and artists...they have a much broader sense of what's out there and what they like. So their tastes go all over the board.

We went and saw Titus Andronicus at Shakespeare Theater Company on Saturday.  Titus is Shakespeare's most violent play - full of cut off limbs, rape, murder, and revenge.  This is the first time STC has produced it.  It was quite good, and the very prevalent blood and gore did NOT prevent us from enjoying Tapas afterwards.  I was finally able to get ALL my hair into a french twist with LL sticks.  And have it stay more than an hour.  This acheivement makes me very happy, and much less likely to cut my hair off.   :P  I still can't do a basic bun, but that's because I STILL have layers, after all this time and over 6 inches cut off.  A bun ends up with odd sticky-outty bits everywhere that look silly and cause the updo to fall out.

Yesterday we took my in-laws to see the new condo.  It's ALMOST done.  In fact, this Wednesday is our final walk-through.  We settle on the 30th.  It's wonderful and I'm so excited to move.  It will be nice to be homeowners again.  I have crazy amounts of pictures because we're going to paint before we move furniture in and I wanted to play with a neat on-line program I found that lets you 'virtually paint' your own walls.  I'm all about color on the walls - down with 'rental white'!!   ;D

OH - there are pictures of Allie and me at our aborted show on the 6th.  :p  Sure, she's refusing the fence here, but there are a number of postives in this picture:

http://www.photoreflect.com/scripts/prsm.dll?eventorder?photo=0EBK00445I0002&start=0&album=0&adjust=-1

• I stayed on.  ;)
  
• She's SO FIT!!!  Look at those muscles!!!
  
• My brand new breeches fit me really well - that's the first time in a long time that my legs don't look like over-stuffed sausages in a show picture.

That last point brings me to my latest gripe:  I'm REALLY out of shape/much too flabby/overweight.  Normally, I could care less about such things, but I've been noticing I've got a bit of flubby belly that I've never had before, AND I'm not able to ride as long without my muscles protesting the next day.  Add in the fact that a number of my work pants don't fit anymore (this morning was an exercise in frustration) and you get one grumpy and stompy berkanna.

Must eat better and start working out again.  It's been over 6 months since I've done any yoga, and I can tell.  My husband wants to get bikes when we move, and I'm all for that.  Biking will do two things - increase fitness and save on gas money, since we'll be able to bike to the town center for groceries and other errands.

/me

That is a "great" picture!  I know it would have been nicer if it was of the two of you gracefully clearing the fence, but you show good form and your horse is a beautiful horse.

BIKE!  Yes!!  I've lost another size from my biking - so go for it!

Very nice picture!  I'm excited about getting bikes this summer too,  we bought bikes a few years ago only to have someone steal them. >:(   It's so nice to bike in the spring and summer and losing extra pounds is a bonus.  Good luck with everything! :)

My head itches terribly.  I'd cut my washes down to two or three a week, but with the warmer weather I think I'll have to bump back up to daily or every-other-day washes because my scalp needs it, and honestly, I think barns are dirtier in the summer than in the winter.   :P  We shall see what this does to my hair.

Allie was an absolute puppy dog last night, she was just PERFECT with everything I was asking her to do.  I'm not sure what was up (and I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop!) but I'll take days like that over days of her misbehaving!

My head feels like an over-inflated beachball.  Every open space in my head (sinuses, ears, etc) are packed solid.  It's terribly feeling, and nothing seems to be stopping it.  My eyes are watering constantly, and I swear it's because my tear ducts are being squeezed by my over-full sinuses.

We did our new-home orientation yesterday!  WHEEE!  We settle on the 30th, and then we get to paint and install chair rail & crown molding.  Then we get to continue the cull, pack and move process.  We've contracted the movinc company for the 21st of June.  That gives us 3 days (Friday - Sunday) to unpack and get organized.  Hopefully, we'll be so SMART about the packing and moving that 3 days will be more than enough!

Oh, I've been interviewing for a new job.  I need to find a job closer to home - I'm commuting over 1.5 hours to the office, then 2 hours to the barn, then 30 minutes home.  It's exhausting, and with the increased gas prices, it's terribly expensive, even with our fuel efficient Honda.  I've got good leads on two jobs - they've called references and told me they're sending offer letters, but I haven't gotten them yet.  Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

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Good luck with the new job, berkanna. I hope that the one you're hoping for most works out.  :)

Fingers crossed! :)

Big things:

• New job - I accepted one of the two positions I had in hand, gave my two week notice to my current boss, and now I'm in 'clean off the desk' mode so there's few, if any hot issues to hand over to my co-workers when I head out the door
• New house - we closed yesterday!  The holiday weekend was spent spending.   :P  Paint, painting supplies, blinds for the windows, and new chairs for the living room.  This weekend, we paint!  Then, we continue to pack, and next weekend we buy and install some closet organizers.  We move into the new place on the 21st.

Small things:

• Allie has a very bruised neck - she got bit H A R D by one of her pasturemates and has a bruise the size of my upper arm on her neck.  She's very sore, but I've been icing it every day and she'll be fine soon, I'm sure.
• My head is still stuffy as all get out.  I'm fine during the day, but by around 9 or 10pm I feel terrible because I can't breathe, and my head is pounding like a jackhammer.  Ugh.
  

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WoooHooo!!!  You have a lot of exciting things going on right now! :D

Hope you and Allie feel better soon!

Project: New House Update!

Saturday we:

• Painted the living room, dining room, half bath, my yoga room, the kitchen and kitchenette
• Measured and cut chair rail for the dining room and the kitchenette
• Bought crown molding for the 3 upstairs rooms (bedroom, husband's office and "who knows what we're doing with it" room)

Sunday we slacked a bit:

• Painted the bedroom(walls and ceiling), the two baths and the ceiling of husband's office
• Installed the chair rail

Thank goodness for my in-laws, we never would've gotten this much done over the weekend without them.  My MIL is the queen of the paintbrush, FIL did all the measuring, cutting and installing of the chair rail and crown molding, and my husband's BIL can wield a roller FAST!

Last night my husband and I did the first coat on the walls of his office, but we ran out of light (and forgot to bring one!) so we called it a night pretty early on.  It IS interesting to paint in the dark, but I'd rather not do that again anytime soon.  I have no idea what those walls look like.  Thankfully, it is only the first coat.

We still have the second coat on his office walls, the whole "Who knows what it is" room, and the tray ceiling of the dining room to paint.  I think that'll be this Sunday, although my husband was talking about doing the second coat in the office tonight.  I'm not going over there - I promised myself I'd pack tonight!

I was the only one who wore a hat all weekend, and I was pleased my hair stayed tucked up in it, so I avoided paint in the hair, although I got paint all over the rest of me.  I'm quite the messy painter.   :P

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*whew*

The major painting is DONE.  (finally)  There are some touch-ups to do, because I am a messy painter, but no more roller wielding is necessary.

Packing has barely started, and we move in 8 days.  Rush, rush, rush!

Allie has been allowed to become a 'wild pony' over the past few weeks.  With the house stuff I just haven't had time to ride.  I'm sure she's thrilled, since this means she's on vacation.  I just hope we don't have lots of fireworks when I get back on and ask for some work.

Speaking of Allie - there's talk of moving her to a new farm.  This is a good thing.  I found a lovely barn with a trainer on-site that's just 10 minutes from our new house.  It's a bit more expensive, but with the salary increase of my new job, it's well within our reach.  This is an exciting thing, and I'd love to have her some close to home!

And speaking of the new job - it's going well.  I've been in research and learn mode for the past 2 days, and I'm now gearing up to dive into the day-to-day operations of my program.  Wheee!

I've been wearing my hair down all week.  It's behaving and staying off my face.  It's a bit poofy, but overall it's looking pretty good.  I'm washing/conditioning it about 3 week (the nights I work at the barn, actually) and that seems to be working really well.

/me

It must be such a relief to have the painting done.  Sounds like everything is going smoothly. Good luck with the packing. :)  

Move is (almost) complete!   8-)

We had everything packed up and ready to go Wednesday night.  Early Thursday morning, we moved the cats into the new place (locked safely in the spare bedroom) and were ready and waiting for the movers, who showed up right on time at 9am.

They were done getting (almost) everything into the new place at 6:45pm.   :o  Lots of stuff, and moving out of a 4th floor apartment and into a 3rd/4th floor condo means a LONG TIME is needed to move!

The reason I keep saying almost is that there was one piece of furniture that they couldn't get up the stairs - our china cabinet.  Today the builders are going to use a crane to lift it up to our 3rd floor balcony so we can bring it in the sliding glass door.  My husband is home to supervise that - I didn't think it was right to take an additional day off of my brand new job.

Allie is lame - she showed up Wednesday morning with yet another abcess.  *sigh*  The vet was able to dig it out, and the barn manager has been wonderful about soaking and wrapping her for me, since I really haven't been able to get out there.  We've decided NOT to move Allie - she's happy at the farm she's currently at.  I think I'm going to cut back on my hours working there, though.  That'll give me more time to spend with my horse instead of taking care of everyone else's.

Hair is still there - my new shower is LOVELY, the water is just a touch softer at our new place, and my hair loves it very much.  I love soft water.

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We're 99.999% moved.  The china cabinet is in place, we've unpacked all but 15-20 boxes, sold all the unpacked boxes on craigslist over the weekend, and generally have made the new place home.  There are some things left, of course, but we'll get to them in time.

The new job is going well - I actually worked 15 hours yesterday, but that's good, because I have tomorrow off but don't have holiday pay yet.   :P  Because I worked 4 hours on Sunday and 15 yesterday, I can leave NOW, have tomorrow off and still get my full paycheck!  Wheee!

Allie is sound, has 4 shoes again and she has a new saddle on order.  I had a saddlefitter out on Sunday, and while my dressage saddle was great, the jumping saddle just didn't fit at all.  It may be some small part of our jumping problems, actually.  So, thanks to my mom (who loves her 'grandpony') Allie is getting a brand new, custom made saddle.

During the saddle fitting, I rode Allie for about an hour.  She was very funny - we tried one demo saddle and she was full of herself - tossing in playful bucks and silliness, but she was cheerful and happy, with pricked forward ears.  When we put a second (fancier and more expensive) saddle on her, she was SO ANGRY!  She pinned her ears, bucked and kicked out while I was riding!   :o  We then put the first saddle back on and she was happy again.  Anyone who says saddles don't really make that much difference should've seen it!

Hair is still there - I need the teeniest bit of a trim, I saw a couple of split ends and I really don't have the patience right now to do a S&D.  

You must be so happy to be just about finished with all of your moving, I CAN'T WAIT until I can say that. ;D

I wish I could've seen Allies response to the saddles.  I've never really been around horses enough to even know that they have personalities although I often hear that they do.  Animals are so intersting to me that way.  I can read every one of my cat's expressions and meows to the point where most times it's easy to tell what they are thinking or trying to express.  I think it's so cool the way they can convey their feelings without words.

After working 15 hours I'd be exhausted.  Enjoy your day off! :)

Oh my!  It's been quite some time since I've updated!   :P

Let's see - we still don't have crown molding up, or any artwork on the walls, but that's all that's left to have the new house done.

New job is busy, busy, busy, but that's not a bad thing at all.  I'd rather be busy than slow.  The only problem is they gave me a new laptop, and I don't have a stand to lift it up, so my back and shoulders are killing me.  I need to get it up off my desk somehow.

Allie and I got kicked out of our barn!   ::)  We were given 15 days to find a new place to go, and so I talked my husband into letting me move her to a REALLY nice farm.  It's more expensive, but SO worth it.  We move this weekend.

My grandmother was taken to the hospital Sunday night.  It may have been a stroke, they need to do more tests to be sure.  However, the doctors are all reassuring us that she's doing very well.  She's a strong lady, I'm not too worried.  (yet)

My hair is still there, still growing, and I still need a trim.  I'm getting that wierd straw-like feeling right on the tips again.

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hope your Grandma is ok!!  That older stock is strong!!

Oh no, what happened with the barn? I thought you and Allie were happy there? Best wishes for your grandmother, too! May it be nothing serious :)

*hug*

Grandmother is out of the hospital and pretty much back to the condition she was in before the hospital stay.  I can't say better, because her Alzheimer's is advancing pretty regularly, but she is mostly lucid, so this is a pretty good thing.  My mom is upset because she wants Grandmom (her mother) to get BETTER, but that's just not going to happen.  I keep having to remind her that our goal is to keep Grandmom comfortable and content  *sigh*

Allie was moved on the 28th and has settled nicely.  I've been out to the barn only a few times since then.  I wanted to let her settle before we started working again.  It's a very fancy barn, and I'm pleased with it.  I've decided that I need to stay in a business-type relationship with my barn, not a friend-type relationship.  The second type tends to cause personal strife, and I end up having to look for a new farm.  :p

I finally got a stand for my laptop, but it's still not perfect.  I'll make do for now.  At least my back and shoulders aren't killing me (as much) anymore.  I've been doing lots of backbends and chest openers in yoga to try to counteract my constantly rounding over the keyboard.  I'd like to say it's working, but I'm not sure it is.  I think I need to get back into a class, although that's not going to be happening for a while, since the cost of Allie's new home is eating into the new job raise a bit more than we really wanted.

I'm using a new shampoo and conditioner - they are super moisturizing and all natural, and so far my hair is pleased.  The shampoo has olive oil in it, which seems to act sorta like the 'cones in the Garnier Fructis stuff I was using, since my hair isn't getting unruley.  Yet.  :p

/me

Just a suggestionto help with the back and neck aches.  When/if you can invest in a balance ball chair by Giam.  I use mine all the time when I sit at my computer.  One of the best investments I've made! It forces you to engage the use of your core.  Strong core=better back!

Curlgirl64 wrote on Aug 7^th, 2007 at 8:59pm:

Just a suggestionto help with the back and neck aches.  When/if you can invest in a balance ball chair by Giam.  I use mine all the time when I sit at my computer.  One of the best investments I've made! It forces you to engage the use of your core.  Strong core=better back!

Actually, at my old job, I just sat on a balance ball.  I actually started a trend at my old company - by the time I left we had 4 people either on plain balance balls or in the Gaiam ball chair.  That + riding means my abs/core are pretty strong.  The problem is a) my current desk is too tall for my 65cm ball as a chair, and b) my laptop screen is about 4 inches too low - I have to angle my head down rather than hold it in a nice neutral position.  (thankfully, my chair is high enough that my arms are in a neutral position to type).

Once I'm a permanent employee here, I think I'm going to request a docking station and full-sized flat panel screen.  Oh, and an ergonomic keyboard and gel wrist rest for keyboard and mouse.  I think that'll help a WHOLE bunch.  I'm all about the ergonomics!

/me

Well,there you go!!! ;)

I've had a pretty bad time of it recently.  Bad enough to consider going back to a counselor for a while.  The new job is not working out, I have hardly ridden at ALL in the past few months, and I've really been unhappy about how I look and feel.

Time for a change, and a change was made.

Yesterday I went from this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/berkanna/dcp_0813.jpg

To this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v479/berkanna/dcp_0815.jpg

You can see how tired I've been recently in that second picture - believe me, in the first one I have the same bags under my eyes, I just hid behind the camera.  

One of the hairdressers knows a woman who makes wigs - so the hair is going to her.  I'm happy with how it looks and feels.  I figure if I want long hair again, I just have to wait a couple of years, and it'll be back at BSL.  I really got the luck of the draw there.

My resume is out and about, my husband thinks a good portion of this (latest) depression stems from the crappy job, and I think he might be right.  I feel guilty about not riding, but it's just been about impossible for me to get out to the barn.  Not due to time, but due to motivation.  *sigh*

I'll still swing by on occasion - make sure everyone else is doing well and not following my example!   ;)

I'm sorry to hear that you're having problems with the job. I hope things improve and you find something better. (((hugs)))

The new cut looks quite cute! Hope to see you around these parts more often. :)

i like your new look. very pretty. i hope things work out for you in the job department. take care.