"I swear I didn't pull it that hard" was the opening I received upon taking in the broken car door handle in Luke's hand, severed from the Cobalt on Tuesday during his ninety-minute quest to free my car from several layers of ice.
"The door handle begs to differ," I said.
It's hard to be mad about it when he was doing such a kind thing for me, braving freezing temperatures to spare his eighteen-weeks-pregnant wife from all that time outside. Plus, it was the passenger-side door, and since normally only one person is in the Cobalt at a time, it's not a big deal in the long run. Luke is hopeful that he can superglue the handle back on once the weather is warmer; meanwhile, I worry we are one step away from using engine hoods from different vehicle models and garbage bags from under the kitchen sink as substitutes for legimate car repairs. At least superglue is budget-friendly!
This was just one of several winter-weather troubles experienced by my husband during Indy's two-day, house-bound Iceapalooza.
RIP, ice scraper number one.
...And to your cheap, good-for-nothing brother, ice scraper number two.
He also took a decent fall yesterday while completing his training run for the Mini-Marathon, attempting to hike the slope leading from our trail to our backyard, which he is still paying for today by way of cuts on his nose and lip and various aches and pains. He nearly scared the bejeezus out of me when he came back into the house.
Thankfully, Monday's weather was uneventful, so the four of us were able to enjoy a lovely afternoon at a nearby park to celebrate Nathan's birthday. More on that (plus his video!) soon.
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In our on-going effort to live within our means, pay off our credit card, AND have something leftover for savings, Luke and I are constantly reassesing our priorities and searching for less expensive ways to accommodate the non-negotiables. One such item that I have been consistently moving over to the next pay period for myself is a haircut. The salon I usually go to is affiliated with Aveda and charges $29 for a wash and cut. For someone who spent the better part of her teens and early twenties fighting with stylists from walk-in places like Fantastic Sam's over the best way to hack my curls, this price has never phased me because the service is top-notch and I am usually satisfied with the results. Plus, even when I was in Chicago getting the best cuts of my life (I still miss you, Brenda), the most I paid for a cut was $35. Again, so worth it to me for the service and expertise.
Unfortunately, our current budget disagrees. Either I can keep putting it off until I can afford my regular place, every day growing one step closer to resembling the cavemen in those Geico commercials, or resign myself to searching for cheaper, possibly less-experienced pastures. As evidenced by the photo below, I think it's obvious there's really just one option.
Look! With the proper backdrop and everything!
Action must be taken, and soon. Therefore, sometime between now and next weekend, which is when we'll travel north to attend baby Rosemary's baptism, I will cross my fingers, say a prayer, and brave the chair at Great Clips. I will be sure to keep the cut simple; right now, my hair is actually a little too "fringe-y" for my taste, and the layers are out of wack from postponing all these weeks, so a clean-up is definitely in order. The long-term goal is to grow it out to shoulder-length by summer; before that, though, I need a cut that will be more conducive to less upkeep. My hope is to replicate a style I had in 2006 during my pre-engagement/newlywed period, as pictured here:
Not drastically different from how I wear it now, just a little fuller at the top without the tails framing my face. That shouldn't be hard for even a new stylist to handle, right? I wouldn't think so. But then, I also thought all stylists knew how to do a blow-out with a round brush. Apparently, that is not the case.
Wish me luck, friends.
(Also: SOB, I miss that outfit. And my hair color! And the money and the basically care-free existence we had back then! Naive fools, both of you!)
It's cold weather like this when I usually bump into my rear view mirror and knock it off! I have done that on TWO cars! I have naturally curly hair too and cut it ALL off. Now I have resigned myself to growing it back out because I am tired of going in constantly to have it "trimmed". Good luck with your new "salon" experience! I really hope it goes well!!!
Posted by: Bren | February 03, 2011 at 03:37 PM
Tomorrow will day three out of work because of the snow. Those days get made up at the end of the school year in good weather. However, our snow is much easier to deal with than that ICE. Hard water, it is. And hard work it is.
Posted by: daddyd | February 03, 2011 at 09:27 PM
I think your hair looks great. good luck with the new stylist. That is always scary. We have had 23 inches of snow and my husband almost smashed my car into his truck in our driveway! Luckily, he decided maybe it wasn't such a good idea to just "gun" it over the snow mountain at the end of our driveway, before he smashed both cars and ripped off my bumper. Glad your husband is ok after his fall. Scary
Posted by: Erica | February 03, 2011 at 09:33 PM
Having the whole handle come off is a new one for me, but I have had my car door freeze shut, no way no how it was going to open. That was pretty awesome, as you can imagine. I eventually got the back door to open and had to climb through to the front. No amount of pulling was going to budge that door.
Good luck at Great Clips! I have had fine experiences at those places, and some not so fine ones. You know just what you want, which I think is the key. Also: $29 for an Aveda salon? Holy crap, I need to move to the Midwest. Here it's at least $60! And that is why I only get my hair cut 3-4 times a year.
Posted by: Operation Pink Herring | February 04, 2011 at 09:26 AM
ugh - thick ice like that should be banned.
Love your hair in your "foolish" pic (no truer words have been spoken...don't I know it!) - very cute. I have curly hair too so I know what you mean about going to a "cheap" place. Sometimes people just don't know what to do with curls!! Good luck! Looking forward to seeing your new 'do pics!
Posted by: Carrster | February 04, 2011 at 10:13 AM
I go to the Aveda Institute at the Castleton Mall... it's $15-$17 for wash, MASSAGE, cut, and style! Yes, they're students, but an instructor checks after EACH STEP, and I've been going for years and I've never had a bad cut there! Try it! MASSAGE!!!!!
Posted by: Nikki | February 04, 2011 at 02:23 PM
Hey curly girl.....thought you might like this website - got some great info. for curly hair and it's free!! I just had my hair cut there last weekend, the cut rocks but the advice she gave on product and care is what makes the difference. http://www.livecurlylivefree.com/home.htm (No, i have not been paid to send you this info.!!!!!)
Posted by: Heather | February 04, 2011 at 04:22 PM