Cool for School

As many of you know, I am a 31 year old college senior. Yes, my misspent youth was a blur of parties and boyfriends. And then I turned 21. I went to college after graduating high school, majoring in beer and boys. (Or as my mother so eloquently put it, I was there for my M.R.S. degree, which I still don't understand but apparently it was something the women of her generation did.) Needless to say, that sort of "schooling" didn't really pan out. Before long I was living at home and waitressing at the local diner. That's where I met my adorable husband. (A story for another post.) I thought I was looking for someone to take care of me; to pay the bills and go to work while I kept the house and took care of Wally and Beaver. I could make a pot roast and clean the house top to bottom, too, if I had all day! (Please note that these were the thoughts of a single, naive girl. After having a baby of my own, I now realize that just taking a shower indicates a productive day! Anything else is gravy.) Eventually I realized that wasn't what I wanted. I wanted to have the ability to take care of myself, and if I chose to be a full-time wife and mother, well, that was my choice! Not the only thing available to me. That was when I decided to go back to college. (The husband was very supportive of this, since he works "blue-collar" and is hoping that I will somehow find a way to make enough money that he doesn't have to work that hard anymore. Here's hopin'!)

The great thing about returning to college as a "non-traditional student", is that I was eligible for a bunch of financial aide and a ton of programs to help me succeed. (BTW, perhaps the "programs for success" should be more thoroughly promoted to the 18 year old college students before they drop out. Just my two cents.) The money was helpful, as there was no way our income could pay for tuition and books, not to mention daycare (my angel was 18 months old at the time) and commuting expenses, which were not to be underestimated as I was driving about 200 miles a day to go to school! But my financial aide was able to cover all of that. (The husband still carried all the regular, household bills)

Another great thing about "returning for learning" is that I was so much more focused. What? you ask, How could you possibly be more focused with a husband and a toddler to deal with? The answer is very simple. I was an adult. Adults are able to prioritize and organize and take the initiative to get things done. And my 18-19 year old self was not an adult. (Age does not indicate adulthood. The husband was an adult at around age 16, and I have some pseudo-family members that are in their mid to late 20's and still haven't made it yet.) This is why I believe in a minimum age for college. 21. I know, you all are thinking, what will we do with those kids after they leave high school? We should set them up with low-paying jobs. Let them work construction or factory lines or wait tables. I honestly think a realistic "peek" at working for a living will help with their studies when they finally make it to college. And, yes, if your daddy has enough money, you can just parade around in your bikini and go to parties and rehab and other trendy places, but the rest of us might get a glimpse at what life if like if we don't get a degree. I speak from personal experience...it will scare the s@@@ out of most kids. This could make the transition to college so much more rewarding!

Waiting Periods

I am a spur-of-the-moment kind of girl. I also like instant gratification. (Blame it on my Gen X membership) However I do believe there are somethings that are worth waiting for. A "waiting period" as they say in the NRA. (Although it's usually followed or preceded by an explicative I choose to edit here.) I got my hair cut recently. And by "recently" I mean back in December. I was sick of my old style (which was nice shoulder length blunt cut with extra frizz from my natural curl) because it took 20 minutes to dry and straight-iron or else I would just put it into a ponytail, which is what I did most of the time. So on a particularily bad hair day (after begging the husband to hide the scissors from me, to which he responded "what scissors?") I strolled into a GreatClips for a haircut. Exclaimer: I do not hold GreatClips responsible for the hair travesty that ensued, but I do hold them morally responsible for their availability on short notice. I walked right and sat right down, and told the woman with three different hair colors and seven different lengths that I wanted a change. I wanted it short. (This is what I do, by the way. I grow hair out, then I cut if off. It's how I roll.) She asked me a few questions then reached for the murder weapon, the straight razor. Her level of distraction was evident, as she was not even able to maintain the banal pleasantries and small talk one expects from a hairdresser. When it was all said and done, I wanted to ask her for her credentials to prove she was in fact a licensed beautitian. $14 dollars later (can you believe I tipped her?!?) I went home to wash the "gunk" out of my hair and see if I could style it into something I would actually wear, versus the "Flock of Seagulls" look she sent me out the door with. There seemed to be a hole in the back where she over "razed" and one side was definately longer than the other. Yup. I got hosed. I think it was supposed to be one of those A-line bobs ala Posh Spice but with my curly hair that would never work! Oh well, you can't glue it back on. So I lived with it for a month, at least until the 1/2 inch pieces on the back of my head grew out a little. This time I went to a trusted hairdresser. (Her work is shown above. I can't show you the previous cut as I had forbidden any and all photography while my hair was in transition.) I could tell the difference because I had to make an appointment. If I had been given this well advised "waiting period" earlier, I might not have become so attached to the little knit cap I wore for a month straight. (Luckily it was cold and snowy so it didn't seem weird.) Anyway, I guess the lesson is you get what you pay for. Or maybe good things come to those who wait? Also, I never thought I was the kind of girl who was so wrapped up in my hair, but that's only because I hadn't tried that cut before. I am much more particular now!