Thanks to the cool Chicago weather this spring, these tulips in a big pot on our deck are still blooming a full two weeks after their first tentative opening. Our garden has been so beautiful. I’ve planted peas, tomatoes, and Italian parsley, but have been holding off on the rest. I am counting down days until school is out!
Almost 2 weeks ago, inspired by Donna Kato’s 30 pound loss on Weight Watcher’s, I joined online. To my happy surprise, I’ve already lost 7 pounds and am feeling the change in energy and clarity. The program is inspired: Counting points is perfect for a whole-grain vegetarian like me: I can eat the foods I love, and supplement my diet with more veggies and fruit to keep me happy and healthy.
Best of all, I can have chocolate, my comfort food of choice. I took before photos, but will wait to post them until I can compare them to some slender “after” shots – or maybe “during” if the change in appearance is dramatic enough.
I’ve been wanting to grow my hair long again. I had waist-length red hair, always in a thick braid down my back, in college and my early teaching years. Now my hair has lightened to blonde and pale grey, which I love. There is very little of the red-orange left, but it makes a nice highlight where it remains. My hairdresser keeps saying I will want to color it, but no. I am quite happy with aging naturally.
Today she “dusted” my haircut to shape it while I grow it out. I like it when she barely touches it with scissors – just trims it into a neater look than my slightly wild waves. She is a 65-year-old blonde with shoulder length hair, so she understands the urge to let hair grow long.
Then, I uncharacteristically celebrated with a manicure and pedicure at a delightful salon across the street. I do not like nail color, but I felt the need to pamper my hard working hands and feet at the end of a long school year. I did not know it would be such a luxury: Massage chair, jazuzzi for the feet, a very thorough and accomplished technician. She is from Outer Mongolia – a fascinating lady who is quite intelligent and eager to learn any English word she does not know, like “freckles.” She wrote it out and translated it.
She massaged my arms and legs, then my head, neck and back while my nail polish was drying. The last time I was in an nail salon, the chemical smell assualted me, and made me worry for the health of the technicians. This lovely salon was clean and fresh, with excellent ventilation and dear, sweet employees.
I won’t keep this shiny clear nail polish on my nails for long, but I will remember the luxury of pampering myself with grooming and tension-relieving deep massage during the last few busy weeks of the school year!
