Good Hair Day
Here’s the very beginning of my next batch of spinning–the Good Vibrations roving I got last week. You’ll note that it’s on my Woolee Winder, which I finally have functioning again (phew!) Really, though, I need at least one more bobbin from them . . . either that, or a bobbin winder and some “temporary” bobbins. Because two is just not enough!
Yes, I AM spinning these as nice, familiar, worsted singles. I could try woolen, it’s true, but . . . well . . . I need something nice and familiar to follow up that learning experience.
Hey, this is a solid, psychological tactic–you let the mind work toward something familiar rather than something new. This is why (and here’s a tip if you ever find yourself required to memorize the Declaration of Independence or a speech or something), memorization is easier if you start at the end and work towards the beginning. One sentence, paragraph, couplet or whatever at a time. If–disregarding the “sense” of it–you start with the very end and then little by little memorize the parts that come before, as you recite, your brain will always be working into familiar territory. The hardest part will be the very beginning, but as you recite, it will get easier and more comfortable the further you go.
I mean, everyone (American, at least) remembers the beginning to the Declaration (“When in the course of human events….“) but who remembers the ending? (“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”) Ditto the Gettysburg Address (“Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” versus “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us–that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for
which they gave the last full measure of devotion–that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain–that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom–and that government of the people, by the people,
for the people, shall not perish from the earth.“) or basically anything you may have been required to memorize back in school. The beginnings are easier to remember because they’re what we learned first.
I caved a bit today. I took Chappy to the vet where (surprise!) they prescribed an antibiotic for his skin infection while not being able to state why he has it or how to prevent recurrances or explaining why he’s losing fur in spots where the skin is perfectly clear. Gosh, really, I’m just so surprised (grin).
But, see, here’s the thing. I do feel a bit like I caved, instead of standing by my belief that too many antibiotics are bad and that there should be a gentler way of treating this. And yet . . . after almost a week of medicated and/or moisturizing baths, ointments and sprays on his skin, extra supplements in his food, and so on, I haven’t noticed any change for the good whatsoever. And while he hasn’t seemed miserable, still . . . so . . . he’s on a different antibiotic and I’ve got my fingers crossed. Good thing he’s still getting Stonyfield farms yogurt in his food, huh? Now, I’ll just have to wait for that fur to grow back…
But, on the plus side, I, at least, am having a fabulous hair day. I tried two different things from my usual routine of scrunch-out-the-water, scrunch-in-some-gel, and let-it-air-dry-without-touching. First, I put in some AG re:coil, underneath the gel, and then I put my hair in a “pineapple” last night. This is something I got from the forums at Naturally Curly.com, and is as simple as putting your hair into a loose ponytail right at the top of your head before going to sleep. It keeps the pillow from crushing out the curl, and the gravity from pulling it out . . . and looks something like the leaves on top of a pineapple. I must say, I will definitely be trying this again–even if Chappy does laugh at me!
Now, I have to go comfort Mom . . . apparently, somebody thinks her wedding-gift cross-stitch looks like a dead chicken, and really, she’s quite upset…. (grin) (Okay, more like mildly indignant….)
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Oh crap. Now all I can see is the dead chicken. Ruh roh.
Nice hair. Did I ever mention the time I washed my babyfine wavy hair with shampoo for curly hair, used matching conditioner, and mouse for curly hair, and let it dry mostly naturally…my hair bore an amazing resemblance to Chappy! Except for a few gray hairs.
MOUSSE
You ARE having a good hair day! Aren’t those the best? So much for feminist progress, hey? It’s all about the hair.
Thanks for the memorization suggestions. I also find it helpful to listen to what I want to memorize on tape.
I’m sorry to hear Chappy’s still having the skin problems. It must be really frustrating having to go back to the vet for yet MORE antibiotics, but hopefully they’ll work this time. Do you think he has a food allergy or an allergy to something else that is causing a rash? I once heard of a persian cat that had a horrible skin allergy, and it turns out that she was allergic to the plastic bowl that contained her water. Her owner switched to a metal bowl, and it disappeared. Strange, but true.
I wish I could comment on your spinning, but as I’m not a spinner, I’ll just say that it all looks wonderful to me!!
hey there – i found your blog looking for someone who made the karabella cabled cardigan. yours came out so nice, what did you think about the pattern?
i couldnt find when in your site that you blogged about it.
p.s. i’m so jealous of your curly hair. lucky lucky dog.
(a) I’m a fan of naturallycurly.com and have given into the lure of Jessicurl products. You have beautiful hair. I have a very thick, very coarse mane of graying chaos. But nc.com has helped. Right now I’m in a slump and can’t seem to find the key to frizz-freeness (and yes, I know all the tricks). I haven’t tried re:coil, however.
(b) I think your mom should be thrilled that different people see different things in her art. She’s like Jackson Pollock with thread. Of course, maybe I’m the only one who didn’t see an island right off, but then it was early, I didn’t have enough coffee, and everything looks like a chicken to me.
What is up with Chappy? If it keeps getting worse, my opinion is to get a second opinion, maybe another vet will have seen this before and know how to treat it. I know Horatio gets hot spots and on occasion needs a cocktail of steriods,anti-biotics, creams and peroxide (not all taken orally mind you). But it helps get rid of them -if you want a holistic vet, I know one of them too. Tell MOM that I LIKE her wedding gift and I don’t see no dead chicken.
Poor Chappy. 5 is just really not agreeing with him is it? Definitely a good hair day! I was taking advantage of the pineapple during the winter/spring when I first started embracing the curl. Worked wonders then. I’ll have to go back now that the cooler weather is approaching and I don’t want to head to work with wet hair.
Spinning looks lovely. And yes, I would recommend at least one more WW bobbin. I usually get a minimum of three as that would allow me to spin two singles and then ply on the third without messing around with freeing a bobbin up. Which reminds me, did you get your WW for the lendrum at Rhinebeck last year? I can’t tell if the winder folks are going to be there or not.
Your hair DOES look great. I’ll have to tell my sister about that trick. I’m interested in this memorization technique – I’ll have to try it the next time I have to memorize something. Keep us posted on Chappy.
Poor Chappy. I hope the meds help.
Look at all those curls, gf. Wow. I’m always doing good to get a little body going in my hair, trying for curls was always frustrating, and there, you can just wake up that way. LOL Curl on!
You are having a good hair day! Look at those gorgeous gleaming curls.
Poor Chappy. I hope the meds help, it can’t just be normal wear and tear can it?
Argh. That does look a bit like a dead chicken. I hope I don’t see that on maps from now on.
definately a great hair day!
In the mean time, just know it’s pretty. and as my spinning teacher once told me : “if you want ‘perfect’ go by Red Heart” (grin)
love the curls..
and the spinning is divine!! You WILL eventually have it exactly the way you want it. promise. practice practice is the thing
thanks for the helpful info on memorizing things. I had never thought of it the way you explained it, but it makes complete sense! cool idea.. from the end. wow.
Definitely a most awesome hair day ;o)
And your spinning looks good, too *g*
Celebrate the good hair days – it does look wonderful. Off to get mine cut in a few hours…
Poor Chappy. I have to go out and grab some yogurt for Chaos to see if it helps…