Ugh!

I've had a few "ugh" moments - some pretty ongoing - that I have decided I am going to blog about and move on. This will be my release and then life will be wonderful again.

UGH #1 - Allergy season is in full swing. I have been one of the lucky people who grew into allergies instead of out of them. After my mission I did immunotherapy (shots) for five years before calling it quits and have actually done pretty well for the past four years (yep, I've been home for nine years now). I do have to take something daily, but this year that hasn't seemed to be enough, so I went back to my allergist. In the hope to avoid going back on shots, I am now using a nasal spray and eye drops twice a day, as well as taking Zyrtec (no generic stuff for me anymore) each night. Taking it at night actually makes a lot of sense since then I can breathe through the night and don't usually wake up sneezing - except when I go to Mom and Dad's. However, this week it feels like this hasn't been enough. I just keep waiting for the "this too shall pass" moment. Which brings me to . . .

UGH #2 - I haven't had a voice since Monday. I am relating this to allergies and congestion, etc. It has made work especially interesting as almost everything I've had to do has been on the phone. I even had one client make sure it was me by repeating my first and last name several times. Plus, in the middle of this, I had two court hearings. The first one I did have an attorney to represent me, but the Judge seemed to think it was funny to make me attempt to speak and kept asking my direct questions. I'd attempt to answer him directly (praying the microphones could indeed pick me up when I was standing) and watch him smile and fight back the laughter. Always glad to help with the entertainment. The next day it was a different Judge who just gave me the "I'll tolerate this look" because really that's all she could do. Finally the district attorney I was sitting next to took pitty on me and let me whisper my answers to him to direct to the Judge, even though he isn't technically my attorney. I am hoping this doesn't last much longer and am glad I don't have to do anything like conduct or sharing time tomorrow and if the choir is singing, they may be doing it without me. The manager at Build-A-Bear called it my "sexy voice" which I am pretty sure I don't need with either of my jobs, but I'm glad she tried to make me feel better.

UGH #3 - Actually happened last week, but I figured I would wait and maybe it wouldn't feel like an ugh, but obviously that hasn't happened since I am writing about it now. I needed to get my hair trimmed and decided while I was at it I would treat myself to a pedicure. I have been trying to find someone permanent to go to for a haircut and thought I found someone last time, but she went on maternity leave immediately after that cut. I figured I'd go back to the same place and at least stay in the system. My instructions were pretty easy - I need it trimmed and evened out (one side of my head grows faster than the other), I want to be able to keep it in a pony tail, and I am growing my bangs out. She immediately starting feeling my hair and realized how thick it is (very thick with lots of it; Mom says I went through the hair line threes times). She decided she needed to thin it out. I immediately told her that I'd had that done before and did not like it at all. The response was that I hadn't had someone good cut it. I again repeated myself and we were off to the shampoo. Apparently my message was not received because it's thinned a lot. I can do a "cheerleader" ponytail at the back of my head, but not at the base of the neck because the front falls out. And the ponytail is ridiculously small. She went on about how easy it would be to do each morning, but her only guidance there was "have you ever used a paddle brush?" No. I figured given time I could like it, because honestly it is a cute cut and I've had compliments on it, but it's so not what I wanted and I am having issues styling it. Those of you who know me and my hair know I don't have issues with change - when I am the one requesting it! I can very easily adjust to styling it and learning the different amount of shampoo and conditioner I may need, but it's not happening yet. I am sure a big part of it is my attitude and I'll adjust eventually because I have no choice. I also got a lecture on how being willing to change your hair color is a sign of self-confidence and there are so many different options for types of dye. Apparently I don't have enough self-confidence because I've never dyed my hair and have no plans to do so. I don't have the desire, time for upkeep, or money. I figure those are plenty of reasons to not.I did really enjoy the pedicure, since I was about in tears about my hair. However, by three days later, the nail polish had fallen of three of my toes. By today basically the only toes to have anything on it were my big toes. In my mind, if I am going to pay for a pedicure it should last much longer than when I do it on my own! Needless to say, I won't be going back there and if anyone has any recommendations for a good haircut in the Salt Lake Valley, I am open to suggestions.

I think that's enough complaining. Hopefully now I can resolve things in my mind and move on. I'd put a picture in, but I don't have one and probably won't until I've got it figured out - and have a reason to pull out the camera.