Vanity hurts...literally

I've wanted a Brazilian blow-out for over a year now (get your head out of the gutter, it's nothing dirty, just a hair treatment.) However, the thought of soft-frizzless hair was quite seductive to a girl who has been teased her whole life b/c of having big hair, and has probably spent more money on oils, mousse and hairspray than she did on her law degree (OK, not quite-but close.)

Thanks to LivingSocial, I finally got the opportunity to get a Brazilian blow-out at the low cost of $69!! Maybe that doesn't seem like a deal, but the longer and thicker your hair is, the more expensive treatments get...A Brazilian would normally cost about $325 for my particular mane.

My hair looked great for two days. Day three came and I was finally allowed to wash and blow dry. I was not dissappointed, my heair was soft and frizz free.

Then, I noticed a red spot on my scalp. I've had a small cyst there for years, but it looked really red and inflamed. The next morning I woke up with what I thought was a sinus infection, my eyes were puffy and red and my forehead hurt. The bump had gotten larger too, and I felt like someone was pulling my hair!!

Finally, after calling 19 doctors, with no luck getting an appointment, I drove myself to the Urgent Care.

After a 3.5 hour wait, I was informed that the large bump on my forehead was a sebaceus cyst that had gotten infected (most likely in a salon.) The doc surgically removed the cyst on the spot.

It was quite painful, but in a few short hours I felt major relief in my eyes and forehead. I didn't have a sinus infection but the infection from the cyst had spread to my face!

I will have to see the doc a few more times while the spot on my head heals and I am wearing a very fashionable headband made of gauze for a while but had I not gone to the Urgent Care, things could have gotten much worse. My hair does look great though!

The cone of shame

Our poor baby Frank has been wearing the cone of shame for a few days now. He has a sore on his right leg from where he can't stop licking. That silly boy has actually licked through his fur straight to the skin. We've told him a million times that the only way we can remove the cone of shame is if he stops licking the wound and gives his leg a chance to heal, but that stubborn boy just can't help it!
Frank must get his stubborn-streak from his mother ( that would be me: ruthless-eyes-on-the-prize-obsessive-compulsive-mama.)
Once I get my mind and heart set on something, I don't let go until it is mine all mine. Lately, I have been wearing my own "cone of shame." I fell 5 points short of passing the bar.
That's right ruthless-eyes-on-the-prize-obsessive-compulsive-mama failed the test that would have made her dream of becoming an Esq. come true.
Like my sweet baby Frank, I too have been licking my wounds, wallowing in self-pity, getting angry at my husband every time he brings up what is now known at our house as "that damn test."The more I see Frank struggle to get through the doggie gate between our kitchen and living room(it's actually kinda cute in a really sad and funny way), the more I realize how much I am like that stubborn dog.
The more I lick my wounds, the longer it will take them to heal, and the cone of shame will forever adorn my thick head.
Well, I am licking wounds no more, I am studying- 3 hours on Saturday and Tuesdays with a group and 3 hours Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday by my lonesome. Sundays will be reserved for restoration ( church for restoration of faith, sleep for restoration of sanity and family for restoration of why I am doing this in the first place.)

For Pedro's Sake!

Five years ago, I realized a lifelong dream of buying my own home. It's nothing impressive, just a small townhouse on the Westside of Albuquerque, less than 1300 square feet and over 30-years-old, but that place means so much to me.

My parents weren't able to help me much financially during college. In fact, I am the first member of either side of my family to complete a four-year degree. I always knew that I wanted to invest early so that I would be able to help my children in a significant way. Being the perpetual planner, I thought...hmmm, If I buy a home at 25, by the time my children go to college it will have a significant amount of equity, so that I will be able to make things easier for my kids while they are chasing their dreams.

The first five years of homeownership were pretty smooth sailing. After a massive remodel (new floors, cabinets, paint) - which I paid for all by myself- thank you very much- I moved in with a wonderful roommate who helped with the mortgage for 2 whole years.

Then, I started when I started law school, my roomie moved on, so I decided to rent the whole place out and stay with a friend who had extra space. After I placed the "For rent" sign in the ground and went to the back yard to clean up, my next door from the attached townhouse approached me. She is a retired teacher in her 70's. She had a request...
"I don't want you renting to any Ni**ers, Mexicans, or people with children!" I was appalled and asked her to get off my property because she was making me upset.

Despite the rudeness of my neighbor, I found an amazing tenant who kept my house clean for three years and paid most of the mortgage. Unfortunately she (a hispanic woman) and my neighbor did not get a long, so after three years she decided not to renew her lease. (Insert sadface here)

The search for a new tenant was on, we posted on facebook, craigslist, Section 8 and the Albuquerque Journal.

Finally, one day my husband and I were showing the home to a Hispanic family with small children. They seemed to have liked the home and the mother was ready to sign the lease while the father played outside with the children. I had forgotten all about my mean and nasty neighbor. All of the sudden, the father came to the front door and informed my husband and I that his family could not live next door to such a mean lady.

Apparently, racism reared its ugly head and neighbor lady had shouted at the children. The family left and Joshua and I had a "discussion" with neighbor lady who said that all renters were "slime" especially the ones we rent to- referring back to my Hispanic tenant and the family that was interested in renting that afternoon.

I could not believe my ears. This is New Mexico for Pedro's sake! If you don't like diversity, please move away and we will not miss your (insert your favorite word for ignorant here) butt one bit!

Luckily, we found a tenant ( after about 6 weeks of advertising and dsiclosing the neighbor's "quirks") and neighbor lady should consider herself very luck that we did not have to sue her.