Hi

Oh my. I was 700 posts behind in Bitches and I read the whole thing. I was out of town for my birthday and have been in constant motion since I got back.

The birthday greetings were very touching. Thank you so much.

Of course it would have been sensible to keep notes as I read, but I didn't.

Beth, love the cut. Your waves lay just perfectly.

And ugh, I just get to post and now I'm getting bugged for attention. I'll be back.

and another 6 posts while I composed one. Ugh

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As usual, I worried needlessly about missing a phone call. I was home with my coffee and doing dishes when my cousins called. My aunt is paralyzed on the right side and is going into a rehab center next week to start working on mobility and getting her speech back. She's a feisty old broad, so I'm pretty sure she'll get some of it back through sheer will alone. I'm greatly relieved to find out it wasn't worse, I'm not ready to lose any of my aunts or uncles.

beth, that haircut is very flattering! Flirty looking, even.

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Thanks - I like it a lot.

I sorted and found all the paperwork for the taxes... despite the dread it was a quick job - So tomorrow I can make copies and on Monday it goes out priority mail. yay!

Scrubbing bubbles work if you get the hair dye right away. The longer you wait - the more likely the stain will remain. But, it will fade pretty well if you keep at it.

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where I'd acidentally splattered some hair dye a month or so ago. It stained a lovely purplish color, and I can't get anything to fix it! Mr. Clean was my last hope! Anyone got any better suggestions?

Is it a porcelin tub?

You might try a traditional Hydrochloric Acid-based toilet bowl cleaner. Hydrochloric Acid goes after mineral deposits. 89 cents a bottle at Big Lots.

But rinse immediately. IJS.

Might want to avoid this if you have a plastic or fiberglass tub.

Also might want to test a small amount on a tiny patch (maybe use a q-tip) of a corner of the tub, first.

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It's not in the tub, it's on the top of the toilet tank....there's no Big Lots around here, any idea where I'd get some hydrochloric acid in a grocery store? (Ah, fi only I still worked in the chem lab!)

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Meara, many cheap toilet bowl cleaners may have it. Sometimes humidifier cleaners are HCl. As always, best to check on the label.

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She's a feisty old broad, so I'm pretty sure she'll get some of it back through sheer will alone.

Sail, I am so relieved to hear that your aunt is starting rehab so soon. My thoughts will be with her and with you.

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Thanks, Cass. I'm thinking of taking a road trip to Michigan next weekend to check things out. My cousin Aaron is there right now and I haven't seen him since his wedding in 2002. He's the one living in Corvallis, OR and I told him I'm going to come out and visit next year. Look for me, then!

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The toilet tank should be able to take

Andi pointed out that the brand I got at Big Lots is available many different places...Like Wal-Mart. It's called "The Works." [link]

I didn't remember it was that brand, because the new lable doesn't look like the one on the website, which I remember.

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~ma to Sail's aunt.

I just remembered that I have been sending ~ma to JenP, and not saying anything. So, ~ma to you, JenP.

Hive-mind appeal: I'm wanting to both chop my long tresses, and color my hair. I've decided on the color: Loreal Excellence Deep Burgundy. I've had it before and rather like the drama, as well as the nifty auburn it fades to after a while. Not yet decided on the cut. Here is what I need out of the hair style:

• face framingness
• absolutely no-fuss styling. I have no patience for doing more than putting a handful of mousse in, and maybe blow-drying if it's cold out and I might freeze to death going out with wet hair.
• ability of hair style to stand up to being crammed under a bicycle helmet or winter hat, with minimal fuss needed to regain stylishness.
• must be able to grow out without frequent maintenance trims in case I spaz out and need long hair again. Also because I probably won't bother getting trims as often as I should.

This is the current reality of my hair:

• I'm not sure what shape my face is - sometimes I want to say oval, sometimes rectangular, sometimes heartshaped.
• Widow's peak, and cowlicks on either side of it.
• various levels of curl, from the capacity for ringlets at the hairline to gentle wave.
• although I do not have bangs cut, there are significant amounts of wispies in the bangs area. These bits of hair do not stay put when I pull my hair back into a pony tail, braid or bun. As I hate having my hair in my face when trying to work, think, read, or do anything other than look pretty, I put my hair up a lot. The amount of wispies is enough to make me look unkepmt and slovenly at work. Since I can't control these short flyaway hairs, I'm figuring I had better cut the rest of the hair to fit in with them.
• This is a close-up of me, wearing the tiara Daniel got me for Christmas. The tiara does a lovely job of controlling the wispies. Alas, it is impractical to wear to work, as it tends to get caught on my winter hat. >[link]

Suggestions?

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