After watching a few episodes of Tabitha Takes Over I am no longer surprised by incompetent, poorly trained hair stylists who somehow managed to pass their licensing exam.

I've had two cuts at Floyd's so far that have been quick and business-like, and with only the briefest hesitation to make sure I really wanted the clipper guard I said I wanted. It's remarkable how much of a difference that makes to the experience.

Because if you're going to take your time with my "haircut", take it after you get the basic length down, to make sure you've caught most of the strands that were lying down. There's no point going down centimetre by centimetre. Oy. It's *so* not complicated.

I need to call home, but I'm tired.

Hey, does everyone want to come with me to the ER next week? We can have a mass Skype session when the doctor comes to check me out. And you can all testify to what a whiny no-life miserable brat I am during the week. Because apparently I'm too sparklingly fresh at 2 in the morning.

Hospital is out of compazine and either Zofran and Reglan--whatever is my #2 antiemetic, so they gave me IM phenergan instead. Man, I forgot how much I don't like IM. I couldn't work out where the ache was coming from all morning.

So, seriously, there's a nationwide shortage of the top 2 anti-nausea IV medications. How does that get to happen? That's got to be fucking up a *lot* of people. UCLA hasn't had compazine available for months now. At least, not for my priority level--they say not at all, and unless they're hoarding, the internet backs them up. Okay, checked, and it's zofran that's also experiencing a national shortage due to manufacturing issues and extra demand.

There's a "the nation is sick of right-wingers" in there somewhere.

ita, I sometimes would like to sit down with your doctors and describe the woman who arrived in LA that day in her Jetta, and what she was like, how much she accomplished, and how she charged through life with her head up and a confident smirk. I would like to send them an essay, and say, "she would trade in all the dilaudid in the world to have this back. But you can't fucking fix her, so you just have to keep her going until you figure out how to give her that life back. Sneering at her isn't going to get her back in front of a Krav class, is it? This is what will keep her going until you can fucking fix it. Be mad at your lack of cure, not at her wish to keep it going until you can cure her.

("You piece of fucking shit meatbag mechanic" will be implied by my tone)

Allyson is reminding me why I love my overpriced hair stylist. I always get a great cut, and she never raises her eyebrows at how long I wait between cuts. She even makes house calls!

So, seriously, there's a nationwide shortage of the top 2 anti-nausea IV medications. How does that get to happen?

Dang, what is with all these nationwide drug shortages? First there were the chemo drugs, the ADHD drugs, now this.

Allyson is also reminding me why I love Allyson! Go you girl, with your ass kicking self!

Allyson, you should be able to make a living as an advocate. Personal issues, national politics, whatever!

Wondermark on the issue of haircuts.

I should! I'm way better at advocating for other people than I am for me.

After watching a few episodes of Tabitha Takes Over I am no longer surprised by incompetent, poorly trained hair stylists who somehow managed to pass their licensing exam.

The curly hair blogs I've read mention this a lot. A lot of folks all suggested that if you're going to make an appointment somewhere, ask for a stylist that has similar hair. My neighbor hairdresser once had to explain to another neighbor that she has no idea how to cut black hair unless it's a buzz cut. She can't cut dry, wouldn't know what to do with a hot comb or use a relaxer. I don't think she was ever taught to do that, and it doesn't seem to be part of the licensing exam.

I never see black women in the salons I go to. The hairdressers are pretty much all white, and even the ones who aren't have straight hair. They practice on straight hair. I think there's an assumption that if the hair is on a white person's head, it's all the same. The term Jewfro does in fact exist.

I did explain to my friend that curly hair is coarser. Because it's curly, you can't really tell what the length of the cut is going to be if you cut it wet, you can't see where the curls will fall. You have to hold the scissors at a slight angle to the curls so that it doesn't fray and frizz.

Hairdressers at lower end salons don't want to deal with this, because they can get two cuts done in the time it takes to do one curly head. Still, they charge a lot less for a quick buzz or flat top than they do for a longer cut. If it's going to take 45 minutes to deal with my hair, I guess you should charge more for it.

But, I mean, what happened to all those hairdressers who dealt with people getting spiral perms in the 80s and early 90s? They had to cut curls. Where'd they all go?

Thanks, Allyson. When I think of all the things I can't work out how to do, and the smugness on that doctor's face as she said I looked "too comfortable". Comfortable? Seriously? That's your barometer for a complete stranger whose records you apparently didn't read in any detail?

The social worker they promised me has never called, BTW. I must make a note to remind them about that next time. I mean, if they want someone keeping track of quality of life, why not?