I do a lot of whining on this blog. I do it to get it off my chest and so I don’t have to do it face to face with my friends and associates. But, my whole world isn’t filled with lament and craptacular events. Sometimes, I have good days and good things happen and all is well with my world.

Yesterday was one of those days. I pampered the hell out of myself Thursday. I spent money I didn’t really have to do things that I’d put off for too long.

Number one on this list was getting a haircut.

I’d worn my hair somewhat long before, but when I started dating the lovely Juliet, my hair grew out at her insistence. By the way, the lovely Juliet has moved to the Seattle/Olympia, Washington, area to pursue a college degree in photography. We’ll miss her. Juliet was a good influence in my life in many ways and I’ll always be grateful for the fact that because of her I can list “professional male model” on my resume. She opened a door for a lot of fun in my life.

So my hair stayed pretty long even after Juliet moved on to greener pastures and younger men and when I became ill this year, it was longer than usual because I was about 6 weeks out from a haircut and in need of another when I went into the hospital. One thing and another, a surgery here and there and by yesterday, I’d not had my hair cut for more than six months. It was very long. Here’s a “before” picture:

It took a long time for that hair to dry when I washed it and it generally was in my face, tickling my ears and looking like crap almost all the time. I posted before that I’d seen some “crazy man” movies and The Aviator made me feel that I was starting to look (and act) like Howard Hughes. I haven’t felt much like getting out over the past few months and one just get used to how you look when you’re mostly alone and there’s no one to tell you how bad your hair is. So, I tried to make an appointment with my long-time stylist, DariaDoesMyHair, but she’s gone legit and taken a real job. I hate change, but what’s a guy to do.

So, I’m on Twitter and one of my Tweeps led me to follow @Trichology salon and it’s up on North May just north of the Barnes and Nobles on Memorial and reading the Tweets, it seemed like a fun place and you could book an appointment online and I gave ‘em a shot. After some initial confusion about just what day and when my appointment was to be, I went in yesterday at 4 p.m. to have my hair attended by one of their stars, a woman named Ashley Buie. She’s a tall drink of water, by the way. In all events, after about 3/4ths of an hour, here’s how I look:

Wow. What a difference a day makes, huh? I don’t think I’ve had my hair this short in a coon’s age. So far, I like it, but I haven’t had to struggle with it yet, other than the ordinary itches guys have along their collar line after a cut. Sure did lower my ears, though. Anyway, be prepared for a shock if you see me this weekend because I don’t look like the same guy at all.

The haircut wasn’t my only pampering. I also got my fingernails did. I wouldn’t ordinarily mention cutting my fingernails, but I had to get my best watch a new battery and went to B.C. Clark’s at Penn Square Mall to get that errand done. It was going to take a few minutes because I was back in line, so I decided to go for a manicure there at the mall. First thing off the bat, I see BookEmDano out for his mall walk. Haven’t seen Danny for awhile and he’s lost some weight and we were glad to catch up a little. Neither one of us has won the lottery yet. So, I went on for my manicure at this place next to Dillard’s on the upper floor. Best darn manicure I’ve ever had. Totally worth it. Wax and hand massage with fragrant oils and buffed out and relaxing music. I’ve been to a bunch of the little shops around my house — there are about four of them within walking distance of my house — and this one was the same price and MUCH better treatment and ambiance than I’d received in my past experiences. I will go back. They earned a loyal customer. Thanks, Tami!

I topped off my day with dinner out. Went for a Gyros platter at Zorba’s around the corner from the house. I don’t much like eating alone, but it’s my lot in life nowadays and I ate my tabouli and pita bread and yogurt dressing happily since it had never been frozen or microwaved, which would have been my fate otherwise.

On my way home, I had to drop by Walgreen’s to get some shaving razors and they had the widescreen DVD of The Watchmen, the graphic novel filmed and out last year as I recall. It was just $4, so I took a flyer so I’d have something new to watch once I got home and I’d enjoyed the movie for what it is when I went to see it in first run.

When I got home, some Swiss gnome had broken into my home and like the tooth fairy left some cash. In fact, left just about the right amount of cash to cover my day of pampering.

I postponed my movie experience to watch a little of the black shirted Okla. State Cowboys game. A nail-biting finish FTW!

All of this under clear skies and with cool to warm moderate temperatures that could make a guy love Fall best of all.

See, a whole post without a single whine. It was a great day, I’m grateful for it and I enjoyed every minute.

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