Month: January 2012

Haircut – $15

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Haircut $15 — The Aveda Institute’s sign knew how to catch my attention. What could happen at a school that prepares the next generation of stylists? I decided to put my hair on the line for a student’s training. I love a bargain, and if anything went wrong, my hair would continue to grow. In the next cycle of haircut and color, I would be back with Lynn laughing at my impulsive streak, which is definitely blonde.

Time became an issue that Saturday morning. Katie carefully snipped at my hair for an hour and a half. As she sniped a dozen strands between the scissor blades, I feared the worst – a parking ticket. Elizabeth, the teacher-educator, guided the cut with instructions. I learned my hair has sections and cuts have to be made at an angle – back, sides, and crown. Katie had three weeks “on the floor” cutting real hair. She said, “More experienced students cut faster.”  I apologized for adding pressure. She followed her passion and came all the way from Jacksonville to enroll in the Aveda program.

Katie did a great job!  As the minutes clicked by, I worried about that parking ticket. I fed the meter on 2nd Street all my quarters. Every time Katie called her teacher-educator, I cringed. How much closer might the meter reader be to my green Honda?

Here’s the back story: A friend with a good haircut recommended her person. Tina rents a station in a frenetic, purple salon where stylists wear black. Retail in front with necklaces, scarves, bracelets, clothing, hair products, and other impluse items. My Steinmart claustrohobia transferred itself and made breathing difficult – too much merchandise crowded into a small space. The salon area expanded into stations. Excellent!  The downside had the audio up on stories about kids, vacations, and jobs.

Tina’s haircut: $65, plus tip. Sixty-five big green one dollar bills or 65+  flight points on MasterCard for a 45- minute shampoo, cut, and small talk. For short hair that seemed like a lot of money.

“How often should I have my hair cut?”

“Once a month.”

Gulp! That comes to about $800 a year. Add beaucoup bucks for color and highlights.

At the end of the Aveda experience, I did not have a parking ticket. I did have a smart cut. My inner teacher knows Katie will be successful. Someday she will be ranked a senior stylist and get $65 for a haircut but not from me. You go, girl!!

I have an appointment with Lynn on February 3rd. For those in-between cuts, I’ll give an Aveda student time to practice on my hair with pleasure.

Grammar Hammer

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                                                       Grammar Hammer

Grammatical errors – what annoys you most? What errors would you like to nail with the grammar hammer? I’d like to hear from you. Here are my favorites.

Who or That which is it?     Who refers to people (singular or plural).  That refers to objects, animals, or groups, such as a team or a committee.

Do not say/write: The man that fed the pigeons ate some of the seeds.

* * *

Fewer or Less    Fewer – countable items, used with plural nouns. 

(Fewer cars ..)

Less – degree or amount, used with singular nouns. (Less sugar . . .)

Do not write/say: The woman put less items in the shopping cart.

* * *

Professor Goldin gave his Rutgers English students the Goldin Rule: Do not begin a sentence with This.  No one knows what a This is.  I’m also taking the grammar hammer to sentences beginning with There is and There are!

There are five bedbugs asleep on the pillow.    Alternative: Five bedbugs fell asleep on the pillow.

There is a man juggling oranges in Union Square.  Alternative: A man juggling oranges . . . .)

* * *

Hammer these:    . . . . had went     Drive slow!     Where is he at?      Where did she go to?