Last year, I had my hair done at one of the many salons that line the streets close to the base. I almost died when I paid the $250 bill at the end of 4 long hours of processing. In the end, I was more than satisfied with the results. Now that our time is winding down here, I’ve been checking online to see how the Japanese straightening differs from the process back home and here’s what I discovered. After reading several sites on where some certified Yuko stylists are located and the prices they charge for it, I think I’ll just adopt a hairstylist from here because I don’t think I’m ready to pay $500 - 1000 every six months. As if that’s not enough, I’d have to fly to California to get one done since there isn’t any stylist available in Washington.

Cool mom? I think not! An article at CNN reports:

ARVADA, Colorado (AP) — A 40-year-old woman held sex and drug parties with teenage boys, telling police she wanted to be a “cool mom,” authorities say.

I can’t tell you how sick I am of watching those stupid ads that some of the internet companies are coming up with. Subscribe to our service and we’ll throw in FREE anti-virus to protect your PC. Well, being the free loader that I am, I’ve been very happy using a free anti-virus which scans all incoming and outgoing email messages. You can also configure it for scheduled updates. In fact, the icon changes when it’s been a week since you’ve last checked for updates. How cool is that, right? Where did I find this absolutely free anti-virus program? From Grisoft AVG, that’s where.

Not only have I been using a free anti-virus program, I’ve also been using Lavasoft’s Ad-Aware along with Spybot’s Search & Destroy. Both are FREE Spyware removal progams for your PC. Before you install any program onto your computer, be sure to read the requirements and installation instructions.

So if you don’t have A-HO-L, Nutscrape or Microshit you can still rest easier knowing that there are other cheaper alternatives.

I have been wondering though why these companies won’t just provide the anti-virus programs and spyware removals for free anyway. It’ll help keep the internet safe for all user and probably keep their servers running smoother especially the servers that handle the email accounts. Is this just too basic for the techies to comprehend? Ahhh, I just had a thought …. JOB SECURITY.

I haven’t been spending much time online because I’ve been practicing to become Betty Cracker. That’s right folks! Me - baking and cooking. Who would’ve thunk it? Since the beginning of the new year, there has been requests from my co-habitants family to bake desserts and try some recipes from the numerous recipe sites I have bookmarked. The kicker is that I actually enjoy being the domestic goddess that I have fought tooth and nail against becoming.

I’ve also taken up reading again. I don’t know what’s come over me. I get like this, probably due to the double personality trait of a true Gemini. I get bored so easily with projects and everyone who knows this knows to enjoy it while they can because it won’t last long before I venture into something else.

Actually, it all started last year when hubby bought me the PDA. I went online to find goodies for it and ended up downloading a bunch of e-books from places like Project Gutenberg and eReader. I liked the fact that I didn’t need to haul a book with me when sitting in a waiting room or in the car. The PDA is lightweight and compact enough to fit in my purse. The only drawback was the battery dying after a good hour or two. I finally ended up frustrated so I started going to the library to borrow the books I wanted to read if they were available at our very tiny library. After months of calling to request holds on certain books, the librarian gave me a URL for their database so I can do my own checking on availability. ~L~

There’s a site called b i b l i o p h i l where you can keep a customized library of your books along with books you’ve read but don’t own. Although I haven’t used the site for more than listing the books I’ve read, they offer buddy loans and used books for sale, etc. I’m fairly new so I don’t have much more information.

My prodigal son called me the other day to thank me for putting money into his account. In the past I would’ve said, “You’re welcomed, it was no problem.” But these days, I’ve become a little honest and fessed up that it wasn’t me who put money into his account. Then he realized it was my youngest son who deposited the money. He had forgotten that my youngest son mentioned he would and just assumed it was mommy dearest.

I went to see the doctors for pain in my knee. The good news is that it isn’t arthritis, the bad news is that it isn’t arthritis. He said my kneecap was misaligned so he suggested I do some exercises that targets the problem area. That means I’ll need to head to the gym to build up the muscles located behind the kneecap. Oh joy!

I also have this little bump near the arch of my foot. I didn’t know what it was but whenever I apply any pressure to it, the area around it hurts like hell. Kamalani loves to poke it with her finger then crack up when I start wincing. She thinks I’m joking around. Anyway, the doc inspected it and informed me that it was a simple cyst that could be removed in his office. He went on to describe the process. He could either numb it up then make an incision and remove the entire shell then stitch it closed or he could numb it and use this metal cylinder to poke through the middle of it, much like an apple corer but it won’t require any stitches. Just the thought of needles being poked into my simple cyst gave me the friggen willies. I told him he’d need to have big strong men to hold me down before they numb my bump. We laughed and he told me we could do it when I return next month for the follow-up on my knee. By then I should be psyched up enough to brave the apple coring procedure.

Other than that, my new year seems like my old year right now.