The Baboon Congress

Hair Cuts Before Pay Cuts

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Today’s guest post is by Donna.

Every 6 to 8 weeks I spend close to 2 hours and a bunch of money at a beauty salon called, The Stylist. It always goes pretty much the same way.

When I arrive, Gary, my stylist, greets me with a smile and escorts me back to his station. He makes a thorough assessment of my hair by running his hands through it and asking, “How has this cut been working for you? Have you noticed any problem areas? How have you liked the color? Are you thinking you’d like to make any changes?” Then he disappears for a few minutes and reappears with a bowl of coloring solution that he masterfully applies, separating the hair into sections and sweeping the brush upward to ensure complete coverage. It feels refreshingly cool and its fumes immediately clear my sinuses and cause my eyes to water and blink enthusiastically.

All the while he engages me in fascinating conversation. We visit about his back surgery, his parents, his herbs, his new sofa, and Mike and Sassy. (One of these is his Pomeranian and one is his partner. I can never remember which is which.) He asks me about the happenings in my life and I share a couple of anecdotes about my first graders and he laughs like I’ve said something hilarious, but we both know it wasn’t that funny and that my love life is still dormant. Next he brings me a bottle of water and coffee and some magazines to help pass the time while the color processes. I drink the coffee and have a sip or two of the bottled water, but no more, because I will take the rest of it home to share with my cat. Then I read a magazine until I nod off.

When Gary returns he gently rouses me to my feet and leads me over to the sink. This is my absolute favorite part because after the rinse, he caresses my head for an entire 60 seconds, using a massage potion fused with pomegranate and pesto.

All too soon it’s time to go back to the chair for the cut, and at first I watch him very closely because if I could learn how to do this myself, I’d save so much money and I truly do need to scale back because of the pay cut I have to take next year, thanks to our governor and legislature. Then I start visualizing the kinds of punishment that await them in the afterlife, and before I know it, Gary‘s moved on to the blow dryer and I’ve forgotten all about that impractical notion.

I compliment Gary on his remarkable ability to transform my fine limp hair into a temporary voluminous mane. He responds by holding up a bottle of heat-activated spray gel that smells like strawberries – apparently he applied some during my sadistic daydream – and hands me a ten percent-off coupon for any product in the store this week only! Then he says what he always says, “This color looks fabulous on you! I am so glad we let your hair grow longer!” And I say what I always say, “You’re the master!”

Then I go up to the counter and pay my bill and leave Gary a liberal tip. It may or may not surprise you to learn that I also splurge on the strawberry styling product. I do this not because I think it will actually give me salon results at home, but because it smells sooo good and because my pay cut won’t go into effect for three months yet.

How do you justify luxuries that are totally worth it?

107 thoughts on “Hair Cuts Before Pay Cuts”

  1. Morning all. Wonderful piece, Donna. I can feel the massage on my scalp and smell the salon smells.

    I’m not big on luxuries, but I have many, many ways that I can justify the money I spend on my arts & crafts.
    “Well, I sell cards.”
    “Well, we make all our own gifts.”
    Or my favorite:
    “Well, I never have to spend money at Hallmark anymore.”

    We won’t discuss that if I did purchase all gifts and cards, instead of making them, it would probably save me money!

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  2. Spent $140 on a natural color light for my art room. Guilt wouldstill be overwhelming if 1) I could use it much and 2) if I were any good. Hmm? Still got the box and receipt.

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    1. Cylde, are you saying that you would have more guilt is the the lights work better and actually gave you a big improvment in lighting?

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    3. you are good so that one is covered, but as for if you use it much… wait for november december january on the tundra and you will be glad you have a respite. 140 for a womb is cheap.

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  3. Good morning to all:

    Having some wine with dinner most nights isn’t a luxury, right? Okay, it is for me because I wouldn’t do this in my improverished student days. I’m still kind of a penny pincher and I know I could be drinking something that costs less. Of course, we are very careful in our selections of wine to buy only wine that tastes good, but isn’t too expensive and you know that red wine is good for your health. We almost always cook our own meals and don’t spend too much on food and we usually don’t drink too much wine. We are good people and we deserve to have a little wine with dinner at least until the economy gets completely screwed up and we have to start living on bread and water.

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    2. “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.” Mae West
      OT – she also said “A hard man is good to find.”

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      1. Any time you got nothing to do – and lots of time to do it – come on up.
        Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.
        He who hesitates is a damned fool.
        mae west

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  4. RIse and Shine Baboons!

    I have a couple that I will own up to. We have a 1970’s ranch style house that had once been rental property. When we bought it parts of it, including the bathroom, were very battered. We had the bathroom redone about 6-7 years ago. In the floor we put a heating system. Both my husband and I LOVE this in the winter. My chronically icy feet are warm. And then one year when we hosted Christmas for the family, I found my nieces in there all huddled on the floor, OOHING and AHING.

    So then when we added a Four Season porch onto the deck we did it again. It is the source of heat there in the winter.

    Totally worth it.

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    1. I Would So Do That . The wirsbo (now Upenor) spots on This Old House also produce the interior phrase (someday, I will have that) in my little brain. Nice to hear from someone who knows that it is indeed as wonderful as I imagine.

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  5. My $25 pink ukulele was justified by saying that $25 is a whole lot less than the cost of a piano, it’s smaller than a piano, and I could use it for my Bravo sessions with Daughter’s class. I no longer need to justify my every-six-weeks trips to my version of Gary (a lovely Russian woman who uses potions that smell like mint and other herbs) as Husband has decided that they should be considered “a household expense.” Opera has not been a luxury since my mother declared it “a necessity” when I was debating if I should pay for tickets many moons ago when I was single and money was tight. And dark chocolate is good for my heart (and soul). Hmm….guess I don’t need much of a push to rationalize anything.

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  6. Every year at the end of April, I attend the Arts and Crafts Expo at the Xcel Centre. I peruse all the exhibits in the show and marvel at the craftsmanship, skill and creativity on display. Each year I allow myself to purchase one item for myself or for our home. In the past I’ve bought sculptures, pottery, jewelry, and hand made clothing. This year I bought a hand tooled leather purse and a pair of ear rings to match a necklace I bought a few years ago. I find that when I amortize the cost of each item over the years of pleasure they give me, no justification is needed. I much prefer drinking my morning coffee from a cup made by a favorite potter than one manufactured in a factory in China. Besides, the Arts and Crafts Expo is usually about one week before my birthday. These purchases I assure that I’ll get a least one present that I like.

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  7. I justify luxuries (within ones means, of course) because tomorrow is guaranteed to no one and if that luxury truly makes you feel more energized, less stressed, happier, satisfied, more productive, isn’t that what we are all trying to achieve with our lives?

    Chris

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      2. i had a buddy that worked at the raddison south ibn the 70’s when they had to carry mick out of the limo and get help into the elevator and up to the stones suite. he said mick lived by this motto as far as he observed.

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  8. I consider my life to be full of luxuries and I have a lot of justifying to do. I always tell myself that “it could be worse.” I could gamble, I could own a lake home, I could own a boat, I could take a cruise, I could have season tickets to some sports team, but no, I grow my own vegetables, and cook most meals from scratch, which really are a luxuries when you consider the cost and time involved. I justify the money we spend on perennials by telling myself we are making the neighborhood more beautiful and giving other people simple pleasures when they see the flowers. I also justify taking my daughter to Suzuki string institute in Montreal, as opposed to, say, Stevens Point WI, by telling myself she benefits from the multiculturalism and adventure. My real luxury is Blessed Irene, the angel who comes every Thursday and cleans the house. She forces us to tidy up and get organized before she arrives and she makes our lives so much easier so we can devote ourselves to other pursuits, like violin lessons and cooking and gardening. We also justify my husband’s relentless pursuit of sheet music and musical equipment for his gospel band by telling ourselves we are supporting local businesses, supporting our friends, and supporting music publishers. Oh, denial can be such a nice defense mechanism at times!

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    1. I’m so with you on Blessed Irene. Ours is Blessed Amber. What would I do without her. And you are correct about our lives of luxury. We are blessed.

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      2. Ours is Blessed Marv (or Marv the Marvelous). He is our little elf who comes twice monthly. Worth every penny to have that time back from cleaning to pursue other things.

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  9. Cut your own hair, Donna? What are you thinking? In the modern world, If you can find a service available on Google, you probably don’t need to do it yourself. Who cares what it costs, or whether it’s efficient? There was a time when the private sector did not adequately provide these services, but this is the 21st century! You should hire someone to clean the cat’s litterbox.

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      1. I charge $20 per visit, but that includes ancillary services (i.e., feed canned food, replenish dry food, change water, play with feather toy, bring in mail).

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  10. Good one, Donna, and my haircut is similarly in the luxury category.
    I’m usually very frugal, so when I see something I REALLY want I usually go for it. A few years ago we got a Prius, that was a bit of a luxury for us. I remember how we winced when we got the downstairs hardwood floors done. (Then later Husband did the rest of the house a room at a time with a belt sander…) My usual guilty splurge is, what else, shoes.

    We’re headed out to Iowa soon, where’s it’s expected to be 90 for one more day. Have a lovely day here, Babooners.

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      1. Wondering if the corn is at a stage where you can “hear it grow” in this heat. That is usually more an August thing, but then, so are temps of 100+

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      1. If that is the case, you had better watch out the next time Gary approaches you with a pair of shears. You could have a Sweeney Todd situation if you’re not careful

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  12. Donna, many years ago my mother taught 4th grade at the old Lincoln Elementary School in Sioux Falls. I understand that it is now torn down. My cousin Mary and her husband Greg both teach in Sioux Falls. I am so sorry to hear how poorly you and your colleagues are being treated

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    1. RENEE! I use to teach there too. I bet I know your mother.

      Thanks for your kind remarks. It’s happening all over. My daughter who’s taught HS English in Lakeville for 6 years is being bumped and will be traveling between bldgs. next year – one of them a middle school.
      To say she has reservations is putting it lightly.

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  13. I wish I had a Gary! I’ve never gone to a salon. I had long hair up until this last winter so it wasn’t really necessary. I’ve gone to Cost Cutters three times this year and found $12 to be painfully expensive for a cut. The alternative is long hair again.

    My guilty pleasure is air conditioning. I feel so guilty about turning it on. I’m uncomfortable with heat and humidity and fantasize about how nice it will feel when the air conditioner is turned on. I’ve had it on for the last two days – set at a coolish 82 degrees – and I switched it off this morning. Yesterday it was 20 degrees cooler in my house than it was outside and that made all the difference, but I really can’t afford to run that thing.

    My instruments have been well worth their price. Most of my instruments are hand-made works of art. I have a mandolin and a banjolin both made by Renee’s cousin TeeJay (who checks in here from time to time when he’s not out counting turtles). My guitar and my first mandolin were made by a friend in Faribault who has since given up his craft. That mandolin is one of only two ever made. I love my instruments but I may (or may not) have too many of them.

    I like Chris’ philosopy: We don’t know how long we’ll be here. Life is happening now and we should make it a creative, happy and peaceful celebration.

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    1. Yes – life is worth the living. I don’t know who said that, but here’s one by Garrison Keillor: “It was luxuries like air conditioning that brought down the Roman Empire. With air conditioning their windows were shut, they couldn’t hear the barbarians coming.”

      Krista – if I had your long hair and talent for music, I would only go to the salon 2/3 as often.

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      1. Maybe that’s why the British couldn’t hear Paul Revere warning them they were coming. They had their air conditioners running. 🙂

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      2. Life is WORTH the living?? I swore I typed FOR the living.

        Krista – the rock bend’n festival is on my September bucket list. Would it be legal to sell beer out of my cooler there?

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  14. Morning!

    Taking a road trip with my son to Dave’s Guitars in Lacrosse today.

    Luxuries? Well, does the Kwik Trip Cappuccino and Star Tribune everyday count? That will end this week however as I only do it as a side trip after I drop my daughter off at school. And schools over tomorrow. (Son graduates Friday!)

    Real luxuries would include the fancy glass front door we installed a few years ago. Going through the ‘Big book of doors’ and we pick some rather plain 6 panel doors and Kelly says Well, this is the one I really like’ and the guy says ‘Well go for it. Why not? It’s only money!’ and you know we did and it’s really nice and we really like it.
    One of my tractors too; really stretched my finances but it’s nice…
    Concert tickets (holy moly!!) and play tickets to shows in the cities…

    Mamma chicken hatched out some chicks last night. They’re still in a secluded spot in a building; not sure yet if I ‘rescue’ them or let nature take it’s course.

    OT– zoning meeting last night on the frozen food crematorium. It was denied. Was on TV even; must have been a slow news day.

    Later

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    1. Thanks for the zoning update. I feel better just knowing that is resolved (and I don’t often eat frozen pizza, but I feel better about that too).

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    3. From my limited experience with zoning boards, I found that some members of those boards are not push overs. That guy should have suspected that a frozen food crematorium might not fair well at a zoning board hearing.

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    5. Evening–
      Steve, as I read that again, yes, it appears there was a chance of cremating frozen foods. But you know what I meant. Maybe.
      Mostly the zoning board meetings are boring but I’ve had my share of exciting ones too. I was chairman of our zoning board in 2001 when a local Islamic Mosque wanted to build a mosque out in the township.

      Guitar news; Dave’s Guitars in Lacrosse has LOTS of guitars.

      Son has a new guitar as a graduation present. And a shout out to Avalon Music in Rochester for their guitar selection.
      Anna, I played every ukulele I could find even if I didn’t know what I was doing!

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  15. Completely OT. I just got an e-mail from Jasper Fforde! I sent him an e-mail after reading “One of Our Thursday is Missing” a month or so ago and he actually answered me. I feel special!

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    1. Ooooo, you ARE special. I just finished “One of Our Thursdays” and while I enjoyed it, did not think it as good as some of the others. I think it might have been the lack of Spike and Stig-love both of those characters-

      not everyone can write dialogue for Neanderthals.

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    2. I agree, you are special vs. Some years ago I wrote a letter to Ted Kooser, American Poet Laureate at the time, after reading his book titled “Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps.” I mentioned that I was going to bring his book with me to the hospital where I was having a knee replacement the following week. On the day following the surgery I received a postcard, painted by Mr. Kooser and hand written by him. Such a generous gesture, and I love him even more than before for it.

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      1. I didn’t have time to post the day of Anna’s book topic, but I would have mentioned reading The Gift of the Deer by Helen Hoover when I was a kid. I loved the book, read it over and over, and sent her a letter. She wrote back to me – I still have the letter she sent.

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      2. I’ve been living with a certain amount of guilt lately because I once tangled with Ted Kooser on Parents Night at my high school. He really ripped into me for a report I gave that night. But it is cool. I’ve figured out the Ted who ripped me was the dad of the poet. I can live with that.

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      3. I’ve read some of Helen Hoover’s books and they are among my favorites. I like the stories she told about becoming intimately acquainted with the wild life that lived around her home on the Gun Flint Trail.

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      3. Doonadetuna and Donnna are one and the same??? Think I’ll be Plain Jane from the West Side for a while.

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  16. I have two luxuries, and one is officially for sale. The one I’m keeping is my high speed cable connection to the internet. I suppose there is no reason I couldn’t make do with a dial up connection, but I cruise a lot of photo sites, and I am thrilled to get the instant appearance of a large photo on my screen. I watch a lot of movies on Netflix on my computer, and that wouldn’t be possible without the cable internet connection. Having this much speed is probably a luxury I could do without, but I get emotional about my internet access. I use my computer to contact many of the people who mean most to me–including baboons–and for that important work I want a speedy and reliable connection.

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    1. No, no, no. High speed internet is NOT a luxury. Dial up is a slow death, even if you’re retired

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  17. i don’t try to justify my luxaries. my wife is best at buying nothing for herself person in the world. she gets everything the kids want and nothing for herself so i just live with guilt. its ok. you get used to it.

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  18. We run a pretty frugal ship according to most folks who know us, and I hate to ruin my image, but I do have my indulgences. One of them would be food-good cheeses, organic eggs, some crazy new spice-sure, my grocery bill could perhaps be lower, but even with those occasional luxuries, the final bill is still probably less than if we bought a lot of the standard “prepared” foods that land in most peoples cars.

    I also can usually wrap my head around eating out , especially if I can rationalize the meal as “an event”, an “educational/cultural experience” or “entertainment”-I also put trips to pursue fancy ingredients in the “entertainment” category.

    And then there is yarn. I score a fair amount of yarn as leftovers from work projects (ditto quilting fabrics), but sometimes, I just like to buy something just for me-that would be MORE yarn. I like the fine gauge stuff that gives you lots of yardage to work with for not a lot of actual material weight, so if you consider the cost per hour of knitting enjoyment, and multiply it by the amount of mental and emotional therapy involved, it’s a real steal, even for the rather spendy stuff.

    Oh, and I also have been known to spring for plants at the Farmer’s Market that are not strictly speaking necessary either, but let me tell you, the lift I got seeing my Wild Ginger plant from last summer’s planting emerging and blooming this spring-totally worth whatever I paid for it (I know it was not much) on a whim.

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      1. if you are referring to the wild ginger, I haven’t yet, but will maybe try tonight.
        A wild ginger flower is nothing showy or spectacular and is very close to the ground-the first one I ever saw was at Girl Scout camp and seeing the one in my yard took me right back to those nature walks-happy days.

        I’m sure there is a metaphor about not all flowers being readily admirable, but still gettting the job done, but it is too late in my day to put it together.

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  19. Did you steal a page from my diary? My guy’s name is Brett and he hunts bear (?). Other than that, same story!!!

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    1. Just to clarify, does he Hunt bear? or Hunt bare?
      (Tried, couldn’t talk myself out of it; feeling kind of frisky with the KFAI news.)

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    2. Woo Hoo! I’ll bet listening baboons can boost the 0.1 percent share up to at least 1%, then Dale’s natural talent will pull in the other, currently unenlightened, 99%. Yea Dale! Just please don’t leave us on the trail alone.

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    3. That’s terrific news. Congratulations Dale. Glad we’re keeping you in the ara. And I second OC, please don’t leave the trail.

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    5. Fab fab fab!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’ll be making KFAI one of my buttons in the car first thing in the morning!

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      2. I think life will definitely improve when Dale starts directing the news. Just think, more Bonobos fewer Bachmanns, Congressman Beechley instead of Congressman Weiner, and goat updates on the hour. Way to go Dale!!!!!

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      3. I think a news director is the primary person running the “gate” to sort out which stories get covered and which do not. Honestly, I didn’t know KFAI had a news operation. Baboons of the world unite! We’re going to make sure Dale looks good, even if we have to cheat a little to do it.

        Congratulations, Dale! I”m thrilled for you.

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      4. Hi all,
        “What does a news director do?” That is the essential question. I don’t have an answer for you yet, but clarity will come over time. There are some basics, but the KFAI version is bound to be unique! I’ll have more to say on this in Monday’s post. Thanks for the congratulations and expressions of support!

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  22. My motor scooter was stolen over Memorial Day weekend. The insurance company isn’t going to do anything for 30 days “to give law enforcement time to do their job and find it.” If you ride a motor scooter in Minnesota and you miss June, you’ve missed a substantial percentage of the scooting season. So, with my husband’s encouragement and blessing (he rides one as well) we bought me a new one. IF the old one is located, we’ll decide what to do if/when it happens. I feel very decadent and spoiled, especially since I am more a recreational than a utilitarian scooter rider, but I did it anyway.

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    1. I would so love the luxury of cool motor scooter. Haven’t found a good rationalization yet though.

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      1. If my Buddy Italia is found in good shape, there may be one on the market at a special baboonesque price. It’s a fun way to get from A to B.

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  23. Greetings! Like so many, I can rationalize almost any small luxury within reason. Mine mainly revolve around organic food, high quality chocolate, Lands End clothes and bedding, and occasional jewelry. The quality items last longer, wear better, look nicer and actually fit. I refuse to buy my clothes from Wal-Mart, even though that’s what my budget should be. They don’t have tall sizes, the blouses are too short and everything SHRINKS and falls apart. I usually watch for Overstock sales at LE to buy pants because they will hem to my exact 33 3/4 inch inseam for free — love it!

    OT – I sincerely hope none of you are having mortgage problems, but here is a new items where a couple foreclosed on the bank — such sweet justice, especially for having gone through it myself. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/06/06/137002727/sweet-justice-a-florida-couple-forecloses-on-bank-of-america
    Have a wonderful evening, everyone!

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  25. Well Kids – I hope you had a good time today – I sure did. Your posts were entertaining and insightful and euphoric.

    There’s excitement in the air with the news of Dale’s news director position, to be sure. If I can’t get that radio station online, I don’t know what I’ll do!

    I’ll leave you now with this Sesame Street clip. Sweet dreams and ciao (not to be confused with le chou which means, “let’s eat some cabbage”).

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