When Tweezers Just Aren't Enough

"Which one of these works best, I mean, which one of them is the strongest?"

So that was the question today. It came from a polite woman in her late forties or so, with a slight drawl, tidily dressed. It seemed sensible enough, a fair question. I want people to be at ease when asking such questions about sensitive and personal topics. After all, they came to the drugstore for help. Except I have no idea which over the counter facial remover would work the best. She continued...

"I've used the regular ones before and they worked really well, but I never thought there was a difference..."

Yes, some bottles of Nair and like products are for specific areas, like the legs, bikini line, and the face. I tried not to study her face for fuzz as she pantomimed putting on hair removal cream for me.

"I never even looked until the last time I was using this one and it kind of started to burn..."

Yes, putting the chemical designated for removing coarse leg hair on your more sensitive face is probably not the best idea. Yes, they are basically the same, but one is specifically designed to be put on your FACE...that is why is has FACE labeled on the bottle. It won't eat the flesh from your lower jaw and hopefully will not leave a rash (oh rashy people out there, hear my cry or laugh as the case may be)that people will question you about.

"Don't they make bigger bottles, I want a BIG bottle! See? I want to put it all over down here on my chin and down to my neck..."

Er...no. They don't make super-sized bottles of facial hair remover.

Sorry folks, there are some decisions I simply can not make for you. After we looked at all of the bottles, and I explained the differences, I left her to make her own decision. I do not want to familiarize myself with the grain and texture of your hair follicles. I am not going to choose what concoction you should put on your face so you can come back and tell me that it didn't work for you, and that you are going back to the leg hair strength cream that caused a burning sensation.

Unwanted facial hair? Truly a crisis in the beauty aisle. I'm 29 years old. I know some people near my age do, but I don't have unwanted facial hair nor do I use products for it. With any luck, I will never have too, and I'm sorry for those of you who do have this cosmetic dilemma. Try not to alarm me though with such questions when the answer is plainly on the bottle. We'll take it up with the manufacturers that they should put "alarms" on them much like people do with chili. "One Alarm" could be for mild peachy fuzz, "Two Alarm" for slightly irritating growth, all the way up to "Five Alarm" for stiffer than the boar bristles in your hair brush. If that's not enough, please consult your health care provider or dermatologist for a prescription strength remedy. Have a good day!

The Big Tent

As before mentioned, my child is having a birthday. Today is that fine milestone, and it's a pleasant low-key affair with just the three of us, one border collie, a carrot cake, a couple of new toys and a book, and the tent. We ordered one of those kid tents for indoor/outdoor use that has a connecting tunnel and three entrances. We opened the tent this morning and set it up for her, and she was busily crawling in and out before we could get the poles in. The tent is bigger than I thought though. Yes, I read the measurements and dimensions of it before I bought it, but it didn't seem that BIG until it was set up. Four feet square and four feet tall, with a four foot tunnel extending out of the side. Hmm. Requires rearranging of furniture and possibly rooms for the optimal space. She's happy with it though, crawling through, running in and out, around, peeking through the mesh, and it makes a lovely crinkling sound the entire time as busy little feet trot through.

On Turning Two

My daughter will be two next week. She is blissfully unaware of this significant date in her life as she leans against me sucking her thumb. She is however aware that she can climb out of her crib now, there by making nap time more amusing. She is aware that she can open the door to the pantry, and help herself to the broom and mop and trash. She knows she can throw things, tell me no in a firm, stubborn tone, and that she doesn't want help eating a messy bowl of soup. She knows how to make ladders from chairs and toys to reach things she shouldn't, to climb on bigger chairs to play with the light switch, and color on the walls with a blue crayon. She also knows how to give hugs, blow kisses, pet the dog gently, and share her food with Daddy. She helps with laundry, bringing clothes for me to hang, and throws away pieces of stuff she finds on the floor in the trash. She wakes up smiling and laughing every morning and is always happy when I come home from work. Her insatiable curiosity and exploring is nothing but charming and fascinating. I hope she remains unaware of those significant dates just a little longer.

Rashy People

I want to discuss a major heath issue with all of you for a moment. It is a crisis facing many of those amongst us, maybe the person sitting next to you as you read this. Rashes. Seriously.

As mentioned in previous posts, I work in a retail pharmacy. Regularly on weekends there are rashy people. The people that don't want to go the emergency room for an itchy patch of redness since there are no clinics and most doctors are only open Saturday mornings in the small towns in Western Colorado. Can't say I blame them considering the fee, and having to sit next to the person whose arm is dangling uselessly at their side (I fell off of a roof, what are you here for...Oh I have a rash...). So rashy people do the next best thing. They go to pharmacies/drugstores for the quick diagnosis. This consists of them informing the pharmacist or person closet to hydrocortisone that they have a RASH. What should they put on it? And they pull up their shirt, roll up a sleeve, pull down the edge of their slacks, and we'll stop there. Eew! What do you think is causing it? It really itches! Nope already tried the Benadryl, orally and topical, the calamine lotion, loratidine, the hydrocortisone, and every conceivable over the counter remedy known to mankind. And it still itches!

Please, put down you shirt, sir or madame, old or young, resident or tourist, and consider going to the doctor. We've offered all of our fine suggestions, and although we fill prescriptions, we don't make clinical evaluations here. Sorry. Don't tell me anymore about the itching, redness, how you haven't changed your laundry detergent, perfumes, lotions, diet, or anything else, or the oozing and scabs. Yuck. Don't worry Monday is coming, and rashes only happen on weekends.

Spring Fever

I'm having those little spring outbreaks still. The urge to compost, dig in soil, grow something edible. The snow is receeding and now there is nasty mud everywhere waiting for plant life to make its appearance once again. Won't get my hopes up too much...I'll wait until at least April for winter to go.

Confusion, Frustration, and Other Moments

Most of you probably suffer from the title emotions. Wanting what we do not have, trying to be happy with what we do, seeking a way to change and alter the future and to shape it to our desire. To find a way...hmm...

Funny how you find yourself wanting things you never thought you would. Like a house and a yard. The quintessential American dream, June making dinner for Ward, Wally, and the Beav, decked out in her heels and pearl necklace. Hi honey, how was the office today. Okay, so not that quaint-essential. You want stability though, space of your own, to do what you want to do.

How do you get there and how long does it take? Different for everyone, but still agitating when it's not in your grasp.

Winter Reflections

It's back again. The traveling bug. The urge to move to a new place with new adventures, new horizons, new thoughts. Why is it so hard to stay in one place for so long? A restless spirit perhaps. Spring fever maybe. *sigh* Ah well, boredom with one place, day after day, I suppose everyone gets it.

Don't get me wrong, I like winter. The snow is nice and clean, it's cold and dry, and there are no biting insects, loud people, or sweat beads trickling down my neck. I miss doing more winter sports at times, hard to find the time or money to commit to it. Other things are more important these days, and that's okay. After all there is an entire lifetime ahead to pick up old hobbies again. I have the urge to go hiking and mountain biking this spring too. Ugh, maybe it is just spring fever.