Amy VanHym

Today has done a good job reminding me not to focus too much on miserable things. I'm always at least a bit anxious before appointments, and was a little more anxious than usual today even though it was just a haircut. Then I realized, I'm anxious for a reason. By focusing so closely on that tyrannical moderator bullshit last night, I've habituated my thinking away from socially lubricating and friendly styles. I'm anxious because I know I'm not equipped at this moment to bring what I want with me to meet this new person. So I had a half shot of whiskey, dressed nice, remembered some happy thoughts, got on my bike and had a wonderful time. This sort of thing is why I don't like to medicalize negative emotion as an affliction. Fear's a tool, not a sickness.

This hair salon in my city just... it doesn't belong here. I mean that as a compliment. My city sucks, and this place is a reasonably priced little oasis of professionalism and friendliness. My hairdresser today was conversational, explanatory, sweet, and really thoughtful about her job (on the other hand she recommended Oryx and Crake, but nobody's perfect). She knows more than I thought there was to know about hair, and is insanely respectful of customers' wishes to keep their hair long and natural. This place is the antidote to those hairdresser horror stories everybody's got at least one of. I just went for a trim, and that's what I got. Well, and a wash and a blowdry so my hair's all silky, and it seems even longer than when I went in because it's got the waves dried out of it. I could tuck it into my belt. I'd love to go out and show this off but it's a Tuesday. There is nowhere to go dancing on a Tuesday night.

See, this is why I don't write many happy entries. They're boring. Not to complain about my own lovely day, it's just that it's not very entertaining. Stories are built out of troubles, after all.

Oh I know! I saw a new vehicle I've never seen before. I saw it twice, both on my way to the appointment and coming back home. Dude must be a courier. This thing he was riding was like a standing motorized unicycle. Just a wheel held between the guy's feet while he zipped along down the road as fast as an e-bike. I assume he stood on some stationary pedals extending from the hub. It was awesome. I need to find what this thing is and try it.

Talking to the hairdresser about stories and art and such also reminded me that I don't do enough of the things I love. I haven't read enough authors, I haven't drawn enough pictures, I certainly haven't written enough stories. What the hell am I doing with my life?

So I guess that's it. I like to make huge bags of Christmas cards with little gifts inside to give out all over my neighbourhood a few nights before Christmas, and I've already gotten started on them, but I need more. I think I'll go do a bit more of that now. Bai