Project Hair Grow – 1 Year

Where I started.

A middle stage.

Current length.

What I’ve learned about my hair through this process:

-I can’t trust a professional to cut my bangs. They never go short enough, even after I ask them to.

-My hair is not the kind of curly that should prevent the stylist from giving me shorter layers, although they’ll still warn me about them every. single. time.

-When my hair is shorter I like sweeping side bangs. When longer, I love my short bangs. There’s probably something about proportion and balance to explain that, but whatever.

-My favourite length so far is just above the shoulder. About where I was in the first picture of the Project Hair post and the top picture in this one. Although I’m really growing fond of my lengthier tresses again. Just as long as I can keep my bangs short.

-Having a nice haircut doesn’t matter at work. Even the bangs hide under my hat.

-Curly hair is a blessing for ponytail days.

-It’s my face, not my hair that makes people think I’m a baby.

Pretty as a Picture

This is one of those times that I have so many words I should be writing elsewhere, yet I still feel it would be nice to post something here tonight. So I think the picture questionnaire should have a comeback.

But first, let me share some lovely news! I got a package from The Victorian Trading Company today!

One thing is a present for a friend so I can’t post it here, but I am now in possession of a very lovely robe.

Why yes, I do own this gorgeous cotton specimen.

And does anyone recall the last picture post where I presented images of an entire outfit and these boots were included?

Well I bought myself a pair of very-similar-ones.

Yes, those would be the white.

I’m so happy! I love finding packages on my bed! Especially from VTC. All the clothes have these pretty little tags with vintage ladies on them and a few charming paragraphs on elegance and fashion.

Even the “Fragile” sticker was pretty!

And then they send you a handful of magazines with so many lovely things that you must squeal (in a very ladylike manner) at every page. Squeal, I say!

Oh yes, and did I mention they sent me a sonnet? Two, as a matter of fact. Both on the same page, but that is not the point.

I’m simply thrilled to have found a source for delightfully old fashioned things. Their items are all rather pricey, but with my black hat salary, I don’t mind paying extra for quality and class.

Ah yes. Now onto the questions that I made up myself because I was dissatisfied with other people’s.

-x-

What is one full outfit you wish you had?

You can actually buy the gown on Etsy for $170. But please don’t because I’m contemplating doing so. If you want to buy it for my birthday (*coughs*October 18th*coughs*) feel free to click on the picture and ask for my shipping address!

What is something that is sometimes valued more when it’s missing?

What’s your favourite breakfast cereal?

What are you reading right now?

What are you writing?

What. Else. Is. There?

What has your day been like?

What sort of room do you want to kick back in?

What’s something you wish you could get away with?

How do you feel in this exact moment?

So I cheated. That’s a video, not a picture. But it shows what I mean.

The Journey of a Black Hat

Come November, it will have been a year since I started working at Panera Bread. I take a lot of pride in my job and since joining the Panera family, I’ve put my heart and soul (not to mention many tiring hours on my feet) into my work.

When I first started, it was so wonderful and overwhelming that I thought I’d never learn to do all the things that come almost naturally to me now.

I’ve had every single item on our menu and then some. I’ve tasted all our pastries, breads, and bagels. I learned to open the bakery, close the bakery, how not to hate my life when the phone rings, made some salads and sandwiches on the line, and almost have the mid-shift down to a science. (If it weren’t for the darned coffees, I could rule the mid. ) I take shifts no one else wants to work sometimes, cover for absentees, and strive for speed and accuracy with an emphasis on cheerfulness in everything I do.

Long have I aspired to be a black hat.

I don’t know how many of you have a Panera Bread in your area and/or know what a black hat is. The technical term is Associate Trainer, and they stand out by their product knowledge, work ethic, and the fact that they can boss the green hats around without interference. (That’s mostly accurate.) As soon as I began work, I looked up to the black hats who trained me. I respected them for what they knew, and how they shared their knowledge.

Last Sunday, my dreams were realized as I was black hatted. (Okay, so technically it was only announced last Sunday because Mike forgot my hat until Wednesday, but I digress.) This is a huge deal for me. It’s not about the pay raise, or the shiny name tag, or the fact that black compliments my skin tone so well–it’s all of those things too, but not just–it’s the fact that I have earned this position and I am incalculably proud.

Me pre-black hat

Me, post-black hat. Do I not ooze wisdom from my pores?

My noob nametag. Pretty, but not prestigious.

My new nametag sits among the other shinies.

I didn’t get to make a speech when Mike announced my new high ranking. Everyone cheered and clapped and I beamed, but since I didn’t get my speech, here it is now.

I’d like to thank my mom for driving me to work every day, even in the wee morning hours when all civilized citizens who are not up to no good should be in bed. 

I want to thank Mike for making this real, Dave for being so patient with the schedule and telling me “There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be a black hat.” And Cortney, for getting her position as manager to make space for another trainer.

Thank you Fernando, Rebecca, and Krystal for being the first black hats to inspire me, make me laugh, and accept me into the Panera family.

Thank you, Kristin, for being my closing guide, there’s-a-hot-guy-in-here go-to gal, and country song partner. Whenever I answer a question with a country song title, I always think of you. Bazinga!

Sean, thanks for mocking my every failure, announcing to the other cashiers that I suck, throwing garbage at me and then leaving our location to own your own Panera as soon as I was awarded this honor. You’re the best and we all miss you like crazy.

So finally, I want to thank God. Because God gave me this black hat. And, I feel God in this Panera tonight. WOOHOOOOO!!!

That’s how my speech would have gone if I was allowed to speak it.

I can’t wait to get my first trainee and hopefully inspire the same dreams of greatness that the other trainers instilled in me.

“May your hats fly as high as your dreams.” -Michael Scott, Dunder Mifflin Paper Company

Friday YouTube and waaait for iiiiit…

On Sunday something happened to me that’s kind of a big deal. I don’t want to spoil the fun now because I won’t have a picture to demonstrate the full ensemble of this… thing until tomorrow sometime, so hang in there.

I’d have you all guess but I’m thinking those of you who know me in a face-to-face way probably know already, and the rest of you probably wouldn’t know even if I gave clues because it pertains to something work-related and specific.

Now that I’ve taunted you with a surprise, here’s what I’ve been up to in between my 36 hour work week!

-x-

My best friend has taken away all hope of productivity when I’m not on the clock by introducing me to Parks and Recreation. To give credit where credit is due, our friend Anne introduced her to the show, or at least got her to finally watch it. So yes. We’re both hooked. I’ve watched about as many hours of that show as I’ve worked this week. Maybe not quite. But a lot.

This makes me laugh every time. The Tom Face! He looks like a muppet! I want this face on my phone. To make me grin. All the time.

This is sort of awesome and funny at the same time because I have a manager named Matt who’s danced competitively. I mean, immediately when I saw a guy dancing in a video I thought of Matt. And that’s his name, so it’s all connected. Except my manager says, “I dance way better than him.” I’m sure it’s true. I’ve seen his Back of the House spin.

Because I couldn’t leave you without another cheesy cartoon opening. I never saw so much as an episode of this. Even I have my limits.

I CAN’T WAIT FOR PSYCH TO COME BACK!!! AAAAHHH!!

I’ll leave you with this…

9.11

This isn’t going to be a really deep or controversial post about the events of 9/11. Merely a brief and unpoetical description of my own perspective of that day and the days that followed. It’s nothing gran, but I felt it was important to observe the day.

On September 11th, 2001 I was woken from sleep by my dad’s voice shouting, “They did WHAT?” from his study. Bleary-eyed, I watched him run out into the hallway with the phone at his ear and I shuffled out after him.

I watched the news with my mouth ajar. I had no clue what the twin towers were until that night, but I knew what the pentagon was and I knew what hijacking and terrorism meant. It wasn’t difficult to understand the significance of what had happened. Not with all the smoke, the screaming, the replayed tape of the plane crashing into the building and the frantic mood seeping into the voices of even the reporters.

I remember President Bush’s speech that day and feeling the urgency of his words. I remember admiring his use of the phrase, “faceless coward” and asking us to thank the rescue workers and pray for the victims’ families. Before that day I thought the president was little more than a symbol of American democracy at work. After that day I saw him as much more.

I watched the ongoing reports for days afterward. I replayed the VHS we taped of the destruction; the crashes, the second tower falling, and all the horrors that followed.

When it comes to events such as this, I find it’s difficult for me to use eloquent speech and make appropriately emotional posts. The best I can do is pray for our nation and ask you to do the same. Pray that the memory of those events steels us for the proper security measures and drives our government to do the right thing. That rather than being overcome with apathy or fear, we uphold the very principles that this free nation was founded on; the faith and virtues that our attackers so viciously despise. Let’s not let them win by forgetting.

For some of us the devastation was over in a matter of days, maybe months. But for the people who lost loved ones, the struggle is never over. Pray for them as well.

I for one, intend not to forget.

-x-

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:13

Why do the nations rage,
         And the people plot a vain thing?
 The kings of the earth set themselves,
         And the rulers take counsel together,
         Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
  “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
         And cast away Their cords from us.”

  He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
         The Lord shall hold them in derision.
  Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
         And distress them in His deep displeasure:
  “Yet I have set My King
         On My holy hill of Zion.”

  “I will declare the decree:
         The LORD has said to Me,
         ‘You are My Son,
         Today I have begotten You.
  Ask of Me, and I will give You
         The nations for Your inheritance,
         And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
 You shall break them with a rod of iron;
         You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’”

  Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
         Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
  Serve the LORD with fear,
         And rejoice with trembling.
  Kiss the Son, lest Hebe angry,
         And you perish in the way,
         When His wrath is kindled but a little.
         Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Psalm 2