Miss Celleaneous

Deepa shares 27 book recommendations for Black History Month in her blog.

Not at all about the literary world, SI posts a Family Dollar ad to celebrate Black History Month by offers for hair relaxer.

Y'all know how hair - curly, kinky, looped hair - is important to me, its care and feeding and pride, but yeah, really: it's not the same.

As I think I didn't mention it back when: Tami on Racialicious shared her thoughts on Chris Rock's documentary film, Good Hair.

Real life only, so feel free to skip:

1. Went to the hairdresser's (meaning: Papa gave me a ride, I hobbled in on my crutches, sank not sogracefully into the waiting couch, and had to tell the Story of How The Leg Got To Look Like This to three hairdressers -- consecutively, not simultaneously).

2. As a result of #1, my hair is looking fabulous again, which is good if just about the only thing I got going for Monday's day of job interviews & assessment center fun; I obviously couldn't properly prepare with the requisite commercial prep courses. (I hope the driver of the car thanks God or his respective Higher Power on his knees every single day for not living in a country where the damages might cover this kind of life-changing disadvantage but in Germany, where compensation is minimal and takes a long time to obtain.)

3. The subject line is rather a propos: Am wearing a simple grey dress that I got a while ago so it's a little shapeless on my now. Also too chilly, what with the weather taking its cues from April. Therefore, I wore my long-sleeve royal blue polo shirt underneath. (All of which, in combination with my long blond curls, makes me look like an extra in The Last Witness.)

4. I've found it's safest to not just repeat but also rephrase your exact wishes in the personal service industry -- while of course treating everybody with the utmost courtesy. (Communication, communication, communication. It's a given that no one can read your mind, but in addition to that, words just don't have the same meaning: Other people's "tasteful & natural" isn't your momma's tasteful & natural, "hair line" means "down by the roots" for you but "somewhere in the vicinity" for others, and for some, "artificial" only applies to things in the pink glitter range. These groundbreaking insights are indeed brought to you by a visit to the village hairdresser's salon, although thankfully, this time around, I got Danielle, who rocked my locks. Danielle also went to the local Pride Parade as a supportive viewer and got annoyed at some misogynists sneering at mounted policewomen. ♥)

5. In good, not to mention Yay, Social Life! news, my old friend Em -- returned from the faraway city of Hamburg -- will shortly pick me up for an evening of cooking with her & Mikey & Stevie (and I think I may need a Cast of Characters post in my lj at some point).

re: this earlier entry of mine. For beadattitude, who asked and shall receive: ( just one little pic )