Trippin' Balls

...not me, our cat. She was doing the typical cat thing -- running around like a lunatic, suddenly stopping, pouncing -- and I thought she was just being a jerk, but then I saw her eyes were almost completely dilated. I don't know if she got into something (one of the bugs seeking refuge in our house?), or if that is what normally happens when cats act like they have a ghost chasing them, but I'm hoping she'll calm down and maybe take a nap or something.

I gave my bangs a whack the day before I was notified about the job interview, and the rest of my hair was so long it was getting wrapped around my neck while I slept, so I was in desperate need of a haircut. The place I had gone to a couple of times before did not make me happy (refusing to cut bangs into my hair, not trimming my bangs after I had given myself bangs), so I called another place even closer to our house (a 2-minute walk instead of 4) and the stylist had an opening at noon yesterday, so I went. The book of hairstyles she showed me was a bit, um, dated, but she actually listened to what I wanted, while also making some suggestions herself, and we agreed on a cut. I liked the stylist, and I got a good vibe off the salon itself, so I think it is going to be a better fit for me, even if I now look a bit like the lead guitar player in an East German rock band from 1984. Before she started on my bangs (like I said, whacked), she muttered, "This is going to be a challenge", but she gamely took them on, and they do look better now. As I left, she repeatedly urged me to let her trim my bangs, I could pop in any time, etc. She literally said "Bitte bitte bitte" at one point. So I think I now have a stylist, and I have a week for my hairstyle to settle in before my interview.

Every November, I start reminding myself of how old I will be on my next birthday, since I hate surprises. That gives me a few months to get used to the idea. John thinks this is weird, but he also has no idea how old he is, so point to me, I think. 45 45 45... I weirded myself out the other day thinking about my older cousin creeping up on 50.

I'm writing this more as a way of remembering than reporting, but our neighbor suddenly passed away over the weekend. John and I saw a hearse parked in front of our house Saturday evening, but we didn't know who they were coming for at the time. Our neighbor was 86, but he had been in good shape and mentally fit, right up until he had a massive heart attack and died on the spot. I passed him Saturday afternoon on the street on my way to the store, and apparently he went home soon after that and had a heart attack while his wife was in the next room getting his lunch. He was such a nice man, and he befriended John over his gardening efforts and always had a kind word about his shed-building project. He and his wife were a fixture in our street, and we saw them out and about together all the time. She is not doing well, and we are all very worried about her.

Nee in Germany