Recap of Living Out Loud 29: On Writing

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Writing about writing? How meta! But you all rose to the challenge. I can't get over how varied the entries can be while still reflecting the theme. You all amaze me every month. And we had two new participants this month! The more the merrier! Let's see what we all wrought/wrote: Grace's Move over Joss, Tehre's a new sheriff in town This was a great post. I have been trying to pay more attention to what I watch, read, experience etc. Go ahead and fly to the moon!

Rachel's Writer first, blogger second I myself have wondered at the idea of a "topic blog" like diabetes etc. It's hard for me to see so much of my life through that lens. But when it's done well, it's interesting to diabetics and non-diabetics alike. Good writing is good writing.

Brigit's Hair Waxing Experience Brigit chatted with me about this a bit last week in my backyard. I wish I could have recorded our conversation and played it for you because it was awesome. Nothing is ever like the magazines say. That's one of the things I love about the Internet.

SuziCate's Writing For The Soul Of It I love the line about "I'd rather be writing than publishing." The quotes are awesome and the sentiment is similar to my own.

Peg's My Right to Write Your last paragraph got me all misty eyed. All very awesome reasons to write and I'm so glad SuziCate helped you get your start.

Erin's The How and the Why First, I have always loved your blog name. But the pack rat in me has to keep all archives forever! And I thinking writing with your grandma in mind is something everyone should do.

Megan's Fireflies in a jar I love the idea of Tink seeing this new aspect of your writing. Like when we realize our parents have lives other than us.

Sally's Why Do I Do This? Hooray newcomers! So many of us struggle with the whys. But someone needs to chronicle the fact that the house didn't burn down today.

Ruth's Completing a Breath Reading that you have bought pens off of strangers makes you my new hero. You need a big cape with a pen on it! And yes, it's a need. I struggled to put words down for this topic myself today even after having so much enthusiasm for it.

And my own No such thing as too much information

This one was a toughie. I loved so many of these entries! But I'm declaring Peg the winner. Her last paragraph in particular just really struck me of the fervent need to write, much like Ruth's need to rip pages out of magazines or buy pens from strangers. I also love that Peg is writing so much these days. I'm jealous a bit. And I think that kind of dedication also deserves a reward.

So huzzah to Peg! And thank you to everyone for playing along and joining in the fun. Every entry means a ton to me and I'm so glad you have fun with this too.

Guest post: Hair Waxing Experience

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This entry comes from Brigit as a newcomer to our Living Out Loud project. In addition to being a talented artist, she's a riot. --------- I like to write especially about things that are not usually spoken of but really should be. You'd think with so very many women's magazines telling us every little beauty thing monthly that they would not leave out the really important stuff. For example, this is my version of what they should tell women about the Hair Waxing experience:

Waxing is one way to remove unwanted body hair (well, except for the times when you actually did want the hair - like the other half of my eyebrow) that so damages the follicle that the only thing that can grow back is a baby fine peach fuzz....at least that is the way it's working on my body.

No more razors, jells, razor burn, lotions, weird chemicals, cuts, toting the stuff while traveling and having it confiscated out of your carry on but the airport 'authorities'... that's right, like your going to high jack a plane with a Venus razor or some Nair. Perhaps, per the Venus advertisement, they imagine you might 'release the goddess within' and that goddess might be Medusa or something evil and take over the plane. Who knows? No doubt there is a whole separate rant about airline carry-on searches brewing within me. I travel a lot.

Anyway, I've been gifted with a trip to a day spa and will experience my first ever waxing… which seems like I will ultimately save a lot of money by NOT needing a variety of product to deal with hair removal. I think 'hmmmm - waxing, let's try it'. So what was there to lose besides a bunch of unwanted hair? Right?

The spa is beautiful. They bring you citrusy water or a fruit smoothie. There are plates of sweet or savory munchies to tempt you. Large overstuffed furniture to lounge in while waiting or afterward while recovering and preparing yourself to leave this alcove of peace and serenity to face the busy world again. Fountains trickle and soothing music plays while you shed your clothes and don an incredibly thick, soft white terry robe. It is all soooo good!

Yup - here to be pampered -that's me.

My name is called and I am escorted to a small room. I tell the lovely, very pretty, very young lady what I want done and yes, that I am a first timer. "No problem." she smiles "We'll start with the armpits first." Grrrreeaaat.

So first goes on the cleanser to remove any unwanted body oils and residuals of other products. Makes sense and feels nice. Next there is powder to protect the skin... that a little worrisome, what are we protecting my skin from?... but feels nice and smells good. The wax - which is warm and honey smelling, glides on with a roller thingie. Kind of a nice feeling actually. Then there is a paper strip that is laid on the wax and then there is rubbing until the wax cools. All good so far. Until... I am asked to place my hand 'here' and help pull the skin tight. No problem. Then it happens... RIP - in one fell swoop.

There was an instantaneous snatching of that paper strip in the opposite direction of the hair growth that left me gasping. PAIN - can you say PAIN??? Upon recovery a whole bunch of language comes streaming out of my mouth. She never even slowed - the next paper was quickly smoothed on and ripped off just as the first.

OH

MY

DEAR

LORD

And so it went. The legs were easier and didn't bleed as much. Yup. Little dots of blood seeped from each follicle on my arm pits. I walked around for the rest of the day and all the next with my upper arms held out from my body like I was Arnold. Good thing I heal fast. The bikini line.... well, now, my oh my..... there was apparently not enough powder because I actually lost some skin. Again, good thing I heal fast. The eyebrows were nothing after all of this except that I am now missing part of one.

It was certainly an experience. I understand now that the robes are white because it is easier to bleach the blood out of them. And the lounge is there so you can recover enough to accept the idea of actually putting clothes back on over all the bright red oozing raw bits while you are getting your breath back. And yes, please, have a glass of water made all pretty and tasty with the orange and lemon slices floating to settle your nausea while, ideally, your blood pressure is coming back into the range of normal.

The effect afterwards however is oh-so-very worth it. There is no stubble. Nothing much of anything for almost 8 weeks. What hair actually survives and tries to grow back is baby fine and on me, not particularly visible. Believe it or not... I can and will continue to do this to myself. It does get easier as the roots are less and less attached somehow.

Yep, I save the $100 and buy a kit from the Wal-Mart. $8 every 6 months and I’m good. I do still occasionally splurge and allow a ‘professional’ to do it but all-in-all doing it myself is just fine…. Though I do need help with my armpits. If I had started doing this at 18 I'd likely not have anything to deal with at this point in my life. So, all in all it was worth the initial shock and pain but really you'd think any one of the many beauty magazines would warn a girl of the truth of the matter. I am thinking that Happy Hour might be the prefect prep for a first timer.