Bad Hair Day? You'll Need a Friend and a Cocktail.

I am only as strong as the cocktails I drink, the hairspray I use and the friends I have.  A famous saying that I see on cards, bags, shirts; basically all over the place.  If you think about it, though, it is right on the money.

Sums it up well, don't you think?

I need a fun beverage that keeps me moving through life.  Probably not need, but desire.  It may be a glass of wine or a fun beer that is completely in the moment.  I typically am not a beer drinker, but when in Mexico, a Sol tastes so much better there.  Some say it is because the bottlers pee in the beer vat.  I would like to think it is because I am far from home, basking in the sun, without a care in the world.  Blackfoot Brewery seasonally brews Kolsch.  When I see that on the beer menu, I am always so excited, but would typically never order that beer in any other restaurant.  A dirty martini in a lovely martini glass with two huge green olives is also a favorite of mine.  I would never drink a martini in a tumbler.  And remember, you can always use those huge olives in a food challenge. (see older post)  Since starting this blog, I have now become a Stella beer queen, drinking my Stella out of a Stella chalice, as that is my namesake, finding myself a more creative writer when I have the Stella beer helping to guide in my selection of every word.  I told a friend that I had recently become fond of Stella beer out of a Stella glass, and he quickly replied,  "I hope you're not a Stella snob."  Is that a new class of people?  I hadn't heard of a Stella snob and don't know one, but I will make sure I do not become one.

I only feel as good about life and its contents as I do about my hair.  I never realized how true that was until last week.  I was leaving that Friday for a girls weekend with six other friends from around the state.  This was our 10 year reunion of meeting up in the same little town, eating, drinking, cooking, shopping, talking and laughing for about 48 hours straight.  Three of the seven will turn 50 this year.  There is always a lot of photo-taking going on, so I needed to be on top of my game.  Not to mention that I am one of those three that is now 50, so I am trying my hardest to not look 50 -- or, God forbid, older.  I asked my hairdresser, the one that has been highlighting my hair for many years, to change it up a little, give me an edgier cut, make my highlights more noticeable.  Mission accomplished.  My highlights were more noticeable but in a really bad way.  I am a natural blond.  I came out of there looking like a natural gray.  Aged 10 years in one hour!  Anyway, the good news is my hair was "fixed" by Wednesday afternoon.  Tuesday and Wednesday, though, I hung my head, probably looked like my best friend had just died, or Prohibition was back on the books.  Hair really does matter.

I love my friends and I really need them!  Life can become very mundane if you let it.  My husband and I have a lot of fun together, but let's face it, man can't live by marriage alone!  Not the girl and not the guy.  My husband needs my girl trips as much as I do.  When I am gone, he can eat all the onions he wants, watch any science fiction  movie he wants, and go take pictures wherever and whenever he wants.  As I like to say, a win/win for everyone.  For me, being with great girlfriends, catching up on life, hearing of the trials and tribulations over the past year, makes me realize that we are all in the same boat, never alone, with plenty of encouragement and support to get back to shore.  I think everyone leaves with a happy heart knowing that this trip will happen again next year, just as sure as the sun will rise; but if some crisis does rear its ugly head in the months to come, there will always be someone to lend a helping hand or help you pick yourself back up.  We are never alone.

As they say:  Friendship is like wetting your pants.  Everyone can see it, but only you can feel the true warmth.