Word. Play.

This blog has moved

2005-04-23T14:16:00.000-05:00

I have moved my blog to www.planethunt.com/jaime . Please change your bookmarks.

Thanks!

Book 24: The Princess Bride

2005-04-16T15:39:00.000-05:00

OK. If you haven't yet read The Princess Bride, immediately visit Amazon.com and buy it. This is not an option. This. Is. The. Best. Book. Ever. Written. Period. (Well, besides the Bible, eh?)

You think I joke. I do not. It is hilarious. Go. Now. You can always come back and read the rest of this blog. Life is too short to have not read The Princess Bride.

Title: The Princess Bride

Author: William Goldman

Genre: Oi.

Rating: 10/10

Synopsis: The Princess Bride is a true fantasy classic. William Goldman describes it as a "good parts version" of "S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure." Morgenstern's original was filled with details of Florinese history, court etiquette, and Mrs. Morgenstern's mostly complimentary views of the text. Much admired by academics, the "Classic Tale" nonetheless obscured what Mr. Goldman feels is a story that has everything: "Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest ladies. Snakes. Spiders. Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles."

Goldman frames the fairy tale with an "autobiographical" story: his father, who came from Florin, abridged the book as he read it to his son. Now, Goldman is publishing an abridged version, interspersed with comments on the parts he cut out.

I liked: Oh. My. God. This book is the funniest book I have ever read. Ever.

I didn't like: Why did it have to end?! Why hasn't he written more books?!

Great line: That word. You keep saying it. I do not think it means what you think it means.

Book 23: Jurassic Park

2005-04-14T21:01:00.000-05:00

Title: Jurassic Park

Author: Michael Crichton

Genre: Mass market paperback

Rating: 9/10

Synopsis: If you don't know what Jurassic Park is about yet, you ain't never gonna know.

I liked: OK. So I had more than $25 in fines at the library. And unfortunately I only had $14 in my pocket. Therefore, no book checky-outy for me. Thus, I had to go through my personal library of books (every one of which has been read at least three times) to find something to pull me through this little library fine slump. I tried to read "Sahara," thinking that with the movie coming out, this might be a good time. It wasn't. Blah blah blah. Even when I first read it when I was in high school and didn't really have discerning taste in literature, I still thought it was crap. Anyway, my dog-eared copy of Jurassic Park has never let me down. I love, love, love it. Sure, it suffers from Michael Crichtonitis (the condition in which an author has no idea what to do after reaching the crecendo and therefore contrives an abrupt ending and runs off to sell the rights to Universal Studios). And no, it's not literature. But it's still a good story and it still freaks the hell out of me. Seriously, they could clone dinosaurs, don't you think? Really. I mean, it doesn't seem that far-fetched. We allegedly put a man on the moon; you'd think we could clone a dinosaur. And, in the words of my former brother-in-law, That be scary.

I didn't like: C'mon, what's not to like.... except for a mild case of Michael Crichtonitis (see above) it's his best book yet.

The Christmas Season is Over ... Finally

2005-04-14T20:15:00.000-05:00

The Christmas wrap is down. Total days of Christmas: 137

Noveling: Wanna Watch?

2005-04-13T21:52:00.000-05:00

Wanna watch me write a novel?

So in November, I attempted to participate in the National Novel Writing Month competition. (The goal is to write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days.... yeah, it's as crazy as it sounds, but it's possible.) However, because I was just starting some treatments, I was in a lot of pain and had to set aside my novel with just 10,000 words.

I'm gearing up for this November (don't expect to see much of me) and am planning to base the book on this short story I wrote shortly after covering a tragedy on Lake Minnetonka that resulted in the deaths of two teenagers. It's kinda dark ... as my short stories tend to be. And it's a far cry from the comedy I started last November. But it's the foundation.

My hope is to blog the process. I've always wondered how novelist ... novel. So here you go. I can't actually write any of the book until November, but I'll try to share my outlines, etc. Let you peek into the writer's window, so to speak. Unless I get all paranoid that you are going to steal my idea. ;)

Comments are appreciated.

The world is white. An overnight snowfall has blanketed the trees, covered the yawning lake, drawn down a colorless sky. Dawn has come and gone, leaving frozen silence behind.

Her body, curled tightly into a comma, is just one hundred yards from the sloping shore. Open water shimmers one hundred yard beyond her.

Snow has covered her, coating her in a fine film. Her features are contorted with pain and sorrow and fear. Beneath the coating of ice her skin is blue, pale and terrible.

Behind her, footprints lead to a black abyss. A frantic ring circles the chasm; footprints, knee prints, clawed ice.

Deep beneath the arctic water his fingers cling to her right mitten. It is red. His lungs are filled with water, his eyes stare into the deep.

As the wind whistles across the lake, a man approaches. Garbage, he thinks, something kids left behind. The snow squeaks beneath his boots. His footsteps falter as he grows closer. Suddenly he races forward. He falls to his knees. He stretches his hand to her face. Before he feels the startling cold, he knows it’s too late.

w w w w

I can’t feel my arms. This thought slogs through her mind.

She looks up. The shore seems so close. There is a house; there is help. She can see shadows moving behind the bright patches of light that mark the windows. The sight prods her, moves her forward. A cold breath of wind shocks her, sends her to her knees. The world circles around her as she rubs her hands together frantically. The darkness is absolute. She cannot see their frightening pallor.

She lurches to her feet again and takes three quick steps toward shore before her legs collapse from under her. Then she crawls; her fingers no longer feel the cold. Her fingers no longer feel anything.

Cold, she thinks, drawing her knees to her chin. She curls her body around her legs. Tears freeze on her cheeks. I have failed him, she thinks. He will die. She rocks slightly but quickly grows too cold to shiver. Mother, she whispers.

w w w w

She is sobbing as she pulls herself onto the fragile surface of the lake. The ice cracks loudly and she feels it give way beneath her. Then his hands are on her thighs, pushing her past the perilous edge.

She draws herself to her knees before turning and reaching for him. The ice shatters below her and he shakes off her grip. She circles away and reaches for him again. She pulls, but the sub-zero wind has weakened her arms.

Again and again she tries. Again and again she falls back on her heels. Her tears are a frozen stream.

For a pitiful moment he claws at the ice, straining to reach a fissure, a finger hold, a ridge. Then he waves her away.

I will get help. The thought jolts through her mind, startling her. She lurches to her feet. She gives him one last desperate look before running for the lights.

w w w w

With a sickening lurch the Volvo plunges into the dark water. As the car decides whether to sink, he pushes her toward the open window. Get out, he cries. Frantically she pulls herself through. He watches her legs disappear and then he is submerged.

The water takes his breath away and shocks him. It’s electric, he thinks. The car is rapidly plummeting now. He pushes himself through the open window and stretches toward the surface.

She is floundering. The weight of her peacoat is pulling her down. He swims to her and pulls it off her. She kicks off her shoes. Her fingers have found the ice and she scrambles for a grip.

w w w w

They are laughing as the car spins. He pulls the steering wheel sharply left, sending the Volvo into another exhilarating loop.

Her mittened hand grips the door handle as he presses down the accelerator. He looks at her and grins. She is beautiful, he thinks.

The carefree smile disappears and she screams. He pulls his eyes from her alarmed face in time to see the dark abyss looming. Frantically he pumps the brakes as the Volvo plunges toward the open water. Her scream cuts the air, fills his brain, seeps into his being. Then he is screaming, too.

Book 22: The Quiet American

2005-04-13T21:42:00.000-05:00

Title: The Quiet American

Author: Graham Greene

Genre: Literature

Rating: 9/10

Synopsis: "The Quiet American" is set in Vietnam in the early 1950s. The narrator, Fowler, lives with his mistress, Phoung. One night, he meets an American who hopes to create a "Third Force" to end the spread of Communism. His methods alarm the world-weary and previously uninvolved Fowler who must make a choice that has grave consequences. He must decide whether that choice was made because it was right, or because it was right for him.

I liked: A gripping mystery with a prophetic sensibility.

I didn't like: Toward the end things got somewhat confusing, but I might have just been tired. ;)

Down with Christmas!

2005-04-10T18:27:00.000-05:00

Dear Neighbors,

It is April 10. Perhaps you hadn't noticed that Christmas has come and gone. You finally took your tree down around President's Day (in February....). I was hopeful that your Christmas-wrapped front door, little Christmas trees and wreath would be gone by Easter. That doesn't seem like too much to ask. I mean, you put that stuff up in November. That's four months.

Today I noticed you puttering around in your garden in shorts, which eliminates my theory that you didn't notice the passing of the seasons.

Maybe you really like Christmas. Maybe you even decorate with a Christmasy theme year 'round. That's great. But keep it inside, yo. I'm sick of looking at your shiny wrapping-paper-covered door. I'm ready to embrace summer and it's disconcerting to look across the GREEN yard and see Christmas on display. Please, please, please end Christmas before five months goes by. You only have 15 days left!

Try for tax day, eh?

Book 21: Reading in the Dark

2005-04-09T16:02:00.000-05:00

Title: Reading in the Dark : A Novel

Author: Seamus Deane

Genre: Literature

Rating: 10/10

Synopsis: The boy narrator grows up haunted by a truth he both wants and does not want to discover. The matter: a deadly betrayal, unspoken and unspeakable, born of political enmity. As the boy listens through the silence that surrounds him, the truth spreads like a stain until it engulfs him and his family.

I liked: Deftly written, with beautiful narration. The story was gripping. I read it in one sitting.

I didn't like: That it ended. I wanted to keep reading the story indefinately!

I'm an Ideal Lover ....

2005-03-30T21:31:00.000-06:00

In case you are wondering what my seduction style is (pervert) ...

Your Seduction Style: Ideal Lover

You seduce people by tapping into their dreams and desires.
And because of this sensitivity, you can be the ideal lover for anyone you seek.
You are a shapeshifter - bringing romance, adventure, spirituality to relationships.
It all depends on who your with, and what their vision of a perfect relationship is.

What is your seduction style?

ANTS: Homely Girls Make Good Models

2005-03-30T21:09:00.000-06:00

As a feminist, I find America's Next Top Model so appalling.

ARGH! But I like it so much!

It's so facinating. The show began with 14 rather plain girls. Sure, they all weigh 118 pounds, but they don't all have perfect bodies and some of them are actually pretty homely. But when the makeup artists get their hands on them and the camera starts whirring, they turn into beauties. It kind of pulls the curtain back on the beauty industry and shows us everyday girls that models aren't perfect, either.

I'm rooting for Michelle. At first I thought she was homely. But she photographs so beautifully. I think she's a long shot to win, but she's got my vote!

I also like Brittany and Keenyah. And you gotta root for the hometown girl, Rebecca, although I think she's a little more Sears model and a little less haute couture.

All About the Bunny

2005-03-30T18:05:00.000-06:00

I wasn't sure which blog this belonged on.... because it's kinda stranger than fiction.

Anyway, went to church on Sunday. A new church. Well, new for us. Walked in while they were singing. Two songs, both popular at contemporary Christian services. I'm thinking, "OK. Maybe this church will be a good fit." Then they have offering. And they have each person get up and drop their offering into little urns up front. As people line up, I'm thinking, "This is weird." Then the pastor announces that rather than a sermon, they will be having a "comical" play featuring the church's kids. I'm thinking, "Well... it could be all right. I guess." Then he says the title of the play is "All About the Bunny."

What comes next is 30 minutes of inside jokes and bad Easter bunny humor, plus 4-year-old kids grabbing microphones and screaming into them while half the audience recoils from the unearthly sound and the other, apparently deaf, half laughs hysterically. I'm thinking, "How conspicuous would it be if we sneaked out...?"

Then the pastor wraps it all up with a little Come to Jesus prayer and away we go. I'm thinking, "Hey! What about Jesus? You know, the guy who died and ROSE today? Heard of him? No? Alrighty then."

Egads.

Books I Read in 2001

2005-03-28T22:26:00.000-06:00

I kept a book journal for three months in 2001. Here are some of my top picks:

The Blue Angel by Francine Prose - "I really enjoyed this novel. It was very well-written and very literary in style. I couldn't put it down." 5/5
Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio - "I thought Rubio did a great job letting the reader into Icy's mind. Her complex thought process was compelling to read." 4.5/5
The House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus - "The most remarkable thing about this book is the narration swtiches ... The Behrani character is a former Iranian soldier so the narration is in imperfect English and is very well done." 4/5
Big Trouble by Dave Barry - "Big Trouble's intro is even funny. Every darn thing about the book cracked me up." 5/5
Glass People by Gail Godwin - "This book read rather like a short story or a morality play." 4/5
White Oleander by Janet Fitch - "A great voice with memorable characters." 5/5
The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve - "Well written. Compelling. Hard to put down." 4/5
The Beginning of Sorrows by Gilbert Morris - "If you want to read an end times book, this is the one. Forget Left Behind." 5/5

Book 20: A Handmaid's Tale

2005-03-28T22:03:00.000-06:00

Title: A Handmaid's Tale

Author: Margaret Atwood

Genre: Modern Literature

Rating: 10/10

Synopsis: In the world of the near future, who will control women's bodies?

Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are only valued if their ovaries are viable.

Offred can remember the days before, when she lived and made love with her husband Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now.... (care of Amazon.com)

I liked: A powerful fable that describes a near future in which the far-right ideals are twisted into a monotheistic state that resembles a corrupted version of the Old Testament -- or a sexist version of 1984. Women are forced into castes: the chaste, childless Wives; the housekeeping Marthas; and the reproductive Handmaids, who turn their offspring over to the "morally fit" Wives. As the Handmaid's tale unfolds, we see the chilling events that lead to this horrible "future." This book is an absolute must-read. It challenges sexism and intolerance through chilling storytelling.

I didn't like: I was not bothered, but people squeamish about sex may feel uncomfortable. If you can, push through it; it's worth it.

Here is a link to a study that can accompany this book.

Book 18 and 19: The Last Time They Met

2005-03-27T19:08:00.000-06:00

Title: The Last Time They Met

Author: Anita Shreve

Genre: Modern Literature

Rating: 10/10

Synopsis: (ala Amazon.com) A man and a woman sustain a life-long passionate relationship even though they have been together only three times. At a literary festival in Toronto, Linda Fallon encounters the man who was once at the center of her life: Thomas Janes, the famous poet. Since last seeing him, she has married, given birth, and been widowed. Thomas' appearance rocks Linda, raises questions she had long abandoned, and inspires new dreams. The Last Time They Met moves backward to explore Linda's life years earlier, at age 26, when an affair with Thomas shattered her life, and at age 17, when they first met. In this mesmerizing novel, Shreve examines the resilience of emotion and the extraordinary repercussions a single choice, even a single word, can have over a lifetime.

I liked: Brilliantly written. The twist at the end was completely unexpected. I only wish I could craft a novel this brilliant. Once you know the "twist," you have to read it again. I did.

I didn't like: Nothing.

Book 17: Dancing After Hours

2005-03-23T21:00:00.000-06:00

Title: Dancing After Hours

Author: Andre Dubas

Genre: Short stories

Rating: 8/10

Synopsis: "In these fourteen stories, Dubus depicts ordinary men and women confronting injury and loneliness, the lack of love and the terror of actually having it. Out of his characters' struggles and small failures--and their unexpected moments of redemption--Dubus creates fiction that bears comparison to the short story's greatest creators--Chekhov, Raymond Carver, Flannery O'Connor."

I liked: I love short stories, and some of these were superb. The characters were well formed, which is difficult to do in short stories. Very nicely done.

I didn't like: A few of the stories weren't my favorites, but overall they were still enjoyable.

Book 16: Mouth to Mouth

2005-03-23T20:55:00.000-06:00

Title: Mouth to Mouth

Author: Erin McCarthy

Genre: Trash

Rating: 0/10

Synopsis: Sex and thinking about sex and talking about sex surrounded by a really weak plot.

I liked: Nada. But I didn't have anything else checked out. D'oh.

I didn't like: Everything.

My Thoughts: Terri Schiavo

2005-03-18T15:48:00.000-06:00

As it has permeated the news, I feel like I need to weigh in on the Terri Schiavo situation.

If you've been living under a rock, here's the update: Terri Schiavo had a heart attack in 1990. She was severely brain damaged. She is able to breath on her own, but requires a feeding tube. For the last 15 years, her husband has fought to have her tube removed, saying that's what she would have wanted. He has turned down money, refused to sign over guardianship to her parents and fought tooth and nail for the tube's removal. I believe he is one of two things: crazy or completely certain that Terri would not want to live. Today her feeding tube was removed. Experts say she will starve to death over the next week.

I didn't know what to think about the case until I saw a video of Terri with her mother. In the video, her face lights up when her mother draws near to her, and she smiles as her mother strokes her check. Suddenly she seemed real and it ripped my heart out.

I don't presume to know what Terri Schiavo would have wanted had she known she'd suffer this fate. I don't know what I'd want. But what strikes fear in my heart is the decision that she can be starved to death simply for being "useless" ... I don't know where we will draw the line ... and that scares me.

If life is sacred, aren't the lives of the "useless" also sacred? In the absence of a written document signed by Terri, I don't see how someone can say she should die, particularly in such a horrible and painful way.

Regardless of what happens, those who will likely suffer the most are her family and friends. They are in my prayers.

Book 16: Thirty Nothing

2005-03-15T21:32:00.000-06:00

Halfway through "A Very Long Engagement," I decided I need to read some lighter fare... something I could pick up and put down after only reading for 10 minutes or so.... so here's the long-delayed Book 16... I hope to finish "A Very Long Engagement" at some point when I have more time to devote.

Title: Thirty Nothing

Author: Lisa Jewell

Rating: 8/10

Genre: Fiction

Synopsis: Dig and Nadine have been in love for more than a decade. They just don't know it yet. It takes a visit from Dig's first love, a horrible experience with an old ex of Nadine's and some answerphone messages to straighten out this Harry and Sally-like pair.

I liked: The end was beautiful. As someone who fell in love with my best friend, I am a total sucker for friendship-blooming-into-romance stories. But this was well told and not at all sappy. I enjoyed it.

I didn't like: There wasn't much not to like. It wasn't literature, but it was a very fast, fun read.

Best line: In honor of Dave's birthday.... Page 7. "Thirty wasn't so bad. Yeah. Thirty was fine. Actually, it wasn't that different from twenty-nine."

3 ... 2 ... 1 ....

2005-03-14T19:21:00.000-06:00

Stranger Than Fiction has launched!

The Sibyl of the Blog World

2005-03-14T18:16:00.000-06:00

So, I have something of a blogging multiple personality disorder. To remedy this, I am going to have this blog stick strictly to book reviews (I've been reading non-fiction lately, hence the lack of reviews) and ramblings... and I am going to start a blog called "Stranger Than Fiction" (or something like that) about the wacky things going on in our world. Watch for it!

Book 15: For Love and Money : A Novel of Stocks and Robbers

2005-03-07T21:26:00.000-06:00

Woo hoo! My 15th book since Jan. 23.

Title: For Love and Money : A Novel of Stocks and Robbers

Author: Leslie Glass

Genre: Suspense

Rating: 6/10

Synopsis: A bunch of valuable bearer bonds are at the heart of this stock market suspense novel.

I liked: It had a fast pace and was decently written.

I didn't like: It wasn't much of a mystery. It was pretty easy to figure out who did what and why.

Book 14: The Canopy

2005-03-03T18:19:00.000-06:00

Title : The Canopy

Author: Angela Hunt

Genre: Christian Fiction

Rating: 8.5/10

Synopsis: Deep in the lush and dangerous rain forests of Peru, Alexandra Pace and her team search determinedly for a cure for deadly diseases. One strain of the disease has already begun the process of ravaging Alexandra's own mind and body. Finding a cure is the only hope for her and for her daughter, who has almost certainly inherited the same disease.

I liked: Tautly written, suspenseful and thought-provoking, this book was unlike any other Christian fiction I have read. The "evangelistic message" was actually presented in a really unique and interesting way. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I didn't like: The main character's interaction with the secondary protagonist was a little tired.

Free From a Cage of Pain

2005-03-02T13:03:00.000-06:00

In the summer of 2000, I began experiencing pain in my hands while using the computer. Numbness, aching and a “cold” feeling ran down my wrist and through my fingers. As the months progressed, my condition worsened until January 2001, when I found it difficult to do things as simple as tying my shoes or turning a door knob.

From January to August I visited seven medical doctors, including two surgeons. I suffered through countless blood tests, steroid injections, bone scans and X-rays. I was prescribed everything from Codeine to Vioxx. For six months the pain was so unbearable I was unable to work — a devastating blow for someone who had just been offered a position as vice president of publications for an association management company.

Over those eight months I also saw several physical and occupational therapists that were able to treat some of my symptoms. The cold sensation mostly disappeared. Some of the pain was peeled away. But nothing eliminated it completely. After all of my treatments, my pain had moved from eight on the pain scale to a six or seven.

I had reached “maximum medical improvement” according to my doctors and my insurance company. What maximum medical improvement meant for me was constant pain dulled only by handfuls of pills. Pain that worsened considerably when I used the computer — not a happy diagnosis for a person who had chosen writing as her profession.

Living in constant pain was a nightmare. At times, I literally wanted to die. Several times a week — even years after I was first treated — I cried myself to sleep, terrified at what the future held. Nearly every Friday afternoon I would have to lock myself in a bathroom stall at work as I sobbed. All I could envision was 40 more years of working; 40 more years of pain. The only way I was able to cope was to avoid thinking beyond the day I was living. When the future loomed large on the horizon, I would break down in angry, frightened tears. I felt as though I were in a prison of pain. I felt as though medical science had failed me.

Then I began working at Northwestern Health Sciences University. One of the benefits is access to chiropractic care provided by student interns and faculty members. I explained my situation and my medical history. I was carefully examined and given a course of care that included adjustments to my spine, careful stretching, trigger-point therapy and muscle stripping. After my very first visit I felt immediate relief. I suddenly felt better than I had in months. After a month of twice-weekly visits I felt better than I had in years. Today, two months after my first visit, my quality of life is infinitely better.

Do I believe in chiropractic? Yes! Chiropractic has done for me what surgeons, prescriptions and therapy could not — and the solution is so natural. Using only his hands, my doctor of chiropractic has helped my body heal without cutting me open or filling my bloodstream with drugs. I am not perfectly healed yet — it would be foolish to imagine that the poor condition of my body could be reversed overnight. But I am better and I cannot thank my doctor and his interns enough. While my medical doctors said, “This is the best you’ll get,” that wasn’t good enough for the chiropractors I’ve seen. I shouldn’t be in pain at all, ever. And with their care, I am sure there will be a day soon when that is the case. Already strings of days run together without pain, something I haven’t experienced in the last four years.

I am so grateful for my care. I am no longer a person who is terrified of the future. I no longer live in a cage of pain. I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel; light I had begun to believe didn’t exist. Light that brings me hope.

Book 13: The Boy on the Bus

2005-02-28T17:04:00.000-06:00

Title: The Boy on the Bus

Author: Deborah Schupack

Rating: 8/10

Genre: Fiction

Synopsis: One afternoon, Vermont housewife Meg discovers that the boy on the school bus outside her door is almost, but not quite, her eight-year-old son, Charlie. It's a typical X-Files scenario, but in the hands of first-time novelist Schupack it becomes an acute psychological study of alienated ex-urban family life.

I liked: It's strange surreal situation made you wonder how well you know your family. Would you notice if your spouse/father/mother/daughter was replaced with a look-alike?

I didn't like: The end was very odd and somewhat hard to follow. Maybe because I was interrupted about 10 times during the last 10 pages.

A Hair Raising Price

2005-02-27T00:20:00.000-06:00

Is a $50 haircut worth it?

After experiencing my first, I believe it is. Especially for people with superfine hair that shows every snip of the scissors. The last thing I need is someone hacking into my hair and leaving a trail of crooked ends behind.

My fancy-shmancy haircut experience at Salon 2000 (an Aveda salon in Eden Prairie) began with a consultation. I went in thinking that I would have to have my hair cut short. I have a ton of hair, but it's super, super fine and I get a lot of flyaways and have zero volume. I had read that long layers are a great look for those with oval faces and fine hair, but I couldn't figure out how to articulate that. Fortunately, Lisa knew exactly what I was talking about.

The consultation was followed by a scalp massage using a calming essential oil. That was followed by a shampoo and a deep conditioning treatment. As my hair was conditioning, Lisa thoroughly massaged each of my hands. After my hair was rinsed, we went to the paraffin bath. I have a paraffin bath at home, but I had forgotten how incredible it feels!

All the pampering was followed by an hour-long haircut. As she snipped away, I felt as though she was cutting each strand individually, which is what I need with my superfine hair. We chatted about the 80s, men with big heads and bridesmaid dresses.

After she finished, we went to a makeup station where she touched up my foundation, lined my lips and filled them in with a bright Burgundy lipstick. At no point did she pressure me to buy the Aveda products (which run in the $20-$40 range for hairspray alone!), which was a nice reprieve.

I have always paid $30 or less for my haircuts, but I have always been unhappy. This experience was so positive that I will definitely repeat it! For the first time I like my hair; that's worth an extra $20.