Dear Empire

I think that letters are good. It's seems to be an effective way of getting someone's attention. Like on the movie White Chicks, when the girls are trying to get into their hotel room and the front desk won't let them. The two girls threaten to write a letter, and as soon as they start to write it, they get what they want (I hope you've seen that movie, otherwise this probably doesn't make sense).

Dear Empire,

I hate you. 

A lot actually.

Love,

Chesca

Chapter 21

I recently came to the conclusion that everyone needs to carry a book around. A book? Yes, a book. Work with me people.

There are few things I remember about being little, not sure why. When I was about eight I begged my mom for this book with a baseball mitt and ballerina shoes on it titled All About Me. As you can imagine, eventually I got. And if I were a smart little kid, I would have kept that book and would have updated it regularly. But seeing that I can't even remember being little, I must have been a bit slow. 

This is the book we all need to carry around. I don't think every other little kid was as good of a brat as me, so I'm going to assume you didn't have an All About Me  book. With that in mind I'm declaring myself the official All About Me Chapter Assigner.  So now everyone can make their own book with wonderful chapter titles, organized by me. Chapter 1, as you can imagine, is all about your original birthday. Titled, Original Birthday. Followed by chapter 2, Growing Up Fast: Teeth Toddler and Tantrum. Next you find titles such as The Playground,  Freshman Year through Prom, and Hello Legal Adult, and then chapter 21, which is titled Chapter 21.

Chapter 21:

As you can imagine this chapter of my life is quite rambunctious. Haha, just kidding. Most people my age, 21, would celebrate this birthday at a bar. But instead my husband gave me a  much needed mini vacation. I drug myself to school that morning, but we'll just pretend I didn't do that. After school, I had lunch at Olive Garden. If you haven't had their chocolate cake thingy yet, you need to get on that. Then, Brett drove me north on Loop 101, not telling me exactly where we were going. Eventually, we reached Scottsdale and I came to the conclusion that I would be enjoying a StayCation. Kind of like vacation, but not va... It was wonderful. And nice resort that came with 100 dollars in food credit. We went to the movies that night walked the mall together and spent some time enjoying each others company. I got a new pair of shoes too. I. LOVE. SHOES. The next morning we attempted to use our 100 dollar food credit by eating a 67 dollar breakfast. Wonderful, followed by swimming and catching some sun. End of Chapter 21.

So, everyone get your books going.  I'm expecting to see a wedding chapter out of some of you, maybe a graduation chapter. But get to work. It's late and I'm off.

School and Senior Test Out

Sometimes you get motivated to accomplish something. However the motivation sometimes doesn't stick. Been there done that. However, about mid May my motivation came out of thin air. This is why Brett and I currently have an uneventful life.

At the time it seemed like hair school hell was never going to end, and that thought made me miserable. In order to graduate I needed 1600 hours. Mid may, I had about 1200 and should have had 1345 hours. I had a ton of hours to make up. So I became a robot.

I'd wake up at 7 AM, be at school by 9 AM, come home at about 9:30 PM, and be in bed by about 11 PM. Next day, I'd do it again. Monday though Saturday, except Saturdays were over at 1 PM, sometimes.  

... Here is the key to being a successful robot: Brett.  Now at about 9:30 PM, when I'd get home, I'd find Brett (key to being a successful robot) making me dinner. SMILE, SMILE, SMILE...

After my first week of this sort of torture, I was shocked to find that I was still alive. Empire still sucked, but I was still alive. And so I continued to endure this sort of pain for another week. I was doing good, until my "Transformer" like instructor announced senior test out. - Definition, senior test out: A written test of 100 random cosmetology questions followed by a practical examination that is pretty much identical to a state board examination, necessary to graduate - DUM DUM DUM DUMMM. Then I freaked out, just a bit. Or maybe a lot.

Senior test out was to be the first week of June. I focused worrying about the written test first. Empire doesn't give any sort of review for the written or the practical, I wasn't the least bit surprised. They tell you to read your text book, duh, why didn't I think of that. So I studied, and studied, then I studied 525 questions from a chapter review book. Later, after much whining and begging, I got a review. I knew almost the entire thing. The clouds parted and the sun beamed through. At least I was sure to pass the written. 

I moved on to practicing for the practical exam. There are five parts: thermal curling, haircutting, perms, relaxers, and color/lightening. Each section is timed, so I timed myself and did well. Except for the haircutting. I couldn't get the exam cut done in under 30 minutes. So I practiced the cut a few different ways till I got in done in under thirty minutes. Next day was testing.

June 4th, 9 -11 AM, Senior Test Out: Written Exam

I sat down and took the test. Nervous that I might miss one, cause I knew for sure I have answered them all correctly at least five times before. Then came question 69 that was worded funny: The heart, lungs, kidneys, and intestines are all: What are the heart, lungs, and kidneys? Same number, two questions. I was slightly perturbed that someone hadn't revised this test. Answer was organs. I finished the test and turned it in. A few hours later I was helping my instructor grade the tests by reading off the letters as she checked my classes answers. Second to last test was mine. I read the letters. AAABCD BCAD BCDAB BBDC ADCCD CDCADCDBBB (those are just random letters, not the real answers). She finished grading my test. 100% Once again the clouds part.

June 5th, 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM, Senior Test Out: Practical Exam

This whole test, honestly was a blur. I had the rules read to me a million times and I'd asked hundreds of questions. But other than performing the obvious tasks, I had to focus on sanitizing my hands constantly. So the test started. I sanitized and disinfected, set my crap up and began. Yeah, the first thing I was supposed to in section one, I didn't do. I forgot to check the temperature of my curling iron. The entire time I was just hoping that they assumed I did it. But after that first mistake, I did test my curling iron. Next was the haircut, and I finished it in under thirty minutes. The entire time I was telling myself to relax and that I'd done it in 30 minutes before. I guess it helped. Now, the rest was a blur. I finished everything. I left the room feeling pretty good. Mad about the only obvious thing I knew I missed. Stupid curling iron. However, I was reminded of one rule, anything the examiner doesn't see, is assumed completed in the students favor. Fingers were crossed. At about 4:15 PM test scores were read. I waited as the instructor read through all the scores but mine, and then she asked if she left anyone out, ME. "Franchesca, 100%, congratulations." SMILE, SMILE, SMILE...

That's motivation baby!