I'm Licensed

I passed my theory exam. I passed my practical. That means I am officially a cosmetologist.

I Finished Hair School Hell

Late last summer I handed Empire Beauty College $15,000, in loans, to go to "hair school" and smiled as I walked out of the front door. Ladies and Gentlemen, I walked out the front door for the last time today, and I cried, because hair school is one of the worst things I have ever had to do.

But, I'm done. I complete 1,600 hours of training in cosmetology, and probably then some. I endured 1,600 hours of smiling at insecure, mean, selfish girls. I put up with 1,600 hours of unorganized Empire Beauty School administration. But, I'm done.

And I'm never going back.

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

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!

Nine in the Morning

I would be lying if I said that I hate the Rockband song Nine in the Afternoon. As a matter of fact I would be really really lying. However, that hate statement is false. I love Nine in the Afternoon so much that you can be that I add it to my playlist whenever I get a chance. I even like to jump dance to it while I am strumming. But  Nine in the Afternoon is so not the subject here people. Let's talk about nine in the morning.

By the time I have hit the alarm on the desk six times,  I've hit the back up alarm on the night stand twelve times. And by the time I am out of bed, it is nine in the morning. The same time that I should be at school. Which translates to an extra hour and a half on my expected graduation date, which has fallen behind due to this exact problem.

There are these rare moment where I actually do get up at seven in the morning as planned. But somewhere between lotion application and blow dry I fall back asleep. Meaning, I get another hour and half added to my expected graduation date.

I am thinking that this issue is al mental, like much of my life problems. Maybe between lotion application and blow dry, I should read a book for five minutes, have breakfast, or possibly do some jumping jacks... I dunno, but this is getting out of hand. I hope that once I move out to Gilbert, another ten minutes away from school. that I don't make the problem worse. Crap.

Anyways, I was so totally on time to school today.

Pieces of Life

Dear tiny pieces of Franchesca's life,


I crawled into to bed the other day, at five PM, and decided that it was time to level with myself and apologize to you. So here it goes. I was going to save the biggest apology for last, but I have to get it off my chest.

I’m sorry that you have to spend “35” hours a week at hair school, when I know you’d rather be playing Rockband.

I’m sorry for depriving you of sleep by going to bed for the second time at two AM. An apology for not helping you get out of bed every day at seven AM, and again for not allowing you to make it to school on time, nine AM.

I am throughly guilty for allowing you to get addicted to Dr. Pepper again. I’ve been trying to help you out though, by reminding you to drink water and take your vitamins. Sorry.

Do you remember all those shows you used to watch? No? Probably not, I haven’t really given you much time to watch them. How I Met Your Mother. Heroes. Big Bang Theory. Yeah, I’ll work on that one.

The daily pony tail. I know you cut almost all your hair off and refuse to take pictures now. But I promise, it does grow back. Your bangs are cute...

Deep apologies for the whole black and white wardrobe. That ones isn’t going to change though. But I am truly sorry that all you get to wear is black and white. It must suck having to look like your going to a funeral.

The constant headache and occasional nauseousness. Wait, this one I can’t say sorry for. Just stop stressing and take a chill pill.

So I guess what I am trying to say, the bottom line, the biggest problem... I’m sorry hair school has a lot in common with purgatory.

Sincerely, 
The pieces that are left of Franchesca

Dear Friends and Family

So, it has come to my attention that blogging left my vocabulary sometime around September and has not returned until... now. Actually, mid-December I redid the background thinking that the white simple look would inspire me to write more, but that did no good whatsoever. So, as I delay my bedtime, I'll attempt to recall the last few months of 2008.

I do have a very good excuse for not being a committed blogger, and I am sure that Carly will forgive me for not giving her updates to read up on. 

Hair school has been kicking my butt since August 4th people! Don’t think for one second that hair school is supposed to be easy. I spent my first three months in a classroom that is 92% girl, and for anyone that knows me well enough I don’t do well with girls. I suppose I am in the wrong industry, I mean, I can handle being friends with a few of them, but level with me: girls are a handful. My first three months of school were solely dedicated to learning the basics. Then sometime in November, I can’t remember when, I tested out of basic. I totally don’t mean to brag, but between my written and practical grades, I averaged a 98%. So I was proud of all my hard work. Since then I have been taking clients and have been doing their hair. Anything from going back blonde, to old lady rollers, to the terrifying mens cuts. It’s been stressful though. Unfortunately, the school I go to has some very rude teachers, so plenty of words have been exchanged. I do have a couple of great teachers though. I am enjoying it though and am doing something I like. I will be done in July and just want to get there.

Back in July Brett tested for the Mesa Police Department and passed all his exams very well. However, for some reason the economy is down, I don’t know! I guess that equals no money for hiring officers. Pretty much all Arizona cities are on a hiring freeze for officers. And so school continues.

Christmas came and went. I spent the holiday with mostly Brett’s family. Krista, Andy, and their two kids Carly and Parker were here from DC. The kids were a blast to have. We all spent plenty of time playing on the Wii. Casey came down from Provo as well. Brett got an acoustic guitar for Christmas and I got Mario Kart and Rockband 2. 


Now, we are just here. Brett is getting ready to start up with school again and I trudge on with six months to go. And that is all I intended to write, a brief update.

July Update

July went by so fast. Brett and I have been doing pretty good. He's still working for the mailing company and waiting to hear back from the Mesa Police Department. He's been through so many different tests to try and get into the academy. His most recent interviews were background checks. We was asked a bunch of questions about things he has or hasn't done. Some were weird others weren't. The officer that interviewed him teased him on his almost perfect background. The only dent he has is getting suspended from school for water balloons at a sports assembly, some people got wet.

I’m currently employed at Best Buy, still. However, I’m enjoying not having to work there. Sounds strange right? Well basically I work a four hour shift once every other week, sometimes longer. The best part is that my discount still works. After my mom decided to break her foot, I tagged along with her on the pool route to make sure she didn’t break anything else. That lead to me being a pool cleaner too. So now I spend a few hours each morning cleaning pools on my own route. I now quote with my mother that “I drop acid everyday” she is such a good example. Starting August fourth, I’ll be back in school again. But this time I get to do exactly what I want to do. I’ll be at Empire Beauty School. I call it hair school, much easier to get out than cosmetology school. School came with a nice price though, seventeen grand. Thank you Uncle Sam for fronting the money. Anyways, I am excited.