Mani Pedi experience

Continuing the story of the friend whom I picked up at the airport...

She was suffering from major jet lag, and needed to stay up a few more hours and asked for me to stay. When we got back to her house we unpacked all her suitcases, one of which contained only food and cigarettes (but I got a lot of European treats to take home, she's very sweet that way). Then she asks if I'd like to go to the nail salon with her and talk while she gets her nails fails. I said no, not really. She begged and pleaded and twisted my arm so I went. As I'm sitting there with her she suggests I get my nails done. I NEVER do this. Not to say I haven' t before, but I don't like people touching me and I don't like my nails screwed around with. They're short and need no special attention. I said no, I need to get going soon anyway, I have to pick up some music downtown and then get back home in time for my piano lesson students. What SHE heard was "Yes please, I'd like my nails done, I don't care how long it takes." So I of course have no spine and relent. She's pushy. The nail tech did a nice job, I admit, and my nails looks pretty. Clear gloss only, still short, but completely unnecessary to my life. THEN....

...she suggests I get a pedicure. NO. no no no no no no NO!! I CAN'T STAND PEOPLE TOUCHING MY FEET!  I may have a fabulous shoe collection but I can do my toes myself and don't require someone else to handle my feet so they can look the same as when I do it. I did not back down on this point... at first. I just really get creeped out by people touching my feet. All my exes have known this, and most have gotten kicked when testing the validity of this statement. So we argue and argue, and then she says that she's going to be there another 20 minutes anyway getting her nails fixed, so why don't I just do it since I can't just leave her there? I texted the girl I'm picking up music from and said I'd be a half hour later, and could she meet then instead. Sure, no problem. (DARN! I wanted to use that as an excuse to escape!) So I agree to get a pedicure done BUT ONLY ONE FOOT! I know that's stupid and willful and probably very childish of me. But I was SO resistant to the idea of someone handling my feet that I could only bring myself to do one. The tech said it would cost the same as two, and I said I don't care, just get it over with.

I didn't HATE the experience, and nobody got kicked (although that was a close call), but what I resent is that I paid $30 to have someone touch my hands and feet, slather crap all over them, and gloss things up, when I can do that myself for free at home. I don't like being strong-armed into anything, and I resent that I changed my plans so I could have this experience. At least now I can say that I HAVE tried it and I don't like it. Was I determined not to like it from the start? Yeah a little. I can admit that it wasn't as bad as I expected. But I can also say that I personally feel the money is wasted on me. What shall I try next? Hold a tarantula? Dye my hair jet black? Go to a tanning salon? All things that make me shudder. However, my mom would never have believed I did a pedi unless my friend hadn't snapped a picture and emailed it to her.

Result of the day? Nice nails, $30 poorer, mad dash through rush hour traffic downtown, snatch the music from the conductor and jog to my car, mad dash home through even worse rush hour traffic, since now I'm going the same direction as the bulk of drivers, and a text to my student to please come 15 later. I made it home about 2 minutes before she arrived. Whew! Exciting times.