Work in Progress

My first show!!!

2008-07-02T23:20:00.003-05:00

That's right friends!!! I have a show on July 19th!!! I will be opening for Skip Rowland and Jordan Burch...I'll also be singing with Jordan during his set!

Here are some details:

When: July 19th, 2008
Where: The Green Room at OKC 1st
Time: 6:30
Admission: FREE!!!!

That's right!!! It won't cost you a dime!!!

This will be an evening of great acoustic, original music!! You won't want to miss it!!!

Music Page

2008-06-20T00:29:00.002-05:00

So, I have a myspace for my music now...and when I say "my music" I mean...the song that Jordan wrote and I sang at church on Sunday morning. He's working on some more songs for me...which I'm super excited about!! Anyway...if you want...you can go check it out and let me know what you think!

www.myspace.com/christinamccollough

Peace :)

Sheesh!!!

2008-05-20T22:56:00.002-05:00

Just a thought for today...

As of tomorrow...May 21, 2008...I have been graduated from high school for 10 years!!!! OUCH!!! I'm feeling especially old today! I also just looked at pictures of my first group of mid highers...they just graduated from college on Saturday!!! DOUBLE OUCH!!!!

I'm going to bed!

La Pinata

2008-05-05T00:39:00.001-05:00

This is a video from our Tres De Mayo party this weekend! There was an unexpected surprise in the pinata!!!

Enjoy!

NERD ALERT!!!!

2008-04-08T22:47:00.001-05:00

I just have to say that I just found out that the New Kids on the Block are officially reunited...and I'm pretty excited about it!!!

If they have a show anywhere close to OKC...I'M SOOOO THERE!!!!

Anyway...that's my nerd alert moment for the day!!

Peace :)

I'M BAAACK!!!

2008-03-23T22:02:00.003-05:00

So I'm back on this thing!!! It's been a great 40 days!!! I'm almost done with section 2 in school and it is going so well!! I started taking clients last week...I didn't have too many that first week, but I was pretty busy this week!!! I had at least 2 clients every day...and they were all people that I know!!! I think I'm doing pretty well with everything so far!! I absolutely love it!!!

Work is going pretty well...we've been super busy!! It's prom season though...so that's understandable. Time is going by really fast though...so no complaints here!!

I've been hanging out with the Sunday School class a lot too...and I love it!!! We spent almost all day together last Sunday! We went to lunch and to Marble Slab after church...then went home to nap for a while and met up at Lake Hefner to hang out and relax...then some of us went to grab a bite to eat and watch a movie! It was a fantastic day!!! We've been getting together quite a bit lately...and I'm really happy about all of the great friends I've made in the last few months! So, if any of you people from "The Group" read this thing...YOU ALL ROCK!!!!

That's really all I have for right now! Just a quick little update for you! I'll be posting some pics later! I've got some good ones of hair school!!!

Peace :)

One more week!!

2008-02-03T15:45:00.000-06:00

That's right!!! One more week until I move on to the next section!!! Then I will no longer be one of the new girls!!!! Next week will be pretty busy! We have a mock state board exam on Wednesday. This is where we get to practice all of the practical portion of the state board exam! I'm not worried about it....because I'll have 3 or 4 more of these before I actually take the real thing!! It does kinda stress me out though....because so many of the tests are timed! The very first part of the test is the comb out...which is the "June Cleaver" hair style! I take my mannequin with the rollers and pin curls done and dried. In 10 minutes I'm expected to take the hair out of the pin curls and rollers, brush it out and back comb the top to achieve this look...

I think it will be ok....but being timed just stresses me out! We have been practicing the timed portions of the test for two weeks though...so we'll see!

So, Ash Wednesday is this week. I have been thinking about what I'm abstaining from during Lent this year. The only thing that I can think of is the computer. I know that it is such a huge form of communication now, but I spend so much time on Facebook, checking e mails and just doing nothing. I get off of work at 9 on Tuesdays & Thursdays and I get home and get on the computer and end up staying up a whole lot later than I plan on staying up! I could spend that time reading a book, journaling, praying, or I could just go to bed at a decent time so I won't be completely exhausted at school the next day!!! I really think that this will be a good thing!

Anyway, I'm off to a Superbowl Party!!

Peace! :)

New Pics

2008-01-24T22:40:00.001-06:00

Here are some pics of my most recent work at school!

Enjoy!!

This is the cut I did on Saturday for my test...front and back.

This is the set up for the first part of my practical exam for the State Board. The top is rollers and the bottom is pin curls! It was so much fun doing this yesterday...and I'm totally not being sarcastic right now!! It's a blast!!! This morning we took it all out and brushed it into the "June Cleaver" hairstyle! It was sooooo hott!!! I forgot to take a picture though. I'll practice it again soon and take a pic of it!!

That's all for now!

Peace! :)

Drumroll please......

2008-01-19T23:26:00.000-06:00

I totally passed my test today!!!!!! It was rough though. I actually got about halfway up the back of the head and had to start over! I was very frustrated, but it ended up being ok!! We had to have a 75 or better to pass and I got an 88....so now I'm on to a 2 week cram session for the State Board exam! Only 3 more weeks in my first section! I can't believe it! In about 5 or 6 more weeks I'll get to start taking clients...REAL PEOPLE!!!! That's crazy!!! I'll only be able to do color at that point though...but still...REAL PEOPLE!!! I can't wait! That's really all for now! I just wanted everyone to know that I passed my first big test!!! YAY!

Peace :)

Test #1

2008-01-17T22:35:00.000-06:00

That's right!!! My first cutting test is this Saturday!!! We practiced the cut today, and it was ok. Now, the good news is that they are not making us find a model. That was a huge relief. Not that I didn't want to cut a real persons hair instead of the mannequin, but I was having trouble finding someone who wanted a one length bob!!! Anyway, my instructor told us today that he was not going to set our guide for us...which is a pretty huge deal!!! Before today, we have not set our own guides for this particular cut! FYI, when I say "set our guide" I mean cut the first section so that we have a "pattern" to follow for the rest of the cut. Anyway, here is the problem I had last week with setting my own guide for the cut we did last week:

My instructor set the guide for one side, and he made us set our own for the other. After we set the guide, he checked it and made sure that it looked good. If it needed some touching up, he helped us out. Even after that, I was still very unsure of myself the whole time I was finishing the cut. Up to that point I had really gotten the hang of that particular cut and my instructor hadn't had to do too much clean up. I think that, because I knew that I had set the guide and was not too sure I had gotten it right, I felt like I was doing the whole cut wrong!

The same thing happened today!!! The cut that we are doing is the easiest cut to do, but the hardest to get perfected. The guide is pretty simple to cut and I've watched my instructor set it several times....but I just couldn't get it! I was so frustrated that I couldn't get it!! My instructor came to look at it and he actually finished it for me. I'm sure that I could have finished it myself and it would have been fine, but I just got flustered and ticked off....so it was Jason to the rescue!!! Even after he finished the guide for me, I was completely insecure about myself through the whole cut!! I've done this cut more than any other so far...there's absolutely no reason for me to be so insecure about it!!! Anyway, now that I've figured this out about myself, I know that I just need to ignore it and do the cut like I know I can!! I think I get to practice it again tomorrow...so it should be much better tomorrow!!

That's really all I have for now. I can't believe that I'm almost 5 weeks into school!!! Why didn't I do this a long time ago?!!!

God Is Good!!

2008-01-12T00:03:00.000-06:00

I have been worried about my job situation since I left the bank over a month ago! I got my last pay check from the bank at the end of December and was really concerned about where I would get the money to pay bills after that. Well, I had spoken with my friend, Susan Horton, about needing a job and she suggested that I work at the salon, which is primarily a tanning salon. She gave my number to the owner and she hired me last night!!! So...I have a job!!!!

I have also been concerned about my first hair cutting test for school. It is on January 19 and I was told that I had to find someone to be my model. I was worried from the start because the haircut we are testing out on is not that great. I have asked so many people and for one reason or another they are not able to help me out. I totally understand, but I was pretty worried! My instructor informed us yesterday that we will be purchasing a new mannequin head for the sole purpose of our tests!! So I do not have to find a model and I will be able to take my test on the 19th!!!! It's been such a great week!!!!

Today we practiced the cut that we are doing for our test....and I felt pretty good about it. The more I work on these cuts, the less difficult they are for me. I've really been struggling the past couple of weeks....mainly because I'm too hard on myself! I have to remind myself that I'm not a banker anymore and that I'm actually learning a trade now....not just how to give great customer service and open accounts. I picked up on that stuff pretty quick and did well at it....but cutting hair is soooo different!!! I am very slow at cutting right now. I'm such a perfectionist and don't want to mess things up...even though it's not even a real person I'm working on!! This week was better though. I have decided that I need to accept the fact that I'm going to make mistakes...that's why I'm in school...to learn how to do this the right way!!! Anyway...I'm excited for my test next week...and quite nervous! I'd better get to bed now though....I wake up in 6 hours!!!

Peace! :)

3 weeks down...

2008-01-07T12:22:00.000-06:00

8 1/2 months to go!!! I love school!!! It is so fun and my classmate and I are doing well according to our instructor! It's nice to only have a class of 2...we get lots of one on one instruction! Last week we started adding some layers to the cuts that we did the week before. Here are a couple of pics! Enjoy!

What A Week!

2007-12-23T15:40:00.000-06:00

I started school on Tuesday and it was great!!!

My instructors are amazing and I have a small class....so we'll get lots of one on one instruction!! We learned our first cut on Wednesday...and when I say cut, I mean trim. It took me a while to get it done so I didn't finish it until Thursday. We are working on mannequin heads right now and they start out with pretty long hair, so we worked on trimming it and making it an even length. We trimmed it 3 times this week! Yesterday was the last trim and I did pretty well! My instructor said that he's impressed with all of us because he hasn't had any major length issues to correct. He checks our balance on every section before we can move to the next. I'm posting pictures of one of the trims from this week. We are learning a new cut next week...I'll post more pictures then.

In other news....my brother and sister in law are having a boy!!! I will have 3 nephews now!!! I'm pretty excited about that!

Anyway, the first week of school was great....it was the best decision ever!!! I hope you all have a great Christmas...I'll post some more pics as I get them. I want to document my progress. I hope you enjoy!

Peace! :)

Lucky Number 7

2007-12-16T23:36:00.000-06:00

So I have finished reading another book!! I finished the Mitch Albom book For One More Day. It was another easy read and a great story. I have already started reading Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister but haven't gotten far enough into it to comment...so I'll let you know later!

This has been such a relaxing week for me! As you know...my last day at the bank was last Friday. I have been a different person since then. Even though the weather over the weekend was horrible and we lost power for a day and a half...it was still so great to not have to worry about making it to work. I just sat and played card games with my mom and did a whole lot of nothing! I probably should have tried to find a job, but I think I've found something that I can do from home and set my own schedule. Tomorrow I will be spending some time doing the training for that. I start class on Tuesday!!! YIPPEE!!!! I can't wait!!!!

In other news, my brother and his wife find out tomorrow if they are having a boy or a girl...I soooo can't wait for that!!!

Anyway, that's really all for now....I'm sleepy and need to get to bed. I've got a lot of sitting in front of the computer to do tomorrow!

Peace :)

Relief

2007-12-08T00:03:00.000-06:00

I am officially unemployed!!!! To some, that might sound a little odd...but to me it makes soooo much sense! Just ask me about the last few months...then you'll understand.

My last day was pretty uneventful. We were busy, so that made the time go by very quickly!! I was kind of upset that I didn't get a little bit of a party or something. I mean, I've only been with this company for 3 years. I had a friend who transferred and got a cake and all kinds of hoopla! I wasn't really expecting anything, but it would have been nice. But whatever!!! I don't have to see any of those people again if I don't want to...and that's nice! I can't explain the relief I felt when I left there this evening!!! I didn't really even say goodbye to anyone....I just bolted out the door to get to my small group Christmas party!! I was scheduled to work until 7 tonight, but I got to leave at 6 and my party was at 6:30...so I had to hurry!!!

My Christmas party was super fun!! We had great food, went to see the lights in Yukon and played Dirty Santa. Jason and I totally kicked butt!!! We had numbers at the end and had some good items to choose from. I stole some Starbucks coffee grounds and flavored syrups from Aaron & Christina (sorry!). Jason opened up a Japanese tea set. The tea set got stolen from him and he stole my coffee. Well, I stole the tea set and we traded gifts....so I got my coffee back and he got his tea set back!!! It was soooo great!!! We felt kinda bad....but then realized that the name of the game is "Dirty" Santa. It was a great time tonight and I absolutely love my small group!!! They are all fantastic people and I'm so happy to call them my friends!

Well, I should go to bed now. I've got a busy day tomorrow! Good night!

Peace :)

SIGH

2007-12-02T09:31:00.000-06:00

What a week!!!

I'm ready for my last week...that's all I'm sayin about that!!

I went to Target on Friday night and bought 2 books and 2 dvds that I'm very excited about!!! I haven't started the books, but I've already watched one of the dvds and am currently watching the other! The dvds are the Ellen Degeneres HBO special "Here and Now." If you haven't seen it...you should! It's so stinkin funny!!! The other dvd is The Office Season 1. It's ok....a lot of the story lines are just like the British version...and I like the British version better. Maybe that's just because I saw it first. Anyway, I think that once I get to season 3 it will be better, because I'm pretty sure that the British version only ran for 2 seasons.

Anyway, the books that I purchased are For One More Day by Mitch Albom and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire. I bought the Mitch Albom book because I've read 2 of his already and they were very easy reads and I enjoyed them quite a bit. The Gregory Maguire book I bought for the same reason. He is the author of Wicked and Son of a Witch. I loved these books. They were pretty difficult to read, but I loved them!!! I'm very excited to get to reading. I think I'll start with the Albom book because I know I'll finish it pretty quickly. It will probably take a little more time to get through the Maguire book and I'd like to get one more book read before I start school in 2 weeks!!!!

Anyway...that's all for now. Pray for me this next week. I'm so ready to be done with my job...I was really wishing that Friday had been my last day. It was a rough day! Also pray that I find a job soon...because after this Friday....I will be unemployed....and that makes me nervous.

Peace :)

So Funny!!!

2007-11-23T17:48:00.001-06:00

I love it!!!

A Minor Setback

2007-11-21T22:24:00.000-06:00

So, I went to meet with the prospective employer yesterday...and it's not going to work out!! So, I am currently enrolled for classes that start Dec. 18th and will be leaving my current job on Dec. 7th and do not have another job yet!! I'm not too worried, because I get paid all of the PTO that I have accrued over the last 3 years...almost 200 hours!!! Now, this should help for a few months, so I've still got some time to find a job....but I would like to have something lined up before I start classes. Let me know if you have any ideas that don't involve waiting tables.

Anyway...I'm counting the days until I get to leave my job!!! It has been pretty stressful lately and especially this week. I'm not going to give any details as to what all is going on....but I just can't handle much more!!! Only 16 1/2 days to go!!! (The 1/2 is because I work this Saturday....and it's only for half of a normal day.)

So....this writer's guild strike is killing me!!! I don't know all the details of why the writers are on strike...but I think that someone should just hurry up and give them what they want so my shows will come back!!!! Well, Heroes isn't gone....yet. It only has 2 more new episodes!!! 24 isn't even going to come on at all!!! What am I supposed to do on Monday nights now?!

There is also a strike going on in NYC that has shut a lot of Broadway shows down. I think that is really sad, because I don't think there is a better experience in the world than that of live theater!!! I think it is something that everyone should experience. I think that it is the stage managers and the behind the scenes people that are on strike here....and I have complete respect for them!! I have been a stage manager before and it is so difficult! It sucks sometimes to put up with actors/actresses who don't follow direction, know their lines, shut up back stage during a show, know their cues...you get the idea!! I say, "Give these people what they want!!!" They probably deserve it...and then some!!! Just get these shows back up and running!!!

So that's my thought for today!! I hope you all, all 5 of you, have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Peace :)

IT'S OFFICIAL!

2007-11-14T22:40:00.000-06:00

I am officially enrolled at The Academy of Hair Design!!! I signed all the paperwork today and it felt great!! I noticed today that I didn't feel like I was signing my life away today like I did when I enrolled at Trevecca. Anyway, I'm very excited! I start December 18th and my projected date of graduation is September 30th, 2008. They have worked in an extra 100 hours for excused absences....but I'm not planning on using them. Now, if it gets really crappy this winter and they have to close the school...that is when those 100 hours come in to play. If I don't use any of those hours I'll graduate early...I'm really hoping for that! When I got back to work after enrolling, I typed up my resignation letter. It was very strange to do that. I have been at that job for 3 years and at one point actually thought that I would move up into management...so it felt very strange to actually say "I am resigning my position." In a way, it felt very liberating!! In a way, it is very frightening. I mean, I'm going from this steady job with great benefits to poor college student...again! I know that in the end I'll be much happier, but it still freaks me out a little.

Anyway, enough of that! I feel like that's all I've been talking about on this blog so far. On to new subjects!

I realized something while I was traveling over the weekend. I took a book with me for the long car rides. I thought it would last until the end of the trip...boy was I wrong. The book I read was Tuesdays With Morrie. It's a great book, but a very easy read. I realized that I was in danger of finishing very early when, after about an hour of reading, I was already half way through the book! Anyway, after reading that book so fast, I got to thinking about my reading habits this past year. I was one of those horrible students in high school that never read a single book all the way through. I would do reports with Cliff Notes or based on discussions held in class. I despised reading...until I met Harry Potter!!! I discovered the series in early 2004. I read every book leading up to the one released that year...which I think was book 5. After the 5th book, I just had to wait on the rest to come out...and there wasn't much reading in between. I made it my resolution this year to read more. In January I spent way too much money at Borders on books!! I have read a total of 6 books this year. Now, that may not seem like much...but for me it's huge!!! It probably would have been more, but the 5 months that I spent as a supervisor at work kinda made me not want to do anything at all!!

So, I'm looking for suggestions. I would like to get a couple more books in before the end of the year!! Here's a list of what I've read so far:

Wicked
Son of a Witch
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Tuesdays With Morrie
The Kite Runner

If you have any suggestions, just let me know!

Peace :)

Update

2007-11-12T23:19:00.000-06:00

So, I went to the hair academy on Thursday for a tour of the school and to fill out the application for the student loan. Well, I got there and the girl that was supposed to take me on the tour was not in that day...no big deal. I went ahead and filled out the loan application. While I was filling it out, the girl asked me if I had a co-signer. I didn't because I really didn't think I'd need one. She said that it was very hard to qualify individually and that most people had to have co-signers. Anyway, I left there a little frustrated. I got to thinking about it though, and I realized that she was used to younger people who have no credit coming to that school...so they would need co-signers. Anyway, before I left, she told me that she would be in on Saturday and should have an answer by then. I told her to call my cell because I would be out of town.

I left Friday morning to go to Louisiana for my nephew's 2nd birthday. At about 12:30 that afternoon, I got a call from the hair academy. I qualified for the loan on my own!!!!! They are sending me the enrollment info. packet and I go Wednesday to enroll!! I am calling someone about a job tomorrow and then I'll be all set!!! I can't believe that this is all happening so quickly!! I can't wait!

Anyway, this weekend was great! My nephews are so great! Cayden is such a little firecracker! He's so funny ! He'll say anything you tell him to...which is not always great...but most of the time very hilarious! Tanner is absolutely beautiful! For anyone who doesn't know, he was very sick when he was born. At one point, the doctors gave him less than 10% chance of surviving. Anyway, he's doing great and is just a beautiful, happy baby! He hardly ever cries and he smiles at everything!! I was very sad to leave there this morning. I got home and went over to the Middendorf's house for dinner and Heroes. This is my normal Monday night thing. Tonight, however was a little different, because their friend Jools is in town from Ireland. He made a killer stew tonight!!! It was fantastic!! It was also a little different this week because we had two episodes to watch because we missed last week. That show totally stresses me out! The only thing that stresses me out more, is that there are only 3 new episodes left because of the writer's strike!!! I hope they reach an agreement before the three episodes are up! I don't know what I'll do!!!

Anyway, I'm off to bed now! 9 hours in the car wore me out!

Peace :)

So what's new?

2007-11-05T20:25:00.000-06:00

Quite a bit is new with me!!!

1.) I am very burnt out with my current work situation...so I have decided to go back to school...
2.) I have decided to enroll at The Academy of Hair Design!!! I have an appointment on Thursday morning to tour the school and fill out the applications and get the enrollment process started!!
3.) I am in the process of finding a part time job and the search is going well. I have some of my bills taken care of by working at home for my parents and I have a very promising prospect to cover the rest!!

I can't even explain how I feel about all of this. It's happened so quickly! I just got to thinking a few weeks ago that I am really tired of a corporate setting and I know that I just don't fit in there. I have thought about going to cosmetology school before but never really did anything about it...but now it's time!! I'm so excited but I'm nervous at the same time. I have been working at my current job for 3 years now...and it's very strange to leave the comfort of a steady paycheck, and health and dental insurance and a 401k...but I know that this is going to be a great thing for me. I love people and I love the creativity involved in hair design! I really feel like this is something that I will be great at!!

So, if you are not already committed to a hairdresser...come see me in 10 months!!! HA HA!!

Later! :)

I <3 Kansas!!!

2007-10-16T23:08:00.000-05:00

I went to visit my best friend Kelsie this weekend...sooo awesome!!!

This is the first time that I have gone to visit her when she hasn't been in a show, super busy with school or sick. The last time I went up was the weekend of my birthday. We spent quite a bit of time in the ER that weekend. It was so nice to just hang out with her. I really miss her a ton and wish that I could find a way to move up there. Lawrence is such a cool place. Their downtown is amazing! So many cool places for vintage clothing, furniture & decor. Also some great coffee shops. I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend! I would like to make going up there a more frequent thing...we'll see. Anyway, that's all for now. I'd better get to sleep before the storm comes...if I don't, I'll be awake all night!

Peace :)

Exhaustion

2007-10-07T13:44:00.000-05:00

I'm sooo exhausted right now!

It's been a great weekend though. I left work at 4 on Friday and headed to the church. I drove the people mover for the high school group. We went to Tulsa for the Switchfoot concert. I don't know a whole lot of their stuff, but I do appreciate that they sound like their recordings!! It is always frustrating to hear people sound so amazing on their albums only to discover that they are horrible in real life!! After the concert was over, we had a pretty long walk back to the people mover. On the way, there was a QuikTrip- the boys are pretty much obsessed with the QT!! So we stopped in and bought some beverages and snacks. We then headed to the home of one of our sponsors...well, his parents' home...anyway. They have a very large back yard and they pitched tents for us to sleep in and built a fire pit for us and everything!! It was so nice! I was already pretty tired when we got to the house, so I wasn't so into the whole fire and roasting marshmallows. I was just ready to crash! I ended up sleeping in a tent with 4 other girls. Now, this tent probably could have slept 3 very comfortably and 4 a little less cofortably....but there were 5 in there!! It was so hot!!! Not a whole lot of sleeping happened that night. Not to mention that I was on the ground. My body is hurting today!! When we got up on Saturday morning we had a huge breakfast. We loaded up the people mover and headed for OKC around 12:30. I was so tired and I felt disgusting from sweating so much...but it was so much fun!!! I don't know if I'll be able to do the camping thing again any time soon....but I'm not saying that I'll never do it again. I just need to let my body recover from this weekend.

Anyway...that's pretty much it for me right now. I'm getting ready to go take a nap!!

Peace!

Here goes...

2007-10-04T18:58:00.000-05:00

Here we go!!

I haven't blogged in quite a while...so I though it was time I started again! Not that I've ever had that much to say, oh well!

So I got my hair cut and colored this weekend...super cool!! I have a red streak in the front and it's amazing. Now, I told my boss on Friday that I was going to do it and she said that she couldn't wait to see it!! Fast forward to today at about 5:45. I was supposed to leave at 5, but we had to have a talk. So, she gives me a run down of what my duties are at the branch...which was cool. I mean I pretty much knew, but it was interesting to see it on paper. Then she tells me, very reluctantly, that her boss's boss wants me to cover up the red!!!! She told me that she fought for it because she liked it and there's technically not anything in our dress code that says that I can't have a red streak in my hair. He just feels like it's not professional. Whatever is what I have to say to that!!!!! I'm ready for a new job!!! One that will allow me to dye my hair any dang color that I want to, and one that will let me get my nose pierced again if I want to!!! I'm sick of having a super professional job!! It sucks for someone like me. I've never been a corporate type of person and I have been working a corporate type job for almost 3 years. I CAN'T TAKE IT ANY MORE!!!!! I need to find something else...quick!!

Anyway, that's my rant for the day.

Enjoy :)