in answer to a question

That question being:
For those of you who wax your eyebrows to shape them, or who wax your legs, I continue to assume that you do it for *you*, for how you want to look. But do you often notice that other women would look better if only they waxed their eyebrows (or their legs)? Do you even notice their eyebrows? If you wear makeup, do you notice women that you think would look better if only they wore makeup? If you color your hair, do you think that woman over there who doesn't color her gray really should? If you highlight your hair, do you think that woman over there with plain brown hair could look so much more attractive if only she highlighted hers?

I much prefer the natural look. I seldom see a woman who is wearing a lot of makeup and think that she looks good. Of course I mean noticeable makeup - a makeup job that looks very natural is likely to look good. (I hate that pink blotch of blush high on the cheek.) Makeup that covers freckles is disappointing. Blue or green eye shadow is just wrong. My mom wears that.

But then when I decide how good someone looks, I do it in terms of their look. If what someone has done with their makeup and hair and outfit works, it generally looks good. At that point, I usually can't even compare it to another look. Given the choice, however, I still prefer the less-made-up look.

But some of the issues are harder to reconcile. Though I prefer the natural look, some natural looks are farther from the societal norm, and I have more trouble accepting them.

If Nicole Kidman showed up in a strapless evening gown and unshaven armpits, I would probably be turned off. With normal women, though, armpit hair doesn't usually bother me. Unshaven legs bother me a bit more. Big, shaggy unibrows bug me a bit too. Balding guys usually look fine. I don't understand why that's such a turn-off. On the other hand, I perfectly understand why it bothers the guy.

But getting back to that "choice" thing, though I prefer women to have certain features looking attractive, I don't usually notice or care when they don't. I tend to accept people as they are. I mean, if she asks me which I prefer, I'll tell her, and will probably be aware of it when she doesn't look like that, for people I've never seen both ways, I don't compare because I've never seen them the other way.

lawn care

I mowed the lawn this morning. It was the first time in three and a half weeks. I don't remember how long it was before that - at least two weeks. The grass didn't really need it, but the weeds were going to seed, so I wanted to get them cut off. There was one patch of grass that is green and needed cutting. Some more was rather brown, but I don't think I hurt it by mowing. I skipped the back part altogether. There are few weeds back there, and it the grass was just too short to bother with.

I hope I didn't hurt it by mowing. Half of the front yard was short enough that I almost skipped it, but I decided to go ahead and cut it. I see people (usually old people who have nothing better to do or who are just too set in their ways to stop) who insist on mowing twice a week whether it needs it or not, but that can be deadly to your grass when it is dry. I've seen lots of short dead lawns. My dad’s father-in-law compliments my dad on how green his lawn is in this drought. He asks him how he does it, and he says, "I don't cut it!" but the old man continues to mow his lawn anyway.

The dandelions are flourishing in my yard, with their taproots. The plantains were getting very big, but are starting to die off. The creeping charlie is almost gone (I didn't think I'd live to see that). Most of the violets in the lawn have disappeared. Most of the rest of the weeds are doing well.

van

There's a van parked in front of my house with a crow on the roof. I can't tell whether it is a taxidermied crow, or just a fake one. It is attached to a light. It's one of those small halogen work lights, and the crow is sitting on top of it.

Ant the roof of the van is dented. I wonder if it has anything to do with that piece of furniture that was sitting on top oof it the other day. They were trying to get it over the railing of their balcony. It must not have fit up the stairs.

today

My friend drove in the demolition derby tonight, so he needed someone to watch his kid for a while tonight, and take him to watch his dad drive. Cindy and I picked Will up from his grandparents, and went to the bookstore to get a present for his new little sister (and a book for him). Then we went up to the fairgrounds. the kid was pretty good for a while, but after some cotton candy, he got a little wild. There wasn't much room in the bleachers, so we left after his dad was done (it was a pretty unimpressive performance). We got some food, then Will wanted to go back in to watch. He spent most of his time there kicking up
dust. Then when it was time to go, he didn't want to go. It was a little work to distract him from his obstinance, but we finally got him out. It was kinda fun.

I had hoped to be around all day, to get a lot of work done around the house. Aside from a LiveJournal break in the middle of the afternoon, I stayed busy. I wish I had more done to account for my time. I had to quit around four, in order to clean up and pick Will up. It only cost me an hour or two, and I had all day. My main task for the day was to paint. I was supposed to prime my porch railings and a bit on my garage. Then tomorrow I'd paint them. I didn't even get the scraping done on the railings. Oh well. I have all day tomorrow.