Thursday morning, I was flying solo, I’d originally planned on helping Amber around the house a bit while she worked.  However, since it’d been about 7 months since my last haircut, I decided a trip to the Capri student college salon would be a wise investment.

I dunno if any of you have been to a student college before, however, for me, it was my 2nd trip.  The first time I went, I got a hair style and make-up for my ‘Trash the Dress’ shoot and it cost a fraction of the price that it had in the ‘proper’ salon where I got sorted for my engagement shoot.

This time, I asked for an ‘Advanced’ stylist, so, someone who’s been there a while – not a beginner.  I tend to be particular about my hair, but, since I was verging on desperation for a cut (or, rather, my hair was) I figured screw it.

My stylist, also called Amber funnily enough – was lovely! She listened to what I wanted, we picked colours – approved by her instructor, decided how much to cut and signed the form.  The whole process took 4 hours, or there abouts.  I went with an all over browny colour, some highlights and a 1.5inch trim (at the back, the front was a little more of a trim than that).  Nothing too major, or out there – and, for the most part, I’m happy with how it came out.

The cut, I LOVE – in spite of it not being a Curly Girl cut, (see previous posts about my CG hair routine!) she did a damn good job – and my hair already feels a world better.  The curls are bouncier and my hair is feeling healthier already also.

The colour – for the most part, I like.  At least, everything bar the crown of my head (yup, the freakin’ part that everyone sees!) Either she left the colours on too long (which I think is the case since some of my hair is white-blonde!), they interacted together or something else, but it’s gone orange, or, as I called it when I first saw it ‘ginger’.  I wasn’t sure how long it’d take to ‘fix’ and with only an hour to get home and get sorted for our jaunt to Des Moines, I just told her it was grand and left.

Big Mistake.

I quickly decided I didn’t like it and Amber tells me that I should have asked for a toner – if only I’d known!

Dang! Anyways, it’s only hair, I can always re-dye it, get it fixed, or, on the other hand, just leave it til September and just dye it ‘fall’ (or Autumn for my ‘at home’ readers!) colours then.  I could probably last…

Upside is, anyone who’s seen it, has said they like it (Aside from Adrian, Pierce and Mariano who heard me say I didn’t like it and tore into me!) – though I’m pretty sure they’re just being polite…

Back at Amber’s, I had enough time to get changed, take a drink and ‘plop’ my hair (again see previous references to my CG hair routine!).  We loaded up Emily’s fab Murano and headed on our merry 2 hour trip to Des Moines.

After about 30 minutes, we stopped to fill up the car (and to get me food cause I’d not found time to eat a meal yet!) and, Amber discovered that she  had forgotten to lift the tickets for the concert.  Disaster!

We about-turned, headed back to Van Horne, grabbed the tickets and headed back on our merry way to Des Moines.  We checked in to the hotel quickly and headed straight to the venue – the Des Moines outdoor Ampitheatre.

We grabbed hotdogs (and I grabbed a T-shirt) and a spot on the grass and waited.  I think I was the only one of the 3 of us to even vaguely enjoy the warm up act (who’s name currently escapes me just now) but it wasn’t long before the wonderful Matty Nay came out onstage!

Those of you who know me, are probably sick to death of this story, but, for those of you who may not have known me for 7 (or more) years now, here’s where my obsession for Mr Matty came from.

I met Amber online, at least 7 years ago now (I’d have to check my old livejournal to get the actual date) and around 2 years after we ‘met’ (and wrote letters back and forward, emailed almost every day, texted, the occasional phone call), I flew to Chicago where we met ‘in real life’ for the first time.

Thankfully, she wasn’t a pervy old man, or someone who wanted to sell me in to the slave trade or something (which is just as well since I’d make a terrible slave!) Anyways, between that trip (and the occasional music exchange prior to me visiting), I discovered a whole world of unknown music to me.  A genre we dubbed, ‘guys’n’guitars’.  Jason Mraz, Matt Nathanson, John Mayer…Gavin de Graw, Marc Broussard, Donovan Frankenreiter etc etc etc…

So, the first two on that list, became my two, absolutely favourite musicians – EVER.  I got pretty much any music they’d ever done – live or studio, I’d fallen in love…

Jason Mraz I’ve seen 4 or 5 times now, John Mayer, once.  But Matt has always been tres elusive! Everytime I’m in Iowa, he’s not (and, annoyingly he’s always there a few weeks before or after!!!!!), when I’m in Houston, he’s not! I don’t think he’s been to Northern Ireland or the U.K and he’s been top of my list of ‘must see’ artists for, well, pretty much EVER really…ok, slight exaggeration, but I’m sure you get my point.  I’ve been dying to see him for years…

When Amber told me he was gonna be in Des Moines, I had to book flights – especially when tickets were a mere $20 a piece.  Airmiles + $5 secured me a flight and I’d been pretty damn excited ever since.  Yes, this is the short story about my obsession with Matty Nay.

If you haven’t heard his stuff – do it! His most recent album ‘Modern Love’, is a lot more commercial than I’m used to hearing from him.  I like it! But, if you’re not a fan of folk-gone-pop, kinda akin to Mraz’s more recent stuff too, then pass it up and go straight to the old stuff.

Needless to say, the concert blew my freakin’ mind! He was fantastic live – hilarious and creative, all at once.  And he even picked on a fan who wouldn’t shut the hell up screaming at him to play one song for the entire concert.  He’s actually a pretty funny guy too – which I’m not sure I fully expected.  Plus – it doesn’t hurt that he’s a bit of a hottie – currently looking a little Wolverine-esque rockin his facial hair.  But, a hottie none the less! His voice is like melted chocolate (and not that Hershey’s crap!)…mmmmmmmmm!

Anyway, distracted! LOL!

The concert ROCKED (literally!), he brought out some 80’s classics (Purple Rain, Jessie’s Girl) and some modern hits (Forget you – CeeLo!) it was excellent.

When we’d finished at the concert, we were all starving.  We spent an hour or so looking to find a place that was still open to eat so late.  Eventually, we ended up calling an order in to the Cheesecake factory (and narrowly missing them closing!) to get our dinner and we ate back in the hotel room.

An hour or two of giggling and inventing the most random creations ensued, before we turned in for the night and went to bed.