a Nice Lady Luncheon

I like reading Andy's blogs.  It's a touchstone and for some reason, I find them very comforting.  Maybe because the City offers so much "new" that Andy's blog is the voice of an old friend in unfamiliar territory.  And while Andy has been trying to figure out next steps, I am have just been doing everything that comes my way and making up a few things as I go.

It just so happened that the AS/COA women's conference was being held in Mexico City this month.  A friend sent a registration link and I was excited to attend my first "nice lady luncheon", as Andy so respectfully calls them.  But it's true.  I have been very active in the San Antonio scene and I was looking forward to engaging some CDMX professional women.  Since all of the registration process was in English, it did not occur to me the day would be spent with Spanish speaking panelists and presenters.  Nonetheless, the day was not lost on me as I was able to not only pick up the gist of the conversation, but I very much sensed the tone of the meeting from the oh so many I have attended in the past.  When  the day's event called for a round-table session I asked if the table leader might lead in english. All of the women at the table graciously agreed.  This is when my intuition was confirmed. The conversations was like so many I have heard in the US.  If there is one take away you will have anytime women gather it's this:  Women have a responsibility to one another to support, value, and mentor each other so we can rise to our level of true potential.  But to go on it a different blog.

And with that said I have also spent the week pursuing my feminine slant, not to be confused with my feminist viewpoint.  In other words, beauty services.  Mani, pedi, IPL, and even the oh so scary to think about, new hairstylist.  It was that time and I had procrastinated long enough.  So I just went full court press.  Have you ever been the women that has left the stylist in tears, frantic about how you were going to "fix" the atrocity mounted on your head by a new stylist?  I have.  And the ptsd that the experience causes can forever ruin your ability to engage a new stylist in an optimistic or even calm manner.  It is a truly frightful endeavor.  Being in a new country where the service isn't required to be licensed heaps even further anxiety on a girl.  But I did the best I could.  I studied reviews, websites, photos, and looked for product use.  The salon I chose had 43 reviews with 4.8 out of 5 stars on Google.  (Pro Tip:  Google reviews are used far more here than yelp reviews so if you need info on anything from restaurants to, well, hairstylists in the City think google.)  The salon I chose also used TIGI products which is a brand I know and trust.  So off I went to Rock Your Hair.  I opted for a change and asked the stylist to take me from Texas Blonde to CDMX Ready.  While I'm still getting used to not being so ridiculously blonde, here's the result and I like it.

Baby steps.  I consider the delve into these superficial services the gateway to engaging other professionals that will undoubtedly become part of our yearly routines like lab techs, dentists, doctors, and such.  This is just really training for more serious engagements that are certainly more impactful and actually require positive outcomes.  After all, I never want to leave my doctor in tears, frantic about how I am going to "fix" the atrocity mounted on, well, anywhere. Until next time, we remain presently somewhere.