Sissel Byington Photography » Orange County child family photographer

We have managed to check off two of my “really want to see” places this summer.  There is nothing I like better than packing up this beat up house on wheels and heading into a new adventure.  And each time it is just that.  We started off well.  All packed, ready to go, nothing forgotten, (last time I forgot my pillow-when you have to sleep in a tiny bed wedged between a man and a 90 pound dog, it’s good to have your own pillow) on the road early and making great time.  This trip we are headed to Bryce Canyon.  It’s been on the list forever.  I can happily check this off.  Bryce is absolutely beautiful, and it is one of the few places on earth that is not affected by light pollution so the Milky Way and every other star there is, is visible to the naked eye.  It’s amazing.  Kona is loving it as well.  There is a small lake nearby that we walk him to at the end of day.  He is a water dog after all and it’s impossible to keep him out.  After diving in and retrieving his prize, he trots out of the water and right up to you to share some of that liquid joy.  My last love, Rio, always had better manners and would shake his thing away from everyone.  Kona is a giver.  He brings it right to you and serves it right up….

I am pretty sure I got wet here, don’t get close, you might just get wet too.

I entered the salon as I always do, except this time I was ready.  Brand new Vogue in hand, Iphone in my grip, I announce, “spa pedicure, please” and flash a warm grin.  I need this.  My feet need this.  Not only because the paint is wearing, my feet were wearing too.  I read just the other day how one of my facebook pals ( yes, you Jill ) was going in for the works, and I thought to myself, I am following that lead.  On the very next small hour  I may have to myself, that will be just the ticket.  A quick hour for a pedicure is sometimes just the perfect little pick me up.  It can do wonders for some mental clearing, give me time to browse a recent rag for some inspiration, and gets those toes looking sandal ready.  Perfect!

I am usually in a baseball hat, coming fresh from the shower because I have just shaved my legs.  But not this time.  Ugh.  I try not to look and say a million “I’m sorry’s” in my mind to the poor girl who has no choice but to look.  One more won’t hurt-so sorry. “Just don’t think about it, Sissel”, goes the ego,  ”just give yourself a break and read your magazine.”  My new Vogue.  I walk in with my own magazines these days.  I have a pretty good selection at home and have been too busy to breeze through them.  And I think I owe them anyway.  You see, something happens to me when I go to these places.  I don’t know why.  I become a bit self conscious and feel like I am just not quite fitting in.  I have never been a girly girl.  And most of the women in nail salons are complete feminine girly girls.  Or at least, I think they must be.  And I become a klutz.  I have tripped and knocked over a supply cart.  On my way in.  Worst visit ever.  I prayed every woman in there was finishing so that new people wouldn’t know what happened and I could continue without wanting to shrink into myself.  You should have heard the conversation level between the polishers that day.  Pretty sure they were talking about me.  Then I dropped not one, but two magazines into my spa water.  Yep, same visit.  Different magazines.  The girl looked at me as if I did it on purpose. And every woman around me kind of glanced my way as well.  Shrinking again.  That is why I now bring my own.  And I now go to a different salon.  This visit was going well.  I didn’t trip or knock anything over, or anyone down.  I have my own magazine and it is dry.  I still have my phone and it still works.  I have made it through the polishing and she has slid my sandals on-over my wet toes.  Amazing!  Almost through.  She fixes a tiny smudge caused from my great toe and its reluctance to stay in its own toe zone.  It is constantly hugging up to the second toe and takes a double wad of paper to keep it away.  She carefully smoothes out the smudge with a paintbrush and a fresh coat.  Ah….  I can retreat with pretty feet and an ego intact this time.  Well, except for the unshaven legs. which I am giving myself a pass on.  I worked really hard this week. I happily pay her and she turns to retrieve my change.  Thinking my toes wouldn’t make it out of there without trying to embrace, I reach down to pull that little bit of paper up and separate those unseparable toes, and I smudge the entire toe she just fixed.  The whole toenail.  Wiped off.  I was almost out of there.  My patient polisher turns to hand me my change- and screams.  I am leaning over my injured toenail  like a guilty child unsure of which way to run or what to say.  I hold out my red finger and grunt.   She yells.  She doesn’t surmise what has happened. Nor does she laugh quietly, as I hoped, at the comedy of how in just one second I had removed all the polish she carefully stroked on.  Four times.  She yells.  ”WHAT HAAAAPPPPENED!?!”  And everyone turns.  I was almost out of there.  Needless to say- I tipped her a little extra and tried to silently slither out.  Am currently looking for a new salon.  Any suggestions?

Here is an image for you of one of my favorite little girly girls….have a shiny toe Friday.

Now, I know what you are thinking…what does a rooster have to do with sticks or stones for that matter?  It makes sense in my mind.  Stay tuned…

By the way, I am not especially crazy about roosters, unless they are in Kauai.  Then, I love ‘em.   Isn’t he beautiful?  Must be all that pineapple.

can break your bones, or just bruise you really badly.

Yep, my summer is leaving me with varying hues of purple and green (all over).  I have been iced down and medicated up with ibuprofen.  I’ve been tumbled and humbled, bruised and thankfully, not broken.  Each day begins with the discovery of a new bruise and I’m sure the gals who paint my toenails wonder just what the hell I’ve been up to.  This summer started with a quick trip to Zion National Park.  Each day was an adventure and began with a hike straight up the mountains.  Forget the easy trails, we went right for the “treacherous” category.  First hike was called “Angel’s Landing“, which has a trail about two to three feet wide with chains to hold onto because you can fall right off the cliff  if you should happen to trip or slip, etc.  Nice.  Amazing views at the top and well worth the extra heart pumps to get up there.  The next day we headed up “Hidden Canyon” in search of the weeping rock.  Beautiful trail.  Beautiful day.  And a “straight up” start off again.  And more chains to keep me from falling off  the cliff.  Yeah!!  Love the chains!  The last day was one of the best trails of all, “The Narrows“.  No climb this time, but a hike through the Virgin River.  I felt like I was in a commercial for  REI, outfitted with new hiking shoes, special walking sticks, and my new waterpack, although we had all the water we needed right at our feet.  The current would get pretty fast in places and at times we were up to our waist in really cold virgin water. Needless to say, my feet were numb. ( maybe that is how some people were doing this barefoot )  The walls of the canyon were like jagged orange skyscrapers half a mile high.  It was more beautiful with each turn.  I took more pictures on the way back.  The man carried my camera up the river and I carried it back. Smart plan because I would have stopped every five feet for a picture, and we would have not gone anywhere.  He knows me too well.