Roger That

I got my nails done for the first time since moving to Arizona on Wednesday. Not that I get my nails done often, I've only had it done in a salon maybe 5 or 6 times. But I had a coupon for a really great price and a wedding to go to and weeks and weeks worth of PhD level stress, and so I splurged!

I would just like to say that sometimes a coupon with a really low price indicates a nail salon with similar standards. This salon actually wasn't terrible. They did have an autoclave and a hot towel warmer and soap at the sink. It just wasn't the cleanest place or the nicest place I've ever been. And I have to admit I wasn't paying attention and I'm not 100% sure my manicurist got the tools he used out of the autoclave or out of his work station. About half way through I realised my lack of attention to detail and began to try to sort through the various diseases I could get this way if I was wrong. yikes!

The friendly Vietnamese man who helped me was named Roger. He was quiet at first, but toward the end, I think we really bonded. Roger was probably in his early 40s, but looked like he was in his late 20s. He had his hair spiked with some blond tips and was wearing a somewhat tight, very metro, long sleeved gray American Eagle shirt with jeans. As he was working on my left hand he said, pointing at my ring finger:

Roger: Not married?!

Shiloh: Nope.
R: Really? You have kids?

S: Nope, not yet.

R: You want kids?

S: Someday, yeah.

R: You really not married. You have boyfriend?

S: Yeah, I do.

R: What he do?

S: He's an attorney.

R: What? A turney? [circling his finger around to indicate turning]

S: Oh, a lawyer.

R: Oh! a lawyer. Why you say "turney"? [same finger circling]

S: A-torr-ney. It's another word for lawyer.

R: [laughing] Ha! I thought you mean he just turn and turn. Haha!

I found out that Roger is in school part time studying construction and I think he is about to finish his associates and then continue on to get a bachelors. He really, really sympathized with me when I told him I was in school too and had a part time job as a TA because he has to work and go to school and he thinks it is quite difficult. He has a girlfriend who has three kids from a previous marriage and he wants to have two more kids with her, but he's not sure about marriage. He also feels he has a alot of opportunities to do nails since he's been doing it for so long. He even showed his license to me. Without meaning to I somehow got quite alot of personal info on Roger, especially for talking to him for such a short time. As he was finishing up he said:

R: I'm surprised you not married. You look so beautiful. So... friendly...

S: Oh, thanks...

R: I mean, maybe, your face is so... open. I don't know how to say... [here he put his hands palms forward around the sides of his face to indicate openness (I think)]

S: Well, that is really nice of you to say...

R: I mean, I not say you are so beautiful, just so...

S: Huh...Um...

R: I don't know word... maybe...

S: Friendly?

R: Yeah something like that, maybe...

S: Thanks Roger, I appreciate that.

And with that my cuticles were contained and my nails were perfectly filed and painted in a delicious shade of pink, and I felt rather flattered somehow that Roger thought I had an open face (even if I'm not so beautiful!).

Despite the particular location, it was a good trip to the salon.