A Date with Javier

I woke up a bit anxious today because after our day at the office, I had an appointment at a peluqueria (hair solon).  I needed a color and cut "do".  Sister Argyle suggested a place close to the mission home where she goes, so I made an appointment.   The guy's name is Javier.

When we arrived, his assistant put a thin cheese cloth type robe over my clothes and sat me in a chair to go over the color chart.  I said I just wanted a medium brown color.  Javier came right over to help make the decision.  He speaks a little English so that helped.  I agreed with what he suggested and held my breath.  So his assistant applied the color and gave me a magazine to read while I waited.  Trouble with that was . . . I didn't have my glasses on so I really couldn't read anything.  Straining to see anything worthwhile started giving me a headache. So I put the magazine down. So then she brought me another one.  When I did the same with that magazine, she brought me another.  I decided I better pretend to be reading or I would have a stack of them on my lap before long.  

I really became nervous the longer I sat waiting for the color to be washed out.  It seemed to be at least a half hour.  I just knew it was going to be too dark.  But I said nothing!  I was relieved when she came to finish the job.  Yes, it seems a little darker than usual, but, then maybe it will last a little longer than usual.  We'll see.

I tried to explain how I wanted it cut, and he seemed to understand.  He started snipping away, and snipping away, and snipping away.  I could tell that the back would be as short or shorter than most male haircuts.  I was right, but it will grow.  Otherwise, he did a great job and I like it.  A couple of times I made a comment or two that it looked good, and he would say, "I know". I could tell he didn't want me telling him where I wanted it a little shorter or longer, so I just kept my mouth shut and hoped for the best.  He was a little strange.

Don't I look charming in the covering over my clothes? My bangs are a little on the spiky side, but again, I said nothing.  I was afraid to.  His assistant gave a wonder scalp massage as she washed my hair.  It felt so good.  I probably will return.

Since his salon is in the area where the mission president lives, most of the wives have frequented his business in the past.  So, he had been given a Book of Mormon.  He showed it to us when we were paying the bill, and said he carries it with him all the time. I wonder if he ever reads it?  He told us that his grandmother was a member of the Mormon church. He said he has a 10 year old daughter who speaks wonderful English.  She has learned it in school.  The bill came to 95 pesos, or $25.  Much cheaper than in the U.S.

While I was at the peluqueria, Rich went to the Apple store which was just up the street.  When we bought the computer, the agreement was that they would put Microsoft Office in English on our computer free of charge.  As we waited about 1/2 hour for our computer that day, we thought they were adding that program. But, when we got home, it was in Spanish.  So Rich decided he would take the computer back and ask them about it while he was waiting for me. He was told by one of the employees that they didn't have any Microsoft Office in English for sale.  Rich questioned why he was told at the time of purchase that they would include it free of charge.  Just then, the guy who sold us the computer came in, and when he found out what was going on, he told the employee, "You have one, now go put it on."  The guy said, "OK", and went to install it.  Strange!!

First thing today, Rich walked up to the Escribano to get our paper notarized that we desperately need in order to file our robbery losses with the insurance company. Well, again we hit a rock wall. They can't do it because we do not have residency in Buenos Aires. We are still on tourist status.  Good grief!!  We don't have our visas yet, and won't have them completed until late June. So she sent him to the Police Station to see if they would do it. Nope, they require residency also.  They told him that we might try the American Embassy up at the Capital (where the Area Offices are - - 45 minutes away).  NOTHING is easy in Argentina.

We are feeling more comfortable each day with our duties in the office.  I still have panic attacks thinking of doing my job without Elder Clegg around, but after getting a handle on a couple more things, I should be okay.  I am so proud of Rich, and how he has learned all the financial end of things.  I'm glad I am not the Financial Secretary.  It is a complicated job.