While thinking about my topic for today’s column, I decided to clean the bathrooms while thinking! Planning to swish out the toilet, I discovered that the white container back in the corner by the brush was not the “Tidy Bowl” that I thought. No, it was a white container all right. But it was a bottle of “Quick Shine” floor cleaner!

I had been swishing the bowl out for “who knows how long?” with a vinyl floor cleaner.

Next, I started on the bathroom sink where I wiped up some stray hair. You see, I trimmed my hair over that sink two days ago. I know, I know. I shouldn’t have a chopped- up hairdo. So? I love to fiddle with hair.

I just can’t help it.   

Do you?

Early in my adult years, I sported green hair, and blue hair, way before pink hair and purple hair became the style among the college crowd.

It started when I decided I wanted blond streaks in my hair. Now folks, we are talking about 50 years ago! Remember, I come from a childhood where the adults told us that only women “of the street” colored their hair.

Yes. I remember hearing that message.

So, immediately, I and a middle school friend got hold of some hydrogen peroxide and tried to bleach streaks in our hair. Of course. Do the opposite of what your parents advise you NOT to do.

Later, in early marriage years, I got hold of some “Miss Clairol” ultra-light blond hair color. It required some more steps than today, as I remember. But, regardless, I forged ahead, and my hair turned out green. 

I happened to be student teaching at that time, so knew I better try to fix it. By the time I got it right, I had blond straw on my head. 

So, what did I do then? Why I cut it, of course.

You know what? It turned out just fine.

Another time, I decided I wanted to be a redhead. I bought a color product and bingo, I became a redhead. I decided that no one would now recognize me. I actually did believe that!

Nope. It looked just like me, only I now had red hair. It was not carrot red. It was a light, blond-red. 

By then, I was bored with hair and decided to do the pierced ears. 

While some friends were sticking a potato in the back of their ear lobes, and driving a needed through the lobe to stick into the potato, I decided to go to a doctor instead.

I was a chicken to the ultimate.

I told the doc that I wanted my ears pierced, thinking he would put me to sleep or give me a sedation pill.

Nope. He said, O.K., cleaned the ear lobe, and drove his own needle through each side. What? I could have done this myself too!

Here’s my thought today. If you can do it yourself, do it. 

If you want it done correctly, and thoroughly, don’t do it.

As for me, I think I will return to the beauty shop for awhile. Those gals know what they are doing, and the end result is attractive and satisfying.

Don’t ever stop trying new things. But pay attention. Don’t clean your toilet with a floor polish. It doesn’t work.

Judi Tabler lives in Pawnee County and is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune. She can be reached at juditabler@gmail.com or juditabler@awomansview.