Saturday, Mark G. Harris asked if I had some fingernail clippers he could use. That led to a discussion of manicures and pedicures. I never get manicures because I began keeping my nails cut as short as possible back when I was still seeing clients. Even though that’s not a concern anymore since I “retired” (Lindsey’s word), I’ve found that letting my fingernails grow even a little creeps me out.
Pedicures, however, are a treat I allow myself whenever I’m feeling stressed, when I’m traveling, or when we have a booksigning. However, MGH wouldn’t even consider a pedicure (he apparently has foot-esteem issues), so I offered to take him for a manicure. The place I usually go has no bells and whistles–it’s very basic–but MGH said that would be fine with him.
We forgot to take before and after photos, but we got several of the process. Mark kept making his nail tech giggle because he wouldn’t relax.
You’re soaking in it.
Getting buffed.
I was SUPPOSED to treat Mark to this, but when it was time to pay, he whipped out his wallet and took care of it. An Aries does not like to be thwarted, but after a minute, I had a solution. I remembered Mark telling me about a day he sat on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum and people-watched while drinking:
I couldn’t offer him a classy Manhattan locale, but I did get him wired up on caffeine while we talked about writing and back stories and Pomeranians in need of a little hygiene. A few times we scooted closer under our umbrella because we felt raindrops, but it was a lovely way to while away an afternoon. Especially when we saw:
You can see a bit of the Houston skyline near the bottom right corner.
MGH liked this one with more construction machinery in it. I think that’s because he worried that I was feminizing him with all this manicure/mocha frappuccino/rainbow stuff. Which is just crazy, because we all know this is how MGH usually looks:
That’s hot.
What a pleasant post!! I didn’t know Mark was reviving the Village people?
Don’t give me any ideas, or I’ll be asking Rhonda to borrow her leathers while simultaneously searching for an Indian headdress and a cowboy hat. That last shouldn’t be too hard to find–I’ll just crash the festivities at the BRB tonight.
We need our deck rebuilt. Did he leave you a business card?
No, but I know where to find him.
I’m SOOOO sorry I missed Mark’s call yesterday. But I’m even MORE sorry I missed the mani pedi madness. Glad you captured it for us all! 🙂
I’m sure you’ll be less regretful when you read Mark’s version of events. But he still refuses to post until he returns to
the bat caveMark Manor.Did he get glitter polish?
He refused any polish. It wouldn’t go with the hard hat, I guess.
I’m pretty sure the hard hat in Village People had glitter polish, AND rhinestones
Mark doesn’t need to BeDazzle my hard hat. His natural charm has already bedazzled everyone at The Compound. Except maybe a palmetto bug or two.
what a fun day!
that last picture? super manly cool. 😉
I’m glad you say so. Now maybe he’ll stop running every time I say, “Hey, why don’t we….”
(I can’t wait until Lisa reads this comment.)
Tell him he’s no fun.
Ah, mani/pedies! I love ’em too. But I’m incredibly ticklish (I’ve told you my Tickerish story before, haven’t I?), so I only get pedicures in the summer. It’s sandal season, after all. I don’t make the rules, just follow them.
Do the rules say no white polish after Labor Day?
Yes, but opened-toed sandals are permitted until the first snow.
It’s amazing, the cloud in the rainbow pic looks just like a phoenix flying out of the rainbow. Tell Mark he doesn’t do hard hats well, but his watch looks nice.
You’d be digging the hard hat if only I’d remembered to hand him a Diet Coke.
Reshoot, please.
Tell Mark he does EVERYTHING well.
Does she do a good hand massage? I rarely get a manicure, but the hand massage is my favorite part.
It didn’t look that great to me. Of course, Mark’s entire body was rigid the whole time, as if in fear that any moment, she was going to hurt him. Dude needs to relax.
Tell him if he doesn’t relax, you’re taking him right to NASA when (X) is done.
I can’t. I’m afraid of him. It’s like NASA has become a trigger word that turns him into SurlyMark. Not pretty.
Woof!
You know, every time I see a rainbow now I think about When You Won’t See Me and feel like a dork.And much as it pains me to say about MGH–the construction worker shot was almost as HOT as reading.
I love that rainbow story.
Oooh, I’m with you regarding pedicures – anywhere and anytime!!
Mark’s a sport letting you take his picture, but I guess soaking and buffing and captured by the nail technician he didn’t have a choice . . .!!
Exactly–snap ’em when they can’t get away.
It’s also rougly akin to the “restaurant breakup,” with its hope that people won’t make a scene in public. A dicey proposition in this case, with photos of the sassy and scene-making Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball, and Madonna looking over Mark.