Job and makeover part 2

More on Kazumi, because I like her and because I got to spend yesterday afternoon shopping with her. Kazumi has been styling hair for half her life (she’s about my age). She is from Japan originally but has been living in LA for several years. She has a cute little greyhound named Sophia and a bunny named Trixie. Sophia wanted to sit in my lap during the haircut, but Kazumi said no, so she had to curl up on the next chair over, looking cute and lonely.

Kazumi is funny and matter of fact. In just this past week I have been treated to numerous Kazumi-isms that make me smile. Here are some pearls of Kazumi wisdom:

She had seen my PanAms match, the one where I couldn’t pull off the sweep I was setting up. When we were talking about it, she said, “You needed to move your hips out more so she couldn’t smash you. You have lazy butt.” (The way she said it, it sounded like a medical condition, e.g., I have chronic lazy butt, but fortunately, with the proper treatment, my prognosis is very good.)

While she was combing my hair, she told me that my shampoo was lousy. This is probably true. I said, “What kind of shampoo SHOULD I be using?” She said, “Not this kind.”

While we were waiting for the highlights to take (my head was all wrapped in foil), she waxed my upper lip. She ripped the little cloth off and when I told her it didn’t hurt, she said, “It’s because I’m good.” She also dyed my eyelashes and said, “When I’m done with you, you’re gonna look really hot.”

It’s true. I love the cut and the color. I hadn’t gotten highlights in a while, but as she and others said, summer’s coming and I live in LA. The only problem is that now I have bangs, which makes my hair more of a nightmare for BJJ than it already was—it always comes out of the elastic band I put it in and I have to put it back up after every roll. It gets all curly and in my face. Felicia braids hers, which seems to work, Emily has cornrows sometimes, and Kazumi uses a swim cap, which I’m thinking I might try (braiding is too labor intensive and requires too much skill for this girl).

So with the new cut and stuff, people keep telling me I have “gone Hollywood.” I’m not entirely sure what that means, though I can probably guess. But if I were really going to, I’d need to get some Botox and put in some time in a tanning bed, I think. Fortunately, I’m too lazy and cheap to go Hollywood for real, although after training yesterday, Kazumi and I went shopping at the Beverly Center mall, which is near her place and also close to Hollywood BJJ. I must admit to trying on some decidedly hip stuff at stores like Bebe, which usually make me feel very uncomfortable and unsure of why someone would pay $95 for a flimsy t-shirt. (Okay, just the previous sentence should alert you to the fact that I haven’t gone Hollywood.)

I did buy some jeans at a place called Forever 21, which, in my case, is definitely pushing it. Forever 31 is more like it, though a couple people have recently told me they thought I was around 28 rather than 36. Probably helps that I act like I’m 12.

So we had fun and talked about being women who train (she’s a purple belt) and how it can be challenging for lots of reasons, from the strength factor, to the boys’ club feel of jiu jitsu, to maintaining your femininity, to feeling like you have to work twice as hard to be taken seriously.

In other news, the job at Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear continues to be lots of fun. My coworkers are very cool and prone to playing practical jokes. I can’t tell you what they are, though, because that wouldn’t be any fun. So you’ll just have to come to the store and let me wait on you; you can see whether they target me while you’re there. It’s fun because I just like being around people who like jiu jitsu. And I get to talk to people about where they train and their favorite gis and rash guards and stuff. Some guys from Hollywood BJJ came in on Monday and I got to chat with them. And then I had to make some calls to people about their mail orders, and one of the calls I had to make was to a guy I met while training in Seattle. I got to see him at the PanAms, and it was fun to surprise him with a call. It’s such a small world.

On Thursday, a HUGE guy who does MMA (mixed martial arts) came in with his coach. I’m guessing he was 6’4” and a solid 250, but then again I’m terrible with estimates. But he was one of those guys whose shoulders slope directly up into his head without the hint of a neck, so he looks like a triangle resting on one of the sides. Only his head didn’t really come to a point. He was looking for board shorts, the kind lots of people (including me) wear to train no gi. I tried to find him something that would fit, but even the things that fit him seemed like they would rip to shreds as soon as he moved a muscle. I commented that someone his size must have to eat a lot, especially with all the physical activity. He nodded gravely, and immediately turned to his coach to ask where they were going to eat after they left the store. Looking at someone that size I started thinking that eating must be a chore for him. I can’t imagine.

I’m enjoying the hell out of training lately. One of my training partners at Hollywood recognized me from my blog, specifically the post where I freaked out back in February about whether I really belong in LA. (And that post of course is not to be confused with all the other posts where I have freaked out.) But that’s pretty funny and mildly mortifying.

My family’s doing well too. So, despite the fact that I’m constantly in the car, am slightly injured (right arm is hurty from when I based out to defend a sweep), and am working at a job that’s not going to cover all of my expenses, I am happy lately. Hooray!!