Radiant: UPDATE with photo

I haven't told you about the Paul Simon concert yet, which was pretty great. He sang a few of my favorites and had some other artists — like Josh Groban of all people (my mom will be so jealous) — cover some of his other hits. I loved when he sang Graceland, a song that has a couple of my favorite lyrics of all time: "Losing love is like a window in your heart/ Everybody sees you're blown apart/ Everybody sees the wind blow."

There was a couple sitting behind us at the concert who had an interesting exchange before the show started:

Him: This is what real musicians do. This is what it's about — this is what being a real musician is all about.
Her: You're a real musician.
Him: No I'm not.
Her: Yeah, you are!
Him: No.
Her: You are! You were in the Jay Leno band!!
Him: Aw, that was nearly 20 years ago — I can't just keep using that...

beat

Her (quietly): I wish I'd known you 20 years ago...

And, scene.

Hey, I had another celeb sighting at the show. I saw Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy sitting not too far from us (in the cheap seats!). She looked like a prettier, sleeker version of normal and like someone I could be friends with. Actually, I sort of wish we were friends. She seems like the kind of person who'd remember your birthday and be game for a girl day of pedicures, sushi and shoe shopping.

You know who else I got to see this week? Jeremy Sisto, when he came into the coffee shop yesterday and ordered a latte. If you don't know who he is, he played Billy — Brenda's crazy brother — on Six Feet Under, and if you still don't know who he is, then I implore you to Netflix the entire series immediately, because holy crap, he's amazing in it, as is everyone else, and he also happens to be supah hot. Hotter in person, really. I think I blushed the color of sunburned baby thighs just looking at him. He's got that whole darkly disturbed and angry thing which made me want to reach over the counter, grab him by the collar, and lick his teeth. (He was nice, by the way, and probably not all that disturbed or angry, really. He also has the cutest dog).

In other news, I'm getting my hair colored today, which may not sound like such a big deal, but this will be my first real foray into the NY salon scene. Until now, I've just been getting my hair done with my old stylist and colorist on my return visits to Chicago. I'll actally be there again in just two weeks and could hold out for familiar hands if I really wanted to, but I decided it was time for me to branch out. It's a big step in cementing this whole move, actually, and feeling more at home here. I'm going to see a girl who comes into the coffee shop a couple times a day, who's also new to the city and who works at a trendy salon a couple doors down from the shop. Honestly, the salon is way trendier than I'm used to (think Leopard print chairs and crystal chandeliers), and I already have anxiety that I'm going to seem so out of place there, but what the fuck, the girl I'm going to is super sweet and I'm sure she'll make me feel comfortable and it will all be fine. It just so happens that People magazine this week has a section called Radiant Redheads, so I'm going to tear out the photos of Julianne Moore, Marcia Cross, and Lauren Ambrose (who dated Jeremy Sisto's character on Six Feet Under), bring them to the salon and say to the stylist, "Here, make me radiant. I have some teeth I need to lick."

Update: Someone asked if I would post a picture of my hair after I got it colored, so here it is. I'm not sure the intensity shows as well in the photo, but I'm really happy with the way it turned out and the girl who did my hair was so sweet and really listened to me that I'm even going to put my hair in her hands again next week when I go in for a trim (which I desperately need). She promised she won'y take any much length off since I'm growing it out and will just a clean it up a bit. If anyone in NY needs a colorist/stylist recommendation, let me know and I'll pass along her info.

Comments

[brookem]

Oooohhhh... I LOVE Jeremy. I almost forgot about him. Clueless too, right? I loved him in Six Feet Under. I dig his HOH too. Mmm.

I've been thinking of going red! I'm nervous to make the plunge... and you're already there, so I'm sure you'll look radiant no matter what! Perhaps you'll post a picture for us? Then I could bring that to MY salon. In a non-creepy way of course.

[Citywendy]

What's HOH?
Oh, and he's also on Law & Order, which I guess a lot of people like, but I've actually never seen, not even once!

[Lori]

You are the first person I know who refers to Jeremy Sisto NOT by his role in Clueless. LOVE him. He lives (or at least used to live) in my ex's apt building, which actually is not that far from you.

Also, LOVE Paul Simon. Love him. I grew up listening to him and still have all his stuff on CD and on my ipod. I saw him in concert at Jones Beach YEARS ago, and it was one of the highlights of my life.

[Alyce]

Claire Danes would also be game for sleeping with your boyfriend, if you're up for friends like that.

I so wanted to be friends with her circa-MSCL. Le sigh.

I always remember Jeremy Sisto from Grand Canyon. One of those movies that I've seen dozens of times without really realizing it. God, I miss Six Feet Under.

[Natalee]

This has nothing to do with your post, but I just had to tell you that I got back from a weekend in Chicago, and it was fabulous.

I hope this doesn't sound weird, but I thought of you the entire time I was there. After reading all of your descriptions of your life in Chicago, I kept thinking, "Oh, this is where Wendy would ride her bike.", or "I wonder if Wendy ever ate here?". I think I had more fun because you made Chi-town seem so familiar to me, even though I had not been there in years.

[Citywendy]

Natalee, glad to hear you had a good time in chicago. What did you see, where did you go?

[Scarlett]

Oooh the hair looks lovely. The sleep bob looks awesome on you too.

Also don't you just love overhearing conversations?

Did he play Kodachrome? I love that song.

[angie]

Your hair is so lovely! Fantastic!! :)

[x-gf]

Your mullet days are totally behind you now! Your hair looks so good. I wanna print your picture out and bring it to my stylist!

[stephanie]

ooo pretty hair!

[Citywendy]

Thanks, guys!

Scarlett, he didn't play Kodachrome, but one of the other artists did.

[Beth]

WOW ! I love your hair !

[Scarlett]

Oops... that should have read SLEEK bob.

sorry

[Alyce]

pretty hair! pretty lady!

[Natalee]

LOVE the color!

We did the typical tourist-y things and viewed the city through the Hancock Observatory, ate at Geno's East, walked down Michigan Ave. to the beach (where I had to walk barefoot despite the cold), went to the Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium. We rode the city bus during rush hour and shopped the Magnificent Mile. Then drove 12 hours home.

One of the things I loved most was the lack of pretention by the residents. Sure, they live in a big city, but no one was rude, and in fact several people passing me on the street smiled. If it weren't for the winters, I'd love to live there. I see why you miss it.

[Alice]

Ah, your radiant red hair looks gorgeous! And I agree with the others -- that sleek bob look does really suit you. Your hair looks very different from photos I've seen of you in the past. But you always look fab in my opinion!

I wish I could do red hair -- I've often wondered how I would look... Funnily enough, my older brother is a redhead, but we've never been able to figure out in the family how he got it, because my parents both have brown hair! Guess it must have come from a grandparent down the line...

Can't help but wonder what color my baby's hair will be too... Darker or lighter, who knows?! But what I wonder about the most is the baby's eyes... Because I absolutely adore blue eyes, and my boyfriend has gorgeous blue eyes, but I'm sure they will be beautiful no matter what color they are!

[Lori]

OMG - your hair looks amazing!

[julia]

I love your haircut! I wish I could pull a bob like that off..but nope, I tried it in the past and it just doesn't work (I have way too much hair, it ended up looking like a helmet ugh). It looks FABOLOUS on you!

[teahouseblossom]

Really great hair!! I wish I could be a redhead!

Oh, and Jeremy Sisto is cute. But I'll always remember him from when he did that Jesus miniseries on tv. So now I feel conflicted about his hotness..I mean, he was Jesus!