After an amazing day working with Lillian Jimenez, (the current Executive Director of Chica Luna Productions and a film director/producer of a documentary entitled "Antonia Pantoja: Presente!) I say to myself, "Elisha it's Friday, treat yourself to a pedicure."
Being a woman who works a lot, I've really been trying to treat myself to those small pleasures this summer that balance your life amidst all the multitasking that I must do to keep from becoming bored. Or in all honesty, multitasking is a must for all independent business owners, emerging novelists, filmmakers and authors. Believe me it's never just a 9 to 5 job!
Finally, after a month of no manicure or pedicure (which is a very long time for me, despite how busy I am --nails and feet are a must!) I make it to the nail salon. But not my normal salon,iI decide to stop in Ridgewood, New Jersey on route home. First mistake. The diversity ratio: There is none, except for the Korean women who work in the salon and me who begins to feel like a Puerto Rican in exile.
My alter ego, says, "Elisha back step and go to the salon you've gone to for years in Ridgefield Park."
But, no, being tired I just want to rest my feet. Of course, it's 6PM on a friday, but I get a call from one of my business partners. I answer as we're negotiating a web series at the moment. We talk for all of five minutes, of course I was not loud and spoke very softly. I'm not one to ever disturb someone else's peace. I'm just happy to take the call while finally doing something for myself. It's Elisha time.
Ms. Botox with her Prada purse then yells, "I've been timing you and you've been on the phone for twenty minutes." Please note, she's sitting right next tome.
Mind you, I've been in the salon all of ten minutes. I give her an if looks could kill look. Then I reply, "There is no sign in this salon that says--Silence Only! Or No Cel Phones! You're not the owner, leave me alone."
Then I go back to my call. And she's lucky I like dogs because her Paris Hilton dog was sitting on her lap.
Then she opens her Prada bag and pulls out her too red for her pale skin lipstick which she applies while responding to me, "If you want noise go live in a ghetto like New York." Then Ms. Botox with her expressionless face barks at the Korean woman massaging her feet, "Uh, give it to me if you want it done right." And she grabs the lotion bottle from the pedicurist's hands and proceeds to open the bottle herself. Which she does unsuccessfully, so I laugh.
Until then, I was in full composure, but I have to admit I let the barrio girl bounce, and unfortunately it wasn't on her stiff face. "Maybe, you should spend less time concerned about other people... and instead, find a better purpose for your life than barking orders at your pedicurist or eavesdropping on my personal conversations. In my opinion, the botox isn't working girlie and you should consider getting a real job. One that doesn't involve being an elitist busy body. "
Chuckles bounce throughout the salon. Of course, no one else speaks or confronts her about her treatment of the employees or her toy dog either. Ms. Botox attempts to conjure a sour faced grin which is easy when one is almost collagen free, then says, "I think you should leave now! They don't want disrespectful customers." She then looks over at the owner, who then looks the other way. Ignoring her. Ms. Botox let's out a HUGE sigh of frustration then to the owner, "So much for big tips!"
"You're tuffet is at home wherever that may be. This salon is not a monarchy. For your information I would prefer New York any day over the passive aggressive Jersey "burbs. And no one is listening to you..."
And then yes, I say it, "So just shut the F### Up! And go back to Upper Saddle River." I know I don't usually resort to profanity in public. I also said WAY more than I quoted above. But sometimes, if the word fits, it feels great to use it!
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Comments
I think that the talking on the cell phone point is subjective. I can see if I was loud and boisterous. But, I had to take an important call that needed a response by 5PM PST. You could also argue that bringing your dog to the salon is rude too, but I just happen to like dogs. Believe me I've been in a salon with a person who doesn't get off the phone and is VERY loud. This was not the case.
Men do don't things like this in Nail Salons. But they do have road rage, right?
However, I'm with the botoxed bitch on the cell phone matter. If the phone call was extremely important than the toes will have to wait. I count on my pedicure time to catch up on my important, educational journal reading (US, People, Look, In Touch - lots of nice photos in that one!) and cell phone conversations often interfere with my ability to glean whether John and Jen truly DID break up.
The dog in the salon would have pissed me off though.
Good point. I have my cellphone use boundaries, but aside from talking and driving generally try not to impose my views on others. I don't know the proper ambiance of a nail salon but it sounds like this woman would have found something else about you to complain about regardless of the phone.
Stellaa, you're right as well... I think older people generally view cellphone use in public as more of a nuisance. I'm not giving mine up, but if in a restaurant will usually remove myself to a secluded part of the dining room or the foyer.
M. Chariot very much enjoyed this post. Nail salons can be very strange on the social level. So much gentleness combined with a sulky hostility. I have also posted on the odd dynamics of the nail salon in a piece entitled, The Perfect Claw.
The etiquette of cellphone use is still unresolved. The most boorish, to me, are the cellphone enthusiasts who insist chit-chatting electronically whilst engaging in business transactions with live persons, as at the deli counter or the cash register. I find it to be the height of vulgarity. Can we not engage each other with a modicum of civility? I hardly think gracious behavior is classist; kindness, attention, respect is relevant to interactions between all persons.
Now a lot of the salons have massage chairs too. The only problem with the chairs is if you use a set program on the chair, it'll start vibrating so hard that your boobs will shake and jiggle in a way that is not remotely flattering.
As for New Jersey - never been there, but it's the Garden State, right? That sounds lovely... Plus - isn't there a big mall in Paramus?
Elisha, you have to find MB and get her to a nail salon. She needs you to show her the ropes and I think you are living on the same island.
That said, you'd better think twice about disrupting my sauna with your gossip. I don't care if it's Lucille Roberts, and that you paid for your membership, too. Shut up, or I'll cut ya.