Monday, February 28, 2011

5.10 :: A story about getting busy....

Well, hello lambs!
So, it's almost March. Can you believe it?!?
I can't believe it...
I can't believe how this year has gone by!
I can't belive how busy my life has become.
Last week, I was hit with a monstrous man-cold the size of Florida! HA HA.
It was not fun, but then again, when are men ANY fun when they're sick?
I haven't written in a couple weeks. As I looked at my last post (5.09) I was sickened with my offense to being told how "unwelcoming" I am. I think I propelled myself into a mancold. LOL.
There were so many avenues being opened to me as I wrote my last blog. I had two salons (I heard through the grapevine) that were excercising their options to sell. I called one location to investigate the truth and the listed price. I am yet to receive a phone call.
Making that phone call made me put my life back into perspective! I have the goal in my heart to open a salon and to be this massive success, but sitting about in a sullen way is NOT how to go about achieving your dreams!
I also learned that I need to save more money! I have all faith in opening a salon, but I have got to CLUE in that money just DOES not appear!
I have this remarkable little life and remarkable people in it, but cannot justify half of my purchases like clothes and going out to dinner with friends.
I need to wise up a bit financially and undestand that money DOES not grow on trees and that I need to save more, instead of spending more. So, as heartbreaking and earth-shattering as it is to type, it's true: I'm not a good saver.
I need to clue-in fast and do what Suze Orman would do.
lol.
Recently, my mum was rushed to the hospital due to her leg not being in such amazing condition. She was told to stay off her leg and rest which means that her time working with my father may be soon gone. The dream has always been to have my mum be IN the salon with me running my empire. With this injury, she may soon have to stop working and where is the salon I've so promised and talked about??
Hmmm....
I need to spend LESS time partying and MORE time planning my success: that's what two weeks away from my blog has taught me: it's time to flip BACK into serious mode and make sure those investments in myself are back to normal.
No more investing my brain's channels into "am I mean?" "Does so-and-so like me?" No sir!
I need to get a good clear view of where I'm headed: salon owner.
Being sick taught me more than just to take care of myself: it showed me that I have nothing better to do than get busy!
Hearts, lambs,
Josh

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Volume 5 EP (exxtended post) ::: Q's from YOU, my haute-arse readers and followers..

So, I thought I'd take the opportunity to answer some many asked questions that have hit my inbox and the rumour mill.... This is an EXXTENDED POST ....

1. What are the chances of you working a hairshow? Anytime soon?

JRY: The chances of me working a hairshow are slim right now, as of now, I still have my L'Oreal endorsement as an active INOA artist, but have not completed requirements for educating or touring. It is with respect, that I can confirm researching avenues with: Framesi, Sexy Hair and Joico. As far as working anytime soon, no. The soonest educational event I have planned is an American Crew class (THE FIRST company I worked for in 2008) for later this month. I am considering pursuing advanced placement with the Denver-based company and educating stylists on the art of WOWING a male clientele.


2. How's your dream salon coming along? Are you looking to open this year? 2012, like you said or when??

JRY: Good question! Right now, the act of opening a salon is not relevant. 2011 is not my ideal year, especially before taxes! I have had three opportunities arise in the last two weeks regarding possible spots for my salon. I can tell you now, firmly, NONE of those locations are ideal for me at this moment in time. Right now, I'm writing the concept and policy guide for my salon with my mum, Yvonne Cooley. I want her by my side on opening day. My good friend and Trendsetters salon owner Janelle knows I'm actively looking to open a business, so it's not a hush-hush conversation, it's something I like talking to her and OTHER salon owners about at least three times a week. No open this year though.


3. You should have an online portfolio of your work! Can we view one?

JRY: A portfolio project is IDEAL for me PRIOR to opening a salon. "Flawless" was supposed to be the project I was going to use as my portfolio piece, unfortunately, I do not feel Pueblo offers the appropriate artistic collaborator... who knows?! I may bust out a lense and start shooting pics myself!


4. You NEVER sleep! How do you keep doing what it is you do? Seriously, take a break, Josh! You deserve it.

JRY: I do sleep (at odd times) and do not deserve a break til all of the above list is completed! Besides, my followers, lambs, and clients would miss me if I slept in too long!


xoxoxo--- thanks for the q's guys!


Follow me on Twitter and get REALLY candid with me at http://www.twitter.com/prettyboyedu.



5.09 :: A story about softening up...

Good evening little lambs,

How are you?

It's about midnight on Thursday morning and I'm sitting here fresh from a bubble bath and fresh from a sushi supper with my fashionista friend, Michelle.

I totally needed the support of friends today. I even stepped away from the salon mid-afternoon to have lunch today with an amazingly supportive group of my favourite "girls". I can't tell you how I feel regarding my clientele. I don't even know if I consider them "clientele" anymore. They are by-far, family, and THE closest friends I have right now.

Starting this blog, a year or so ago, I see the progession in each volume and this one (Volume 5) seems to be all business and no adventure. Well, let's take you on a little ride, shall we?

It was brought to my attention last night that a salon peer of mine will be leaving my current salon not due to business, not due to location, not due to hours, but due to: me.

Yes.

You read it right! Me.

I am overly pushy, overly ambitious, over confident and from sources, I "intimidate" her and make her "uncomfortable" and even though she loves the salon, she'd much rather leave due to me being there.

I debated whether or not to write about this, but I had to! It's not to defame anyone or put names on the situation, but it's to make Light of it! As you know, I have NO secrets and those people that choose NOT to agree with my posting may kindly exit.

I mean it- leave. please.

I heard that I'm "pushy", "arrogant" and "talk down to people".

You know who else did that?

Madonna.

Vidal Sasoon.

Tabatha Coffey.

Winston Churchill.

Pablo Picasso.

Anna Wintour.

And yes, even Oprah.

All of whom, I aspire to become and embody in my own melange of J Ry.

For whatever reason this person decides to leave or state that I made he so UNCOMFORTABLE, I wish her well. Perhaps I am the unsung mentor that needs to be mentioned in her memoir. I hope she grows from this decision, just as I grew when I left Headlines.

Truly.

No shit.

I do.

With that aside, I've been rather down today and needed my friends to paint the smile back on my MAC-covered face.

.....so, if you notice my posts are a bit "darker" than Light, please understand, that I am eating a well-needed critique (I guess)

I need to "soften up" some on salon peers and I may even need to debate mixing ANY business and pleasure.

Monday, February 14, 2011

5.08 :: A story about my five loves and why Valentine's Day is my favourite.


Well good evening dollfaces!


Happy Valentine's Day!


Yep, you heard me. Valentine's Day. It is by far, my favourite holiday. I love the amourous amount of love that people give each other (no matter what) on this day and even the emo-inspired love-haters make me happy too with their rainclouds of hate for anything pink and frilly today.


Remember one thing, I love you even if you hate today.


Anyway, it's abou 10:30 or so and I'm sipping a German Riesling at Studio J Ry after a whole afternoon/evening of hanging with Anthanasia, Jaxton, new baby Serenity and the whole Gallegos-Gitzen brood of kids and Daddy Gabe.


I never thought that after this many years, Nasia would remember this is my favourite day. Most years, we exchange loving e-mails about what we mean to each other and I'm the first to initiate. This year, however, she wrote me one first yesterday while I was out with my mum celebrating.


Tonight was impromptu, I surprised her with a new designer clutch, bottle of wine and a Shampoo Boy by J Ry shirt to RAVE reviews!


Yesterday, I spent all day with my mum and we bought each other cookbooks and coffee and wine and spent the evening at my house watching The Grammys and cooking shows.


For me, that meant alot.


Now, for many, they don't figure his as the archetype of a Valentine's celebration, but for me, it is. I was telling people over Twitter and a few friends and my two Valentines that I can count my loves on 1 hand.


Yes.


1 hand.


I am classicly single, but love it.


And I always make comments like, "I have less that 5 friends or desires"... it may be exactly five.


Pointing at my hand, I count them down.


1. my mum.

2. Nasia

3. my career

4. something undescribed and undefined that keeps me going.

5. me.


#5 means alot to me because IF YOU DON'T love yourself, how the hell can you love someone else?


#1 is my mum. My mum was single when she had me. It was me and her for a year or so til she got back together with my dad. But my mum sacrificed a whole lot for me. In my early adult years, she put an investment in me through beauty school, has ALWAYS been there and even when I didn't want to hear what she told me, it was THE best advice ever.


#2 is Nasia. Nasia taught me and groomed me for success. I always tell people, "when I see Nasia cut hair, I can see colours."


I visually can see her aura as she cuts. It's yellow when she's full of energy and pink when she's playful and very very crimsonesque eggplant is she's deep into symetry. No shit . It is!


Her grooming me as I was a young stylist translated into love on many levels and for sometime, I had a crush on my best friend and always announced that if I could marry a WOMAN, it would have been Nasia. I still beleive that. Through babies, salon changes, husbands and bad talking each other, we have survived it all as if we are an old married couple.


She's my true love.


#3 is my career. That includes clients, education, dreams and the EVERY DAY passion of wanting to excell at my craft. My mum and Nasia fostered that in me and made it tangible for me to express myself and become who you know today.


#4 is obscure to explain. I literally wake up and give thanks. Is it to God? i don't know. My life? I don't know. It could be a mixture of both. There's a desire there. There's a desire at night that drives me to want more. Is the need for a lover or companion? yes. Is it the need to do more and fullfil an inner need? Yes. Is it to show people ALL I can do that keeps me going? Yeah, it's that too!


I always say that when I find someone or get married (God forbid) this #4 will have a name. until then, it's something undescribed that drives me.


Most importantly, my Valentine's Day is a culmination of love that I try to portry daily through my five reasons for living.


AND THAT, lambs, is why Valentine's Day is my fav.


xoxoxo.

Josh

Monday, February 7, 2011

5.07 :: A story about Mister Cooley and all the irrevalance...

What's up lambs!

It's the one and only Mister Cooley tweeting, blogging and facebooking away from my office in Studio J Ry.


I find so many cool cool thing when I'm surfing my page like the number of views and how many people have shared my blog and webpage and info. Today, I was greeted on Facebook by an e-mail from someone that was very upset about me "unfriending" them.


I actually "unfriended" this person about a week ago after a month or so of debating. She sent me picture of an animation character to my inbox at the beginning of January with this e-mail asking, "how do I get my hair to look like THIS?"


Seriously?


On an anime character?


I was hesitant to reply because it's an animation. It's not even real, so it was awkward that I recieved that. So, I never replied. My reasoning for not replying is because it wasn't even a picture of a celeb or actual hairstyle. It was an animation and seemed so left-field that to me, it was irrevalant to even waste my time performing a consultation. So, I let it be. At the end of the month when I filtred through people on Facebook and connections that were no longer serving a purpose, I deleted her. We're not growing in our relationship and I was hoping to NEVER recieve an e-mail like that ever again.


Well, behold this morning: I was greeted with the subject line, "hummmm...." So I opened it.


In the message, she tells me, "I noticed your unfriended me. I find this strange as in the fact that I referred my sister and mother-in-law to you." I've never seen these people nor have they mentioned her!


So, I never replied to this e-mail.


She continued with "sorry I offended you by not following you properly."


Omg... really, people?


I'm not going to dismiss you for following or not following me, I will dismiss you for sending me unnecessary drama to my inbox though!


This last weekend, I came home Saturday night for the first time aching. Yes, aching.


My body hurt soooo bad.


I was convinced I was dieing. lol. Not really.


I've ever hurt from roller brushing or standing, but this week I did. I literally was on my feet more than I needed to be. I think alot of this has been contributed with the falling through of "Flawless".


As I contacted the photographer of my choice to tell him "Flawless" is going to be a portfolio piece and not an exhibition, he seemed bothered. I'm on this negative kick with people, lately. When "Shampoo Boy" was re-imagined, even my closest famil member glared at the name "J Ry".


"Who is J Ry", I was asked. With a negative, "hmmm.." following.


With "Flawless" people were wanting credit and acted bothered.


So, as I've learned, if you're gonna do it. Do it yourself.


And don't do it because people like you, do it because it feel right.


So, all this lackluster reception, I think has made it's way to my arm and legs. And if there's one thing I rely on, it's my appendages. lol.


My goal is not "Flawless" or "Shampoo Boy", it's gonna be me. My main-winner is my work with my clients and writing my column for PULP and getting my book published. So, I'm gonna focus on Josh and not listen to people as much as I thought I could.


If I listen... everyone's gonna tell me, "sorry I didn't follow you properly."


I have no time for sarcasm or irrevalance. I have time to be with my guest and be the very best Mister Cooley I can be.


xoxoxo.

Josh


PS: Tune in to Tabatha tonight!