A Refreshed Tattoo & Questions for other billboards

Seeing some of my fellow billboards gave me a bit of cranial envy b/c I seem to have a smaller head than others.  The good news is that my cranium measured 24 inches and one of the folks at Sunday's event said that an 18 to 19 inch head would be considered a pinhead. I guess that makes me just a petite head.

QUESTIONS FOR OTHER BILLBOARDS - Please comment:

1.  Did you enjoy the warm towel on your shaved head on Sunday?  I always wondered what a warm towel against a freshly shaved face felt like.  I always imagined someday having a warm towel pressed against my freshly shaved legs rather than my scalp.  I missed the hot towel treatment yesterday when our heads were reshaved.  THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT NOW MY HAIR CAN GROW AND GROW - no more shaving.

2.  What's the best reaction you've had to your cranial billboard?

3.  What's the most hurtful comment you've received?

4.  ARE YOU READY TO BE A KIWI????

HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS CAN BE HIP

Tonight at Whole Foods I met a high school math teacher named Marla who proved white women can be hip!  She was familiar with the Air New Zealand campaign and told her students all about the cranial billboard promotion.  Marla has challenged her students to come up with both luxury and budget travel plans.  She has encouraged them to be creative using concepts like Air New Zealand's billboard idea.  Marla would really love it if a few billboards could make a guest appearance at the school.

Plus, Marla has been to New Zealand before, so she knows it's a land of adventure!

Do White Women Feel More Pressure to Conform?

Having a shaved head has igiven me some insight. Universally, my black female seem more accepting of my "new" look while some of my white female friends find it hard to look at me and suspect I've lost my mind.

My black friends have said: "You have a nice face" or "Wow, it really brings out your eyes - you're going to look great with short, short hair."

In contrast, some of the women in my office with shorter hair than I had have said: "Are you going to wear a wig or hats till it grows back?" When I said my head was Air New Zealand's cranial billboard for the next 10 days -- several said: "But they won't know if you wear a wig in the office." I said: "I'll know."

As a single white female, I've always wanted to be slender like Eva Longoria or Michelle Pfeiffer. Instead, I have boobs and hips. One of my black friends once even asked if I had some black blood in my ancestory since I have more of a bubble butt. I said: "No," and was a bit offended since I've always wanted a less conspicuous butt.

Whereas I've always wanted a better more perfect body as a single white female, my black female friends seem more comfortable in their own skin -- WYSIWYG - What You See Is What You Get. I'm still trying to reach that level of comfort.

So I may be hairless at the moment, but I'm gaining insight (which I'll be able to pack for my adventures in New Zealand). My other revelation is that I had more self-confidence in my hair than I realized.

Now We're Talking

A man behind me on the elevator said: "Gee, I think I want to go to New Zealand."
I told him about being a cranial billboard for Air New Zealand to promote flights from LAX to Auckland. He said: "Is it too late? I'd let them shave my head for a trip to New Zealand."

The woman next to him said she was headed to Australia in a week. She was ready for adventure. But she did not said she'd be willing to shave her head -- of course, she already has a ticket.

SHAVED HEAD DOES NOT MEAN I'M GAY

I'm blogging today in "girlie" purple as a statement of my heterosexuality.

Earlier in the week, another woman advised me that when she cut her hair really short, a lot of women hit on her.

Today, at Amandine, a man approached me after I ordered a piece of quiche.

Man: Since you're advertising --

Me: (thinking) Yay, he wants to go to New Zealand.

Man: (handing me a card): This is a new website for women seeking women.

Me: (trying to hand him back the card) But I'm not gay.

Man: But you may know someone.

As he walked off after refusing to take back the card, I stood there thinking: "But I want to go "down Under" not "down There." By the way, I am voting "No" on 8, I'm just wired to go for guys.

Tonight I'll give the card to Air New Zealand since the one woman at work who is rumored to be gay, would be offended if I tried to give her the card. . . .

I'm contemplating wearing a pink bow on top of my head. . . .

Tonight the Santa Monica Police Came to my Apartment!

Gee, every day is full of surprises when your head is shaved.  This is DAY 4.  On Day 2, my co-worker who kept saying "Oh, my God!" also asked if I was about to go postal.  Until tonight, I thought the conversation was irrelevant.  Gail said: "Well, you know before somebody goes postal (and shoots up a post office), they snap.  You look like you've snapped."

Last night I told my sister-in-law I was a little depressed at the lack of support from many women at my office.

Today, I went off to work without my cell phone and then took a yoga class right after work.  I got home about 8:15 and as I walked toward the elevator, two Santa Monica policemen entered our building lobby and said: "Are you Terry Gardner?"  And I said "yes," initially thinking "Gee, is Air New Zealand playing a joke on me?"  But then the cops - who were very cute - fireman cute (which made me wish my head had even an inch of hair) said: "Are you okay?"  I said: "yes."  

They said: "Please call your brother, Ma'am.  He's very worried about you.  He told us that you'd shaved your head. . . ."  

Aha, that's why they suspected I was Terry Gardner.

The policemen asked me to tell my neighbor who had buzzed me in that I was okay.  They left.  I told my neighbor, Mike, I was fine.  Sadly, Mike and I rarely ever speak -- I think he's always thought I'm weird.  As I stood there with my shaved head explaining I was a human billboard I knew I wasn't help establishing my normalcy in Mike's eyes.

I called my brother and sister-in-law, and they were so relieved.  So after the mixed reception I've received at work, tonight I felt very loved, and I know the Santa Monica police respond very quickly.  Better yet, there are some cute cops here.  I've only seen heftier ones out on the street on bicycles.  

So things are looking up.

OKAY, FELLOW CRANIAL BILLBOARDS, have the cops come to check on you or what?  Post your most interesting tales.  PLEASE.

TATTOOED FOR CHANGE