We took Sebastian for his first ever haircut today, through screaming & tears & trepidation. Rather than seeking out an overpriced joint that caters to kids or settle for the mediocrity that tends to be Fantastic Sams & the like we settled instead upon Sweeney Todd’s Barber Shop on Hollywood Blvd. It’s a three-chair shop that serves as a step back in time. Old copies of Playboy, Modern Drunkard and Atomic Ranch filled the magazine rack, the water cooler was an actual glass 5-gallon number and the barbers themselves were straight out of the fifties, dressed in crisp white with impeccable hair (one with a picture-perfect pencil mustache) who knew all about the shops that once dominated downtown Los Angeles, alongside tattoo parlors that disappeared after the sixties. They were extremely patient with Sebastian’s reluctance to sit in the chair and we finally decided that it’d work well if he sat on my lap in the chair. Craig, a middle-aged man with a faded forearm tattoo I couldn’t quite make out and thick-rimmed black spectacles, told us the story of his first plane ride when he was three & a half flying out of Ontario airport — he didn’t want to go, broke away from his dad and ran around and around the airplane, forcing the pilot to chase & catch him. Once they wrangled him back onto the plane he got to ride in the cockpit after that, and even got a pair of wings. Sebastian didn’t react much to the story and kept his eyes shut tight for much of the time, but the tears stopped and he handled it like a trooper. He says he doesn’t like his haircut, and AM is a little sad to see his long locks go, but I think he looks quite sharp and the short back & sides will be much better for the summer. I’ll take him back alone next time — AM felt a little out of place in such a boy’s club (though they made us all feel welcome). It is another way I can live vicariously through my son… I mean, it’d be a little weird for a bald guy to hang out at a barber shop, right? Anyway, there are some pictures up now of his trip to the barber and from the past few weeks. Enjoy as always!
Updates…
I don’t think I posted these before, though they’ve been on Vimeo for a while now (since our trip to Disneyland):
Speed Racer from senilegenius on Vimeo.
Teacups from senilegenius on Vimeo.
Also, there are some new photos up from the past couple of weeks, including some of our rearranged living room and a trip to Central Park (aka Del Mar) in Pasadena. We meant to take some pics while at Galco’s last Sunday but completely forgot as we were all swept away by the selection of soda. Sebastian loved looking around though (thankfully) he’s still not much of a soda fan.
I think we’re heading to Santa Monica today, or somewhere closer to the ocean as we’re facing possible triple digit temperatures today in downtown & Pasadena. Ugh. I had to layer up while riding to work on Monday, and today I’d be more comfortable going outside naked. This weather just ain’t right! Enjoy the pictures & videos and we’ll hopefully have some more soon!