In a non-Oliphest event, Sagan and I went to a local beauty shop to purchase a wig for her costume. I really like adventuring with Sagan, and this was an opportunity to do just that, so I did.

The beauty shop we went to caters to predominantly black women. There was a moment of discomfort when I walked in, my not being the targeted audience, so I tried to relax into the experience. I had no expectations and was open to whatever this experience brought me.

When the woman behind the counter initially asked if we needed help, and ignored us for a bit as she finished the task she was doing after we said yes, I bristled, then shrugged. Maybe this is fine, not expected, but still fine. She helped us quickly enough.

Turns out, what we thought we were originally looking at was wig examples, we were actually looking at weave samples. Yeah, I had a lot to learn about this beauty thing.

The clerk led us to the wigs, and asked what we were looking for. Sagan asked for my phone, which I handed her, and she looked up River Tam, the character from Firefly that Sagan was dressing up as for a friend's birthday party. After the clerk looked at the picture, I set my phone down on the counter, screen side down as is my habit. The clerk found a wig that matched what Sagan was looking for, and handed it to Sagan to try on. As Sagan was adjusting the wig, the clerk gave off a huge sigh. We looked over.

"An iPhone 5SE."

Another big sigh.

"I would love to have one of those."

I stopped moving, suddenly unsure and more than a bit uncomfortable.

"I had a 5S," she continued. "But it broke. So, now I'm using the iPad."

"Does that work well?" I asked, keeping the conversation going, trying to hide my discomfort.

"No. My grandma stepped on it. It has a big crack across it." Another sigh.

Sagan finished adjusting the wig, and turned to me, asking for my phone to use as a mirror. "There's a mirror right there," the clerk prompted her, pointing to Sagan's right.

We loved the wig, so the clerk went to find one to sell us from the back stockroom.

After we paid for the wig (which was quite the adventure) and left the store, I turned to Sagan and said, "That whole thing with the clerk and my phone made me uncomfortable."

Rather than her expected reaction, "Oh, yeah, that was awkward," she asked, "What was uncomfortable?"

Which was the perfect response.

I love this picture of Sagan, and like the picture of me. In the next picture I took, I like the picture of me more, but like the picture of Sagan less. So, this one wins, making Sagan look good.

Oliphest 2016 continues with... dun dun duuuuuuuuuun! Chocolate!

Croston was a little concerned that we were considering Oliphest for another Chocopocalypse this year, but we assured him that that holiday happens only once a year, at the end of Lent.

First up was Enchanté Chocolate. See that é? Yeah, just like the Pokémon é. Which means, I just lurrrrve this place.

Of course, it DOES NOT COMPARE TO THE MEADOW.

Not because it isn't fantastic, because Enchanté is fantastic and fun. It's just that The Meadow is just so amazing.

And yes, we went to The Meadow next. I was expecting to go to the one on 23rd, and Matthew let me know the PHESTIVAL WAS NOT CROSSING THE BRIDGE. That Matthew, he's a smart one.

As I walked into The Meadow, I was delighted to find four bars of my most favourite chocolate in all the world. I grabbed them up, to have Sagan giggle at me.

I couldn't find any of my second favourite chocolate, the Patric Dark Milk, so I picked up a couple others that would tide me over, and asked the woman working at The Meadow if all of her stock was out. We then chatted about the cycles of Patric, and the current lull in chocolate varieties as Patric is off at school (OMG, how amazing is this?). She was surprised when I bought up all the remaining Gardini milk chocolate sea salt bars, as she was considering stopping carrying them. They weren't selling well in her store.

My response was, "Nooooooooooooooooooooo!"

And then a measured, "Am I the only one buying these?" Turns out, yes, yes I am. B and I are buying all of The Meadow's supply of these bars.

Huh.

I might have to convince Matthew to journey to the Meadow monthly and buy up all the Gardini's milk chocolate sea salt bars, just as I have B do it at the 23rd St Meadow.

Back to Oliphest. The chocolate shop event was a success! Just look at the wall of chocolate:

And the salts.

Who can forget the amazing salts here?