Six Degrees

Network /Net-work / noun

I remember the first time I heard of the game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.  I thought it was hilarious especially when we played the game in the salon.  The premise is to name an actor and with 6 steps they could be connected to Kevin Bacon.  For example Kyra Sedgwick would be one degree because she is married to him. I have two degrees to the game since my brother went to Albright College and three Albright guys invented the game.

I was thinking of this game when I was thinking about the ball.  The idea that we are all connected in some way and that if you gather up all of the people that you know, sometimes you can make a difference.

I looked up the word Network in the dictionary and a couple of definitions went like this...any interconnected group or system of people, support system, people who interact and remain in informal communication for mutual assistance.

I also looked up that commercial that stuck in my head for Faberge shampoo. Remember the one where this girl tells two friends and so on and so on.  The power of many.  I am amazed at how people who have passion about something can take that energy and expand on it by including the people around them.

I am amazed and grateful.  Grateful for the people in my life who have similar ideals and values, and come together for the greater good.  And grateful that they are also surrounded by the same kind of people...that's a whole lot of people doing a whole lot of good. So this is MY network for the ball.

First I started with Tony Kindness from AroundPhilly. I have had the honor to be friends with Tony since he and his company designed our first website. I told him our idea to have the Black and White Ball again and this time have it for the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Shelter Animal Medicine Program. AYC media has the best designers, and with the help of Tony and his team we have a great logo and website (coming soon).  I then asked Tracey Shannon; one of my friends and is also a partner in Sweat Gyms, if we could have the rooms downstairs for some of the music.  Never ever saying “no” to any cause - she said what else she can do?

With the three primary sponsors (Ground Zero Salons, Sweat Gym, and AroundPhilly.com) all in again, I was able to move forward with diligence. My salesman Joe came in one day and I told him about the ball. He said he was going to talk to Suzanne from JP Pets and see if they wanted to be part of this event since their company sponsors so many animal related charities. Suzanne and I met at Penn’s Vet Hospital, took a tour with Helen and before the morning was over, JP Pets was IN.  I met Helen before she even started working at Penn.  We met at Han Dynasty, our favorite Chinese restaurant and we both told him that he was cooking for the ball.

I asked Linda from Moore College of Art one day to have her students design faux fur for our fashion show and they did.  The rest of the clothes will be lent to us by Danielle from Bridal Garden and my cousin’s awesome store Warrior. 

I met Adi from Le Meridien when he came in the salon to get his hair cut.  I waited a few times to ask him if Le Meridien wanted to be part of the ball and he said yes!  So, we are super excited because it will take place in the library and the grand ballroom.  Plus, they are giving us wonderful room rates for overnight stays that weekend.

Justin from Mission Grill, who I have known since he was around 8 years old, said his group (Mission Grille, Tap Room, and Field House) would sponsor the VIP room.

Annie and Roberto are such good friends that they couldn’t say no, so delicious food from Roberto's will be served. Brian from Powelton Pizza my favorite pizza said “sure absolutely!”

My friend Alice knows these two great bands and called them to play and they said yes too.
I was also so excited when Ronnie Polanescky the fabulous writer from the Daily News, who I proudly call my friend, said I'm in.

With so many other sponsors already signed up it’s so exciting to see this event starting to take off.
And hopefully all of those people will tell two friends to come to the ball and so on and so on.  Maybe even one of them will tell Kevin Bacon to come he is from Philly after all.

W

For more information about sponsoring the ball please contact us at blackandwhiteball2012.com.  The website will be up by the end of this month.

Max

Anyone who knows me knows that I love animals and if you've been to any one of my salons, most likely you will be greeted by a wet nose or a wagging tail.  The two mascots are Charlie Joe and Dean Martin.  Charlie has been known to run and welcome his friends into the salon by jumping on them.... and "D" well, he is on lockdown most of the day because he is a little nippy and a whole lot of YAPPY!     I remember the good ole days of Joe and Jack - too big or too lazy to jump up on you and only barked for a cookie.  Naturally I became a little indignant when at our last salon meeting one of my stylists (in a meekish voice) brought up the dogs and said that clients were complaining about the dogs. MY SONS!.?

After explaining that more people like them there, expect them there, and even bring them treats, I had to take into consideration the reality that all people are not animal lovers and that maybe I need to reconsider bringing them in.  So I started thinking that maybe it was just Charlie and Dean that scared people, and maybe they don't even like coming into the salon.  I started thinking about when I had three dogs and I brought in my sweetie Jackie.  Three was a good number because I could leave two at home and still have the doggie energy in the salon, plus it's never a bad thing to have a big dog around you when you work in the city and leave work late some nights.

About a month and a half ago I was reading the book "The Secret" again and remembered that if you will it, it can be.  So I put out clear thoughts into the universe as to what I wanted.  I thought to myself, "wouldn't it be great to have an older dog who was already trained, gets along with the other dogs, and didn't bark or jump on or at the clients".  Well, let me tell you a little something about willing things into your life.
    
I know right now the world seems a little crazy.  People are homeless, jobless, depressed, uneasy and are looking for comfort in any way.  The way that I personally handle times like these are to think positive and take myself away from all the negative, and focus on creating and rethinking what is truly important in my life.  Redeveloping my business, exercising, and sending out love and hope to those that need it.
    
So a couple of weeks ago I decided to avoid a situation that may have been uncomfortable for me.  I called my friend in Virginia and asked her if me and the boys could come for a visit, she said that would be great, as long as I didn't mind her five dogs.  I told her five, seven?  Who cares!
    
We drove down in my new car.  I traded in my big SUV "gas guzzler" for a much smaller sedan, which, by the way, saves me $100 a week in gas.  With Charlie and Dean in the back we drove the six hours down south to Lynchburg, and when we arrived we were greeted by all five of my friends dogs.

My friend Ann lives on her farm and the door is always open for the dogs to run freely.  I had met three of the dogs before and was surprised to see a big dog which looked like a golden retriever greeting us as we opened the door.  It was love at first sight!
    
He had the sweetest face but the saddest eyes.  They were glassy and he looked like he had seen some really rough days.  He was extremely thin with his bones sticking out, he was dirty and his hair was matted.  I couldn't deny that he looked sick, but his demeanor was so gentle and sweet.  I asked what his story was and my friend said he must have been let off his leash to fend for himself.  He wound up on her nephew's farm down the road five months ago and that his dog had a problem with him so he couldn't keep him.  I asked his name and she told me she hadn't named him yet because she couldn't keep him and she knew if she named him she would have to keep him.  Without a moments notice I said, "come here Max!"  And so the story of my new addition to my family began.
    
I must have subconsciously known that I was going to keep him even though I knew that he was going to be an added expense I didn't need.  I was concerned that Charlie and Dean would not want to share me with another dog so I made sure they included Max in there pack during the day.  It has always amazed me how dogs adapt to new situations.  After only a couple of hours, Max knew his new name and became friends with my dogs instantly!
    
My friend told me that she was trying to find a home for him and that she would love for me to take him home.  I thought about the Ball we were doing for the Penn Vet School next year and decided I needed to put my money where my mouth was and rescue this sweet boy named Max!  I told her that before I took him home he needed a bath and a veterinarian appointment so I could be sure he wouldn't give anything to my dogs.  Although the vet was really nice, I didn't think her evaluation was completely accurate since she didn't take any blood.  She assessed him to be around 9 yrs old and eased my mind about being able to take him up to Philly.  And so I did!
    
Four days after we met I was driving home with three dogs in a sedan, which turned out to be the wrong time to trade in my SUV.  In six hours he went from being a southern dog living in the country to being the son of a Jewish liberal democrat moving to Philadelphia.  I knew as soon as I got home I was going to take him to my vet who has been my doctor since my first dog Joe 15 years ago.  I made an appointment for the following Monday.
    
I took him to work with me the next day and introduced him to the members of the Ground Zero team, and was loved instantly by everyone because of his mild disposition.  Clients even thought he was Charlie although he is much thinner.  He adapted extremely well to the salon - no barking no nipping and no jumping... I GOT MY WISH.
    
The only thing that made people upset was the sadness in his eyes.  I knew I had to strengthen his system and anxiously waited for his vet appointment on that Monday.  When we went to the vet on that Monday, I asked him if he thought I was crazy because I really didn't have the money to take on a sick dog.  He told me that no good deed goes unnoticed by the universe and that's all he needed to say.  When his assistant came back into the room she had this sad look on her face and told me he was he heartworm positive and that it could be a death sentence if left untreated.  I asked what the procedure was to get rid of them and the doctor said he needed to be treated immediately and watched closely for two days, and needed to stay overnight and it was going to cost around $600!
    
I had already spent $350 on him so far with two vet appointments, medication for his eyes, his shots and Frontline.  600 more dollars??  I asked if this would save him and he said they would X-ray him and see the extent of the damage and take it from there but most likely,YES it would.  I agreed and set up an appointment for the next day.
    
When I woke up I was in a panic thinking of all my bills that were due that week and I didn't know how busy I was at work since I had been gone for four days.  I am a firm believer in prayer for the things I need in my life, so I prayed and had faith that since God put Max in my life he would help me find $600 and also allow me to pay my bills on time.  I trusted that thought and actually started to cry.
    
On my way the next morning I went to pick up my mail and received two tax return checks that totalled more than I needed for Max's bills!  This was so out of the blue an unexpected.  I remembered what the vet said about my good deeds not going unnoticed and felt so relieved.  Later that day I got a phone call.  It was the receptionist asking me if I remembered the woman I had met when I was in the office the day before?  I remembered her and her blue pitbull.  She had told me her dog was heartworm positive that day, and she was smitten with Max.  The receptionist told me that the woman called the office to ask about her dog and she also asked about my sweet Max.  The receptionist told her that my Max also had heartworm.  The woman asked if I was going to treat him and the receptionist said yes.   The woman then told them that she would like to contribute $300 towards his bill!  I was in disbelief.  I had never met her before that day, she was a complete stranger and wanted to help me out.. I asked the receptionist why she would do that and she said she loves animals and fell in love with Max.  Crazy how the universe works huh??
    
So now it has been a week and a half after his procedure and Max is improving everyday, gaining weight, looking healthier and adapting really well to his new life in Philly!  So for me... If there is any moral to this story it is to put it out there into the universe what you want and need...and sometimes deeds do get noticed.  Stop in and say hello to Max at the salon if you are in the city.  He is working everyday I am!!!! ;)

-W

I'm back!

     Hello again- I'm back!  Life's pretty crazy isn't it?? You blink an eye and it's almost Thanksgiving again.  It's been awhile since I've blurted my thoughts out there in the universe...I am actually a little distracted by the breaking news of Kim Kardashian's 72 day marriage blaring in the background ... Gosh - I hope everything works out for her...
     Anyway, I get that this whole social network thing gets the message out, sometimes the message is vague, sometimes it's cryptic, sometimes it's vindictive, and sometimes it just gets a message across that changes things for the better.  I'm sure that you all have been seeing our little messages from some of our furry children about the Black and White Ball (with a touch of faux fur).  I wanted to have our kids giving you the information about the Ball because after all... how can you get mad at Charlie, Freedog or Bob? 
     The thing I've learned from all my years of fundraising for local charities...wait a second....Kim's mom is being interviewed, I've got to hear what Kris Jenner says about this... :)  Just the fact that I know who they are and their names is a bit perplexing and disturbing.
     So this is the deal about the Black and White Ball. Four years ago, there was a party celebrating Ground Zero Salon's 20th anniversary.  We had five salons at the time all over Philadelphia and our clients came from everywhere.  After being involved with the City of Hope and becoming more involved in community issues, Ground Zero Salons wanted to start our own foundation helping local charities and being a bigger part of the communities that we were in.  Having a lot of people in your radius makes it quite easy to network, and with the help of Sweat Gym and Around Philly we were able to pull off quite a party!
     It all started when one of my clients who worked at Jefferson Hospital was in my chair at the time I was telling Meg the receptionist about the foundation.  She told me Jefferson was opening a new breast care center and needed to raise a lot of money.  So we decided to make the anniversary party, the Black and White Ball with a touch of pink benefiting Jefferson Hospital Breast Center, and for those of you who attended...it was pretty sweet huh?
     We had so many restaurants, businesses, volunteers, and monetary donations all pulling together to have some fun and most importantly, raise some cash for a good cause.  And, next year we are doing it all over again, this time for University of Pennsylvania Shelter Animal Medicine Program.  That's all I am going to say right now, partly because I am exhausted and partly because Kendra and Hank Baskett are now on TV and I missed them last night...
More to come...
W

10 years later...

     Sunday night, I was sitting on the edge of my bed mesmerized by the television.  Kind of like I was on September 11, 2001.  I was watching the History Channel and the show was called 1:42 Minutes That Changed the World.  It was a compilation of raw footage from archives of the people in and around the Financial District.  It included video from cell phones, pictures from cameras, and audio from dispatchers.  For what seemed like the first time, I sat there for 1 hour and 42 minutes watching the horrible tragedy of that day. 
     Everyone remembers where they were when they learned of the attacks.   Most of us were getting up for the day, on our way to work.  Not thinking of any potential terror.  It was just an average day in September, but that all changed when we heard the news of the attacks.  We had that pit in our stomachs that fear and uncertainty bring, and we felt sadness and compassion. 
     The weeks and months after 9/11 were strange.  It had an oppressive, ominous feeling in the air.  The years and events that went by were changed forever and the protective cloud of safety our country felt was lifted and vulnerability became second nature. 
     Watching this program Sunday night brought it all back.  The sight, the shock, the fear, and the sadness of loss.  Real loss, real moms, dads, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles, grandparents, friends, associated, soul mates... Maybe I felt more compassion and connected when I watched TV that night because of my own loss of my mother recently.   Maybe I'm 10 years older, a little wiser, and much more involved with community and the bigger picture.
     September 11th changed the world in a positive way as well as negative.  It created a community.  Even though we have certain things in common, such as living in the same country, I have never seen it become so "united" until there was a threat against ALL of us.  I know in the past 10 years I have stepped up to the plate and did what I could to help the community. 
     So I sit here now and think about how people are challenged by good and evil, how a thought can change a community, and how if given the chance to overcome disparity, people will join forces and make things a little better. 
     Never forget 9/11 and all the souls we lost that are looking out for us from above and forcing us to pay attention.
W

Ruthie

     When I started writing these blogs I told myself that I wanted to only write about things pertaining to the salon...not to get too personal.  I figured I had alot to say about things having to do with my business and wanted to stay away from the daily drama surrounding my life.  But 2 weeks ago, I lost my mom.  She passed away on August 5th.  It has taken me 2 weeks to be able to sit down and write this about her.
     I will start with...my mom was possibly the smartest woman I knew.  She was a secretary, then a teacher, then the receptionist/bookeeper in my salons.  She didn't want me to got to hairschool because she thought I would miss out on the socialization that came with going to college.  She did agree to let me go, and recently told me that one of her proudest moments was when she saw me win the first place prize in a hair competition in hairschool.  Out of all the things she could have picked - that is what made her the proudest.
    Although my mom really didn't want me to be a hairdresser, she and my father invested in my salons from the beginning.  From Powellton Village - when she and my father had to schlep down there from Plymouth Meeting in the middle of the night because the salon's alarm went off and the alarm company couldn't contact me.   To the Manayunk salon - where she was sequestered to the 4th floor making sure every penny was accounted for.  She always double-checked with the calculator after she added numbers in her head.  She was at every City of Hope event tending to the money and also took tickets for our Black & White Ball.
     She loved being behind the desk because she loved our clients that walked into our doors.  I remember having to pull my clients away from her because of some in-depth conversation she was having with someone she became friends with.  She ran a tighter ship than I do and although she taught me so much about my business, I wish I had listened to her more when I had the chance. 
      She was my biggest fan and everyone I met at her development in Florida greeted me with, "So, you're Wendy the hairdresser".  When my parents were in Philly recently, they got the chance to see me on stage for Aquage.  I was ding an updo on my niece's hair.  I looked out in the audience and saw her eyes riveted on my niece and I.  Pure joy and so proud.  That was the only time she saw me on stage and I am so thankful she was there that day.
     Both my parents taught me to work hard, love what you do, and be the best at it.  My mother taught me strength and perseverance.  She guided me, educated me, and cheered me along the way.  And because of what she taught me I was able to pass that wisdom along to many young stylists willing to listen and learn. 
     Some of the most poignant posts that people wrote about her on my Facebook wall were from our stylists who worked at Ground Zero when she did.  I read and re-read cards that were sent from my clients who were affected by her being.  One of my favorite cards said its amazing how one single life can change many.
     So, here's to you Ruthie.  I hope that you are in a safe place with love surrounding you.  Thanks for being a part of so many lives - especially mine.  Thanks for teaching me life's lessons, encouraging me to be the best I could be, showing me strength, and loving me unconditionally.
I love you mom.

W.
May 1, 1936 - Aug 5, 2011  

Blah, blah, "blog"

Blog-(Web Log)- A shared online journal where people can post diary entries about their personal experiences and lifestyle.

  It is kind of funny that I am writing a "blog" and yet I never knew what the word "blog" actually stood for until a few weeks ago while hanging out with my niece and nephew who are really up to speed on all the latest and greatest that the technical world has to offer, and boy did I ask the wrong question... I looked at my nephew with the most endearing face and said... "what does the word "blog" mean anyway?
My nephew jolted his head in my direction and quickly said with a surprised look on his face "It stands for "web log" Aunt Wendy... DUHHHHH!!!"
I did not know ... am I the only one????
  Speaking of things that I didn't know, I didn't know that there were also certain protocols for writing a "blog".
And a "blog" isn't a tweet is it?????????   Ughhhh!
  I started this "blog" to start getting out all of my thoughts and to calm my sometimes frantic mind, I just wanted to write and vent. I don't even read other blogs because I rarely have the time with being so busy in the salon (which is a good thing.) And I really have a hard time concentrating. By the time I get home and tend to my life outside the business I am literally just not in the mood .  If I was in the mood, I don't have anything to read one on anyway.My computer is always at the salon and my antiquated blackberry is not a great tool for reading anything online, so I don't get much of a chance to read the countless other blogs that are circulating in cyberspace... I GUESS IT'S TIME FOR A NEW PHONE!
  In a world that is now so over saturated with blogs how would anyone find me and my blog or even have the time or interest to read it... and so my journey begins.
  When I was a kid, I wanted to be a journalist.  Writing class in high school was the only class I actually liked and paid attention to.  Writing always came naturally to me and although my mother was always there to correct my grammar (It did piss me off at the time!) I now see that she was just lending a "motherly" hand in shaping what she saw was a real passion of mine.  Throughout the years, I have had many writing projects start and stop for a variety of reasons.  I have always liked to write poems, however I stopped when I thought it wasn't "cool" enough.  Then I tried to pass some off as songs because I thought that was way cooler!  I started to write a book and sort of kept a journal, but then I would lose interest due to a little thing I have called ADHD, which makes short writing projects like a blog easy for me to concentrate on and complete.  But any long term project is a daunting task. 
 So here I sit writing this weeks grouping of words to announce to anyone who may be reading this that I just like to write.  I am keeping my blog on Ground Zero Center City's Facebook fan page and I will randomly come up with topics that may or may not interest you.  With my six degrees of separation to the beauty business and over 30 years invested in it, I am more than qualified to write about the industry.  I figured that in my 50 years of being on this planet and having entered the always-entertaining field of hairdressing... I have a couple of interesting stories laying around to tell.  Hopefully you will find them interesting and if not I guess for you it will be  another Blah, Blah, Blog....
W

GROUND ZERO...What's in a name?

Ground Zero def.- The hottest spot of a nuclear explosion and/or the focal point of an event or movement.
    
The first time the name "Ground Zero" was used in print was 1946 in the New York Times describing the bombs dropping on Japan. 

There are thousands of businesses in the US with the words "Ground Zero" in the name...
-Ground Zero Auto Body
-Ground Zero Audio
-Ground Zero Medical Billing
-Ground Zero Games
-Ground Zero Surfboards

I wonder if these 5 companies, out of thousands of others, have ever gotten the flack I have gotten over the prefix Ground Zero being in their name.  Which leads me to this question... What's in a name?  And what do you do when the name of your business that you have had for 14 years is cool on one day and the next becomes a moniker for the worst tragic event in US history?

On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked our country.  I remember that day as if it were yesterday.  Waking up to Howard Stern telling me the first tower went down - and then the second.  I put on the news and there was the big headline - "Tragedy Strikes Ground Zero".  I got dressed and went to work.  Everyone had that zombie look of disbelief, horror and fear.

On September 11, 2001, I had already owned my hair salon Ground Zero for 14 years.  I didn't even understand the rammifications of having a business called Ground Zero until my dad (who was my receptionist at Ground Zero Main Street) called a client to confirm their appointment...He proceeded to say "Hello, this is Sonny from Ground Zero, I am calling to confirm your appointment for..." and before he could get another word out of his mouth she said, "what kind of sick joke are you playing!" and hung up on him.  Really?

Over the past 10 years since 9/11, I have had to defend my name to many different people including my staff at times.  Defend seems rather extreme, but I have had to on several occasions -   when right after Keith Conroy bought his business Ground Zero Main Street, a little picture of it appeared in a newsletter by Glen Beck (readership was probably only 100 at that time thankfully) asking "Why would you keep a name like this after 9/11?"  Or when Robin who owned Ground Zero Chestnut Hill was confronted by a women who came into the salon to yell at her about the name.  Really?

Just recently, I have had the pleasure (not really) to find out that my new salon, which should have opened back in February, is being held up due to so-called "permit issues".  However, rumor has it that the inspector has been giving me a hard time because they feel that the name "Ground Zero" is too disrespectful.  Really?

So here's the deal... I bought Powelton Hair Studio in 1987 and I had to keep the name until I received my salon license.  For the next 2 months, I answered the phone "Hello, Powelton Hair Studio" and hated it - it just wasn't me.   The salon was on Drexel University's campus in Powelton Village, but it was in the basement of an apartment building.  I had thought of naming it "The Underground" and then it all came together... One day while I was walking to the dentist at Presby Hospital and listening to the radio on my walkman  David Bowie's song Space Oddity came on.  I really liked the name "Ground Control" at first, and then a DJ came on and said something like "Here we are, starting back at GROUND ZERO"... At that moment, a light bulb went off in my head and my salon name was born.  To me, the name meant starting over, which I was.  And my salon was in the basement level of an apartment building so the name was perfect!  I never in my wildest dreams imagined that 25 years later I would be accused of disrespecting my country.

So this is for everyone who has issues with the name.  Just know this...Ground Zero Salons have produced some of the finest talent in the Philadelphia area.  We have trained and mentored many people who needed a path.  They chose Ground Zero because of our commitment to our clients, commitment to education, and commitment to our community.  We have been responsible for raising money for local charities such as City of Hope, Ronald Mcdonald Camp, Jefferson Breast Cancer Center (The Black and White Ball) and Dancing Classrooms.  We are also currently in the process of getting sponsors for our next Black and White Ball to benefit U of P Veterinary School next year.  We rise to any occasion when we are asked to support local endeavors and our clients experience a warm and friendly atmosphere when they walk through our doors.

We consider ourselves family and our clients agree.  The dedicated staff exemplifies the quality you recieve at our salons.  So stop in to one of our salons before you go dissin' our name.  Sure, Its the same name the media gave the 9/11 attacks - but we had it first!
W