Coolest Salon Blog

The Teals go to Canada Part 4

“NO FU*&%$#, WAY” did they just call my name? “I better get up there”.
It was all kind of a blur one minute they were showing the wrong slide show the next minute they were calling my name. God I wish I would have written a speech.

Anyhow I go walking up to the front…

When I was in high school I used to play foot ball not very well but I still played none the less. I remember going through drills and being able to catch movement out of the corner of your eye and prepare for the coming attack from the running back, or the safety or what ever. I say all that because as I was walking up to receive the award I saw that movement. In the form of a 6’ 9” Australian. Wearing a cowboy hat and a duster. I saw that he was flanking my approach, by running, diving, pushing little kids over. And before I could pull out my fancy foot work we collided. Mickey, an educator for Farouk Systems comes up and gives me this huge hug.

The down side is that I was prepared for that collision and tucked into position with my head down shoulder up and ready for impact. I ran square into his mouth with my head. Which I know must have hurt because he exhaled Canadian Whiskey all over my forehead.

After spinning out of the potential tackle I made my way for the podium where I was intercepted by the announcer “Rocky Vitelli” also from Farouk.
“I just wanted to say …” I was too nervous to talk or listen because I was afraid of another blast of bourbon in my face. So I thanked him and stumbled up to the mike.

The speech went well I asked everyone to squeeze together and pose for a picture which they did. I told them that The Canadians are way cool and they rock. Which I truly mean.

The rest of the award ceremony was great it consisted of picture taking and hand shaking. After the show Mickey invited us to an after show party which I assumed would be a good idea.

On the way to the club the cab drive took us through the slum of Toronto, I know he does it for all the tourists. We get to the club and it was hopping Standing room only. Or should I say we were packed into the club like sardines in a can, (Sounds like a Radio Head Song). I couldn’t even lift my arm to take a drink. Also the music was sooooooo loud that I couldn’t hear anything. I think I am just getting old, so DeAnn and I had a drink with Mickey who won Classic Hairdresser of the Year by the way, and bid Farwell.

By this point we were starving and everything was closed so we asked a cab driver to take us anywhere that would be open, so back through the slums to the worst Chinese food restaurant in Canada.
“This will be good” he said and sped off to the safer side of Toronto.

What he failed to mention was that it was impossible to get a cab in that part of town at that time of night. So here we are 2 o’clock in the morning with a belly full of Beer and Crappy Chinese food walking back to our hotel room. “WOW International Hairstylists of the Year.”

Ryan Teal
Capello Salon
Soon to be
TEAL
Portland Oregon

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I have a really hard time sleeping, on the road it might be because 4 years ago Deannalyn and I bought a great bed. So no matter what hotel we are in the bed is half as nice as ours. I think it might be because I am one of the most neurotic people in existence. Compound that with, we our in Canada a place that I have only spent 40 hours in doing a hair show and I want to go exploring, double compound that with the fact that I am nominated for “International Hairdresser of the Year” is a recipe for disaster.

 

So when I finally made it down stairs the morning of the awards, after watching music videos, and an hour long work out, to get a cup of coffee at 4:30 am. I was surprised to see that Starbucks had not yet opened. So I hopped on face book at one of those communal computers they have set up in the lobby and my friends in Portland were just getting to sleep I knew I was in trouble.

 

9 long hours later I finally got DeAnnalyn and Tuesday up and ready to explore Toronto. I was like a kid at Disneyland, First I want to go to…., than to…., and I want to ride the pirates of the carribianne. Food is never a thought when you want to run from ride to ride. Tuesday, and D however had other plans, they needed to eat so we asked around and I reluctantly conceded and we went to this amazing Vegan restaurant off Queen Street, Called fresh. (I totally recommend this place it is all the coolness of Portland, with super cool people working, and great vegan and vegetarian food.)

 

After a great brunch we were off shopping Queen Street, Street vendors, Diesel, The Body Works and of course a grocery store. (Another side note, DeAnn cannot pass a grocery store with out going in.) We did find this totally RAD vintage clothing store called “The Black Market” that had different stores in a big warehouse setting. On of the stores was this MOD boutique with new clothing that was  re-issued from 60’s MOD gear. 4 button suits, Beatle Boots, Fred Perry Shirts, and even Lions dale Gear that I haven’t seen in Portland for 10 years. Needless to say Tuesday made out like a bandit.

 

Next stop was an Irish pub that I was surprised that kids could go into, so we stopped in for a Pint, or four of “Canadian”. On the way home we stopped into “Civello” a salon owned by Ray a big wig for AVEDA. We asked if we could have a tour and this super cutie assistant obliged. She thought it was funny however when I asked to see the break room and where the trash goes. Tuesday had to explain that we were opening a salon and we wanted to see the real salon.

 

At this point it was time to get back to the hotel and change, time to start freaking out. At one point I think I realized that I shampooed my hair 6 times. I would start my shower ritual, with a shampoo, move on to the next step, forget where I was and shampoo my hair again, start the next step, freak out, than shampoo my hair, and so on. During this point DeAnn asked if I had my acceptance speech.

 

“No”

“Why Not” she said.

“Because we are going to lose anyway” I moped

“Don’t say that”

“We are, the Canadians have asked us out here to make fun of us and we are going to go home empty handed. Besides our competitors are really good.”

 

So I didn’t even write a speech.

 

We get out of the cab a little while later and head up to the cocktail party a little early. I am given instructions by the same girl that I proposed to on the phone when we found out we were nominated, and quickly forget everything I am supposed to do. So I make Tuesday go back and ask what I am supposed to do, making a complete fool of myself. So we wander into the cocktail party section, after running into Lisa Vann, one of the other competitors and a dear friend but she is too busy so we can’t latch on to her.

 

It must have been a pretty funny sight, Deannalyn and I trying to muster up the courage to go talk to other people in the room. For those of you who did not read about the NAHA episode, we are terrible in party situations. A grueling 45 min later we are shown to our tables. We needed the Hubble telescope to see the stage from where we are sitting.

 

“See” I whispered to DeAnnalyn

“They put us in the back because we are losers”

 

We were seated, with a great group of French Canadians from Quebec who were supporting their friend Nikki Daoukakis, and Cenelia Martinez and her husband from Ontario. Of course when I sat down I instantly drank all of the wine and ate most of the bread how American of me. The meal was great and the conversation was even better it is amazing how no matter where you are from hairdressers will find a common bond.

 

When the awards got under way I started analyzing the winners, when Nikki lost I knew that we were at the loosing table, a few min. later when Cenelia Won her category I figured that one person from every table was how they arranged the seating. So when they called “The International Nominations” and my chair inadvertently broke, I knew the cards have been dealt. Against me.

 

 

Ryan Teal

Capello Salon

Portland Oregon

 

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