"The next-best thing."

I've become obsessed with finding some original nail colors. For years I've worn light colors in the summer and dark in the winter (I've especially enjoyed the really dark purple-black). Now I'm looking for something different - specifically, I've been searching for a flat, wet-concrete gray and a midnight blue that doesn't have sparkles. You'd be surprised how difficult this is to find, given that they are all over the internet. I'm also anxiously awaiting the winter colors from Essie because I'm dying to wear that mint candy apple.

But girls, what ALWAYS happens when you know what you want but can't seem to find it anywhere? That's right, you buy what you believe will be the next-best thing.

Only it never is, is it?

I bought an OPI color (Moon over Mumbai) yesterday that was the only gray I could find. I thought it would be, if not concrete gray, at least gray flannel, and I went in today to have my nails done.

Now, this will probably come as a surprise to you, but I get my nails done at the salon in Wal Mart. I KNOW!! Here's why: several years ago, when I used to go to a she-she salon, I broke a nail right before an important meeting or business trip or something. So I called my nail girl from the she-she salon and said, "If I come by your house, can you fix my nail?" and she said, "Sure, but I have to tell you my son has mono." Oh-ho! No thank you then. In desperate measures, I went to the nearest salon to have it fixed - and that was the one in Super Wal Mart by my house.

And you know how that old business adage goes: "Speed. Price. Quality: Pick Two." Well my Wal Mart nail salon is the only exception to that rule that I have ever encountered. They work twice as fast and cost half as much as the she-she salon. So I went back. And I've been going to them for years and I've never had a nail break. So sue me. I get my nails done at Wal Mart.

Plus, you can't beat the people-watching while you're drying, right?? The oh-honey-no moments alone are worth the price of admission.

Although, there is a problem with going into Wal Mart on October 31. It's rather hard to tell who's in costume exactly. I'm not sure whether she actually came out in pajama pants, house shoes and rollers or if she somehow thought that would make a fun Halloween costume.

So anyway, I had the Moon over Mumbai applied and it was...not what I expected. It was rather light. And not very opaque. I withheld my judgment until he applied a second coat, because that can make all the difference. But it just didn't come out as I'd hoped at all. It's very pearl-colored. In fact, it's very pearl necklace-colored, if you know what I mean. In fact, I'm taking it off right now.