No 3: File this under diamonds
This afternoon, I dropped by a local Douglas, an outpost of the European cosmetics mega-chain (who are most insistent upon being called “doo-GLAH”, as though sibilants contained germs, or worse, calories). Though I’m not exactly a world leader on the Hope In a Jar front, there are times when I do have certain . . . needs. Today was one of those days.
I experienced a surprisingly deep fingernail tear last week, actually drawing blood, and wanted to head the next tear off at the pass. For me, the easiest way to do that is to keep my nails from getting too long, or too squared at the corners. While a regular emery board will suffice, I’ve found that nail files coated with diamond dust are quicker to use and slower to dull. I figured a short trip to a cosmetics specialty store would have me set in no time.
No (d)ice. I puttered about among the nail products for a while without any luck. Then I waited in line behind a woman in a severe pair of glasses, a full hijab, and zero maquillage as she intriguingly, paradoxically debated whether to put more makeup purchases towards her frequent buyer card. Finally, I asked a clerk whether they carried any diamond nail files. There were none to be had, nor was it clear that any would be arriving soon.
My fingernails must do a bit more walking if they are to find their bliss.
Very odd. There was a Douglas branch a half-mile away from where I grew up. We used to pronounce it “Doo-glass” (with a short A and sharp S). It’s a German company, complete with a “.de” Web site, so there seems to be no reason to use French pronunciation.
The Douglas stores appear to be owned by “Douglas Holding AG”, also German, despite a “.com” URL: http://www.douglas-holding.com. Its motto, “Handeln mit Herz und Verstand”, is a double entendre, vacillating between the intriguingly moralistic (”Acting with heart and mind”) and the deliciously creepy (”mit etwas handeln” also meaning “Trading something [for something else]”, thus “selling off one’s heart and mind”).