And When You've Done All To Stand....Stand Firm Then

I think I've decided to stay here in Biloxi. I do have a hotel reservation in Georgia in case the storm decides to make a quick turn to the east within the next couples of hours. But I think we'll be fine. My house is boarded up so she should be fine. I'm just ready for it all to be over with. I've been praying today and feel at peace...along with so many others. God is in control.

Run and Duck for Cover

With Hurricane Gustav coming our way I still don't know what I'm going to do. I should know more by tomorrow. Fortunately our wonderful money hungry casino FINALLY decided to close down...well past nightfall...so that their employees wouldn't have any daylight to get prepared.

Forecasters keep predicting a hit in Louisiana, however there is a possibility it could hit Mississippi yet again. This my friend is not a good situation. This will be my second hurricane (the first being Katrina) and hopefully my last. I don't think I have anything left in me to continue living in an area that has threats like this. My nerves can't take it. I will do whatever is in my power to sell my house and get out of here.

I know many think we (LA and MS) are over reacting. And granted, we may be. But until you've experienced your house flooding...until you've had to sit in the attic on beams for three hours praying that the water will not rise any farther...until you've walked out in your front yard and seen the furniture of someone that lives three blocks away sitting in your yard....please don't judge. Never in a million years would I have imagined something as devastating as that....but I experienced it all. So when the possibility of another threat like THAT comes along you begin to panic a little bit....just a little bit.

I'll keep you informed of my plans.

What to Do?

I'm beginning to wonder if I should have named my blog "Stuck in Hell....Struggling to Break Free" instead of "American Woman Breaking Free". As I read my past few blogs I realize I'm chronically negative and I don't like it. The past few days I've prayed fervently asking God to give me peace. I've prayed asking God to give me direction. I've prayed asking God to help me live each day as it comes instead of worrying or wondering about tomorrow. But it seems each day it gets tougher to walk that out. I don't really know what I'm really trying to say here. I guess I just feel I'm at my breaking point. I'm beginning to understand why people run away from their lives and leave everything behind. Don't worry. I'm too sensible to do such...but it's definitely tempting.

Testing One, Two....

Okay so its only 8:15 a.m. and I'm already annoyed. Today my online classes open and I can start learning to Appreciate Art and trudge my way through Chemistry when I've long since forgotten any kind of formula.

So I log on to my Art Appreciation class to see how much time I'm actually going to have to waste on it and see I need to take a quick little Syllabus Quiz. You get to take it an unlimited number of times but you have to complete it with a 100%. No biggie. Most of my online teachers require this. Why? I have no idea. Its a waste of time and energy. If I can't figure out a few due dates and understand the syllabus as I'm reading it I really shouldn't be taking an online class in the first place. Yes, I'm talking to you if you're one of those that needs this little quiz to help you along. You are a dumb ass. I'm going off on a tangent here but I'm going to tell you why. 1. An online class is 100% reading and if you can't comprehend even the simplest of things as a syllabus there is gonna be a problem. 2. Do you not get that its a waste of time and energy? THEY DON'T EVEN GIVE YOU ANY CREDIT FOR TAKING THE STUPID QUIZ. We're all wasting our precious time because of YOU.

Okay now that I got that out we can proceed. So I'm taking this syllabus quiz and there is this one question: Quiz 5 and 8 are Proctored Quizzes. True or False. I of course put False because the syllabus clearly states several times that 5 and 10 will only be proctored. Yeah, so I get it wrong. I'm not throwing a fit just yet. I think, okay, I'll just take it again. So I take it again and I see this is a new test. Same questions but in a different order. Of course she wouldn't have the key wrong on BOTH of these tests. Surely a professor wouldn't make more than one mistake on a test that they expect us to do so well on but do not give us any credit for. So I get to the question: Quiz 5 and 8 are Proctored Quizzes. True or False. I put FALSE. Of course I put False. The answer IS false. I get it wrong. Now I'm just pissed. Not only do I pay regular tuition...I have to pay even more to take it online when the teacher doesn't even have to do as much work. This is SOOOOOOOO beyond my comprehension. But I work full-time and I really don't have any desire to go sit in a classroom during my time off. So I pay the extra money and take it up the butt. (LOL Even I'm laughing right now.) But I don't think I have should have to pay extra money to get a question wrong when in fact I put the correct answer. I don't think I should have to pay extra money to have to correct a teacher over a stupid syllabus quiz. This is just riDICulous.

So yes of course I emailed the teacher and tried to be as humble as possible about it. And of course she is going to the think I'm some smart ass, but how exactly do you say.... "Ummm, yes, this question is wrong on the test. Do you expect me to take it over and actually put the INCORRECT answer or are you going to correct it yourself?"

This is not a good start to this semester. Let us pray. I don't need to lose my witness again!

Diary of a Mad Massage Therapist Vol.2

Today was a really tough day at work. I probably lost my witness a few more times than I should have. But not only am I completely sick of massage....I'm also sick of people. People can say and do the stupidest things (yes I'm people too - I know I know). I know that's not an excuse to lose my witness, but I figured I'd use this time to add a few more rules of spa etiquette while I have them on the brain and ask God for forgiveness. Maybe you can prevent someone from losing their witness one day!

5. Do not, by any circumstances ever ask a massage therapist if their hands ever get tired. Even though they may laugh and say "Oh sometimes, but you get used to it" what they really wants to say is "YOU STUPID *&%$@! +*#%&@ of course my hands get tired. What are you going to do if I say 'why yes...they get tired all the time. As a matter of fact they are tired right now...so I'm going to stop this massage'". *sigh* Okay I feel better. Just take it from me...never ever ask that moronic question.

6. If you are a spa attendant please don't act like you are twelve years old and talk to the guest like this..."Yo Yo Yo here's a robe so get undressed and chill." I dare spit in your general direction.

7. If you are a spa manager/supervisor/dictator - oopps - director please don't take all the product and store it so far away from the spa hallway that it cuts into a guest's service. I know you enjoy micro-managing from your lovely desk and comfortable chair, but it really is about the guest. I can say this because I HAVE BEEN A SPA SUPERVISOR!!!!

8. If you schedule a Brazilian thinking that is the ethnicity of your therapist...you're sadly mistaken. You might as well not even show up for your service and let them bill you for your ignorance.

I'm really beginning to wonder if I need to write my own little spa etiquette book. I think the world really needs to hear these rules from my perspective!!!! What do you think?

Do I Feel Lighter?

So this morning I got my hair cut. I've always wanted to grow my hair out to help out a cancer patient. So today was the day. I cut off a whole 18 inches. I thought I would share the before and after pictures. If you're interested in donating your hair, check out Locks of Love. Here's to another child having hair. Cheers!

Diary of a Mad Massage Therapist Vol.1

Every once in a while (more like once an hour) I come across a few things that I'd like to shout at people while working as a massage therapist in such a lovely spa that is ranked in the top 25 of the United States. You'd think people would take us more seriously (HA HA HA)!!! Obviously not. Here are few things that come to mind.

1. Really? Is it completely necessary for someone to hold you by the hand and make sure you make it to your appointment on time. I've reserved your time for you and no one else. All you have to do is show up. ON TIME!!!! Get it together people!

2. Did you just walk 500 miles without shoes? Would YOU want to touch someone's feet that looked like sin itself?

3. Should I have to ask you to take a shower after being in a hot tub or steam room for 20 minutes? Do you know the number of skin cells that are floating on top of that water? Don't you know that the steam is just a breeding ground for bacteria? Did you even graduate high school?

4. Why are you asking me where the lockers are when you just walked past them? We haven't painted them in a camoflouge. It shouldn't be that difficult. They all have this little lock that you put your key in and voila! it opens!!! OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLE!!!!!!!

Those are just a few of the things that come to mind. I'm sure there will be more to come. Perhaps tomorrow!