Where ever the cat goes trouble follows

Greetings Everyone,

If anyone finds they have extra time and would like to come support me in my new craft fair adventure, here is my current schedule:

Nov. 7th - Holiday Artisans Fair, First Parish Church, 20 Lexington Rd, Concord, 10-4

Nov. 14th - Holiday Craft Fair, Concord Scout House, 9:30-4:30

Nov. 21st - Annual Holiday Craft and Artisans Fair, St. Michael's Parish, 90 Concord Rd.,
Bedford, 9-2

I am also taking custom orders for jewelry, chainmaille style jewelry, and dreamcatchers; they make great holiday gifts. Pictures available on my facebook profile or at www.theblackcatcreations.etsy.com. I do offer a small friends/family discount.

Love you all,
Ali

For those who are not on Facebook regularly...I have started and etsy.com store. Black Cat Creations by A Healing Vibration. Let me know any thoughts or feelings about it, I would love some feedback on anything, pictures, items, styles, prices, ect. I'm still experimenting with prices, so please be honest about your thoughts on the pricing. Thank you.

A Healing Vibration has expanded! My jewelry and dreamcatchers are now for sale under the name Black Cat Creations, by A Healing Vibration. Got all the paperwork back from the state to collect sales tax and buy wholesale. Next step hitting up the craft fair circuit! Which leads to...Does anyone know of any local or worth traveling for craft fairs?

I will be at the Littleton Craft Fair on Saturday the 12th from 10-4 if anyone is around and would like to come see me at my first craft fair.

Long ago I promised myself I'd never work for another corporate place. Well as many of you know I went back on that when I took this job 3 weeks ago, because they seemed different. They aren't. My underwear is apparently a buzz right now. The manager approached me today to ask me if I was wearing a bra, because a few people brought it to her attention. I calmly explained to her why I don't wear one, she suggested I wear a tank top under my shirt, so I showed her that I already was, the conclusion I have to wear a bra to work because it's in the handbook. On top of that they made me take out my earrings, you are allowed one pair per ear; they aren't sure what they are going to make me do with the uneven on that I cannot take out. The important thing though is the money is not worth it, I'm make about $100 per 10 hour day. They are also breaking the federal law; no more than 20% of a tipped employee's week may be spent doing non-tip generating work. We are required to do so much non-tip work that we don't have enough time to spend at our tables. I just hate the idea of doing another job search, so I'm trying to figure out if it's worth dealing with for three 10 hour days a week.

Sorry for the venting.

So this wonderful new job that I just started is really discouraging. It was supposed to be a run of the mill server job at a well know corporate company. The only good thing I have to say so far is the food is good, everything is made in house or local, nothing comes in frozen/premade. Now the downside, I've done 3 shifts of training and I've had to train myself. Both days my trainers were late, 2 shifts were done as a double were I worked 11-9 without a break. After 3 shifts no one has sat down with me and discussed any of the menu in detail, not a word about alcohol, and the best part I usually can't find my trainer when I need something(like change for their table, I'm not supposed to be handling payments until shift 4). Management is unavailable, servers wait about 30-45minutes at the end of their shifts to hand in their cash, never mind if you have a question that needs a time sensitive answer. My last training shift is Saturday, it is supposed to be an expo shift, and this is where I am going to "learn" about the food, so until then I'm reading the menu over my customer's shoulder when they have questions. I called tonight to find out what my schedule will be after training and they are not supposed to set that up until after I'm trained, I kindly reminded them that my last day at my current job is Friday and I would like to let my regulars when I will be available at this place, they didn't get it, I had to explain that I was trying to bring them business. They agreed to give me 3 double shifts a week between Tues-Fri, and as it stands now I'll be getting Tues-Thurs, kind of miffed that I won't get Fri, I would like at least 1 busy day; and it gets better next week I will probably only be on Thurs. WTF!? My first week and I get 1 day! It's been a week since orientation and I'm still not in the computer system, can't clock in/out, so just have to trust them. Sorry for venting, just needed to get it off my chest. Other than work I'm doing good.

Please Make Your Voice Heard

Massage Board Proposal Threatens Right to Practice Bodywork


The Board of Massage Therapy in Massachusetts have made changes to the standards that are threatening the right to practice bodywork under a massage license. The board has set the standard as of May 2010 that requires 650 hours of study, none of which can be bodywork. The board incorrectly maintains that since they do not have jurisdiction over licensing bodywork, it cannot be included in future educational programs. This would make Massachusetts the only state with this restriction. This will have the following consequences:

Massage therapists will need to get a separate license to practice reflexology, polarity, shiatsu and any type of asian or energy based bodywork.
If you practice bodywork under a massage license you may be in violation and could be shut down.
This will reduce the availability of bodywork in massage settings and spas.
The price for bodywork will be increased as there will be fewer bodyworkers.
Spas and other employers will have to pay bodyworkers more if they can even find them.
If you are a practitioner already you may lose clients who currently come to you for bodywork.

This is not in the best interest of the consumers. As a consumer or future practitioner you should be concerned as the changes will:
Increase the cost of your education
Increase the cost of bodywork

Who benefits? Primarily a small number of massage schools that don't offer bodywork programs.
Who suffers? Consumers and people who want to become practitioners in the future.

To prevent this from happening it's imperative that you send an email to Michael Hawley at the Department of Public Licensure stating the following:

I am opposed to the new standard set by the Board of Massage Therapy Regulation that increases the hours to 650 hours and eliminates Bodywork from the curriculum. This change will limit the scope of work presently offered as well as make it more expensive to receive education that includes bodywork. It will also increase the cost of receiving this important preventive health and wellness care.

Please add to the basic statement to reflect your particular relationship to the issue. State whether you are an employer, massage therapist or future massage therapist or a concerned consumer.

Please send this to:
Michael.E.Hawley@state.ma.us



Thank you to everyone who sends an email, it affects both consumers and therapist.

My website is up and running now, check it out and let me know what you think!

Life has been interesting.

Massage:
My first chair massage event was awesome, very well received. My first home visit was incredible, left me very excited about my new career, waiting eagerly to book more clients. I will be at FoL doing chair massage, my first business trip!

Ferret:
Got laid off 2 weeks ago. He got a very nice severance package, but still unimaginable amounts of stress.

Restaurant:
Business is at an all time low and my job may be on the line. The GM blew up at myself and another server on Fri. the story goes as follows: R called to see if he should come in (we've been figuratively fighting over who gets 3 tables for lunch); we both arrive; the GM yells at us that if we don't want to work there then we should quit, he needs staff that wants to be there and we don't pick up enough shifts; R tells him that it's funny coming from him (he comes up with every excuse to not work, and really only works part time); the GM leaves to go to the restaurant depot, misses all of lunch (the busiest we've had in months, credit card machine went down), comes back hours later unloads his truck, and leaves to drive home (40mins away) to change trucks?? (because he never seems to drive the right truck to work??); I inquire when he comes back hours later about the comments from the morning, he informs me I don't pick up enough shifts because I cannot pick up 2 shifts for a coworker; I remind him that I just picked up Thurs. on a semi-permenant basis, and I have a business to run; he then tells me I need to speak with the server manager about my lack of helping out. I speak with her; she understands that I can't pick up everything, and tells me that he is trying to hire a full time day bartender and if he does he is giving them ALL of my shifts?! All because he is tired of having people there only for 2-3 shifts a week, I was hired to do 2-3 lunch shifts a week (nearly 3 years ago), mean while I did work my way to full time, and do the job of bar manager for FREE for over a year, then went back to 2-3 shifts because of school. All in all I feel like this was giant knife in the back.

Things are going well, busy, but well. Got the rest of the "rent funds" from Ferret's parents after weeks of hassling. Purchased most of my start up stuff for the business. I have my first paying client tomorrow, originally it was only supposed to be a one day thing, and they are considering turning it into a monthly deal!

Most of my holiday shopping is done, making lots of gifts this year, the one attached here is a gold and fluorite necklace and earring set I made for my dad's wife that I am really proud of, and a silver bracelet for Ferret's sister. I apologize to anyone who usually gets a plate of holiday cookies, funds are really low this year and I don't know if I can afford to do cookies, but know I still love you.

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42590&l=e9d62&id=607279908

I hated touch/flag football in November on the frozen ground, and basketball I was too short.
Loved volleyball, pillow polo, dodgeball, square dancing, any kind of hockey, flicker ball, speed ball, and hocker.

My business is official and legal! The name is A Healing Vibration. The only down side is I can not take clients at home, it is out call only. The only way I can legally practice from my home is to apply for a facility license from the state, which requires the board of health to do an inspection, sinks for hand washing within so many feet, so many square feet of space, and handicap accessibility; Ferret's parents' house would not pass any of these. Now I just have to negotiate with his parents to gain control of the rest of my money so I have start up funds, that is after we determine how much is left (his dad "forgot" to record several months of rent.

As of today I am a licensed massage therapist! And my massage chair arrived today as well. Time to do my marketing materials...

I am thinking about calling my traveling chair massage business "The comfy chair". Any thoughts or ideas. Be brutally honest! Thanks everyone.

I graduated today with straight A's! Sent the application for liability insurance, after I get a letter back from them I can apply for my license and be official(should be no longer than 4 weeks). From here I'm getting a massage chair and will be doing traveling chair massage targeting businesses, corporates, gyms, parties (baby showers, bridal showers, ect.) and health fairs. It's a good way of getting myself out there in the field with low overhead, so I can save funds to open a physical location. I am also looking into places to rent a space by the day to work with individuals, for clients I know real well I will entertain the possibility of house calls. Tomorrow I am diving right into my first CEU, I am taking deep tissue while waiting for my license, figured it made sense to take another full time class while I'm already on that time schedule and live rent free.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!


I just needed to scream somewhere.

So an unexpected wrench was thrown in my gears, I'll find out on/by Thurs. what can be done to fix it. I just found out that my current school loan will cost me $100 a month starting in May not the $50 we thought it would be. I was going to take out another loan to take another 4 classes, totaling 7,200. But the interest rate has almost doubled since May when I took out the first loan, so if I took the loan to term I'd pay over 9,000 in interest alone, and have a payment of $200 a month for both loans. It's just too much for me to commit myself to at this point because of uncertainty of my financial stability. I am not eligible for grants this time around because all classes from here out are CEUs.

In other news 3 weeks until graduation!

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/3/43222/8057/718/618653 

3 classes down 1 to go before graduation, I can't believe I am 6 weeks away from applying for a license! Still maintaining my straight A average. Got the CPR certification done. After this weekend I will only have 4 clinics left.

My car needs a new knock sensor, that's about $200. I could do it now but I'd have no reserves left, so I'm going to wait a bit, the dealership said I'll be fine as long as I do it by the next oil change.

I've decide I'm not going to wear a bra any more (I was only wearing it to work and school) and to find out more info to accurately inform women of the hidden dangers of bras. My anatomy teacher briefly described how bras put unnecessary pressure on spinal nerves, causes strain on the shoulders, neck, and head, as well as creates tension in the fascia under the band/straps. They do not reduce sagging only the appearance of sagging while wearing, the only people who should wear bras are people experiencing pain and need some support, even then most of the bras out there are functionally retarded and cause more harm than good.