VENT SESSION

Do you have a schedule for what your hours are at work? I work commission and when I do not have a client on my books I am not required to sit at work and twiddle my thumbs. Why? Because I'm not getting paid a darn cent to sit there! With that said, the times I am required to be at work change every day. The only way to know what my schedule is...look at the main book on the desk. Which would be fine, except that the owners keep hiding the damn book! 


Let me back up, last year one of the stylists that had been there the longest quit. They never replaced her and we just worked as a team of four. A few weeks ago, another long term stylist quit and bought a salon all of 2 blocks away. (Might I add that I am so happy and proud of her!) This is when paranoia severely consumed the brains of my two bosses. I am the lone stylist left with these two nuts who used to be fine (not amazing and wonderful but not scum either). It started when the first stylist left. We (3 stylists) asked to sit down with the two owners. We didn't want to pay $5 out of tips for the stupid water thing. Don't most businesses provide this to their employees or you just drink tap water! For goodness sakes that is what they give their clients...tap water! We wanted a website. Yup, 2010 and we still never had a website. Oh you expect people to just find you up on the 4th floor of a building? Interesting! We asked for price increases... which hadn't been done in YEARS! AND for commission to be higher than 50%. We no longer have to pay for water. We had a VERY basic website for a few months that is no longer online. And we were told our commissions would never be higher than 50% they just couldn't do that and had never heard of that before. REALLY?!? I was making 55% at my previous salon and was offered 65% from another salon owner who tried to steal me away. THEN, I find out they asked the stylist who just left to not mention it to me but that they were raising her to 55% because she is like family to them! I was suppose to have a haircut price increase in May that didn't happen either! And all the while here I still am working for them. 


Last week, was pure frustration and rage (worse than anger). For the second time since the stylist left, I have gone into the salon to look at my schedule and it isn't there! The first time, I was trying to make an appointment for a friend and this time, I was trying to see if I could sub at the dentist office (more on that news later). I call them and the first time they said they needed them for quarterly taxes. I'm not stupid and went home to see when those were due and they were due two weeks prior. I didn't say anything but knew they were lying to me. This time they told me they left them in Bellingham at their loft cause they were consolidating. Then I find out they actually locked them in the maintenance closet and took the key with them. Lied again! They told me they would let me know first thing Tuesday morning what my schedule was. The salon opens at 10am and I finally had to call them at 11am to find out that I could have helped out at the dentist office! When I went in that afternoon, I brought an appointment book with me that I used at the previous salon I worked at. I wrote down my entire schedule in front of them. The bully of the two called me freaking out that no one had ever done that before and was I leaving. Then I get a second voicemail that they went through my station and found a spiral with my clients names and numbers in it. YES, you read that correct... they went through my belongings. He told me he owned the station and that I would have done the same thing if I were in his shoes. And on and on and on you can only imagine. He then threatened me and said that he spoke with his lawyer and it was illegal to go through his books and take that information if I was going to leave. I told him I wasn't and that the spiral had been in my station for a while (which it had). More stuff happened that week, and on Friday I went in on my day off to give them the spiral and appointment book and to stop harassing me. I told them I do not want to be friends with them and that this is strictly a paycheck for me. Here I sit on another Monday, I asked this morning at 10am if he could tell me what time I am in tomorrow. He told me he would let me know because he was going into his office today where the book was. It is now 5:40pm and only after I have sent a second text today did I finally receive my time. I need to make an appointment with the maintenance man for our townhouse to get a few things fixed and I couldn't do so because some inconsiderate people have the nerve to keep that information from me. How is it that my schedule could be such a secret! If I didn't need a paycheck from them....I would be LONG gone! Only 4 more months of this to put up with! 


Thanks for listening!


until next time....

SOS

On Saturday, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. It was amazing to watch a group (130 volunteers) from a church go into a public school and enhance and transform it from the inside out! There was a ton of work to get done between 9 AM and 3 PM. We were ripping out plants and putting in new ones, sewing curtains for classrooms, painting parking lots, repainting basketball lines, painting four squares, painting a 100's chart, painting a map of the USA, etc! I couldn't have been more proud to see how dapper and crisp the school looked when we were done! 

How cool is this map?!?! I wish I had one of these at my Elementary school! 

This is Sunnyland's mascot! They did an amazing job painting this! 

Here are our curtains!!! The kid's are going to paint and put their hand prints on them to add some color! 

I worked on painting the 100's squares to help the kindergartners learn their numbers. After there were too many people on that project, I moved inside to help with the curtains. I was ironing the 2inch hem's on each end of the curtains before they got stitched! Let me tell you, the seamstress making these was a bit particular on the ironing....glad I could live up to her standards! I had a major sense of accomplishment at the end of the day! What an awesome project to be a part of! 

until next time...

Magical

My best friend always uses the word "magical!" For example: Our friends Kiersten and Ryan came over with their most adorable son Silas (you just want to squeeze and eat him... he is so cute!). They brought dessert but we were so full from dinner we didn't get to it. A few nights later, I opened the freezer to find not ONE but TWOOO boxes of Mochi!!!!!!!! Now that was magical! 

I can honestly say that my life is MAGICAL!  

The friendship I have with my brother is magical. He might call me 5 or more times a day but I would rather have that verses never having him call! My parents are two of the most amazing people. They have the biggest hearts and have made my entire life magical! I honestly think they would give the shirts off their back for anyone! I adore my family! Yesterday my grandma called me and said something so magical... She called to tell me that she was sitting at a marina, drinking wine, and listening to a band play. She said she just had to call because out of all of her grandchildren I would have enjoyed where she was the most and she just had to call me! I don't get those phone calls often so when they do happen it makes my heart smile big! I love knowing that my family is thinking about me! My best friend comes up with the most magical  presents. I don't know how she does it but every present she gives has so much thought and meaning and they are perfect! For my birthday she got me an ornament of a little dental assistant with my name and year! She is one hot little assistant I must say!  I think it is awesome that my mother-in-law can call me anytime just to say hi or pick my brain for ideas. Or what about when your husband's aunt is trying to skype you and you have a mud mask on...oh you bet I answered for Aunt Jodi! I am so happy that I can have a close relationship with my husbands family too! The most magical part of my life right now is seeing how close my amazing husband is with my family. My parents adore him (okay he is my dad's favorite child) and treat him as their own. Who can say that their dad thinks of their husband as the first person he wants to take on a one on one trip to Alaska?!? It is magical to see my husband experience all the opportunities I have been given by my parents. My humble husband looks at me like no one else ever has. He treats me with so much respect and wants the world for me. We have something magical and I am so blessed to have him by my side. I have been super busy right now and he cooked every night and cleaned and he and my dad with a little help from mom put up the screen door I have been desperately wanting! He does anything he can to make me happy and I wouldn't want to be with anyone else! 

My life is magical because of those that surround me! 

until next time....

Here's a little piece

...of what we've been doing!

Playing with our niece's

My most favorite dog in the whole wide world!

Lookin good at weddings

Congrats Kirk and Andie

 Admiring the summer sky

Brother's

Dancing Uncle Nic

What a view

The ENTIRE Truscott side! 

Baby Truscott Nuggie

Two stadiums and an amazing Mnt.

Can't go to Seattle and not see the gum wall! 

Mr. Andy Grammer!!!!

until next time...

Free time makes me...

...think and ponder

The fourth of July means sloooooooooooow time at the salon. Normally, I welcome this slow time. It means I get to go outside and play and enjoy the sun! However, two extremely slow days in a row (yesterday no clients today one haircut tomorrow 3 haircuts) puts me in a really sour mood. In all honesty, it makes me feel worthless. Like I have no purpose and am not pulling my own weight. HUMPH... It reminds me why I am in school to get a job that is not commission and has set hours and pay. As time is winding down at school, I am starting to get antsy and nervous. Can I really perform well at this job? Do I know what I'm doing? I just have to remember that what I learned in school are the basics and what I don't know... well I will learn it on the job! But boy is that scary! I had my last final today and externship starts on Monday! I went and shadowed after class today to see what the office was like. I didn't want any surprises on Monday! I know I will mess up and that I don't know everything but I'm excited to get in other peoples mouths!!! Yes, I'm weird and sick and gross but it's fun stuff to me! I actually wish I was starting tomorrow. There is a patient coming in for 6 extractions in preparation for a partial denture! That is some cool stuff to me!

I was also thinking about this summer. Nic was already gone for 2 weeks in North Dakota for labs. He was gone a day or two to do field work. He was gone in Alaska for 4 days with my dad fishing. He is gone next week and thus dreaded summer field work begins. Home a week gone a week home a week gone a week and then gone even more in August than every other week. I won't lie. It is nice to have alone time. People always say, "oh my gosh how do you do that!" It's fine at first. I get to eat whatever I want for dinner. Okay, confession time. I had a box of mac n cheese and 3/4 bottle of wine for dinner the other night...and it was darn good! I can watch whatever shows I want. I stay out later and catch up with friends. And when I take it one day at a time, I'm okay. But then I have this free time to think about the amount of time I am here in Bham and Nic is gone. After a while, you start to feel single. Not in the way of going out and looking for hot guys but rather routine wise that it is just me.

Now you know why I don't like free time... it makes me confront those thoughts!

until next time...

The circle of life and it moves us all.....

Through despair and hope, through faith and love, till we find our place, on the path unwinding.....


Oh the Lion King, how you were such a great movie when I was younger and now I understand you so much more. My Aunt Tre to this day has not seen this movie. I'm pretty sure she saw the play though! She just could bare to watch the part when Simba's dad dies. I don't know if it is our society that says it is taboo to talk about death or the fact that it just hurts too darn much to talk about. However, in the past couple of months it has been swirling around me.

One of my clients came in and told me her mom had passed and then a month later he husband's mom passed. Aunt Jodi and Uncle Russ lost Russ's dad to cancer and sweet Riley dog to old age. Within the last week, two people my age lost their mom's. One to an asthma attack/cardiac arrest another to cancer. And we found out yesterday, a person we knew committed suicide.  To this I can't help but ask WHY!?!?  And to the sudden death's, WHY?!?! They didn't even get to say goodbye!

I know it is the circle of life. I know we are not going to be here forever. I can grasp the older adults who have passed a little better but people my age to loose their parents! I do not know how these two brave individuals are coping with the loss of their mother's. I'm not sure I would be strong enough to handle that now and I know I will be a mess when it does happen in the far far distant future (I like to think my parents are invincible and will be here forever!) I even told Nic before we got married that I had to die first because I couldn't handle loosing him.

I cannot begin to fathom what a dark place someone has to be in to take their own life. It makes me angry first and then sad. Angry that they could be so selfish and sad that they hurt inside to that extent. Or even the fact that, they had to hide it bottled inside. To be such an extravagant actor to those around you. Ugh....

We received a letter talking about going over our parents living trusts or will's with them and what their wishes are for their remains. Yes, sounds morbid but with all this recent activity it is a reality that needs to be faced. So, I know my mom has always said to cremate her. She said don't waste money on a casket and plot....personally I'm with her! I am also glad my mom is not a keep sake person. Because I cannot imagine going through someones stuff and trying to figure out what to do with a bunch of things I don't want or need. I also found out my parents have a living trust. (No, I haven't asked what dad wants to happen with his remains...I'll ask him this weekend) Mom said that basically if anything were to happen to both of them it is split 50/50 between my bro and I. Good to know... right? (this is where you say YES)

My heart is broken for my friend who lost her mom this past week. She is already going through a ton herself and to loose her mom it just is not fair. They were best friends. They truly were the mother daughter everyone wishes to be. I'm sad for her son who is only 8 months. He won't remember the amazing cheerful grandma he had. He will see pictures and hear amazing stories though. And I know J will keep her mom alive for him!

To all of you that have lost a loved one recently keep staying strong, remember the great memories tucked in your back pocket, and know they are watching over you!


until next time...

Aches...Sniffles...Cough Cough

If you saw a picture of me on Monday morning that right there is what I would have looked like. I woke up in tears at 2 AM with a throat so raw I did not want to swallow! We were at my parents house so I crawled into my brother's bed (he doesn't live at home...no I did not crawl into bed with him...just used his bed) and tried to drift back to sleep. MAJOR FAIL! Finally at 6:15 AM I woke up Nic and could barely talk. I was drugged all day and my aches felt better as long as I was poppin pills every 4 hours. I asked Nic if that was what it felt like to be 80 yrs old! When we went to bed Monday night, Nic said if I had white spots on my throat in the morning I was going to the doctor. When my dad looked at my throat on Monday, there were no white spots. Well, that was not the case Tuesday morning. Side note: I don't have a job that gives sick days nor do I have a job that provides paid vacation. When I don't go in.. I don't get paid. Hence, why I am going back to school. This was also finals week so missing school wasn't really an option either! Okay, back to the story. I haven't been to the doctor since I had strep and mono back in college. And I was 19 so I still went to the pediatric Dr. I had... she was nice and I didn't want to go to the big people Dr. So, I have insurance through Nic and we called Peace Health our preferred provider. After being on hold for 40 min, I finally tried calling again and got through to someone. I said that I was a new patient and that I thought I had strep. This is what the wonderful (sarcasm) lady said to me... "Oh you are a new patient...pause...well we don't have an appointment open for you today we have openings for new patients mid June." Oh geeze, you did not really tell this girl who is in pain that you have an opening in 2 weeks!!! I said well now that doesn't really help does it? I told her Nic has a Dr. there and that didn't change anything!!! Seriously, what if I said was giving birth and was a new patient? Would I still get, oh we have an opening mid June for you just hold off! I told her thank you for not helping and hung up. Nic found another Dr. for me and I went in. side note: Thank goodness for my husband he has been amazing!!! 

Here is the story of the Dr's visit:

I haven't gone to a male Dr. but this was the only person that would take a new patient and get me in! The nurse was really nice. She asked all the lovely health questions and put them into my chart. Of course the Dr. comes in and asked about 50 of the same questions. I told him why I was there and he goes over the questions of are you on any medications? Are you allergic to any meds? Etc. I told him I am not allergic and nor am I on any meds. He then turns and looks at me and says... "Birth Control?" I say NOPE! And then he goes into this 15 min ordeal about how you have to use foam with condoms because that is 98% effective and you can't just use condoms alone. HOLD UP MISTER!!! I felt like I was 16 in sex ed class! I came here for my throat not to talk about my sex life!!! The Dr. knew I was married... knew I was 25....so what is the deal! We aren't trying to have kids at the moment but what if we were and that was why I wasn't on birth control. Or what if it was for a religious reason.. it isn't.. but what if! What if I just don't think we should be able to control our bodies!! And then try telling this to a MALE Dr.   

Turns out, I don't have strep. On Wednesday morning, I woke up still with aches, throat pain, and severely congested head and chest! Oh and I had the sweats since Monday! Today, Thursday, right ear pain has joined the other symptoms. Last night, I slept in our spare bedroom for half the night because I couldn't sleep. I went to school on Wednesday and today for finals. Today was my first day back to work... even though the Dr. told me not to until tomorrow...oops! I hope that when I wake up tomorrow all of this is gone! I have drank more tea than I ever have in my life and popped so many pills I've lost track! Here is to hoping tomorrow is better and that Dr's can get some common sense!

until next time...