Say Hi
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Use the comment section of this page as:
Simply fill out the required information and post! Until now: There is no easier way to stay in touch with visitors to this site!
13 Responses to “Say Hi”
Brett - February 14th, 2009
Sometimes Alice or Scorpio stop by: This is so they can stay in touch
AND occasionally other people drop in looking for me: Leave a message! Others who drop by: Please feel free to just say hi.
Scorpio - February 17th, 2009
Hi Brett!
I do stop by regularly. Probably once a week or so to see what’s going on. Haven’t been journaling much, though. So much change in the past two years. Adjusting to marriage, changing jobs, uncertainty about finding business. We may move to Arkansas in few months, we may not. Depends on our work situation here in Dallas. Doing some regular writing would help keep things in perspective, find some clarity. I need the clarity. I haven’t been serious about journaling or blogging in so long I feel dull. But I have dusted off my old screenplay. I’ve re-named it ‘The Last Evolution’. About the cloning of Christ (from the Shroud of Turin), a messiah for the clones (New Bloods, as I call them). The script itself has been written, but every time I read through it, the writing seems dim. I’m writing a treatment for it now. To clarify, and get a better grasp on the flow.
I’m looking for work now too. I took a job waiting tables while my license from the state is processed. A couple spas have offered me jobs. But one didn’t want to pay what I wanted. The other wanted me to sign a No-Compete agreement that forbid me from performing similar services within a 10 mile radius for 10 YEARS. They also wanted me to agree to be obligated to work for them for a minimum of 6 months. Everyone I talked to about it said it was ridiculous and wouldn’t hold up in court. I walked out without signing anything, told them I’ll contact them when my license comes through. There may still be a chance I’ll do some work for them, but I won’t sign a contract. They’ll have to take it or leave it.
Building my own clientelle is really the option I prefer. But times are tough. People aren’t spending. Massage is still a luxery item to most. So I need a regular full-time job to pay the bills in the meantime. I’ve been sending out resumes, talking to employment agencies, scouring the job sites. Turned down 4 days of work delivering flowers for Valantines day for one agency so I could train at the restaurant. But they told me today there may be some work doing tech support coming up. They were going to negotiate with the client company today and get back to me.
I gave Myra a box of chocolates and a card Saturday morning. She was delighted. Her parents came in for the weekend. They had dinner at the restaurant I’m working at, but not the same location. They didn’t want to be a distraction. She spent most of the day with them then came home and gave me a card and a U2 DVD set. The Zoo Tour. I have just about all of the U2 tour DVD’s. This one I had but had lost it. They have a new album coming out March 3rd that I’m excited about.
I’d like the site to stay up. It’s familiar and friendly. I don’t always write but I can come here and at least think about things in a way I can’t anywhere else.
-Scorp
Brett - February 17th, 2009
Oh yea, the site is back online! New server. The switch over went fine (just a few wrinkles still being ironed out).
A friend from church turned me on to Desktop Publishing / Graphic Design (magazine layout). She works from home and makes $30 an hour (about a thou a month). Adobe InDesign costs a couple of thou (but she made that back in one job)! Quark XPress is “only” 800 USD. Maybe you can find a free copy online (hint). Check this out:
http://www.jsprinting.com/templates/quark-non-newsprint/
That way, you could work AND brush up on your writing skills
I applied for a volunteer magazine design layout job with a Christian org. I wanted a portfolio to show prospective clients.
Not sure why the “Clone Jesus” script hasn’t already been written. Sounds like a natural!
I like “Bullet the Blue Sky”. The live version of Sunday Bloody Sunday is awesome.
Hmmm. Take the job. Sign the contract. Then break the agreement if you want later. 10 miles is all they want / don’t start a shop across the street.
Keep coming back….
Scorpio - March 2nd, 2009
Update on the job search…
I’ve taken a full-time job with a chiropractor. I’ll work chair massage events a couple days a week for a flat rate then do table massage at the office the other days. I’ll earn 100% commision on the table business (they’ll give me the full payment on anything charged). It’s a good deal. My business compliments theirs, thiers compliments mine. There’ll be some walk-ins and some referrels from them, but I’ll need to do some marketing on my own. I worked a couple events last week. A school and a country club. Got a few committed to calling in and scheduling a massage.
I start at the office full time today. Still going to wait tables at night for now till I see how things are going to work out.
Brett - March 2nd, 2009
If I had your skills and training, I’d work on a cruise ship or in a luxury spa at a hot vacation spot and go on permanent vacation. But if I wanted to settle and be responsible, I do EXACTLY what you have lined up! Good luck.
webbielady - March 13th, 2009
Taking a peek over here… Well, a permanent vacation would eventually turn to a “no vacation” I think?
Scorpio - April 27th, 2009
Well, the job at the chiro didn’t really work out. As soon as I agreed to work there, they changed the setup. The other therapist decided to stay on full time, and she wanted me to do all the marketing while she worked on the clients. I didn’t want to do that. I didn’t go to massage therapy school to spend my time finding clients for other therapists. Booking chair massage events for the chiropractors wasn’t working out either. Giving away free massage is harder than you might think. People are worried you’ll irritate their customers/clients/employees. Now I just work events as a therapist whenever they call. They pay a flat fee for 2 to 4 hours of work. I may do anywhere from 5 to 15 short chair massages and distribute some marketing materials. I worked a Harley Davidson outdoor festival event Saturday and a YMCA event last Saturday. It’s rewarding work, but the events are too few and far between to try to rely on them as a steady source of income.
So, I took a job with a massage “clinic”. It’s a national chain. Not really a spa because they don’t do wraps or facials or any of that. It’s strictly massage. I’ve been there almost a month and have worked on about 60 clients so far. It’s steady work and I’m finally making enough money pay the bills and put some into savings. Here I just do massage, nothing else. I don’t do laundry or clean up or fill lotion bottles or take out the trash or any of that. I go in, I see who I have booked, I read their chart, talk to them about what they need done, and then just get to work. I change they sheets between clients and thats it. I like it because I can spend more time thinking about my clients needs and perfecting my techniques without having to worry about marketing or contracts or any of that. In the future I may get more into that if I decide to start my own practice, but for now I’m happy where I’m at.
Of course, that could all change next week or next month depending on what opportunities become available (or become unavailable). Such is the volatile nature of this business.
As for the permenant vacation at a luxury spa in paradise. This doesn’t feel like work to me. Not work that I am used to doing. This is something I would do for free if someone needed it. As for working in a resort, Myra has a friend who has set up a ministry in Africa and has plans to open a resort. They’ll need a nurse and of course a few massage therapists. So who knows what may happen down the road.
Brett - April 27th, 2009
My scores on the personality test, top right column, suggest I’d be a good computer technician or architect (based on the scores of college students and their chosen majors). The BEST job (based on ideal scores) is massage therapist! But, massage therapists scored high on neuroticism. Check it out
Scorpio - October 2nd, 2009
A baby on the way.
I came home from work Tuesday night to the news that I’m going to be a father. We decided about a month ago that this is what we wanted. But we’re both late thirties so we thought our chances were slim. After the first try though, she is pregnant. We’re very fortunate and thankful.
The last three days I’ve been filled with nervous energy. Not worry. But the kind of energy that makes you feel like life is moving again. Like theres a purpose, a mission. I feel such a sense of honor. It’s not easy to explain. I feel honored (and humbled) that God thinks I should be a father. And I don’t feel any of the fear or apprehension that I hear other expectant fathers talk about. I don’t feel at all that I will let the child or Myra down. I don’t feel as if life is ending. Rather, I feel like a new life is beginning, like things are unfolding as they should be. I feel very focused and intent. I even feel as if everything that has happened in my life over the last 5 years (starting with, I don’t know really, but I know there was a start) has been to prepare me for this.
We have eight months to get some things in order. We need to decide on a name. Easier said than done. We’ve discussed names before, but now that the baby is really on the way, the weight/importance of it seems to have grown tremendously. We’ll probably be deciding up until the birth. For housing, the apartment will be fine for now. We’ll sign another lease in June (also when the baby is due), but we’ll need to find something bigger after that. I’m eligable for a VA loan so I will try to find us a house. Myra has good health insurance so we are covered there. My job is good, not great. I need to think about it some. On the one hand, it’s very flexible. I can work on Myra’s days off (Fri, Sat, Sun) and avoid having to hire a babysitter, but there will be less pay. Or I can look for something that pays more, but we’d have to arrange for childcare. Probably the best option is to work on Myra’s days off, and look for something I can do from home. I just don’t know what that would be.
Lots of things to plan for and decide on, but I have to be sure not to try to take it all on at one time and let it overwhelm us. The stress would not be good. I have to trust that God will take care of us.
We need to a change of scenery. So today, we’re going to the Texas State Fair for corndogs, museums and people watching. Should be a pleasurable afternoon.
-Scorp
Brett - October 16th, 2009
I do think that your reaction is different (better) than the typical reaction. When I think of replication (rather than reproduction), I am HORRIFIED that there might be other people like me walking around (replicants). I would settle for re-creation but that only goes so far (such that a thing has already been created once and all I have to do is follow in someone else’s footsteps, play the whole time, and receive my guaranteed reward). And all of this, as important as it is TO ME, sounds silly when I compare it to actual fatherhood (yours– that is to say, I’m sure you find it silly in comparison). On the other hand, I’m of the opinion that the male and female sacrifice themselves for their offspring (though your reaction doesn’t confirm my fears). And so, I’m left with gestures (hopefully not empty gestures): Congratulations! But I’m equally thrilled that you visit and we still communicate
Brett - November 26th, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
Brett - January 4th, 2010
Happy New Year.
Roseanna Leaton - January 19th, 2010
Just dropped in to say “hi” and happy 2010.
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