Hair it is!

I want to share some of the photos that we have been taking this past 2 weeks at the spa. There are 3 ladies who braid at the Spa. A full head of long hair can take over 2 hours to do! It is amazing to watch! We have a lot of kids at the Spa for spring break. I just love that we have so many young ladies love to come to the spa to be pampered! Facials, pedicures, manicures and even massage.

My First Dock Massage

Here is a photo of me giving my first dock massage! It was so incredible! I love it out there! The wind blows and the sound of the water melt you away...and that was giving the massage! When you all come down, and you know you will, this is the place to be!

My client was from California. He was originally from the UP near Manistique, MI! And on top of that he was a Packers Fan!! This may be tacky but I have to share...I got a $50US tip too! I almost fell off the dock!

This is also a photo of the road behind the resort that I take my morning walk on.

As far as work goes, I am loving it! I think I am catching on fast to the new things like the computer system and the daily paper work. Not only am I doing massages, but I am dipping back into my cosmetology experience and doing facials and waxes. I like the variety. I feel I am building a good relationship with the workers as a manager as well. Our first staff meeting will be on Monday.

Yesterday, the resorts (as it is Almond Beach and Jaguar Reef together) had 16 new arrivals (63 people) and today we have another 15 checking into the resorts. Most are families on spring break. Today I went to the dining room at 6 a.m. and introduce myself and the spa to the guests. The resort is packed and its neat to meet people from all over! A few from Canada, England, Texas, Georgia, Florida and we also have a couple from Russia. Its a small world after all!

I am off for the afternoon. So its off to the pool! More soon!

Back In Belize...

Well, it is Thursday night and the week is flying by!! I took a few photos of our new home. There are a few more projects that will be done in here like a queen size bed and a table to dine on. We will have a living room under another building as well. Its small (has a big bathroom) and it is going to be a great home! It comes with a pet. A little Gecko that I am tempted to name Bonita II. He is on my ceiling watching for flies. He sings to me too. Chirp Chirp Chirp...

I seem to see the most interesting things on my morning walks. I forgot to take my camera today, but I will bring it in the morning. Monday I saw a dead betel that was about the size of my fist. Thank heavens 1. it was on the road and not in my apartment and 2. it was dead. Today I saw a dead snake. Yahhhh... Well it was a red and black small snake. The first thing that popped into my head was something I learned when I lived in Florida for a few months in 1982. "Red next to yellow will kill a fellow.... red next to black is a friend of Jack." It was not a poisonous dead snake.

I have to say that my favorite thing I come across on my morning walks are the local people. Most are walking or biking to work form the town of Hopkins to the resorts. I'd say 2 or more miles for some. The big smiles and all the beautiful accents in "Good Morning" just makes the day start off right. You do have to watch out for a few speeding cars and trucks...but they always honk and wave or flash their lights too.

I'm working a lot right now, trying to take it all in. I will be taking some time to wander around, get a few groceries and spend some time in Sea soon. I hear it calling me every time I step outside.

Oh, one last snake story. Today a guest went out the spa door and, yep you guessed it... we had a snake in front of the door. It is a long ,thin brown snake they call a garden snake. As if seeing the snake was not bad enough... it was eating a frog. As some grounds men came to rescue us inside the spa another guest was watching outside calmly. She said she was watching it for a while, because she almost sat on it as it coiled up around the patio chair.

I told Erdulfo, our friend who works in the bar/restaurant about the days adventure and he told me that the snakes move around a lot in the rain season which starts in June. I am just thrilled. I can't wait for the rain season now.

Weekend In Duluth

A very special THANK YOU to Steve for taking Phil and I to Duluth this weekend! We had a wonderful time!! I'll miss you so much!!!

Here are a few "cool" shots of Lake Superior. Burrrrrrrr.... I love how the ice breaks into sheets that look like broken glass.

Bonita and Freida's New Bed

Bonita and Freida will be staying in Scandia with my parents when we go to Belize. They have been doing a few slumber parties with Grandpaw and Grandmog and the new "dog bed". So far, so good!

Back from my quick trip

I am back from my quick trip to Belize. I am happy to say that I officially have a new job! I am the new manager of Butterflies Spa. This is a picture of the owner, Pat and I. The spa employees 6 other staff members. We have 3 massage therapists, one cosmetologist covering nails, hair, and skincare and 2 young ladies that cover the desk and also do nails, braiding, and some skincare. There is a great energy there and the art work and room designs are beautiful! I'll have more photos from inside the spa and the staff next trip.

For today's Belize lesson I want to share a little about the Doctor Fly. Its summer (or the dry season) in Belize.... and that means its Doctor Fly season. Now, not that this should keep you from coming to Belize, but they have these flies there that look like a deer fly with the yellowish wings. They first land on you... numb the area they are on then bite! That is when you feel them. Next to come is the swelling and pain. For me it felt like a bruise about the size of a silver dollar. For some the pain and stiffness can go fully up the arm or leg. Some others, they can get watery eyes etc. After about a few hours, the pain stop and the swelling slowly goes down...and the itching sets in. They say not to scratch because it makes it worse. All I am saying is when you make your packing list to come to Belize it should resemble this... 1. Bug Spray 2. Benadryl 3. Hydrocortisone Cream. But trust me Belize is worth it!!! Can you see the swelling in my left hand?

BIG NEWS!

I received an Email over the weekend that I was not expecting, but knew it could come. The Spa Manager position has opened up sooner than expected. I will leave this Thursday (2/14-2/18) for a long weekend to work on a contract and start planning on the future. It looks like my new job will begin in the middle of March- April!

At this time, Phil and I have more questions than answers about how everything will fall together... but we have Faith in God and that it will!

I just started to officially tell my clients this past week that I will be moving in June... Surprise! It's seems so much harder to tell my clients than to tell our families and friends.

More Soon!!