How sad it is that I've not blogged in so long. Now that I have the app on my phone, maybe I'll manage a bit more writings. No promises as usual though. I really seem to suck at it.
Since my last post, I have graduated manicure school,.... towards the end of the schooling, I had myself really worked up. Everyone around me, in their teens/early 20s had a plan. They were going to a family shop, or they had a friend who had a shop, or whatever!!! I had nothing. I was to the point of panic. It took me a few weeks to remind myself that prior to school, I wasn't working. So, if I didn't find something NOW, I would be alright. Duh right??
Mrs. Suzette about a week before I graduated, gave me a number to call,... a girl was needing a nail tech,... she was going to be out on maternity leave and needed to train someone to fill in for her. I was nervous and excited!! I wanted this,.... someone that's been doing nails for so long,... I knew I could learn a lot. I took the number and while I waited on the kids to get out of school, I called her. She told me to get through board exams and we'd talk again.
Chris and I drove to Little Rock for my state board exam. Met Jenny there,.... she graduated about a week or two before me if I remember right. I was so nervous for board that the night before in the hotel it took me forever to get to sleep. Didn't phase Chris of course,... *snooorreeee* LOL Jenny and I went together to the exam,.... we were in the wrong location ROFL But we made it there in the nick of time. We literally RAN through the doors,.... and went to the office area,... the door was locked. We freaked, thought we were that late that we didn't make it. Thankfully, the testing prior to ours were still in there *PHEW* so we got to sit and chill for about 10-15mins before they unlocked and let us in.
We were assigned numbers,... the tables were set up in a horseshoe setting. Jenny and I ended up on the ends of the shoe,... so we were looking at each other from across the room. All total there were about 8 of us maybe? It's hard to recall now. I do remember that we seemed to really have ourselves organized (Thank you Mrs. Suzette for that!) one gal had so much stuff on her table top that she dropped a couple things. I felt bad for her, but Jenny and I knew we had it wrapped up. I did each thing for the exam, with one major catastrophe,.... my sculpted nail. Something I excelled at in school, I was going to bomb here. I just knew it too. It was going really well,... I was about the first one finished each time!! But as I was about finished with that nail,... I rest it into the hot water to cure, and the dang thing bent,.... I was screwed. I tried again,... but the form wasn't sticking this time as the hand was warm/wet,.... needless to say, I did the best I could with what I had and moved on.
A few weeks later I got my license number :o) I had already met with the gal for the job, and we hit it off well enough. She even had me set up with clients already!! I was so excited. I would be doing pedicures to start. Gradually she would work me into the manicure part,.... she was an all natural nail salon which I was very glad for. Enhancements are pretty and all, but just so rough on the nail! I finally got to learn manicures,... she was due to go out on maternity leave in June. I really enjoyed my work there, working along side her as well. It was such a wonderful experience. The clients were all so wonderful and sweet. While she was out on maternity leave, I ran the shop more or less,.... stayed very busy and the income was great for us over the summer,... we had a lovely summer!! Ate out, movies a couple times,... got the kids a pool,... it was great. I really had an attachment to the clients too,... I learned as much from them as I did from school! Had a lot of insight as to things I could apply to my life,... especially in regards to my kids.
When she was due to return,... it would be just after Labor Day,... she text me the week before hand. It's silly that I remember this so well,.... but it really hurt me in the end. She had prior mentioned stepping the salon up,... making it more professional/spa like. Us wearing all black with lab coats or scrubs or something,... hair back etc,... I was game. She had a lot of great plans,.... she was going to bring back facials and all,... be loads busier! I was going to start making up a bunch of fliers now that school was going to be back in, and pass them around to the local schools,... I was excited to start really bringing in some of my OWN clients!!! Until I got the text that really ended it all.
"I have a problem,... now that I will be returning full time, the clients are expecting me to do everything again,..."
Meaning,.. when she originally said that pedicures would be ALL mine,.. she wanted nothing more to do with them,... she was taking it back. I'm out of a job,.... she barely gave me time to even say good bye and thank you to the clients,... but hey,... I learned a LOT,... and it IS her business,... what could I say?? I told her I understood,... she said that maybe when she's really over booked, I could fill in for her,... but I told her I couldn't rely on that,... I needed more income than once in awhile like that. She understood. She mentioned a gal that had been looking for a nail tech near where we were,.... I should give her a call. She'd even get in touch with her and put in a good word. That would be wonderful!!! Thank you!!! I told her how much I appreciated everything she taught me,... how much confidence it gave me to even DO this line of work!! She was thankful for my helping her while she was out for the 2 months or so.
Well,... now that I knew my job was coming to an end,... I thought the least I could do is get names/addresses of the clients I knew I'd NOT see, and send thank you notes,.... so that Tuesday I get to work,... I had already bought Thank You's,... and made a list and went to get the client cards,... and they were gone. She had come to clean and reorganize the shop and all,.... but I found it rather "funny" that she'd take those,.... so that rather pissed me off. I'm not stupid. The clients I saw all that week I informed of the change,... they were surprised and sorry,... I got their addresses and managed to google others. I spent that week writing up a nice thank you to everyone. I had called the other lady a couple times already,... no return call. Gal came into the shop with the baby 2xs that week, and once I asked about the other job,.... she said that the lady is VERY busy but to try sending her a message on facebook,.... she'd probably get that,... but as far as she knew she was still looking for someone.
Friday was my last day,... I was gathering up all my supplies,... cleaning things really well,... even wrote out a thank you note for her,.. leaving it in the mailbox with the shop key,... I decided to go see the other lady and introduce myself and maybe she would have a few minutes to talk to me. When she came out, she was very sweet,... the shop was beautiful,... she apologized for not having gotten back to me directly but that when my former co-worker text her,... she had told her that she already filled the position with someone,.... she again was very sorry. I was dumb founded. It was just 2 days ago that she told me she said she thought she still needed someone,... she told me to my face,.... when she knew other wise. I was shocked.
I left there,... in a daze. I couldn't believe it. Seven months,... I worked hard,... I learned all I could,... I cleaned, and catered and bent over backwards some days,... I was friends with her!?! This is how I was treated??? Then it all really hit me,... she never intended on keeping me,.....
The drive home was very long. I had worked myself up into quite an anger. I had called my mom, cousin and husband. I was pissed. I couldn't even think straight.
Since then, I have half heatedly looked for another salon. But I know this is "off" season. I applied for a medical reception job. Am still hoping that pans out. If not then after the holidays I will go looking for a salon. Hopefully one where I can really be my own boss and have more control over when I work and such.
Well. I have defiantly rambled on enough about all that. Guess I'll post and share more another day.
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