Two Months and Counting.

I am seriously missing me some states right now. I miss parishes and po-boys and Tony's Chachere's and Abita Beer and mexican food and Louisiana seafood and gumbo and okra and sweet tea and my puppies and my pool and clean air and my roses and my house and my super comfy bed and driving and American cash money and my debit card and wandering around Mandeville/Baton Rouge/New Orleans/the States and people who speak English. I am OFFICIALLY homesick. Ok, so maybe mostly I miss Louisiana, but show me a Southern girl that doesn't when she's away and I'll show you a liar! That's right, I said it, a dirty liar.

Don't get me wrong, I love working and I love my job and I love the show and I love the people I work with (most of them), but good grief why does what I want to do have to be so freaking far from all the things I love? Remember when I thought Pennsylvania and DC were far from home? And Kentucky was only 12 hours' drive from home, easy peasy! Ah, the good old days.

In three days, I will mark my two month anniversary in the big China. Who'd've thought? Still not me, so let me just beat ya'll to the punch there.

Fun fact: Macau is the most polluted city in the world. Not so fun if you're living here, but definitely something to share with the kids back home. And while the weather was beautiful when we got here, it is not so much beautiful anymore. We officially hit pollution yesterday and when I woke up, I for reals thought it was raining it was so grey and gross. Yuck. And we breathe that every day. Disconcerting at best.

So I have good news and bad news and more bad news and more more bad news.

We'll start with the more bad news: we have yet to do a full run through. The more more bad news: we have an audience on Tuesday and Monday is day off. So that should be a wild ride. Everybody put on your cowboy hat and boots and grab ahold of those reins, because we're barely gonna get out of that one alive. (Should be hella fun though... I thrive on those high pressure environments.)

The just "bad" news: the yoga studio down the block from my apt closed. TYPICAL. The landlords wanted to double the rent so the owners said screw you and closed it. They still have a studio in Macau but it's really far for a 930 class when you have to take the bus and bring all your crap to shower after class and get ready for work, especially when you work in a department like mine where you never know what your schedule for tomorrow might be... So back to practicing online until the Taipa studio can find a new locale. Maybe I can take this opportunity to work on my headstand without humiliating myself in front of the rest of the class... Silver lining, people.

The good news (we'll end with the good news, of course): I found a hair product that works here! It's like 120MOP or $20 American, but it works and I finally chopped my hair enough that it looks presentable again. For a time there, it was touch and go, turns out: just too much of it. Story of my life.

I love you all and miss you more. Send me pictures via my mom! I want to make a collage on my wall, but I only brought some of my pictures... Poor planning, I know. Think of me fondly, because I do ya'll.

xoxox

PS. Has it honestly been five years??? It seems like yesterday. Literally yesterday. And yet, a total lifetime ago. Who even remember life Pre-K anymore?

Tomorrow.

I started to write a new post a couple of days ago, but just wasn't feeling it. And you know, you really can't force these things. So here goes another attempt:

Work is still lovely but long. I sit in a spot chair for somewhere around 6 hours a day which is neither fun, nor stimulating in any way. But it IS my job for now. Under the "other assignments as employer sees fit" clause of my contract. Until the spot op I'm effectively subbing in for decides he's no longer injured... (at least three more weeks) However, yesterday (after my spot shift) I got to work on some of the moto bikes, so that was definitely fun. The unconventional projects like working on the moto ramp trucks or the bikes or random stuff like that are definitely my favorite part of the job. I feel like a bad ass because I get to say I worked on moto bikes. {Jade Hewitt, are you paying attention?} All that being said, I am operating one awesome spot. I like to say my spot "Sparkles". Unclear why that is the adjective I've chosen for my spot, but I'm keeping it. It's almost inspiring.

I started yoga. So that's good. There's a studio right up the block from the apartment and it is ultra convenient because I can roll out of bed at 915 and be at class and ready to go for 930. (I write this as I sit here stuffing my face with late night dumplings, thinking about how sad it is that tomorrow's Saturday and the good yoga teachers only teach M-F...) Also they speak English. BONUS.

Two day weekend coming up. Excited about that because this week has been LONG and tomorrow is "Lighting Priority" which means we won't get out until 2am. That's a long day, ya'll. And it means we earn a two day weekend even more. Especially if you spend the first half of your day sitting in the most uncomfortable spot chair trying to take a nap in between cues and the latter half of your day attempting to not drip sweat into the pool from Level 5. I mean, Ewwww. I have now also been informed that I am "illegally" operating a spot because I have yet to officially practice the emergency procedure for abandoning my spot platform in case of a fire or other severe emergency. This involves a rope, clipping in, and a backpack. That's all I know. My response was "There's a lot of things I am supposed to do and haven't done." That was not recieved well. So yeah. Tomorrow?

Yesterday, I sang my mother the Annie version of her infamous refrain "Tomorrow". While she and Morgan (my little sister and personal mini-me) were ... less than impressed with my stellar rendition, I'm pretty sure I made my point. It is sometimes difficult to keep in mind where you're coming from and why this point in life is such an important stepping stone for your path. I had one of those days yesterday and after sleeping it off, I realized that I am the only one who can make or break this experience for myself. We all know how much failure scares me, so making it is my only option. I just wish this only option weren't so freaking far away from Louisiana. I would kill for some Tony's, a bowl of fried okra, and an Abita Strawberry (or any Abita in general) right about now.

This post has been chock full of fragmented sentences and I do apologize. The best part about this post is that there is a company party on Sunday in Coloane for our "40 days till opening" landmark and Emily Meyer will be attending. Because she is now a Macau resident. Holy crap ya'll, ATL West has come to town in the form of myself and Emily. And we plan to take over this island.

Just kidding.

But seriously...