1. Don't do trades with people you don't know well. Even though they are living and working with you, they still might not make good on the trade. And really, there's no subtle way to just say, "You still owe me $45."

2. Despite occasionally being intimidated, I really do have a skill with massage. Someone on my table last week felt the need to discuss how many celebrities they had worked on, how they never billed less than $5000 a month, and how they had done 15,000 massages in their career. This person was helpful in directing me and teaching me a few new moves, but overall I felt like I had SO FAR TO GO. A visit from a former instructor put me back on track (thanks, MB, for your amazing words this morning).

3. Living and working in the same place makes for a crazy Scout. I love the people I work with, and we all get along fine, but there is such a tendency to talk resort politics. It's not healthy. Scratch my plans to ever work on a cruise ship!

4. I can forgive almost anyone, including myself. See #3. You know what I mean? Don't sweat the small stuff. We're all a little whacked, a little sick in the head, and a little prone to acting out when the pressure hits.

5. Good friends are hard to find. Yes, I love my co-workers, but I don't ask them to meet my deeper needs. For that, I have a number of friends who I love and cherish. We can start the list with the Cajun and work our way down a very long list from there.

6. Although I need to nest, I don't need to carry my whole house on my back. I always overpack, except for backcountry trips, and this trip was no exception. My back can't take the hauling, cramming and wrestling of the larger items, like the mattress. Luckily I have (see #5) to help. Bless you!

7.I am learning humility every moment. The more I interact with my fellow humans, the more I realize that any sense of entitlement, priority or braggadocio is misplaced. I'm skilled, I'm friendly, I'm reliable, and I'm human, just like we all are.

8. Organization is not fascism. I've touched on this in a prior entry regarding my current work situation; there can be too much structure (and micromanagement), and then there can be far too little (slack-ass lazy management). I am just as organized as I need to be, and it is not a pathology. It is functional.

9. Time is precious. So I'm gonna quit blogging this entry and go live some. Peace out, yo.