Day 190 - Was A Nice Reprieve (13 Days Left)

Last night's sports massage class was a nice reprieve from the constant barrage of anatomy. However, we had to get back to it tonight. We took a quiz on the muscles and bones of the lower leg (8/10) and then learned the muscles of the foot.
However, I needed a mental break and decided to leave early. So I am at home at a time when I would normally still be in class. Since I'm mentally breaking, I'm going to cut this blog post short and say goodnight.
Good night.

Day 189 - Sports Stretching (14 Days Left)

We had a lovely break from anatomy for our sports massage class tonight. After an hour of lecture about sports massage, its history and benefits and that sort of stuff, we got to see a demo of more stretches to do with our clients. Then we got to practice it ourselves. As far as I'm concerned this may be my least favorite modality, but the jury is still out on that. They may have to order pizza for these deliberations.
Because we're doing stretches and there are so many stretches to do, it's hard to remember them all, so that is somewhat frustrating as the practioner. However, as the receiver, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Once again, because I sit all day in basically the same position, it's really great to have muscles moved around into different positions.
So, we'll see what the next three classes offer about this sports massage thing.
Now, on to more interesting stuff. This whole program is part of the requirements for being a Licensed Massage Therapist in the State of Maryland. The other requirements are passing a written national exam and a Maryland State jurisprudence exam. In addition, it's best to carry liability insurance through one of the national massage associations. Needless to say, studying for all these quizzes and exams doesn't stop once I get my certificate from the school. I still have a good couple weeks to a month or so of studying for the national exam.

This past weekend, I joined the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), and tonight, I submitted my application to take the national exam through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB), along with my check for the exam fee.

With those two items down, I feel like I am right on track to where I want and need to be with working toward becoming fully licensed.
When I think about the period of time immediately following my graduation from this program, the only word I can describe that time is "detox." After living, breathing, and studying massage, anatomy, pathology, business, and the like, I will almost need to purge my system of all of that for a week or so afterward.

Day 188 - Popliteal Goes the Weasel (15 Days Left)

Another day, another anatomy class, another quiz (9/10), another set of muscles to learn. Now we learn the anterior and posterior muscles of the lower leg.
English translation: calf muscles and stuff.
Not much else to report from class.
From the "life" side of things, after a week of it being in the shop, we finally got the commuter car back. It still has issues that we will address with our new mechanic.
Please.Don't.Get.Me.Started.

Day 187 - Vastus Lottastuffus (16 Days Left)

After a glorious weekend of doing next-to-nothing, I had to face Monday with the verve and vigor of a basset hound with a carrot.
After working at the oh-so-exciting J-O-B, I went to school early and had my exit interview with the Career Services department, which means that I basically filled out some paperwork, signed it, and then went to class.
In anatomy class, we reviewed for our quiz, took it (10/10), and then learned more about the thigh muscles, commonly known as the quadriceps and the hamstrings, except they have really cool names like Vastus Lateralis and Biceps Femoris and others.
Have I mentioned there's a lot to learn?
Well - another quiz tomorrow night. Vastus Studyus.

Day 186 - Immersion (20 Days Left)

A little over 11 years ago, I was baptized by my Southern Baptist pastor, which means that I was fully immersed in the water, as that's what Baptists do.

When he pulled me up out of the water, there wasn't any part of me that was dry.
When somebody goes to a foreign country where they speak a different language, the visitor is immersed in the language and picks up at least a few new phrases in a new language. They don't have much choice if they want to eat, sleep, or go to the restroom.
This week, having anatomy three days in a row, I feel like I've been immersed in the anatomy of the lower limbs. The newbies don't have much choice other than to pick up something from this experience!
I suppose this whole program is like an immersion into massage, too.
We had a quiz tonight (10/10) and lecture.

Day 185 - Can I Get a Cawfie? (21 Days Left)

In anatomy class tonight, we studied the deep hip rotator muscles and the gluteal muscles. We got to learn about piriformis, which can cause sciatic pain, quadratus femoris, and the tensor fasciae latae, which I kinda thought was something I could order at Starbucks.
We discussed about eight - or so - muscles, where they start, where they end, and what they do - all of which we will need to know for quizzes, the final exam, and probably the national exam, too. It's a good thing I found a geeky website called www.getbodysmart.com that has all the anatomy I ever wanted to know - and then some.
I feel badly for the newbies. They have all sorts of anatomical terms being thrown at them, superior, ventral, dorsal, and the like. All the while, they're having to learn the boney landmarks and muscles just like we are. I look at the newbies and think to myself, "Whew! I'm glad I'm almost done and not in their shoes!"
The class that graduated when we started probably thought the same thing about us.

Day 184 - Life Goes On (22 Days Left)

Sun comes up sun goes down
This ol' world keeps spinnin' around
Not much has changed since you been gone
I miss you honey but life goes on
- Little Texas*

During the last 11 months I have been trudging away at learning massage and all the things that go with it, like Professional Development, Anatomy, and Pathology, life has gone on around me, just like the Little Texas' song says.
I have tried my best to deal with things as they have come up, but it's definitely put a strain on everything: relationships, finances, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Not to mention the dust bunny army that's been able to amass itself behind the bed, under the couch, and in the dark corners.
Today, we took the commuter car back to the shop to see if he can fix the problem it's had since we took it to him last time. Of course, the price of gas has gone up significantly, so there's more choking the wallet to put gas in the cars to make it to and from work and/or school for both WGH and me. I hope we can get the commuter car back really quickly - and that it works well.
I hate sounding like I'm complaining because I see the light at the end of the tunnel, and right now, the tunnel has nine more days of anatomy and five more days of sports massage.
Interestingly enough, I can see why we are studying the anatomy of the lower limb while taking sports massage. What we're learning in anatomy will help us in learning sports, seeing as how the lower limb is pretty important in sports.
In tonight's anatomy class, we had a big surprise: we didn't have the instructor we thought we were going to have. (sarcasm)   I will say, though, that it looks like our stand-in instructor, who will be with us for the duration, will do a fine job in teaching us what we need to know.
A nice result of all the pretzel stretching we did last night in sports: my legs were stronger today and I didn't feel as much like a little ol' lady when I got up from my chair.
*I may be a little biased toward them, since one of my many cousins was the lead singer

Day 183 - Go With the Flow (23 Days Left)

In my time at this school, I have learned the meaning of the term "SNAFU," which is an acronym that basically means that things go wrong all the time.
I had an exit interview scheduled for 6:30 this evening with Career Services, meaning that about as soon as I got home from the J-O-B, I had to be on the road to get to the appointment on time. When I arrived a few minutes early, however, I was asked to reschedule my appointment for next Monday and they would be ready for me then. Knowing that I had a couple other exit interviews to take care of, I went to the front desk to see about getting those scheduled. I pretty much went right away to the financial aid office and took care of that, so at least all wasn't lost. I was also able to see the head of student services and she said everything looks good for me there, too.
After all that, come to find out, instead of having Anatomy class like was on the schedule given to us, we had Sports Massage instead.
That's like preparing to go to work and sit at a desk all day and then be told that you're working on the factory line instead. Needless to say, many classmates were frustrated - and it seemed the staff was frustrated as well.
If nothing else, being at this school has taught us to be flexible and go with the flow.
As far as class, in Sports Massage, we learned about why it's important to know this modality and how it differs from other forms of massage. We watched the instructor demo the stretches we learned tonight on the TA and then we got to try it out ourselves. The stretches looked pretty intense and our TA looked a bit like a pretzel during some of the moves the instructor was using.
Right now, I am pretty much in a sitting position for over 16 hours a day, between the J-O-B, the drive to school, and being in school. I have been trying to get outside and walk during breaks and such, but it's still minimal compared to how active I should be.
For this reason, I thought for sure that I would be screaming in pain most of the time during the stretches on the lower limbs and back, but they felt really good and it seemed that I was able to move a little better afterward.
We'll see how I feel tomorrow.

Day 182 - Numbers Game (27 Days Left)

My dad was a scholarly type. He enjoyed reading "It Pays to Enrich Your Word Power" in the Readers Digest. He also revealed to the family one night, "I like words."
Well, I guess I am a lot like him. I like words, and I even like random numbers sometimes.
Let me share some important numbers tonight with you.
4 - Times my stomach growled during the massage I got during the final exam
5 - Cough drops I consumed tonight during class due to dry classrooms and a stupid tickle in my throat
6 - Core classes I have completed
8 - Number of hours I spend at the J-O-B
11 - Newbies in my class
14 - Minutes it takes to get to my J-O-B
16 - More times I have to go to Linthicum and back to finish school
17 - Saturdays I went to student clinic
27 - More calendar days until I finish school
35 - Miles to the gallon the Commuter Car gets
40 - Minutes it takes to get to school
70 - the average speed I traveled to get to and from school on I-70
97 - Percent I got on the Core Hands-on Final tonight
4.0 - My GPA
$3.57 - The average price of a gallon of regular gas
12:00 am - The time I set as my goal for going to bed after class
7:00 am - The time I wake up for the J-O-B
With all that being said, Good night.

Day 181 - Draping to the Max (28 Days Left)

In the 80's, when I was in my formative years, there was a teen slang language known as "Valley Girl," which I believe came from debutantes in the San Fernando valley. One of the terms used during that time was "-adjective- to the max!" For example, "Grody to the max!"
Grody meant gross or dirty, usually.
Tonight, during Core class, we learned how to drape our client's gluteus muscles. I think I've talked about draping before, but it's basically using the sheet to uncover the body part to be massaged. We had gone over this about six months ago, but it's something that needs to be practiced in case one of our clients wants some glute work done without the sheet over top the glutes.
Plus, what other way would be more perfect to get newbies over any uncomfortability issues they have?
As I worked with a newbie tonight, I had him on the table first and he enjoyed the session I did with him. I also noticed that as he was the practitioner, he tried to emulate some of the strokes and moves I used. He's learning quickly that if you see or feel a stroke or move you like as a massage therapist, you steal it and use it on your own clients.
Now, about DS. He reminds me of my dad, especially since my dad was a MP in the Army and then later a police officer, I can really relate to DS. I have to refrain myself from calling him "Dad" on occasion. He tough and demands professionalism but on another side he seems like a gentle soul.
It makes me miss my dad all the more. It's been almost two years since he passed away, but that's another subject for another blog, especially since his death was one of the catalysts for me ending up in massage school.
I just realized, I never did share about my last day in student clinic. I thought it was going to be an easy peasy day and have WGH as my last client. But it didn't work out that way. I ended up having four clients, with three repeats and one new one. One of the repeats was WGH and the other two had requested me and they were from the previous week! My new client also had some health issues and I was familiar with that particular health issue and knew the kind of questions to ask to make sure that she had a safe and therapeutic massage session.
I think it was one of the best clinic days I had, actually. Besides the fact it was my last one.

Day 180 - Makin' Lemonade (29 Days Left)

They (whoever "they" are) say that when life hands you lemons, make lemonade. Well, since I wasn't exactly thrilled with having newbies start in our class last night, I have realized that it's time to make lemonade in the figurative sense.
Since they have so much to learn, when we need to partner up with somebody, I'll more than likely pick a newbie. Call it "paying it forward."
I also have to say that DS (Drill Sergeant) wasn't as drill-sergeant-like tonight. He had a lot of material to cover and got through it. However, our breaks seemed rushed as we were getting tables dressed and getting on the tables and just a bit of chaos until things settled down. Oh well. We'll survive.
My newbie partner tonight took it all in. I could tell she was really trying to pay attention to the flow and techniques I used and then tried repeating them when it was her turn as practitioner. I think she'll be a fine massage therapist.

Day 179 - Newbie Central (30 Days Left)

The evening I started school last year, we were marched into a room of an established class who had already had one five week session consisting of a Core class, an anatomy class, and a sports massage class. Last week, the remaining students from that established group finished their program and are ready to graduate.
Tonight, after being in the program for 11 months, we had about 11 newbies begin the program in our class. They had about the same look on their faces that we had on ours last year - stunned. Wondering what just hit them.
For the next five weeks, we'll have the three classes mentioned together and then about 20 or so of us will graduate, leaving the 11 newbies alone.
Actually, they will probably have a new class start with them after we're no longer there. I guess that's the way it works.
I found myself wanting to help the newbies tonight...teaching them the ways of the force. I mean...uh...basic massage. (I was watching Star Wars last night)

We had Core class tonight with our instructor, the Drill Sergeant (DS) - whom we haven't seen for awhile. It was like throwing the newbies to the wolves. They had to sit through a couple hours of learning some real basics (hearing the same stuff again for us - ugh!) through lecture and then a brief demo, and then actual hands-on stuff. DS had the "senior" classmates partner up with the "junior" classmates to facilitate quicker learning for them.
My partner was very complimentary saying that I'll be a great massage therapist. (like I didn't know that - wiggles eyebrows) But then, it's her first night.
Those poor newbies. Do they really know what they've gotten themselves into?

Group Interview

I realized after I posted last night that I forgot to talk about the practice job interview for class. Normally, when going for an interview, you meet with one person, say, HR, then if they feel you're a good candidate, you go on to the next round, meeting with a manager or director or something similar. Another thing that may happen, such as when I interviewed for my current J-O-B, you have one interview with a panel of people: HR, managers, maybe a director, your immediate supervisor.
Last night, I got to experience a "group interview" in which there were three candidates and one interviewer. This tactic may be used for any position, I suppose, but it's apparently quite popular for sales positions, to see how the candidates interact, who's competitive, and that sort of thing.
The three of us in this mock interview were all classmates, so we were familiar with each other, but in a normal situation, they would be strangers, obviously. Each of us had a different approach to the interview and reasons why we should be "hired for the job."
Interestingly enough, when one of the other "candidates" would answer a question, I wanted to ask a follow-up question. I don't know exactly what that says about me, but oh well.
I'm glad to have experienced that just in case I am in a group interview situation, at least I won't be totally caught by surprise.

Day 178 - Ring That Bell! (34 Days Left)

In the school's lobby is a foot tall Asian style bell with a mallot. The first thing people want to do when they walk through the lobby door is ring the bell.
C'mon. It's human nature.
Everybody wants to. I know I wanted to the first time I visited.
That bell is special to every student in the school because on the last day of class, the graduating students get to say a few words and ring the bell.
Exactly five weeks from tonight, I will be doing just that.
However, several in our class got to ring the bell tonight after our practice job interviews for class (basically the only thing class-like that we did*) and our potluck feast to celebrate with the graduates.
Some classmates gave inspirational words, some cried, and some just seemed happy that they can get their lives back after tonight.
I will miss them in our class, and wish them the best in their careers in massage.

*I ended up getting an "A" in Professional Development. Yay!

Day 177 - Plugging Away (35 Days Left)

In Pathology tonight, we took our last quiz and turned in our homework. I ended up getting a 15/15 on the quiz and a 98% overall grade for Pathology, my nemesis class. It's tough, but with some studying, I was able to pull off a pretty high grade. Yay!
After all that got taken care of, there wasn't much else to do, and with the expectation of a pouring rain storm with flash flood watches, I decided to go home early. So, here I sit at home on my couch when I would normally be in class.
It's kinda nice, I gotta say.
On other note, there's something I've been thinking about for the last few days. WGH and I hardly see each other through the week, but I have to give him props because he's so encouraging and helpful to the things I can't do because I'm at school. Also, because he leaves before the crack of dawn and I don't have to leave for another few hours, and then when I get home from school, he's already asleep, our communication through the week is sporadic at best. Sometimes, when he actually reads this blog, he can actually find out what's going on in class and at the J-O-B, since we barely have 15 minutes otherwise.
So I just want to give a shout-out to WGH and say "Thank you" for all the support. Also, I need to thank my sister, who has been available and willing to help out when WGH has needed a ride to drop off a car at the shop - or pick it up. She's also very supportive of this endeavor, despite her initial misgivings.
And to all of you, my friendly readers, all four of you, thank you for your ways of encouraging me and inspiring me to get through this.
Wow...kinda mushy or something tonight.
Back to my usual tomorrow.

Day 176 - Strange Things Are Afoot (36 Days Left)

One of my favorite brain-dead movies (the ones that you watch when you really don't want to think too hard) is Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. One of the best quote from the movie: "Strange things are afoot at the Circle K."
Working on feet in Reflexology remind me of that quote. Go figure.
We had our final exams tonight, both portions, written (98%) and hands-on (100%). When they allot you 50 minutes for an exam and you're done in approximately 14, you know you did pretty well.
My partner nearly fell asleep during the hands-on portion. Our neighbor on the next table over definitely fell asleep...and snored. Pretty loudly, I might add.
Prior to the class and exam tonight, representatives from Massage Envy were on the premises recruiting for their new locations opening in the DC/Baltimore area, including one in Frederick - the one that will practically be across the street from my current J-O-B that is 14 minutes and three STOP signs from my house.
I have to say, I think I may have to go for this one once I'm licensed. The location can't be beat. Well, I mean, unless it's in the strip shopping center across the street from my neighborhood.
And I got a free plastic cup and pen.
Everybody say, "ooooo ahhhhh..."

Day 175 - New Tricks (37 Days Left)

I'm sure you're familiar with that cliche saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks."
I have some thoughts about that.
I am - ahem - middle aged. I have started to do that thing when I'm trying to read something and adjust my arm to the proper length for reading. I bought a pair (or two) of reading glasses at the flea market.
I am ok with this.
Last year, when I embarked on this journey through massage school, once classes started, to say that I was stunned would be pretty accurate. Prior to that, my knowledge of the human body was pretty limited to that song, "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes." I found that I needed to study quite a bit in order to retain the information. I started getting into a groove and understanding a catching on pretty quickly. I am finding now that I look over the information a few times and I'm good to go.
Is this because exercising the brain makes it more supple and can retain more, or is it because I'm getting familiar with the terminology and subject matter to better retain information?
Or is it a combination of both?
Either way, I'm pretty glad about the retention of information becoming a bit easier than it was in the beginning.
Speaking of information retention, we had a level test for Professional Development class tonight. I won't know what my score was until tomorrow, probably, but I'm pretty confident. We also ended up going over information about taking the national and state exams and their application processes. Quite informative.
Our instructor also gave us some words of wisdom that how we present ourselves at the school is going to potentially impact how we have been perceived and our future prospects in our massage careers. It's true. Just based on what I've seen in the hallways at the school, I don't know that I would want some of the students being my professional massage therapist.
I hope that I present myself in a friendly, if not professional, manner while at the school. I guess only time will tell.
Tomorrow night: Reflexology final exam.

Day 174 - Visitors (41 Days Left)

Tonight during breaks from classes, a local massage business came in to recruit and/or educate students about their business. They are a franchise of nationwide massage centers and are looking to open new centers. The center that the folks came from this evening were from Edgewater, MD, which is roughly an hour and a half from where I live. As soon as I saw where they were from, I turned around and went back to class.
Then during our Reflexology demonstration, one of my classmates came in and mentioned to me that they are looking to open a center in Frederick, so I high-tailed it out of there to go talk to them.
I know just the area where it would do well.
So the question is - do I pass that knowledge off to somebody else to make it happen, like I have done before, or do I make it happen myself?
Oh...and about class. We had Reflexology tonight. Enjoyed it. Definitely wish I had more time to be on table as the client.

Day 173 - Cram It In (42 Days Left)

Back when I was in college, I don't remember too many times doing "all-nighters" in cramming for exams. Or even writing papers. I did my work and I think I studied some, but not necessarily all-nighters.
I remember some parties that were all-nighters, though.
Well, mostly remember. I definitely enjoyed the extra-curricular college-life back in the day.
Anyway, fast-forward to today.
While I've been in class, sometimes I feel like we are just putting stuff into our brains. And we're cramming it all in there. Sometimes, pieces fall out, though.
Tonight's menu of cramming was pathologies of the digestive system and the urinary system. Because we had so many issues with previous classes of pathology, our instructor felt very behind and after a certain amount of panic and consultation with TPTB, she gave us the notes for the two systems and helped us review for our quiz next week. And so we crammed.
Not much else to report.

Day 172 - System Review (43 Days Left)

At one time, I worked in the computer department (Information Services) at the old J-O-B. Every once and awhile, we'd hear of people saying they had a "system Failure."
That's not a good thing.
Especially if you are talking about the body. System Failure is definitely not good. Systems like respiratory, circulatory, urinary, skeletal...you get the point. Usually, without those one of those systems, the body is "unable to sustain life" as is stated in some of our manuals for class.
We did some reviewing of those systems this evening in class. Believe it or not, it was not even an anatomy or pathology class, but a reflexology class. In order to learn the principles of reflexology, we also must understand the systems of the body, as they are what corresponds to what we are trying to accomplish with this modality.
On a side note, I went to the dentist today. My dental hygienist is also a part-time massage therapist, so we had lots to talk about. Well, I didn't talk much. My mouth was otherwise occupied. Go figure.
I had a good report. I may need a crown, though. Ewwww.
I don't mind the dental work, I just hate paying for it. Especially crowns. They cost as much as the royal jewels, so that's why they call them crowns.