I have to confess. I cannot stand it any more. Sorry Florida but I am going to have to leave you for another Gulf Coast State. Texas. Wow. I was seriously taken by surprise. I was not expecting it to happen but it did. Sorry Florida. Texas, you won me with your charm. I can’t remember the last time a gentleman opened a door for me or assist me out of a vehicle. I can’t remember the last time a cashier actually made eye contact with me and smiled. I am use to cashiers talking over me. I grew up in Mississippi so I do know the meaning, “Southern Hospitality.” Laugh at me if you will but I grew up in a beautiful town. Texas, you have Southern Hospitality. I thoroughly enjoyed the conversations I had with the people of Houston. When I had a question, not only would I receive a poliet response, but the delightful Texan would engage me in conversation. Wow. Conversation. I loved it. I miss it. 

Thank you Ana for your funny family story. I too have selfish family members who only use me as needed. I feel your pain! Stand tall! I feel your pain! Thank you Kevin your warm greeting. You made me laugh. I miss laughing. Thank you. I will be back in November so if you are still there, save me some extra bottles of water! Oh, and have a list of Blues Clubs ready for me. I am in a KoKo Taylor mood. As for the Enterprise Rental car gentleman, you made my day for asking if I was Little Miss Kimberly’s daughter. HeHeHeHe. Thank you man! 

As for the 2 Suppershuttle men, you both were REAL. Thank you for the bumpy ride and the air conditioning on high.  Hopefully, I will have you take me to my hotel again in November.

I am looking forward to exploring Texas. You are such a beautiful state of diversity. With any luck, I will see more of Houston and venture on to Austin &  San Antonio. I am looking forward to listening to some fresh live music. Hopefully, I will even find a place to go star gazing. 

Thank you, Texas, my love. I will return. 

Right now I am at a point in my life where my past has become extremely important. I often wonder, “What makes me tick?” I do have wild vivid dreams of people & places. Are they family? Are the fabrics of their souls sewn into my DNA? 20 years ago I started working on my family tree. Now, I finally have some time to put together the pieces of the puzzle. However, I am missing some pieces. My Grandfather, Joseph Herschel Harper (Born in Bonifay, FL), was a rolling stone. I heard that he was a real good talker. He knew how to schmooze. In 1950 he married Jennie Amabel McIntosh,. She was a Canadian born professor who taught at the University of Southern Illinois in Carbondale, IL. Together they had a son. My uncle Joseph was in the Navy studying Egyptian Arabic languages last I heard. I am sending out a shout out to my Uncle or Step Grandmother McIntosh. I really do not know anything about my Grandpa Harper. He divorced my grandmother in Reno, NV  & he had a second wife in between, Madge Singleton Allen. I also heard he he had another wife in St. Louis, Mo. I am sure he left a trail of tears behind him.

I would love to find my long lost Uncle.  Or perhaps any other Aunts & Uncles that are out there that I do not even know about. After all, papa was a rolling stone! 

You know, I am floored with our presidential candidates. From start to finish, this will be a billion dollar election. Repeat: BILLION DOLLARS!! They have the nerve to ask the American people to dive into their pocket books/wallets, and donate money so they can be elected president. The kicker: When schools need services, there will not be any money. When the elderly need medical care, there will not be any money. When a teenager, who is being beaten by her mother’s new boyfriend, needs help, there will not be any money. So, why elect these people?? Wife of John follows her husband around like an old Chinese woman. Wife of Barack is over qualified for the position of first lady, however, she is just not in touch with us poor working folks. How soon people forget what life is like for “US” people. Amount to get their husbands elected? BILLION of DOLLARS! That could rebuild NOLA. That amount could help out our seniors who lost everything in Enron. That could stimulate our US auto & steel industry. We could send out brightest away to college to become Eco Engineers And some of that money could go to helping all the homeless pets that have ended up in high kill shelters because of home foreclosures. BILLION DOLLARS……No, I cannot vote for John. No, I cannot vote for Barack. Looks like it will be Ralph Nader for me. BILLION DOLLARS…..You know, my name is Jo Ann Fenstermacher. For 8 years, I was a low level bureaucrat. Am I bitter? Oh yes! Do I hold on to my guns? Well I would but I had to sell mine because I am broke. A smart X P&P officer told me that the only power a low level bureaucrat has is in his writing tool. A pen, a pencil, a stroke of a key board. Everyone can send a message. Write letter. And yes, VOTE! But don’t think that you have to vote for a Republican or Democrat. Vote for a member of the Green Party. Vote for the Libertarian Party. If possible, write someone in! Stand up! Use your power. Can you imagine if no one won?? What a message it would send to those on Capitol hill….

Wow! The power or positive juju is pretty amazing! With the pressures of today’s society, I often think of my self as a piece of road kill that fell to the bottom of a man hole. After a few days of baking in the humidity, I am then swept away by a rain storm into the mouth of a gator. After all is said & done, I end up DUNG. It has to end, correct?

With a milestone birthday around the corner, I find my self frightned of what I have become. I am nothing like I thought I would be when I was young & full of dreams. How to I recapture those dreams? I wish someone would throw some juju my way. I have some big plans for the future. I cannot hit the big 4-0 and not have any accomplishments under my belt. I have to have more!!

From here on out, only good juju will come my way. My post will be fun & interactive. Progress will be made. Life is beautiful. Right? I will throw some juju in my direction. If you need me to throw some juju in your direction, let me know! I have plenty of juju to hand out. I just need some juju tossed at me!

Have a wonderful evening! Dream of happy juju!

Hello!!! I just arrived home from Orlando today. I attended the Premier Trade Show. WOW! How amazing!!!! I feel energized. While at the show, I stayed at the Hyatt Grand Cypress for 3 nights. It was worth EVERY penny! It is obvious that they have an excellent General Manager. Every staff member was wonderful!!!

I will talk more tomorrow. My thoughts are jumbled and tired. My fingers are not doing too good with the key board…I will be back!

You know, after the beast yells at you, and makes you feel like a child, you want to curl up in your long sleeved sweater and cry……NO!!!!! That shall not happen. Time to bring out the chair & whip and tame the beast!!!!!!!

Hello! Hello! I Cannot believe that I have a BLOG!!!! Where do I start??? My mind is jumbled with thoughts!!

Well, My name is Miss Jo Ann and I am a license massage therapist & aesthetician. Prior to my spa life, I was a certified felony probation & parole officer and law enforcement officer. So, as you can tell, I have witnessed some pretty wild stuff!! Sometimes I will be political, other times I will just be plain silly! I welcome good conversations!!! I welcome good debates!!

Lets have some good times!!!

Anyone know of any places hiring massage therapist out west?