New Addition!: Designworks Salon, Wellness Spa, & Retail Center (Dubuque, IA)--From the E-Update Flow

Eenie Meenie Mynie Moe...Catch a Bigot By The Toe.

If She Hollars, Let Her Go,

Cuz There's Due Karma Down The Road.

True Story: Despite so-so intuitions, at best, about them in the past, from both a possible employment and tapas (yogic lifestyle) perspective, I decided to give Designworks Salon, Wellness Spa, and Retail Center a try upon landing in Dubuque last year, when I finally was in any sort of position to do so, following a New Client discount given 2 me by Sarah-Mom.

Over the past several months, I've touched base with them and the 1 or 2 other places in town involved in "green" Beauty, in the back of my mind due to my interests with Love Yoga: The Movement, in part just because it's an area of interest and, obviously, everyone needs to get their hair cut (Though I have tossed around the idea of shaving my head several times, and today would be a perfect reason to do just that in protest).

My 1st visit created for me a "New Customer Card," during which point I had a certain amount of months to use really rockin' discounts on a smattering of Services available at Designworks.

I ended up using all 4 of 5, though I admit I did a couple of them just to be nice. They were nice, seemed to enjoy my energy in the place, and some of the service providers were (seriously) considering coming to class.

Not the last visit, but the one before, I was checking out, and I was debating on the gratuity due to the fact that it was not a good job, not a great brand of product, further confused by the well-meaning Receptionist who ended up consulting me on my math (which was actually correct, at some point), resulting in a lower tip than I'd intended.

I went home, fixed my file job, and noticed major chips already the next day in my manicure, that I normally do myself (self-explanatory).

Anyway, when I got my bank statement, the amount from the confusing check-out actually was higher than it was supposed to be. I e-mailed them immediately, stating I didn't want to assume they'd fraudulently try to take extra gratuity, but here's the amount I thought it was--Plz reply.

A slew of e-mails said that they were really sorry for the inconvenience, that they were aware there was some confusion at the register. They eventually said they'd talk to leadership, and finally, that they'd just refund the 50 cents.

Uh, yeah. What in the world. Whatever had happened, all the way up until this point, I didn't even care anymore. I just wanted the bill settled without them trying to tell me what the tip was.

Today, I received a voice message from the 2 owners--Lori and Penny--who I'd been told wanted to make sure that "everything was o-kay" and to ensure that customer satisfaction whatever's were in place. Instead, Penny says something along the lines of, "We think that there's something strange going on...and we think U need to go somewhere else."

My mouth dropped, but the American Wall of Shame was right there, with all its other disgusting inhabitants still existing, operating as if they weren't harmful to us all, "Wait a minute. What did I do wrong? All I did was raise a flag about a mischarge on my statement, and now you're saying that if I called to schedule a service there, I wouldn't be allowed to? That I'm not WELCOME there?!"

That's exactly what she said. In the insane calm I've heard multiple times now from women of her demographic all across the country, she said, "You have a good day now. You have a good day."

I called the police for direction when I couldn't find the Better Business Bureau's number. They gave me the Human Rights Department number, "Yeah," I thought, not even wanting to think what I could've naturally thought given my past interactions with them. My short convo with Carol(e) Espinoso?a? was the same as usual. I explained the situation & said, "I think I've been banned from Designworks for questioning what amounted to 50 cents on 1 transaction." "Well, yes," she said (Sounded so much like the Mad Hatter in "Alice in Wonderland"), "She can definitely tell you to not come back for that."

I laughed thinking about the Human Relations Specialist for the city I'd thought about throwing my application in the ring for the past day or so. And make THEM the boss of my wisdom or intelligence--I DON'T THINK SO!!!

On the ironic side, I now hear that people pushing for 10-20% off their bills and free meals, bullying the employees, at TAIKO Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar, has reached a noticeable high. But Dubuque's not still one of the silliest, most backwards places ever--which is why I said to Carol(e) Espinoso?a?, "Oh really? You don't think it has anything to do with race.  I highly doubt they'd do that to my WHITE MOTHER."

It never stops. Maybe society, including the Human Rights Department, will stand behind a racist restaurant that kicks me out for life because I choose orange juice instead of coffee

Let me reiterate: Scandal, corruption, &/or everyday sin/ignorance, not looking to head elsewhere anytime soon.

These R the places that do this kind of violence to my energy or their relationship to me.

Just warning U.

*Image of Amy Jin with rockin' purple hair in Phoenix, Arizona (2011)*

*Image of Amy Jin in Supta Virasana on pavement (Phoenix, Arizona-2011)*
"I ask that life stop being a cliche...so that I no longer feel as if I have to go away to a mountain in order to experience a context--any context--that is real besides the ones I, alone, create."
-Amy Jin
Love Yoga: The Movement
www.WhatItIsPowerYoga.blogspot.com
Dubuque, Iowa
Temp.-563.556.3524

*To be removed from the Love Yoga: The Movement Database, simply respond to this e-mail and say that. This Database is reserved for Love Yoga: The Movement Love Offerers/donors, paid healing/Spiritual Illumination clients, V.I.P. colleagues, my connections in related industries, regular practitioners of the work itself, and others in the moment becuz I say so.*