Here’s the Stuff your sorries in a sack, mister post from the last time I tried to break the habit.

Will the S-word jar work? What other words should I use instead? My boss suggested “I understand.” A guy friend suggested nothing, to just pause and say nothing. What do you think?

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

I was fired yesterday for something I believed I was going to get away with. I worked for an orthopaedic office for 6 years, was fully vested. My duties included front office clerical, medical billing, coding, etc. Any doctor’s office is home to me, as I’ve worked in this profession for 18 years. The medical aspect of the work keeps me going. Anyway, on with it, embarrassingly enough, a co-worker and I tried calling in prescriptions for each other. She already had that responsibility in her job description, just not without the doc’s consent.

Photo courtesy: Bonita Sarita/Flickr/Creative Commons

My question is this: My administrator is still in contact with me, finalizing benefits and the like. She told me she would give me a good reference. But I just read about 5 articles about how you shouldn’t lie if you were fired,that a prospective employer will find out. I guess I need to discuss this with my administrator but if she said she’d give a good reference, do you think she’ll tell them I was fired? The co-worker involved was a very close friend of mine and now we are not talking.

There really isn’t anyone, other than my husband who’s at work, whom I can talk to and get feedback from. And I really need the kind that is blatantly honest. I have a feeling you can help me with that! Please feel free to let me have it or just say whatever your opinion is. I really don’t have any honest feedback in my life right now, other than my husbands.

I really am glad I found your blog!

Well, I’m not sure you’re going to be so glad you found my blog after you read what I’m about to say. I certainly understand better than most people what it’s like to lose a job that’s important to you and how devastating that can be, especially if you haven’t done anything to deserve it.

But the fact of the matter is, you did deserve it. And while I’m not just trying to to let you “have it,” honestly you are lucky they just fired you and didn’t have you arrested. The last time I checked, prescription fraud is a federal offense.

With that being said, my next concern is what type of prescriptions you and your co-worker were writing for each other, and what were you doing with them? Were you selling them? Or were you using them to feed an addiction? If so, do not pass go, go directly to rehab!

OK, Amy Winehouse joking aside. What is your husband saying about this? Because my gut instinct is that you have a more serious problem than whether you should lie about why you were fired— which by the way is a bad idea for many reasons.

First, you will probably get caught just like you did– which led to you getting fired in the first place. Second, if someone checks your references they aren’t just going to ask your supervisor. When I was a newsroom manager, I would call people who knew and worked with the person. Of course, whoever you put as your reference is supposed to say good things about you. A good manager wants to know how you really are and if you could be potentially problematic.

Speaking of problematic, even though I didn’t do anything to deserve losing my job twice since 2006 I was grilled repeatedly during several job interviews. As if someone couldn’t believe I’d done nothing wrong. And that made me defensive in many of the interviews, so I can’t imagine having something to hide. An intuitive interviewer will pick up on body language, stories that just don’t jive, etc.

So, I really think you have a lot more to consider than just whether you should lie about being fired– including what else are you lying about in your life.

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

It’s one of my favorite times of the year again, Gasparilla aside of course!

Every year around this time, my friends and I head to the Florida Brewers Guild Beerfest in Centro Ybor to taste the best of what the Sunshine State has to offer while enjoying the sunshine. Nothing quite beats good weather, great company and great beer!

You may remember last year, I showed you some of What’s on tap. This afternoon I promise to take more photos and not get distracted by all that brew– well not as distracted anyway!

Be sure to follow me on Twitter for some of the sudsy shenanigans. Of if you’re heading out there too, make sure you say hi!

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

(Editor’s not so Wordless Wednesday note: Click here to check out all of my photos from the Chef’s Table Steakhouse Favorites event at Datz.)

Courtesy Studio G

A lot of spas don’t use sanitary practices, so how do you know what to look for?

Me: How do I know if they’ve sanitized the foot bath?

Erin: Just ask. State law requires all foot baths to be disinfected properly with an EPA-registered, hospital-grade bactericidal, fungicidal, virucidal and pseudomonacidal solution for at least 10 minutes. (Whirlpool foot spas with screens, foot plates or jets need even more detailed cleaning and are difficult to keep clean.) Just spraying a disinfectant on pedicure equipment is inadequate. Bowls and whirlpool systems need to be soaked, and don’t let anyone tell you differently. I use a pedicure bowl that does not have circulating water and I am required to soak it in a hospital-grade disinfectant for at least 10 minutes in between clients. You have every right to ask manicurists or salon owners to see their disinfection system. I show my procedure and my cleaning products to clients all the time. And don’t forget, metal tools used during manicures and pedicures, such as cuticle pushers, clippers, etc., need to be adequately cleaned and soaked with the same hospital-grade disinfectants.

Me: Can I ask them to use a new nail file just for me?

Erin: You can. Disposable nail files and buffers should be available. I do not share porous elements like these between clients. You get your own. (If a salon does share files and buffers they must be disinfected between clients. Make sure the file can even be cleaned. Some can’t.)

Me: What kind of infections can you get from an unsanitary salon?

Erin: Nail fungus is the most common infection spread in unclean conditions. It can be hard to get rid of but is treatable. Even worse, bacterial and viral infections can be transmitted. If skin is punctured (which shouldn’t be happening anyway) during a manicure or pedicure and nail equipment is not disinfected properly, serious illnesses such as staph infections, hepatitis and HIV can be passed between clients. Keep in mind that infection can be transmitted through unclean metal tools AND foot baths.

Me: They always say don’t shave your legs 24 hours before a pedicure, why is that?

Erin: Right, shaving or open cuts or sores on your feet or legs can leave you vulnerable to infection in an unclean salon. Scrubs and lotions might also irritate freshly shaved skin.

Me: Erin, I know we’ve talked about this before but some of my friends have mentioned going to places that still use razors. This is illegal in Florida, right?

Erin: Yes, they are illegal and should be. It’s not just a sanitation issue. Razors take off too much skin and cause the skin to grow back thicker and quicker. Skin goes into heal mode. (Scrapers and graters also have this effect.) Razors can cause serious injury and lead to serious infection if they aren’t cleaned properly. Disposable abrasive foot files, similar to sandpaper, are a much better option. They will smooth calluses but not remove them. I use a new abrasive pad on each client and disinfect the metal file. By the way, calluses are actually good for you. They protect areas of skin that are damaged during your everyday activities. If they are painful you should see a podiatrist.

Me: Let’s talk a little about green. Many women are looking for environmentally and organic options, what types of products do you use?

Erin: I use Zoya nail polish and nail treatments, which are formulated for natural nails. Zoya has no formaldehyde, toluene, DBP (phthalates) or camphor and is vegan-friendly. Pregnant women are especially concerned about avoiding these toxins. I also use Qtica products (from Art of Beauty, the makers of Zoya) as healing products for nails, cuticles and skin. Their remover is a mild acetone and has a great scent.

Me: Besides being trendy, why is it so important?

Erin: Zoya and Qtica products are designed to not dry out the nail. Formaldehyde and other toxins in many nail polishes are dehydrating to the nail plate and can cause damage. Some people also are concerned about the possibility of toxins entering their system through the nail plate. Zoya polishes provide long-lasting color without those harmful effects. They’ve been featured in magazines such as “Women’s Health” magazine People’s “Style Watch,” and “InStyle.”

Me: Is there anything else customers should know?

Erin: Yes, make sure your nail technician or manicurist has a license! There are unlicensed people working in some establishments. Also, serious foot issues are for a podiatrist, not a pedicurist. We can only keep your feet and hands healthy, not diagnose or treat medical issues. Manicures and pedicures are not supposed to hurt or injure you. Trust your instincts. Leave if you don’t think the salon is clean, causes you pain or won’t answer your questions about their sanitation practices. These services are supposed to make you happy and relaxed!
And oh yeah, if you want to see me for a manicure or pedicure, I’m at 2603 W. Azeele in Tampa, (813) 350-9300. I’ll give you a “Miss Attitude” discount.

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

Editor’s note: Erin West and Studio G were one of Miss Attitude’s first sponsors. However, I did not receive any payment, services and/or product for this blog entry. I asked Erin to answer these questions because I think women deserve to pamper themselves, but should stay safe in the process.

(Images courtesy: itunes.apple.com)

So just when I thought I had run out of material for Meet the Exes Monday, Mr. I’m Sorry magically appeared. Now this is a tough post to write because he knows I’m writing it. Many have read what I’ve written, after the fact, without any argument. While others probably still don’t know they’re right here for the whole world to see.

But I know this won’t slip by Mr. I’m Sorry, even though he managed to let me slip by. While he was never actually my boyfriend, I’ve decided if I was memorable enough for him to track me down nearly 17 years later to apologize for “whatever I did back then” he warrants a Meet the Exes introduction to my loyal readers.

I met Mr. I’m Sorry when I was in college, I was about 18 and he was about 20. The first time I saw him I thought he was really cute, and we seemed to have some chemistry. We hung out a few times, though as I pointed out to him the other day when he asked if we’d actually dated to warrant qualification for this post, he never took me out on a real date.

The last time I saw him I was storming out of his dorm room crying after he was being a jerk, and we never spoke again. Honestly I haven’t thought about him in many years, even as I’ve conducted my self-therapy on the blog most Mondays.

Isn’t it interesting how sometimes a situation can feel so unresolved to one person and not the other? I’m usually I’m on the other end as most of you have repeatedly read, but this time the tables have turned.

I couldn’t, and still can help, but be curious why after all this time he would feel the need to apologize. Or even contact me in the first place. I guarantee you many men have treated me much worse and never said they were sorry.

Maybe I’m just reading too much into it, but he’s now become one of several former dating disasters who have recently told me I’m “smart and beautiful,” but they were just young, stupid, immature and/or drank too much to realize what they were missing out on.

He said he’s asked about me in the past, but didn’t know where I was. But now we have the internet and social media, and Ta-da! He found me. He said he was sorry.. several times. The details of the event were fuzzy to us both, but he said he knew he had a reason to apologize.

“Better late than never,” he said.

“Yeah, 17 years later,” I replied with a laugh.

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

So when I was going for a walk this weekend, I was surprised to see the Jose Gasparilla docked at the Tampa Convention Center.  Gasparilla is over, sadly, so I couldn’t help but wonder why it was there.

I stopped to take a few pictures, and noticed a few tourists whispering and snapping pics too. If I live right here and had no idea why the ship that’s used for Gasparilla is there, I can only imagine what they were thinking. A pirate ship in downtown Tampa, WTF?

While winding my way back from my 5-mile trek I passed a newspaper stand, and the answer was right in the South Tampa News & Tribune, “Barging right in.”

“The 165-foot Jose Gasparilla makes its final cruise of the season next week, carrying a crew of 600-plus pirates on their 2010 outbound voyage,” Tribune writer George Wilkens wrote.

The only voyage I’ve ever seen this ship make is during Gasparilla, so where the heck are they taking the make believe 165-foot pirate ship that’s really a barge?

Somewhere between 600 and 800 members of the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla are expected to set sail February 27 to a top secret destination. Well, it’s not really all that top secret. There’s no way the Jose Gasparilla is going to make it to the Caribbean safely.

“Some land lubbers, however, might spy the ship being towed by tug across Hillsborough Bay to the Tampa Yacht Club for a krewe party and, later, to the Port of Tampa. The vessel’s off-season caretaker there, Gulf Marine, will perform annual maintenance to keep the craft seaworthy and attractive, including pressure-cleaning to remove accumulated seagull droppings,” according to Wilkens’ story.

I wish I could get on board– talk about a great blog post.

Although it sounds like a tight fit. There’s no galley and or anything below the deck.

And they will hit the high seas, rain or shine. Even if it rains, I’m betting there will be plenty of grog involved to enjoy the voyage anyway! Aye mateys!

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

I love being the mayor of my work, my condo, the computer lab at school and even a nearby Starbucks where I frequently hit the drive-thru. Some of you have even seen how my addiction landed me in the Tampa Tribune and TBO.com. (BTW, the article in Friday Extra has a better layout and my pic!)

But now I’ve learned about the next new social media thing– Blippy. “Blippy is a fun and easy way to see and discuss the things people are buying.”

• Once you sign up for Blippy, you can find, follow and invite your friends to follow you along with follow suggested friends.

• The site can be connected to your Twitter or Facebook

account, but you have to allow access via submitting your password.

• Then you can link accounts including: eBay, Zappos, iTunes, Netflix, etc. along with your credit cards and bank account.

According to TechCrunch, “This not only tells you what kind of things they’re actually into (rather than someone just saying they like something), but also other information like how cheap they are, as well as where they actually are at a given time. There is actually a lot of data tied into the transactions we make, and Blippy takes that and makes it social.”

It seems a little too Big Brother to me. Though Blippy does allow you hide specific purchases, and “you can pause or stop sharing at any time,” according to the site.

Even Stephen Colbert weighs in on the benefits of Blippy… or not!

Look, I know I’m a shopaholic and an oversharer (I actually earned that badge on foursquare). But I don’t see any reason why the entire world needs to see everything I buy.

Besides, I always share the good purchases with you– like my fabulous new Paige Premium Jeans and Dooney & Bourke purse last weekend.

So what do you think of Blippy? Are you on there? Would you use it?

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude