posted by erin on Mar 19
*It’s a long one, just so you know!
For my birthday (in October) I received some gift certificates to pamper myself and so I decided to finally use them before they expire (next month). Yesterday I went for a one hour deep tissue therapeutic massage (insert groan here). When I called to make the appointment they asked if I’d like a male or female masseuse. I replied that it didn’t make any difference to me. As long as they work out all the tension and knots in my back, neck and shoulders from painting my house (by myself…yes, I’m still rubbing that in), it was a non issue as to WHO did it.
WELL…my hubby apparently had other ideas about that.
“WHAT?!? You said it didn’t matter? Are you crazy? You don’t care if a MAN massages you” (This conversation was had in the truck on the way home from Grand Forks with Bentley and Helen, so insert *snickering* here from Bentley…thanks man, you really got my back, don’t you?). What kind of massage did he think I was going for? Really! Hmph.
So I proceeded to back up my reasoning with the fact that I’ve had umpteen male doctors in my life with my medical history and that can be a lot more awkward than just rubbing some sore muscles, so really, who cares who massages me. I didn’t apparently.
I had my lovely massage yesterday afternoon (and for the record it was with a female masseuse much to Jer’s relief…although I have to admit I did tell him first that it was a big beefy man all oiled up in tighty whiteys…yeah, I know, I should be ashamed of myself).
Anyway, it took a good 20 minutes for the tension to actually leave my body enough for her to FIND any muscles. She worked them hard. I cried at one point when she hit a muscle in my biceps and it sent shooting pain to the tips of my fingers. But it was good. Very, very good. Today I feel like I’ve been beaten. My back is actually feeling bruised to the touch. Jer keeps putting his hand on my back when inquiring how I’m feeling and I wince and yelp. That sore!
So I got home from my lovely appointment, relaxed and rejuvenated knowing that I was going to finally start recovering from my chronic soreness. I was prepared to be completely obedient to the massage therapists instructions which were, “relax, don’t do too much, drink lots of water and have a hot bath with mineral salts.” Well I thought, if I arrive home at 5:00 Jer should be walking in the door any moment and I’m tappin’ out. Off the clock so to speak. Doctors orders.
But it was not to be. He called to say he had to go cover at the Show home and I was stuck with the little monsters sweethearts until he got home. Well, this is where the foster care comes in. I just about sent them there. Or to boot camp. Or something. I was NOT.HAPPY!! Why? Oh, please, let me tell you.
I was making supper and they were being just crazy. Disobedient, yelling, fighting (What? They’re not perfect?). Finally I went to tell them for the gazillionth time to stop whatever it was they were doing and I glance at the t.v. Our new, shiny, flat screen t.v. There are sticky, grimy hand and finger prints all over it. And what looks suspiciously like SCRATCHES. Oh no you di’int! Well. I pretty much took away t.v. privileges until they’re 30 (their future husbands can fight me over that one if they want) and they had time outs and what not. I went back to making supper foaming at the mouth and muttering under my breath all the cliche mommy phrases
“Don’t you guys ever listen to a word I say?”
“If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a hundred time?”
“How many times do I HAVE to tell you…”
And so on and so forth.
Once supper was on the table and I had a moment to regain my composure I got out my Norwex cloths and wiped the t.v. down. Luckily for the sweet children it’s perfectly fine. They still can’t watch t.v. until Monday.
So in an effort to re-establish some of my hard won relaxation that went shooting out the window yesterday I have a spa pedicure today (one of my other gift cert.). I made sure to book it for 6:30 p.m. It’s an hour and a half appointment. My kids go to bed at 8:00. You do the math. : )
March 19th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
To prevent your nails from chipping you ought to have the kids do the dishes. Their never to young to learn.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
March 19th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I so need a massage myself! Funny being that I am a massage therapist by trade. Not actively practicing and my massage friend whom I would barter with just moved away! Bummer. But, all that to say it’s so common to be sore the next day. And I am so very sorry you didn’t get your relaxing bath…..BUT I hope your spa pedicure helps you out with some R&R.
March 19th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
I’m getting my feet done (I decided my hands would just suffer too much and be ruined in about 2.3 hours) and they are in dire need of it, let me tell you. Ugly! And thanks for the birthday wishes…I should have specified for my new bloggers, my birthday’s in October…I’m just THAT far behind in using up my gift certificates, lol!
March 19th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
this post made me giggle! until the part about the scratch on the TV… glad it was just muck! hehe
i need a massage… but i can’t imagine having someone touch me… yikes!!
March 19th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Well played…..
You might just have to ask that crafty cousin of yours to build you an entertainment unit to house your beautiful t.v.
Enjoy your pedi.
March 19th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Oh, a massage sounds so nice right now….
I am so glad that your new tv is still in perfect shape!!! Whew!
Enjoy the pedi tonight…. smart thinking on the appt. time!
March 19th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
You are too funny! Good thing the TV is in tip top shape for Lipstick Jungle!
March 19th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
sounds like my house before supper… well, all day actually. I hate repeating myself, it drives me nuts! isn’t being a mom fun?
you should read The Other Boleyn Girl, it’s a really great book! It’s long but it sucks you right in so it’s an easy read. Plus, it’s a good book to help you forget your day, it did that for me anyway
March 20th, 2008 at 7:08 am
I’m totally booking a massage after this. Not only do you have me completely envious of your recent relaxation time, but you’ve got me tensed up at the thought of little kiddie prints all over the flat-screen TV I can only dream about owning one day…
Guess I should get back to work so I can save up those hard-earned pennies.
March 20th, 2008 at 9:34 am
I hope you enjoy your spa pedicure. I’ve never had one. I hear it’s great.
March 20th, 2008 at 11:27 am
As much as I’m looking forward to Kiera getting older and more independent, this post makes me thankful for this stage in which she is mostly sweet and happy and doesn’t fight or get into anything!
March 20th, 2008 at 11:41 am
The important thing is that you didn’t kill the children…good thing that you had that massage first so ooze away the tension right? Otherwise who knows what would have happened. You know what? I just remembered that I have a gift cert for a massage around here somewhere…
March 20th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Good for you! My DH scheduled a massage and a night off for me…he said I needed it and that I have been acting a little crazy or something like that. I don’t care..as long as I get a nice massage. Oh and my hubs is EXACTLY the same way about me having a male masseuse. Funny thing is though is that he CANNOT/WILL NOT have a male masseuse…only female. Yeah, exactly. So because I am a brat I like to schedule appointments with males, and because males in my experience do a better job than the gals I have had. You shouldn’t feel bruised…only less tense..and like jello!
Okay sorry for the long post! Peace!
March 20th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I hope next time we’re together we can do spa pedis together! Enjoy it! What color tootsies will you have?!
March 20th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Hope you enjoyed your pedicure!!
You’re not still sore are you?
March 20th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Erin, I can’t believe it took you that long to use your gift certificate…I’ve gone probably 5 or 6 times this year already (gotta use my insurance while I can…as of next week, I’ll have to pay for it!). It is one of my absolute favourite ways to relax!
It usually doesn’t work for me to relax at home either. I think she used to mention that I should do that when I first started going, but now she just hands me a bottle of water! I really appreciate that because otherwise I would forget to drink enough.
Anyways have a great pedicure!
March 20th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Hope you enjoyed your pedicure! I really enjoy your blog and literally check for updates daily, I just don’t leave many comments. Thanks for keeping me entertained! btw – love the new house pics!
March 20th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Neil got me one of those certificates…over a year ago. I don’t want to go alone!
March 20th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
hey erin i have a certificate from christmas that i need to book now because i have become vicariously tense reading about your day, and can so relate, i spent the afternoon saying to eiley stop crying or I will give you something to cry about )( or something like that )ahh yes bedtime is 7:30 tonight hugs to you
March 20th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I’ve never had a message but I hear they’re nice. So go and enjoy.
Oh, and the kids are the reason why we don’t buy expensive ANYTHING. Because we wouldn’t want to have to kill them.
March 20th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Thanks for visiting my blog! I really enjoyed reading this post! You have a flair for writing. By the way, my b-day’s in Oct, too. The 20th. And I was thinking about trying a massage until I read about the “…shooting pain”. Ouch!
March 21st, 2008 at 1:17 am
I feel beaten up too after a deep massage. It’s like you just worked out all day or something.
I was in Switzerland once a long time ago – and my swit-friend took me to a full-blown spa. And I had a man doing my massage… his hands on my skin is not exactly relaxing.