amethystic ionic negativity & pain

I shall write in purple to pay tribute to the amethyst. I have a neighbor who is a massage therapist. This is a good thing- I intend to utilize her. Anyway, at a BBQ on Saturday (thank you Wheelocks and Roberts, you're better people than me) so this neighbor massage therapist gal starts talking to Marie and I about her new "bio-mat." She thought it might be good for my mom. So then Marie volunteers my lil' ol' pain issues and the diagnostic label I've been handed (don't take that wrong Marie, I was not/am not upset with you) so, Rose (ha! the masseuse has a name!- and would she still be the same if she had a different name?) says, "I'm having people come to the shop right now just to try it out. I've had such great response after they have a session. Each person has a positive experience and feels better physically and mentally afterward. (to quote McKenna- and blah, blah, blah) I want you to come try it. I'll meet you at the shop at 09:30 am on Monday." Okay...I agree. I am a skeptic, albeit a hopeful one. I'm very open to others (my mom) trying alternative approaches to medicine/health, in fact I encourage it... but when it comes to me I'm never convinced the pain will improve (oh, wishing for drugs right now!). (no worries- only Tyl/IBU 4 me)

So... what is a bio-mat? I went this morning and tried it out. (here is where you discover the reason for this blog title and the purple font color) The mat is comprised of crushed amethyst, which apparently has negative ions that act on the cellular level of our organ tissues. So, as the ions did their little dance, I lay there wearing headphones and listening to a woman with a very nice voice guide me into "deep relaxation." (she did not however guide me out- so I'm in a coma as i type- it's a miracle, truly).

Did it work? Well, I still have menthol patches on my left shoulder, which hurt insanely when i arose this morning at 03:30 a.m. with a febrile, emotional almost 6 year old. While i was there she did a mini massage and found a lovely knot on the right shoulder and now it hurts too (I'm being melodramatic) Honestly? It was very relaxing, but that could've been the heated crushed stones i was laying on in a very calming environment. Hard to say. I think there is more intrinsic value in alternate modalities of healing than our society gives. As for the bio-mat, i think it would take a whole lotta sessions in combo with intense massage therapy to be useful... and I'm so cheap that when it's not a free trial, i likely will not participate as needed to achieve the ever elusive pain free status i so desire.... babble, babble... is anyone still reading? Bless your heart...

Hair Flare

What does hair mean to you? Why do such strong gender bias' dictate how we wear our hair? OR if we even have hair?!?!? Women, as a general rule and this is just my observation, don't love their own hair. It's not the right color. I wish it were straight. I wish it were curly. The length is all wrong. I hate this cut. My hairline is stupid- look my: huge forehead, widows peak (don't shave it girls!... very bad idea), I don't have enough forhead.... I don't know why we are so silly about something that is....

DEAD... it no longer lives! Why does it make or break our day?

I do this too. I wish mine had an ounce of curl to it so that it might not hang there like over cooked spaghetti. My hair is thick, but it isn't the "right" texture for me. I love and hate short hair, same with long. And i REALLY dislike the "inbetween" length- ladies, you know of what I speak. I would probably shave it all and go with the Mr. Clean approach- but that is not so much acceptible in our society... and even less acceptable in my marriage... and yes, his opinion matters to me.

So what do we do about it? Well, what have we tried so far? In our attempts to control the fur that afflicts us we have: tweezed, cut, waxed, permed (scary gamble), added pigment and stripped it. Many nights with poor sleep due to foreign roundish things tightly screwed into our hair so that in the morning we can be beautiful. Have you ever thought about it though? The only time we've done this is when we are children and someone does it to us... we do not grow into adults and carry on the practice. No, as adults we move onto things like: nair, bleach, fake little add-ins made of narly plastic hair- or a whole wig (I am not above this- and those of you who know me, know that!!!). Isn't it the cutest when we put toilet paper between hot rollers and our ears so they don't burn? but the burns with the barbaric curlers, straighteners, spiral thingys, and the unforgettable crimper- what a look- grrrr, sexy mama! Have you been the parent who says to their child, "No, no, don't touch- that's hot, owie, will burn you." But we keep touching it and burning our forehead, scalp, ear, neck (lovely when those look like love bites) burns hurt like a son of a gun!!! So, no, no, don't touch- that's hot, will burn you, and you've not outgrown the dreaded "owie" consequence any more than the child.

The chemicals..... oh the chemicals. We stand in stores fervently reading labels and looking like bafoons taking lids off to smell the shampoo, pomade, gel, etc., sometimes shooting it out at our nose and then looking around to see if anyone saw that. The advertising is so tricky- and we believe it, uh-huh, we do! No more frizz, put this in and hair goes straight for a date, or suddenly curly to meet Mr. Burly. One will inflate your hair like a balloon- watch out for sharp objects, another shines it all up so it appears you've been collecting

oil for days, and finally, you too can have hair just like a horses mane and tail. Now, there is a nice visual.

I don't know what the point of all this was- just random thoughts I guess. Probably started this morning when i pulled out my tweezers to get leg hairs... "owie." Have a blessed hair day my friends!!

Yet again, sleepy, but not sleeping

warning: the format of this blog is disturbing- my photos won't cooperate and i'm tired of fighting them! I need professional blogging help... but not tonight, it's 3:45am and i'm going to give sleep another chance!

What is the longest you've ever stayed awake? I think my "record," (not that i'm proud of it) is somewhere in the 60 hour range. Why? Why? Why?!?!?! Can i not sleep? My eyes are tired, my body is worn out and yet sleep eludes me... This hasn't always been a problem. It started with marriage and worsened with kids. So if you can- avoid the aforementioned and you should slumber peacefully. Problem is, marriage and kids are kinda cool. In fact, I rather like them. So, thank heavens I've found blogging in my life because ebay can get expensive when you're up all night!!!! kidding... I read too. ;-)

Current events: My car sucks. Not to look at- it's really pretty and one would think it worked just fine. But on a recent trip to UT for Scott and Britt's wedding a little light came on... oh, you know that spells trouble. This one seemed innocent enough, "check coolant level." So I read the handy little manual and it said, "add 50/50 antifreeze/special h20 solution as needed." So I bought some, I can be responsible. Matthew flew in to drive back with us and went to add it before we departed. I came out to the car and he said, "look at this." So i did... mind you the last time he did this was at the dealership when we bought the car and he asked me to point out the battery to him... after surveying under the hood I decided that it must have been left in Germany- who knew BMW's do not require a battery?!?!? ... Clever Germans. No, the sneaky beasterds put it underneath the backseat or some nonsense. For pete's blinkin' sake, a simple battery change on this car takes 4+ hours and must be done at the dealership... who knew. But, I digress.... So, we get back home and on Monday I called the dealership to get the car in for service. No problem, see you Thursday. This morning i took it in... and told our service advisor everything i could think of that the car has ever done- funny noises, oil leak, the air sometimes slows down and speeds up- and he looks at me like i'm a dumb female, but coddles me saying, "yes ma'am, we'll be sure to check that out and i'll give you a call this afternoon. Do you need a shuttle back home?" why yes, i do. "Where do you live?" ... Star.... he looks like i just said "mars"... and says, "oh dear, we don't go that far ma'am." I'm thinking- sure you do- I just left you my car and you can bet that i'm not walking!!! They took me home- but were adamant that they could not possibly pick me up when it was time for me to return and get my car.... whatever. The call i received later was not, "find a ride and come get your newly fixed car..." It was, "this is this and that is that and the total is..... $4,200.00... roughly...." I'll go in tomorrow and steal a rental car while mine is getting fixed (thank heavens for warranties!!!)

My sister recently said in her blog, "I want to be a kid again and have a razor scooter." Me too... and i think i'll wear rollerblades to ride it, and no helmet- I walk on the wild side... Listen to mom Hunter, only one toy with wheels at a time! (see http://cheerychesleys.blogspot.com/)

The first of many random thoughts and ramblings

For generations now, I have wanted to blog... I just didn't know it. Did you know that blogging began in 1999? I'm so behind... since i didn't know it existed i failed to learn the fine art of the blogger- so bare with me as I fumble, stumble, glue, paste, and blabber on and on. I have hope that my desire to glob, uh, blog- will overcome my inabilities. Let the ramblings begin!!!!

My thoughts today have centered around weight and money. The two are not intrinsically linked, and I don't know why they are floating around in my brain. Try and follow as I work it out. Here are two things in this life that we really have quite a lot of control over. However, getting control over them can be the tricky part. Eating and/or dieting along with exercise (or the lack thereof), are the controls over weight. Currently I am having issues with the weight watchers point system. Why aren't the yummy foods free, I ask you? Here is another thought, fat melts right? so why don't we automatically lose more weight in the hotter summer months (wouldn't that be lovely?). I know I'm being silly here- but I've hit dieters frustration. What can I say?

As for my money thoughts. Those probably stem from a couple of things, not the least of which is the frustration of job hunting. Burnout in the field of nursing is not uncommon. I don't know if I feel that, but i want to love my work again. Lately nursing has consisted of crappy bosses who've treated me like a second rate human, and anything but an adult (as I raise my hand to ask permission to use the restroom). I'm a grown up and I want a grown up job. I want to be the boss and make millions!!!! ... who doesn't? Someone smart once said, "The only people who obsess over money are those who don't have it." I can get with that- my goal is to not even give the green stuff a second thought- just know that there is plenty there for me and my family; and for the needs of others as we see them. I just want "enough".... I'll let you know what that is when i figure it out. Until then, feel free to drop a quarter in my guitar case as you pass! Have a good day!