Apps, First Day Hike

The future is now!

Paul has had a sore lower back lately. I talked him into having his very first massage. He came home raving about the experience and thanked me profusely! No, not really. He seemed underwhelmed. Great! More massage $ for me.

One thing he did say was that the masseuse pushed him to drink more water. It's true. Both of us are bad at hydrating. He said Joan Collins (the masseuse, not the actress) asked him about his "daily intake". He listed off what he drinks - such as coffee, and she said "dehydrater" and wine, "dehydrater". Uh oh. He does have his trusty water glass but apparently doesn't utilize it enough.

I don't do much better. I'm not as much of a coffee hound as Paul Goldsmith. He apparently inherited the gene from his parents who could drink that beverage 24- hours a day without any effects to their ability to sleep. I can wave caffeine under my nose after noon and stare at the clock well past midnight. I take my trusty water bottle to work (I try to avoid drinking Wallace Building water which has been known to be brownish in the morning) and caffeine-free tea at home. But I kinda nurse it - definitely not a chugger. I'm just not that thirsty.

I read recently that there is a personal wearable device that along with everything else it measures, tells the wearer if they are hydrated enough. DRINK! I relayed this story to Paul and we began riffing about what is coming. A wearable that tells us when we are full! "Stop Eating Dammit!" One that sets off an alarm when we have reached .08 alcohol content. I imagine that happens faster that we'd care to admit! I'd like one that fills in the words and name I can't come up with. I always think of them later...#myharddriveskips

Paul and I started out 2017 right! We were asleep. We did go to the Cyclone Men's basketball game the night before. The team came from behind for a victory and we won the postgame celebration with our friends the Ehreckes, Kevin, and Kari, with their daughter Kasee and her honey Tanner. We enjoyed supper at the local Irish joint with them after - a fun night.  New Year's Eve was low-key - just watching football. Shoutout to our future son-in-law, Corey. His Clemson Tigers were dominating in their win over the Big 10 darling Ohio State.

On the first day of 2017, we did something new - Iowa DNR's First Day Hike at Walnut Woods in the flood plain of the Raccoon River on the southwest side of Des Moines. DNR and parks across the country held similar events. The weather was chilly good. I bundled up yet even with the Hot Hands (courtesy of a booth REI had at the event) my fingers got chilly. We hiked with over 100 fellow enthusiasts at the event put on by DNR and Friends of Walnut Woods, a volunteer group that supports park activities. The ranger, Terry Manning, kicked off the event with a few words about the park and the First Day history. He's a bird man who especially loves purple martins. That morning he'd rescued a goose with a broken wing. It was waiting in his truck to go to a rehab center.

Ranger Terry fills us in. Note the free walking sticks! We each got one. 

After a group photo, we were off on a 2.5-mile hike. Paul and I chatted excitedly the whole time about what we are looking forward to. There is one big event coming up of course - Amy and Corey's wedding in Denver in August. We can't wait to see Jud and Kara's new home. We also talked about other vacations to come and hiking, biking and kayaking in Iowa in 2017. We haven't been to the NE part of the state to kayak the Upper Iowa for a few years...and it's gorgeous! (Iowa's little secret) Of course I made my honey stop for a few pics. I didn't make any resolutions to stop doing selfies, sorry, not sorry.

Iowa - a good place to be. Just dress warmly. 

Back at the Walnut Woods Lodge, cocoa, coffee, and breakfast awaited! It was a super way to ring in the New Year.

I'm nervous and excited about the coming year. Stay tuned.

Joan Collins massaged me

No...not her.

The masseuse Joan. My physical therapist told me about her masseuse who happens to have the same name as a famous actress. My last masseuse, moved to California. I've written before about my issues with my personal space. Once I find my touching "peeps" I don't like to change. I've only had a handful of hair stylists in the past 20 years. Most times I've been forced to switch by their moves - I've not left them because I've been unhappy - even if I might have been a little bit.

So...needed a new masseuse. This one made me feel comfy right away. And she has the hands of an angel. Her business is All About Massage on 86th and Douglas. Ahhhh. Just what I needed. Without the bitchiness of the actress - a gal we all loved to hate on Dynasty. My shoulder has been a bitch, lately just like actress Joan Collins. It needs some TLC so it starts treating me nicely.

Joan "angel hands"

Joan worked on it for an hour. It's amazing what those people do. She could tell exactly where the hurt was. Hats off to you Julia Hoilien - my High School classmate and friend who does this work each week in her hometown just outside Bolder, Colorado. There is such caring in those hands. I appreciate the work they do.

Massage

I had a massage today. Yum! Before she started, Christine - the masseuse, wanted to know if any of my parts were sore. Nope! It was a legit question, cuz I did go to see her the first time right after I fell on the stairs at Joan's and broke my foot. Another time I saw her right after I flew ever so gracefully off a lil step stool whilst dusting in the kitchen. I had placed the step stool on our bamboo floor and it slipped out from under me...and I landed right on my tailbone. I didn't move for quite a while - wondering if I was paralyzed. Youch!

Today I was just there for a basic overall rubdown. With no benefits for anyone afterwards (except the cash tip I planned to leave her). The kids gave me a massage gift certificate (from my usual masseuse) for Mom's Day. I've been looking forward this occassion week.

Christine is a Presbyterians pastor's wife and mom of 4. Can you imagine that pressure? I only have to live up to being wife of the soil conservation guy. That's stress enough. Farmers calling at all hours, expecting me to be cheerful about said call. No dammit, he doesn't wish to speak to you about your pond.

But to be a pastor's wife. You couldn't swear or nothin! Slam you finger in the door? No F bombs. Or you'll be the talk of the congregation! Actually Christine sounded a little worn out by her parenting and pastor's wifery schedule. The fam just got back from a week at a church camp in Storm Lake - where she attended a session about dealing with being the wife of a preacher. And her kids came home with strep throat.

I almost felt like jumping up from the special massage table and giving her the once over massage. Except I'd suck at it! The poor thing needs a break. Soon though, two of the four kids will be away at college. That will help. And the other two will be back in school. And before you know it, all four will be growed up.

For now though, just listening to her reminds me how glad I am that my kids are fully functioning adults who gave me a nice gift certificate for a massage. Life is good!

How do you spell

RELIEF..in an Iowa blizzard? Massage. So I scheduled one for today. I've got some comp time hours built up, so I left work early and drove to Waukee - roads weren't too bad. And there at her home salon Chris the masseuse did her thing. She found the knot that has formed in my shoulder due to the stress of work and driving in bad weather. And she worked it baby! Warm table, calm music, low lights. Ah...

Oh...it hurt so good! The knot makes an actual noise when she works on it. Crunch. I set up a half hour massage but she worked on me longer than that - the consummate professional - determined to defeat the knot! I tipped her this time - which I've not done before as she says "no tips". She protested, but I insisted, dammit. (sorry about swearing Chris - she's a minister's wife) She also gave me some tips on what to do to remind my shoulder how to relax.

I think my should needs to drink lemondrop martinis. That would relax it! But as we know, lemondrops have lots of calories. I know I'm on Weight Watchers Maintenance now, and boy did I maintain last week. Lost a whole .2 lb! Course I ate really bad stuff all weekend - including a huge sloppy Clone Cone (ice cream in Cyclone colors) at the ISU basketball game.

After my massage I went to Joan's as the weather was deteriorating - crappy wind! Oprah had a show about going Vegan. They were going to show slaughter houses. Ick - I'm out. Not watching that! So I flipped the channel to Ellen - very funny! Julianna Margulies and Kevin Nealon were on. Both were hootilicious. Kevin had Ellen in tears...of laughter. And Julianna, star of my fave show "The Good Wife" seems to be a very cool lady. Quite delightful, especially compared to seeing animal slaughtered...

Just what the doc ordered (not the blizzard part) but a massage and an afternoon of TV...

Poolboy visit

What's this? The poolboy has come to the big city? Yes, Pablo, my very own poolboy has come to Des Moines for a conference. Landlady Joanie has graciously allowed him to bunk with me - only if there is no hanky panky!

No prob, Joanie. When in DSM I'm all work no play! Tomorrow Paul will wear his suit for the day and I won't even get to see it, as I'll be gone before he gets up. ;>(

Perhaps I'll see him when he gets back tomorrow night. He does look pretty hot in the suit. He invited me to attend the banquet, but didn't really expect me to. So I said no.

I met my new Supe today - Jen Wright. Seems cool.

Had a massage after work. She worked on the knot caused by my fall on my ass. She found it with her elbow and it hurt. In a good way. Bitch. In a good way. I like her.

A woody

My woody experience is a failure. Get your mind out of the gutter - not that woody. Woody the hairdresser at Hair House (I know - what a name...I picture a house made out of hair - creepy!).

I had such luck with Amber there. You may recall I sadly broke up with my longtime hairdresser, cute Sheri Keefe from Hair Designers (see, much better than a house o' hair). I just couldn't keep going to Corning while commuting to Des Moines - it's the wrong way. Patti recommended Amber - not sure why as she didn't go to her...

So a year ago I began seeing Amber for my minimal hair care needs - a trim every 4-6 weeks and hi/low lights every three months. Amber up and got married in August, and decided to actually live with her husband in Bettendorf - I know, weird who would do that?? So she moved away on me.

I let my hair grow for the past 6 weeks, and then last week couldn't take it anymore. I panicked and called Woody - he owns the joint where Amber worked. He's very nice. But dang - he gave me a bad doo.

I explained my lack of the hair doing gene. He whipped out his curling iron whilst he was cutting. Now that's just not right - don't be doing something I won't be doing to it. Yeah, I know, he was working around my unfortunate hair incident (involving manicure scissors and my bangs). But it's kinda mullet like.

I'm going to have to break down and get me a big city hair doer. One that understands my needs.

And...as a side note - I had my massage needs met this week by Chris of Soul Essentials. Damn she is a magic worker - my neck/shoulder is in good hands with her. I only did a halfie (half hour) this month - but it did the trick! Tomorrow night I will be under the tender touch of Pablo the Pool Boy. He won't be concentrating on my back! (avert eyes you youngens).

Fave Christmas gift

I utilized my Christmas gift from the kids tonight - a massage by Chris Davis, Soul Essentials. Good therapy for my bod, and as a bonus, she's a great listener. Chris has a very calm demeanor. She also has great hands!

I always feel a little slutty going for a massage. It' something nice for me that I'm paying for (or in this case Amy and Jud are paying for) And like I don't deserve it. Even though I work my ass off.

Last night, I was feeling a little sorry for myself. It's a long week and I was feeling like I never saw the light of day - probably because during some weeks, I don't. I eat breakfast and lunch at my cubicle and it's dark when I go out after work. So I was having my own little pity party. Sometimes we need to feel sorry for ourselves.

Then we need to suck it up, put on our big girl panties and do the job. And figure out a way to make my life a little more exciting each and every day. This massage is one of those ways. A little TLC for me. I deserve it!

New BFF

I just met my new best friend - Chris the masseuse. Remember a few months ago when I was having shoulder/neck issues? I went to my first evah chiro - Dr. Wes, another UNI grad Hawk fan, but all in all nice guy.

Doc Wes liked to pop my back and neck every week or two weeks, for months. While he helped me stop the bad spasms I didn't feel like I was actually healing. So when I had my hysterectomy, I discontinued treatments. So no popping for the past 3 month.

My shoulder/neck continues to bug me periodically, but no worse than last summer. Will I always feel like this? Baby girl Amy wanted a massage for her bday, so I set up an appointment for her with my 'ol buddy Jules in Boulder. That got me to thinking - why don't I too have a massage? But where?

It seems Doctor Wes at Waukee Wellness has a masseuse that comes in each week. I'm a little picky - I don't want just any 'ol hands rubbing on my white whale body! Andrea, the receptionist at Doc Wes's (a good Cyclone Fan) vouched for the masseuse and I signed up. In the small world Dept. Andrea's hubby Evan sits right by us at Cyclone games. I met him and their little guy (age 1) at the office last spring/summer. Then at the Army Cyclone game I noticed them all sitting by us! Just took me a minute to remember where I'd seen her before. Go Clones!

So today was the day - my very first evah full massage. I've had reflexology and a facial, even a 15 minute version of a massage. But never a full hour massage. Ahhh couldn't wait.

Did I tell you about my clumsy spell? Welp Monday night I trotted down the steps after talking to Pablo the Pool Boy. He must have left me all distracted, as once again I missed that last step. Thump! My heel caught the edge of that step and I jammed my toe into the carpet, over-extending my foot. Man did that hurt! F*&!$!# Meou! (didn't want Joan to hear me wimper)

I took off from work early today and I was shopping (no buying) at Merle Hay (sad to see all the closed storefronts) when Andrea called me to say they'd had a cancellation. So I buzzed right over and met Chris the masseuse. She explained her system and stepped out while I stripped down to my skivvies and hopped facedown onto the special table, covering up with a cotton blankie.

Chris came in and put a nice warm pad on me while she worked on my legs, being very gentle to the black and blue right foot. Then she worked her way up to my wacked left scapula. She kneaded the exact spot it hurts! She can feel the knot there. Ah it hurt so good. I loved it when she used her elbow to dig into muscles. She even did my scalp and face. It was muy relaxo.

Chris is a petite woman, I'd estimate early 40's, former Catholic now wife of Presby minister. Mom of 4 - oldest in college. She is highly educated and only realized after many years of college and what sounds like several degrees that she wanted to learn the art of massage - a one year course. She's also done personal training at the Y. She's a way nice lady. My new friend - with benefits - that I pay.

Think I'll go back when I can afford my friend again!