Rice Sock to the Rescue!

I have lived in my house for over 12 years. The first 9 years were with my husband before he left, the last 11 with my beautiful son. Throughout all that time I have never once felt unsafe or scared in my house. I happily sleep alone with nary a care. I could never understand why my ex husband was always so scared at night. I would work late or pick up an overnight shift and find out sometimes years later that he was so scared of the noises of an old house and busy street he would wake our young son up and/or call his mom.  I just couldn't relate to the inability to be alone to the degree he lived with every day. Now, it's been 3 years since he left me so I have no idea if he has learned to be at peace alone or not...all I know is that a couple of nights ago I got a taste of being nervous in my house without someone there to protect me....is this how the ex felt every night?  

I woke at 3:30am, the house was dark, I heard a noise that sounded like someone was in the washing machine or dryer and trying to get out.  (Strange I know, but that's what I likened the sound to at the time). The intermittent banging sounding like it was coming from downstairs had my heart pounding in my chest as I lay in bed straining to hear if my attackers were coming closer....how to defend myself and my precious child?  I admit it was a terrifying moment. I slowly and as quietly as possible climbed out of bed, grabbed the only weapon (of sorts) at my immediate disposal: my rice sock.  I mean, it's heavy so I figure I might be able to knock a burglar out and give me time to call the police right?  Hit him just right and I could do some damage with this sucker!  It's therapeutic on so many levels....

I crept slowly to my bedroom door, as I approached the top of my stairs I heard the terrifying sound again- it was coming from my open window......from the Hannafords distribution center behind my neighborhood........really?  I was scared of trucks being loaded in the distance?  I breathed a huge sigh of relief....and went back to bed. 

I wasn't really scared........

But I sure am glad I had my rice sock.....just sayin....

Interesting times....

I don't know how funny this post will be, more interesting than anything I guess.  I will apologize now if I disappoint you.

I use this blog to write about my personal experiences that I find funny/interesting/weird and write about them with my own unique look at them. This blog has been an outlet for me, and while public I find it interesting to learn that certain people read it to "keep tabs on me" 

First I will say, this is MY blog, I can write whatever I want to in it and do not need to explain myself to anyone. I don't need to explain timelines which may or may not be accurate depending on when I write immediately or feel the need to ruminate on the subject. 

Second I will say, I find it odd when people walk out of my life why they apparently don't have a life which is fulfilling enough to live without having to know the details of mine. It must be awfully frustrating to know I don't regularly post every detail, although I will admit, you do get about half of the interesting stories.....too bad that I have a mental filter or two and you don't get some of the more interesting details......

Sorry about that ;)

How to wake up

As many who know me realizes, I have a problem with fatigue. My energy levels ebb and flow like the tide. I can go from having so much energy that I can accomplish a massive amount in a day or I can lay on the couch for a week and am barely coherent, unable to move or keep my eyes open. 

The other day I was having a fatigue type of day. I was laying on the couch eyes closed listening to my son play on the computer oohing and ahhing over cute kitty videos.   While I was laying there I kept thinking that I needed to find some energy so I could get up and get a few things accomplished including making more pickles (I have a problem, but that's a story for another day) and cook supper for my child. However, my body was saying........the heck with that!  (I will admit that my body was saying it in a slightly more profane way) when a bug of undetermined size flew up my nose while inhaling. I have never woken up so quickly and been filled with such energy in the span of only a nanosecond. I spent 5 minutes blowing my nose because I could still feel that bug up there -even though I'm pretty sure it wasn't really there at that point. I sat staring around me wild eyed looking for fruit flies or anything else that might be in my vicinity. I was ready to stop another attack on my nostrils. 

I would love to tell you that with this new found energy I accomplished everything I had been thinking of while laying down unable to open my eyes but I would be lying. While I had energy I was too busy looking for the next surprise attack and wondering what had just happened. Maybe next time I will think to use my newfound energy in a more advantageous way.   

Massage vs para massage

I've been a licensed massage therapist for several years now. I, and most of my colleagues, work really hard to educate people on the benefits of massage as a legitimate health care option when working towards total body wellness. 

Lately there have been several places in Maine which have come under scrutiny because of their practices. Some for not operating with a license, or offering "other services" for their patrons. I'm sure you can guess what types of services I'm talking about......

This type of practice gives those of us who work hard and are ethical and professional a bad name. A friend of mine who is an amazing therapist has even talked about giving her practice up because of all the gossip, innuendo and looks she sees and hears while out and about in her town. 

This is down right disgraceful if you ask me. But this isn't even the main topic for my blog today....the main topic is para massage. What is paramassage you might ask?  Well, according to Scarborough's town ordinance it is defined as: 

  Any method of rubbing, kneading, tapping, vibration, compression, percussion, application of friction or manipulation of the external parts of the human body with the hands or other parts of the body or with the aid of any instrument or device, and which is not massage therapy.

And a paramassage establishment is defined as:

Any business, including but not limited to sole proprietorship, in which the business operation consists of providing or making available para-massage for consideration or with the expectation of receiving consideration or any gratuity, whether or not the business has a fixed place of business within the limits of the Town.

Say WHAT???  Did you read what I read?  Does this mean what I think it means?  It looks like a brothel to me!  And it's legal in Scarborough.  There are the usual business practice guidelines etc that need to be followed, but really....  You can read them for yourself here:

 https://www.scarborough.me.us/common/ordinances/1011paramassage.pdf

Maybe I missed my true calling?  I mean considering my license plate is the $39.99 special.......just a thought

 

Cavalia Odysseo

My brother called a couple of months ago asking if my son and I would be interested in coming down to Boston to see Cavalia. I'll admit that at first I wasn't sure I was excited about it, not knowing what the heck it was. However, a quick search on the Internet made me extremely excited to see the show.  It is a cross between an equestrian show and Cirque De Soleil. (Sp?). So, I talked to my son about it, showed him a trailer of it on YouTube and he was hooked too. 

My brother, who is generous to a fault, bought the tickets, and train tickets for my son and I.  We arrived at North Station and were greeted by my brother, we drove to his condo where we met his wife and we all took off once more to a sidewalk arts/crafts show about 1/2 a mile away. Turns out it was right near where Cavalia was all set up for their spectacular. This is how I was able to get a picture of the huge tent.  We had lunch at the local Burger Dive, and meandered through the stalls looking at the amazing things people have made. There really was some fantastic things, and a couple of scary things (someone was selling mason jar lights that were filled with dolls---can we say creepy!)

After we went back to my brothers to chill for a little bit before walking down to the show. It was very impressive from the start, we found our seats and as the lights went down my son looked at me and stated he needed to go to the bathroom. Really??? You couldn't have said something 5 minutes ago?

So, off we went disturbing about 6 people to get to the aisle, we got outside where the bathrooms were set up.....he didn't make it....he left a trail of diarrhea to the bathrooms. After a couple of minutes I followed him into the men's room and helped him clean up. I don't understand, how did it get on the walls?  It was on the floor, all over and down the side of the toilet, but seriously...how did it get on the walls?!?!  I rinsed out his shorts as best I could...not a lot of water pressure so you can imagine how well I did. I washed his sneakers because he got it on them (and he stepped in it with deep treads-yuck!). We got back to see most of the first half, but the smell was distracting. 

The show was amazing!  It was fantastic!  The acrobatics my favorite parts, but the horses and horse tricks were close. We got to the intermission ad my son said he needed to leave because sitting in smelly wet shorts and sneakers were too uncomfortable. (I can't say I blame him!). My brother and sister-in-law wanted to stay because the show was so good but also because they paid a lot of money for us to go. (Can't say I blame them either!)

So, during the 30 minute intermission my son and I ran down the road and across the boulevard to a Kmart, bought a new shirt, shorts and shoes for $15.95. I was pretty impressed with that. Then ran to the back far corner to the bathrooms. He changed into his new clothes, we triple bagged his soiled ones and booked it back to the show. I was very surprised that we made it into our seas just as the lights were going down for the second half. I could finally relax and enjoy the show!  I could catch my breath and soak in the sights and sounds........NOT! 

2 minutes in my son turned to me- "I need to go o the bathroom again."  NO!  This seriously could not be happening to me right now. We just went through this. 

Off we went, this time he made it to the port-a-potty and threw up. We walked back and then had to run back so he could throw up again. The Cavalia people were wonderful and found us aisle seats near the front so we could sit and enjoy the show knowing we could get to the bathrooms faster an without disturbing people. We were able to watch about half of the second half between bathroom runs but missed the grand finale. Oh well, what we saw was great, but the poor people in charge of cleaning that bathroom.....I'm sure they never want to see us again!

At least it wasn't a boring trip!

This picture is of the huge tent erected for the show 

This one just made me giggle like an immature pre-teen

My son walking to the show

Tattoos

I went to SAMS club today because I had a few things to buy for the party on Saturday and it was going to be my only chance. I'm glad I did. One of the associates walked by and I had to flag her down. I had to get a better look at her tattoo, and get a picture so my son could see.  It's a pretty cool and detailed tattoo with more being added around the underside of her arm.  My only criticism is how she's going to feel in 40 years with Mario characters covering her whole upper arm?  Just sayin....

I love to sing

I have always loved to sing. My mother loves to tell anyone that I was singing "The Sweetheart Tree" and reciting the pledge of allegiance when I was 2 years old. She also likes to tell people that, by being born in a teaching hospital (and her not knowing she could refuse) I was born to a room full of light and the applause of several student doctors.  This must be where I get my love of performing from. 

As I was saying, I love to sing, I sang in the children's choir and then the adult choir. I sang in chorus throughout school and even went to college for music education and sang my way through there too. I have sung at weddings and funerals, local music theatre and recitals. I am even asked to sing as a soloist at a couple churches now and then. Unfortunately my life has been very busy over the last several years and this is one passion that has been put on the sidelines mostly. I do however still love to sing and have finally found my niche. 

I sing at the home I currently work in. (I work with adults with developmental disabilities)  I have recently found that my current consumer LOVES when I sing. My past clients have hated my singing and I have used it to "persuade" them to do what they need to be doing. (I don't think you can say its violating clients rights or real torture because I can sing lol). These clients all like heavy metal and screaming like Korn or Disturbed, not opera, broadway or gospel. 

This client however likes my singing!  She really does. The only problem.........she's deaf!  I guess this is what my life has come to.....singing to deaf people. Well, we are both happy and that's all that counts right?