the_rck | (no subject)

I'm tired. The last two weekends have been taken up with family stuff, and the next two will be, too. I hate May sometimes. Starting with Mother's Day and ending some time in mid-June, there's something going on with Scott's family pretty much every weekend. I like my in-laws, but I also like having a chance to sleep, to read and to hang out with people who aren't them. May also isn't helped by all of the pre-school related stuff going on as the school year winds down. This is when things have to be tidied up, when summer arrangements have to be made and so on.

I'm just tired.

I'm tired enough that, when Scott's asking what I want for my birthday, I can't think of anything. I have a list of things that are nice in theory but that I don't really want right now. I don't have energy for reading books or watching DVDs if I get new ones. (I know. I log a lot of them, but those are the ones that I don't have to work at very hard. I have time for more. I just can't manage them otherwise.) I don't even really want gift certificates right now. The idea of trying to go shopping for books or yarn is exhausting.

That scares me a little. Book shopping is what I used to do when I was depressed. I didn't need to buy anything necessarily (though I often did). Just being around the books helped me feel better. I'm afraid that this might be a symptom of depression. I don't think I'm depressed so much as exhausted, but I'm not sure I'd know. Well, maybe I'll have a better feel for it after the three day headache is gone. Those tend to skew my perceptions a lot.

I'm afraid that Scott's family will give me decorative junk or jewelry or other clutter. I feel bad about getting rid of it (or, like one Christmas present-- a large snow globe Nativity scene with a metal, windup, musical base-- I have no idea how to get rid of it without throwing it out. Anybody local want that?). I can't ask them for dresses or bras because both are too expensive. Plus, Scott's parents won't order anything online. They're afraid that Bad Things will happen.

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Snow globe nativity -- you may be able to pawn that off on me. I like Nativity scenes. I love snow globes. I can probably keep it at work.

It's yours. We just have to figure out getting it to you. Maybe if I give it

dspitzle, his wife can give it you at work. He'll be here tomorrow for Dragonlance.

That would work.

Yes it would :)

Thank you so much for being the messenger pigeon. Hope the Dragonlance was fun.

It's HERE. It's an interesting piece, and I can see why you'd have trouble with it. But it will be lovely for December in the office, when I can play snowglobe. :-)

We kept moving it to new places as we needed space for other things. It had finally landed on top of the fridge. No matter where it was, I was afraid it would end up broken on the floor.

I'm glad you can use it and give it a home. (If you ever decide that you don't want it,

booniverse mentioned that her sister collects snow globes.)

Is there a service that would be useful to you, that they could get you credits toward? I am not sure if a cleaning service would be helpful or more stressful for you, though that was one that came to mind (only because I wish someone scrubbed my bathrooms and kitchen once a month, right now!).

We have a cleaning lady who comes in once a week. She charges $10 an hour, and I have her for two hours. Of course, she's been on vacation since early April. She should be back now, but I haven't heard from her. I'm terrified that she's permanently gone.

I would love having people help us with yardwork and tasks that need to be done around the house. Sadly, that time seems not to be there, especially given that I can't help with those jobs. (I have the impression that, if I were doing a project and asked for specific assistance at specific times, I'd get more help. Maybe.)

By the way, when *is* your birthday?

Next Monday.

It's too bad that you can't ask for "coupons" -- the kind where people will "give" you one hour or an evening off here and there by taking care of D. or doing some ornery task for you. That's the kind of thing that I would give you, if I could. *nods decisively*

I've put that sort of thing on my wishlist for Scott's family (it's a requirement to provide a list. Mine tend to get ignored, however, which makes me think that I'm not asking for things they can or are willing to manage).

Of course, some friends gave us those back when Delia was born. We didn't end up using them much. Part of that was that I was nursing and couldn't be away from Delia for long.

Have you found massage to be comforting? A lot of massage therapists sell gift certificates (even some who don't advertise them are happy to work something out if you ask. That's how I surprised my mother with 3 hours of massage, a few years ago...she'd never had anything like it before, and she liked it.) If you know a specific therapist is good for your back and doesn't make any of your other problems worse, you ought to mention him or her by name rather than just asking for "massage."

If schedule and transport problems mean you end up needing to save the gift certificate and use it in September, during the school day...well, there are worse things.

I've never had a professional massage, so I've no idea. It's one of those things that sounds good in theory but that I've never been able to test.

Can any of you recommend a good massage therapist in Ann Arbor? They should be near public transit, and have some experience treating people with chronic pain.

I know several massage therapists, including one I'm trying to be better friends with who is the mom of one of Sam's classmates. I will try to remember to ask her. I myself had the best professional massage I've ever had from her, before our kids were in the same class. I don't know her experience with chronic pain or fibromyalgia, if any, but I think she is awesome.

E-mail me a name and contact information, please. I don't know if I'll do anything with the information, but I certainly won't do anything without the information in hand.

Maybe ask your inlaws to take Delia overnight so you can really sleep in some weekend for your present. I bet they'd love that as much as you would. :)

Edited 2008-05-20 20:51 (UTC)

I'm very tempted. I do plan to ask for that as an anniversary present next month.

The RelaxStation downtown is pretty easy to get to via bus, and does some nice half-hour massages for about a dollar a minute (you can also get them for longer, of course). Best part is you can do chair massage (just your back/neck/shoulders) or you can do a flat out full-body one. I love them! (We have this arrangement at work with one of their massage therapists, who comes in every two weeks and gives chair massages -- we pay for half the cost, but I sign up for it every time I can.) They have gentle massage therapists and more vigorous ones, ones who have chakra training and those who come to it from phyical therapy type roots. I recommend trying it, since it's not as expensive as some other things.

Where are they downtown? I'm not familiar with them.

They are at 300 W. Huron, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 (Corner of First St.) -- I think it used to be a flower store way back when.

Contact # 734.623.1951

I found their price list -- will append it here --

Services and Prices

By Appointment or Walk-in

Hours:
Mon. - Fri. 11:00 am - 8:00 pm.
Sat. 10:00 am - 8:00 pm.
Sun. 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Full Body Table Massage:
Mon. – Sun. 9am – 9pm by appointment only

30 Minute Seated Massage
Neck and Back or Feet
$30

20 Minute Seated Massage
Neck and Back or Feet
$20

"The Royal Treatment" - Includes:
30 Minutes Neck and Back
20 Minute Foot Massage
10 Minute Face and Head
for a Total: 60 Relaxing Minutes.
$55

"The Energizer" - Offers:
40 Minutes of Renewal, with 20 Minutes on Your Neck, Back and Arms and 20 Minutes Foot Massage Which Includes a Warm Herbal Foot Bath
$35

"Full Body Massage"
60 Minutes ........................................$70
75 Minutes ........................................$85
90 Minutes ........................................$100

Hot Stone Massage 75 Minutes ............$100

Belavi Facelift Massage 75 Min ............$95
By Appointment only

Our bi-weekly massage lady mentioned the "Girlfriend Special" for May --

Ladies Night Out - $10 off 2 Royal Treatments booked at the same time - M-Sat. 6-8pm

Hope you can get there --

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Question for Michigan Readers

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