Sue’s Weblog

Change: The only constant; And more MASSAGE DEALS

Monday, August 11th, 2008

Well, it looks like Team Boudicca may not be at Relay for Life, after all. I’m terribly sorry if I’ve disappointed any of my readers. I’m especially sorry if any of my readers are as disappointed by this news as I was when I heard last night that many of my team mates are finding themselves too stressed right now, with everything else that’s going on in their lives, to take on the task of helping to make the Relay enjoyable for other participants.
Sometimes we all bite off a bit more than we can chew. Lord knows I’ve done this before, myself. On the other hand, if they’re really all that stressed by all the other things going on in their lives right now, then maybe it’s time for them to take a time out to focus their attentions on other people and causes bigger than any single individual. Sometimes doing so actually takes us out of ourselves so that we can come back to our hum- drum- work- aday lives and see where we’re over-programming ourselves, or using some hours of time unwisely.
Little changes can make all the difference. I recently changed the direction of the massage table in my office. Doing so did something to change some of my thought processes, in that first week after I’d done it. I came up with some very creative ideas for Toast Master speeches, and marketing techniques.
I also find that when I change my sleeping position in my bed, my dreams change………….in a big way. In some positions, I’m more the main character in my dreams, and in other positions, my dreams are purely conversational. In still other positions, I struggle more in my dreams.
So the lovely dream of Relay for Life is gone, for the moment, but not forgotten. My teacher and team leader has promised me that we will all be better prepared for it, next year, and because of the extra preperation, the team will be less stressed, and will more quickly, easily, and willingly get our collective act together, and be at Relay for Life with bells on.
There is still the Ren Faire at Casa de Fruta to plan for. Casa de Fruta is in Gilroy. Please be sure to watch my blogroll for more info. in the near future, because my “team” will probably be there. It’s in the works, now, and we should be there somewhere between September and November. We don’t know our dates specifically, but I’ll fill you in, as soon as I can.
I’ve recently added some new links to my blogroll. You should check them out if you’re interested in keeping busy by participating in other events around Sonoma/Marin. There is a huge variety of things to do, and if you were to check every link, you would find that you had at least 3-4 choices of different events to enjoy each day of the year. You may even want to put one of my links in your list of faves, so you can subscribe to it or click on it, at any time. Just remember to come back to my blogroll once in a while for more great links, and info. on what I’m doing w/ Troupe Boudicca, on an on-going basis, because I fully intend to be a perpetual student of belly dance and massage, and become a household name as both.
Now, if you’re wondering about my next massage deal, you’re in the right place. A friend/coach recently suggested that one day a month I should offer massage at the easy going price of $35/hr. for those who are feeling the mighty pythonic squeeze, these days that is our broken (by Bush) economy.
I believe that I will simply pick a day arbitrarily out of a hat, for that. I am going to say that it will be the 3rd Fri. of every month. My hours and massages will be the same, but the price will be a bit more affordable on those Fridays, for the sake of stressed out students, single parents, and anyone else who can just use a break on a good massage. Please pass this on to anyone that you think would appreciate the information.
As always I give discounts for referals: 10% off your hour for one friend that comes to me and mentions your name; 20% off for 2 and 50% off for any more than 2 referals that come in for a massage saying that you told them to come to me.

Posted in Random Ramblings, massage, supporting parents, ToastMasters, Deals N Steals, Boudicca, dancing, Relay for Life | Comments Off

Additions and Subtractions

Thursday, June 12th, 2008

So my oils workshop cancelled, and I’ve added a new link to my site: Boudicca. This link is really a blast, as it’ll clue you in to performances of my belly dance teachers troupes; the one in which I’m a member, and the one in which I’m not, as I’m not yet instrumentally trained, and the other troupe is her band.
Performances by her troupes, and her events that include open floor dancing, are almost always local. (Sonoma County). You should definitely check out her blogroll, too, because it will turn you on to other sources of info. on performances, and festivities that are usually dance/music oriented: http://boudiccamusic.com/links.htm
Another addition to my list of current deals and steals in terms of massage is my current 2fer. Actually, I’m currently running TWO 2fers: Mothers Day and Fathers Day.
These TWO 2fer deals are identical, and the total cost of ea. deal is $70.
If you schedule for both deals, at the same time, I’ll discount the two deals so that the total cost will come down to only $130, instead of $140.
If you want to get in on either of both of these deals, just call before the end of July. I’ll run the same deal for 4th of July, and you can schedule anytime before Aug. 20th.
Another way to get a free half hour massage, anytime, is to sign up for one of my workshops. If you convince a friend to come along, you get a free hour, gift certificate, as the 2 of you walk in the door. You’ll also get a chance to get more connected to your community of local business women. Just ask me, if you’re interested in attending a Connections/Parent Pack meeting as my guest.
ToastMasters is great, too. It’s a small handful of really fun people who want to improve their speaking/leadership skills/confidence, in a warm, welcoming environment. We give eachother only constructive criticisms, as it’s not a classroom astmosphere, and after the second meeting of the mo. (the 3rd Th of ea. mo.) we go to Finbar Devines, for more fun and good food.
And speaking of food……..
If you’re like me and my son, and you have Celiac Disease, contact this woman, and ask about the seminar on the 28th: Jennifer Iscol info@northbayceliacs.org
Tell her that Sue Hirsch referred you.
Celiac Disease is a condition that causes your body to re-act badly to the ingestion of gluten. It’s a bit like having an allergy to wheat, but it’s a bit more complicated than that. When we eat anything with the protein that’s found in most flours, like wheat, white, barley, oats, rye, spelt, or kamut, my son and I have some real problems. It keeps us from being able to assimilate and use nutrients properly, after that, for almost a month. It strips the cilia from our intestinal tract, and then the cilia have to regrow.
Celiac Disease if often misdiagnosed, and can cover a whole host of symptoms. If you having problems with dairy and sugar, Celiac Disease could be at the root of those problems, and can trigger neuropathies, later in life, such as Alzheimers and ADD/HD and symptoms of what used to be called “retardations”.
Serious stuff, so if you have any suspicions, get a blood test, then have your kids tested, too. It runs in families.
Luckily, living gluten free is becoming easier, all the time, because it is becoming more commonly known, and the specialty grocery stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joes are keeping up by stocking up on products labeled as Gluten Free. If it says “Wheat Free” that doesn’t necessarily mean “Gluten Free” so WATCH IT!
There’s a great Magazine, that will get you started, because it has a good/bad foods list in the back. The Magazine is called: Living Without. It includes stories, letters to the editor, a Q and A section, recipes, the latest research and resources, etc.
The truth is that once you read this magazine, then do a bit more research and consciencious shopping, in the right stores, you won’t really be “living without” your favorite foods.
Enjoy!!

Posted in Random Ramblings, massage, Gluten Free, 2fer deal, Great sites, business, Connections, Parent Pack, ToastMasters, workshop, essential oils, June 12, Deals N Steals, gluten, celiac, Living Without, Boudicca, dancing, performances, belly dance | Comments Off

This Will Be Funny, Someday………..Or Not

Saturday, January 26th, 2008

Just another one of those days of mixed blessings, I guess. I started out the day having to cancel a massage that I had been planning to receive, while my hubby received one in the next cubicle of the local student clinic. I had to cancel it in order to be on time to an afternoon appointment, which I ended up having to post-pone a bit later, due to stormy weather.
So I went to my office to give a massage, and when I came back, my husband went out to get the one massage that I hadn’t canceled, and I scrubbed toilets, shifted laundry and did dishes, then as I was trying to take a business phone call, my son decided that Mommy should be paying more attention to him, and it was absolutely vital that I pay attention to him NOW.
All the tips from all the good books on child rearing that I’ve read went out the window. I got off the phone fast, and told my son that he has to be patient when I’m on the phone and that it makes me angry when he doesn’t wait quietly, and that I don’t want to hear what he has to say, when he interrupts, and that next time he’s going to get a spanking.
He backed off, and told me that I was scaring him, and then wouldn’t talk to me for a while, so I started feeling guilty……ME- the mother that’s been letting her son sleep on her belly for the past week, because he’s been ill and clingy. ME- the one that’s been taking care of him, at home instead of sending him to school in the rain, even after he was recouperated.
So I went and tried to assuage my guilt by eating “reduced guilt” potatoe chips. I guess it worked, because I suddenly realized that I’m a pretty good Mom after all. After all, I had let him have 3 baths one day, when he was sick, because he was enjoying it, and because I knew that the bath salts that I was dumping in were keeping him mellow enough to enjoy watching the same DVD over and over, while I got some work done. Hehe.
I’d also gone with my gut, this time, and made him take the Yin Chiao that my accupuncturist had suggested for colds, even tho my husband and parents pooh-pooh and even discourage (strongly) the practice of “experimenting with my son’s health”. He didn’t like it, so I bribed him with chocolate every time. Hey, it worked.
Chocolate and tv are my son’s currency. I’d really rather use these as tools of discipline than threaten to spank, or become dictatorial, but I do that at times too.
My husband somehow manages to make it fun for our son to do what needs to get done, so I often feel like the bad cop, because when I’m in a hurry, I just want him to do it now, whether it’s fun or not. Today, for example:
I was frustrated, because my folks were honking, and waiting for us to put our son in their car for his over-night at their place, and I had just discovered that my son had a present for me, in his pants. I told him that this is why he goes to his Grands’ so often- because he is already trained and still doing “that” in his pants.
He said: You’re mean.
I said: Ya. I’m mean enough to spank you if you don’t get your pull-up on by the time I count to six.
I didn’t make it to 4, as I washed poop off my hand, and went to get him dry pants to cover the pull-up. I helped him on with his pants, and rain boots, and carried him down stairs, so he wouldn’t trip in his still too big boots, which fell off on the way, so I put them back on him for the 3rd time in 5 mins.
My wonderfully supportive and unflappable husband who was standing over us, ready to tuck our son into my parents’ car, chortled his glee, down at us, and boisterously invited our son to get up and head out onto the drive way, and I didn’t even watch him go. After all, he’d been terribly rude about interrupting one of my business calls, earlier Today, kept me up late last night chattering then whispering on my belly, not to mention those last 3 months when he was making my feet huge and pitted just before he was born! Ya. I’m holding that against him too.
Well this has turned into just another one of those gushy things that Moms do, in disguise. Allow me to translate that last paragraph, for you.
When I say I’m holding the pitted feet against him, what I’m really saying is that his birth was a wonderful experience, and a labor of love, as it always is, no matter how bad it gets for any of us Moms to be.
When I say he kept me up late, I’m really saying that it was really sweet to half wake up a few times in the night, and be able to kiss his head without having to move, and when I say that he rudely interrupted my phone call, well that’s par for the course.
Parents have to expect their kids to not be perfect. It’s a genetically inherrited disorder. Think about it.
Etiquette is learned and in order for it to be learned it has to be taught, and we have to make allowances for other peoples beliefs surrounding the concept of etiquette.
One server in a restaurant actually told me quite rudely, once when I had mentioned something about how polite my child was for his age, that she didn’t think he was so polite to be trotting around the restaurant wherever he pleased, and when ever he pleased.
His Dada was following him, and letting him safely get some wiggles out, and the family style coffee shop wasn’t terribly crowded, and from what I could see, the other patrons were thrilled when he spoke to them. (He’s 4.5 yrs. old).
This server was obviously rather old school in her philosophy about etiquette, but thought nothing of giving an unsolicited opinion.
Here’s a tip on etiquette. No matter where you are, in the world, make sure that people want your opinion before you give it. I considered leaving a 2 cent tip on the table, as we planned to leave, because her opinion had been unsolicited, rude and rudely spoken. The only reason that she got more than a 2 cent tip, was because my husband wanted to make sure that we would be welcome in that restaurant again, so he said that we should let her comment pass, and chalk it up to our server having had a bad day or something. Anyone can have a bad day, I guess.
Anyone can have a bad day, but what you do about it, is really a measure of what kind of person you are. Comediens will poke fun at themselves or the situation or their friends/parents/others. Pessimists will grow into bitter old men and women of failing health, and Optimists will turn their troubles into opportunities, or at least learn from them, to turn them into opportunities at a later time.
Which category do you fall into? Which one would you like to fall into? It won’t just happen. You have to make conscious change, which takes thought, effort, and journaling. Some people benefit from some professional coaching which can help you to change your perspective, your mode of self talk, and to clarify your vision of what you want, and make sure that you truely believe in your priorities, and are on track to meeting your goals.
It’s easy to be busy every day, and think that you’ve got to be on your way to meeting your goals, without really being effective.
If you’d like a referal to a good coach, business or life, please ask me, by email: Makodiak@Juno.com. I know several, through my membership in several different organizations: Connections, Petaluma Mothers Club, Parent Pack, and soon maybe ToastMasters or The Moose. I have all sorts of contacts that could be helpful to you. Please feel free to email.

Posted in Random Ramblings, Parenting, massage, business, goals, child care, Connections, Parent Pack, Petaluma Mothers Club, ToastMasters, The Moose, My Email | Comments Off

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