Ahhhh

Teresa calls me back. The room is dim. The music is very zen-like. The atmosphere is radiating peace. The woodwork is dark, the sheets are neutral and super-soft. And so Teresa visits with me as to where my trouble-spots are. I explain the knots I continually get in my shoulders and upper back. She ummmhmmms and writes some things down. Then she says you may get undressed now and crawl onto the bed and I'll knock and come back in. I like to be in control of my situation. I'm actually not a very private person. The youngest of three, I didn't think much of shutting the door in the bathroom (unless they were doing dishes and then I really needed to spend time in there - reading Archie's and having my brother pound on the door to stop getting out of work). I digress. Do you really want everything off? Well if it would make you feel more comfortable, you could leave your panties on, but the bra should definitely be taken off. So I undress and slip between the sheets feeling a bit vulnerable. Teresa soon walks in and asks, 'are you comfortable?'. Well actually Teresa, no I'm not. I like clothes on. Especially in public places and when near someone I know only by name. Sure, I'm good! So she proceeds to have me lie on my belly and soon she begins to work. It was painfully wonderful. I transcended into a state of I don't know what. I was almost asleep, but not. I would listen to the music and imagine the people (or computers) that make the sounds. I wondered if Teresa really hated all that smoothy-woothy stuff and really wanted to listen to Rush or maybe even Eric Clapton. She continued to work and spent most the time on my upper torso. She never did go below the waist (and so I'm very thankful I wasn't lying there in just my altogether). At times it almost hurt (so good). One time I felt her breath as she leaned close. I may not have said this before, but I HATE the feeling of breathing on me. When our children were babies, I liked it. But with adults, I find it really... icky. It started when I shared a bed with my sister as a kid. I would literally hold her face the other direction so she wouldn't breathe on me. Then when we got married, Duane liked to cozy up behind me and zowser, I just went nuts. Don't do that! What? What? Breathe! What? You don't want me to breathe? No! You can breathe, just not on me. So we have an unspoken pact... he doesn't face me (or tries not to) when we're sleeping. It does happen, but then I just give a slight poke and he flips (now after nearly 14 years... in his sleep). Anyway, Teresa did a good job and offered a nice water bottle at the end (when I had my clothes back on and felt safe and comfortable again). She then suggested I see them more often than once ever 13 years... and so maybe I will! Only if she doesn't breathe when she works.

Some more...

Summer fun. Thanks Stacy for the shaving cream idea! I kept five kids very happily occupied for two hours last week one afternoon!

Some pictures

Summer fun and birthdays!

A thought or two

* Kids were gone 24 hours. For the first time since we've had them, it didn't seem long enough for them gone! Am I a bad mom for feeling that way? Duane and I had an invitation (sans kids) last night and then we had a leisurely walk and a quiet breakfast and I even had a wonderful long time of playing the piano after breakfast!

* We went to get the kids at my folks today and Duane biked the 52 miles back home. He almost hit a turkey mid-flight and then a huge horse was in the middle of a county road with a shrieking lady trying to catch it. I think D. helped corral the beast. (I hope this is factually accurate or you'll be hearing revisions from the chairman.)

* Our dog didn't puke in the van for the first time on that long of a trip! She did just dandy. And really loved going.

* I gave the kids jobs tonight and asked if Mira could take our sheets out of the dryer and put it on our bed. She said, 'mom? Why did you change your sheets? Did you pee in your bed?

* This week my dear husband turns 40! But I did that a bit ago already..!

* No open house tomorrow! The house is still clean, but not spotless on every faucet.

* We lost a huge limb on the only big tree here today. A little wind shear went through and now the poor ash looks lopsided.

* The kids are on the summer reading program at the library and are reading like mad. Last week they got a free pizza coupon and a zoo pass! They've already finished up the next sheet. It is amazing what a little dangling carrot can do for them. I should use it more often.

* I need to read with the kids instead of blogging...

Parents

And a big thanks to my folks for doing the Woodman's run for me when I can't find my Tazo Awake at any store locally for some reason. I'm down to two tea bags (shudders!). Then there's the flour orders. I love King Arthur flours for breads and general baking. At our local store it has hit $4 something a 5 lb. bag. Mom can get it at their Woodman's for less (but I'm not exactly sure how much less as she never lets me see receipts). Then I get these little e-mails that "I made three more batches of jam all for you today". That's worth a lot. Since I do make bread so very much, a very yummy after school treat all winter long is fresh bread with strawberry jam. And so we'll be able to have it again this coming winter! Yummers! Thanks mom and dad!

In-Laws

Some call them out-laws. Some call the mother-in-law the 'Battle Ax' or worse. You read about disastrous relationships. I've actually witnessed a few. But I'm one of the lucky ones. I get a call this morning early. What do you have planned today? We'd like to come help you stain your deck. We'll come over about noon and get it done if you get the stain. Really? And so they show up with brushes in hand. They trim bushes. They power wash. They sand rough edges. And they brush out stain on the thirsty boards. All the while acting like they just plain enjoy helping. And that is the picture of who my in-laws are. They aren't demanding. They aren't out for show. They aren't trying to change our lifestyle. They aren't trying to raise our children. They aren't meddling in our marriage (or anything else for that matter). They are parents. Who love, give, serve, and encourage... I'm certain in the 14 years I have been a Debelak that there have been times they almost wanted to say something. But they haven't unless we asked outright. And so, I have a good example in how I will need to be as a mother-in-law some day. I wish I took a picture of the project today, but I didn't want to stop swiping the stain on!

And if you asked Duane, I know he'd say the same about his in-laws too!

Spoiled milk?

Yesterday, we ran and got a few things at the store. Got home by 11:15. Went about our day and about 8 last night I spotted a gallon of milk that was in the back of the van. It was lukewarm, but didn't smell. Put in the fridge last night and this morning it tastes fine so I'm using it. Are we going to all fall down with sick bellies soon? Or would it be ok? I dunno.