I'm back from my trip from North Dakota and am glad to be in warm, sunny Arizona again. However, I miss my daughter and her husband. They are fun to be around and I love doing things for them. While there, I made three sets of drapes for their very large windows, one of them being 11 feet high. No problem. Just straight stitching all the way. She loved the results and will send me pics eventually as I forgot to take some of the drapes.
The second day I was there, my daughter treated me to an hour and a half acupuncture session. I'd always had an aversion to needles being stuck in me but decided to try it once. The first fifteen minutes or so, the doctor talked with me about my concerns and what bothered me most. First and foremost, I told him I had just quit smoking. The second was I have arthritis in the first three vertebrae of my neck and my neck always hurts. It was a very relaxed atmosphere and I really don't remember all the places he stuck needles except on the side of my left foot, the top of my left shin bone, my left knee (I think), and around my right ear. I think also on the side of my right hand. He would press on a certain spot and ask if that hurt, I said yes, and that's where the needle went. It didn't hurt when he stuck the needle in but it hurt when he pressed. The only needle that hurt was one spot on my right ear. I said 'ouch' and he said that's the not smoking spot. I said I really wanted to quit. He very softly said….you did, remember?
Then he put a warm damp cloth scented with lavendar over my face and left me there for about half an hour with all the needles in. It was really an amazing experience, surprisingly. Sort of what I expected but never thought I'd like it. I bought a little bottle of lavender oil and a box of herbel quit smoking tea. The tea has green tea in it with other things. It tasted very much like the green tea I had in Vietnam. I've never found anything with the same pungent taste in the states. Now I have a supplier.:D
All during the week, we went out to eat at various places. One was Olive Garden, which is all over the U.S. but I discovered they have a new soup: cream of chicken and spinach with gnocchi. Delicious! Another memorable meal was from Moe's. Not your average Mexican food. We ordered take home and my son in law went to get it. I ordered two tacos. They were so huge and stuffed I could only eat one. My son in law took my second one to work for his lunch the next day.
Then a few days later, actually, the day I left, my daughter treated me to a manicure and pedicure. It was supposed to be just a pedicure because I'd never had one before but then asked for a manicure too and said I'd pay for that. My daughter ended up paying for both. She was thanking me for making her drapes. It was quite a treat. Have never in my life had anyone massage my calves, feet, toes, ankles and achilles tendon. Totally heavenly feeling. When you think about your feet and how they have to carry you throughout life, they should be treated with kindness. I now have a lovely burgundy color on my toenails and fingernails. I can't afford this stuff on a regular basis. But I sure wouldn't mind a pedicure and an acupunture session every now and again.
thesnakeandiandthebutterfly 
Enjoyed reading this – you sound as if you had a really great time Pam :)Your description of the accupuncture session makes it sound so relaxing – even to a needle phobic like me 😀
Aaah, what a treat. I am a bit envious. I think I will discretely show this post to my son one of these days. See if I can do it in an elegant way.
Shu, I'm a needle phobic too but it really wasn't that bad…just the one in my ear. It was one of those little spots that stick up with the cartilage. It would have been best had I gone three more sessions. That's what the doctor usually does for nicotine addiction. I was fine the rest of the trip as far as having no desire for a cigarette. He also belongs to a website of acupuncturists and will find me one in my area.
''I was fine the rest of the trip as far as having no desire for a cigarette.''that sounds good … seems like it would be well worth a couple more visits if you can do it.(Will join you happily in the green tea love though, my favorite is sencha.)Did you take any photos while you were there, to post up?
''Well it seems he certainly knows how to show a girl a good time.''… 😀
"Then he put a warm damp cloth scented with lavendar over my face and left me there for about half an hour with all the needles in."Well it seems he certainly knows how to show a girl a good time. Glad you enjoyed your vacation. Draperies in only one day? Amazing.
I am delighted to know you had a great time Pam!knowing you are useful is great, being appreciated is priceless! I am sure they miss you too! I hope they come and visit you soon, *hugs*
Shu: I agree. There's something about the real green tea. Allan: Is your son studying acupuncture? Or do you want him to do a session on you?Ed: 😆 Yeah, he showed me a good time alright….whispering things in my ear and all. Actually, he was my kind of guy, kinda low key, gentle voice….but way too young and very married. His wife and children lived in the upper floor of the building.Angeliki: I 'd like them to visit too but this is the daughter who said she wouldn't come to Phoenix again, especially when, and if, they have a baby. They might next year. We shall see. She's planning on buying me two tickets to visit them next year, however.
don't listen to kids Pam,they change their minds as often as their underwear! you will see them earlier! I am almost sure of it! :yes:
I would want the same kind of treat you got. Just my way of saying that I can understand you felt it was good.
Angeliki: "they change their minds as often as their underwear":D You may be right. Allan: Yes, it was good. Sometimes it takes a few years of everyone getting older for them to realize certain things and be grateful.
You were pampered! How nice! 😀 :heart:
It was such a luxury to be pam…purrrred.:D :p
Is this the first time you attempt to quit smoking, Pam? Either way, I hope you succeed. Aside of the health concerns, there's the expense. :insane: I'm tempted to say that those were some really odds places in which to stick needles. But, then again, is there really a GOOD place in which to stick a needle? I think NOT! 😆 So, did he basically NOT guarantee, NOT allude to this ONE acupuncture session doing the trick once and for all … as far as permanently neutralizing anymore cigarette desire?Maybe I misunderstood. You LIKE the taste of the "pungent-tasting" tea? Or you're only going to be drinking for it's help in curbing the cig desire?
Hi Carlos,Actually the doctor said he does four sessions for a nicotine addiction. My daughter paid for the first long one. She mainly wanted me to try it. I didn't bring my credit card otherwise I would have paid for three more. The points where the needles go in….? I think it has to do with the nerve endings being connected or something. I really don't know anything about it and would love to see a chart of the body and what nerve ending connects to what. It'd make more sense then. As to the pungent green tea….hmmmm….I wouldn't say it is delicious. I think it's just that it's warm and is calming. In Vietnam, they drink it morning, noon and night and serve it whenever there are guests. While in North Dakota, it was so cold that it felt good drinking hot tea in the middle of the afternoon or evening rather than coffee. And, no, it's not the first time I quit. I quit once 30 years ago then started up again about five years ago. Have tried to quit five times in those five years. It was a ghastly habit.
Stick with us holier than thous. Smoking is for pigs, salmon and herrings.I like smoked ham and might get used to smoked salmon given the chance. But I can't take kindly to kippers and women who smoke. Something sticks in my throat.
This guy's tennis elbow is much better now…(I've been wanting to do that for days, but couldn't access my Files folder! 😆 )
Weatherlawyer: I love smoked salmon if it's done over sticks like the indians did on Tillicum Island in Pugent Sound. But I like it grilled the best. Ed: 😆 Holy Cow! That would fix everything!
Pungent Sounds' fishy. That bloke looks like kippers taste.
"Pungent Sounds' fishy:… 😆 Never had kippers. Are they like anchovies? Those are two salty for me.
http://my.opera.com/wickedlizard/blog/affectionate-dart-awards-premio-dardos-carinhosos
Issy: Thank you very much. Oh, oh, I have a dart!:D Does a money award come with that? My retirement income is dwindling by the hour. I should have put it in a bank in, in….well, I guess it's not safe anywhere. Weatherlawyer: "They always looked like snot to me…" 😆 Many years ago, I was at someone's house for dinner and was served something called kveltifish. The spelling is wrong, I'm am sure. It was a gel like substance with things in it. It looked raw, uncooked and like something you'd scrape off the bottom of a pan after the fat congealed. And please no one take offense who eats this. I just couldn't bring myself to taste it and remember nothing else about that meal. I doubt if I ate anything all. I'll do a post sometime about another raw meal at a place called Ra. I even have a photo of my meal. I at least ate the lettuce.
http://my.opera.com/PainterWoman/blog/ -To Pamela – her artwork and her funny storiesNice one.Kippers are supposed to be smoke dried herring. But they are usually salt cured and dyed yellow these days. They are a very fatty but a really tasty fish but the things are just full of bones. My mum and dad used to eat the stinking things regularly.Clean the frying pan straight away though or you will regret it.My dad was a true cockney, dyed in the wool. He'd eat anything from the sea, even winkles. You boil these snail like crustacea and then drag the corpse out the shell with a needle.They always looked like snot to me and I was always disgusted when he ate them. I had some whelk a few years ago and that was the last time unless you count some bloke coming to a pub one night and selling me some mussels in vinegar that I was drunk enough to enjoy.They tasted of gristle and vinegar. Which was actually quite nice after a few pints. Funnily enough, I have never been back for more. It's amazing what your dad can cure you of if he starts you young enough.
Dear Pam, wish you and your family a blessed and cosy Thanksgiving! Wonder what you will have for Thanksgiving dinner. A big turkey, right? :DLan
😆 Better yet, I'll send you the recipe.:D I'm going to work on a new post that will have a link to the recipe.
I'm going to make breakfast pizza and take it to a brunch at my sister's house at 10am. 😀 You have a wonderful day too, Lan.
I LOVE pizza!!!! Can you send me a piece when you've done? 😀
:love:
I just finished it. Now I must get busy cooking. Have a great day Lan.Everyone else too! Hugs and :love: to you all.
Hah, that's a good idea. Can't wait… 🙂
Hi Babs. My sentiments exactly about the raw fish. My neck: It's always a pain…unless someone works on it. The pedicure was to die for. I'd love to hire someone permanently to massage my neck and my feet!:happy: ….at least once a week. The recipe for the breakfast pizza is in the Pillsbury link in my next post. It's pretty easy and delicious.
Such a turn about of topics! 😆 Pedicures, accupuncture, raw fish for dinner, and pizza for breakfast. 😆 I'm not sure which to comment on, so will list them all. 😀 Pedicures are great – Find someone who knows about reflexology and you'll love it. Accupuncture – If there was one here, I would go — How's your neck? Raw fish – :yuck: :yuck: :yuck:Breakfast dinner – Looking forward to the recipe! :up: I haven't had one in years.