Photo Per Day #6: Acupuncture

I went to see one of my favorite women on the planet at 8:00 a.m. this morning: my acupuncturist, Deeanne Bevin. Today we talked about the usual stuff: health, work, stress, politics, faith, family and pooping.

Grannie gave me a highly desired gift certificate to an acupuncture session in a professional practice in an office building a few years ago. I was sooooooo excited! There was a menu of choices on the wall from which I could select (weight loss, smoking cessation, balance, etc.) I was told to take my clothes off and lie down on a cold hospital cot. The doctor then rapidly proceeded to stick tens of needles up and down my body with what looked and felt like a staple gun. He left my voodoo doll body to lie there freezing to death.

When I told Robert, my hair stylist, about this well intentioned but god-awful experience, he referred me to Deeanne. I now understand firsthand the difference in treatment styles. Night and day. Deeanne's practice is in a cozy little home. It's well lit and surrounded by trees and birds. It's also warm inside and the beds are heated. Most importantly, she knows eastern medicine inside and out. Unlike my first experience, it's both professional and personal. Chatting, examining my tongue, taking my pulse. And gently (for the most part!) hand placing needles in a few select areas of my body. I then relax (covered!), in a warm bed, while listening to beautiful music.

It's a great, great feeling to start the day back in bed . . . 

And stretch!

Mini-weekend: Day 20

Gray skies. Dreary.

Perfect day to clean up a bit. Catch up on other people's blogs. And take Son #1 to his acupuncturist who I now love. He's not the same person I go to but he's really friendly and wonderful with kids. He has stuffed animals in the kids' treatment room and a great Chinese painting of a smiling dragon hanging on the wall -- which is perfect because both Son #1 and I were born in dragon years (i.e., 2000 and 1964). Most importantly, Son #1 enjoys the experience as much as I do.

After the needles are in and he's about to leave the room, the doc says, "Let me know if you start picking up alien signals or radio stations. Especially if it's a station you don't like." It's all very lighthearted and easy going. I just hope that, with time, the Tourette's diminishes. The thought of my gentle-souled little boy going through life with such an audible and visible affliction is enough to make me cry. His hoots, beeps, whistles, coughs, hacks, hand-swipes, blinking and facial grimaces are severe. Thankfully Son #1's pediatrician has given him a referral to the neuromedicine center at the URMC. We go next month.

Until then, we're giving him chamomile drops along with neck and stomach rubs. And offering heaps and heaps of prayers.

Mini-weekend: Day 6

So much to do and not doing any of it -- thereby defeating the purpose of the mini-weekend?

Thankfully, I did go to my acupuncturist today. It's so relaxing, I could spend a week there. A few sessions ago she basically stated that my body was lacking energy across all vital functions. To quote Aerosmith, my get-up-and-go must have got up and went. Today, I was full of life again. Nothing like a great vacation and a mid-week day off to provide joie de vivre.

For lunch: Juan and Maria's Empanada Stop. I love a good hole-in-the-wall with freshly made comfort food. I ordered the beef and onion empanada with a side of rice, beans and pork. They're not "to die for" delicacies by any stretch of the imagination but rather a fun diversion from the winter doledrums. And their homemade sauces, like the Spicy Spanish Mayonnaise, are delicious. The best part is that Juan and Maria fawn over every customer. Juan was telling us about his expansion and franchising plans (i.e., start local but grow aggressively from the Monroe County core) and I couldn't help but wonder if the experience will be as warm and heartening if some random dude named Bob, who doesn't speak a lick of Espanol, is preparing and serving the dishes in a squeaky clean, satellite, mall location. When all is said and done, it's not wholly about the food. Time will tell.

Next: unpack my suitcase (as it's been four days since we returned) or read a magazine? I feel guilt descending.