Monday 22 June 2009

Here Comes the Sun

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. What a dreary week, weatherwise and otherwise. The sun has finally come out though. Hubby got a call today for an interview. And I have decided to take an introduction to massage course and start to follow a dream I've had for a long time.

You see, I'm pretty good at giving massages (not that kind; get your mind out of the gutter). I think it's because I've had so much physical therapy myself, I know where to go to find the source of pain and how to relieve it. I myself have been in pretty constant pain with my back since I don't know when. I'm on the waiting list for physio (four months and counting) and finally broke down last week and went to see a physio privately. She was OK, confirmed my self-diagnosis, and showed me some stretches that I had already found on the internet. She hasn't relieved my pain though.

I have piriformis syndrome. For those of you unfamiliar with this, it's a pain in the butt, literally. The piriformis is a muscle to the side of the sacroiliac joint. In either one-third (what the internet says) or two-thirds (what the physio said) of the population, the sciatic nerve travels through that muscle. When that muscle is overused and contracted too much, it irritates the sciatic nerve and produces a sciatica-type pain down the leg and pins and needles in the feet. But it's not true sciatica because it doesn't originate in the lumbar region of the back.

The other night I was out celebrating a friend's 50th (oh yes!) birthday. She complained of shoulder pain, so I rubbed her shoulders. She knows I've thought about this massage course idea before and she said I should go ahead with it. I woke up the next morning and thought "Why not? Let's go for it." I'll start with the introduction and move on. I could go the sports massage route or stick to the beauty therapy-type massage route. Either way, in about a year's time I should be able to set up my own business.

I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have a goal again. Hubby has been so depressed lately. We went out for son's 13th birthday last Tuesday, and hubby was very quiet. We went out for Father's Day yesterday, and he was so glum. He turns 50 on Wednesday, and I think I know what's going on with him. He's afraid he'll never be able to get himself out of this jobless situation. Since we called off trying to buy the last business, he's really been so down. It was the right thing to do, though.

The night we went out for my son's birthday, I learned more about my daughter's drunk and disorderly evening. She apparently got into trouble for "pulling" (snogging) all the boys at the disco. She turned herself in for the drinking, she says, because she doesn't get enough attention at home. I took great exception to this. Her brother is in the middle of exams. He has wasted the entire year, and hubby has been doing remedial study with him in all subjects for the past two-three weeks. We didn't bother with daughter because she's usually so good in all her subjects. We have promised big-time bribes -- I mean incentives -- if they do well this year. Daughter does get attention; it's just not what she wants when she wants it all the time.

I mentioned before how happy the cats are since Jake was put down. Well, so are the birds. They're cheeky buggers too. Yesterday, I looked outside and saw one of the cats lying on the lawn, surrounded by four Magpies. They circled her, taunting her by running towards her and then away again. She just lay there and stretched a paw out towards one of them every now and then. If it happens again, I'll video it. It is very funny to watch.

And now I must go and finish some articles I'm writing for Powder Room Graffiti (www.powderroomgraffiti.com).

10 comments:

Expat mum said...

Ooh good for you - what a great plan. Perhaps you can sort out some virtual massage techniques and work on my sacro-thingy too! This chiropractor is costing me a fortune.

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

Oh I understand what you mean about having a goal. I too have come out of a directionless fug for the last four years and feel very positive about the changes I am making. The great thing about doing the course is that you don't need much to setup a business either to travel to clients or have them at your place. I'm thrilled for you as it is what you have needed for a while. I hope your hubby gets the job. It is so hard to keep a good self esteem when you are out of the labour market. So much of our self esteem is tied up in what we do for a living. All the best.

Flowerpot said...

Well done you - I worked as a masseuse as a while and it's a very adaptable way of making a living. Do hope your husband emerges from his depression soon - I have one in a similar position. Not easy.

DogLover said...

Magpies? By coincidence I saw a magpie taunting a fox just outside the kitchen window today. The fox wasn't really interested, but played along just in case there was a chance to snatch the bird!

The massage service sounds a good idea. Will you have to obtain some sort of qualification for it?

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

Expatmum: Yes, I'll work on that.

MOB: But why should our self esteem count on what we do rather than what we are? I think it's because it allows others to categorise us quickly, easily, and lazily. "Oh, yes, she's unemployed. Not interested. Oh a lawyer? How fascinating!"

Flowerpot: I hope Himself is better soon. Did you enjoy being a masseuse?

Doglover: I will need qualifications. I'm starting with the intro course to see how I like it, then will think about which route to take. The sports massage one requires a bit more education.
Magpies are such cheeky birds!

Anonymous said...

Sending you lots of positive vibes for both you and your husband, hoping a job will happen soon.

CJ xx

Fire Byrd said...

If you want anyone to practise on....
love the indolent cat, lunch anytime if only he/she could be bothered!
xx

Fred said...

Best of luck to your hubby on his job interview. I'll be 52 this year and it's going great. Tell him life actually gets better.

Magpies was the name of our local in Amersham. Not too sure how it got its name, but every time I hear that word I think of the lazy Sundays we spent there.

Anonymous said...

So glad things are turning around for you and you have positive things in your life again.

GG

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

CJ: Thank you very much.

Fire Byrd: I'll be needing friends to practise on so you're on the list.

Fred: Since we had to put the dog down, magpies have taken over our garden. Lazy Sundays at the pub, eh? Now that's something you don't get in Florida.

Not Waving: Thank you for your kind thoughts.