The last few weeks have been quite all over the place. To begin with, we have a new member of the household-Cashew (Cash for short). He is a four year old spaniel terrier mutt that we picked up from the humane society on columbus day. (I saw we picked him, but, really, he picked us. And although he picked us, he is Robin's dog). He is such a sweetheart and has just slipped into our life quite easily. He reminds us a lot of Peppy-the dog we grew up with. He is quite low-key and could care less about the cats. Which is great. His biggest fault is that he is a nervous pooper and can't seem to poop while on a walk which means he's taken up to going on the back porch whenever we put him out there...but it is easy to clean up and is at least outside. We are working on remedying the situation. Besides that, he is a total lover. I will hopefully get to loading a few pictures up to the blog after writing this post.
Besides the dog, it has been a wonderfully warm (and dry) fall. The leaves are putting on a show, although not as crazy a show as other years (so we hear). Work has been crazy busy again--even more so than in the middle of July, which has been good, but sort of exhausting. Robin and I have managed to get out some despite all the work. The dog has helped us get out and head to the park for a walk a couple of times and we have wondered why it took us so long to get there on our own. One afternoon we went up to Craggie peak on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a short walk and some panoramic views. It was crazy windy but beautiful and invigorating. That evening we went at watched Eat Pray Love at the Asheville Pizza and Brewing (Brew and View) which was a wonderful experience. Movies are $3, pizza and beer and other food is available if you so desire, but is not mandatory. It reminded us a little of an indoor drive in experience.
Besides the dog, perhaps the biggest news is that I have decided to take the next three weeks off and return to Yogaville in central Virginia for a personal retreat and catch up. I have been feeling so drained and exhausted by everything the last few weeks and I can't think of anything else that I really want. It just so happened to work out that we have a temporary fill-in at the restaurant through November and that nothing in my life was too scheduled up, so I was free to go. I leave tomorrow morning and am greatly looking forward to my time there. It will be a good experience in so many ways to return and I am curious to see where I find myself at the end of the three weeks.
With that, I need to keep moving on and finish packing but will try to get a few pictures up first!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Saturday, October 9, 2010
The Beach
Last weekend Robin and I headed southeast to Charleston, SC for a late-season beach trip. It was fabulous! We didn't actually go swimming due to some windy conditions and slightly cooler temps, but sure did enjoy beach lounging! The trip was brief, we got there Sunday evening and left early Tuesday morning, but managed to feel like we were on vacation. We stayed at a hostel near downtown and walked down through the main drag to the water Monday morning. That afternoon we drove out to Foley beach and stopped at a Goodwill on the way back and shopped our second hand hearts out. We had dinner at this restaurant on the water called Fleet's Landing (on recommend of a friend from work) and enjoyed ourselves immensely.
It was also neat to drive out of the mountains on our way down and definitely be able to tell that we were driving back into them on the way home. Although different from the mountains at home, it is nice to come home to mountains. (Although, I will say that I for one quite enjoyed the flat, bike friendly terrain of Charleston. Sometimes all the little hills here in Asheville are exhausting!).
Back here in Asheville, I am enjoying one of the most beautiful fall seasons in my memory. The leaves are still not all turned (there are so many!) and peak leaf week won't be here until the end of October, but the weather is cool and crisp in the evenings and mornings and is warming up to the 70s during the day. The air has cleared up compared to the summer and the weather just makes me want to be outside when at all possible.
The restaurant is treating both Robin and I well, although I do have moments where I tire of the job. All in all though, I like the people I work with and continue to make good money there, which is a security I am grateful for immensely! And, speaking of work...it is time for me to go get ready for my Saturday night shift.
It was also neat to drive out of the mountains on our way down and definitely be able to tell that we were driving back into them on the way home. Although different from the mountains at home, it is nice to come home to mountains. (Although, I will say that I for one quite enjoyed the flat, bike friendly terrain of Charleston. Sometimes all the little hills here in Asheville are exhausting!).
Back here in Asheville, I am enjoying one of the most beautiful fall seasons in my memory. The leaves are still not all turned (there are so many!) and peak leaf week won't be here until the end of October, but the weather is cool and crisp in the evenings and mornings and is warming up to the 70s during the day. The air has cleared up compared to the summer and the weather just makes me want to be outside when at all possible.
The restaurant is treating both Robin and I well, although I do have moments where I tire of the job. All in all though, I like the people I work with and continue to make good money there, which is a security I am grateful for immensely! And, speaking of work...it is time for me to go get ready for my Saturday night shift.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Lomi Lomi into fall
Well, it is official. They have closed the pool at the condo complex. Summer must be over. The weather actually shifted (quite appropriately I must add) the day or so right after the equinox and it is decidedly fall. It's beautiful. Leaves are still mostly green, but starting to go. I have read that the show this year will be less impressive than other years though because of the unusually warm weather that we had through September. I'm sure it will still be beautiful.
Last weekend I took my first continuing education course for massage out at the Center for Massage where I went to school. The course was Lomi Lomi massage which is a traditional Hawaiian massage modality with a strong emphasis on the flowing, poetic nature a massage can have. It treats massage as a dance and is much less finger/wrist/hand intensive than other modalities (but can still work quite deeply and powerfully). It was a wonderful course to take and was nice (but a bit surreal) to hop back into the student role for a few days. It feels like both yesterday and light years ago that I was driving out to the Center three days a week and attending class and it was interesting for me to reflect on how much has changed since then, but how fluid the whole experience feels. Everything in tiny increments it seems.
Tuesday night of this week, Suzanne and I (who I share my massage space with and went to school with) had the opportunity to work a chair massage event in town. We were hired for two hours to do chair massage at a restaurant's staff appreciation party. It was really fun. I haven't done chair massage since we were in school but it is such a different way to share the power of touch. I am so grateful that the opportunity sort of just fell into our laps!
All else continues to hum along as always. Robin and I will be taking a quick get-away this Sunday/Monday to go to the beach in Charleston, SC for a couple of nights. We are both excited. It will be the first time I have driven very south or east of Asheville since arriving so will be a new adventure, plus, we're going to the beach in October. How great is that?!
Last weekend I took my first continuing education course for massage out at the Center for Massage where I went to school. The course was Lomi Lomi massage which is a traditional Hawaiian massage modality with a strong emphasis on the flowing, poetic nature a massage can have. It treats massage as a dance and is much less finger/wrist/hand intensive than other modalities (but can still work quite deeply and powerfully). It was a wonderful course to take and was nice (but a bit surreal) to hop back into the student role for a few days. It feels like both yesterday and light years ago that I was driving out to the Center three days a week and attending class and it was interesting for me to reflect on how much has changed since then, but how fluid the whole experience feels. Everything in tiny increments it seems.
Tuesday night of this week, Suzanne and I (who I share my massage space with and went to school with) had the opportunity to work a chair massage event in town. We were hired for two hours to do chair massage at a restaurant's staff appreciation party. It was really fun. I haven't done chair massage since we were in school but it is such a different way to share the power of touch. I am so grateful that the opportunity sort of just fell into our laps!
All else continues to hum along as always. Robin and I will be taking a quick get-away this Sunday/Monday to go to the beach in Charleston, SC for a couple of nights. We are both excited. It will be the first time I have driven very south or east of Asheville since arriving so will be a new adventure, plus, we're going to the beach in October. How great is that?!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Changes
Well, a lot has been going here over the last several months of not writing. However, it feels like the time for me to pick up the fallen pieces and start posting again. The summer has been highlighted by changes of all sorts.
To begin with, the past several months have been very challenging for Noah and I and we are currently separated. He moved out the first part of August but is still here in Asheville. In short, we still love and care about one another deeply but are taking some time and space to gain perspective on our marriage and the ways that we both, as individuals, fit into it.
A second major change is that my sister has moved out to Asheville and has taken up residence as my new roommate! She has been here since the first of September and it is impossible to explain with words how wonderful it is to have here. I flew home the end of August for a four day visit and then she and I drove out here to together in an uneventful (yet somehow epic) journey through the heartland. She also brought her cat, Pickle, with her and we have already spent much time laughing at the uniquely cat-ish antics of Buddy and Pickle as the learn how to share the house.
I'm not sure if this counts as a change, but it feels like one: So, summer is over--fall officially starts on Thursday I believe--but...it's not winter yet! Rather, we are on the verge of "leaf season" here which officially counts as a second tourist season. There is a leaf watching hotline, websites with fall foliage updates, vacation packages and more. I am SO excited on a variety of fronts for October's leaf season these days.
Many of the other changes I have briefly mentioned in other short blog posts before this one. But a short re-cap: I now live within the Asheville city limits in a great condo complex with a view and a swimming pool and quick and easy access to the interstate i.e. it is 10-15 minutes only to get most anywhere in Asheville. Obviously, I have opened up a private massage practice which is going well, albeit it slowly (primarily because I have been working so much elsewhere). I am on the verge of taking my North Carolina driver's test and switching my plates to North Carolina which will be the first time in the history of my life that my car will not have Idaho plates. (My mother firmly told me recently that I am NO LONGER allowed to vote in Teton County because I have "picked up and moved to North Carolina" (or something like that). Changing voting registration is also a new sign of permanence.)
All in all, things are going well. Some days life seems to be bordering on the chaotic and has been consistently ever-changing and unpredictable. However, patience has been a lesson of the summer and I would say I am growing more capable of dealing with and living life in the grey areas where everything isn't always black and white. I do hope there is some sort of slow-down to the pace of life in the relatively near future, but assume I will keep moving full speed ahead regardless.
To begin with, the past several months have been very challenging for Noah and I and we are currently separated. He moved out the first part of August but is still here in Asheville. In short, we still love and care about one another deeply but are taking some time and space to gain perspective on our marriage and the ways that we both, as individuals, fit into it.
A second major change is that my sister has moved out to Asheville and has taken up residence as my new roommate! She has been here since the first of September and it is impossible to explain with words how wonderful it is to have here. I flew home the end of August for a four day visit and then she and I drove out here to together in an uneventful (yet somehow epic) journey through the heartland. She also brought her cat, Pickle, with her and we have already spent much time laughing at the uniquely cat-ish antics of Buddy and Pickle as the learn how to share the house.
I'm not sure if this counts as a change, but it feels like one: So, summer is over--fall officially starts on Thursday I believe--but...it's not winter yet! Rather, we are on the verge of "leaf season" here which officially counts as a second tourist season. There is a leaf watching hotline, websites with fall foliage updates, vacation packages and more. I am SO excited on a variety of fronts for October's leaf season these days.
Many of the other changes I have briefly mentioned in other short blog posts before this one. But a short re-cap: I now live within the Asheville city limits in a great condo complex with a view and a swimming pool and quick and easy access to the interstate i.e. it is 10-15 minutes only to get most anywhere in Asheville. Obviously, I have opened up a private massage practice which is going well, albeit it slowly (primarily because I have been working so much elsewhere). I am on the verge of taking my North Carolina driver's test and switching my plates to North Carolina which will be the first time in the history of my life that my car will not have Idaho plates. (My mother firmly told me recently that I am NO LONGER allowed to vote in Teton County because I have "picked up and moved to North Carolina" (or something like that). Changing voting registration is also a new sign of permanence.)
All in all, things are going well. Some days life seems to be bordering on the chaotic and has been consistently ever-changing and unpredictable. However, patience has been a lesson of the summer and I would say I am growing more capable of dealing with and living life in the grey areas where everything isn't always black and white. I do hope there is some sort of slow-down to the pace of life in the relatively near future, but assume I will keep moving full speed ahead regardless.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
To everyone who reads this blog
As my name is entering the public sphere as a massage therapist, I am working on ways to keep my private life separate from my public identity. I don't really want clients to be able to look my name up and find this blog (which is a fairly detailed accounting of my personal life for friends and family etc), read it and then end up knowing a lot about me that I have not personally chosen to share with them.
So...what that means is that I am going to be making this blog a "private" blog that will require those of you who read it to log in before being able to see everything. I create the list of authorized users, so I need you to let me know if you want to be added! Will you please either post a comment to this post with your info or send me an e-mail at marthakmart@gmail.com so I can get it plugged in correctly?
So...what that means is that I am going to be making this blog a "private" blog that will require those of you who read it to log in before being able to see everything. I create the list of authorized users, so I need you to let me know if you want to be added! Will you please either post a comment to this post with your info or send me an e-mail at marthakmart@gmail.com so I can get it plugged in correctly?
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Making it Official!
Starting August 1st I will be working as a massage therapist in my own office space! A friend of mine from school, Suzanne, and I are renting a space in West Asheville together. The room is located on the second floor of an old house that has a community acupuncture clinic on the lower level. We are both very excited about it. I am in the process of business cards and a website and all of the logistics, which is a little overwhelming, but overall, the whole thing has sort of just fallen into place.
I am working five nights a week at Mela, serving most nights and am doing a couple days a week at the Cosmic Groove Massage. I will continue serving for awhile and will keep my shifts for at least another month or so at the Cosmic Groove, but am actually on the path to realizing the goal/reality of being a therapist!
I am working five nights a week at Mela, serving most nights and am doing a couple days a week at the Cosmic Groove Massage. I will continue serving for awhile and will keep my shifts for at least another month or so at the Cosmic Groove, but am actually on the path to realizing the goal/reality of being a therapist!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Now An Officially Licensed Therapist!
I just checked online this morning for the umpteenth time and low and behold I am listed as a licensed therapist number 10157!!! I'm so thrilled I'm not sure what to do with myself at this moment but am now able to start doing what I set out to do 7 months ago!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
