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Wallflower at the Orgy by Nora Ephron.
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Intern: A Doctor’s Initiation by Sandeep Jauhar.
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These will make a lovely addition to my bookshelves. I find that it is so difficult to walk into a bookstore and not leave with something. It’s also hard to put books down. I often end up carrying four to five books at a time trying to talk myself out of buying at least two of them. I try to remind myself to write down the names, go home and find them on Amazon. I don’t mind used copies. But sometimes I just haaave to have a certain book right then.
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Some will ask, “Jenn, if you read so many books, why not save some money and get a library card?” To this I would reply, “Because.” I like to own books. I like to write in the margins and fold the top corner of a page with a quote I like. I enjoy highlighting. I also like to give the book to someone who I think would enjoy it when I’m done. And to be quite honest, I just like seeing my bookshelves filled But I appreciate that person being so concerned about my finances.
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Please keep your fingers crossed for the following reasons:
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1. I have my NCBTMB exam on Monday. This is the test that will allow me to get my massage therapist license.
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2. I mailed in my application for an internship with a coroner’s office today. I want it. Badly.
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3. Da Bears will have another year with Grossman. Say goodbye to the Superbowl now Chicago. Bye-bye ::waves::
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Good vibes people, good vibes!

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Much thanks to Tattooed Mama at Cuppycake Designs for my new layout! If you’re itching for a new look, I definitely recommend checking out Jessica’s work. She also jazzed up Jamie’s blog at Oh! How Lovely, among others. Thanks again!

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Yesterday I mentioned that I went downtown for a massage. I’ve been complaining about a knot that I believe is growing in my shoulder. I had a voucher for a free student therapist massage at my school. Why not? I got there early to fill out my intake form and I specifically wrote that I did NOT want my feet, face or abs worked on. I have nothing against these areas, but I wanted as much time spent on my shoulder as possible. I could live without those areas worked.
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I’m welcomed by my student therapist and begin walking back. While working at the clinic, as the therapist we would tell the client which room we would be working in and let them lead the way. We would then look at their intake forms, talk to them about the reason they were here today and discuss a treatment plan for the next 60 minutes. After that, we would instruct them how to lay and tell them we’ll leave the room to let them get ready. Upon return, we would check in about comfort and the heat on the table. We do this regardless if they’re a repeat client. We treat every client as if it’s their first time. My therapist didn’t tell me the room we were in at first so we both stood there until I began walking and she called out the number. We discussed briefly my issues and she told me she knew I just graduated from the school because her instructor was talking about me prior to my session. We chit chatted a bit and she left the room. How was I supposed to lay? I assumed I would be on my stomach because that’s how I would instruct someone if they had the same complaints as I did.
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She comes back into the room, doesn’t ask about my comfort or the level of the heat on the table. I chalked this up to being nervous because I had graduated. Whenever I worked on somebody who knew what I was doing, I was terrified. I felt as if they were critiquing everything I did. And if she felt this way, she was right. I had the hardest time relaxing. I could let me limbs relax and she was able to do with them as she pleased. I didn’t try to hold anything, move anything unless instructed. But as for mental relaxation, I just couldn’t achieve it. I kept thinking about the massage and wondering when she was going to address the area of pain. Was she just going to glide her hands over it? Where was the myofascial work? Does she know what muscle stripping is? Oh I should remember to tell her about this or that. She did address my knot and was pretty good at poking and proding it. As for progress, I don’t know if we made any. She probably spent about 20 minutes on the area. I thank her for that. But she moved to my legs afterwards. I told her that if she didn’t have time to, don’t bother. But she had a good 20 left. Why couldn’t she work on my shoulder some more? It was just warmed up….no progress was made.
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But she continued to work on my legs, my feet, my neck and my face. Two out of those four are areas I specifically said do NOT work on. Sure I enjoyed the work, but it made me feel like didn’t read my intake form. That’s a big no no. What if I had just sprained my ankle or broken a toe? I guess I’d be obligated to tell her that, but I shouldn’t have to. She should check the form I filled out.
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As the massage was ending, she took out the bolster from under my knees and told me she would step out of the room. Well is that it? Are you stepping out and never coming back? What do I do when I’m dressed? Just because I used to work here doesn’t mean you should assume I know what to do. Be pleasant, ask how I am feeling, thank me for allowing you to practice on my body, remind me to open the door when I’m ready for you to come back in. Her bedside manner was iffy.
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I asked about some self care I could do to help relieve some of the pain I’ve been feeling. She suggested wall angels, which is typical for someone at this clinic. The school didn’t really prepare us with many self-care exercises. Wall angels are probably most commonly suggested. I don’t know why I was disappointed with that. I guess because I was coming there as a client, not a therapist and I expected a bit more because I usually gave more than that. She was nice enough to run back to the break room and ask the instructor for a few suggestions for me.
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I wonder if she is like that with every client or just ones who happened to have graduated from the school? Was I being over analytical because I liked that I intimidated her? Or was my teaching-instincts shining through? Would I be like this at any clinic or just student clinics? Probably student clinics. They are there to learn and I’m not going to fake happy for their benefit. They don’t learn from that and why should I send out a half-assed massage therapist? She wasn’t half-assed for the record. There were some aspects of her massage that I absolutely loved. If she considers my feedback, I bet she’ll continue to improve. I did tip her and thanked her for her work. I was very pleasant and polite. I didn’t attack her on her feedback form. I did criticize a bit, but I made sure to highlight the great parts. I’m all about balance.
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As for my shoulder and neck…well, they’re in more pain than they were prior to the massage haha! It was a fun experience being on the receiving end for a change.

Short version: Rub my neck and you’ll receive jewels and riches from some guy named Dave.
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Long version:
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I have a love/hate relationship with my neck. For the last two months I’ve been experiencing a lot of neck pain. I switched to a memory foam pillow in hopes it would help keep my neck properly angled while sleeping. It ended up making the pain worse. I’ve been switching back and forth between that pillow and the other three I have on my bed. No luck. It doesn’t help that I’ve been writing a lot at work on a desk that is much too high. This resulted in my shoulder being elevated. What muscle does that bring to mind? If you said the levator scapula muscle, you are correct. Please direct your attention to the photo on the side.
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I really think my whole right side is messed up. Months ago, way back in like August and September I noticed a giant adhesion (knot) forming on the right side of my upper back. I can’t tell if it’s in the rhomboid, trap or infraspinatus muscle on my scapula. Well anyway, I can feel it when I gently rest my hand on my shoulder and rotate it. Its about the size of a walnut, if not bigger. Through my exploration, I learned I also have a lot of crunchiness along my rhomboid muscles. Ew. I think the work I’ve been doing has been irritating my levator. The right side of my neck is tight and it feels like they’re pulling on my head giving me headaches. I hate that I know this. I hate that I know which muscles are giving me grief but can do so little about it.
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I love my neck. It holds up my bowling ball sized head. I appreciate the muscles helping me look to my right and left. I’d be happier if it would stop hurting, just the right side! The left side is doing it’s job well and being pain-free.
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Time to schedule a massage huh? Perhaps if they didn’t cost so much.
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*The picture of the back shows where all my knots are that I’ve been able to find. They’re all on the right side, but because of the layers of muscles shown, I had to show some on the left. I’m more than willing to accept a deep tissue massage if you’d like to find the rest.*

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Aside from a clinic shift tomorrow I am done with school. Come January 5, 2008, I will be a graduate of CSMT. Soon after I will hopefully pass the National Board Exams and be on my way to becoming a licensed massage therapist. What will I do after that? I have no idea - I haven’t quite figured that part out just yet.
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I’ve been thinking about applying with the school to be a TA. The school has a few locations in different states and I’m tossing around the idea of telling them I’m willing to relocate. But I won’t get ahead of myself. Just something I’m toying with. I still have high hopes to attend UIC next fall.
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Is it just me or does Jessica Simpson make this song seem extra slutty? Are the skin-tight pants really necessary? Does she really have to do a little sexy dance at the bottom of the staircase? No, I didn’t think so.
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[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=DHqjFs4XklE]
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I hope you all feel wonderful because I’m missing a Bears game to be writing this. Ha! Yeah right, not like I’m missing much. Though I am pretty excited to see Orton actually play. And it appears we’re winning. Not by much: 3-0 in the first. But hey! It’s something right?
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I love purses just as much as the next woman. Seriously, check inside my closet. Sure I may not be dropping $100 for a bag, but I like to change it up. I was perusing around The Purseblog and stumbled across these:
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Um…really? I’m sorry but those have to be some of the biggest, ugliest bags I’ve seen. Okay so I’m currently sporting a bag by Candies, it’s no Chloe Maya, but I’d like to think that I look better carrying my handbag than these things. I’m a small gal. I could probably fit inside one of them!
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Speaking of massage therapy - an Elk Grove Village massage parlor was shut down last week for allegedly offering a sexual favor to an undercover police officer. Way to make us look good ass faces.

I’m pretty sure there’s something wrong with me. If you knew me back in high school or even the first 2-3 years of college, you’d think I hated school and enjoyed wasting money on my education. Within the last year and a half I’ve developed a strange compulsion with learning. If I’m not studying or preparing for some type of exam, I actually freak out. What do I do with all of my time?!
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Since I am graduating in a few weeks, our course load has been winding down significantly. So far our tests have been take homes, which I completed the minute I was handed one in class. Our assignments are pretty simple and don’t require much thinking either. Aside from preparing my resume and cover letter, I’m not really doing much for school. This bothers me! I’ve spent the last 11 months killing myself, studying almost every night, learning muscle after muscle, insertion and origin sites, actions, techniques, etc. Now there’s nothing to do. Oh my god!
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I ordered a study guide for my National Certification Exam and I could not be happier about it! It came in the mail yesterday. First I smelled it because I love the smell of new books. Then I opened up to the first practice test and tried to take it. I couldn’t answer the first two questions! Me! The anatomy and physiology lover couldn’t answer two simple questions about cells! Wtf?!
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Thanks to that I am now back in the swing of things, coming up with study plans and times. Thank you Mosby’s Massage Therapy Review,you’ve given my life purpose again!
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I realize this makes me sound like a complete nut. I’m pressed for time and a bit burnt out on all the blogging. BUT! I do have a better post coming. I just need to wait until after work. In the meantime, please enjoy all these crazy LOLcat pictures:
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Hello and good evening!
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All day at school I’ve been thinking about things to write about and I have a small list on a Post-It. But now that I’m sitting in front of my computer I can’t focus on just one idea and go with it. So I’ve decided to talk a bit about school and my challenges today.
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We started our Shiatsu class today. Shiatsu is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. For the past 11 months my education has been very Western-medicine-centered. Today I was told to forget everything I had learned that could be proven scientifically and go into this class with a very open mind. What they should have told us to do is to come into this class having stretched.
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Contrary to popular belief, I am not flexible what so ever. (And for the record, nobody believes I am flexible. I just wanted to start this sentence with something nifty.) Prior to getting our partners down on their mats, we did some warm-up exercises called Makka-Ho exercises. These basically opened up the meridians, or pathways, for my chi, or energy, to flow through. Since I’m very anatomy/physiology minded, I compared chi and meridians to blood and blood vessels. It made it easier to get through class this way.
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Anyway, there is one such pose where we stand with our feet shoulder-width apart and clasp our hands behind our backs with our index fingers pointed out. We then bend from the waist allowing our heads to fall to the floor and our pointed fingers fly up in the air. This is supposed to open up our Lung and Large Intestine Meridian. Oi. My hamstrings were not happy with that. I tried every so hard to get my knees to remain straight while trying to bring my arms as high as I could. An instructor walked by and recommended I do more stretching.
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I was one of the most non-flexible people in my class. I watched all the yoga-goers bring their head in between their legs with envy. This made me think that I should really try out that Bikram Yoga The Missus loves so much. One day! Back to the story.
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During Shiatsu, our client is on the floor and we spend all of our time on our knees or seated on our heels. During our work my knees were popping like a can of Pringles. At that moment, I did not feel 23. I had the joints of a 60-year-old. After working for about 30 minutes, I tried standing and holy hell folks! My quads and hamstrings are like “eff off!”
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Shiatsu, while a very interesting modality and something I can see myself enjoying, is definitely much more physically demanding than any type of massage I’ve learned so far. I know see why they’ve waited until the last 5 weeks of school to teach us this. I have every intention of finding some continuing education classes though. I think this type of work can truly be beneficial. I need more than 4 classes worth of training to really grasp it though.