A little weirded out and very sore

My dreams the past few days have clouded me with confusion – why am I dreaming such things?

3 nights ago: someone came to my school and methodically and brutally murdered the top members of the administration and all the department chairs. I was so sad when I woke up and then just simply freaked out. What the heck?

2 nights ago, John Kerry had to drop out of the Democratic presidential race because Edwards took such a major portion of the CA primaries – uhhhh, I think that’s a sign that I’ve been listening to too much NPR?? I honestly never spend waking hours thinking about poltitics – why dream of it?

And then last night, was at a friend’s house and even though they had several cats (all black kittens), they also had many many baby white mice with bright red eyes crawling around all over their place. At least this one I think I can understand – I gave a powerpoint, mini-lecture yesterday to my kids about how scientists test drugs on lab mice to find cures for cancer and recounted stories when I worked at MD Anderson Cancer hospital.

I’ve never dreamed very vividly, but it’s strange - the past few months have been filled with dreams – most of them definitely not as weird as these. Usually and unfortunately, they’re about work – like checking in a new student, forgetting someone’s name, giving a test with many many typos…mundane stuff like that.

Maybe this is a preamble to begin dreaming again during the day – dreaming of the future. I haven’t thought about it in a long time – am I going to teach forever? Will I teach 7th grade science at this particular school forever? Do I want to go back to grad school? What would I study? Do I want to do something else entirely? Hmm…maybe that’s why I don’t think about it – too much! Overload!

After not exercising (this is embarrassing) since last summer – (I think I went running ONCE since the school year started and that time, I stopped after 10 minutes b/c it got cold )– I decided to enroll in a step-aerobics class at West LA College. 2 cool things – it’s close to my place and it’s dirt cheap! I’ve been holding out on a gym b/c it’s just so pricey – but these classes are 2x/week from now until June and only cost a total of $30! Super deal.

I was so surprised that I could not only keep up with the pace of the class but also was not even breaking a sweat. Apparently, standing up all day teaching kept SOME of my muscle mass in tact. I decided to go all out and add a bunch of arm movements to make it more of a workout. My body not only responded but felt like it had been yearning for this sort of activity. I walked out so proud of myself and feeling good.

Aren’t you supposed to get sore the NEXT day? Well, the pain started abou 2 hours after I got home – I can barely lift my arms…maybe I went a little too crazy. But very much looking forward to next Tuesday’s class.

yesterday i had the time of my life. i went to my very first massage (subsidized largely by a gift). they have a cool website, and i liked how it sounded so i was definitely excited but being a massage-virgin, i didn't know what all the hype was about. now i know. the whole experience was so...feminine and soothing. The spa was in beverly hills so i thought they'd be snooty, but every employee i came across was genuinely friendly. the receptionist took me to the changing room - they had these big bathrobes and towels that were heated in a towel-warmer-machine. after that, i sat out in the lobby where they had these state-of-the-art massaging chairs. after 15 minutes in one of those, i actually doubted that any human hands could come close - that machine was incredible!

but i was wrong. by golly, my massuese had the strongest hands i've ever felt. and as she kneeded the knots in my shoulders and legs, the soft candle light flickered in and out of rhythm to the soft music, and the table was heated! =) 50 minutes never passed by so quickly. and overall, i was definitely glad i had asked for a woman. afterwards, i spent some time in the sauna and showered. it's strange, i felt indescribably...attractive.

it's strange b/c generally i feel the exact opposite...with the hair that i hate and especially with the frumpy clothes i wear to school to make me look older. but yeah, something about the whole experience left me with an appreciation for my physical self - even though nothing had changed outwardly. so pleasant!
but what i discovered afterwards was that i shouldn't go shopping when i feel attractive. i went to the mall to pick up some presents and kind of lost an hour in the dressing rooms. thankfully, i didn't buy much except the presents - definitely helps that i'm not oh-so-rich.

i'd recommend this to any girl - at least once just to try - it's nice to be pampered sometimes. i wonder if i'll ever get to go again?