Honor - Memorial Day 2009

I had a consuming desire to visit Mountain View Cemetery (http://www.mountainviewcemetery.org) in Oakland today, Memorial Day 2009. There's a special plot dedicated to the Union soldiers who fought in the Civil War. To see markers from the 1800's was a stunning reminder of the continuing and enduring sacrifice of the men and women serving us in our military institutions. I am so happy to be an American.

It's the little things in life....

I needed some pampering but I didn't want to break my bank for it. I Googled 'massage school' (yeah, I know what you're thinking!) and found www.nhi.edu here in the Bay Area. I know beauty and culinary schools offer discounts on their services if you are a guinea pig for them, so I wondered if there was the same opportunity for a massage. There WAS!

National Holistic Institute offers a massage clinic where students practice what they're learning on you. The best part? The price! A 50-minute massage was only $35!! A few caveats: you can't choose the type of massage (Swedish or shiatsu - I had shiatsu), you can't specify the gender of your masseuse, and you are not in a private room. The room reminded me of an emergency room at a hospital: beds with curtains separating all the treatment areas. Quiet music played, my therapist was very professional, and I came away refreshed and rejuvenated.

I highly recommend this for those of you who don't want to break the bank but want to treat
their mothers to something special. (Mother's Day is in a few days, everyone!) They also offer gift cards.