I didn't mean it that way.

While getting a massage, I've had clients say some things they don't really mean to be naughty, but since they are lying there naked, it's sometimes hard not to hear it that way.

Like:

"You can go a little deeper."

"Wow, you can really feel everything inside me."

"Mmmm . . . perfect pressure."

"You really know how to work slow and deep."

"I like it."

"Do you do men/women/kids?"

"I'm going to send my husband/wife/kid/friend to you. S/he'll love your touch."

Then there's the moaners and groaners. Stan sure misses hearing moans of pleasure coming from a room where his wife is massaging a naked man. Although usually it just made him laugh.

Yup. I've got me a great profession.

How quickly one can fuck up, without even trying.

Last week I started having lunch with Noah on Thursdays. He has to go to the after school program Thursdays and Fridays so this gives me a chance to see him and break up the monotony of being in the same building for 8 and 1/2 hours a day for the little sprite.

Last week all was rainbows and pink clouds raining hearts and candy. This week they got to the lunchroom early and all was doom, gloom and the seventh circle of a Scooby Doo cartoon where they are convinced that this time the monster is real and they are in mortal peril.

Noah had forgotten I was coming for lunch and had promised to bring pizza. He was in the lunch line, fighting back tears as he thought his mom had forgotten to pack him a lunch. In our world, not so big of a thing, but in the world of a kindergarten boy, it was Armageddon.

When we got to the table he crawled up on my lap and started bawling. He thought he lost his lunch and I would be mad. He also thought maybe I forgot to pack him one and why would I do that? Didn't I love him? Did he do something wrong?

By the end of lunch he was feeling better, but he still was clingy and that endured throughout recess and into their "R & R" time afterwards. I stayed, at his request for "just a little more time mommy . . . please don't leave yet mommy." We did puzzles and he stayed glued to my lap. Finally it was time for me to go and for Noah to join his class for circle time. I got a big hug and kiss and then my boy valiantly joined the others for four more hours at school.

You try and you try, but the best intentions can still make your kid cry.

Lisa Keathly: Massage Therapist

The new job is going well (so far).

I am super busy. This means lots of clients, money and sore muscles in about that order.

Being away from home so much is hard and Noah is not taking to the long days at school and Rec Plus very well. I hope once he gets used to it all will go smoothly.

I am off to shower and dress up for work. Yes, I actually wear something besides jeans now!

More on the job soon (but not too much, this is a public forum after all).

I did nothing and it was everything I thought it would be.

Today I celebrated my last official day of unemployment.

I got Noah ready for school, packed his lunch and dropped him off for the day.

Then I came home, let the dog out and went back to bed for four glorious wonderful hours.

After that I had lunch, watched TV, changed clothes and walked up to school to pick Noah up. Following our homecoming I visited with neighbors and enjoyed the beautiful weather.

Now I will make dinner, go to yoga and spend the night with my guys.

Today, I rested for tomorrow I work.

My next tattoo.

I have decided to get a tattoo of a bluebird to represent my Grandpa, who was very special to me.

He called his 1998 Oldsmobile Delta "the blue bird" and babied that big blue boat. Despite his love for that machine, he still allowed my older sister and I to learn to drive in it. I remember the car always smelled like him and he called Oldsmobiles "Osmobiles."

Here's some ideas:

I like the branches and berries on this one. It has a watercolor vibe, which is cool. The bird just needs more blue.

Maybe I should get one in flight? This one looks like it's about to run into barbed wire though.

I like the coloring of this one.

I like this one because the bird is sitting on a barbed wire fence, which reminds me of my Grandpa's farm. My grandpa loved watching the sun set so maybe the bird could be chilling on the wire, watching the sun set.

Ideas? Comments?

Noah's first day of kindergarten a.k.a. Please pass the tissues.

The boy loves to pose.

The boy also loves his new skull backpack.

He has his lunch and is ready for school!

Or a modeling career.

It's so easy it is to induce a full blown panic attack. Who knew!?!

Tonight was going to be all about getting Noah ready for school. Packing his bag, picking out his lunch items, deciding on a outfit, etc.

Instead we ended up at the stupid neighbor's house for an impromptu birthday party for their 6 year old.

We got back at bedtime and now I need to get Noah's things together, study for my massage licensing exam (which is at 10:30 AM tomorrow morning) and get a decent night's sleep.

Fuck that shit. Part one is done. Now I'm opening me a bottle of wine.

Good night, sweet in-home business, good-bye.

I have one appointment scheduled for this Saturday. After that, I am officially closing Keathly Massage.

I will be sending postcards out to my clients to let them know of the change. It will be sad for them, but I am nothing but excited. I start my new job next week doing massage at a salon/spa. They are reliably busy, so I will have a stable income. I will also have benefits.

I will be $90 vs. the $45 I was charging at home. If you don't mind paying the difference, great!

If you do mind, e-mail me and I will give you recommendations for a new therapist.

I take the St. Paul massage therapist licensing test on Thursday. I start working on Wednesday. Noah starts school tomorrow. Life is certainly changing, for good.

The Great MN Get Together

Sunday we went to the fair (last Sunday that is) and a great time was had by all. We have learned from experience, and Jesse would have been not only proud, but not annoyed in the slightest by our ways of partaking in the Fair experience.

FIRST LESSON: Use a park and ride close to home, not close to the Fair. Last year we had the unfortunate experience of thinking we were parking at a Park and Ride when actually we had joined up with some Saint's game fans. Then we went to three Park and Rides before finding one that wasn't full.

This year we parked near Broadway and Industrial Blvd. Not even 10 minutes later we were on a bus and shortly thereafter, at the Fair. It was smooth, like buttah.

Noah hanging at the Park and Ride in style, waiting for the bus.

We met up with friends right away and headed for the food building. We started with fries, gyros and cheese curds. All the Fair favorites were consumed that day, including cotton candy:

Noah, yet again in the stroller, getting a sugar rush. Note Daddy on the bench and the inflatable Scooby Doo we bought for him riding on top of the stroller.

Yes, that's right, we are on to LESSON NUMBER TWO: Have a Fair Agenda. Not only did we have an agenda, but we had a map (I can never get my bearings at the Fair or remember where things are). So we had a plan, and a route. This way we saw what we wanted to without all that nasty backtracking.

Besides the regular Fair merriment, Noah got to play with Avery, who he hadn't seen in awhile and missed very much. Outside of the DNR Building they got to run and chase each other around while we rested our tired old legs.

"I'm gonna get you!"

Then they proceeded to tie each other up in a very innocent, non-kinky fashion.

"Now that I have you, I will tie you up and keep you forever!"

The end of our Fair journey was flown solo. B felt ill, Wenda needed to get little Avery home early and Craig and Terrie voted for the Horticulture building over the Kidway. Noah went on a couple of rides and then asked me to ride with him on the Ferris Wheel and a scary looking ride called The Tugboat. Picture a scene from The Perfect Storm and you'll get the idea. It wasn't as bad as it looked though and Noah now has ammunition to use against me, "Ha, ha! You were scared!" He also asked for a picture next to a pirate ride.

"Grr! I'm a pirate!"

"No, really, it's just me, Noah!'

Seven hours and $100 later we went home. It's different going to the Fair now that we have to split our time between what Noah wants to do and what we want to do, but it was still fun. I didn't get to see all of the exhibits I wanted too, but I'll be damned if I spend more than one day a year at the Fair. After all, I have to start on my agenda for next year.