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Jan. 24th, 2009 08:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rivkaOMG I have the best friends, and husband, in the whole world.
Today is Michael's birthday. I got up with Alex, and he woke up an hour or so later and opened his presents. Then he surprised me by suggesting that I go shower. We usually lounge around a while on Saturday mornings, but today he seemed anxious for us to get about our day. I told him I wanted to rest and drink tea for a while first, because I had had a hard night.
A little bit later, the doorbell rang. I was flummoxed to see![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bosssio at the window... trailed by three of the other women from my Wild Women Weekend last September: Brenna, Daria, and Lo. (It didn't surprise me to not see Molly, because she lives in Blacksburg, but apparently she had been planning to be there too, until her work schedule changed. Holy cow.)
They brought presents. Practical stuff for the Niblet (a Velcroed swaddling blanket, breastmilk storage bags and a freezer organizer for breastmilk, larger-size outfits, Burt's Bees baby toiletries, and ZOMGcute socks that look like Chuck Taylor All-Stars, in various colors) and pampering stuff for me (a homemade rice-stuffed pillow that can be heated in the microwave to make a hot pack, a scented sleep mask, more lotions and things, a foot-soak mixture for my sore and swollen feet, a Barnes & Noble gift card). Alex got a couple of picture books, including a children's biography of Barack Obama.
They explained that this was an abduction; for good measure, they blindfolded me and brandished butter knives (supplied by Michael) to win their point. They laid out their plan: Michael was going to take Alex to the Aquarium while the Wild Women took me to an organic day spa and then to lunch. And! They had booked me a prenatal massage.
The massage was heavenly. I honestly would've paid money just to be able to take a nap on the massage therapist's table, because the way she had it set up - inclined upper half, substantial knee support, heated surface under the sheet - made for the most comfortable lying-down position I've experienced in months. She worked my shoulders, neck, and head extensively, massaged my arms and hands, did the most heavenly things to my feet, and massaged my legs very lightly to improve circulation. (Deep massage of the legs is contraindicated this late in pregnancy because of the potential for blood clots.) Then she flattened the table, rolled me onto each side, propped my belly and knees with pillows, and did more work on my back. When she finished I was a melted puddle of relaxation. She left some of her fancy organic cream on a plate for me so that I could use it to moisturize my belly. I felt so good.
We went to lunch at that fine Baltimore institution, Cafe Hon. The wait and the service were pretty awful, but the food covered a multitude of sins. I had a fantastic cheddar-and-applewood-smoked-bacon omelet with herbed potatoes and homemade wheat toast, and then a brownie sundae made with homemade hot fudge. Because they make their own hot fudge for the sundaes, and it is whoa. (Lo: "Wow, that's almost as good as sex." Rivka: "No, I've had sex that was worse than this sundae." Lo: "Good point.")
After lunch we drove back to my neighborhood. Lo and Daria had noticed the kink shop on the corner, Chained Desires, and they insisted we take a little field trip. An instructive time was had by all. I think the young gay guy behind the counter was close to proposing to Lo by the end of our visit.
We hung out in my house talking for another couple of hours. Then it was time for Alex and me to make Michael's birthday cake, and the Wild Women went back to Virginia.
It was such an amazing time. I am so lucky and happy to have friends like these. I feel absolutely cherished.
Today is Michael's birthday. I got up with Alex, and he woke up an hour or so later and opened his presents. Then he surprised me by suggesting that I go shower. We usually lounge around a while on Saturday mornings, but today he seemed anxious for us to get about our day. I told him I wanted to rest and drink tea for a while first, because I had had a hard night.
A little bit later, the doorbell rang. I was flummoxed to see
bosssio at the window... trailed by three of the other women from my Wild Women Weekend last September: Brenna, Daria, and Lo. (It didn't surprise me to not see Molly, because she lives in Blacksburg, but apparently she had been planning to be there too, until her work schedule changed. Holy cow.) They brought presents. Practical stuff for the Niblet (a Velcroed swaddling blanket, breastmilk storage bags and a freezer organizer for breastmilk, larger-size outfits, Burt's Bees baby toiletries, and ZOMGcute socks that look like Chuck Taylor All-Stars, in various colors) and pampering stuff for me (a homemade rice-stuffed pillow that can be heated in the microwave to make a hot pack, a scented sleep mask, more lotions and things, a foot-soak mixture for my sore and swollen feet, a Barnes & Noble gift card). Alex got a couple of picture books, including a children's biography of Barack Obama.
They explained that this was an abduction; for good measure, they blindfolded me and brandished butter knives (supplied by Michael) to win their point. They laid out their plan: Michael was going to take Alex to the Aquarium while the Wild Women took me to an organic day spa and then to lunch. And! They had booked me a prenatal massage.
The massage was heavenly. I honestly would've paid money just to be able to take a nap on the massage therapist's table, because the way she had it set up - inclined upper half, substantial knee support, heated surface under the sheet - made for the most comfortable lying-down position I've experienced in months. She worked my shoulders, neck, and head extensively, massaged my arms and hands, did the most heavenly things to my feet, and massaged my legs very lightly to improve circulation. (Deep massage of the legs is contraindicated this late in pregnancy because of the potential for blood clots.) Then she flattened the table, rolled me onto each side, propped my belly and knees with pillows, and did more work on my back. When she finished I was a melted puddle of relaxation. She left some of her fancy organic cream on a plate for me so that I could use it to moisturize my belly. I felt so good.
We went to lunch at that fine Baltimore institution, Cafe Hon. The wait and the service were pretty awful, but the food covered a multitude of sins. I had a fantastic cheddar-and-applewood-smoked-bacon omelet with herbed potatoes and homemade wheat toast, and then a brownie sundae made with homemade hot fudge. Because they make their own hot fudge for the sundaes, and it is whoa. (Lo: "Wow, that's almost as good as sex." Rivka: "No, I've had sex that was worse than this sundae." Lo: "Good point.")
After lunch we drove back to my neighborhood. Lo and Daria had noticed the kink shop on the corner, Chained Desires, and they insisted we take a little field trip. An instructive time was had by all. I think the young gay guy behind the counter was close to proposing to Lo by the end of our visit.
We hung out in my house talking for another couple of hours. Then it was time for Alex and me to make Michael's birthday cake, and the Wild Women went back to Virginia.
It was such an amazing time. I am so lucky and happy to have friends like these. I feel absolutely cherished.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-01-25 02:01 am (UTC)My favorite part of the whole thing? Well, aside from the comfort you found on the massage table? The fact that it happened on Michael's birthday. So sneaky, so good!
no subject
Date: 2009-01-25 02:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-25 02:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-25 02:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-25 02:15 am (UTC)Also, Happy Birthday Michael!
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Date: 2009-01-25 02:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-25 02:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-25 02:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-25 02:24 am (UTC)Also, a children's book about Barack Obama!
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Date: 2009-01-25 02:29 am (UTC)I got to see the look on her face, and to hear the note in her voice when she was telling me how much fun she had. That's some pretty rockin' birthday presents right there, too. :)
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Date: 2009-01-25 02:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-25 02:35 am (UTC)Wait, you have a kink shop on your corner? I have to come back. ;-)
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Date: 2009-01-25 03:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-25 04:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-25 07:16 am (UTC)Happy Birthday, Michael!
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Date: 2009-01-25 09:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-25 11:17 am (UTC)Happy Birthday to you, and happy good-friends-day to Rivka :)
N.
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Date: 2009-01-25 12:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-25 01:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-25 03:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-25 03:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-25 10:55 pm (UTC)What a lovely present!
no subject
Date: 2009-01-25 11:59 pm (UTC)Happy Birthday, Michael. Tricksy, very tricksy.
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Date: 2009-01-26 12:53 am (UTC)And Happy Birthday, Michael!
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Date: 2009-01-26 04:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-26 06:46 pm (UTC)So at that point they all got back in their cars and drove around the block, and I agreed to let husband take me out for breakfast and promised I would act surprised. Which I did. ;) And felt both guilty and completely and totally loved.
Friends and family are awesome!
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Date: 2009-01-26 11:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-26 11:05 pm (UTC)