Massagy

Today was a great day.  Cole had his first full day at preschool.  I'll pick him up in an hour so can't report how the first long day went (8:30-4), but I'm sure he did great.

After yesterday's hike and the previous days 5 mile run my legs were through, but I got invited to get a foot massage and lunch so pushed myself to get a run in before.

I dropped Cole off at school and headed toward the bridge for my run. I knew if I didn't do too much weaving around it would be about 3 miles.  I pushed myself and got the 3 miles in under 30 minutes (yay me!).

After I got home I played with Kenney and got myself fixed up.  I was looking forward to some girl time and with my ayi to care for Kenney it was all possible.

I took the subway and met up with Joyce and Sarah.  We went to a massage spot Joyce likes for foot massages.  We were in a private room with big comfy chairs for the massages.  It was so nice!

Joyce got a back treatment called gwaa shaa where they scraped her back with a plastic tool after putting on some theraputic oil.  This apparently helps stubborn sore muscles relax, releases toxins and increases circulation.  She came out of it looking like she had been brutally attacked, but I assure you she was not screaming during the treatment - I can only say this because I watched it being done. She said the skin will look that way for about 5 days, but that the results were instantaneous relief.  Who knows maybe I'll try that out some day...

As for me today was about the feet and legs.  My poor feet have been long neglected and they asked if I wanted the heel shaving treatment.  I'll admit the feet were rough from lots of barefoot walking on the hard floors of our apartment so I was happy to get it done. 

The first clue about the seriousness of the situation was when the man grabbed a lighted headlamp to work on my feet.  I thought a jackhammer was coming next, but alas it was just a razor blade. Haha.  I think I need to wear socks more now.

Our friend Sarah had a good massage too

After we met some other ladies at a spot called Gypsy for lunch.  The food was great and they had awesome salads.  Here's my citrus salad: romaine lettuce, pine nuts, walnuts, mangoes, pomelo, oranges, tomatoes, avocado, cucumber, chicken, red onions and a yummy dressing. 

Joyce also gave me a pack of Chinese fruit leather.  It was really yum - made from jujube.

No, not this:

But this

I looked up what jujube was and here's what I found (trying to make my blog educational - haha):

"The Jujube originated in China, where it has been cultivated for over 4,000 years. The fruit is round to oblong and the size of a plum with thin edible skin and white, sweet flesh. The immature fruit is green, but turns yellowish with mahogany colored spots as it ripens. At full maturity, it is completely red. The ripe Jujube looks like a date, but tastes like a sugary sweet apple. Most people like to eat the fruit at the stage when it is yellowish-green with red spots, because then it has a crisp texture. Tests have shown the Jujube to be very high in vitamin C. The trees are 20 to 40 feet tall, with branches that naturally droop to give it a graceful appearance."  

It tasted like an apple. That works!

I have to throw in - as I was typing Kenney wandered out from his room where he was napping.  He walked by me to the kitchen where Ahwa was cooking and resumed his nap...