Body Wrap

So I have a new boyfriend...he doesn't know it yet. His name is Nathan and he works at the Red Door Spa in downtown Chicago.
You may remember me mentioning the wonderfully generous gift my mother gave me for Valentines Day. Yes, I was the recipient of a "Shea Butter Body Wrap" from the Red Door. Honestly, I had no idea what this meant. It just sounded like it would moisturize my skin which is something I could use during this dry and violent Chicago winter. At times I resemble a snake molting. Very sexy I must say.
I scheduled my appointment for President's Day because I didn't have to work...hip hip hooray!!!!! I read on line that this treatment involves body exfoliation and being wrapped in cellophane. Sounds good to me! When I scheduled the appointment they said Susan or someone like that would be doing my treatment. Fabulous!
So yesterday I eagerly entered the Red Door Spa (which is a little under construction so it seems ghetto when you enter the building. The spa itself is in good shape). I pranced to the welcome desk, gave them my name and showed them my gift certificate with a smile...BING! The kind woman said that Maya would do my manicure, Margarita my pedicure and Nathan my body wrap. Perfect...wait, NATHAN????? Wait a second, that sounds a little masculine to me. No big deal. I've had a massage by a male before...he was gay so it didn't bother me. But wait, this whole body exfoliation thing made me wonder if I knew what i was in for. I mean, I've had exfoliation done before and let's just say that it wasn't for the modest. There was no hiding anything there.
Oh well, I was quickly being escorted to the changing area and didn't have time to really think this whole modesty thing over. I changed into those spa shoes and oh so comfy spa robe (I wanted to steal it but it wouldn't fit in my purse). I sat in the waiting are where they offered us beverages of cucumber or lemon flavored water. A room of women sat quietly afraid to disturb someone elses relaxation. Slowly but surely, the staff would come by and read off a name and a woman would quietly rise to receive her treatment. I was left alone to contemplate my impending destiny with Nathan and how he was probably gay so it would be no big deal. But before I could think too much, a young man with a ruddy complexion and curly hair read my name from a piece of paper. I could tell from the way he read it that he was a straight arrow.
He escorted me back down a long hallway that had many twists and turns. I have to admit that it's an odd feeling being led into one of these rooms. You know that there's great relaxation and pampering on the other side of the door but you also feel like a cow being led to the slaughter. We walked through a door into a dark room where there was soft music and a comfortable massage table. He said that when he left the room I could remove my robe and slip between the towels on the table. He also pointed out the disposable panties that I could use if I felt more comfortable. AWKWARD!! "Oh, okay, thank you very much." "I will be exfoliating your body. Is there any area that you would like me to avoid. For instance, I will exfoliate your stomach unless you feel uncomfortable." "No, no, that's fine. I'm fine with everything. I'm totally comfortable. This is totally normal. I'm not modest or afraid. I have no problems stripping down to the bare essentials and letting a stranger exfoliate my skin...a male stranger that is!" So with an awkward smile, he left the room and I psyched myself up to remember this is nothing. He's done this before. He's an expert. He went to school for this for goodness sake! It's almost like seeing a male gynecologist. Except that it's nothing like that. Gynecological visits leave you feeling a bit violated. I would leave this feeling totally relaxed!
So there I laid as he entered the room. I just closed my eyes and pretended that a woman named Bertha was scrubbing my body. Thankfully he was very appropriate and I didn't have to bare anything that wouldn't normally be seen in a bikini.
I just let myself enjoy it. Not only was I wrapped in warm oil and cellophane, I also got a head massage and a neck and back massage too. I just wanted to put him in my pocket and take him home! It was one of the most relaxing experiences EVER! I highly recommend it...and be sure to ask for Nathan.

Hot Date!

HOT DATE!!!! You may be asking your self in excited anticipation, "Katyo has a date?!!!!" Oh, I so wish I could be saying those words. No it's not me....it's my 14 year old brother! That's right, Drew has a date. Well it's more of a movie date with a group, but his "main squeeze" will be there. When my sister IM'd me that Andrew had a girlfriend I almost went bolistic. I mean, this is his first girlfriend. Of course I called him immediately after work to get the scoop. He was a little distracted because he was IM'ing people so I scolded him. I said, "I am your favorite sister who never sees you and you can't take 5 seconds to tell me about this huge development in your life!?" Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating a bit but I said something similar. I asked what she looked like and if I knew her (since I worked with his class when I did K-Life). He responded saying, "She's the cutest girl I have ever seen." Uh, my heart just broke because he was my little brother, my 14 year old brother, crushing hard on a girl. I have to say that it's just so sweet and I couldn't help but be giddy. He said he "dropped hints" to let her know that he liked her. So cute! He also said that she was a really great Christian girl. Music to my ears. Erin, my sister, read some of the letters they exchanged (he let her). She said it's the cutest thing ever.
So I have to admit that I had an angry fit/pity party on tuesday night. I don't know what came over me because I had an incredibly fun girls night (aka. Ro-Tic party "romantic party with out the MAN") at my apartment on Valentines. It was mostly me, God and my journal. I had some words with Him. Mostly saying things like, "I mean, my 14!!! freakin' year old brother has a girlfriend!" This is completely immature and most unlike me. I mean hadn't my roommate, Janell, just mentioned to me earlier that weekend that I'm an inspiration to her because I rejoice in my singleness? I must have had a weak moment...or week.
You may be wanting an update about my eharmony.com adventures. Well, I've become the entertainment for all married or currently attached women in my life; especially my office. I must give updates about findings almost hourly. I do have to say that Jim from Wheaton and I have really progressed far in our relationship. We're in stage 4. I've gone the farthest with him. That's a joke. Yes, if you did online dating, you would understand that joke. But you don't, so you don't get it. Ha! I have an inside joke...with myself.
I really hate the whole idea of online dating. I prefer there being some sort of connection. I am pretty much forcing myself to do this so I will "take a risk" and have some adventure in my life. But it also provides for some great writing material. Research, yes research! That's why I'm doing this. It sounds so much less pathetic! But it is kind of fun. Can I just make a suggestion to all guys out there? NEVER and I repeat, NEVER take a picture of yourself without your shirt on and post it online in expectation of making girls swoon over you. That immediately sends me to the "close" button and "click" you're gone forever. Have some tact peeps!
I'm off to do something fun this weekend! Who knows what it holds. I hope it's filled with laughter, fun stories and adventure. I wish you all many blessings!

Be My Valentine

Monday is Valentines Day. Once again, let's chalk up another year of me being single on Valentines Day. Each year I wonder, "maybe this will be the year! Maybe a year from now I will receive a valentine from someone other than my family." But each year I end up wondering the same thing.
I should really think of it in positive terms such as: I don't have to spend money on a present my valentine may or may not like. I don't have to have that awkward "what do we get eachother since we've been dating only 3 weeks?" conversation with myself. I take a moment to give thanks for all the wonderful friends I have in my life. My parents take pity upon me and send me wonderful Valentine gifts. I don't have to wonder if my boyfriend of 14 months will finally propose on valentines day. There are no expectations...therefore I have freedom. Ha! I am so lucky! I am free....to do what I want...whatever that is.
I do have to say that my mom gave me an incredible gift. At this point, if I had to choose between a mediocre boyfriend or the Spa Package my mom gave me, I'd choose the Spa Package. Hello! Me and the Red Door Spa have a date! And it could get intimate. I do believe I saw a Body Butter selection in the package.
So in honor of me being single once again on this holiday (I'm not bitter, just aware), I decided to sign up for eharmony.com. Now I didn't pay anything b/c I don't think I could do it. BUT, I did have fun filling out 200 questions about myself. I'm weird like that. I like learning more about myself...how wonderful I am...the usual. I've received some interesting "matches." I have yet to receive one that lives in my same city. It's kind of sad. I have no match here in this city. NO WONDER I'M SINGLE!!! I guess I'll have to move. Must of my matches live in California. What does that say about me? I'm weird. Gotta love the quirkiness.
Let's see about my matches:
Warren - lives in Cali, love sports, Jesus and sounds a bit competitive. Has promise.
Brian - lives in Pennsylvania, likes to socialize and laugh, has a good time. I enjoy those things too.
Jose - lives somewhere in Wisconsin, admires Mother Theresa, very close with his family. again, could be a match.
Cheong - Lives in Cali, sounds smart, loves Jesus, a little more serious than me.
Roger - can't remember much about him.
Anyways, hoping for a few more pick's. But I'm sure these are lovely gentlemen. I have to admit that I signed up for this but when I read about other people who do I think, "oh, they must be lonely and can't meet anyone." That is such a double standard! Maybe they are normal people like me (if you call me normal). They are just willing to take risks and don't struggle with their pride like I do. So I merely am humbling myself and allowing God to work in ways I swore I would never allow myself to take part in. He's funny like that. And I'm proud like that.
Oh wait, another match...please God, please!

Update on Me

My mom called me while I was at a friends house over Christmas to tell me that my headshots had finally arrived! With great anticipation I flew home to open up the Fed/Ex package. I dropped the contents on the kitchen island and began to scan over the pictures. Let's just say, blech! Not a one was pleasing to my eye. Maybe it's because I was looking at the whole picture instead of all the individual shots that may hold some potential in them. Deep down I knew they sucked. You know when your mom and dad look at the pictures and say they look nothing like you (and in a bad way) that they aren't any good. Even my yearbook pictures from the awkward teen years looked better than these! Am I to believe that I was more photogenic as an early teen with braces and bangs than I am now? I mean, when did my nose get so big? And yes, the makeup looked caked on. It just wasn't me! I think I would have had better luck taking pictures of myself with a wind up camera. Somehow I'll have to make them work for now.
It's 50 degrees today! 50 degrees...in Chicago...in February! The Lord has blessed me and made His face shine upon me!
It's definitely a big change from the blizzard that we had here a couple of weeks ago. It just happened to be the weekend that my parents and older brother came to visit from Dallas. It was hilarious. We went to see 'Jesus Christ Superstar' (great musical...a little off on it's theology). As we walked out of the building it was like being on top of a mountain during a white out blizzard. In our heels and lack of hat or scarves, we hoofed it back to our hotel. We were laughing so hard because we had no choice. The wind was whipping the snow across our faces leaving sting marks and trains of mascara. We found refuge along with the homeless in these small doorways along Randolph and Michigan Avenue. We would stop for only a moment to psych ourselves up to head back out into the cold. I have to say that we did it with great humor. We took a picture of Patrick's hair and he looked like Richard Gere. I am pretty impressed with the heels I wore. I jogged one mile in those suckers...in the snow. Impressive.