Too Frank?

Notes on Arts, Culture, Politics, and the Academy

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An Indulgence

July 3rd, 2008 by Angela Episale · No Comments

When I was in NYC recently, I decided to try getting a pedicure.  Felt like a ridiculous indulgence, but wanted to know what I had been missing out on.  So, $22 later I had a manicure and pedicure done Jackson Heights style.  They had used an actual electric sander on my feet.  This was surprisingly pleasurable, unlike waxing and threading which I have also tried having professionally done this year.  So, when I realized that there was a little nail spa next to Maggie Moo’s ice-cream shop here in Mechanicsburg, I saw my opportunity to give myself a little gift.

Gabriel was armed with his own ice cream creation and a Nintendo DS. And I was oddly excited for power tools to be used on my feet.  This place was a little more upscale, however.  I enjoyed pleasant conversation, watched Olympic diving with the staff while they gushed over my handsome child.  (We are getting that a lot lately…  talk about how “handsome” he is.)  They talked me into the spa pedicure package.  I sat in a massaging chair while someone massaged my legs, hand worked the tough skin from my feet, applied mint and wrapped them in a hot towel.  Quite lovely.

50 dollars later, there is no ethereal glow coming from my lowest appendages as I might have expected, but I can see where the experience makes for a future temptation.

→ No CommentsTags: Harrisburg · navel-gazing · nyc · parenting

Two from Angela

July 3rd, 2008 by Angela Episale · No Comments

A Poem of Sorts

I want a man like that
vulnerable

he cried up there on stage
honest.  exposed

I picture making love to him
he’d tremble

we’d fall asleep
facing each other

our foreheads touching
our noses touching

a sweet photograph
of those in love

history

No more like him
Quiet in the shadows
No more digging
to find a heart so small

→ No CommentsTags: creative · navel-gazing

A Morning (not actually this morning) in the Life of a Single Parent

July 3rd, 2008 by Angela Episale · No Comments

Woke up at 6am, after crashing early last night… so I hadn’t gotten anything done for this morning.  Shower, then woke gabe to get in the bath (he also fell asleep early.. both of us on the couch).  Took the dog on a walk, but he wouldn’t go number 2.  came back in, washed Gabe’s hair, packed lunches (with limited groceries, because I blew off going to the store).  Got Gabe all dressed, when he reminded me he wanted to dress as a pirate for pirate day at camp.  Dressed him again, as a pirate, shoved a granola bar at him for breakfast.  Walked the dog a 2nd time, so that he wouldn’t go in the house…….. walked out of the house late, at 7:15,  drove gabe to school……. And discovered I had forgotten his lunch.  Dropped him off, called work to say I would be late.  Drove home.  Got his lunch.  Back to school.  And then in to work. 15 minutes late.  I hate being late.

After walking up the stairs ahead of a group of people set to start their work day at 8:30, chatting and laughing about my start in the hallways, a coworker says from behind me, “My dear, do you realize you have a big hole in the back of your skirt?” Had to be extra careful throughout the day… as the only thing I could find to do an on the spot repair was a binder clip.  (staples didn’t work)

I really did not enjoy this morning.

All that said… Gabriel makes a dashing pirate.