Oh My.

That cannot be true. What were they expecting, an actual visit from a stork?

I thought it was from The Onion at first, but it does appear to be legit.

Maybe true, maybe not.

I don't find it that strange -- we're all lefties in my family (want proof that it's at least partially genetic? 75% of my immediate family and about 40% of my extended family is left handed) and we all mouse lefty. My Mom is the only rightie, and even she mouses lefty after all those years of having to put up with the rest of us.

Welcome to all of the newbies (or TAR board newbies).


What you're describing doesn't really sound like carpal tunnel, which occurs when tendons running through the carpal tunnel of the wrist become swollen and compress a nerve, causing numbness of the 2nd/3rd fingers and weakness in the hand. What you're describing sounds more like a muscle/tendon thing in your arm, and for a long-standing thing heat is often better, along with stretching, massage, and of course, the ibuprofen (fyi, you need to take regular, full doses of ibuprofen for a few days before it starts having an anti-inflammatory effect, so occasional dosing isn't as effective).

Only in the South: they have cheerleader-types cleaning the ice during the hockey game (hockey in Florida in June and they wonder why they're having ice problems?!?)

ETA:YAY, Flames!
Also, I'm a leftie and usually mouse right-handed, I guess since I've done so at home/school/work for years, since it is a right-handed world, afterall.

Yeahhh!! Go Flames Go!!! That was an incredible game. We're getting that cup on Saturday night!

Oh, and they had those cheerleader types at a Manitoba Moose game I went to.

Damn, thats sounds de-lish! I was raised in Texas, and I've never heard of it. Maybe that's a sign I should visit France.

Thanks Kanuck!

This is it! Last day at work. Yesterday my coworkers gave me a good-bye party after work, which was a nice surprise, and the people with whom I work most closely took me out to lunch. In addition to the free food (including a really good strawberry shortcake), I got a $125 gift card to Barnes and Noble from the office.

I'm pretty much packed up, so I have NOTHING to do today. My coworker told me that when he left his last job, he turned in all his stuff at noon and his boss was like, "Uh, yeah, later." So maybe that will happen today, but I doubt it.

Feels weird, but good. Leaving is the right move. There are three people I've gotten close to (the other 20somethings. Well, one is 30 but acts 15) and will miss. And it's always weird to break one's routine. I can't believe I won't have to go to work on Monday morning!

I need to clear up something from the righty/leftie/loosey convo: when saying "mouse righty," are we all referring to using our right hand to mouse?

And congrats on last day of work, Empress.

Hey, Empress1! Congrats! That was so nice of your co-workers. Yeah, a lot of places just don't bother. Enjoy the day!

Me too! For a while I thought if I had to I could just live on mashed potatoes. I found out that was wrong when I had all my wisdom teeth out and for a week, in effect, just lived on mashed potatoes. I did get sick of them after a while.

Hmm, German restaurants in St. Louis. Its been a while since I lived there (we left in 1985) - I remember that there used to be one near Plaza Frantenac. Could that be it?

Thanks to Hildy, MamaTiger, Rabrab, JenEx, DariaG, and Kanuck! for the advice. (Hope I didn't miss anybody -- I definitely picked the right board to ask a question!). Kanuck!, I do get the finger numbness too sometimes. I have the wrist rests and the wrist brace, but there have been a couple of other suggestions I will try. I don't know about that ergonomic keyboard, though. It looks so odd. But, hey, it's better than pain, right? Yes, I think so. Anyway, my company will pay for it, so I have nothing to lose.

Oh crap. I bet I have that. Too bad I can't actually blame it on work, although I could blame it on the computer set-up at work. Does that mean I have to sue TWoP for my injury, since this site is the reason I mouse 80% of the time.

This, miri? Is my version of hell. I know it sounds weird, but I haaaaaate massages. HATE them. Reason? I don't like strangers touching me.*

When I go to the spa, I get facials and wraps only. I scoot away at the nail salon when they try to rub my shoulders (which, btw, is NOT easy to do when you've got your fingers and toes in that dryer thingy). I practically go freaking mental when I'm walking through a street fair and one of those massage booth guys tries to grab my shoulders as I go by. If somebody tried to give me a massage at work, I'd have to go all George Bluth on Arrested Development on them-- "NO TOUCHING!!!"

*shudder*

(* Shut up, Skagirl. Before you even say it. Or no more dinners for you.)

Suppressing. Urge. To. Say. Dirty. Things. Hurts. So. Bad. Must. Spill. Rumors. Next. Tour. Bus. Getting. Earful. Here. It. Comes.

Crap, does that mean I can't grope wtf at the next TARcon? Because I was totally looking forward to that!

Another lefty here, and I mouse lefty. I always find it really funny when the IT guys show up in my office and become completely baffled by the fact that none of the buttons "work right" at my computer. Even after I explain that the mouse is left-hand oriented. I find that most lefties can cope with right-handed stuff (out of necessity), but righties just don't know how to deal.



How depressing. I couldn't live without massages. but these guys?



are freaking creepy. I have actually punched one of them in the past - you touch me without my permission? I'll freaking touch you, asshole!

We used to have a U.S. Representative whose home base was in our town. He's a nice man -- much better now that he's out of office -- and did a lot for our community, but he always came off very slick to me. He always wanted to shake hands with everyone, of course, but would also put his hand on your shoulder or pat you on the back. Drove me crazy. I don't like to be touched.

wtf, when someone reaches out to give you a massage, either at the nail salon or elsewhere, you can do what my husband always told me to do. Yell (really loud), "Bad touch! Bad touch!" They'll stop. Of course, you may not be able to go back to that salon to get your nails done.

ETA: Several years ago, on our way to Springfield, Ill., for the National High School Rodeo Finals (we're not really rodeo people; my husband worked on the computers), we stopped in St. Louis to eat at a German restaurant my husband read about. I don't remember the name, however, and he is apparently indisposed this morning (he's timed out on AIM, anyway). It was pretty good, as I recall, although I know nothing really about what German food should be. I have found two possibilities on the Internet, Gasthaus and Schneithorst's. But I don't really know. All I really remember is that although nicer clothes would have been perfectly acceptable, I didn't feel too out of place in a T-shirt and shorts.

After looking at pictures (which finally loaded -- at least some of them), I think it must have been Schneithorst's and we ate in the kaffee haus.

See, Rachel, it's the massage she doesn't love. Random groping? Yes. Yes. Yes. Although she's gotten very tiny & there's not much to grope, but she has pretty hair you can pet and she can shake it as though she were a photograph from a Polaroid camera.

Schneithorst's is the one across from Plaza Frontenac - I think this must be the one everyone's referring to. I was just thrown off by the reference to the neighborhood being a little shabby, since, *sniff*, that's our rich neighborhood! Anyway, I've only been there once and don't remember much about it. Weird that people who come through St. Louis are getting directed to a German restaurant like it's representative of something. I've been to the German places in Hermann more often. If I were advising people to try St. Louis restaurants I can think of a zillion places, and not one of them is Scheithorst's. Were people on the lookout for German cuisine to begin with, maybe?

I believe we found Schneithorst's because my husband went to some "best restaurants" web site and found it listed. So we tried it out. We were just looking for something other than fast food to eat on our trip. We can do McDonald's here (although we don't -- we mostly stick with Wendy's).

We also had breakfast at a really good diner in Springfield, Mo. It was across from some university (college?), but I don't remember the name of the diner or university. It was not on the highway, I remember that. We had to get off the highway and follow the Mapquest directions to get to it. A lot of old men were still sitting around having coffee, though, so it must be a place that at least some locals like. I usually find old men sitting around having coffee to be a good sign for a diner.

Me too, actually! It took them 2 months to talk me into getting one and then I was more tense during and after the massage than I was before it. I looked at it as a chance to get over my aversion - for free - so I stuck with it. One of the reasons it got easier, however, was that it was the same person each week. There were times when a sub would fill in for her and I would find myself tensing up again.

(I'm rather proud of myself - I kept that very clean. Heh.)

Yes but weren't those girls absolutely amazing! I almost had a heart attack seeing them in their little Lightning outfits. It took me five minutes to start concentrating on the game again! :)

I like to be touched...as long as the person isn't creepy. I always thought I would love a massage, but as of this moment, I have only had two. And I'm still waiting for the one that will make my toes curl.

The first one was on a whim. I was in New Orleans and I was bored. I had been there for two weeks and I was all alone on like a Thursday afternoon or something. So, I went to the Ritz Carlton or somewhere like that, to their salon, and got a deep tissue massage as a treat to myself. What I didn't realize at the time was that deep tissue = pain. I paid $100 plus a mandatory $20 tip only to come out feeling worse than I started. They told me it takes a couple of days to kick in. I'm still waiting. Over a year later.

Next was in Kansas. My friend who got married took me with her when she got hers. This time I'm thinking that I'll be sure to get the relaxing massage. Well, I just couldn't relax. The ladies were scary.

Maybe if I had the cute guy from New Orleans combined with the Kansas massage, I would have been happy.

There's a few schools of thought in the massage world in my experience. One, there's theraputic, for after a sports injury or surgery or the like, focusing on the area to get the blood flow movin' and groovin' and strengthen muscles. There's the hooty-tooty high-priced salon massage, which is more about scented candles and aromatherapy then actual health benefits & is a back rub. There's scary, unqualified, freaky-deaky fair/carnival/nail salon 5 minute back torture (which my old job had before they went broke) which causes you severe pain and injury.

Then, there's my favorite, which I found after much searching for a reasonably priced massage in NYC (seriously, if I need incense, I'll go see the guys outside the Subway stop). I found a place that does Qui Jong (sp?) which combines pressure points and massage. There's a totally unfancy place up on like 2nd or 3rd in the 50s, but they do the full body at the pressure you need. For me, I was really sick at Xmas, and she did pressure on my face & my sinuses drained right there. Fucking freaky. My mom had both knees replaced and is dealing with arthritis, plus travel stiffens her, but they did a great job relaxing the muscles in her legs. One time was too rough, but I was hungover and should have told her to lay off...although I did feel better. But it's not something I do more than 2 or 3 times a year, mostly Xmas, bday & spring. However, after I got over the creepy stranger touching near my SkaParts, I was able to tell them what I like and how hard to do it.

ETA: Don't touch WTF's hair either. She's going to start carrying around a monkey for you to touch...

skagirl, what kind of massage did you say you got? Oh, sorry. Yeah, I'm twelve.

Hello everyone.

I've watched TAR since the first season and it is by far my favourite reality show. my husband enjoys it too but really hates how I get when we're watching it. Itchy, really itchy to do some real traveling. I did more travelling before I was 10 (with my parents, of course) than he has his whole life.

I read the boards daily but never really post. I'm at work and everytime I need a mental break I come here. Everyone here is so interesting compared to the people I work with! I'm a controller for a group of companies and rarely get to see anybody and sometimes I need a break from all the numbers!

I love all the talk about the strange food as I am definitely a foodie! I printed out the hush puppy recipe to try later! Thanks, piperdown!

It's funny to hear all the people that love samosas and tamarind chutney because I'm east Indian and my mom makes the best tamarind chutneys. She make two kinds, one that is very tart (my favourite) and one that is sort of spicy/sweet with raisins in it (my husband's favourite) He's german and loves the spicy/sweet combination with just about everything.

This is only board I read as all the other ones with all their shortforms just drive me crazy! And the depth of the civility is just wonderful.

I just wanted to thank all of you for making this board a pleasure to read.

Bubbacat, I've been single for quite a long time now, so the hard and the pressure....it's all good.

(just kidding!)

(sort of!)

(errr...just keep touching WTF's monkey!)

Nooooo, LovelyRachel, I said STRANGERS. You? Can grope all you like! And if there are snarkilicious verbal attacks on passers-by while the groping occurs, all the better.



Ix-nay on the elling-tay of my irrrrtylittlesecrets-day, Skachica. Was the bribilicious nature of that dinner I cooked you earlier this week not clear?! Shut it.



Oh behalf of the wherevertheboobs: HEY!!!



That's half true. The hair is, I am told, pretty. However, you touch it, and I'll kill ya. (Also, Call me Francis? And I'll kill ya.) Seriously. No touchy the coif, yo.



Now THAT's true.

In other news, Sparky?



is TOTALLY my new hero. That's AWESOME.

Well that's the thing - they really don't get how creepy they are. I mean, If I was just walking down the street and some stranger put his hands on my neck? He'd get a kick in the balls. So I figure, given the crowds, a punch somewhere else is pretty much just a warning shot.

The creepiest part though? I've been to street fairs with a friend of mine whose really beautiful, and they just. won't. leave. her. alone. So it obviously becomes about who they want to touch on top of trying to sell a massage to anyone.

Now, this is in reference to just being smaller & wilier, nothing against your boobs o' love & buns o' steel. They're still around, just more compact.

And I brought you salad, and walked 10 miles uphill in the rain to get a pepper from Skeevy Veggie Guy just for you. Dedication, man. Dedication.

Sparky hee! And second, I've always assumed they bend people over on those thingies to pick their wallets. Yea, I'm going to just sit face down on an NYC street with my ass hanging out & my personal stuff just sitting there - Every time I see someone on one of those stands, their purse & shopping bag is just lying in the street. Dumasses.

But was it uphill both ways? And were you barefoot?

And was there snow? Like feet and feet of snow and drifts way above your head?

All this talk is making me think I need to make an appointment at my massage place this weekend. I am feeling somewhat tense...

On a different topic, every time I check CBS.com to see if they have posted the new racers, I've noticed this blurb:


Can you imagine what CBS would do with that? I'm imagining a show like Fear Factor, but tailored to your particular parinoia. "Well Mandy, since you don't really mind spiders, we'll just put you in this plane that seems like its crashing."

I'm sure part of the premise will be "helping" people conquer their nightmares, but I cannot imagine who would turn their deepest recurring fears, the things that wake you up crying in the middle of the night, over to the the gentle hands at CBS.

Oh, yes, nck. If I have a recurring nightmare, I would be sure to go to the kind people at CBS to help me get over it. ::shudder::

ETA: Do you think they would fall for it if I told them I have a recurring nightmare of willing a million dollars just by hanging out at TWoP? "What? You're going to make me stay at TWoP for 7 days straight while you feed me comfort foods and rub my shoulders when they get achy? Then you're going to give me a million dollars? You monsters! Not that! Anything but that!"

Since I know how much y'all love this kind of stuff, I just had to share that my terribly British name is Imogen Walpole. I'm looking down my nose at some peasants right now.

Ha! Looks like we're related! I'm Terrance Walpole.

Mine is Amanda Watson, which is funny becasue my mother's family name is Watson.

And I'm Emily Walpole. Hmmmm...

Whew. I have the same last name as my mother. *looks up* I'm Charlotte Walpole. Unless I do my screenname and then I'm Daisy Watson which sounds rather Fitzgeraldesque.

I'm Margaret Chamberlain! Wow, that sounds powerful!

However, my screen name produces Margaret Butcher, which doesn't do anything for me at all.

And I would be Amanda Butcher...don't know why that sends a shiver down my spine...

Anyway, I'm new here--I've been lurking for a while, but had to jump on and introduce myself. I figure I'll be pretty regular around here what with TAR only a month away. I'm from the recently pretty wet state of Wisconsin and fell in love with TAR last season. I'm pretty bummed that I missed the first three seasons, but I'll make do. But can anyone tell me if they ever introduced the racers yesterday? I just went on the CBS website and couldn't find them...

Nope, quackerz, and welcome! They faked us out, have postponed it for a few days. Check the last couple pages of the "TAR in the Media" thread for all the info we currently have. (As well as a lot of pathetic whining, which I totally sympathize with!)

Using my real name creates the British name Elizabeth Garside which I like the sound of very much.
Using my TWoP name gives me Chelsea Wilkinson, which kind of sounds like a trollop. I'm going to use both names in the next novel I write.

Changing the subject drastically so that I can vent a little....
I just found out yesterday that for the next 2 months I'll have to work out of the Spokane, WA office of my company. Arrrggghh!!! No offense to anyone who lives there or has family there but - could there be a more boring and unamusing city?

And what makes it worse is that work and Mr. Duchess's quest for his MBA have already been keeping Mr. Duchess and I apart for the last several weeks. And to find out that I'm going to be on the other side of the state for the next 8 weeks, and in SPOKANE of all places, just makes me depressed.
The only small consolation is that Mr.Duchess finishes his school quarter on the 17th so after that he'll have time to spend with me when I'm back in Seattle on weekends. I know it's probably lame to complain about but it feels good whining.
[whine]And they STILL don't have the TAR 5 team info up yet.[/whine]

DuchessKitty, I'm Elizabeth Garside! You had better stay away from my Citibank card...otherwise they might make a commercial about us.

I'm Margaret Cavendish. I like it.

I'm either Chloe Chamberlain or Emily Walpole. I have a sudden urge for a tussy-mussy and a fainting couch.