Robin Brande, Author, Dog Lover, Coffee and Chocolate Addict. Living an Interesting Life.

Fiction author Robin Brande talks about writing, reading, and other vital matters

For writers, readers, and independent thinkers–book and story reviews by writers and readers, writers’ motivational articles, war stories from the publishing trenches, literary trends, religious controversies, free chocolate, and more.
« Stranger Than Fiction
Don’t we know it »

Weekly massages and other fantasies

I subscribe to a great magazine called Women’s Adventure, which includes among its regular contributors author and outdoorswoman Pam Houston (Cowboys Are My Weakness, Sight Hound, etc.).

Her column in this month’s issue is about New Year’s resolutions–about how she’s always resisted them, but has decided to try it this year just to see what all the fuss is about. She’s come up with a list of eleven items, including this one:

“Weekly massage (I know what you are thinking, but in truth you can’t afford not to).”

Whoa. I wish.

It’s like that list we compiled of what we would do if we had a personal assistant or two like Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada. Those were some pretty dreamy items.

So following Pam Houston’s bold example, I propose the following list of the top five indulgences I’d love to see me offer myself in the coming year:

1. Weekly massages. You bet.

2. Afternoon bubble baths in the winter, instead of just hot tea, to beat back the cold.

3. A clean car (which will involve the effort of taking it to the car wash, but still).

4. A clean desk and office (my most-avoided chore–even more than ironing–and yet I feel SO much better when my surroundings are uncluttered and organized).

5. Go play in the outdoors (more than just my daily walks) at least once a month.

What would your five be?

Technorati Tags: , ,

Posted on Monday, November 13th, 2006 at 8:18 am under Guilty Pleasures, Life . Subscribe to responses: RSS 2.0 Comment Feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

5 Responses to “Weekly massages and other fantasies”

  1. Patrick Says:
    November 13th, 2006 at 11:25 am

    Note to self: Not everyone gets weekly massages. How quaint. I’ll have to remember that when writing contemporary. Ah to add such gritty realism!!!

  2. Diana Says:
    November 13th, 2006 at 11:34 am

    Weekly Massages? Are you kidding me?

    Indulgences I would like to have:

    1. Monthly trips to Florida, which is where I grew up, and which I miss. A plane flight to Florida from DC is often the same price as a massage, and I’d only do it once a month.

    2. A maid. Oh, I’d kill for a maid.

    3. Robin’s #5.

    4. A hot tub. This may be solved by #1.

    5. One trip to Europe.

  3. Heather Harper Says:
    November 13th, 2006 at 11:37 am

    1. A clean house.
    2. No lingering laundry.
    2. Regular pedicures.
    3. Monthly Bookstore excursions. No children allowed.
    4. Monthly movie night. No children allowed. (The last movie I saw in a theater was Chicken Little.)

  4. Patrick Says:
    November 13th, 2006 at 4:12 pm

    1. Monthly visits to reality. I hear it is quite nice there and I always mean to go.

    2. Take over the world. I mean, it’s mine, but I need to actually assert my dominace.

    3. Hire Diana to off a few people in exchange for maid service.

    4. Mingle with the unwashed masses more often.

    5. Hire Meryl Streep as a personal assistant.
    “Hey is that Meryl Streep?”
    “Yes, she’s my assistant. Hey, Meryl, fetch us some doughnuts.”

  5. Patrick Says:
    November 13th, 2006 at 4:14 pm

    6. Fly Barry in to make me Oatmeal for breakfast.

    It didn’t make the top five because Barry hates to fly.