The Art of the Half Bath

When I moved into my place almost two years ago, one of the things I knew I wasn’t going to be crazy about was the bathtub. Not that I’d ever been a huge bath taker, but when you want to soak and relax, it’s nice to have the option.

In my mind, in my dream home, I have a large, spacious bathroom. Warm with natural materials. Asian-influenced. With a large, deep tub. Large enough for two. And, maybe with jets.

So, back to my place. I do have a tub. It’s kind of weird, though. The length is standard (well, short standard but the same length my parents have in their bathrooms). Problem is, when you look at it, it seems like it should be a normal depth tub. But, when you step into it, you step up. My tub is an optical illusion.

Even when you're little, your tub may only cover you half way.

My home was built in 1972. Maybe people didn’t take baths in 1972? No, that’s about when my parents built their house. We took baths growing up. My mom still takes one every day. It has always been her place to read with a good book.

Well, since I’ve been here, for the most part, I hadn’t taken a lot of baths. Until recently. I finally accepted that my tub is what it is. I’m trying to be grateful for what I do have in my life. At least I have a tub. I have friends who only have showers in their apartments. They don’t even have a tubbing option. I appreciate what I do have in my life and I’ll make the best of it.

If my toes are up, my knees are under. If my toes are under, my knees are up.

So, I’ve begun a nightly bath ritual. I fill my tub (which I almost over-filled last night because I had a blonde moment and got busy doing dishes and chatting with a friend on the phone while the water was running and I don’t have an overflow valve). I add either Epsom salts or baking soda and essential oils. My favorites are a combination of eucalyptus and lavender. I light candles. I put on music. Usually something relaxing like Madeleine Peyroux or Norah Jones. And I climb in. I scootch in as far down as I can. And I relax.

It really isn’t as bad as I joke. Sure, it isn’t super deep and my knees can’t soak with the rest of my body, but it is relaxing. I’m thankful for all that I have in my life. I’m thankful that I can make a ritual of taking a bath. Even if it is only a half bath.

Tell me about your tubbing rituals… Are you a bather? What kind of tub do you have? What would you like to have if you don’t have your ideal? Leave your thoughts and comments below!

@Ybbeige

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Old Lady Painter Music

I tweeted yesterday that a friend of my Oldest daughter said that my music was “Old Lady Painter Music.” I painted today (that’s what the interior designer side of me loves to do) and I listened to music. I tried so hard not to listen to “my music” today. I don’t think I liked it.

Some of it was okay. I liked Train, Pink, Florence and the Machine, Adele, Flo Rida, and Eric Hutchinson. I used my song-id app to find out that I liked Eric Hutchinson. Most of the music was just not to my liking. At least not to paint to. I guess I’m a classic rock girl. But, I do like other music. It really depends on my mood. I have come out of the 70s and 80s a bit...I like Lucinda Williams, Brandi Carlile, Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Ray LaMontagne…

So, was it my upbringing? And, why do some of my friends who are also in their mid-40s like the newer music? What happened to me? How do we determine our musical likes? Will I be listening to the same music genres for the rest of my life? I can picture myself driving down the road in my 80s with a head of white hair blowing in the wind with Journey or Talking Heads or Genesis (old Genesis with Peter Gabriel at the helm) or Heart or Jefferson Starship cranking.

My first real rock album.
These guys looks SO cool in their leather and fur jackets.
What was your first rock album?

If I think back to my youngest musical influences, I remember my parents buying me Mitch Miller albums. With sing-a-long books in them with songs like In the Shade of the Apple Tree and Goodnight, Irene that I can still hear my grandmother singing. Thank goodness for a Cool Uncle who got me my first rock album. Foreigner’s Double Vision. Yea, they were a local band from Rochester NY where I grew up; and I almost got to jam with the bassist who was friends with one of my drum instructors, but they were real music.

Yea, I still have one of those first albums. Don't ask me why.

I do have old country music in my blood too. Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Willy Nelson, Emmylou Harris. Can’t help that. My dad would drag me to country bars or country jamborees when I was 16 and 17 to play drums with some of his friends. I haven’t really broken much into new country except for a few songs or bands. So, that brings me back to why am I still stuck in the past and some people are moving on? Or, are there others out there like me just happy with music we grew up with?

It’s comforting.

New country that I do like...

This is a song that Mary Selvidge wrote and sings called I've Seen Angels.

Some days I want to relax to the Eagles, Tom Petty, ELO or Fleetwood Mac. Other days, I want to rebel with Joan Jett or Lita Ford or Wendy O. Williams. And, some days are in between. Having CDs that I can switch out is better for me than having the unpredictability of the radio (unless it’s a classic rock station).

Now, if it is what we are exposed to, why is it that my Oldest likes classic rock with even harder AC/DC and Aerosmith thrown in there plus oddities like Laurie Anderson and Michelle Shocked that I also still listen to and my Youngest likes the new music that I tried listening to today plus new country?

Do your kids like what you like? What makes us like new music? Is it exposure? Will I get the hang of the new stuff? Will it grow on me? Or, will I just always be listening to Old Lady Painter Music? 

Please share your thoughts below or at http://facebook.com/barbarabeige

www.barbarabeige.com

@Ybbeige
http://facebook.com/barbarabeige