Let me introduce you to ChinaB2. He’s a plastic elephant who was once attached to a toy parachute. ChinaB2, named for the inscription on the back of his lower left leg, was given to me at Skyhaven Airport the day Lake-Noxen Elementary Principal Debra Demming jumped out of an airplane. The children of the school also received parachute toys, although I’m unsure if they were all elephants.

ChinaB2 is best friends with China Tree Frog, a red plastic frog with the word China and the number three on his behind. Tree Frog belongs to my co-worker and desk mate, Sheena Delazio.

“He appeared one day on my desk and I decided to keep him,” Delazio said.

At first, ChinaB2 and China Tree Frog didn’t get along. China Tree Frog tried to slurp the flies off of ChinaB2, who wasn’t too happy about it. But once ChinaB2 realized China Tree Frog was only looking for food, he began to share his peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with China Tree Frog. Today, the two visit with each other every work day.

 

For those of you who don't know, I recently won a massage at Market on the Pond at the Meadows Nursing Center. On Saturday, I redeemed it.

My 10 a.m. massage was courtesy of Serenity Wellness on North Main Street in Shavertown. It wasn't what I expected- in a good way. When I was looking for Serenity, I drove right past it. That's because it doesn't have a commercial appearance to it. Instead, the business is located inside of an older home.

Upon arrival, I filled out a paper and waited on a cushy couch. I was intrigued by a waterfall that was mounted on the wall. Fresh flowers greeted me on the table. My massage therapist, May, led me upstairs to a private room. Lavender walls and large windows (don't worry, there are blinds and you remain fully covered) soothed me. The morning summer air pleasantly filled my lungs.

As I laid on the table, my mind drifted. I relaxed to peaceful instrumental, possibly tribal, music. I wondered if someone once slept in the former bedroom. I really liked how I couldn't hear any hair dryers or people chatting. That is often the case in salon/day spa settings. As far as I know, Serenity doesn't do hair. They live up to their name.

I was in such a blissful state, I lost track of time. I couldn’t believe the hour passed so quickly. If only one hour at work would go by so fast.

After getting dressed, I met May downstairs. She handed me a complimentary bottle of water. Here's what I like the best: if you schedule an appointment for three weeks after, the price is $30. If you schedule for two weeks after, the cost is only $25. How can you beat $25 for a one-hour massage?

So if you're looking to treat yourself or someone else to relaxation, I highly recommend you give Serenity Wellness a try. The atmosphere is quiet, the prices are affordable and the service is phenomenal.

Today is the day so many Lake-Lehman students have been waiting for- the last day of school and graduation- two weeks later than originally scheduled.

But the final school day wasn’t pushed back because of a bad winter. It was, as you probably know, due to a teacher’s strike.

Some feel the teachers are at fault. Others feel the administrators are to blame.

I think it doesn’t really matter because the ones who are really suffering are the children. Seniors have less time to prepare for college and the workforce. Undergraduates will have difficulty finding jobs because all of the students already out of school have filled seasonal work and many part-time positions.

Not to mention the weather. I was at Lehman-Jackson Elementary two weeks ago and the kids watched an outdoor program in the 90-degree heat. The next day, the school had class even though there was no power due to a thunderstorm the night before. Administrators had to shorten the final weeks to half days because of the heat. How much could the children have learned in those few hours each day?

Families probably had to miss time shares or maybe they decided to let the kids miss school anyway. Neighborhood children from private schools and those from nearby districts are out playing all day. What kid can focus on academics when his or her friends are having fun?

With no contract still in existence, I think it’s time the teachers and administration sit down and come up with a contract everyone can agree on.  A healthy relationship doesn’t come without compromise, and neither does a healthy learning environment. If the adults can’t get along, what are we teaching our children? To stay mad at people and believe your way is the only way?

Let’s avert another graduation from being held one week before July 4. It’s time for both parties to step up to the plate and come up with something that makes everyone happy, at least to an extent. Do it for the kids. They’re watching you.

You either love them or hate them.

For those of you who have a Facebook account, it’s likely you know what the site’s applications are.

If you don’t know what an application is on Facebook, think of extra features you can add to the social networking site. And if you don’t know what Facebook is, think of it as a site similar to MySpace. If you are still clueless, I’m at a loss. Ask a teenager. I almost guarantee he or she will know.

Personally, I love Facebook’s applications. Many of them can help you to spruce up your profile or show your personality. And if you took the time to look at ALL the applications, I bet you would find at least one that interests you, too.

That brings me to Scrabulous, the most recent Facebook application I added. This allows me to play multiple games of Scrabble with different friends. Better yet, they don’t have to be logged in to play. So far, I’ve been playing a game with my friend Sarah. The last time I checked, she was still seven points ahead of me.

I can’t forget about the bumper sticker application. This allows users to view virtual bumper stickers that often include funny and witty sayings and photos. It’s a great way to waste time. I noticed there is a “new bumper sticker” application, but I haven’t looked into it yet.

Some recently popular applications on the site include:
Flirtable- allows you to meet new people and share private messages
Books iRead- where you can share your reading list
MindJolt Games- play over 300 games
Pokey!- a 3D dog you adopt that interacts with you on your profile
Are You Normal?- take quizzes and compare your answers to those of your friends

I noticed MySpace recently added applications as well. So far, I’m not super impressed. Maybe that’s because they don’t appear to be popular yet on MySpace.

According to Facebook.com, There are 537 of you in the Dallas High School network and 375 of you in the Lake-Lehman High School network. There are also residents who belong to the Wyoming Seminary and Holy Redeemer networks. Most college students are also in their school’s network and many adults belong to a work network or the Scranton, PA network (the closest one to Dallas).

What Facebook applications do you use? Is there one you absolutely love? How about one you can’t stand? Does it annoy you when you constantly receive application requests?

E-mail me and I’ll share your opinion with readers.

Like David Letterman, I love a good top 10 list. I don’t have the comedy skills to make a list funny enough for late night television, but I can tell you my own top 10 guilty pleasures I indulge in throughout the Back Mountain.

10. Beginning next Saturday, massages at Serenity Wellness in Shavertown - I won a massage in a raffle from the Meadows Nursing Center Market on the Pond last Saturday. I have a feeling this will become a regular occurrence.
9. Stopping to eat lunch in peace at Frances Slocum - When I’m having a stressful day and am somewhat nearby on assignment, I visit the picnic area of the park and eat lunch while enjoying nature. What a great opportunity to clear my mind.
8. Stargazing at the Friedman Observatory at Penn State Wilkes-Barre - This is always neat although if you go every week, you may end up looking at the same stars. The winding stairs to the top do freak me out a little.
7. Rides around Harveys Lake - Having grown up in Wilkes-Barre, this was the big thing to do in the summertime when I was a child. We usually stopped at Grotto Pizza first and fed the ducks leftover crust or stale bread.
6. Still visiting the East Center Street playground - I still like to go on the swings or venture into the woods in the back. Don’t act like you don’t.
5. Breakfast at Pickett’s Charge or the Red Rooster - Need I say more?
4. Basking in the sun at Lake Jean/Ricketts Glen - I’ve been going to Lake Jean since I was a child. It’s a great, free place to soak up the rays on the beach, go swimming or have a cookout. After lunch I like to walk along the waterfalls.
3. Paying someone else to clean my car at the Dallas Uni-Mart - I don’t mind cleaning my car, but it’s something I never get around to doing. Who has the time to clean the dog licks and nose marks off the windows? Not me.
2. Taking in the views from atop the Back Mountain Trail - You can see down into the rock cut and as far away as the V.A. Medical Center.
1. Hillside Farms Chocolate Marshmallow Ice Cream - And pretty much any flavor of ice cream Hillside Farms has ever concocted.

I’ll be out of the office on Monday and Tuesday, so I won’t be blogging again until Wednesday.

About the Author

Rebecca Bria has been reporting for The Dallas Post since June of 2007. She is a 2007 graduate of Wilkes University and previously interned with the company at The Weekender and The Times Leader.

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