Forget the stocking stuffers: Old St. Nick can bring me a needle. It’s been over a year since I’ve had acupuncture. I can’t help but laugh whenever I think of the ridiculous questions I asked my acupuncturist. Questions from, “What if I faint or go into cardiac arrest on the table?” to “Is there some magic potion in the needle and do you reuse them?”
She assured me to never go to an acupuncturist who reuses needles and that I was in good hands. I was still a little doubtful. I was merely there as a guinea pig for my story. I wanted to write about the history and benefits of acupuncture and my editors at the time suggested, “Val should try it.”
I had to think of some health problems or concerns I wanted the acupuncturist to treat. I asked her to treat my recurring sinus headaches/pressure and back of the neck pain.
When the first needle pierced my skin, it was like an alarm went off in my body. That little needle she placed in my hand unleashed a sensational power throughout my body that awakened my senses. This weird sensation I experienced was known as “chi.” Chi, in Asian tradition, is the life force, which permeates the world. In addition to being in all living beings, chi is a metaphysical construct used for self-healing.
Whatever “chi” was doing, I liked it! After the first needle, I couldn’t feel the other 13 hair-like needles that were sticking out of different parts of me. All I knew is that something was happening in my body. After having acupuncture, I was temporarily relieved (for about two months) of all sinus pressure and neck pain. However, I was informed that my symptoms may return. My acupuncturist said I needed several more treatments to rid my sinus problem. But she mentioned, in some rare cases, one treatment could do the trick. Unfortunately I wasn’t a rare case, but I must say the experience made me a believer. As a holiday treat to myself, I am using the List to find a good acupuncturist to finish what I started.
Valerie is an Associate Editor at Angie's List. She enjoys traveling, movies and writing.
If there were a word of the week in the blue house at Angie’s List, last week’s word would’ve been “teeth.” I have to find a dentist in Indianapolis.
Admittedly, I am a little obsessed with my teeth. I floss like it’s going out of style. I floss so much, it’s like a nervous twitch during quiet time. However, I try to be considerate when I’m around others and reserve stringing-my-teeth-along for the appropriate areas.
There are several things I look for in a dentist, so when it comes to searching for one on Angie’s List, I will take the following into account:
• Does the dentist specialize in cosmetic dentistry? This is important in case I ever need a crown and I want to be picky about its design and shade of white.
• How long have they been in practice? If they’re good, they’re good, but I prefer a dentist with over 10 years experience.
• And finally, what are people saying about them? This is where The List reviews will help me make my final decision.
As I type, I think of all the work I need to get done today … then it occurs to me that I don’t have my floss in my purse. That means tiny pieces of meat will congregate in my teeth like it’s a town meeting. There’s nothing I can do about it unless I run to the store at lunch, which I’ll most definitely do.
Valerie is an Associate Editor at Angie's List. She enjoys traveling, movies and writing.
I’m new to town and I adore my new apartment, even though I am often awakened by creepy noises in the middle of night. Whether it’s my icemaker releasing a load of ice from its dispenser or the heat kicking in like Freddy Krueger in the boiler room, my charming apartment seems to have a mind of its own.
I have convinced myself the reason I am disturbed by such noises is because my place needs furniture. I truly believe, like kids want candy and adults want careers, homes want to feel like home.
As I prepared myself for another furniture shopping adventure, I discovered a hideous stain embedded on my gray carpet near the fireplace. I suspect when my brother and his wife came to visit two weeks ago (and refused to remove their tennis shoes) he must’ve had some mud or oily concoction on his shoe. Or maybe it was his wife? Who am I kidding? Regardless of who created the stain doesn’t mean I’m going to start acting like some pretentious person, monitoring every visitor’s move or putting plastic protectors on my carpet.
Instead, I’ll put the Resolve carpet stain remover to rest and look for a credible carpet cleaner on Angie’s List. Besides, I could always buy a sofa that would cover the stain. Nah, I’d feel too guilty.
Valerie is an Associate Editor at Angie's List. She enjoys traveling, movies and writing.
