I always tips for massages at salon type places, but never at a PT type place. I would no more tip my doctor or the person who draws my blood. I figure if they are qualified to get a medically oriented job, they are salaried, and if my health insurance is involved, no way I am paying more than co-pay.

This might be unfair; they might be equally skilled, or what have you, but I don't really care.

Oh yeah, it would be totally clear-cut if there were insurance involved. I'm certainly not tipping my dentist!

My hygienist gives me paraffin hand treatments at my dentist!

What do you do then????

I don't tip. But it's very relaxing and helps me not think about gum scraping.

I left my first OB practice when they started doing leg-waxing. I was like, uh, no. I will take my uterus elsewhere.

I tip my masseuse like crazy. But she's a friend--not a close friend, but enough I'd rather overspend than be judged.

Oh, that reminds me of an awesome tip I witnessed: my stylist has a regular customer, older gentleman, who comes in every 3 weeks for a beard trim and haircut. He's become so close to her that he is referred to as her daughter's fairy godfather. He plays Santa in the town at Xmas and is well known as sort of everyone's honorary grandpa.

Anyway, he lost track of time and was late and she had to rejigger her schedule on the fly. He felt awful. So he not only paid for the conflicting customer's cut and color for her (to the tune of $150), PLUS he insisted on paying an additional $150 "for the inconvenience, since I mighta almost lost you a customer next time" on top of his $30 fee. And then I heard him tip the shampoo girl $10, and Alison $20. For a 15 minute wash and cut.

Seriously.

I love stories like that. Which is why I fret about tipping! I want to be that guy, not the cheapskate.

Erin, Thorncrown Chapel really is that amazing. I think it's even more striking after the leaves have fallen from the surrounding trees. Well worth a visit the next time you are in that area.