tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323676992024-03-18T23:30:33.967-05:00The Life and Times of MandaMcKMiss MandaMcKmandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.comBlogger180125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-11500459190063530512008-07-10T02:23:00.002-05:002008-07-10T02:28:47.975-05:00Moving On Out<a href="http://www.kartoen.be/cartoons/happysad/moving.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://www.kartoen.be/cartoons/happysad/moving.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Some of you may have noticed the trend in writing recently...I'm turning into a foodie. With that in mind I decided it was time to take up writing about my creations and learnings in a more appropriate setting. Welcome <a href="http://www.amandamckenna.wordpress.com">This Little Piggy Went to Market</a>. I am starting to phase out the online "diary" style writing and phase in the online "things I'm really into" style writing so if I get some inspiration in places other than food you'll find it here but otherwise this blogspace will be pretty sparse due to my exciting explorations in food that can be found in my <a href="http://WWW.amandamckenna.wordpress.com">new online writing place</a>.<br />I hope you enjoy my food findings as much as I do!mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-76088901175614325242008-06-27T01:20:00.003-05:002008-06-27T01:43:13.141-05:00Off the WagonSometimes you fall off the wagon HARD and sometimes you just tumble off lightly.<br />Tonight my sweet tooth was outta control and after eating probably 15 Hershey Kisses at work I was more than off my healthy eating wagon. (Sorry upcoming triahtlon, I just couldn't help myself).<br /> <br />It's late, I'm staying up for no particular reason watching Alfred Hitchcock movies and episodes of The Iron Chef and I'm still noshin for s'more sweet goodness. I held off the urge for a good while but I'm losing this battle.<br /><br />So, I just ran into the kitchen and whipped up a little bit of spur the moment fly by the seat of yet pants goodness. Sometimes it's worth following the urges for the awesome creations that are bound to come from them!<br />So here it is, a McKenna original:<br /><br />-Almost Apple Crisp-<br /><br />Slice up 1 large Granny Smith Apple<br />Place in a medium frypan with 3 Tbs of butter<br />Add about 1 tsp fresh chopped ginger<br />About 4 Tbs sugar<br />About 1 Tbs flour<br />The juice of 1/4 of a lime<br />About 3 tsps cinnamon <br />About 1/4 tsp cumin<br /><br />Let apples carmelize over medium heat for about 4 minutes or until the apples are softened<br /><br />Spoon this over some <a href="http://www.fageusa.com/products.html">Fage Total 0% Greek Yogurt</a> and top with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grape-Nuts">Grape Nuts</a> and a little bit of honey.<br /><br />Seriously, a great combo of healthy things made into a totally unhealthy but super delish sweet dish.<br />Enjoy!mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-24982422812163800292008-06-25T10:51:00.004-05:002008-06-25T11:10:34.973-05:00Super Sweet Soup'n for the Summer'nSo I'm on a roll, I know I know. Two posts in less than 24 hours, what are you going to do with me? Well, this morning I decided to make some more soup(yes, soup again, I can't help it, it's my new love). <br />Anywho, I made some exciting waves today. I think I have two Italian market boyfriends at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Italian_Market_Vegetable_Stand_3000px.jpg">Giordani's</a>.<br />This means free/reduced rate produce. Who am I to hate on that? Plus, one of the guys introduced himself (I think his name is Roman, tough to understand with his strong accent)and I'm looking forward to coming back next week and hopefully getting a hello from him. Nothing like becoming a regular at your local market, makes the city feel so much more homey and close. <br />So the soup. Today it's butternut squash soup. There's definitely apple and Sauvignon Blanc in it too which is really exciting. I don't have a muddler or a food processor so making butternut squash puree in a blender was interesting. I used the end of a plastic spoon (should have used a wooden one) as a makeshift muddler and got it caught in the blades for a mere second and only once but it still led to a wild hunt for a few bits of black plastic in my squash puree. Ah, the learning curve. <br />So the soup isn't much to look at but it's currently simmering away in the ole crock pot and the combination of the sweetness from the apples and white wine mixed with the bite of fresh ginger root and buttery goodness of the squash makes for a rather intoxicating summer smell. <br />Today I used Bestest Best's larger crock and so there's enough to share. I know BestBud Down the Block wanted some so after I run some errands and go to the gym I'm going to pack some up to take to her at work. I'm pretty excited about it.<br />And now for a not so unheard of scene from my kitchen these days:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64qM0Ru17YDBNAFU_snx767dRKJqCSXfetm7enVtr9Otpodp8fSkVBE_Th3vykJHMYpudc2QVAWECZ4bDEkmO2aJN716y5AejjpJ52MQLrxl_HXIwjoqk8w6vPvTm3zSjTFR2/s1600-h/DSC09334.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64qM0Ru17YDBNAFU_snx767dRKJqCSXfetm7enVtr9Otpodp8fSkVBE_Th3vykJHMYpudc2QVAWECZ4bDEkmO2aJN716y5AejjpJ52MQLrxl_HXIwjoqk8w6vPvTm3zSjTFR2/s400/DSC09334.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215850334087990130" /></a><br />While looking at that bountiful rainbow of colors I would like to mention that on my travels today I plan on buying a bamboo cutting board. If you had any idea how excited I am about this you would probably poke fun but hey if you live near me know that you'll benefit because there will be more goodies coming your way!mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-21860936197125486072008-06-25T00:32:00.006-05:002008-06-25T10:51:50.515-05:00Grass Anyone?LEMONGRASS YOU POTHEADS! Yeesh.<br /><a href="http://z.about.com/d/thaifood/1/5/b/5/lemongrassstep1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://z.about.com/d/thaifood/1/5/b/5/lemongrassstep1.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Today I explored the world of Thai food and went the distance. Not only do I now have fish sauce and chili paste in my cupboard but I also had my first experience with lemongrass. <br /><a href="http://thaifood.about.com/od/thairecipesstepbystep/ss/lemongrasshowto.htm">Lemongrass is amazing</a>. As I peeled away the first layers of tough skin I was blown away with the smell. I never understood why <a href="http://www.ferrarapan.com/html/lemonhead.html">Lemonheads</a> smelled the way they do, I mean I've never met a lemon that smells like a Lemonhead. Well, Lemonheads must have gotten their stink inspiration from lemongrass! It's incredible. So this stuff is super tough and you have to chop the dickens out of it before it's really edible. I really want a pestel and morter so the next time I don't have to chop it up but rather I can grind the crap out of it! Anywho, I only needed a tablespoon for my recipe so I froze the rest of my prepared grass for future food fun.<br />So the lemongrass was for a tangy thai marinade for salmon fillets. The marinade involved the slightly scary fish sauce along with the lemongrass, regular and dark soy sauce, honey, vinegar, chili paste and garlic. I let the salmon fillets chill in the fridge with the marinade for about 40 minutes and then I pan seared it for about 5 minutes (no joke, the stuff cooks like whoa over the burner). <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6z9zO4iG2gfyDO743soeCzMtw6d6LDwj2uwRsGv3ql0iK4QJ2rmnI6VXsv-EqsHsdeM0p0M4nap8KGPqlMKLbnqFZJ3SnRbVPPSa3RZ8LRqTuLe09hF3uNs6knSeyWrOBGzXl/s1600-h/DSC09329.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6z9zO4iG2gfyDO743soeCzMtw6d6LDwj2uwRsGv3ql0iK4QJ2rmnI6VXsv-EqsHsdeM0p0M4nap8KGPqlMKLbnqFZJ3SnRbVPPSa3RZ8LRqTuLe09hF3uNs6knSeyWrOBGzXl/s400/DSC09329.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215692256734729906" /></a><br />I decided to make some rice pilaf to go along with the salmon and I figured I'd make use of some of the super ripe nectarines that I'd purchased at the market and throw those on top of everything along with fresh parsley.<br />I'm pretty happy with the results:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Vl-neVSFwK5cvvfuMedi2yPa-oHjJCEQdposMKFKkqiHWl-_2U4kWqXi2hUtN7WHDgmOcgo0DLQjw5no_Zk-YQCxqz4kNa3ua6Q20GPfn_6IHV_0BczGTB53stmQmK1lJgGb/s1600-h/DSC09332.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Vl-neVSFwK5cvvfuMedi2yPa-oHjJCEQdposMKFKkqiHWl-_2U4kWqXi2hUtN7WHDgmOcgo0DLQjw5no_Zk-YQCxqz4kNa3ua6Q20GPfn_6IHV_0BczGTB53stmQmK1lJgGb/s400/DSC09332.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215691995444111666" /></a>mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-19128583000165651152008-06-20T21:32:00.002-05:002008-06-20T21:41:26.213-05:00Chocolate isn't just for LoversMonday I got out of the city. It was amazing. Five of us piled into a <a href="http://www.phillycarshare.org/">Philly Car Share</a> car and drove out to <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl">Hershey, PA </a>to explore the lands of <a href="http://www.hersheypark.com/index.php">HersheyPark</a>. Roller coasters and chocolate, heck yes I was in heaven. The whole trip was in honor of my fellow Walnut Street Theatre worker, Angela. She turned 23 and brought in another year in style. Thanks to our theatre work schedule we were at the park on an off day which meant little or no lines for all the roller coasters and fewer children between the ages of 10 and 19. It was amazing. As much as I enjoyed getting on a roller coaster for the first time since going to <a href="http://www.cedarpoint.com/">CedarPoint</a> in high school I think I almost enjoyed the country air and the car travel as much if not more. I really needed that country air, those fields of corn and even the smell of cows.<br />Here's a few highlights c/o Angela and her disposable camera:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8mhPozWyNcBfiT8q3rxbaqMJ6yTllDDWpdlPWFInTBJftWYXXDXGFpWm2DlBiUijGCeAbJlsF18HoLH69OB20WJkGnuGLlGGZxMPb1Fv-yQXEcOmeF59ckJIR6FB5HAa_1oY/s1600-h/n9500198_31941979_2008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8mhPozWyNcBfiT8q3rxbaqMJ6yTllDDWpdlPWFInTBJftWYXXDXGFpWm2DlBiUijGCeAbJlsF18HoLH69OB20WJkGnuGLlGGZxMPb1Fv-yQXEcOmeF59ckJIR6FB5HAa_1oY/s400/n9500198_31941979_2008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214159232555207186" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipv5UTRTbJiX7Gdin1jHh6-NTuEQ6avuhDlPxtaX3XX-jruRgtFGo8_xjR6TCOW7CaLrRw_k3z_Narw7zu5p8L6BkP2QtJzw8ciW9DUB3Wp30AORxilRjbdnvPY92RGo2NCtFN/s1600-h/n9500198_31942000_7428.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipv5UTRTbJiX7Gdin1jHh6-NTuEQ6avuhDlPxtaX3XX-jruRgtFGo8_xjR6TCOW7CaLrRw_k3z_Narw7zu5p8L6BkP2QtJzw8ciW9DUB3Wp30AORxilRjbdnvPY92RGo2NCtFN/s400/n9500198_31942000_7428.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214159236715805554" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZxhAFCMduVHbl6DUWUl_K3AmRLfO_tZ4RcBhbCfLr8jvvv_fC4rlm0Jp5CFZv9db6sTGGmhkTocPJF9x_tYJlnlmBHL5DjFH0WHzvXcL2fSn8SkK665ODWdtJQxAcDeCQa86/s1600-h/n9500198_31941984_7334.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZxhAFCMduVHbl6DUWUl_K3AmRLfO_tZ4RcBhbCfLr8jvvv_fC4rlm0Jp5CFZv9db6sTGGmhkTocPJF9x_tYJlnlmBHL5DjFH0WHzvXcL2fSn8SkK665ODWdtJQxAcDeCQa86/s400/n9500198_31941984_7334.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214159243812181490" /></a>mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-87693941224911085762008-06-18T15:48:00.006-05:002008-06-18T16:08:25.155-05:00A Calorie is a CalorieSo last night I totally nerded out and took along with me to work my slow cooker cookbook as well as a "Just 100 Calories" cookbook that was added to the collection care of The Bestest Best. While at work I carefully planned out about 10 meals that we could enjoy over the next week that would be good for us and of course, yummy!<br />After pouring over my list of things to get at the market and grocery store I finally made up the complete list for todays adventures in foodiness.<br />Last night I was reading the <a href="http://www2.trainingbible.com/joesblog/2008/06/weight-loss.html">latest post </a>from my favorite triathlon man, Joe Friel and it was about losing weight prior to race day. It was very interesting and drove home the title of this post. I highly suggest reading it, it was an eye-opener for me and is generally just an interesting story.<br />Anywho, it got me thinking about calorie intake and how that could effect the way I do or do not lose weight in the coming weeks (did you know that losing 1 lb. takes approximately 10 seconds off of a running time?! HOLY CRAP!).<br />With calories in mind I decided to try one of the amazingly tasty sounding salads that the "Just 100 Calories" book lent to my liking. It's a combo of fruit (I used cantulope, red grapes and raspberries), veggies (red onions and a spring garden greens mix) and cottage cheese (1% milkfat). The cottage cheese has fresh basil, chives and parsley chopped up and mixed in and the fruits/veggies have an awesome dressing of soy sauce, honey, fresh squeezed lime juice and chiles for a little bite. All that yum for a mere 200 calories yo!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinERd4tLnilmwf-W7sqT3agT3QOB4IKN0J1gBL6LIFuerr1qTR_n1jizRGIaZ69YXQaHGIg5PM56ec94QSGD7bknHgxzDGRuZAiwgSCzeejO5C040DfPdg8y1MRSuW2M_9bmmy/s1600-h/DSC09325.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinERd4tLnilmwf-W7sqT3agT3QOB4IKN0J1gBL6LIFuerr1qTR_n1jizRGIaZ69YXQaHGIg5PM56ec94QSGD7bknHgxzDGRuZAiwgSCzeejO5C040DfPdg8y1MRSuW2M_9bmmy/s400/DSC09325.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213329218571986418" /></a><br />In addition to this salad goodness I'm in the process of making my first puree soup. This is it in it's pre-puree state in my crock pot. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MR2lKj-SPOBgP-HHLHy3jM1J_GPF3ILrZXk-2_cCmf1751cQDeqYXTBh34IMmAU-vaCsOkoeQYsi1rkiWGgp2aUjwnUAPbzvqPJQ88_amEKC_BMnZwh14vBNrJ7h56ilhx2W/s1600-h/DSC09327.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MR2lKj-SPOBgP-HHLHy3jM1J_GPF3ILrZXk-2_cCmf1751cQDeqYXTBh34IMmAU-vaCsOkoeQYsi1rkiWGgp2aUjwnUAPbzvqPJQ88_amEKC_BMnZwh14vBNrJ7h56ilhx2W/s400/DSC09327.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213330535185888194" /></a><br />It's a curried broccoli cream soup. It's packed with veggie goodness including leeks, onion, carrots, potatoes and of course, broccoli. I like this curry version, I think it will make for a nice descent from the usual Campbells super creamy milky version. Wish me luck on the whole "then transfer batches of the soup into your blender and blend so that it's just a little chunky." I feel like that could get messy/interesting!mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-11986187565190788502008-06-17T23:02:00.002-05:002008-06-17T23:13:49.397-05:00Sportster<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQuT2atmqImQbAmiqpoeIBfoQpX6kPJube-2EjmoFCm_9c_QzNpm59y3zC3WBCEMz3D4kZKAXtboHDbkKYq2q046iywSPaU9urj9KmrFE-uBMBrZzFLw9FcKWdFiize2CO8En/s1600-h/transition.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQuT2atmqImQbAmiqpoeIBfoQpX6kPJube-2EjmoFCm_9c_QzNpm59y3zC3WBCEMz3D4kZKAXtboHDbkKYq2q046iywSPaU9urj9KmrFE-uBMBrZzFLw9FcKWdFiize2CO8En/s400/transition.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213069810140690994" /></a><br /><br />As most of you know, I'm a terrible hipster, so terrible in fact, that I not only watch and play sports, but I actually ENJOY them, it's true! <br />Today was a big day for me. As much as I tried to act like it wasn't, it certainly ended up being exciting enough that I had little knots in my tummy. I got a call yesterday from <a href="http://www.bicycletherapy.com/">Bicycle Therapy</a> letting me know that my bike was fixed. As a general recap, last summer my bike and I had some <a href="http://mckennainphilly.blogspot.com/search/label/stupid%20bike%20crashes">tough tumbles</a>, tough enough to break me twice with the second tumble also breaking my bike. <br />A year later and nice new (and expensive) fork replacement later my bike is back on the road and so am I. As I walked west on South Street I felt confident in getting back on the proverbial horse and yet when my feet hit 20th Street, leaving me a mere 2 blocks from my destination (the bike shop) I felt my stomach knot up. Thankfully for me, no one that I know who works at the shop was in at the time of pick up so I didn't have to rehash my past bike woes and I was able to take my bike by the handlebars, direct her out onto the sidewalk and have a good heart to heart with her (yes, I was talking to my bike) before donning my helmet (ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET KIDS) and hopping on for the first time.<br />As my foot hit the pedal and turned it until it fit comfortably in the clip and my hands gripped the handlebars I could feel the fever coming back. There's nothing like being on a bike that fits you correctly. The pavement moved under me, my thumping heart slowed to a normal pace and I confidently rode from the shop to the gym and took out my U-Lock for the first time in a year to lock her up but not without smiling to myself.<br />I did it. I'm back on the bike and I'm refusing to make a huge deal of it except to say, I rode to work as well and the ride is so much less stressful than the ride I used to have from West Philadelphia to Center City every day. <br />Did I mention, just 25 days until my triathlon?!mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-76877387096973316192008-06-15T10:59:00.001-05:002008-06-15T11:00:39.800-05:00I Dream of Owning this House<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/garden/12puzzle.html?_r=1&ref=garden&oref=slogin#">The AWESOMEST APARTMENT IN THE UNIVERSE!</a>mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-37821339420987072592008-06-08T19:10:00.003-05:002008-06-08T19:26:06.312-05:00A Celebration of Beautiful BonesWell folks, the votes are in and the verdict is this, my wrist is looking great. I am still experiencing pain but he says that should be getting better over the course of the next few months. The celebration is official today. Here's my victory dance:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNTAuyqMFgs60DEFzY-D8KbFjswRAtyO0JkkdLhfJYzbnKE_Nw9y2js4GLiUKssaVdPvNy0iSo8SnZhFWCaxTj_8-xSv8s4nqNTLsWzYTwABd1P1dlAjmwhAGbfab59LwIwxj/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNTAuyqMFgs60DEFzY-D8KbFjswRAtyO0JkkdLhfJYzbnKE_Nw9y2js4GLiUKssaVdPvNy0iSo8SnZhFWCaxTj_8-xSv8s4nqNTLsWzYTwABd1P1dlAjmwhAGbfab59LwIwxj/s400/untitled.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209668598623771122" /></a><br />That's right, I am doing the<a href="www.cgiracing.com"> Philadelphia Women's Triathlon</a> again. I've been working out consistently for about two months but I haven't been doing tri-specific work so it's going to be a tough 5 weeks but I'm ready for it. It felt amazing doing a brick the other day and my core is definitely stronger this year which will make a huge difference in my endurance ability.<br />It's been a long, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnk1ZBCTv1FT94Q8Ci8jCTiXkggItaAM4MYosfMLAFJbvob1DXcI9UH9RD1RPY3-m2Z50Q0s1_6Wf8RWbd17gFfxETrxgBhwGGYbhy3JstqB2ohVU6OrbJgyUMh4G53tRUD3w/s1600-h/ouch2.bmp">tough road </a>but hitting that button to submit my registration felt amazing. I also love being able to tell people I'm doing it. There's something incredibly empowering about being able to say I'm doing it again and having people be inspired by that.<br />So here we go team. July 13th please come out and support your now-not-broken-but-now-bionic friend! I'll be racing, hopping into someone's car and heading to the theatre to work but during that time between the start and finish any and all voices will be greatly appreciated.mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-33137464957708079982008-06-06T14:25:00.006-05:002008-06-06T14:41:46.161-05:00Summer Sammies<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCP-nEBPh1lctp1caYVBtGyLxUReyscIMlnjPqGTe1rxw8FXdk2SuYgHlodoimGaGoDcI1QjH9_UdI4PTe257EmgeAaFy-t88pdT8GaWRR_AwHsl20ul8ob_pcNZT71dnWS6TI/s1600-h/DSC09323.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCP-nEBPh1lctp1caYVBtGyLxUReyscIMlnjPqGTe1rxw8FXdk2SuYgHlodoimGaGoDcI1QjH9_UdI4PTe257EmgeAaFy-t88pdT8GaWRR_AwHsl20ul8ob_pcNZT71dnWS6TI/s400/DSC09323.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208854822763436978" /></a><br />I love the way your body adjusts in the summer. Hot and heavy pastas and potato rich casseroles quickly seem too burdensome for the weather and give way to urges for chilled soups, salads and fresh sandwiches.<br />Today after my first <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2060611_do-brick-workout.html">brick workout</a> my body was feeling ready for a fresh but still stick to yer bones good meal. Like I've mentioned before, I really have started to explore the world of spices and sweet/salt combinations. I had great intentions to make a hominy and zucchini chili (I'm apparently on a zucc roll right now) today but after a) waking up much later than ever expected and b) heading to the gym without my wallet I decided the chili could hold off until Sunday or Monday. So I got home and scoured my fridge (I'm keeping up with my weekly/bi-weekly trips to the Italian Market) for something to eat. I settled on something I stumbled upon a few weeks ago, a toasted turkey, ham and raspberry jam sandwich. So the jam isn't exactly the healthiest but hey, it's not the worst thing I could put into my body either. Today I made it on hoagie bread thanks to the $1, I repeat $1 bag of day old hoagie bread (about 2 lbs I'm guessing) that I got at the market this week. I got it to make homemade croutons for that <a href="http://mckennainphilly.blogspot.com/2008/05/life-and-times-of-crock-pot-junkie.html">zucchini soup</a> and also to share with my new housemate the Bestest Best! Anywho, I wanted some fresh veggies as well and since I still had corn from that <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84cZzdkfPkOBwoMmYfbPgdvPxekovREXex5zzr3ZyJqd1kwEMYsFu-aQoQ93yV1EHqnD3fi0xiX6MF4YNtz8SHAOskKON1JdZ3shB2PLfYRMudzwjGbL06asljZnYRhmZaE6o/s1600-h/DSC09316.JPG">corn risotto</a> I decided I'd steam some corn. Steaming the corn quickly sounded like to hot of a choice on an 80 degree day and so I decided to cut it off the cob and eat it raw.<br />Eating corn raw is something a lot of people don't think to do. I never had until I worked on a farm and had co-workers who would grab ears off the stalk and open 'em up only to eat them right there in the field. Sweet corn is especially delicious chilly and raw! So I cut it off the cob and went to my spice cabinet and let my instincts guide me. A dash of cumin, sprinkle of cinnamon, drizzle of honey, splash of vinegar and drop of olive oil later and I found one of my new favorite veggie side dishes. I'm not sure what to call it but for now I'll just stick with DELICIOUS!mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-21608620731979992512008-05-30T13:30:00.004-05:002008-05-30T13:41:04.292-05:00Leftover Smeftover<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcdMBh3TO6tPCZXts_jDPFZWKPuejqMSts6hhVjZeOa55U5wdXSo58QUyYisQCKw8c21EK80u9yL0ERENNnD2kQci1ZrzDlAao875v-fRWCV6fB7Slct_UyC3B4B0BxVT-s1P/s1600-h/DSC09320.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcdMBh3TO6tPCZXts_jDPFZWKPuejqMSts6hhVjZeOa55U5wdXSo58QUyYisQCKw8c21EK80u9yL0ERENNnD2kQci1ZrzDlAao875v-fRWCV6fB7Slct_UyC3B4B0BxVT-s1P/s400/DSC09320.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206242333915470754" /></a><br /><br />One of my favorite challenges after making something with a lot of new ingredients is to use whatever leftover ingredients I have and incorporate them into food stuffs I normally have in my kitchen. Today I decided after a jaunt to the gym and a nice stretch and nap in the park that I needed something fresh but with substance to build me up after my workout. <br />Since I've been frequenting the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Market_(Philadelphia)">Italian Market</a> as well as the realms of my crock pot I have built up my spice rack and filled the produce drawers in my fridge. Speaking of fridges, I saw a fridge door on the side of the road last night on my walk home after work and I desperately wanted it but sadly knew I couldn't carry it alone for the 5 blocks ahead. Dang, what a rad "shelf". Anywho---so today's adventure led to a twist on my usual tunafish sandwich. <br />I used leftover shallots and grape tomotoes from my last crock pot adventure as well as some dill from a previous soup creation. I mixed these along with some Albacore canned tuna, about 4 tablespoons of mustard, 2 teaspoons of Miracle Whip and some Adobo (the catchall spice when in doubt). I put this over toasted cracked wheat bread and Romaine lettuce. <br />Let me tell you, I really won on this one! I also cut up some Granny Smith Apple wedges to top off my salt/sweet balance and Tah-Dah! <br />This is just one more reminder of how awesome it is to start exploring new ingredients while not forgetting about our favorite mainstays (like canned tuna for instance!). I would also like to add that my adjustment to eating more balanced has been a source of inspiration in the kitchen. I no longer eat because I know I should. I eat because I want to and because flavor exploration is becoming a really exciting endeavor. Spice up your life kids. It's totally worth it. (I have a ton of leftover fresh basil...the ideas are already "cooking" in my head!)mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-50597483430600512772008-05-28T13:50:00.009-05:002008-05-28T15:05:33.924-05:00The Life and Times of a Crock Pot JunkieSo the story starts about a year ago in West Philly when my best friend received a crock pot for Christmas that she then brought with her when she moved to our W. Philly apartment. Together we experimented with it and made delicious spaghetti sauce (my mother's famous recipe), incredible Indian delights and various things in between. The love of the crock lasted for about two months and then as we tend to do, we lost interest in spending money on good food and spent too many nights after work bellied up to our favorite bar, <a href="http://www.gooddogbar.com/">The Good Dog</a>.<br />Fast forward to a year later when the best buddy and I are no longer living together but are still the bestest of best. It's January 10th and I'm turning the big two four and she keeps talking about how she has the best gift ever for me but that I'm going to crack up when I open it. I open it hesitantly and then proceed to, just as she said I would, crack up. It's a crock pot cook book for cooking in a small crock. "The crock pot is at my house" she says, "cuz I didn't want to drag it to <a href="http://cityguide.aol.com/philadelphia/bars/tattooed-mom/v-108103176">Tattooed Mom's</a> for you to open." She got me this amazing <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Your-Mothers-Slow-Cooker-Recipes/dp/1558323406/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212000970&sr=1-3">cook book</a>:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_CnjVeVqD5D1SYgtuUBFtuuU2QzdBuuBcYfmdCdxX3ucqJNH4B9xDgjdaZCRJJXHIG4-5SmIUBr4i2KbLKCFK45w7QYbRfeGj5BbDGgvAT6hleXoLU5a8iOYhcb0JAlO8h42/s1600-h/DSC09305.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_CnjVeVqD5D1SYgtuUBFtuuU2QzdBuuBcYfmdCdxX3ucqJNH4B9xDgjdaZCRJJXHIG4-5SmIUBr4i2KbLKCFK45w7QYbRfeGj5BbDGgvAT6hleXoLU5a8iOYhcb0JAlO8h42/s400/DSC09305.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205504329684998930" /></a><br />..as well as a lovely 1.5 qt.crock:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWd_3BWMlEclEu34s3GmxfvQZ0_8gHWUg0WujyBE9ZQay563HHM7tKF6DcYAr2bl8UmvKuuVhyF3pLvuEs4ixImmB03Rf1rJVhEPdJh-uM1tDHgbxeOBWoh8honMzCwIbf_03m/s1600-h/DSC09303.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWd_3BWMlEclEu34s3GmxfvQZ0_8gHWUg0WujyBE9ZQay563HHM7tKF6DcYAr2bl8UmvKuuVhyF3pLvuEs4ixImmB03Rf1rJVhEPdJh-uM1tDHgbxeOBWoh8honMzCwIbf_03m/s400/DSC09303.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205505081304275746" /></a><br />Now that I live in South Philly and the Italian Market is mere blocks away I've started to really explore my crock. In the last few months I've made everything from hot dips to soups and marinated meats. A couple of stand outs were a zucchini soup (a recipe allegedly from a 1950's magazine that was cited as being Katherine Hepburn's favorite---lady's got good taste!) made with curry and cayenne pepper (I added corn to make it a little more robust, it was a good choice!) and a Moroccan spiced chicken over whole wheat couscous. I recently made the latter for my co-workers and anyone who works at the <a href="http://www.walnutstreettheatre.org">Walnut Street Theatre</a> knows my boss is a picky eater who isn't much for exploring new foods. She loved it so much she was trying to steal bits off of my apprentices' plates! <br />Today I'm moving onto a bit of a summer plate. I'm making fresh corn risotto in the crock and to go along with it I'm making some "fly by the seat of my pants" citrus chili chicken. I only have one crock so I'm going to marinade and simmer the chicken over a slow flame in a pan but if I had two crocks I can guarantee you that the chicken would be marinading crock-style as well!<br />Today's ingredients:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKu5zGkVSCLLsLzo5HWqoRi56q3ELQtQlB1lC9t4-u8D32dSIMMDuUu2dglJJwKrYBBIeHJ6-3vmuWMv5M-60SQEKmrnWGFbA0oe1KgNmINFP8A353XdOYgzd3wEG9X3C5hQE/s1600-h/DSC09307.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKu5zGkVSCLLsLzo5HWqoRi56q3ELQtQlB1lC9t4-u8D32dSIMMDuUu2dglJJwKrYBBIeHJ6-3vmuWMv5M-60SQEKmrnWGFbA0oe1KgNmINFP8A353XdOYgzd3wEG9X3C5hQE/s400/DSC09307.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205506764931455794" /></a><br />Fresh basil, lemons, limes and corn from the market as well as some plum tomatoes. The colors are enough to put a smile on my face!<br />Check out the marinading chicken too:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9fD-M-rOVDpHxGJkZdJqXbG4bUpE3n_ECnZEujoRW32t5_htOnJqeYM93mW3BG2s3vrMPxK58vc6Q0B6uCXbPBF8lmavRGaLt7fkUlbQzOXetw7pAMLQ4ioldt5Ts-fPulb5/s1600-h/DSC09306.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9fD-M-rOVDpHxGJkZdJqXbG4bUpE3n_ECnZEujoRW32t5_htOnJqeYM93mW3BG2s3vrMPxK58vc6Q0B6uCXbPBF8lmavRGaLt7fkUlbQzOXetw7pAMLQ4ioldt5Ts-fPulb5/s400/DSC09306.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205507396291648322" /></a><br />and in the pan:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj16kBn1PqL1k7E_6c7BSAQaDqr2moam4Q0BnwqkZBFYhQrZ-FOWBJpjyir9dUv0vvq0TYYN5KKl1BUKPRYOnwWxTqn9zA-jVClBjKDh0p6VnSj-N7nZnT_6ll_a4fSaGD7260/s1600-h/DSC09310.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj16kBn1PqL1k7E_6c7BSAQaDqr2moam4Q0BnwqkZBFYhQrZ-FOWBJpjyir9dUv0vvq0TYYN5KKl1BUKPRYOnwWxTqn9zA-jVClBjKDh0p6VnSj-N7nZnT_6ll_a4fSaGD7260/s400/DSC09310.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205520285488503650" /></a><br />This one I made up as I went: Mild cayenne pepper from the Spice Shop in the market, Adobo, a clove of fresh garlic, one lemon peeled and squeezed, one lime sliced, one lime juiced, 1/3 can of Goya Passion Fruit cocktail and pepper. We'll see how it goes!<br /><br />Here's the finished products:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84cZzdkfPkOBwoMmYfbPgdvPxekovREXex5zzr3ZyJqd1kwEMYsFu-aQoQ93yV1EHqnD3fi0xiX6MF4YNtz8SHAOskKON1JdZ3shB2PLfYRMudzwjGbL06asljZnYRhmZaE6o/s1600-h/DSC09316.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84cZzdkfPkOBwoMmYfbPgdvPxekovREXex5zzr3ZyJqd1kwEMYsFu-aQoQ93yV1EHqnD3fi0xiX6MF4YNtz8SHAOskKON1JdZ3shB2PLfYRMudzwjGbL06asljZnYRhmZaE6o/s400/DSC09316.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205522321303002002" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9B-dTWoQYyitAkCZe40AcKx0jBh_hMTbvBYIygb7SgbQUcmEv81mmTAorXQ4XMAOp83ySqyHcGz1co0Onpe7e0NRPSB348l_N_gF9B5-Xlns0tuH4v0Vo2nu5VAq760xdF90/s1600-h/DSC09315.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9B-dTWoQYyitAkCZe40AcKx0jBh_hMTbvBYIygb7SgbQUcmEv81mmTAorXQ4XMAOp83ySqyHcGz1co0Onpe7e0NRPSB348l_N_gF9B5-Xlns0tuH4v0Vo2nu5VAq760xdF90/s400/DSC09315.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205522050720062322" /></a><br /><br />The chicken has some good bite and turned out quite tender. This semi-Caribbean style chicken goes awesome with the Italian corn risotto dish thanks to the lightness of the corn in the risotto meshing well with the lime and lemon in the chicken. I'm not sure what sparked my idea to make a lime flavored chicken with a corn risotto but I give it a thumbs up---of course, I'm the chef here so my opinion may be biased. I did, however, make up a plate for the bestest best as she is moving into my place tonight. With that in mind, watch out Philadelphia the Michigan gals are back together and about to cause some serious trouble!mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-55405319904669509242008-05-22T12:20:00.004-05:002008-05-22T12:32:26.209-05:00A Two-Sided Argument of Loneliness<a href="http://www.flyweb.nl/images/alone_full.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://www.flyweb.nl/images/alone_full.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I'm stuck on a feeling recently. The feeling of being left alone. I'm working it out through song and it's becoming a bit of an obsession. I've written two new songs in the last two weeks and both are centered around leaving someone alone or being left alone. <br />I've condemned myself to a bubble lately. It's not bad so to speak but on the same token it's working against any effort to abort this sense of loneliness. I find myself in social situations and trying to branch out and to meet new people in an effort to attempt this world known as dating and making new friends. And yet, as soon as I start to do this my feelings of loneliness make me feel ill equipped for the job and I skulk back into my comfort zone and sit with people who are my good friends. Or I simply<a href="http://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/season/images/enlarge/lesmis01.jpg"> barricade </a>myself in my room with my guitar. <br />It's a strange back and forth. It's as though I am fighting with myself all of the time. The issue is, I never win. (ha ha). So where do I go from here? I'm not sure. <br />Last night was opening night of <a href="http://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/season/images/enlarge/lesmis04.jpg">Les Mis</a>. I tried to talk to some new people. It started to be a lot of work for me as more drinks entered my body and I quickly ran back to my comfort zone, my closest friends. Ah well, what can I do? I guess at this point, just roll with what feels right and let the new faces find me.mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-80971934987679425612008-05-15T23:54:00.003-05:002008-05-16T00:10:42.548-05:00Seperation of Church and State<a href="http://www.whoaah.com/images/skilt.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://www.whoaah.com/images/skilt.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />What about seperation of work and play? I'm starting to get weirded out by people asking where I was after work or on days off like I've done something wrong by going out and about. I was asked by my boss today if I had gone to the bar the night before. I had in fact gone home after work and fallen asleep quite quickly due to exhaustion. I was then asked if I'd gone out the night before last. Instead of asking why I was being grilled I just said yes that I'd gone out for a few beers with some friends. Truth be told though, I'm annoyed at myself for answering. What I do in my time outside of work is really my business. But since I'm really a rather boring story I might as well just lay it out even though it's boring:<br /><br />Sometimes I go out to a bar and drink beer with my friends. Sometimes I sit in my room and play my guitar for hours. Sometimes I sit in my room with my friends and drink beer and play my guitar for hours. Sometimes I clean my room, sometimes I do puzzles, sometimes I lay in the park sleeping and soaking up the sunshine, most days I go to the gym and sweat like crazy, some days I read and write and sing along to music too loudly.<br /><br />I told you it was boring. Really...Who cares? I have nothing to hide. I'm really a rather humdrum kinda gal.mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-18525764787802076952008-05-14T23:28:00.003-05:002008-05-14T23:59:53.974-05:00Prayer of Saint Francis"Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; <br />where there is hatred, let me sow love; <br />where there is injury, pardon; <br />where there is doubt, faith; <br />where there is despair, hope; <br />where there is darkness, light; <br />and where there is sadness, joy. <br />O Divine Master, <br />grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; <br />to be understood, as to understand; <br />to be loved, as to love; <br />for it is in giving that we receive, <br />it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, <br />and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life." <br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_of_Saint_Francis">Amen</a>. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/mob-angry.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/mob-angry.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />These are words to live by when you find yourself surrounded by angry people asking things of you that you cannot give them because you have no control over the outcome of the things they are asking you to give. Tonight was a night to remember.<br />House management has taught me the importance of patience as well as the necessity of allowing things to hit you and roll off. <br />As I stood at the entrance of the lobby with a basket of hearing devices during intermission a growing group of angry people surrounded me complaining about the sound. After calmly explaining why there were inconsistances in the sound (it's preview week, the production staff is still working out kinks) and then continuing on to let them know it was a work in progress (did I mention preview week tickets are cheaper because the show gets fine-tuned during this week?!) and not something I personally could control (since when am I a sound guy?) I found myself surrounded by an angry mob (thank goodness we don't allow people to bring pitchforks or torches into the theatre). I then went on to calmly explain who they could contact to complain (I'm in house management yo, I can't do shit about the sound!) but sadly they were out for blood. In their minds because I was in charge of the hearing aids I must have some control over the sound. It was quite frustrating to repeat myself over and over only to be able to say "I'm sorry" because I could not change anything for them. Multiple people really tore into me tonight. One man went so far as to find me later just before Act II began and yell at me again and again at the end of the night when he asked for my name so he could call the head man and complain.<br />Thankfully there are beautiful, understanding people in the world as well. I had one gentleman come up to me after the performance and talk to me. He had been trying to get a hearing device in the midst of the shitstorm and I had desperately tried to explain to him the way the headsets work over the screaming voices of the other disgruntled patrons. He commended me for keeping calm and being patient. He even told me I deserved a "gold star". Thank you sir. You are the reason I get through the days...well you and those two handfuls of peanut M&M's I just devoured. But really, I do still love my job, even when people treat me like a punching bag.mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-19319221368582824902008-04-26T20:44:00.003-05:002008-04-26T20:51:25.782-05:00What I've Eaten Today......because it's totally disgusting and I feel like throwing up now.<br /><a href="http://www.businessinnovationinsider.com/images/2006/05/Goodyear%20blimp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://www.businessinnovationinsider.com/images/2006/05/Goodyear%20blimp.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />2 pieces of pizza<br />1 bowl of cereal<br />1/2 grapefruit<br />1 small tea cookie<br />1 handful Hershey kisses<br />1 cup Dunkin Donut coffee<br />3 doughnuts (no, I'm not even kidding)<br />1 bagel, cheese and egg sandwich<br />1 Drumstick ice cream cone<br /><br />If this doesn't spell out the words "First Day of My Period" I don't know what does.<br /><br />Cue my stomach exploding all those inches off my hips/thighs that I've lost in the last 2 months coming back in a day.<br />Gross.mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-4845432516912292522008-04-24T22:23:00.002-05:002008-04-24T22:27:06.303-05:00I've Been on a Beatles Kick...and this just made it better, better, better, <a href="http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/beatles/hey+jude_20014845.html">AHHHHHH</a>:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KNHLywCfnHI&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KNHLywCfnHI&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-78547890097283920162008-04-14T23:12:00.004-05:002008-04-14T23:51:01.849-05:00Nothing Left to Lose<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDn8S7PjYydUOSE8EVZ852PbvykEXXh61cvFw2iV1xZi2xJCwmZHyEryw7NvjW8ZVN1BA6KICdDpeuTlOkZzPaDqwLfuiAhSlYMWPBw1HACodOU526vayWqmOFNv8xDIEi8CLi/s1600-h/DSC09285.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDn8S7PjYydUOSE8EVZ852PbvykEXXh61cvFw2iV1xZi2xJCwmZHyEryw7NvjW8ZVN1BA6KICdDpeuTlOkZzPaDqwLfuiAhSlYMWPBw1HACodOU526vayWqmOFNv8xDIEi8CLi/s400/DSC09285.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189328464750424834" /></a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_(Joni_Mitchell_album)">"Oh I am a lonley painter. I live in a box of paints. I'm frightened by the devil and I'm drawn to those ones who ain't afraid."</a><br />Sing it to me Joni. There's something so strangely childlike and yet motherly in the tone of Joni Mitchell's voice and verse.<br /><br />It's been a week. I thought I'd recovered from a stressful week (as in 2 weeks ago) but realized quickly I had not. Things have been rough. I've been a whipping boy for things out of my control within my working environment and when you log 6 days a week with 3 days being 12 hr days, that makes for a difficult work life.<br />Beyond work I've been the winner of a personal raincloud. Wednesday night we celebrated the birthday of my lovely <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=17302458&ref=ts">co-worker</a> and somewhere on my walk home from Cantina my license and debit card fell out of my pocket. I immediately called the restaurant and then retraced my steps that same night. I found my gloves (they too had fallen out of my pocket) but no cards. I've been dealing with getting my driver's license so I can fly to Michigan in two weeks. Tomorrow I'll be at the DMV on Columbus between Dickinson and Morris if anyone wants to hang out with me! <br />Friday my phone died unexpectedly. After going through the silliness of adding Beth to my account (since I didn't have ID to show I had to add someone authorized to my account who DID have identification) and after getting a new phone my old phone randomly started working again fine. I think I'm going to take the new one back and hopefully when my phone dies for good I can get a nice phone unlike the <a href="http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/detail/detail.do?group=mobilephones&type=mobilephones&subtype=t_mobile&model_cd=SGH-T219SRBTMB">POS</a> I'd orginally gotten since I'm poor right now.<br />Somewhere in the midst of this I received a not so exciting and entirely unexpected bill from my dentist for work I had done after my bike accident (it's going to be a year June 15th, I hate medical BS) and Saturday morning my cat peed on the dress I had laid out for work.<br />I'm strangely not losing my mind completely though I did spend 30 minutes on the phone with my mom today talking through everything. She always makes me feel better and can make me smile no matter the situation. She sent my birth certificate to me so I could get my license and wrote a note that started out "I think you went a little overboard by losing your license just so I would write you a letter."<br />I can't wait to see my family in two weeks.<br />One nice surprise was the great haircut <a href="http://www.jaymccarroll.com/">Jay</a> gave me in the girls' kitchen the other night. I think he cut my hair with fabric scissors but that just makes it all the more funny and fitting I suppose. <br /><br />Today <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=423406">Dalice</a> and I sat in the park. I can't wait to live all day in Jefferson Square Park this summer. I can't I can't I can't. (I'm starting to live in the park this Friday when it's supposed to be 79 degrees!)mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-62886147988962186342008-04-02T15:23:00.005-05:002008-04-02T15:40:49.502-05:00Medicine Means Money<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwzwc1iQiE3ShfHKc52jxSmGOwrp2D8qxCxdB26RDduUEDKwBxbZNpRU-99DE8fgzsnrcSZAC47lYu-rqslgW8x1zhFdNvXcl0w4mxaPJjTWmbKQEabPqA1R95wpjA9h41VRg/s1600-h/transition.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwzwc1iQiE3ShfHKc52jxSmGOwrp2D8qxCxdB26RDduUEDKwBxbZNpRU-99DE8fgzsnrcSZAC47lYu-rqslgW8x1zhFdNvXcl0w4mxaPJjTWmbKQEabPqA1R95wpjA9h41VRg/s400/transition.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184749931336147602" /></a><br />I'm growing and learning and sadly becoming responsible...almost. Today I managed to purchase my opening night dress for Les Mis from the <a href="http://www.areucurious.org">Curiosity Shoppe</a>, in spite of not having any money/needing to use that money for medical things. You see The Curiosity Shoppe a thrift shop and I was in love and so I couldn't NOT get it?! I played the "my rent check hasn't gotten to my landlord and I get paid tomorrow" game. That's a dangerous game to play but it's almost 5pm and the banks are closing and my rent check won't get to my landlord in Florida for at least another day so I'm fine. Gosh I sound like I'm still in college.<br />Today I went to the physical therapist for the last time. My muscles surrounding my knees have gotten exponentially stronger and my doc said I was looking good. Before saying my final goodbyes to my PT's I learned how to tape my kneecap in place, crazy. I was going to buy tape from them but they wanted $15 for the undertape and $15 for the medical tape (<a href="http://www.medicaloutfitters.net/images/Cat/Large/BSN_LeukotapeTape%20_LG.jpg">Leuko Tape</a>). In all of my years of sports I have never paid more than $6 for a good roll of medical tape so I said "naw way yo" and plan on doing some online research and getting a deal (or possibly taking advantage of Aunt Suz's affiliated w/ a hospital.). I also have to get this stuff called "<a href="http://www.nutramaxlabs.com/products/human/cosamin/index.asp">Cosamin</a>", it's a glucose suppliment that is going to help maintain the cartilidge levels in my bod (mostly needed for under my kneecaps). I went to Walgreens and found it, $32 for a bottle of 72 pills. Whatev's yo. I'm going online and finding a Canadian friend to buy me drugs, yeesh!<br />Medicine is expensive.mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-62147213862398233972008-03-17T20:09:00.002-05:002008-03-17T20:17:51.615-05:00Fresh Air<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3kbW4ibIF8U&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3kbW4ibIF8U&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br />I need some. I find myself sighing loudly and uncotrollably. I don't even realize I'm doing it until a co-worker, housemate or friend looks at me with the "what's wrong" face.<br />I have 4 friends from out of town coming in over the next 7 days. I have to split my time this weekend so as to make sure I can be available as much as possible with Miss Ali Kay and my Chicago gals Trish and Jamie since flights/trains are expensive and through crazy scheduling the 3 of them will be here during the same period of time. Justin will arrive day after tomorrrow and stay overnight for a short stint in the City of Brotherly love but it will be nice to see him since I was still living in Kalamazoo the last time I say him.<br />Fresh air.<br />Come find me. The asthma is settling in my lungs and in my bones. This room is where I am. This room is where I stay. Pull me out into the sunshine and into the AIR. BREATHE!mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-84328193760713456262008-03-08T10:30:00.009-05:002008-03-08T11:00:16.921-05:00AKA NE Regional StepshowDamn. Those. Ladies. And. Gents. Can. Move.<br /><br />Lets talk about my experience last night. I was invited to attend the AKA (That's <a href="http://www.aka1908.com/">Alpha Kappa Alpha</a>) Northeast Regional Stepshow at the Philadelphia Marriott. My hostesses with the mostesses were <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=35601072">Nicole</a> (my apprentice) and her mother. Rounding out the crew was Nicole's good friend Percy. It was crazy. I have never been in a room with so many beautiful, charasimatic women (there were gents there too but this was a conference for a national African American sorority so you can guess the ridiculous male to female ratio).<br />Speaking of ratios...In a room of 3000 (and not counting the soundguy) I was the only white person. It was pretty awesome and hilarious. When Percy got seperated from us, we weren't worried...he just had to look for the white girl to know where we were sitting.<br />So lets talk specifics. AKA's are serious workers. They are dedicated to their sisters and to their sorority in ways I never could have imagined. There were women there in their 60's and 70's all the way down to girls in their sophomore year of college but they all had charisma and were proud to be members of this family. I felt honored to see such comradery among women spanning such a distance of time and location.<br />Moving on to the stepshow. Holy crap. Arms and legs, jumps, clapping, flips and canes. Truly brilliant. Thanks to Nicole for some great photos from the night:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2aHIQM2rtfeUfnE84tLhSpCSBxL6EOWueKdwmmY6w-1wwSqY8tBWNDwdsXrE0ZKAhgX4I_oF8q7yOkcYloWGBZeGX7ro2YveVUBEjfyNPE9lPzvGpvSj0wBY092RSsy1WvIL/s1600-h/gracioushosts.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2aHIQM2rtfeUfnE84tLhSpCSBxL6EOWueKdwmmY6w-1wwSqY8tBWNDwdsXrE0ZKAhgX4I_oF8q7yOkcYloWGBZeGX7ro2YveVUBEjfyNPE9lPzvGpvSj0wBY092RSsy1WvIL/s400/gracioushosts.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175399224839635858" /></a><br />My gracious hostesses<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7gu_Qj83sM_MfDxYRMEMUV5MBwuSxf1vFdvIT4oa9dsMgIk0XypitcN4TQbdBhes2hvUWVESZzwfz9a2PlAkHzLCxsweUcZjie_foT6PM7W_EwBmldH3c551Btv6bhh6jxWl/s1600-h/whitegirl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7gu_Qj83sM_MfDxYRMEMUV5MBwuSxf1vFdvIT4oa9dsMgIk0XypitcN4TQbdBhes2hvUWVESZzwfz9a2PlAkHzLCxsweUcZjie_foT6PM7W_EwBmldH3c551Btv6bhh6jxWl/s400/whitegirl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175399229134603170" /></a><br />"Am I the only white girl here?!"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOfxOzvWxuLk2vjuSNyr3tE5v67M7XRgJ-vml3ISrllA16ebyJZnuwbUvDb4qiOGjs2866yeTOabO1wgCCzab37NCvAhyphenhyphenQ39G_R0oux2ZpQiABiU2XbN1ZvmLyWtzDDgUDLeI/s1600-h/TLC.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOfxOzvWxuLk2vjuSNyr3tE5v67M7XRgJ-vml3ISrllA16ebyJZnuwbUvDb4qiOGjs2866yeTOabO1wgCCzab37NCvAhyphenhyphenQ39G_R0oux2ZpQiABiU2XbN1ZvmLyWtzDDgUDLeI/s400/TLC.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175399229134603186" /></a><br />They called this "TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs"---they also won the frat competition, I mean c'mon, they were steppin on tables lifted in the air!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0vJzCT4B7dpG5zdBqFHdW55MStiPEJYVsJpu7Pq62-mVFkWm40rQI0cRRB6fmLdgp4cfyBTcy1g7pfwlLJQwIdVTdfOIwItKbT3-JT4y7BMc_zI8shEKNt2iBHB6m7g1tIgK/s1600-h/blindfolded.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0vJzCT4B7dpG5zdBqFHdW55MStiPEJYVsJpu7Pq62-mVFkWm40rQI0cRRB6fmLdgp4cfyBTcy1g7pfwlLJQwIdVTdfOIwItKbT3-JT4y7BMc_zI8shEKNt2iBHB6m7g1tIgK/s400/blindfolded.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175398241292124994" /></a><br />Third place: These girls can step with blindfolds on<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeid1P1LEBuffnLOzN_lhgp7LGA7WZm8Yv_w0TdYrFWSMdgWYlJQRCF60sf58ag0HNO5pIIjnQnopE-r2GKCtoxSThTRGHSGI83rUYpWmqS1zrBFoQvc0jKZyCRQ-ztkpoKLp/s1600-h/Bringit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeid1P1LEBuffnLOzN_lhgp7LGA7WZm8Yv_w0TdYrFWSMdgWYlJQRCF60sf58ag0HNO5pIIjnQnopE-r2GKCtoxSThTRGHSGI83rUYpWmqS1zrBFoQvc0jKZyCRQ-ztkpoKLp/s400/Bringit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175398249882059602" /></a><br />The AKA Winners: They brought it...HARD.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9GC3lnW5HeyaSlp7ROu3SOu_Gbud2ygcFXqYxXrxPyapKYHoIbSu2O-a-qKEcIGdUW2so1pPQ1kIGCZXvVxAkFveViMVN-dWQsD7ZHvtD-qakXVsJdWk4EJHevGik0LJkdrl/s1600-h/canes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9GC3lnW5HeyaSlp7ROu3SOu_Gbud2ygcFXqYxXrxPyapKYHoIbSu2O-a-qKEcIGdUW2so1pPQ1kIGCZXvVxAkFveViMVN-dWQsD7ZHvtD-qakXVsJdWk4EJHevGik0LJkdrl/s400/canes.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175398249882059618" /></a><br />Some frats came and showed me how the fellas use canes<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesNRDHoL9HaphoaABsZSHLdwrEgrLo9Gtn9Z8Zo_EeVrZoKgnDsOzKc1vljyUmBQasjY5oKZp3ASXIWnRkU5ck1gEoOwDVJpkF2UgQgf-0FzkbJDZWLScQK4dnx7br-z5xKNa/s1600-h/crew.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesNRDHoL9HaphoaABsZSHLdwrEgrLo9Gtn9Z8Zo_EeVrZoKgnDsOzKc1vljyUmBQasjY5oKZp3ASXIWnRkU5ck1gEoOwDVJpkF2UgQgf-0FzkbJDZWLScQK4dnx7br-z5xKNa/s400/crew.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175398254177026930" /></a><br />The crew: "White girl, Percy-I-<3-My-Phone and Nicole (I never stop playin) Armbrister<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftYQJa6_IT-4xeyaXkwJ14I2K-tdmukK2O-fnUHBCPUNAZKhhYfbfwt3HqhffAtT1cIm0s4En5hPxE4dB7Myz_S7SFJzWJpWVbWcvbXdm9cowHY9psOJksb_elqyVdSlIGRH_/s1600-h/EVOLUTION.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftYQJa6_IT-4xeyaXkwJ14I2K-tdmukK2O-fnUHBCPUNAZKhhYfbfwt3HqhffAtT1cIm0s4En5hPxE4dB7Myz_S7SFJzWJpWVbWcvbXdm9cowHY9psOJksb_elqyVdSlIGRH_/s400/EVOLUTION.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175398258471994242" /></a><br />Look closely folks, these guys gave us a living version of "Evolution"mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-33198286110008288482008-03-06T20:58:00.003-05:002008-03-06T21:05:08.297-05:00This is Where it Gets Tricky<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTG5hK_JabDD-rD7h2aoW7dcl4yLi_DlHcUo48-kiG0ONyNA4LTFTuyNNAC0b-FqdgY784NcQhf7I8KpQLzaUbpzM47nLejyw5jZ8H9Pv0tPxYRfpNHLA9SBehggo6w0MnbwC/s1600-h/who+knows.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTG5hK_JabDD-rD7h2aoW7dcl4yLi_DlHcUo48-kiG0ONyNA4LTFTuyNNAC0b-FqdgY784NcQhf7I8KpQLzaUbpzM47nLejyw5jZ8H9Pv0tPxYRfpNHLA9SBehggo6w0MnbwC/s400/who+knows.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174814763342837970" /></a><br />I had a conversation a few weeks ago with a good friend about chemical imbalances and the need/lack of need for medication. We talked about awareness and the ability to understand an emotion or feeling and then take a plan of action whether good or bad to correct it or to work through it or to merely expereience it.<br />Some days it's easier for me to ignore than to do any of the above. But then there are the days where I understand the mood and the disposition and go with it for good or for bad and ride it out. The waves can be creative overloads or they can be crashing downs but somewhere along the way I just remember that it's all ME.<br />I don't want to be numb. I'll take my hurricanes along with my sweet summer breezes. In my attempt to keep on an even keel I've grown a bit numb on my own terms (without the help of all the medications Phizer may want to shove down my throat). I'm trying to experience extreme emotion. I'm scared of it. It allows others to see my vulnerable spots. I don't know how I feel about that but it's got to be better than ALWAYS living in the mediocre middle.<br />Silliness.<br />Sadness.<br />Love.<br />Pain.<br />Sometimes it takes a moment to realize you've been on the bench, eagerly awaiting your chance to play in the game.mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-961362290979908672008-02-27T11:12:00.004-05:002008-02-27T11:23:24.833-05:00Train of Thought<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJyKmN7bKveM7-AKgTQ51nuu33IDfxfEMu4n1zI8qlAc16bKxjgobbBi1P9OawzKCHEjwbBvZuZIPI53vCdd9cF52ltdRdu3CbM1JuxWadro8RL69xx2CMtQo-CWMvh7jmIke/s1600-h/DSC09233.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJyKmN7bKveM7-AKgTQ51nuu33IDfxfEMu4n1zI8qlAc16bKxjgobbBi1P9OawzKCHEjwbBvZuZIPI53vCdd9cF52ltdRdu3CbM1JuxWadro8RL69xx2CMtQo-CWMvh7jmIke/s400/DSC09233.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171695180822440354" /></a><br />Elliott just doesn't take my work seriously.<br /><br /><br />Yesterday I lent myself to some train of thought writing. It's always interesting when I allow myself to fall into that place somewhere between being totally aware and entirely gone. Allowing my pen (or rather computer keys) to document the trip is even more interesting. <br />I sometimes look back and can't believe some of the things I've written because I was only somewhat aware that the ideas had passed through my stream of consciousness. <br />I'm continuing to make myself set aside time each week to explore things of the creative nature. Yesterday I did what might be called stream of consciousness drawing and discovered a subject that I am currently obsessed with (and rightfully so) is hands and wrists. <br />Monday I found out that the ultrasound machine that I'm using on my wrist is starting to help my bone to heal but that I'm still dealing with a section of bone that isn't repaired. I'm going to use it for another 8 weeks and at the end of that time if I am not healed I am officially a candidate for a bone graf. That does not sound like something I want to have happen in my life!<br />So I just kept coming back to wrists, hands and arms. I especially love the way large, strong hands look. I have an idea brewing for the aforementioned art show I'd like to do. I want to start constructing something with one of the desk drawers I found. I want to make this idea a reality.<br />Speaking of reality, I watched "Reality Bites" yesterday. What a grand escape into the 1990's. The Big Gulp never had it so good.mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-48963586907803738652008-02-22T20:30:00.003-05:002008-02-22T20:51:28.974-05:00Underneath it All<a href="http://archaeography.com/photoblog/archives/Lourido.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://archaeography.com/photoblog/archives/Lourido.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />It's been an interesting few weeks. I've allowed my usual guard down and done my best to take everything as it came rushing or trickling toward me. I have a bad habit of assuming the worst in people and closing myself off. The problem is that 9 times out of 10 my first instinct is correct. This time I was hoping to be proven wrong and if you would have spoken to me a few days ago I would have said it was finally happening...but today I'm not so sure.<br />You see, this morning I began to clean my cluttered room and as I peeled away the layers I began to draw paralells to my life. Underneath some piles of clothing I found amazing discoveries--shirts I'd been in search of for weeks, a favorite pen, a misplaced journal, a plethora of guitar pics. In other parts of my room I found unwanted tidbits--a depressing bill, a dirty dish, a broken trinket, a bent photograph. I suppose that's the gamble you take as you clean a place that has been allowed to fall into a state of chaos. You never know what you are going to find, despite being familiar with it for an extended period of time. You never know what might filter through to the surface. <br />Some of it is ugly. Some of it is brilliant.<br />In the case of my room, I've rediscovered a space that makes me feel at ease. I've straightened out things that haven't felt right since moving in and have made my room into a place that I can be relaxed in as well as productive.<br />People aren't quite as simple. Even though I was beginning to see the glimmer of something sweet underneath, I am starting to wonder if I had my hopes set on fools gold. I'm trying not to close up and walk away but sometimes it's important to know the difference between a "fixer-upper" and a room that should be condemned.mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367699.post-34252445512252386572008-02-19T12:48:00.003-05:002008-02-19T12:58:20.655-05:00Daddy's GirlI am, I can't even deny it. I'm his first girl after four boys and his only child to follow an artistic way of life with my head lifted high in spite of all the hubbub from extended family asking about corporate careers. I have faithfully pursued and loved music, just like him and despite growing up in a small town feel at ease in the city. He always said he was a city boy.<br />Sunday night I flew out of Philadelphia and landed in Lansing, Mi around midnight and at 7am this morning I flew back to Philadelphia---but it was worth it. I saw my brother Jim, his wife Julie and their little boy Jack. I saw my Aunt Suz, my mom, my cousins Samantha and Annie, my brothers Greg and Scott. Most importantly I saw my father, who is doing well after his surgery. He's holding his head high and unlike a few months ago when he could barely speak about his procedure, he is now saying with a smirk "I gave up my prostate for lent." This is why I love my poppa, he's subtle and sweet and in spite of having 7 small incisions in his middle, still the king of the snuggle----<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsdPEL6vEi3JEefHGd0GFFJio3pAAj1RHUXWUjNwA4c233ufGnWkuCxOJAkTnxJNMZ8mw5KmPKKyu3kLHda4Pr-D0cocfo5uThqImBR5T3s0qHUONPjCidZLS7sQsBNtKyAIg/s1600-h/poppaandi.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsdPEL6vEi3JEefHGd0GFFJio3pAAj1RHUXWUjNwA4c233ufGnWkuCxOJAkTnxJNMZ8mw5KmPKKyu3kLHda4Pr-D0cocfo5uThqImBR5T3s0qHUONPjCidZLS7sQsBNtKyAIg/s400/poppaandi.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168751813964687762" /></a>mandamckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03041543529109016303noreply@blogger.com2