Visitors

Last Wednesday Sheila and John McCracken arrived to spend a week in Hawaii with Chad and I. It was so nice to have people from home! They live in Oakland, Maryland now but we have quite a background with them and it was fun to reminisce.

I think we thoroughly wore them out. We showed them a lot in a week. They snorkeled, played in huge waves, learned to paddle board, we took Harley's out and went to a volcano, saw an old lava flow, toured hotels, took in tourist trap Lahaina, visited ancient Hawaiian Petroglyphs, drank Mai-Tais, shopped, ate, and had a wonderful time.

It was so nice to have them here and they were such great house guests. Cleaning up and everything. It was almost like we were on vacation too.

It was a great week that went too fast!

John and Sheila at the volcano, Haleakala National Park

The Harley Chad and I rode

Petroglyphs

Chad's truck loaded down with four Stand Up Paddle Boards

Making Additions to the Life List due to Swimming Success

I have always identified myself as an athlete, specifically a basketball player. I love the sport and want to play and coach every chance I get. I will always have a passion for what I believe is the greatest game on earth. But due to the contact nature of the sport, it's not something I will always play, because when I play, it's all or nothing. I have a hard time not being a physical player because that's who I am as a basketball player, I'm physical, dirty, and it makes it fun! Maybe I can transition into a terrific 3-point shooter and avoid all contact. I better get to the gym and shoot if I am going to do that. Though that is not my position nor my passion in the game. 

So at this point in my life, I am transitioning from "the Basketball player" and have found that I harbor a lot of frustration due to not being able to complete a college career in basketball. If I could do anything over again it would be to play all four years of college basketball. I do have an excuse for not continuing and it was a damn good one, but it was out of my control and now I wish I could change one thing, my mentality....and make it through four seasons of ball. In realizing that I had a dream dashed, I am working to move on. 

I have started swimming and am getting great advice from a swim coach here in Lahaina. Last night was my fourth practice and I feel like I am improving an incredible amount. I have always been a decent swimmer, strong and can save people (good thing as I was a lifeguard for 6 years and made multiple, albeit simple saves), but I am self-taught so my technique is lacking. With the coach's guidance I am changing that and falling in love with swimming all over again. I am building valuable confidence and technique in a sport that I can continue for the rest of my life and at this point, I may be able to become even more competitive in my sprint triathlons than I thought possible. Which is extremely exciting. Swimming feeds my competitive spirit. I like to compete and I like to win. Though it must be said, I do lose, and a lot, and I do it with grace. It makes winning all the more rewarding. 

So this leads me to the additions to my life list:

Life List Addition No. 1: Complete a Swim Race

Life List Addition No. 2: Complete a full length triathlon  (this involves a lot of training for running and biking, two things I need to tackle more thoroughly but I think I can do it) 

Life List Addition No. 3: Take Skiing Lessons, improve, and ski more

So where the heck did No. 3 come from? Well, with the success I have seen in swimming, I want to improve myself in another activity I adore, and that is skiing. I won't always live in a warm climate and that is ok because I want to be a better skier. So while I know I will be very frustrated, embarrassed, and demoralized when I have a professional ski with me and point out my problems, I want to be better, improve my technique, learn to do moguls, and ultimately become a much more aggressive, confident skier. I am tired of just being mediocre. I tend to be a 'jack of all trades, master of none' in the sports arena, with the exception of basketball. However, we know from above that I am transitioning, I am ready to become better at some sports that I can conceivably continue for the rest of my life. The nice thing about swimming and skiing is; I can do it by myself or I can do it with any number of people. Basketball takes a lot of organization and getting people together, which is great but not always reliable. 

I am really excited to have the opportunity to branch out and try to improve myself in these sports. I do have to say that I try to thank God everyday for the blessing of my ability see, breathe, and walk. Sometimes this can be easily taken fore granted, but I know I would be devastated if I were not able to walk, play, run, see, listen, or anything that I have now that could potentially be taken from me. It humbling to think about so I am very thankful for all my blessings! 

Oh and just as an afterthought and great teaching point for any sport; "practice does not make perfect, practice makes permanent." Jim Clayton, of Sports City U preached this at all his clinics and camps that I attended in the early 2000's. That simple sentence stuck with me more than any other basketball philosophy I have been taught or heard beucase it is so logical and true. I am a perfect example, I was self-taught in skiing and swimming and have developed lackluster form and detrimental habits. It's important to learn the right form and technique and practice that. 

I think it is extremely important to learn several accepted techniques and forms, and develop a style that is comfortable but text book in form and consistency. The biggest problem with people that are self-taught is consistency. They do something different every time unbeknownst to them because they, simply, know no better. The best aid is to have someone point these habits out and explain how to change them. I feel this philosophy can be applied to anything in life, eating, positive thinking, sports, work, and relationships. It takes the will to change and is a humbling experience but I am better for it and so everyone else can be as well. 

So little did I know when I embarked on my "goal to meet people" by attending these swim practices, that I  would  be able to transform my identity, my outlook, and motivate so many new exciting goals. 

    

Simple Pleasures: My Friday Routine

Friday's are my absolute favorite day of the week. They always have been. Friday is a day of anticipation for the weekend to come. Friday is also the day my family traveled on so it meant getting out of school early to head to my grandmothers' homes in Ohio (or where ever we might have been traveling). And those memories are such pleasures in themselves, that I am conditioned to adore Fridays and Friday evenings even more.

Now, it's a day were I allow myself my favorite breakfast food in a mass quantity, Honey Nut Cherrios. I then, get through work and as I work from home, the second I sign off the computer, my weekend starts. Many times I will high tail it to the public library or walk to the beach to read my magazines. Or sometimes, like today, I will search for a good cookie recipe (Coconut Oatmeal Chocolate Chip) and will turn some music on and bake.

I very much look forward to these simple activities, they are stress relievers and a sign of the rejuvenating weekend to come.

Well, I am ready to start my weekend. I will let you know how the cookies turn out!

Political Ticket: Krystal Ball

Krystal Ball for Congress 

I found this lady through Marie Claire Magazine, who I must address as a progressive voice in women's magazine. The magazine is fashion laden but the articles and snippets are so important to women's culture around the world, that I am fascinated by each month's volume

Getting back to Kyrstal Ball, she 28 years old and running for a seat in the House of Representatives. She is a Democrat out of Virginia and if elected would be the youngest woman and only woman under 30 to be elected to the US House or Senate.

The kicker that spurred my interest was this statement in Marie Claire: "A pro-choice, pro-gay, and pro-gun (yep!) mother, Ball appeals to a board base."

I can't say she appeals to me yet, but we need more young people invested in the future of the US. I hope she has strong feelings about education. Education is the building block of our society and we need to bring the focus back to the books. I hope she and others can start to do this.

Good News!

The McKean clan will be uniting in Raleigh, NC again this summer to celebrate the May Birthdays (nephew Harrison, my mother's and my own) also we will get to celebrate being one big, happy family. That involves lots of wrestling, screaming, and chasing between the two family dogs, a 5year old, 2 year old, myself, and my brother. I leave our ages out intentionally.

We will also walk, read, laugh, sleep, eat, and generally have the grandest time. My sister started this tradition 5, ahem almost 6 years ago, when Harrison was born. And I see it lasting forever. :) We have a new location to celebrate at, but due to the celebrity of the McKean family, it remain an undisclosed location. Ha, ok so it's just that our plans are not final...

Anyway, I am super pumped because my brother confirmed his reservation in the nut house with the rest of us today. Yay yay!

I am officially starting the count down until I arrive in Raleigh on May 27th. 43 days left!

Favorites: Coastal Living

My Ultimate dream would be to own a lakeside cottage in a place called, Linwood Park, in Vermillion Ohio, adjacent to Lake Erie. My family, (mother's side, The Packer's) has been traveling and staying in this little piece of heaven for more than 65 years. It's become quite the tradition for all 50+ members of the Packer, McKean, Sambuco Clans.

If I owned a cottage in Linwood, the above board is what I would hope to do with it. I like shabby chic flea market finds, with bright white paneling, sea greens and blue reminiscent of sea glass that we collect on the beach. Some of the inspirations above obviously don't match but the architecture or coziness of the scene inspired me and gave me those wonderful summer feelings, so that is why they are included. 

Number 3, 4, 13, & 14 are my favorite elements. 8 & 15 are creative uses of space, 5 & 6 are very important to me because outdoor living is a must at Linwood. So if I won the lottery, this would be one of my dreams that I would achieve with the money. 

Sources:

1-3 http://www.coastalliving.com/homes/decorating/25-comfy-cottage-rooms-00400000065404/page10.html

4 http://www.coastalliving.com/homes/beachy-kitchens-00400000065423/page7.html

5 http://www.coastalliving.com/homes/decorating/outdoor-rooms-beach-home-design-00400000049155/page10.html

6 http://www.coastalliving.com/homes/decorating/cottage-00400000027788/page15.html

7 http://www.coastalliving.com/homes/decorating/beach-house-bedrooms-00400000051306/page15.html 

8 http://www.coastalliving.com/homes/beach-style-sailor-chic-interiors-00400000048887/page7.html

9 http://www.coastalliving.com/homes/decorating/labor-love-00400000065707/page11.html

10 http://www.coastalliving.com/homes/pretty-painted-floors-00400000059004/

11 http://www.coastalliving.com/homes/decorating/beach-up-your-breakfast-nook-00400000042256/page2.html

12 http://www.coastalliving.com/homes/decorating/living-room-00400000051289/page13.html

13 http://www.coastalliving.com/homes/decorating/living-room-00400000051289/page20.html

14 http://www.coastalliving.com/homes/decorating/beach-house-bedrooms-00400000051306/page2.html

15 http://www.coastalliving.com/homes/decorating/beach-house-bedrooms-00400000051306/page11.html

16 http://www.coastalliving.com/homes/decorating/beach-house-baths-bathrooms-00400000051904/

Tear Drop In My Eye...

If this doesn't speak volumes about the kind of coach and team that West Virginia University's Basketball Program fields, you may have to question if your heart still beats.

It's a Hooiser's kind of thing, but we weren't the Cinderella's this year, Bulter was, is and may they win the National Championship as my team was taken out by a more undeserving opponent. For the record, we had just as much riding on this game as Bulter did/does.

Hell, the State of North Carolina wasn't routing for Duke, I would venture to guess the majority of the state was routing against them because if you are a NC State fan or UNC fan you cannot route for Duke, ever!

But what was the climate like in West Virginia and in any other state that has WV transplants? The fans showed intense loyalty, extreme frustration at the sports media bias, and above all a pride in our coach, our players, and the class and talent they put on the floor each game.

This was more than a basketball game, this berth to the final four, the first time in 51 years, was a rite of passage for West Virginians. It put us on the map, it broke stereotypes, or we hoped it would.  Unfortunately, many wanted the 'hillbillies' to go home, not to succeed and when we didn't win the media continued on the merry, righteous, 'told-you-so' way. But to the West Virginian followers, the players have become family, friends, and role models, a source of pride for our beautiful but down trodden state.

I know I speak for each Mountaineer fan when I say, the footage of Bulter and Coach Huggins on the floor together during Butler's injury was the highlight of the entire tournament. It proved that our coach loves his players. Coach Huggs, has made some mistakes but if West Virginians know one thing, it's that we are not perfect but we can take steps to make things right. Good step forward coach. I am very proud of the Mountaineers who fought so hard with such sportsmanship and such enthusiasm.

Please say prayers for Da'Sean Bulter as he deals with a torn ACL. I wish him the best and speedy recovery so he may enter the NBA and start changing the face of Pro Ball. We need more good guys like him in the league!

Easter Dinner: Success

Chad and I hosted our first Easter Dinner today and it was wonderful success. We had ham, scalloped potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green beans, pineapple cheese cake and coconut cream pie.

Chad got my this Fiesta Ware (my favorite!) pie pan for Easter and I made my first homemade coconut cream pie. (Well, the crust is pre-made as Chad told me my birthday present is a rolling pin and pie board) :) What a thoughtful gift and great pie!!

It made being away from my family that much more bearable. 

Happy Easter, Chad and I are enjoying Evan Almighty and then we are going to go to bed early!! 

Simple Pleasures: Mixer Prongs

In preparation for Easter Dinner, I made my coconut cream pie and pineapple cheesecake early so they could chill for the required amount of time. I recently bought a new mixer, hadn't had one for years and was excited to use it.

When I was finished beating the pudding and fruit together I ejected the mixer prongs and licked them like I used to as a child when my Mom would make cakes, brownies, or anything that required beating the ingredients together.

I was instantly taken back to the cozy, narrow, kitchen where I would stand on a chair to reach the counter and lick any number of kitchen utensils that my Mom was finished with but still had remnants of a sweet dough on them. We would laugh and she would tell me to help her stir whatever was in the bowl.

I mostly ate, watched, and was entertainment, or distraction for my Mom as she made countless cookies for Christmas or baked a cake for a birthday.

It was such a simple pleasure just to stand in the kitchen of my rental unit and be transported back to such a sweet memory. I miss my family dearly but with memories like this to keep me close even when we apart, I cannot be more blessed or thankful.

Have a Blessed Easter.