research at the Alo institute of yumminess

Good Morning,

I think sometimes when we knock on the door of opportunity it's really God playing a knock-knock joke.

Me: knock. knock.

God: who's there?

Me: me.

God: me who?

Me: me who would like a job to match my resume...


God doesn't do this exactly...

Through the magic of knocking on doors and resume passing, I've ended up with the invitation to enroll in a class at KU (Kansas U) with a nationally known leader in disability advocacy and research.

As I sat through the first lecture leafing through my syllabi, I noticed something has gone awry. In my thoughts and daily practices, I've always held visions of the ultimate Bodhisattva somewhere along the path toward Enlightenment compassionately helping others attain theirs before i complete my own...

It behooves my heart to figure how learning how to write a formal critique of "Satiation of a Vomiting Response Manuscript" is inching me toward nirvana.

So this morning before I head out to share my thought, or excuse me thoughts, on "An Evolutionary Approach to Evidence Based Policy" (what!??) I thought I'd get to the heart of something important.

According to my latest research, here are my recommendations for

Top 10 yummy frozen yogurt flavors

*sample taken from TCBY and Yummy's Over the Top Frozen Yogurt

1. golden vanilla- smooth creamy classic. great for adding flavorful toppings. great mixer and twist.

2. dutch chocolate- slightly disappointing. dark and rich. would avoid if you like lighter milk chocolate.

3. butter pecan- very nutty. must like pecans!

4. cotton candy- fun, bright pink and royal blue. sugary sweet. immediate memories of a childhood favorite without all the sticky mess.

5. cookies n cream- traditional classic. does not skimp on the Oreo or chocolate cookie.

6. hazelnut-- just a hint of coffee. a little vague nuttiness in flavor. okay as a mixer.

7. mint chocolate chip- most distinct. clean refreshing. disturbing consistency. smear and sticks to spoon like margarine or Crisco.

8. peanut butter-- smooth creamy. cannot be mistaken for anything other than real peanut butter.

9. white chocolate mousse-- excellent alone. most versatile. best mixed with caramel or peanut butter.

10. caramel- bold. unique flavor. pleasing light brown/tan color. excellent mixed with white chocolate mousse or vanilla. also adds to without getting lost or overpowering chocolate.

**note to be avoided at all cost California tart- supposed to taste like cheesecake. but cheek puckering sour milk.

okay Happy Monday,

Amanda

The Buskers

Good Morning,

I hope the weather is beautiful where you are. This past weekend was quite a treat in Lawrence.

Not once did I have to worry about the health hazards of entering a car and inhaling the fumes of incinerating water bottles. wohoo! We had what I'm hoping was a fall preview...temps in the high 70's, blue skies and lots of sunshine.

To celebrate, we made our way downtown in search of fresh vegetables and a Farmer's Market. Instead we found...the Busker Festival!

What is the Busker Festival? Well, to be honest I still really don't know (I decided to use my wheelchair so mostly observed my feet) but there were small gatherings of hip looking people stopping at various places along the sidewalk.

My research suggests what we rolled and strolled upon were Buskers...

(http://www.lawrencebuskerfest.com)

"Buskers are bold street performers who make magic happen as if by…MAGIC!

Each show is unique and requires constant improvisation in response to a perpetually changing crowd and performance space. Buskers make the world their stage and they rely on the appreciative response of their audience through applause and tips."

(In NYC I imagine this term can also be pronounced Bus catchers)

I too am a Busker. I quickly discovered efforts in a wheelchair constantly required maneuvering in response to the steady flow of people traffic and sidewalk obstacles such as small children wielding cotton candy wands and cute dogs.

So in downtown Lawrence…we did not find vegetables. Instead we found me a new hat! Attached is pictured my new "lid." Selected from among a sea of choices you will note I am happy with its subtly stated JayHawk and the sporty women's fit.

After paying in cash, I was left with 75 cents and a mission. I would share my largess with the street performer who inspired me the most with their craft.

I am an appreciative audience. As we rolled, Busker #1 was a smelly young man with large hoop expanders in his earlobes. Although easily mistaken, this was NOT his craft. His performance was to roll a small glass globe around in circles in his hands and then up and across his forearms.

Pass. The smell of B.O. was too overwhelming.

Busker #2-- A man sitting in a doorway playing an acoustic guitar and singing a folk tune.

Pass. This fell far too short of the imagined promise of fire eaters, whip artists, strong man stunts, jugglers, mimes, and magicians,

Busker #3-- This was a family of Buskers. A man in his mid 40's sat beating a bongo drum next to a boy who appeared to be his 12 year old son. This young man was using a single wooden drum stick to beat out-of-sync with his father a noise atop a big white plastic bucket. It was a confused offering. A shameless squatter and his poor son manipulated to beg for some charity?...I pinched my coins and looked away. But, there was more. A third member of the group. The younger boys older brother. A young man in his mid teens dressed in black stood at his dad's shoulder and started to rap his rant through spoken word. It did not sound like poetry. When the beat suddenly stopped...young Jack Kerouac screamed at his father "Hey hey keep playing! Keep playing!!! When you guys stop I SOUND LIKE AN IDIOT!!! " To which the father replied, "No, you have your mother to thank for that." Message taken. Family problems. This man thinks his wife's an idiot.

I decided...

Pass. 75 cents is not going to fix this.

Busker #4-- A reggae man tapping out a cool rhythm on a tall skinny bongo looking drum. cool dreadlocks. a beat that made me want to follow it and dance a little.

I dropped the coins in the hat and danced a little inside to the jingle.

okay, time to go meet another beautiful day.

Happy Monday,

Amanda

Around the Town: Lawrence in photos

Good Morning,

I'm very excited to be heading out the door this morning to see what new opportunities await. I am heading over to KU's main campus to sit in on a research group meeting at the Dole Center for Human Development...

But first, I am reminded of the important lesson I've learned from Buddha Teacher Gil this weekend. We humans can be too "thinky." Instead of taking in the present moment, (i.e., what is REALLY there) we become lost in the world of thought. In this vein, Buddha Gil emphasized the alternative to thinking--meeting whatever "bubbles up" in your experience...be it an annoying telemarketer or severed limb with a relaxed, active and engaged presence.

Before I become too caught up and thinky about the future, I'd like to share some of the "letting be-ness" I discovered around Lawrence this weekend.



Photo 1-- This is the church right next door to our apartment. The sign out front says "A place where REAL People care about REAL Issues." Good to see that cheerleading (?!??!) made the list.



Photo 2-- This truck sat outside a Taco Bell. It was apparently driven across several borders by two young amigos (both appeared to be roughly 15yrs...). One wore the license plate design on a full out wife beater/muscle shirt.



Photo 3-- Just in case there was any confusion. Your softball game tonight will be played on this field or that field... : )



Photo 4-- There is not a GO BUCKEYES!!! anywhere...and college football season is very near. Eerily, the Kroger stores here are called Dillons and the madness is "ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!!!?)



Photo 5-- Traveling down "Mass Street" (Massachusetts Street) things looked grim. There was no place that sold my favorite frozen treat. Then what bubbled up? I spotted a pack of well-fashioned college girls (belted shirt dresses, strappy heeled shoes) clicking their gum in well glossed lips. We followed them...straight to Yummyville! (i.e. it's so ridiculously good it's risickulous!)

Happy Monday,

Amanda

Top 10 Moving Tips

After close to 1 week of packing, 11 hours of drive time over 700 miles in the Budget Rental Truck...I also have:

Top 10 Moving Tips

1. Do not feel bad if your couch cannot enlist in the Salvation Army. (They are just overstocked right now).

2. Hire the Sue Starr SUPER Cleaning Service (pay in full at time of services rendered with Starbuck's).

3. Estimate move cost carefully. Then double. $$$

4. Remember it IS a bad idea to eat a bowl of cereal in the cab of a rental truck.

5. If the hotel's sign says "HBO Free In Your Room!" or "We Have Air Conditioning"...do NOT call it a night (see photo).

6. Remember which box you put the toilet paper in.

7. Do not pack tools and load on the truck before you take apart the bed.

8. Sit in a sauna, roll around in sawdust, and wrap self in a blanket to simulate the Kansas move day heat.

9. Put kitty in the bathroom with a bathtub full of goldfish to occupy/distract her from open doors.

10. Professional movers are worth their weight in sweaty t-shirts.

Happy Monday (aka on move day try to smile...see photo),

Amanda