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September 27, 2004

~Deep breath in through the nose, out through the mouth. One more time. Find your center. Relax. Hold it. Good. One more time. Focus!~

Nope, I will not be teaching the basics of yoga today. That is something that popped into my head today. I was watching my mentor teacher try to keep the seventh graders on task. One class is too quiet. The quiet that indicates they have no idea what's going on and may not even realize that you are speaking English. The other class cannot shut their mouths. Honestly, I think it is an impossibility. The eighth graders are a different story. They've learned the game. They know that they can still talk...as long as they look busy and can parrot back answers when called on.

The rest of the day went very well. No serious disasters. I was mistaken for a sub for at least three periods, which was just funny. I think I can handle this. I am going to leave that open ended so I have an escape route later.

~Relax and breathe. Center your body. Let the stress seep out to the floor.~

The show went well on Saturday. We were brightly colored and in time with the music. That being said I have to note that it is extremely daunting being the only tribal group at a cabaret show. A couple other groups sort of went the tribal route: one had moves while another had outfits(vaguely). What's the difference? Everything you thought when you first heard "bellydancing", the sparkles and bra tops and genie pants, the showgirl look, that is cabaret. We take a different approach. Full skirts, cholis, hipscarves, and turbans made up our outfits. At least if they didn't know what to do with us, we stumped them all the way around.

I'm not complaining...well, not really. The show was fun! I want to learn how to sword dance now. It may just be from the music, think punk (the real kind) meets the Middle East. There are all sorts of ideas floating around our troupe now. I love the one that says our "fun" song should be an 80's song. I'm voting Prince.

What do you get if you include to two 17 -ish males in a bellydance show? Well, pick a good, driving, dance club beat and let the guys breakdance and you have the makings of a really cool challenge. (For those not as 80's as I tend to be...Challenge is what the dancers used to do...one at a time...trying to outdo each other.) It was a really entertaining dance number. The lady that hosted the show worked out a choreography with one of her sons and his friend. It is kind of scary how easily her moves matched theirs.


Wow, really long post. Sorry 'bout that. I'll shut up now.

posted at 5:22 PM
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September 24, 2004

Okay, because I keep dreaming of running away to India...or some other exotic place, I figured you all are doing the same...it tends to happen this time of year. I stumbled across this site. Take a look, stay a while, travel abroad without leaving your desk....and see all the pictures.

posted at 4:12 PM
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I'm feeling better, thanks for the sympathy.

I have discovered that I wish I knew how to read Arabic, Hindi, Indian, Iraqi, etc. They look like beautiful languages, especially written Arabic. I was clicking the "next blog" button and came across an entire series of Middle Eastern blogs. I sat looking through them trying to get any hint of what they could be writting about. I have no clue but am now hopelessly in love with forms and curls that make up the written languages.

I have also come to terms with the fact that I am a sucker. I am now working all day...quite literally, without a real break, so that Abe and Linus don't have to. This may also be caused by the lack of money in my life....but being a sucker gets more adoration in the long run.

Wish me luck...the belly dance show is tomorrow night. This should be fun!



posted at 1:44 PM
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September 22, 2004

~to the tune of I Feel Pretty~

I feel icky. Oh, so icky.
I feel icky and yucky and gross.
And I pity anyone who's near me tonight.

I feel clammy. Oh, so clammy.
It's alarming how clammy I feel.
And so icky
That I can hardly believe I'm alive.

**********************************************************************************


excuse me while i go have a poor pitiful mandy moment. between getting some make me feel ucky bug and a minor case of accidental, almost food poisoning my stomach isn't so happy. it is making me feel horrid. i need pjs, tea, and my teddybear.

posted at 5:07 PM
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September 21, 2004

Yusuf Islam is apparently a threat to the country. In fact the plane he was on was grounded and he isn't being allowed into the country. Three cheers for homeland security. However, there is a slight twist. Yusuf Islam is fromerly known as Cat Stevens. There is no word, as of yet, why they believe he is a threat. Ummmm....yeah.....




posted at 10:24 PM
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cupcake
Originally uploaded by MandyFish.


posted at 9:12 AM
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Happy Birthday Clay !!!

I can't draw....so instead I will send (or will try to send) mass amounts of traffic to your blog and comic. Everyone go visit Clay's page!!!!

I hope you have a great day....and take some time to go play in the snow!



posted at 8:58 AM
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September 20, 2004

Strange things have been happening for the last day or so. It just seems necessary to share them and the questions they created with you.

Someone walked up to me in the computer lab and gave me a piece of paper. It had some sort of symbol scribbled on it. I don't know. They didn't say anything. Should I consider this anything? Or should I try to figure out the symbol?

I watched the news and found myself dancing around the living room - it is supposed to snow tomorrow. Why is this exciting? I don't want snow...I am not done with my shorts yet.....help!

I voluntarily sat and listened to the football coach and a couple players talk about the game during lunch. I think I must be coming down with something...

Ben could smell the lotion that I hadn't completely rubbed into my face. Eventually, this was very funny.

I became the Rev's Sunday Sermon. If you need a little pagan religion check it out.

People obviously knew where the Morocco quote came from. Why didn't you all play along and give the next series of lines?

I discovered this morning that I still own my plastic garden clogs. I thought I had left them in Anchorage with the garden. Guess not.

Someone spraypainted a heart on the side of HalfAcre Gym. Nothing else ...just a heart. The maintenance guys were deciding the best way to cover it as I walked by. Why does it need to be covered? There are much worse messages out there why paint over an expression of love?

I fell victim to my inner Jr. High student. I had decided that the next time I saw a specific guy I am interested in I was going to talk to him...see if I could break this "not even dating" run I am on. But when I saw him I beelined right past. I couldn't go talk to him. There was a cute lil barbie doll type girl with him.

I have holes in the heels of both of my socks. I'm not quite sure how this happened. There were no holes this morning. By the time I got to the gym this afternoon my heels were completely out of my socks. Maybe I can start a new fashion trend?


posted at 1:36 PM
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September 18, 2004

I've decided. I'm going to live in Morocco for 1 year. Do you want to come?

posted at 11:30 PM
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September 16, 2004

My japanese name is 浜野 Hamano (seaside field) 美晴 Miharu (beautiful clear sky).
Take your real japanese name generator! today!
Created with Rum and Monkey's Name Generator Generator.


Thanks Ben!

You represent... happiness.
You represent... happiness.Boy, are you full of cheer or what...? You have a
sunny disposition and enjoy trying to spread
your happiness. You have a tendency to be a
little hyper, but you have the ability to make
your own fun no matter what.

What feeling do you represent?

Thanks Mark!


posted at 9:23 AM
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September 15, 2004

I'm broke!

Yes, I know I just got paid.

I paid all my bills then went shopping.

Lots of bellydance pretties are coming my way.

I don't feel bad.

posted at 7:29 PM
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September 13, 2004

Swamp Fairy
Your a fairy of the swamp! You love to dance and
play with the frogs and other fairies. you the
size of a humans hand and like it that way.


What Type of Fairy are You
brought to you by Quizilla


posted at 10:44 PM
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September 12, 2004

Okay, here is the lowdown. If you love me mark your calendars now.....or find some fantastic way to kiss up as the date gets closer.

On Saturday 25 (yes that is Yom Kippur, Abra...ya little agnostic/Jew) at the Atlas Theater in Cheyenne there is a belly dance show. Our troupe is performing (Yay! I'm officially part now!), but only as a small part of TONS of performances. The show starts at 7 and will go till everyone is done....which from past shows is usually 10 or slightly thereafter. There is a slight charge of $10 at the door, so I won't hold it against you...but I might whine a little. If anyone is interested I will remind ya'll again as it gets closer. And maybe this time there will be pictures taken that I can get my hands on....unlike the ones Bridget took and won't send me (hint hint hint).

posted at 10:11 PM
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Don't forget the special people in your family. Today is Grandparents day. Spend some time with them...

posted at 2:15 PM
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September 10, 2004

Still a bit shaken today. Everything is looking up though. There are lots of happy plans for this weekend.

I have been writing all day. I have been playing, twisting, and experimenting with genres. I have a multi-genre paper due in one of my classes. Having this whole expanse of creative avenues open is a bit daunting. I've spent more time writing for myself than working on the paper. I need to reassure myself that I know how these other genres work. I've spent too much time writing standard research papers. As I found an end to a piece of poetry I was struck with a dilema. Where does my poetry go? I found myself mapping the various ways this question could play out. I still don't have anywhere for my poetry to go...but it seems to have found a satisfactory place all of its own.


Where does your poetry go?

posted at 3:00 PM
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September 09, 2004

It took me a while to get here today. Things haven't been connecting. Nothing feels right.

I dreamt of Chris last night. The Chris I wanted and our puppies. My ex-puppies. It wasn't a dream about him or them. They were just there.

I woke up feeling jittery. I went through the day disconnected and distracted. I don't know what is bothering me more that they were in my dreams or that I haven't dreamt of him in months. It may also be that I wanted him/them there.

posted at 10:15 PM
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September 08, 2004

I got sunburned today. It's nothing bad, just a slight coloring of my shoulders and nose. It's a happy reminder that I love sunshine and had a really great day.

posted at 4:26 PM
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September 06, 2004

M: So, You're not who I thought you would be.
G: How's that?
M: Well, everyone talks about you like you're a man.
G: uh huh.
M: I mean, the church leaders are male, all of our prayers are said to Him, you know, Our Father who art in heaven...
G: I get the picture
M: And you know, the women in the Bible seem to get second billing. I mean, OK, Mary is pretty revered what with the rosary and the earthly appearances, and all, but other than that, there really are no big names.
G: Uh huh
M: And then you send a man, your son, to save our souls. I mean, why not send a daughter?
G:What exactly is your point?
M: Why do you give the men all the power? Doesn't it make you angry they keep referring to you as a "He"?
G: Should it?
M:It would me.
G: Let me ask you a question. Why is gender so important to you?
M: Because it is important to everyone. It has always been how I've been defined by others. They see a female first, and then they see me - or they can't see me.
G: Well, maybe that is how you see me right now.
M: So you're not a woman?
G: Why is that important?
M: Because I would love to be the one to tell the Pope.


posted at 3:32 PM
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September 05, 2004

Random blog searches:

Mandyland has been found by searches on bellydancing, transvestites, muppets, and most disturbingly the phrase "albino blacksheep happy hippos".

Which of you did that search? What were you seaching for? And what kind of crack did you have for breakfast?

posted at 11:19 AM
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September 03, 2004

Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don't
Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won't
Depend on how the wind blows I might even paint my toes
It really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul

I 'm not the average girl from your video
And I ain 't built like a supermodel
But I learned to love myself unconditionally,
Because I am a queen

I not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me
Every freckle on my face is where it 's suppose to be
And I know my creator didn 't make no mistakes on me
My feet, my thighs, my Lips, my eyes, I 'm loving what I see

Am I less of a lady if I don 't where hose
My momma said a lady ain 't what she wears but what she knows…
But I 've drawn the conclusion, it 's all an illusion
Confusion 's the name of the game
A misconception, a vast deception, Something got to change

Now don 't be offended this is all my opinion
Ain 't nothing that I 'm saying law
This is a true confession
Of a life learned lesson
I was sent here to share with y 'all
So get in when you fit in

Go on and shine
Clear your mind
Now 's the time
Put your salt on the shelf
Go on and love yourself
' Cause everything 's gonna be alright


*~*India Arie*~*

posted at 3:13 PM
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September 02, 2004

My list of this week's accomplishments (Otherwise known as Mandy trying to pep herself up so she doesn't fall asleep in class tonight.)

I have conquered that fence! Infact, I have become part of a movement of students to keep the fence where it is so that anyone attempting to enter or exit the Education building must go through the obstacle course that includes dodging large machinery, ducking under several trees, jumping over two separate railings, and stomping a trail through the old grassy area (since the new sod is fenced off as well).

I have managed to not actually drop dead from nap deprivation.

As the class labled "diversity teacher" I am going to take it upon myself to cause lots of problems in my Pedagogy class by making the others talk and think about things they may not want to. I will also be doing my best to not knock a specific other person over the head with my messenger bag of doom - because she is WRONG!

I have gone to the gym and actually worked out every day this week. Yay me!

I have single-handedly made my Quantitative Reasoning instructor change the syllabus twice. It really isn't my fault that noone else felt the need to speak up and point out that he wasn't giving us time off for Practicum on the right weeks....or that the correction he handed out was the same schedule on both sides.

I have not eaten fast food, other than subway, for two weeks!

All my bills are paid....a couple months in advance now....i love student loans!

**Note**
All above statements should be taken with a heaping spoonful of sugar, a pinch of laughter, and a lingering idea that humor often takes the form of sarcasm. Also, remember the author is sleepy. Very.

posted at 5:13 PM
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Mandyland
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