Miami, Florida

 

I flew into Miami Florida late Friday night and forgot that not only is it the mecca for Golden Girls but also home to the largest walk in sauna in the world.  Since I had until about 5pm Saturday night I spent most of Saturday walking around Coconut Grove (I actually covered 8.5 miles of the place). 

I was there to do comedy for a group of high school students who were celebrating the arrival of a relic of St. John Bosco.  I didn't know a lot about the Saint till I started doing research for weekend.  First of all I couldn't for the life of me figure out his name.  Was it John or Don?  Even on the website for the event in several different places it referred to the him as St. Don Bosco and then St. John Bosco...what gives? Turns out, I am slower than I thought and "Don" in Italian is "Father"...but I refrained from referring to him as "Saint Don Juan" because I am classy, and my guardian angels grabbed me before I could.

St. John Bosco founded the Salesian religious order in the 1800s.  The Salesians are known for their work with the youth through teaching and meeting kids on their level, something I love (the meeting of people on their level part).  Bosco was the original youth minister, hanging out with troubled teens and having fun with them and showing them that if he liked them and was just a human, imagine the love God has for them who was all about unconditional love.

So this relic has been traveling for some time and finally made it to Miami.  The actual relic is his right arm which is encased in a wax figure of the Saint complete with his "death mask" which was made just the day after his death.  I am tempted to request one of those in my will just for something for my kids to complain about. 

So The relic came in, the Bishop spoke, the relic went out and around the corner for thousands of adults to view while hundreds of kids remained on the football field for a night of sugar and fellowship.  

Around 1am I took the stage and told jokes to kids who were starting to question the fun part about staying up all night.  I spoke for an hour, made it back to the hotel, took a two hour nap awoke and made it to the airport and seven hours later landed in San Diego to weather warmer than Miami! 

Saint Don John Bosco, pray for us.

South Dakota

I came, I froze, I was dinner to mosquitoes. Amen.

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How Excited Am I to go to South Dakota This Weekend?

Holy Rollers

Oh ya, last weekend I was in Anaheim, CA at a conference and during a set that my friend Ike was playing I maybe got on stage and played a little snar drum (there was no cowbell available).


I must say if the whole comedy thing fails I can always get a job keeping rhythm for a jazz fusion band.  Who am I kidding, it took me three attempts to even spell rhythm correctly.

At least I can twirl drumsticks really, really well. 
It's a charism.

Purdue

The show was over and 15 college kids, a comedian and 2 Dominicans were walking to get some gelato when all of a sudden 1 of the 15 went down. Good news is he's ok and while he created a diversion I got about 3 free samples. Don't judge, I'm a nervous eater.

How Rude

I am so sorry for my behavior!  How rude of me not to blog in 10 days. 

So much has been happening.  I have been eating a lot of soup lately and that seems to occupy most of my time. Soup, walking, photoshop projects and teaching the dogs to bark in three part harmony (which is extremely difficult since we only have two dogs).

I leave on Friday for Purdue University where Saturday night there will be a pig roast followed by me.  It's a risky career move, but I am nothing if not a risk taker and a pig roaster.

Mac's Dilemma

Really though, I need to get out more.

Home Again!

I am very happy to be home again and free to enjoy some free time.  Also very thankful to find out that the old girl can still surf. It turns out that the same girl forgot how to golf though, el stinko!  If you need me just leave a message, my phone is not waterproof (believe me).

Arlington, VA

There is something to be said about a venue where you get two body guards/helper monkeys.  In matching tuxedo shirts to boot.  Classy, Arlington, VA, just plain classy.

D.C. Part Deux, Capitol Bugaloo

Back in Washington D.C. and my buddy Anne Marie and I were treated to a tour of the Capital by the one and only Andy Graham.


I learned a lot from the tour, mostly that it is a miracle that anything ever gets done in Washington.  

Steubenville San Diego 2010 - HIGHLIGHTS IN PHOTOS

Jude and Ike, classic couple or freaky Most Wanted poster?

We had to kick out a few hundred kids because of a silly fire code, maybe that's why Jesus talked outside.

The dorkiest street gang ever.

A weekend capped off with two newly adopted family members.  They grow up so fast!

Last week I was in Portland and my niece Sydney turned out to be quite the baking partner.  Now if I could only get her to do my laundry.  And yes, that is Paul the German octopus who predicted the World Cup winner.  We are cutting edge.

I Would Walk 500 Miles...or 484.67 Miles

About 3 weeks ago I spoke at a Steubenville conference and while there was reconnected with my my buddy Fr. Dave.  I picked up his book, "Hiking the Camino" and figured I could read it sometime this summer but after my direct TV was on the fritz on the flight home I cracked it open and read the whole darn thing.  I usually never read a book that fast and this thing didn't even have pictures!  But what I read I loved, it combined my two favorite things, walking and Jesus (not in that order). Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James, is a Pilgrimage, and while I have been on many I have never walked almost 500 miles to the bones of an apostle. But it makes sense that I have been training for just such a thing for the past few years as all I do is walk and talk about Jesus, perfect match!
So we shall see.  Currently I am reading up on sleeping bags and back packs, the right shoes and how to bring enough imodium for a 30 + day hiking trip.  Sounds fun right? I know! Wait, I'm not kidding, it sounds fun to me and I can't wait to tell you all about it.

Jagerschnitzel Vom 4th of July and Puppies (but not together)

Holding Mastiff puppies and then eating a German meal prepared by a German, celebrating our Nation's independence just how our forefathers intended.

Virginia Mae Krupich McDonald the Only

July 1st is a very special day.

It's the day we celebrate my favorite human I ever spent 9 months in, my mom.

My mom loves golden retrievers, Jesus and Butterfingers.

All around she's a keeper.

Sure, she gets into the occasional bar fight.
And yes, she complains when the Golden Girls are all reruns.
But we have decided to keep her, because God broke the mold when He made her...and it's been 30 days since we got her and He won't accept returns without a receipt.

I love you Mom!  Happy Birthday!

Washington D.C.

Obama called me to D.C. to talk to me.  Something about a blog I wrote.  I hope I'm not in trouble.

High School 2: Electric Bugaloo

Steubenville, OH

Today was a very full day.
I was lucky to get a quality 4 hours of sleep, give two workshops, play the cowbell in front of 2,300 people and see Fr. Dave reunite with his friend, Velvet Kenny Rogers (from the Padgett collection).

Just another day in Steubenville, OH.

Life On the Road:Exclusive Backstage Photograph.

Skunked!

Mac stinks.
And it's not even his usual golden retriever stink either. Mac stinks because he tried to give a skunk a kiss and the skunk refused. Late Friday night I heard a crash boom bang as Mac ran through the doggie door yelling, "the British are coming, the British are coming!"
Wait, sorry, different story.  He came in sneezing and crying and looking for me to warn me that something had blown stank right between his eyes. Three seconds after he made it inside the smell told me what had happened.  A skunk must have exploded in his face.  It wasn't a normal skunk smell but this skunk must have been on anabolic steroids and eating a diet of garlic because this was an angry smell.  Mac, being confused and in pain ran to his favorite spots in the living room to understandable rub his face and because he has no hands he used the furniture and the carpet and the tile of the house.  It made sense to him, it's not his fault God left off the opposable thumbs.  Right away I googled skunk and left the results up on my computer as I took of my shoes and walked Mac back to the shower.  We went in clothes and all and I sat on the tile and just let the water run over his head.  He looked at me like I was in on some cruel joke against him.  While we were having a soak I had a team of helpers looking up a concoction on the Internet page.  Apparently when there is a skunk emergency people pull it together fast, we were like a trauma team and within minutes my mom brought a mixture of baking soda, peroxide and dish soap.  According to people who's dogs have recently been skunked this stuff is the best.  I globbed it on Mac being careful to keep it away from his eyes per instructions of Internet experts and waited with him for about 10 minutes.  Surprisingly Mac did not enjoy this quality time as much as I did.  I rinsed him off and then gave him another bath.  Where I put the mixture on him worked great and even lightened his coat for the summer thanks to the peroxide.  Unfortunately the spot right between the eyes where he got the brunt of the skunk still is ripe.  With the dog somewhat smelling better now we have the house problem.   Mainly that our house stinks like skunk.  We have listened to all kinds of advice; put out coffee beans to soak up the smell.  Place bowls of vinegar to do the same.  Wash the dog in tomato juice.  Burn your house down and start over.  We have listened to it all.  Now our house just smells like coffee, vinegar and skunk and has a tint of red to it.
When you are sitting in it for awhile your nose and brain tag team and talk to each other and actually get used to it.  It's when you are gone for the day and come back home when you remember that indeed a skunk has paid a visit to the McDonald house. Or better yet when someone pays a visit they can really tell something is not right.
The skunk smell has taught me a lesson,  just because you get used to something doesn't mean it's OK.  Sometimes things still stink even though you are fine to sit in it.  See how deep a skunk can get you to think? Stupid skunk.