Monday Funday at The National Zoo

I've been wanting to go to the National Zoo for years and just hadn't gotten around to it which is why I put it on my '30 by 30'. It's kind of a shame to live so close and just not make it there! 7 months into my project and I can check it off the list. I picked today to go because I had the day off work as part of a planned vacation but was going to be back in town. There aren't many week days when I'm not working and in town so this seemed perfect. I (quite easily) convinced my girls Liz & Kellie to take the day off and come along. I was a bit concerned the weather wouldn't cooperate after some crazy thunder and lightning storms this morning, but alas, it worked out and our Monday Funday at the zoo is in the books.

So the good: We saw the Giant Pandas and let's be real, who doesn't go to the National Zoo to see one of the most elusive endangered animals? Kellie was convinced the pandas don't exist. She claims to have been to the zoo multiple times in the past few years and never had a panda sighting. We must have gotten lucky because the two giant pandas were out and about and one even walked around a bit proving it's not just a giant stuffed animal strategically placed. That's exciting to me, and not just because Manda rhymes with Panda (ok that's part of it). We also saw two monkeys cuddling which was quite frankly one of the cutest things I've ever seen.

Now the bad: The zoo, to quote Liz, was very underwhelming. I absolutely agreed. There just wasn't as much there as I thought there would be considering it is the National Zoo. We saw the lions, tigers, pandas, elephants and monkeys and such but it just seemed like we were barely there for 2 hours and went through the whole zoo. When I realized we had seen everything so quickly I think I blurted "that's it?". That basically sums it up. I grew up going to the zoo formerly known as the Baltimore Zoo all the time. It would be a whole day activity. Between the polar bears, the rhinos, giraffes, hippo house, water animals and the petting zoo (yeah ok I liked the petting zoo) it was very exciting. Maybe it's an age thing, but besides the pandas, the National Zoo was kinda eh. I talked to my mom on the way home and she said the last time she remembers going (which is probably the last time I went, about 15 years ago) it was so hot all the animals were in shade or inside. I guess I just had higher expectations for the Zoo overall. It wasn't a waste of time or anything, and I had great company and a fun Monday, but it was overall just underwhelming. If I wanted to do another Zoo day, I'd pay to go to the Maryland Zoo over the free National Zoo. Still, it's worth the easy trip as part of a bigger day hitting multiple Smithsonian museum. At the very least to see the pandas.

So the good news is that I crossed it off the '30', I ended my vacation with a day of great friends, and we finished the work-free DC day with a drink at Lauriol Plaza. Cheers to that!

giant panda

our tiger friend

cuddle monkeys

a relative, i think

our monday funday

Game On

This intro has become much to common. First, I apologize for such a lag in blogging. Then, I say I will not neglect this blog for so long. And finally, 2 months goes by and I realize I have not made a post. Eek! I could offer up a plethora of excuses (work, personal, work, stress, work, busy, the nfl lockout) but instead how about an update with 5 months to go til I reach the big 3-0!

Let's start with some plans in the works. First and foremost, I have a National Zoo date all set and I cannot wait! It's within the next 2 weeks and I promise to post some fun pictures after the fact. I'm hoping this brutal weather calms down a bit before Zoo-day. 

Dear Mother Nature,
78 and partly cloudy would be ideal for Zoo-day.
Love, Manda

There's also jet skiing plans in the imminent future. My good friends who live on the water in Middle River just got a brand new jet ski and I've obviously already invited myself to take it for a test drive. It's also entirely possible I'll go during my upcoming trip to Florida, but this year's Shark Week has only elevated my fear of open waters. Either way, by the end of August, I'll have conquered the jet ski.

On the weight loss front... I've been up, down, up, down, up, up, down. Right now I'm down 10 lbs from where I was on my 29th birthday. Not ideal. So I have 5 months to drop another 40. I've made some more lifestyle adjustments so I'm hoping I can focus. This is my biggest goal and the one I most want to achieve. Lofty expectations are always difficult and I get frustrated but I'm confident that under this pressure I can pull it off. Sometimes I wish life wasn't so up and down and I could just focus on one thing. Alas, real life gets intense sometimes and I have trouble sticking to a plan when extra stress is thrown into the mix. I'm hoping I can just hunker down and focus on this. Here's hoping!

I still have that Living Social coupon I bought for the Jewish Museum of Maryland. Anyone wanna go with me on a Sunday? If so, hit me up.

So those are the imminent plans. Still working on the full list, of course, but also taking it one day at a time and trying to manage goals/expectations. I like that I set lofty goals and luckily I work well under pressure. Now that I'm in the final stretch I better up my game. And in this case, GAME ON.

Orange Crush With Bill Clinton & 20,276 Of Our Closest Friends

Syracuse Wins! Much to the dismay of the 20,000 Georgetown fans. On the way out a guy yelled to me "that's a really ugly color." I laughed but thought about spewing one of my favorite lines from an all-time classic film, Bring it On. "Dude! You just lost!"  Clearly Georgetown's sketchy ticket scheme worked in terms of getting the bowl filled with gray, but it didn't help the Hoyas win. It was actually quite astonishing how much gray and how little Orange was in the lower bowl at Verizon Center.  The upper levels and suites, however, were filled with Orange. It was pretty cool. Much thanks to my awesome employer for the sweet suite tix. Crossed another one off the '30'. Helps that at CSN the 'Cuse fans outnumber the GTown fans about 5-1.  Almost as exciting as Syracuse clinching was my boy Bill in attendance. If you know me you know I just love love love him. I've met Hillary Clinton a few times, but hadn't been in the same building as President Clinton, coincidentally, since 2003 Syracuse Commencement.

The Zone

The Win

The Score

On a relate note, loved seeing VT knock off Duke. The constant upsets of top seeds this season has been awesome. Makes me believe anything can happen in the 68. Let's go ORANGE.

O-R-A-N-G-E

Guess where I'll be tomorrow?

Yep, that's right. Much thanks to my peeps at Comcast SportsNet. I'm so freakin' psyched! Get to cheer on my OrangeMEN and cross one of the '30' off my list. LET'S GO!

On a related note, anyone wanna go to the Syracuse-Tulane football game on 10/8 in NOLa? Hit me up!

Viewing Party For CSN Celebrates BHM at Busboys & Poets in DC!

For all you DC folks, Busboys & Poets is hosting a live screening (slash) viewing pary (slash) discussion of Comcast SportsNet Celebrates Black History Month this Monday (Feb 7th) at 9pm in the Langston Room. Yes, I'm shameless self promoting the project.  Dave will be lead the discussion and I'm sure anyone interested in the history of sports in DC (and in the US) will thoroughly enjoy.  Here's the blurb from the B&P events website: 

9 pm (Langston Room) - Come to a viewing party of the television premiere of Comcast SportsNet Celebrates Black History Month. The 1/2 hour television program is moderated by Nation Magazine Sports Editor Dave Zirin with a roundtable including Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Kevin Blackistone, and the man who desegregated the Washington football team 50 years ago this year, Hall of Famer Bobby Mitchell. We discuss the ways - past and present - that sports and African American history have been intertwined. After the show, Dave Zirin will be on hand to answer questions about the broadcast. The event is open to the public. Donations to Teaching for Change will be accepted, but not required. The funds raised will be used to distribute copies of Zirin's documentary Not Just a Game to teachers and collect stories about how to use the film in the classroom. Your contribution can help make sure that the next generation knows about people’s history of sports that is missing from textbooks and the mainstream media.

Comcast SportsNet Celebrates Black History Month

I haven't discussed work much on this blog, which if you know me at all, is quite astonishing considering the amount of time I spend either working or talking about work! I'm the talent booker and segment producer for Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic (based in Bethesda, MD).  This blog has remained mostly work free because my '30 by 30' is more personal than professional.  That being said, I had to share with you this latest work venture. While a 'standard' week for me is spent focused on Washington Post Live with Ivan Carter (I book the guests and associate produce), I often work on other projects. My recent project was to co-produce a 30-minute Black History Month round-table focusing on the past, present and future of the black athlete in DC (and in the US). Last night, after months of planning, we taped Comcast SportsNet Celebrates Black History Month.

Here's our ridiculous panel:

• Dave Zirin (host) - Author, sports columnist & Sports Editor for The Nation
• Dr. Michael Eric Dyson - Georgetown professor, famed sociologist, radio show host & author
• Professor Kevin Blackistone - Sports Columnist and the Shirley Povich Chair in Sports Journalism at the University of Maryland
• Hall of Famer Bobby Mitchell - The man who, 50 years ago, integrated the Washington Redskins (the Redskins were the last team in the NFL to desegregate). 

I was in awe of the conversation from the get-go. I can't lie, I got teary eyed about 6 minutes in. I know I'm biased, but trust me, you've gotta watch. The conversation was real and mind-churning, to say the least. We're putting the final touches on the program this week.  Comcast SportsNet Celebrates Black History Month debuts this Monday, February 7, at 9pm and airs throughout the month. Set your DVR! Here's a little sneak peek inside the studio...

Taping Comcast SportsNet Celebrates Black History Month

First they came...

One of my favorite quotes at the USHMM is German pastor Martin Niemöller's 'First they came..." I remember hearing this quote from my father or grandparents years ago, but it's been a while since I've heard/seen it. Reading it now I realize how true it is to all of mankind regardless of race, religion, sex, nationality, etc. The concept resonates no matter how big or small the scope or scale.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.

                                                       ~Martin Niemöller (1892-1984)

Visiting the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

One of the first items I added to my '30 by 30' Project was to spend a day a day at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.  I visited Yad Vashem during my Birthright trip to Israel in 2008, but I haven't been to the US Holocaust Memorial since, I believe, 1995 (year of my Bat Mitzvah). I wanted to make a USHMM visit an early list item. I've been meaning to go for quite some time. I had a feeling the experience at 29 would not be the same as the experience at 13.

We decided to "go green" yesterday (at least, sorta). Drove to New Carrollton and metro'd to the Smithsonian. Easy ride. Arrived to the Memorial (1 block from Metro) around 1pm.  It took us about 4 hours to get through the entire museum. I read as much as I could this time around. I think I skipped alot at 13. I also watched as many and as much of the films as time permitted, especially the films and audio recordings of Holocaust survivors. I do believe that it's the stories from witnesses and survivors that is the greatest gift and educational tool for future generations.

The USHMM is an excellent experience. It's so well managed and visitors are very respectful (no one is loud, running around, being obnoxious like you quite often find at other museum). I hate to sound cliche, but a visit to the Memorial absolutely puts life in perspective.

After the Memorial we metro'd over to Dupont and had dinner at the Palm.  I won a $100 gift card at our office holiday party. I'm not usually the fancy restaurant type.  It was absolutely delicious. We were back in the metro by 7:30pm and home by 9pm.

Week 2 Weigh In: 3 Lbs Down Amid Thundersnow

I'm down 3 lbs this week. I'm happy with that number, especially considering it was a rough week between car troubles, thunderstorm issues, and feeling under the weather (pun not intended). I was careful about the amount/calories of food I ate this week, but not so conscientious about what I was eating. Calories - Acceptable. Type of Food - Could be better. Let's put it this way... I ate a good share of grilled chicken, fish and veges this week. Really cut out all snacking and sugar/random carbs.  However, I also may have had some chicken parm with spaghetti twice, a couple slices of pizza, and a small slice of celebratory cake (see below). It was all in moderation though so I guess it just goes to show that yep, it's all about the calories, at least where the weight loss is concerned. That being said, I will monitor the health level of my foods more and more in the next week or so. I gave myself a pass this week because of the various unforeseen minor chaos factors. This week was basically a big wash with the '30 by 30'. Haven't even cracked open Twilight. Too bad I didn't put 'Watch an Entire Season of 24' on my list. That I did. 


Week 2: -3 lbs. Total: -4.6 lbs. To Go: 45.4 lbs.

Mmmm... Cake!

What I Learned In The Past 36 Hours

1. Parents are sometimes always right. You (as in, I) should keep an overnight/emergency bag with essentials in your car at all times. Especially if you live 38 miles from your office. And extra especially if there's a snowpocolypse in the forecast.

2. People in MD/DC/VA absolutely cannot drive in the snow. People are morons. I exclude myself from this because my 3 1/2 years at Syracuse obviously made me a snow driving expert. So says the girl who's car got stuck next to the Nissan dealership...

3. There are definitely worse places to be "stranded" overnight in a snowstorm than in a nice hotel next to your office, paid for by your generous employer, across the street from a 24 hour CVS.

4. If you've committed to reading Twilight as part of your '30 by 30' Project you should keep the book in your car, especially if the aforementioned snowpocolypse is in the forecast. An evening alone in a hotel room with the cable and power flickering would be a perfect time to read a book. Having the book on the coffee table at home... not as convenient.

As they say, I guess hindsight is 20-20.