{Finstads Do Fort Worth...YeeHaw!]

We've been away from the blogosphere for a little while, mostly due to our recent mini-vacay in the great old state of Texas! As an employee of the National Stuttering Association, our conferences are one of my biggest ongoing projects. Hundreds of hours of work go into each conference, and the 4.5 days in July are the culmination of all that work, not to mention, one huge stutter-party. Check out our latest adventures!

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While in Texas we enjoyed a lot of...what else...BBQ! What they say about the Lone Star State is completely true... everything really is bigger in Texas, including the food and drink portions!

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We were able to catch up with some of our closest friends, as well as meet new friends from all over the world. Some of these people we keep in close contact with through email, Facebook, twitter, and Skype, and this is the only time that we get to see them in person the whole year! One of these people is Tammy, the Executive Director for the NSA, whom I speak with through text, IM, email, Skype, US Mail, and over the phone on a daily basis, sometime using multiple modes of communication at one time, and at all hours of the day and night! It was wonderful to have a chance to spend some face-to-face time with her, and many of the others we've grown close to over the years.

Tammy & Mandy at the Closing Banquet

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Another PWS whom we've grown close to over the past few years is our friends Danny Rossi, creator of the Stuttering Is Cool podcast and website. We often Skype or IM with him, and have even done a few interviews for his show. It was wonderful to see him again in person!

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Jean and I were each active participants in the conference, doing much more than just observing. In addition to our volunteer efforts with the silent auction and sales, we each presented part of a workshop, and together we led a third kids workshop.

(Left to Right)
Mandy speaks to Chapter Leaders about social media.

We both led the 'Kids in the Kitchen' workshop with the hotel chef, Stephen.

Jean gave a great presentation on 'Voluntary Stuttering' as part of a panel discussion on
Avoidance Reduction Therapy.

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One of the highlights of the conference was the Keynote Speech, give by PWS and Oscar-winning Screenwriter of The King's Speech, David Seidler.

David Seidler, Mandy & Jean

Our conference name tags, signed by Mr. Seidler

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Bye, Texas!
You'll be missed!

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{A Very 'Special' Birthday}

Happy Birthday to me,
We went to NYC,
Then when we got ho-o-o-me,
Duke Special came to me!

OK, so I'm no songwriter, but that pretty much sums up this year's awesomesauce birthday celebrations. I've had some pretty fantastic birthdays as of late. March 31, 2009 was spent in Ireland, 2010 was spent just back from Ireland and newly engaged to the JeanBean, and 2011 was spent surrounded by Duke Special love. For those of you who don't know me, A) How are you reading this blog?, and 2) I heart Duke Special. Now, I don't spread myself super thin, and I'm not typically half-assed when it comes to things I like or believe in...

Case in point: I (and Jean) believe in a traditional 'home first - family first' approach, so I quit my job when we got married (a month before, actually). We have no kids and we rent a teeny shoebox, yet I left the workforce, including health insurance and a higher-and-more-steady salary than Jean was making in order to serve my husband and my home.

Case #2: Our good Lord above started dropping stutterers from the sky and into my life one day, and I listened to every blocked and repeated word He was using to get to me. I joined the National Stuttering Association at the same time Jean and I started dating, even though he was not even a member. For months I volunteered and busted my butt and got us to the 2010 Annual Conference in Cleveland. I pushed, I prodded, I wrote, and I did a hell of a lot of editing and social networking, and now I work for the NSA, one of very few paid employees. I believe in it, I love it, just like I love my stutterers. (Check out the animal growing on Jean's chin!)


So it's plain to see that when something comes along that I take a liking to, or believe in, I give it my whole self. One of those somethings is Duke Special. I came across this unique musician in a roundabout way, as most do, when listening to the Culture Northern Ireland podcast several years ago. His name kept coming up, and once I finally checked him out, I was hooked. From then on I've traveled up the Eastern Seaboard and across the Atlantic multiple times to see him perform live, and they've been some of the greatest experiences of my life, and helped me to meet some of the most generous, loving, people in my life through his fanbase.



Birthday week saw us traveling up to Manhattan to see a one-off show of his at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and to meet up with several other fan friends who were coming over from the UK for the show. Duke (aka Peter) had been working tirelessly for months writing 12 original songs based on photographs from The Met's photography exhibit 'Stieglitz, Steichen, Strand'. For the days before and after the show we were able to meet new friends, catch up with old ones, see some sights, and eat a lot of pastrami.


Leaving a Duke Special show always leaves me a bit...sad. They are always such moving experiences that a return to normalcy seems so...normal. This time, however, I knew that I would be seeing him and some of our UK friends (Woot, woot Fizzys!) in just a few short days when they traveled down to DC for another show. God must have been smiling on me, because despite their hectic travel schedule, the rain, and the unfortunate task that is driving in the Northern VA/DC area, they drove out after Duke's gig to attend Jean's gig and my birthday party. They even brought pie.

Happy Birthday to the Luckiest. Girl. Ever.

See Duke Special perform all new songs inspired by photographs from the exhibition Stieglitz, Steichen, Strand at The Metropolitan Museum of Art here:
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{April Menu}

Well looky there, The Finstads didn't fall off the face of the Earth! We did, however, go to New York City (post forthcoming) which might as well be another planet... Even with all of our worldly (and by 'worldly' I mean 'East Coast') traveling, I still managed to squeak out a menu for April. After all, we'd be lost...and hungry...without it. So, without further delay, here she is!


1- Lasagna
2- Crock*Pot Creamy Italian Chicken
3- Steak (Thanks Mom!)
4- Coconut Curry
5- Enchiladas
6- Mustard Pork Chops
7- Pizza
8- Turkey Burgers
9- Sausage Subs
10- Cordon Bleu
11- Spaghetti
12- Cube Steak
13- Manicotti
14- Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
15- Lasagna
16- Cheeseburger Casserole
17- Meatloaf
18- Cheesesteaks
19- Passover Seder (Brisket)
20- Leftovers
21- Paninis
22- Broccoli Alfredo
23- Beef Stroganoff
24- Ham (EASTER!)
25- Baked Potatoes (w/ ham)
26- Ham & Cheese Subs
27- Jean in DC (Leftovers)
28- Sausage Subs
29- Pizza Bread
30- Eat Out

{Honeymoon Hiatus}

Weeeee're Baaaaack!

Sadly (for us, but not so much for our dogs), we have returned from our oh-so-surreal honeymoon in the Caribbean. Here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Enjoy!

Mr. Finstad & I at Dulles Airport REEEEAAAALLY early, waiting for our flight to San Juan, PR

This is our ship, the Celebrity 'Millennium'. I had to live on it for 12 days before I could correctly spell 'Millennium'.

I took this shot of our suite's balcony the first morning, just after my breakfast had been delivered. I believe that that is St. Kitts in the background. What you aren't seeing is the private whirlpool off to my right. That's right boys and girls, I said whirlpool.

St. Croix!

I love these hats. Love, love, McLove. We bought them in St. Croix, and I'm pretty sure we would live in them if it were socially acceptable. And yes, I called Mr. Finstad 'Panama Jean' the whooooole trip.

This is how we spent our first Thanksgiving as a married couple. No complaints here! The photographers for this shot are our new friends Kevin and Janice, who we formed an unnatural attachment to and miss very much. Luckily for them, they live thousands of miles away ;)

I happened to wake up bright and early one morning and see this outside our window. Because we were out to sea, we were able to see the entire arc of the rainbow (damn you, non-panoramic camera!).

The Finstads all gussied up for dinner one night. Mmmm...Metropolitan Restaurant, where one can have steak EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT (loved that pretzel bread, too!)

Caught a few naps here and there. Hey, it's hard work eating non-stop and lying by the pool!

Speaking of pool, we did a LOT of this (drinking poolside). I wish people would walk around my house and offer me fruity drinks.

OK, OK...it wasn't ALL eating, napping by the pool, and enjoying fruity frozen deliciousness. We were able to swing an invitation-only tour of the bridge, and they even let me drive the ship! Not...

This is Steve, our Cruise Director. I am almost as sad about leaving him as I am about leaving Kevin & Janice. Despite the fact that he is an exact look-a-like for one of my exes, I really enjoyed waking up every morning and turning on the TV to his show, which would tell me what was going on on the ship, what shows/classes/events/diamond sales were happening that day, and what I should be sure to check out. I miss him coming over the ship's PA system to remind me of events. I miss him meeting us at the port terminals after an excursion with champagne spritzers and iced towels upon our return. Picture it...wouldn't it be nice for someone to greet you with a drink as you return from the grocery store? Wouldn't you enjoy having someone make announcements and reminders throughout the day ('Hey, Mandy! Just a friendly reminder that Jean will be home in 10 minutes!). Ah, Steve, we'll miss you...

Speaking of excursions, we enjoyed some GREAT ones. Here's one of our favorites, the 'Kukoo Kunuku' party bus tour and beach stop we enjoyed in Aruba.

I am REALLY excited about being on this cruise. REALLY excited.

Jean and I on our last night of the cruise, in front of our suite (#6139). Despite the smiles on our faces and the free champagne in our hands, we were pretty darn sad it was over.

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Lastly, I'll leave you with this video. It's a 180* view from one side of our suite's balcony to the other one late afternoon while we were at sea. Yes, it's windy (and therefor loud), but hey, we're in the middle of the ocean, what do you expect? That being said, it's a pretty accurate view into what it's like to BE in the middle of the ocean. Amazing, terrifying, beautiful, peaceful, exciting.

We will be back because you did, in fact, make us feel like a celebrity.

{To Michigan and Back}

We're back! Last Thursday us Finstads packed up Windy the Jeep and hit the road to Michigan for our friends Betsy and Ryan's wedding, in which Jean was a groomsman. Here's a little taste of what it's like to travel with Jean and I:

9:15 AM - We're off!

9:25 AM - 'Man, I could really use some Starbucks...'

9:30 AM - 'Ummm, I'll have a grande Pike Place original roast'

9:35 AM - 'OK, let's go! No more stops!'

10:15 AM - 'We need gas. And breakfast. Sheetz?'

10:45 AM - 'I'm never eating again...'

11:00 AM - (VeggieTales Silly Songs CD plays in the background)

2:00 PM - Stop at Sbarro for gross pizza

6:10 PM - 'So. This is Michigan?'

6:11 PM - 'What the heck is with the no left turns in this dumb state?!'

6:13 PM - 'What's a 'Coney'?'

6:15 PM - Yaaaay! Our hotel!

After checking in to the hotel we researched places to eat and decided on 'Nikolas', where the broasted chicken is mutant.

Seriously, the portions are so huge, and the prices so low, it's a compulsive eater's dream and us fat kids' nightmare. Have a gander at my APPETIZER plate of chicken wings, AFTER I had eaten my fill (I was able to eat a whopping FOUR wings). Maybe I shouldn't have filled up on gross Sbarro.

Friday we were able to meet up with our always-lovely NSA buddy Sarah D'Agostino for more Starbucks (what a treat!), though unfortunately the visit was cut a bit short due to sickie lil'uns. Friday night was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner where we finally got to see the bride and groom, as well as the rest of the wedding party.

On Saturday, we slept. Seriously, I can't remember the last time I slept that late. Sitting on our butts in the car finally caught up with us! Jean met up with the rest of the groomsmen to 'get ready' (whatever THAT means for guys) while I hung at the hotel. The beautiful ceremony was at 4:30, followed by the gorgeous reception at the Henry Ford Museum at 6:15. If you ever get the chance to visit the museum - DO EEET! SO much fun stuff to see and do. Look mom, I'm a hot dog at the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile Exhibit!

Sunday found us at the home of the bride's parents for a brunch, then back on the road! The trip back was...ahem...not quite as 'quick and easy' as the trip there. That's one LONG drive! We're were oh-so-thankful to see our wee apartment again, as well as our very own pillows.

Eee! That's us!