tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74207874295614758712012-01-27T09:40:39.509-08:00Christine MacdonaldWriter. Speaker. Recovering Narcissist.Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.comBlogger2121100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-39702804846578730642012-01-26T12:14:00.000-08:002012-01-27T09:40:39.584-08:00Is being Gay a choice?
For those who know of actress Cynthia Nixon (Miranda from Sex and the City), you may know she's been in love with (and planning to marry) her partner of seven years, Christine Marinon. Prior to this relationship, Cynthia has always been in relationships with men.
Cynthia is taking a lot of heat this week for speaking frankly about saying how her being gay was her choice. This has the GLBT (GayChristine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-62984315469788034612012-01-25T10:32:00.000-08:002012-01-25T10:32:39.724-08:00Quote Me Wednesday
Let's break up the work week.
Share one of your favorite quotes with us. It could be from a movie, poem, song or even something you wrote.
I'll start with one I wrote earlier on my Twitter page.
I'm a supporter of gay rights. And not a closet supporter either. From the time I was a kid, I have never been able to understand attacks upon the gay community. There are so many qualities that make Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-19145824370104565122012-01-24T10:51:00.000-08:002012-01-24T10:51:05.942-08:00Soul Mates?
Most of us have been there. We meet the perfect person who we feel completes us. We like the same movies, laugh at the same jokes. We find ourselves saying things like "you totally get me", "where have you been my whole life?" and "we are soul mates!”
Fast forward a few months (or years) later and the glitter is washed away with the reality of life. And after wiping our tears, we come to the Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-72565227468309153422012-01-23T10:21:00.000-08:002012-01-23T14:09:16.139-08:00Shameless: Being The Other Woman
Fiona Gallagher (played by Emmy Rossum)
Last night's espoide of Shameless (U.S. TV series drama/Showtime) was a doozy.
For those who've never seen this show, it's a series that follows the dysfunctional family of Frank Gallagher (played brilliantly by William H. Macy), a single father of six children. While he spends his days drunk, his kids learn to take care of themselves. Frank's Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-71126357405906648162012-01-19T10:59:00.000-08:002012-01-19T10:59:24.493-08:00Quote Me Wednesday
Let's break up the work week.
Share one of your favorite quotes with us. It could be from a movie, poem, song or even something you wrote.
I'll start with one I wrote earlier on my Twitter page.
"When you hang out with the wrong people at the wrong place at the wrong time, then it is only a matter of time until you do the wrong thing" - Adult Child of Alcoholics
Your turn
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-89341274152129593302012-01-17T16:06:00.000-08:002012-01-17T16:28:12.658-08:00The MomentThere's nothing quite like it; those uforgettable moments in life that resonate through the years. They tickle your spine and dance within with walls of your heart. Oprah calls them "Ah-Ha Moments", mine are usually lessons which almost always emerge after doing the exact opposite of what my inner voice advises.
A while back, I posted about entering a writing contest, hosted by Smith Magazine. Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-22147331497220154062012-01-04T09:35:00.000-08:002012-01-04T11:36:04.162-08:00Quote Me Wednesday
Let's break up the work week.
Share one of your favorite quotes with us. It could be from a movie, poem, song or even something you wrote.
I'll start with one I wrote earlier on my Twitter page.
"Remember, there are no mistakes, only lessons. Love yourself, trust your choices, and everything is possible.
- Cherie-Carter Scotts
Your turn
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-1912273053727043992012-01-03T15:22:00.000-08:002012-01-03T15:22:56.713-08:00Shift to Bliss
Remember when we were kids playing in the sprinklers on a warm, sunny day? How about when we sang our favorite tune at the top of our lungs when we first learned to drive a car? Or the first time your lips met with that special someone? Whatever the vehicle, Love is always walking in our lives. And to Love, to give Love, to experience something you Love - Love in all forms - is pure bliss.
In Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-36878827247069308332011-12-30T11:17:00.000-08:002011-12-30T11:27:11.027-08:00The only way out is throughIt's been a year.
In the past few months, I've struggled with another bout of depression, battled some old addiction demons, wethered a difficult break-up with Kevin (so blessed we are still great friends), moved out on my own again, turned 43, lost my baby (Missy The Cat), adopted another baby, only to lose her in the 'divorce'.
I also made the decision to have my 'tubes tied;'. Gone is the Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-47589972959404760162011-11-01T23:36:00.000-07:002011-11-01T23:36:57.962-07:00I'm HereThis is going to sound vain. I can't explain it.
Or maybe I can.
I've read a few emails, tweets and Facebook posts asking me where I've been.
Truth? I've not written much since meeting my ex-stripper-friends in Vegas this MAY.
Too close too home. Like watching a movie where the final scene scrapes your spine. Nails on gravel.
I love those women. Who they've become. The strength and characterChristine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-63722430360472132162011-06-14T14:34:00.000-07:002011-06-14T14:34:59.105-07:00When I knew he was humanI was halfway through the workday when the phone rang. I recognized his voice like a familiar childhood song I knew but didn’t like.
“Chrissy?”
“Dad?” I choked on memories existing only in my dreams.
“Your mother tells me it’s your 40th birthday.”
Your mother tells me.
Perfect.
“Um, yea.”
Those four words released my fear of talking to a man I barely knew. He rambled on nervously. Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-69394531073080525062011-06-09T11:51:00.000-07:002011-06-09T11:51:36.736-07:00I used to be a rock starI used to be a rock star.
I didn’t tour the world belting my heart out in stadiums, but I worked the pole to the tunes of Guns and Roses and Bon Jovi for the better part of a decade and was treated just as well.
1n 1990s Waikiki, strippers were golden. There were no lines to wait in, no cover charges to pay, just champagne kisses and caviar dreams waiting for us to party on the other side of Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-63389022463657318262011-06-01T11:58:00.000-07:002011-08-10T11:07:52.861-07:00Vegas Reunion - RecapEven though what happens there stays there, I will share with you a little about my stripper-reunion in Vegas last week.
I arrived Tuesday evening and met Donna (stage name, Stacy). As soon as I arrived at baggage claim I recognized her. She was beautiful, bubbly and as excited to see me as I was of her. It’s been twenty years, but we spotted one another immediately. We hugged, giggled and Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-28026378700960235642011-05-20T10:05:00.000-07:002011-05-20T10:05:28.970-07:00Doing the right thingI just read an article about a family who found $45,000 (cash) hidden away in the attic of their new home. They returned the money.
It's a refreshing change of pace to read good news, and I wanted to share the story. It also causes me to reflect; would I have returned the money? Would you have?
There are many times in life where we find ourselves in a crossroads - do we do the right thing Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-37237488274000659962011-05-13T10:43:00.000-07:002011-05-13T10:56:23.734-07:00Love handlesYou're in love. You eat dessert with reckless abandon. What's snuggling up and smooching on the couch compared to working out? Right?
Sometimes relationships have a negative effect on our weight. Whether we are in one or not... it can make or break our fitness goals.
How many men out there gained a little padding while their lady was pregnant? Or how many brides can still fit in to their dressChristine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-89167120328735358002011-05-11T10:26:00.000-07:002011-05-11T10:26:58.770-07:00Quote Me Wednesday
Let's break up the work week.
Share one of your favorite quotes with us. It could be from a movie, poem, song or even something you wrote.
I'll start with one I wrote earlier on my Twitter page:
"Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself." ~Harvey FiersteinYour turn
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-76577839153540182582011-05-06T15:11:00.000-07:002011-05-06T15:22:12.385-07:00It's a Jungle Down ThereNobody dreams of becoming a stripper. Little girls aren’t sitting around playing with Barbies sharing visions of clear heels. They don’t swing on the monkey bars thinking about the pole, and there certainly aren’t any high school career aptitude tests that prepare you for table dancing.
I made my stage debut in 1987. At nineteen, wearing nothing but a g-string and a smile, I was a mere Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-17583602460611061922011-05-04T06:02:00.000-07:002011-05-04T06:02:02.076-07:00Quote Me Wednesday
Let's break up the work week.
Share one of your favorite quotes with us. It could be from a movie, poem, song or even something you wrote.
I'll start with one I wrote earlier on my Twitter page:
“All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.” ~ Havelock Ellis
Your turn
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-12854575565922213452011-04-29T12:23:00.000-07:002011-04-29T12:23:43.718-07:00Do you obsess or let go?Being obsessive is a pain in the ass.
I’ve always been this way. Ever since I was a kid I obsessed over everything I could get my mind around. Now, as an adult, I find myself reading blogs all day instead of working and checking my email in-box (on my iPhone) every- single -minute.
I’m not kidding.
In the last two weeks I have submitted two essays; one was to Salon and the other to the New Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-12010548094179421962011-04-28T11:36:00.000-07:002011-04-28T11:41:28.534-07:00When I grow up...When I was a little girl, I dreamed of becoming a solid gold dancer. I also wanted to dance on the hoods of cars in New York like they did in FAME. After watching the movie International Velvet, I rode my bike pretending it was a horse, blazing over speed bumps in empty parking lots like I was an equestrian.
When we are young our imagination goes wild. We dream of who we want to be when we growChristine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-75179576695167373152011-04-28T09:02:00.000-07:002011-04-28T09:05:24.280-07:00Amazing new blogThere is a new article about sugar EVERYONE needs to read. It will change your life. It is written by Sophie Venable, the lovely radio host who I had the pleasure of meeting last week on her LA Talk Radio show.
Please read (and follow) her new blog: Sophie Venable.
Recently in the Top 20 chosen out of 15,000 in the Good Morning America Advice Guru Search, Sophia brings years of personal and Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-91397434383291353152011-04-27T08:37:00.000-07:002011-04-27T08:37:02.059-07:00Quote Me Wednesday
Let's break up the work week.
Share one of your favorite quotes with us. It could be from a movie, poem, song or even something you wrote.
I'll start with one I wrote earlier on my Twitter page:
"All great achievements require time."
~ Maya Angelou
Your turn
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-14340961276829617572011-04-26T09:41:00.000-07:002011-04-26T09:41:19.592-07:00Like water off your backPeople on the Internet have balls.
I recently wrote a short piece about Madonna that the editors of Salon featured. After my initial excitement subsided, I braced myself for the comments. After re-reading the mean ones, basking in the good ones and laughing at the juvenile, I told myself it's time to move on.
Putting ourselves out there in the world will always bring praise and haters - it's Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-2870845011524624812011-04-25T09:20:00.000-07:002011-04-25T17:55:54.314-07:00You tell me: Answer Bernard Pivot's 10 QuestionsIf you were on “Inside the Actors Studio” what would your responses be to James Lipton’s 10-questions:
1. What is your favorite word?
2. What is your least favorite word?
3. What turns you on?
4. What turns you off?
5. What sound do you love?
6. What sound do you hate?
7. What is your favorite curse word?
8. What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
9. What profession Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-58375254711673583772011-04-25T08:33:00.000-07:002011-04-25T12:20:40.450-07:00Renegade Spotlight
I recently had the honor of being interviewed by Dave Ursillo and have been chosen as his latest "Renegade Spotlight!"
To read the interview, check out Dave's site HERE.
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-55875851285171627882011-04-22T09:27:00.000-07:002011-04-22T10:46:40.426-07:00Radio InterviewI had a blast yesterday being interviewed by Sophie Venable.
We talked about stripping, narcissism, addiciton, self worth, marriage, love, drugs and so much more.
If you would like to listen to the show, click on either one of these links:
RADIO SHOW INTERVIEW
RADIO SHOW OPTION TWO
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-78284182045050657602011-04-15T09:10:00.001-07:002011-04-15T09:10:49.951-07:00The power of wordsChristine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-14075373480097468552011-04-13T16:28:00.000-07:002011-06-02T08:22:41.634-07:00Shaped by Pop Culture: Madonna timelineAs see on SALON.
The first time I heard Madonna sing she was telling me to get up and do my thing. I was 14 and dancing with Mitch Ruben, one of my many high school crushes. We were barefoot, dancing on the grass in the back yard of Lori Morgan’s house. I couldn’t make eye contact so I just swayed to Madonna’s Everybody, looking at the clouds, the grass, the sky, my feet. My mouth closed, I Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-72362198382169302042011-04-13T05:28:00.000-07:002011-04-13T05:31:28.289-07:00Quote Me Wednesday
Let's break up the work week.
Share one of your favorite quotes with us. It could be from a movie, poem, song or even something you wrote.
I'll start with one I wrote earlier on my Twitter page:
"Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it."~ Bill Cosby
Your turn
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-81340138906923140952011-04-11T20:57:00.000-07:002011-04-12T10:19:49.869-07:00Debut (excerpt)
Lollipop Lounge Dressing Room - 1987
The guitar sounds of the intro beckoned me to the stage. Stepping on the four-foot high platform, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Wearing nothing but an orange g-string bikini and a halo of naiveté, I looked very much the part of a young stripper ready for her debut.
In typical dramatic fashion I began to move, channeling every Bob Fosse Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-70641812084773541352011-04-11T09:50:00.000-07:002011-04-11T10:57:48.073-07:00What "Sex and the City" gave me
Answering an "Open Call" essay series on Salon.com, I wanted to share my submission. ____________________________________________
I was in my late twenties and staring a new sales job in San Francisco when I first heard of the HBO series, Sex and the City. As a former stripper, I was open minded and attracted to shows with the word “sex” in them. When my new boss Lori, a thirty-something, Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-19811650201424311502011-04-08T13:15:00.000-07:002011-04-10T18:29:51.365-07:00Control, Alt, Reboot
It’s been a long and emotional week. Time to re-charge!
We all have things happen in life. Sometimes we get pumped up, while most of the time, we're tapped. Between the flight home, family drama, the memorial service and writing the latest (buzz kill) excerpt – it’s safe to say, I am wiped.
So how do we shake the Bummer off and reignite our souls?
For me, it’s dancing around my house Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-28594557617745303552011-04-07T13:04:00.000-07:002011-04-07T15:24:12.419-07:00Attention Deficit (memoir excerpt)Robert walked five steps in front of me, which was his way of telling the world we weren’t together. The scars on my face didn’t sit well with him and he made a point to tell me so. His vanity rejected my imperfections but I kept my pace behind his back, feeling the comfortable sting of unworthiness nestled deep inside my longing for his attention.
Knowing he and I were together behind closed Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-91757904562121606972011-04-06T08:37:00.000-07:002011-04-06T08:37:36.749-07:00Quote Me Wednesday
Let's break up the work week.
Share one of your favorite quotes with us. It could be from a movie, poem, song or even something you wrote.
I'll start with one I wrote earlier on my Twitter page:
"It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer. ~Albert Einstein."
Your turn
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-82060157614770041512011-04-04T10:53:00.000-07:002011-04-04T22:53:37.971-07:00Back to the Clubs (from Waikiki, post 3)The weather was perfect for an evening stroll. I started up Kuhio Avenue with the plan to hail a cab a few blocks in. I missed flagging taxi's. Waikiki may not be your typical "big city" lifestyle but it's still the type of place you can walk everywhere and when your feet tire, there's always a cab to rescue you.
The familiarity started within two blocks of my walk. I noticed a man I used to Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-67848386716969452742011-04-03T02:22:00.000-07:002011-04-03T02:22:16.183-07:00Stage Pillows (from Waikiki post 2)
Just arrived home from a night out visiting two clubs where I used to work. I will write about my experience tomorrow because I'm way too tired to type -- but before I sleep, let me just jot a few things down so I don't forget:
Rotation
Yuni
Yvonne
Waitresses
Platform shoes
Interviewed dancers
Cat
Bachelor party
Tipping
Metal wand
Cover charge
Taxi
Low rise panties
Tattoos
Drugs
Stage pillows
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-35599943062311123472011-04-02T11:18:00.000-07:002011-04-02T11:18:48.671-07:00Isn't it Ironic? (from Waikiki, post 1)
My view in Waikiki this morning
Mom picked me up yesterday afternoon and greeted me with a beautiful Tubarose Lei (one of my favorites flowers) and we had a lovely time catching up over lunch at Duke's Restaurant in Waikiki Beach. It's strange to be a tourist in a land I once called home. I used to feel compelled to tell anyone trying to give me the "Aloha, welcome to Hawaii" speech that "I am Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-57191326725845838792011-03-31T11:11:00.000-07:002011-03-31T11:19:46.644-07:00Back to the [strip] bar
Alice fell down the rabbit hole and found Wonderland, what will an ex-stripper find going back to the club?
My thoughts are chasing memories today - threaded within the walls of reason – I try and remember to breathe.
This time tomorrow I will be on a plane home to Honolulu.
I plan on making the most of my short trip. There’s family time, dinner with friends and of course, Peter’s Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-4135917555423397432011-03-30T07:11:00.000-07:002011-03-30T07:11:03.757-07:00Quote Me Wednesday
Let's break up the work week.
Share one of your favorite quotes with us. It could be from a movie, poem, song or even something you wrote.
I'll start with one I wrote earlier on my Twitter page:
"Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong- sometimes it's letting go."
Your turn
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-27980729841503157812011-03-28T17:00:00.000-07:002011-03-28T18:52:58.352-07:00Faking it
There’s no easy way to say this, so here goes: I’ve faked it. Yes, it’s true. On a handful of occasions in my twenties, I made the noises, did my Kiegels and whispered those two words every lover wants to hear in the heat of passion.
What I was thinking was another story entirely.
Before I get hate mail from past lovers, let me just say I take complete responsibility for my sexual Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-21382572598545170242011-03-27T17:43:00.000-07:002011-03-28T08:53:03.945-07:00Fitting in In high school, I tried to put so many circles in to squares I got dizzy.
There was the Goth look I tried to master with black eye-liner and hair. The Polynesian Music Club I tried to hang out with in between Tahitian dance lessons and the canoe paddling club. Let's not forget the cheer leading girls. I tried out three years in a row for that silly little squad - only to be denied what I Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-41111706892793205742011-03-25T13:52:00.000-07:002011-03-27T09:26:23.545-07:00Robert (excerpt from Pour Some Sugar On Me: Tales From an Ex-Stripper)
Robert and I - Late 80s
Memoir excerpt:
Somewhere between smuggling four kilograms of cocaine and boarding the flight home to Hawaii, Robert disappeared.
After my apartment was broken into, I was used to being followed and questioned by his boss. I understood why he thought I was in on Robert’s disappearing act, but nothing was further from the truth.
“You can tap my phones, break in to my Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-15118871381282406492011-03-24T12:44:00.000-07:002011-03-24T18:16:07.280-07:00In honor of Ohana
Ever since I learned of my friend Peter’s passing, I have been on the fence about purchasing a ticket home for a long weekend so I could attend his Celebration of Life event next Sunday. Flying to Hawaii is not cheap – and justifying such a short trip is tough when you live paycheck to paycheck.
But I am following my heart.
There is something magical about Hawaii and if you’ve ever been Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-65036851273112828842011-03-23T11:33:00.000-07:002011-03-23T11:35:59.366-07:00Quote Me Wednesday
Let's break up the work week.
Share one of your favorite quotes with us. It could be from a movie, poem, song or even something you wrote.
I'll start with one I wrote earlier on my Twitter page:
"I feel very adventurous. There are so many doors to be opened, and I'm not afraid to look behind them." - Elizabeth Taylor
Your turn
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-72921807820631911152011-03-21T15:40:00.000-07:002011-03-21T15:40:01.548-07:00Spring Cleaning: A new ideaAs a person who grew up in Hawaii, I’m not accustomed to seasons. Most days on the island were Summer-like, even in January. Although I spent 28 years living in paradise, I’ve been a California resident for over a decade so you’d think I’d be used to seasons by now.
I still find it odd when people talk about spring cleaning; the idea of getting your home in order during the first warm days of Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-43144401588113867862011-03-19T10:15:00.000-07:002011-03-19T10:22:02.106-07:00The waiting is the hardest partAre you the type of person who stands in front of the microwave tapping your foot thinking "C'mon!"? If so, you are not alone.
Many of us are impatient. Whether standing in long lines or waiting for our dinner to re-heat, we just can't stand to wait. I don't know how I survived the tape cassette decade. All that rewinding, fast forward-ing... it was torture!
In my quest for my old stripper Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-41684930811122521962011-03-16T12:14:00.000-07:002011-03-22T12:38:49.359-07:00Fill in the blanks
Right now I work as a _____________, but what I really want to do is __________________.
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-88867760098034252112011-03-15T14:05:00.000-07:002011-03-15T15:52:39.138-07:00Circling back to gratitudeAfter that last post I realize – I can’t end the day on a depressing note.
For those of you who don’t know, one of my old friends from Hawaii took his own life on Sunday. He battled depression and lost. I feel for his family and so many of us friends but I cannot let this bring me back to my own depression. I must continue to Choose Happy – even when heartbroken by such tragic news.
After Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-33748487362377389882011-03-15T10:28:00.000-07:002011-03-23T11:38:12.883-07:00I wish
I wish I would have known
I would have shared my tale
The times I felt darkness and heard echoes of my heart beat - only to wish it wouldn’t
I wish I would have seen one last time
That beaming smile beneath your pain
Magnetic, to all of us - we swam inside your warmth
But wishing means nothing after last call
Wishes didn’t save you - didn’t break your fall
Still, I wish
and Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-80846126057769890342011-03-14T16:04:00.000-07:002011-03-22T12:39:26.425-07:00Japan: 5 ways to helpWith the world in shock over the devastation in Japan, it’s hard to go about the day without thinking of the many people who are suffering and in need of our help.
Here are five ways you can.
RED CROSS (US)
http://www.redcross.org/
Donating $10.00 has never been easier. Text REDCROSS to 90999 on your cell phone and ten dollars will be added to your phone bill. Money received will directly Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-67115106449630210262011-03-12T08:33:00.000-08:002011-03-12T08:35:20.644-08:00In control of our dreams
We all have things in life we wish would improve. Some are on a grand scale (furthering our careers or buying that dream home), while others seem more attainable in the near future.
Whatever the dream, it's important we have them. When was the last time you thought about what you really wanted to improve in your life?
I started "eating clean" two weeks ago. This means I don't eat anything Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-694447676556500222011-03-09T09:35:00.000-08:002011-03-09T09:35:14.101-08:00Quote Me Wednesday
Let's break up the work week.
Share one of your favorite quotes with us. It could be from a movie, poem, song or even something you wrote.
I'll start with one I wrote earlier on my Twitter page:
"I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-76423693848920648502011-03-08T14:51:00.000-08:002011-03-08T15:03:21.402-08:00Beyond the Comfort ZoneEvery day I am reminded about how strong I am capable of being.
Having just resurfaced back in the gym last week, I feel like such a newbie. I have little endurance right now and my muscles are weak. It doesn’t help matters when I see an elderly woman pedaling her heart out on the stationary bike, or grandpa running next to me as I struggle to power walk on the treadmill. I know I’ll get Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-36942848854463004112011-03-03T11:52:00.000-08:002011-03-03T18:50:47.294-08:00Facebook and Infidelity?I've been reading more and more how social networking sites are being labeled as breeding grounds for infidelity. There is a great article about it on CNN HERE.
Although I think sites like Facebook can lead people to re-connect with old flames, I still believe that if someone is going to cheat, they will find a way - internet or not.
I don't judge anyone. I have been on both sides of the Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-62886728273013050802011-02-28T10:20:00.000-08:002011-02-28T16:37:37.299-08:00Dancer's Reunion
Me and Lara - Early 90s in Waikiki
In thirteen weeks I will be on a plane to Las Vegas. I'm excited for the mini-vacation away from work, but mostly because I am reuniting with two ladies with whom I share my stripper past.
There is something about living such unique lifestyle that only people who've lived it can relate. I haven't had that connection in years and thanks to Facebook, I amChristine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-67767699827187278582011-02-22T19:24:00.000-08:002011-02-22T19:24:03.651-08:00Quote Me Wednesday
Let's break up the work week.
Share one of your favorite quotes with us. It could be from a movie, poem, song or even something you wrote.
I'll start with one I wrote earlier on my Twitter page:
"Put all excuses aside and remember this: YOU are capable"
Your turn
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-13862125059997247942011-02-22T14:05:00.000-08:002011-02-22T14:05:53.185-08:00Compassion Breeds FamilyWe gathered outside for some fresh air around midnight. Exhausted from the rush but grateful for our tips, we enjoyed the cool breeze and a well deserved cocktail. The restaurant was always busy on Saturday nights but because of Gay Pride weekend, the place was crazier than ever.
There were five of us, me being the only straight one. We sipped our drinks and shared stories, a lovely way to end a Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-78281191252017385372011-02-19T10:42:00.000-08:002011-02-19T10:49:11.971-08:00In the eye of the beholder
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Sometimes life throws us lessons so powerful we need to take a moment.
Last night Kevin and I were watching a documentary on the Discovery Health channel about Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-54057681837388800322011-02-15T15:35:00.000-08:002011-02-15T15:49:21.296-08:00The cost of clutterOne hundred fifty dollars is a good sum of money for just about anything. It could be considered a hefty tip on stage back in my stripping days, or a huge dent in my wallet if paying a speeding ticket. Not this time. This week it was the cost of attaining a portion of self-worth that seemed to have lost her way in the back seat of my car.
Like most creative types, I posses a certain panache forChristine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-6232092333461438122011-02-10T09:50:00.000-08:002011-02-10T09:50:54.843-08:00Don't believe the bad stuff
Do you remember the scene in Pretty Woman where Julia Roberts (Vivian) is in bed with Richard Gere? Lying in bed, he tells her "you can be so much more". Vivian blinks softly and answers "the bad stuff is easier to believe." I still tear up hearing that line.
We all have those occasional negative voices in our heads; some just speak louder.
It takes practice, but we can learn to change the Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-58890124178698724432011-02-09T08:44:00.000-08:002011-02-09T08:44:05.364-08:00Quote Me Wednesday
Let's break up the work week.
Share one of your favorite quotes with us. It could be from a movie, poem, song or even something you wrote.
I'll start with one I wrote earlier on my Twitter page:
"Endurance is patience concentrated."
Your turn
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-21627009320676543052011-02-08T15:52:00.000-08:002011-02-08T15:52:05.635-08:00Mea culpa
This may sound silly, but as an addict, I can no longer deny the fact I am still addicted. This time it's to food.
Rewinding the calendar twenty years, and standing before you would be an underweight, insecure sex worker who snorted cocaine nightly, like she was in a scene from Scarface.
After many years, I quit the drugs and was happy to gain a little extra healthy weight.
Fast forward to theChristine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-35393769925037125372011-02-07T10:18:00.000-08:002011-02-07T11:44:30.268-08:00Do we know our own strength?Last night’s Dateline NBC was one for the books. Tom Brokaw interviewed Aron Ralston. He is a mountain-climber who became trapped by a boulder in Utah, for more than five days in 2003 before amputating his arm with a dull knife.
There is a film out now (Oscar nominated) titled 127 Hours that tells the story of this brave man, played by James Franco.
Kevin and I saw the film and, like most Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-61566979324714552712011-02-01T15:12:00.000-08:002011-02-01T15:12:47.894-08:00Discipline, party of oneMy laundry is sorted and the bills are paid. But wait – I haven’t checked my email in three minutes. Better get on that. What else, what else. The windows need opening a crack. I need the perfect room temperature before I start. Starting would be good. I’ll just sit right here and – wait - did I check my tracking report? Must see who’s visiting my website; never know which publishers are going toChristine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-44675041872092470522011-01-28T12:56:00.000-08:002011-01-28T13:04:00.747-08:00Strippers: Five Truths
There are many misconceptions, ideas, fantasies and judgments about strippers. And while I really can't speak for anyone but me, I wanted to shed some general light on five topics that always come up when I speak about my nine year career on the pole.
Strippers Don't Hate Men
Most men in a stripper's world are customers, and honestly, we don't really feel much about them. Like any business Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-77217082296391936932011-01-23T15:44:00.000-08:002011-01-23T15:53:11.463-08:00Writer's Digest Conference Weekend in New York
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Tell me something I don't know. Tell me my dreams will come true and everything Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-51900906321483310842011-01-20T20:56:00.000-08:002011-01-20T20:57:10.608-08:00Ready or not
This is me - Early 90s - Makapuu, Hawaii
I’m sitting here in my hotel room looking out the window. High above the sky, beneath the clouds and in-between my dreams, I take moment.
Music is breathing though my laptop like an echo of inspiration: a melody pushing through the words. I am beside myself.
How did I get here?
Where is the girl, grasping at strings from unfettered strands of Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-48057811274896094812011-01-20T08:00:00.000-08:002011-01-20T18:50:19.293-08:00Facing my fear. Again.I'm such a nervous flier.
Sitting here at my gate, waiting to board my flight to New York it feels like deja vu.
Sort of.
I was here recently with my best gal pal Becky and she helped get my obsessive mind off my fear of flying.
Today, I sit alone - waiting for my plane.
I am headed back to The Big Apple for a writer's conference and I couldn't be happier. I just wish I could blink my Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-80947245758856462432011-01-17T16:11:00.000-08:002011-01-18T11:58:23.200-08:00Powering through
Everyone said Laparoscopic surgery (through the belly and sides) would pretty much promise me an easy recovery. I suppose I am one of the few with whom that rule does not apply. But then again, I’ve always been a rule-breaker.
My girlfriends and I used to drive naked through Waikiki just to see if we’d get arrested. We were seventeen and rife with mischief. We didn't get arrested and the Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-72257899413294622192011-01-12T11:07:00.000-08:002011-01-12T11:13:52.855-08:00Quote Me WednesdayLet's break up the work week.
Share one of your favorite quotes with us. It could be from a movie, poem, song or even something you wrote.
I'll start with one I wrote earlier on my Twitter page:
"We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey”
Your turn
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-26235402023746229902011-01-11T05:01:00.000-08:002011-01-11T05:14:32.867-08:00My body is a wonderland?
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Not to judge my internal organs, but my gall bladder seems like a real bitch. She gave me an attack just days before the New Year (was in hospital for 2 days), Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-75283593603721119512011-01-07T18:36:00.000-08:002011-01-23T16:59:41.300-08:00Can you be friends with an ex?
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Matthew and I through the years - circa 1991, 1995, 1997
I have this friend. He’s been around half my life. I’ve not seen him in years but he’s close to my heart because we grew up together in many waysChristine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-6108859910244101492011-01-06T18:12:00.000-08:002011-01-07T08:24:18.346-08:00My Moment
This is me - photo credit Bob Coello - early 90s
Not long ago I read these words and decided to enter a writing contest.
"Welcome to "The Moment," stories of how a single moment changed your life in a profound way. Your Moment might be a split-second decision, something you witnessed, a message sent or received, a literal or mental discovery. Moments can be serious or silly, as short as a Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-13897238199784413492011-01-05T14:19:00.000-08:002011-01-05T14:21:10.385-08:00Finish the sentence...
"I knew I was old(er) when..."Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-330496378517819022011-01-01T23:15:00.000-08:002011-01-02T17:16:53.386-08:00Because we are worth it
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Since I‘ve been sick and just out of the hospital this week I needed help. Kevin has been a fantastic nurse, voice of reason, assistant, and all around phenomenal boyfriend.
In my stripping years I Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-42818334492521066662010-12-30T17:27:00.000-08:002010-12-30T18:39:16.490-08:00What gall I have
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In the past two days I’ve been poked, prodded, felt up and drugged - and not in the good way.
The holiday came and went with the usual dinner party, gift exchange and on-line Santa stalking. A Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-58096894874326956182010-12-21T09:33:00.000-08:002010-12-21T14:54:43.663-08:00Truth, mom and love
I had an interesting talk with mom yesterday. She had some feelings about the piece I wrote on my bout with depression and how I described my childhood.
“Raped at age thirteen, drugs by fourteen, a skin deformity by fifteen, promiscuity to feel beautiful, left home at seventeen and on and on. Absentee father, abusive step-father, a mother who drank.”
A mother who drank. I knew it was going Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-82388818117616976002010-12-20T09:45:00.000-08:002010-12-20T09:53:00.689-08:00Holiday Memories: Hawaiian Style
Santa and his Dolphins in Waikiki
Sunbathing in Waikiki. Dolphins instead of reindeer. Palm trees lit up under the starry skies.
Growing up in Hawaii has its perks, and one of them is experiencing unique holiday traditions.
Having never lived in a snowy climate, I am not familiar with winter wonderlands complete with snowmen and sleigh rides. It sounds (and looks) magical, but am so Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-51616028919765853252010-12-15T19:07:00.000-08:002010-12-16T08:30:09.732-08:00State of Mind
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Before the night - (almost) ready!
You know it’s a good party when you wake up still feeling it from the night before.
It’s nearly 10:00 am and all I want is my handsome man to snuggle with to thank for being my knight and shining armor last night.
He’s not much of a drinker.
He’s the voice of reason.
I, on the other hand, almost always press my hand to the hot iron under the Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-56235829245661364742010-12-07T15:25:00.000-08:002010-12-07T15:34:28.705-08:00Dancing QueensNavigating six inch heels on stage with smoke in your face takes practice. Sporting a smile while dancing to Me So Horny in those heels takes a cocktail.
In the ten years I worked as an exotic dancer, one of the unique challenges I faced was pretending to like certain types of music. Like suffering through a bad date, you realize something isn't your taste but you smile politely and muddle Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-69083349682042442212010-12-06T15:44:00.000-08:002010-12-06T15:56:16.818-08:00They said what?Children don’t quite grasp the concept of If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to Say. Truth is, they are really just being honest and have no idea that what comes out of their mouths may actually be hurtful sometimes.
Here is a story about how a child was in shock to see my face - my skin looking like melted wax with craters as deep as the moon.
In the thick of my stripping career – the ripe age Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-20547790682346355202010-12-01T09:05:00.000-08:002010-12-01T09:06:25.768-08:00Quote Me Wednesday
Let's break up the work week.
Share one of your favorite quotes with us. It could be from a movie, poem, song or even something you wrote.
I'll start with one I wrote earlier on my Twitter page:
"Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become"
Your turn
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-9920944636805489052010-11-29T16:31:00.000-08:002010-11-29T17:01:39.785-08:00Ch-ch-ch-ch-changesDecember is blowing our doors wide open this week. Her breath is cool, and the determination behind her smile remains a force to be reckoned with. She courts us ever so coyly, with promises of the New Year bringing hope, wonder, and most importantly – change.
How many times have you planned on change with the New Year and fell short of succeeding only to find yourself more frustrated than when Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-43770437616557631192010-11-22T16:02:00.000-08:002010-11-22T16:03:40.873-08:00GratitudeTwenty years ago, I nearly died. In the middle of an overdose, I felt my body tremble and braced for the slip.
Part of me was already gone – lost in a sea of darkness, waking only to hide from light.
Self-medicating was my answer.
It only made the questions more difficult.
Today, I am new.
I bask in light, no longer hiding.
This, and for so many other reasons, is why I am thankfulChristine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-14659533287966486692010-11-15T19:20:00.000-08:002010-11-15T19:23:15.533-08:00Bully reminder
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There is so much attention in the media lately about bullying. The messages are universal: be kind to one another. If anyone is different - acts differently - looks different than you, treat them withChristine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-35864785266418730132010-11-11T10:02:00.000-08:002010-11-11T10:13:15.653-08:00How do you become Blog of Note?I am deeply grateful to the team at Blogger for acknowledging my page as Blog of Note (November 1, 2010). This is a high honor in the blog world and a position I take with great respect for the Blogger team, as there are hundreds of thousands of blogs across the globe to consider.
So how do you attain Blog of Note status? Outside of pure random luck, here are my thoughts. In no particular order:Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-10659891748676723222010-11-10T09:39:00.000-08:002010-11-10T09:41:12.192-08:00Quote Me Wednesday
Let's break up the work week.
It's time to share one of your favorite quotes. It could be from a movie, poem, song or even something you wrote.
I'll start with one I wrote earlier on my Twitter page:
"It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not."
Your turn
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-63927159649702136112010-11-09T09:26:00.000-08:002010-11-09T09:47:48.913-08:00In so many words
A view of NYC. Photo by Christine Macdonald.
Traveling far from home can mean different things to many people. For some, it’s an escape. Others cling to the rear-view mirror, never allowing new experiences to fully bloom.
Sometimes we don’t give ourselves permission to enjoy different moments in our lives – especially if they take place outside our comfort zone. Floating in the shadows of fearChristine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-14851330085497574182010-11-08T09:00:00.000-08:002010-11-08T09:08:57.170-08:00VideoFor those interested in watching a video of my performance at The Red Umberlla Diaries, please visit my website or you can watch it here:
"It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech." - Mark Twain
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-67654709668946463812010-11-08T06:45:00.000-08:002010-11-08T06:45:11.230-08:00Happy accidents
Photo by Christine Macdonald. November 2010.
Sometimes things just work out. I can't wait to blog about my trip later in the day today, but I couldn't wait to share this photo.
I took this on my little Canon Rebel from the back seat of a moving car on our way to Coney Island.
Sometimes things just work out. Even in the most unexpected ways.
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-79331967489303040092010-11-05T06:55:00.000-07:002010-11-05T06:56:40.919-07:00Hello from New York
Last night was amazing. Better than I anticipated. Aucacia Ray is awesome, the event went on without a hitch and afterward, friends and I walked from Chinatown to Little Italy for a late dinner.
More to follow. Stay tuned for a podcast of the event and photos.
Aloha from New York,
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-9698180434321073382010-11-02T10:55:00.000-07:002010-11-02T11:10:50.302-07:00Logical or emotional?One of the only times I wish I were more logical than emotional is when I travel.
This time tomorrow I will be on a plane for New York. I am excited to read for The Red Umbrella Diaries but right now, fear is out weighing the thrill of this trip.
I am a nervous flyer. Ever since I was locked in the bathroom on a flight from Hawaii to Canada at thirteen, I’ve been a big baby in the air. I wasn’tChristine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-52766700809004747912010-11-01T13:09:00.000-07:002010-11-01T13:54:48.078-07:00Money changes everythingMost of us need more. Some lucky few have enough. Then there are those people who have no concept of its value. Regardless of how much you have, don’t have, wish you had - money changes everything.
When I was stripping, I made a decent amount of cash. It was fluid. I never worried much about having to pay for anything, but I also didn’t have any respect for money.
That was twenty years ago. Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-53391859567676342462010-10-29T20:23:00.000-07:002010-10-29T20:23:46.693-07:00St. Elmo's Crier
I just finished watching St. Elmo's Fire. It's been twenty years since I saw it last and boy, what a difference the decades make.
I've always loved this movie because I was attracted to the tightness of the friendships. I also identified to Demi Moore's character "Jewels". Back then, I thought she was the fun one. Tonight, I saw her as much more than the party gal. I saw myself in exactly the Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-86764315484553563332010-10-27T19:28:00.000-07:002010-10-28T08:26:46.911-07:00Dishing dirt
Me (hat) and two of my partners in crime (not strippers) early 90s
Have you ever filled a public fountain with soap and went skinny dipping in the bubbles? How about driving naked through your town at four in the morning? Taken home a complete stranger just because he was one of Madonna's back up dancers?
Writing my book is certainly bringing up some hard memories, but I have to say, some of Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-91736798749291397422010-10-27T10:37:00.000-07:002010-10-27T10:38:33.747-07:00Quote Me Wednesday
Let's break up the work week.
Lay one of your favorite quotes on me. It could be from a movie, poem, song or even something you wrote.
I'll start with one I wrote earlier on my Twitter page:
"Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story." ~Mason Cooley
Your turn
Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-33139886658876768252010-10-26T09:18:00.000-07:002010-10-26T18:18:38.897-07:00Realist...or romantic?
We've all been there - the feeling of butterflies - or nausea - or both, when we fall in love.
Love is so powerful, there are entire genres dedicated to the topic. Songs, movies, television shows. Everyone is trying to find it, get over it, get it back, or simply remember it.
I've been in love a total of two times. My current fella is #2. The first time I was in love was over twenty years Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-42347431944127740322010-10-25T09:28:00.000-07:002010-10-25T09:36:46.232-07:00Wake up and smell the insomniaI can’t keep my eyes open.
Sure, it’s Monday and I’m only one sip in with my morning coffee, but this is ridiculous.
A couple days ago I finally did it. I invested in a really great mattress. It gets delivered Wednesday.
Insomnia, your days are numbered.
If changing my mattress doesn’t help with my sleeping habits, it’s off to the sleep therapist. I can’t take these sleeping meds anymore.
HowChristine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420787429561475871.post-63000745933883632552010-10-23T22:11:00.000-07:002010-10-23T22:14:49.540-07:00Art appreciation
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How wonderful to be able to make someone feel through art.
Art is freedom. It's jumping off the cliff of uncertainty, responsibility, everything that holds us back.
When we allow ourselves to get Christine Macdonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139820957031345995noreply@blogger.com4