PAVEing a Blog

Sitting in the Upper School Library today April 16, 2013, in walks a VERY familiar face and I am trying to place where at ASF she works, then it HITS ME….Jodi Kastafanas DOES NOT teach at ASF – she is at SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY!  It took me awhile before I realized the SRU student teachers are HERE, having flown in YESTERDAY – whoa!  I almost fell off my chair, I was so excited – funny it stunned me and took me awhile….and then Mr Gordon I met and all of a sudden, all the SRU students were there – like crazy – I was like jumping out my skin so excited.  Sometimes you get this inner discovery that some of the places you came from, are some very good places and you would not be the person you are today had you not come from those places, – very exciting discovery that often is taken for granted.

I have to look back to yesterday, walking Kinah through the park on Alvaro Obregon, and seeing Louis Cotto-Vasallo, an awesome and talented writer I met through the American Legion Open Mic Night in Condesa.  We just sat (not knowing for long time we lived one block from each other) and his stories just pilled out.  AMAZING stories of his positions as Immigration Officer and so much more – and just fascinated.  I discovered some of the best nights and time spent is when you push what you THINK is important and spend the time with friends that make those things LESS important.  The time hearing others’s stories is PRICELESS.  😉  I am HONORED to have one of his photos in our magazine this year….

An awesome third discovery was the attendance at the play “Woman in Mind” – Mr Webber’s experiment in community theatre with many of my colleagues in it!  I was in seconds surrounded by my colleagues’ children and we had a blast!  LOVED IT!  It is so exciting to see this develop and remember, tickets are still available this Friday, Saturday, Sunday!  Imagine the tension of relationships, the thrill of creative lives, and strength to fight back, and the disappointment of life as well, all wrapped together, carried by some committed actors, and the Off Broadway theatre feel, and you have one play worth attending!

Three is enough, right?  For now?  Kinah needs walked, I need to finish my Mansfield Grad work, and I STILL can’t believe SRU is HERE!   YEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHH   🙂

Until the next post of discoveries, remember…”Don’t let your meat loaf!”  – (Someone wrote that in my yearbook).

Continuing with the Discoveries series, here we go!  Several to mention – but before I forget – 40 – FORTY days old, are the puppies…revelations…webbed feet – well not like a DUCK, but the puppies, have connected digits, on their paws like, yes that is right, like a LABRADOR so people were half right, yes a Retriever but a LABRADOR Retriever, lol…if you would see the SIZE of these puppies at freaking 40 days – I mean, seriously, it is liked they have been sponges soaked in water and keep soaking it IN!  LOL….see?

Okay – so Discovery 2, 3, 4, and 5 all in one blog!  (A 4 for one special, how cool is that?)

One of the most caring and conscientious places for your dog – has been the company Lucky Dog, literally taking Canine care to the Scientific Level.  After visiting Cynthia Kaplan in Parque Mexico, and her team, as always, being amazingly generous and inquiring about Kinah and her puppies, providing me this for Kinah and the puppies –

they LOVE IT.  I said it once, and I will say it again, ANY and every time I have given Kinah and now her puppies food from Lucky Dog, I have seen a completely dog appear – in the shine and quality of their coats, their appetites, as well as their energy.  This is by far a quality find if you care about providing the best possible for your canine, hands down based on several trial runs!  Thank you for the amazing kindness every time I have encountered Lucky Dog!  

Speaking of dogs, (I sense a theme) – while we were in New York, of course Kinah received a little shopping time – an amazing boutique for dogs called Canine Styles established in 1959.  With some help, I chose some stylish feeding attire and an amazing sweater I had been looking for.  Funny, I had NO idea what size, yet, the one I chose initially would fit the owner, lol as she stated.  So I decided one size smaller and no kidding, PERFECT!  What do you think ?

This is an awesome visit as they had so much to pamper you pooch, including a stylish grooming area in the back.

So onto Discovery 3 – While in New York, and honestly unconsciously, I gravitated towards a place that made me feel at home just like it had a year before – Oren’s Daily Roast – let me tell you, this place KNOWS muffins, chair tea, coffee, EVERYTHING.  And service?  at 7:00 AM in the morning the staff never, ever fails to make you feel like a KING – last year and this year sealed the deal.  I could not walk past the store without going in, hands down undeniable. Their agreement to take a picture that early in the morning…

…this is the place you want to be at 7:00 in the morning if you have to be UP.  They ROCKED the state of coffee in New York.

Okay, so finally, let’s try to find a fourth discovery to stop at.  Definitely not in comparison to the above, by any degree, but, ever wonder (if you have cats) WHY your canine has this urge to get into the room where the cat litter is?  Me too, I thought I had some serious psychiatry time need for Kinah when in reality…

The cat litter dilemma and your canine…what the heck?

Okay, I can’t even really talk about that anymore, I am sorry I brought it up, but, um, it WAS a discovery…

I will close for tonight but you will definitely – DEFINITELY want to check out tomorrow’s series on discoveries 5, 6, and 7!  🙂

Happy Easter!  I get the question lot, does Mexico celebrate Easter!  Of course!  🙂  Predominantly Roman Catholic, you can imagine how important this is in Mexico.  What is called Semanta Santa, is our break, which starts Palm Sunday and lasts to Easter Sunday, so our Spring Break from school ranges about one week prior to everyone’s in the states.

Meaning, on March 24th was a half day for us at school, and we go back April 2nd to school.  A couple very good links explaining places to go, and what /how Easter is celebrated can be found below:

Pascua – (Easter) in Mexico

Mexican traditions with Easter

Reenactments and diets associated with Easter

More on Traditions and the “Burning of the Judases”

Wherever, and whatever your plans dictate, enjoy today!  I think I miss the marshmallow chicks, peanut and chocolate eggs, and the variety flavored jellybeans the most – let me take that back, I miss the jello eggs we used to eat and by brother Randy’s, (really Harry)  – that was a family tradition.

Seriously, I even researched it  – before leaving for New York – and was PUMPED after realized it did not exist in Mexico, believe me..I asked…

FOUR different Mcdonald’s in Mexico for the Shamrock Shake, nada, they looked at me like I was crazy and I had to settle for a Oreo Blend shake.

Imagine how disappointed I was when I got to New York, MARCH 19, TWO DAYS after St. Patrick’s, and went to four different locations, and no, one, I mean NO ONE, had the Shamrock Shake.  It was freaking travesty.

Heck, even one McDonald’s had the sign up FOR the Shamrock Shake, yet no shake there at all.  Nothing.  I was so upset, so I did come close, at Mel’s Burger’s I ordered a Mint Chocolate Chip shake, it was DELICIOUS, but it was no Shamrock Shake.

Seriously?  TWO DAYS after St. Patrick’s ?  I still am burned about that as that was the ONE, single thing, I was looking for.  Thanks to this amazing recipe posted on Facebook, I would settle for this, but alas, trying to find rootbeer in Mexico?  Um, wow.  Dead end.  So on my to do list next week?  Make homemade rootbeer, make a homemade Shamrock Shake (Thanks Mrs Dixie!) , and make the recipe below.  Who’s with me?  We’ll make a day of it….:)

No kidding, this sounds amazing – and if you love rootbeer floats, um, DUH!?  WHOA!  Okay, so I was disappointed and trust me, even though tis was a HUGE, HUGE letdown, the trip overall with the amazing people, and being surrounded by an amazing staff?, it took the cake, so to speak.  So all ended well.  😉

“I want to know about Malaysia!”.

I am a numbers person, but I dislike Math, long story about a teacher who gave us hall passes all the time in Middle School and…but okay get this…

721 more views on my blog before I reach the big 10, 000 mark.  I am very honored to have that many, in just 2 years time, of NEVER doing a blog, and BAM!  Whoa!  I am hooked!  Here is another stat – 7 more views to meet the highest view this year, which occurred in January, and this is only March.

The only problem with this is – after March, um, I think there might be a slight letdown, so I might have to use more puppy pictures…:)

In very sad news I realized Chinua Achebe passed away.  Some of you might not know who Mr. Achebe was, and neither did I in my Master’s at Slippery Rock.  Then I discovered this awesome class of World Lit, and I was HOOKED, I mean hook, line, and sinker, on World Lit, Multiculturalism, all things involving the other views, than the common Western World point of view and Chinua Achebe was one of those first authors.  A great tribute to Chinua Achebe from NPR does exist as well.

It took guts to defy the common writings people from outside Africa had written, and the said, “Hey!  This is MY country and this is the voice that my country has, not the voice other countries choose to give us!”  He was one of the most respected writer I came across and helped define a whole new world of literature that changed my reading, as well my my perception of how countries are perceived, and who they are perceived by.

To find out more, definitely check out the Shelfari look at Chinua Achebe, one of the finest writers that impacted issues of Multiculturalism, maybe next to Edward Said.

…as we remembered the little details that made New York, well, New York…

There is an AWESOME ice cream store called The Big Gay Ice Cream Store on East 7th Street, and MYGOSH, the flavor Salty Pimp is the BEST – I mean, AWESOME! – Thanks to Camila for the find, and Ana/Natalia for jumping in and all of us for enjoying it!  I saw flavors I didn’t know existed from their slide show!

The MOMA closes at 5:30 PM – at least on the weekend we went, Saturday, so make sure you go EARLY!

The Naked Cowboy still exists and roams Times Square!

There is another HUGE hostel right off of Amsterdam, called the International Youth Hostel.

The Pizza place Two Boots is a great way to eat before lining up for The Newyurocian Cafe, and they have many celebrities’ style of pizza, including “The Newman!” (delicious!) (Not Paul Newman, but Newman (Paul Knight) from Seinfeld!)

Mel’s Burgers has a variety of fries, appetizers, and one of the THICKEST milkshakes EVER….:)

Oren’s Daily Roast is on the way on Columbia, and as soon as you walk in, you are greeted like you are family.  AWESOME muffins, AWESOME chai tea, and just awesome people…

La Famiglia has awesome pizza, stromboli’s and salads as even 1:00 in the morning and welcomes everyone in!

Carnegie Deli has perhaps the largest Ruben known to man!  (And the largest pickle!)

Cubby Graham, of Charity Water, demonstrated the water pumps they place all over the world, and they have a tracking device to monitor amount pumped, if there is a problem with the pump, to make sure that country is taken care of – not just a drop and leave situation for that country.

There is such a thing as Off Broadway, and even Off Off Broadway shows!  Thank you Ms. Rachel Reiner!)  All about the seating…:)

There are many more discoveries we made but these will let us reflect on many of them!

Wow!  Someone asked me if I felt the earthquake today, (yesterday now!)  nope!  LOL…(good!)  Amazing, but I was sleeping, so yeah, I can sleep through an earthquake it seems.

Moving back to what Sunday, our last day in New York was like for us – well, it was early so ugh,  🙂 – I woke up from a deep, deep, sleep, made my way out of the Hotel Newton, headed to the metro, and, being early, of course took the wrong train, and came back and boarded the #1 metro to Jazz on the Park.  I wasn’t the only one snoozing by a longshot – so I felt better 🙂  I woke Alice up, packed my things I left behind, we all started to get ready for the 7:00 AM pickup.  We ate bagels and muffins in Jazz on the Park, then as we gathered one last time in the lobby, the girls had something behind their back…..MYSTERIOUS….:)  they presented me with a Tony for Best Teacher, that was sooooo cooool!  🙂  I hugged them and thanked them for the kindest gift I can remember, and then they gave me a wrapped package on top of that.  I waited to open as we realized the pickup was here, and we were heading….HOOOOMMMME!  Minus Sofia, Natalie, Ms Dickson, and Camille, we were on our way from NY, a sunny day, as we checked in, and had a few moments at the airport  to take a few pics….I opened my package – Look below!  It was signed by the author, AND – the students – best gift EVER!

Believe it or not, I read the WHOLE thing on the flight home, I mean, the WHOLE book – no kidding.  Cover to cover, it was GREAT, no,  mean terrific.  I couldn’t believe I read the whole thing, literally, but it was really really good.  I never read anything by Harlan Coben, but this was exceptional. (sorry, had to get the puppies in there too!)

There is not much I can say about the flight home, that would even pale against the whole New York adventure in itself, yet, feeling the warmth was amazing as I got off the plane, and I knew, this weather was the best compared to the snow and the constant cold.  New York would NOT have been New York without the company I had surrounding me.

Aside from loving every moment I could spend with the students look at this overview:

On Tuesday we were able to meet Raphael Martin, Literary & Humanities Manager at Soho Repertory Theatre, who answered us about the off broadway experience and showed us through the Soho Theatre.  Amazing Q & A with him and insight into some awesome off broadway shows!  Then later, getting the opportunity to meet Cubby Graham earlier from Charity Water and getting an amazing tour – and getting info for Ms Dixie’s class AND seeing their Friday Times Square event! – WOW!  OVERLOAD already!

Wednesday we hit Columbia running with new workshops, where I presented info on the students for the very FIRST TIME.  Being able to attend a first class Nuyorican Open Mic Cafe that premieres poets on UTube, and one of our staff being a judge for the championships that would occur on Friday!

Thursday we attended more awesome workshops, the Staff presented to a great crowd FOR THE FIRST TIME (and featured on the slideshow at Columbia Scholastic Press Association at Columbia, we rushed off to meet JP escorting us to The Russian Tea Room dinner, then Mama Mia, meeting the lead boyfriend Zak Resnick in the musical, Mama Mia and meeting Clif Thorn who generously escorted us, introduced us, and gave us much to think about regarding the process of musicals and his experiences, seeing behind stage, meeting other actors of the Broadway Show, amazing night!  repentino final presentation at the above link!

Friday also attending more awesome workshops, meeting Rachel Reiner,   Senior Manager of Membership Services and Education Programs member of the Broadway League and owner of an off Broadway Group Resonance Ensemble, being treated like royalty and asking so many questions about the history of Broadway, being able to then go on to attend the Finals of the Open Mic Performances Friday night as well!

Saturday being able to capture amazing photos of 911 for an educational packet we have been planning for students that might not remember 911, along with the sightseeing we were able to fit into the cracks in between, this trip was amazingly meaningful because of the heart the staff put into everything they did, which makes all the difference in the world.

Overall, these experiences took the cake and allowed the students to experience, interview, present, and find out facts that would take them to many different paths in their own futures.

“Everything is connected.”  With Marlene Mervine saying this about Chapel Branch years ago, this is never more true today.  As my class in Mexico begins to ground ourselves coming back from speaking at a conference in New York, returning to  Mexico, we also begin to realize life doesn’t stop, and how do we keep up with the many events going on around us?  Taking a break before we close out the remainder of the posting in this blog of events in New York, Tuesday The Nanticoke Watershed goes to provide information on what Chapel Branch means to the surrounding individuals that have grown up with areas such as Chapel Branch and other outlying areas.  Here has what has been said specifically when asked about the Vince Morris Trail at Chapel Branch, found at  38°37’40″N   75°38’20″W, this is what we have as a HANDFUL of people among many that have discovered Chapel Branch:

Laura Garmendia –

“Watched my kids run cross country there and loved walking the trails while we lived there…definitely not a place to “let go”….Beautiful property. I know my family will never forget all the bonding experiences there.” (Children – Jaime and Cristina Garmendia).

Former SHS Student and

Cross Country Alumni-

‘If I were to detract a part of the name of this trail; break the branch in half until it hangs limply, swinging in the wind until it snaps and falls, leaving only “Chapel”, it would be more fitting. More accurate. More true. Because that was what it was to me – a natural sanctuary. The dirt was my altar, the trees were my idols, and the winding path was my ritual. Five times a week, I devoted my body and mind to this place – to the point where my feet, wrapped in their porous, laced encasing, would blister and crack and burn in exalting veneration. Toward betterment. Toward perfection. I was perfection and Chapel Branch, with its wide, forgiving paths, helped me to obtain that. Chapel Branch gave me perfection – just as it gave me protection – that I wouldn’t trade for anything.”

Long time Devotee to Chapel Branch, all things Nature in Delaware, Melinda Duryea, and current educator at Blades Elementary-

Chapel Branch is a great place to enjoy nature. On my walks there I always see several varieties of birds (even saw a Bard owl..awesome), beautiful flowers in the spring/summer, butterflies, deer, frogs, lizards, snakes, and someone even reported to have seen a fox squirrel. I love it there. Whenever I’m there I feel a solace that is hard to explain.  It’s an awesome place.

Cross Country Runner and alumni of Seaford Cross Country, Rob Urell-

“Wow, to describe what Chapel Branch means to me is a pretty hard task. Whenever I think of CB (Chapel Branch) I get an overwhelming mix of emotions. That wasn’t a just a place to practice and to race but that was a place to let go and think. I couldn’t tell you how many times I ran at Chapel Branch or how many times I went there to just walk around and think. Some of my fondest high school memories are there. I’m sure some people have no idea what or where Chapel Branch even is but there is so much more there then just trails, there is years and years of memories. As a cross country team we use to go out to clean up every season while Coach Morris and Coach Perciful (CP) would make sure all the directions were clear with a new coat of paint. Chapel branch is a great place and I think it needs to be maintained for years to come, someday I hope to come back a coach a cross country team there. As a wise man always said “yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift that’s why it’s called the present.” They say home is where the heart is…I challenge anyone who second guesses what I say to go out to Chapel Branch and run the course or walk in and down to the bridge and tell me you can’t feel something, you know you can.”

Thanks!, Robb Urell

As a former Cross Country Coach, educator, and community volunteer,  as well as a devotee to all things care taking through Coaches Morris and Perciful, these are my thoughts:

“I remember the first time I actually approached Chapel Branch.  It was the night following Coach Morris’ loss to Leukemia.  Coach Morris had very little losses, so this is what struck me the most, that he was actually not beside me to talk this dilemma over with, and I had to do something, go somewhere.  I chose this place they called Chapel Branch, and as I approached at close to midnight after a stress filled run all over Seaford, I saw the branches, I saw the hat left behind, I saw the signs that others had visited here already and realized the name “Chapel” was something holy when it came to this place.  I vowed to return to find out what it was about.

When I did return, I found that I was offended when people threw their garbage along the trails.  Tires, mattresses, clothes left carelessly there reminded me of all the stories from others of Vince spending time after time, making sure Chapel Branch remained a sanctuary for all who needed such a place.  Little did I know, that this would always be a home to Cross Country Runners, as their trophy from Vince.  Little did I also know, the markers once identified so many important characteristics of the environment, this area truly was a gift.  To let it be disappear and degrade to nothing, would be to not acknowledge the importance of the events that had occurred there, and that could not happen.

Possibility.  That is what The Vince Morris Trail at Chapel Branch is filled with, more than the mysteries of nature, the countless meetings, practices, walks, 5k’s, and cleanups that have occurred here, Chapel Branch is one of many ares that has possibilities that outlast a lifetime.  Creating a nature center, educational arenas, physical education projects, as well as conservation awareness classrooms allows students to take what is available out of the classroom, and bring fresh ideas INTO the classroom.  In doing so, we see a treasure in our back yards, just what Coach Perciful and Morris would have wanted.  Is that worth keeping?

Take a walk among the trails of Chapel Branch and let your body, soul, and mind help you decide.  They have never let generations of participants in Chapel Branch down, and neither will it let you down now as you experience areas that are already so much, and can be so much more for future generations.”   –  Harry Brake

March 30th marks a gathering of individuals at Chapel Branch to do the yearly cleaning, maintenance, and restoration of this area.  We hope you can spread the word to help us, get others to help us, and to continue to prepare for the May 11th 5k at Chapel Branch, which will celebrate this area, the individuals that believed in such an area, and individuals such as Dan Dobson, Lynne Betts, Marlene Mervince, and countless others that have helped maintain this area.  Thank you!

Dr betts and vince morris app