PAVEing a Blog

“Version of…I don’t know and things I get frustrated at but…glad for afterwards…”

What version of old will I be?

Old – before my time old – inside and out?

Old but “cool” old- air in the hair (yes HAIR),

cool convertible old but fun?

“Critical of”old in attitude and young in vigor…

…yet the same myself —

I want to be old and bring class to the classification

letting the young in – forever.

Waking up – refreshed, oblivious to obstructions –

ready to RUN – walk – do anything

anywhere

to the days of S L I D I N G into bed – A Narnia from

obstacles and tasks of the day –

yet these are the days that allow me to relish zooming days

– zooming past obstacles and tasks, and things, things to cover

even the calmest day provides a rollercoaster of unexpecteds –

allows me no room for boring – plenty of room for frustration and untilled

possibilities – this makes the day even brighter, even more possible.

I wonder at old age – those that have fallen into my daily life along the way –

Walking some days and the reality of their presence almost bursts my emotions into

tears without warning – Why so strong out of where? all of a sudden?

I find there are volumes, yes, versions of me I still have to discover

I still don’t know, can’t explain, but I cling to memories that fill me up like a

64 oz bottle of JOLT- faces- laughs – experiences – moments –

“Give unto others as you’d have done to yourself…”

I’m happy for the saddest moments and sad for the happiest moments to end-

what kind of version of old will I yet be?

“Untitled”

The crinkle of leaves parachuting to the secluded street corner

frisbees sharing secrets along the way

feathers brushing against a canvas of wind

roots shoveling the ground like a machine

clouds pushing the sky back

ink sliding down to make a point

s stare screaming in a fearful moment

fireflies sliding against the darkened night

whiskers pointing to the unreachable object

water struggling with the moment of solitude

smiles slashing, crashing the silence

tears shattering the memory

silence dividing a life

thoughts – worth more than

a thousands words

and a picture.

Wow – now 12:25 and what an OPEN MIC NIGHT!  WOW!  Meeting Peter from Australia, seeing Obi reading sophisticated prose, Mr Hamilton, Ms Gallie, and Mr Brake participating in Mr Hamilton’s PLAY script! – Jack, Louis, and also friends leaving Mexico, friends returning to Mexico, people prompted to come up and read based on the energy and excitement of others, VFW Mic Night was AWESOME – and we hung out to hear the music afterwards with the band that came in – W O  W! – I knew there was a reason I came here…

So, making a marathon-run for the time I haven’t been updating my blog (wait until you see the restaurants list this week!) – I love this video by the way – HYSTERICAL – it reminds me of well, someone smashing Watermelons, like, GALLAGHER!  🙂  (yes, see? Random? – Tonight, We Are Young,) There is something about smashing fruit, in front of people…

Okay serious now…seriously!…(I DO LOVE SLEDGE – O – MATIC!)

… back to Sherman Alexie….DJ Hamilton was kind enough to send me this article, on Sherman Alexie’s newest interview.

And I was hooked…it was not for the reason that I tried to get a book of his poetry for a teacher as ASF, or watched Smoke Signals, but it was that fateful night in Slippery Rock, when upon referring to Sherman Alexie in my newly created thesis, “Opening the Window of Time”, I was lucky enough to meet Sherman Alexie who sat beside me at dinner at Slippery Rock University – this was an amazing night.  Thanks to Dr. Permenter, Alexie came to Slippery Rock, I gave him the rough transcripts of my thesis at that time, and to this date, I remember two main things…

1- Asking Mr. Alexie what would be a common way that could get everyone to share beliefs together and in my naive believe multiculturalism was about everyone agreeing, he answered, “There is no way!” – he was right.  I have learned that one of the greatest things is the differences that separate us, yet that very thing should be the aspect that connects us!

2- I asked Mr. Alexie where in the WORLD he received the inspiration for one of the greatest pieces he wrote, and his explanation was hysterical yet showed me how talented he is!  (You will have to ask him the meaning if you’re curious! )

I look back and hope to send the finalized version of my overall piece to Mr. Alexie, with an amazing memory of how he inspired be back then to

“…keep moving, keep walking in step with your skeletons. They ain’t ever going to leave you, so you don’t have to worry about that. Your past ain’t going to fall too far behind and your future won’t get too far ahead. Sometimes, though, your skeletons will talk to you, tell you to sit down, take a rest, breathe a little. Maybe they’ll make you promises, tell you all the things you want to hear.”

Thanks for the recollection Mr. Hamilton.

I am random.  VERY random.  Take this song, I came across by accident very random, but I love it now. Random.  I love randomness, but yet I have only now figured out, while some of my friends know this better about me, I think of things sometimes an hour, a day or even a month later put of the blue and recall it from a conversation I had about that long ago…same thing happened tonight.  In the middle of my graduate school work and bam!  an email I received from my principal about how she submitted her “This I Believe Essay ” for her class and I knew,  right there,  right then, what I wanted to right.  Not fighting the urge, I immediately ripped off what I wanted to say as mine – so well here it is….

This I believe Oct 2

oh there is so much more to write about!  Did I mention Sherman Alexie?  Hmmm, next post….:)

Okay QUIZ kids, what do the three have in common?  Seriously, you don’t even have a clue?  Come on…..:)

Sheesh –  let me explain…: ) Walking Kinah to Park Rio De Janeiro (I love that this is 2 block from my house) I causally saw a glow-in-the-dark frisbee being thrown across the Michaelangelo’s fountain of David, and I thought, I want one of those…as we made our way back across the plaza, one of the participants approached me and said something like “Swedish Mafia” and I was like…haven’t seen them (I was laughing) but in reality, was he was telling me was, had I heard the BAND named Swedish Mafia?!  lol, and I said no, but he instantly pointed to Kinah and said she is in that video, her replica!  No kidding, I came home, and as Fabian told me, at exactly 1:16 in the video called  Save the World, there is Kinah’s TWIN !  I knew you wouldn’t believe me, so here is the screenshot…:)

See?

Anyways, if you listen to the words, it fits, WHo is going to SAVE the world?  Suburban, urban Kinah had been everywhere and yet, who would imagine that such a gentle, thoughtful, and forgiving animal would be loose in the streets?  The video does a god job of getting this across to the viewers too, too many people out there that need a helping hand and if we all pitch in, the world would be a much better place.  Good band, good message, great tune…Oh the 104?  Yes, that is where Fabian lives as he told me and urged me , “Please have puppies, PLEASE!, I want one of these dogs! – so I still refrain from fixing Kinah with the possibility of another one as generous as her existing in the future…?…maybe…and I found out that behind the Sixties bar/restaurant on Insurgentes, the frisbee, I am so getting one, DEFINITELY!  🙂  Interesting night…:)

Okay, yes, I have been less than lackluster in being punctual with the updates, especially the updates on the of restaurants, but they are forthcoming, but when?  Well…Okay enough about procrastination – four things that are amazing before you move to be wowed by the next posts…:)

One – Open Mic Night was AWESOME for 2012 with bands, poetry, the whole gamut, I cannot say it enough – the talent that was shared among a whole great would have amazed many – and it is a shame there weren’t more BUT – October 24th will be your chance to see an even larger planned event – I am just amazed every night over the talent of students around us, that amaze me every day in and out of the classroom!  Oh, and there is something about a band in the library – AWESOME….:)  Thanks Miguel for the shots!

2-   There is no greater satisfaction than being able to share people’s moments, and this one one of them, above, Open Mic Night, and the night before, Open Mic Night at the VFW thanks to Jack Little, a GIANT in open Mic Night in Condesa – his 22nd issue of his magazine is out – check it out here at:

www.theofipress.webs.com  (Our Own ASF D.J.Hamilton is in there!)

but that wasn’t the news, a fellow poet and scholar, Osseily Hanna,who is on a sojourn to Yale – you wouldn’t believe it but it involves Edward W. Said’s widow – CRAZY!  , then to TURKEY – he was preparing to leave this week, the week of the Open Mic Night, and I did acquire his mattress, so maybe his writing genes will soak through to me? (doubtful) – but his leaving was sad, yet inspiring based on what he is headed to do.  He had read an a piece translated alongside Mr. Hamilton on a previous night and it was AWESOME – on this night I was contemplating reading something.  But I literally had NOTHING written, and I had 20 minutes…so I wrote a piece in 20 minutes, and guess what I called it?  – okay, yes, 20 Minutes.  🙂  I was impressed that others liked it and I read it the next night – if you feel it is good at all give me a shout of why, but remember, the students around me inspired it! – (Both Delaware, and before, and now in Mexico!)

“20 Minutes or THINGS People say”

 Apprehension, tension, the heart in pumping,

Sweaty palms, furled brow, this is my first time at….

Being an impression in front of others, pushing mothers

Fathers to trust me to guide their child towards a direction I feel,

I Feel…who am I to take their child and mold them a certain way,

Who are their parents to send them on their way without breakfast

Lunch dinner, who is the winner here in a world where I teach children how

To pass a test of their confidence, judged by the state, on those who do not

Represent the immediate state of affairs of the government, is this a teacher?

Mr Brake – Yes? – Fast fast , you talk to fast, you might be from Pennsylvaina and all that mumbo jumbo but this is Delaware, no, not De a Where, Delaware, the lower slower get it, SLOWER – SLOWER Mr B – 6 years already?  Teaching in mix

Of life, get out and do things rather than hang onto the skins of book – Hey – would help me coach, illustrate, design, lead, volunteer in your spare time?

Teaching educating, is there a difference, I form my own space, place to call what I do educating, staying behind after the grind of teachers running for the door, this new vocation, I call education, not teaching, education it calls for dinner for the twins, breakfast for Trista, confidante, inspirer, ride home ride back to the periods where I teach to the test, the test the test, when are you going to get higher scores on the test?

Tell me, what does The test do for them, for me, does it put food on their plates on your plates as a school, looking cool as trying to be one of the best in a lower slower state where the vice president migrates from that is Delaware,  Del a Where….

Do we go from here, twelve years, and I still get chills, up my spine, sweats in my hand – my pulse quickens, wanting to impress as if it was my first time, in front of

People that is right, not student as they became the young woman to attend the Naval academy,  dancing to the stars, take her father’s place in infamy, they were educated, not taught, they felt the feeling I feel, the test is not for me, what about life, trust, mistakes, learning, education, where does that fit into the PSAT, the applications you want to be the determination of who this young man woman is…

Thirteen years leaving behind my family of students to preserve my sanity at the same time of being an educator – no not teacher – educator – to show the importance of a life truly lived as if it is your last – chance to show everyone you

Have a spark they can’t influence, test, score, you wanted more you whi I like to call

MY STUDENT like a proud parent who can give you breakfast, lunch and dinner in the form of promises, hope and motivation that will guide you when you feel alone with – criticism, failure, they leave and represent me all over –

You do too much – you need to say no – do I?  Can you make create this scenario, will you support my voice, my choice to ask you to help me but I need to say no

 Listen – this is me – spreading me into others and having them shine being proud of being who they are and not afraid to impress another

 To many years I watched before, as you ran out the door, at the last bell, satisfied you gave the well answers to your students and rushing back to your homes, never leaving room for the home you could among people that admired you –

Wished to – just ask for  five minutes to get some help – some advice, guidance – this is the meaning of a teacher, or an educator –

Mexico – thirteen years have gone by and family in the form of students and educators that want something more – to give art back to those that create art in their everyday students – proud to be the father of so many youth with sometimes proof they are a star – among the many that stray afar and wonder – what do I matter – Do I? mean something to happen that will change my life, end my strife, end my hunger, provide the thunder of who I am as an individual yet also someone that wants to care to talk to me

It races by but here I am – thirteen years surrounded by youth who do not feel it is uncool to have me in their presence, yet – how do I explain the sweaty palms, the furrowed brow, catching breath – they – will move on and not out of sight but into my memory taking me with them on one wild ride that became my life, their life, making strides past “You do too much” Say No once in awhile”-

Stop – Slow down – realize these nervous palpitations are a result of letting them go – on as these amazing young leaders found something inside of them they knew was there – but did not how to let out as those that ran out the door – shouted back, Say No – Pull back – do less…”

So that was actually 2 things so let’s move to 4 – 🙂 –

Sick – I hate being sick – we did pizza sales this past Saturday success for Repentino! – but not for my stomach – flashback – last year – rafting, overboard, felt like I swallowed half the river , bed _SICK like never before – this time, a year later, since Saturday – feeling like a sword is coming through my stomach, Montezuma’s revenge all through my body – aching, sweaty, nauseous, but not QUITE as bad as last year – amazing I am still alive? – no that is not the amazing part, lol…Kinah patiently waiting ALL day and night for me, as if she knew I was sick, and when I finally managed to CRAWL out the door to walk her, she let it go but had waited all that time until I could go – yes, she is the wonder stray of the year…:) and now tomorrow is Wednesday I head back, a few pounds lighter, but grateful for these four things that carry so many smaller gifts inside them…

…more info tonight after Open Mic Night in Condesa!  🙂  Stay tuned!

Okay, so it was not that night, hence you get the idea of my schedule as of late.  Yes, it is true, I washed an orphaned cate,  he is a cutie, and he did not offer up a fight – (surprising) and The Toy Story Shampoo I used (sorry, could not find any kittie shampoo! – )  he patiently endured this – but 3 days to countdown on getting fixed and well – hopefully the aggression issue will simmer down a bit – NOT liking other cats – AT ALL 🙂    Time, nothing but time…:)

Doggy Dog World, okay, so entering the Dog world, it can’t get to get some help.  So I ran into this awesome food supplier, Cynthia Kaplan, who creates homemade and wrapped in tamale/stalk leaves, and yes the dog loved it.  Let me let you see the description below of the food – When I serve the food to the Kinah!  (That’s right! Her new name is KINAH thanks to Sophia Sanchez!  WOOOHOOO!  it means strong-willed, and um, yes needless to say that fits!)  I am asking myself – “Are you sure this is not made for people?  It looks that good!”:

Hottest SPA in Mexico!

Cynthia Kaplan      Chief Dog Lover       +52 1 (044) 55 5401-0885

www.luckydog.com.mx

@luckydogmex         Cocina Lucky Dog 5264-6700

Avenida Monterrey 314-2, esq Tepic    Roma Sur

Article for Lucky Dog –  Info Lucky Dog English

I think that Kinah had Max and Canelo’s beef n veggie stew, made from human grade beef and beef heart (for zinc and minerals); grains like brown rice, amaranth, and rolled oats and flaxseed, several veggies including carrots, beats, broccoli and chayote, and the right balance of minerals and vitamins to keep dogs eating healthy over the long term.  We believe that dogs, like their human companions, need to eat more fresh and balanced foods to live longer and have fewer medical problems.

And as the article says we also have a line of natural treats (liver, apple and banana and veggie with cranberries), “pupcakes” and birthday cakes to order.

Our chef was trained in the US in an industrial kitchen that makes over 6000 meals a day for school children, so I’m very confident about the way Lucky Dog is made—very hygienically, and cooked in the best possible way to maximize nutrient content.  And as we are trying to be a socially responsible company, we wrap the portions in a banana leaf (like a tamal, but healthier) which is natural packaging instead of using plastic.  And then we freeze it and deliver it to your home in 14 portions (2 x day/week).

The food, um yeah, it was amazing and I am pretty sure her coat looked better in a few weeks – it was awesome knowing she liked the food better than the high end dry food at the vet!  🙂

Moving forward – today – September 26th, we break into the School Improvement class of teaching Blogging and wiki’s – tackling students here at ASF the 911 project started 5 + years ago at Seaford! – IF YOU WERE part of that interviewing process when we went, I need you to send me the year you went and your name please – we’re going to make history! – as well as preparing for the Global Education Conference November 12th – 17th as well as the – NCTE November 15th – 20th –  and do not forget our Repentino. staff are already sifting through submissions as we speak!  AND –

speaking of Repentino. 🙂   – Open Mic Night!  WOW!  The band, Guardians of the 1st Amendment, GREAT!  GREAT!  Miguel taking pictures, Salomon organizing the magazines, poetry by new, familiar, it was AWESOME!  October 24th is our new Open Mic night in October, but I need some more submission from around the world!  Please – send us your stories, poetry, photos, art we want it all!

Check out on Facebook Repentino. and you will catch our submission criteria, email, Tumbler, and Twitter! – so Repentino. keeps moving forward.

El Grito 2012 was rainy, but we did much better than last year as we sold more and PIZZA!  🙂  We had full staff here and pictures will be forthcoming (My GOSH! – I still need pictures updated from the last post!) – Repentino. staff is moving steadily and fast with meeting every Monday – in 304 and wow, (knock on wood) we are way ahead of last year  which is a VERY good thing…yet there are 4 more things you will not believe….:)

Let me first say this, you NEED to see this, so please, watch this, then come back here and read my words that will be a second shadow compared to this motivational insight:

http://vimeo.com/42372767

Okay so yeah, Okay, I have been gone from my blog for a little while – but wow, what has occurred!

Okay so let’s pick up last YOU read –

September 9th – wow – LONG time ago but – let me start with a memory….

September 11th, 2001 – can you believe this never turn back memory occurred in 2001? Where were you?  MY gosh – I remember – I was a teacher in Penn Hills High School, outside Monroeville, PA – and truly thinking a prank was occurring when a student told and then showed me what was occurring on television.  Life would never be the same for anyone in their memory of New York City.  Flash forward a few years later, I am working at U.S. Investigations, in Grove City, and we held a moment of silence for those affected.  I have to say, even a few years later I realized how much this moment came back and hit you like a tidal wave.  I still had the lump in my throat, tears in my eyes, and still amazed at how many people we would never truly know were affected.  I thought this briefly as Janet, our librarian, put up a bulletin board in memory of 911.

The trips we made as an Aloha Staff, traveling with Mrs. Austin-Richardson’s class to New York for the Christmas show, the interviews we took while there, buses full of students in the middle of New York, then Whhhoooosh, ironically in Mexico we ended up there last year making some historic strides in meeting Mr Arad – architect of the 911 Memorial – and students that just had an experience that would never be able to be left behind in memory.  Life, whoever says it is not full circle and ironic, has truly not been out there enough.

Mexican Driver’s license – seriously, can you believe it?  Poor Tracy Miller finally got me in her care – YEAH – she is BACK at ASF! – and we head down to Revolucion towards the place where I can go, without an appointment, and with all my papers get my license before I headed to Oaxaca for the long break (so I thought – on two accounts).

We get there, I am nervous as I will have to go without Tracy through some lines and be expected to respond in Spanish – wow, still nervous about this.

I get to the line, and am asked for the receipt.  OhmyGOSH, I have my passport (not needed, just my FM3!), an old bill verifying my address the form that says I did pay the cashier for the fee, but not the tiny little receipt I needed, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  Ever the optimist, Tracy told me at least I knew where to be to get it next, and I am wondering how on EARTH, or Mexico, I am going to get my license, and get my Passport and Fm3 to HC  the next day to renew my FM3 at the same time before I would leave? HOW? – But Tracy, as always, (I am so lucky to have people around me that are optimists!) – keep insisting this was a good thing, and I thought, HOW?

I ran to the laundromat, and managed to pick up my 50+ kilos of three month laundry, raced home to walk the dog _ YES – a name is coming by the way by the end of the week! – and as I raced in the door a text! Tracy telling m the place was open until 9:00 PM  NO FREAKING WAY!….yes, I knew it could happen…

Sifting through every receipt since I had driven to Mexico from Delaware, my memories sifting through my fingers as I searched through my past – represented in receipts, literally hundreds, looking for that one, little Da- HEY!  MAGIC!  IT IS HERE!  – Yessss…:)   I raced out the door, dog in two dog in truck – dog with me to Revolucion, 8:20 PM – 8:20 PM ARE YOU KIDDING?

Never being there, let alone driving there before except with Tracy earlier that evening – I made it ALL THE WAY the first time, pulled in the lot, told the dog I would be back (I am sooo excited to not call her “The Dog” soon!) and ran in.  Yes, the receptionist was quite surprised to see me the same night but bing, bang, answered a few questions in Spanish – No WAY – lol, and fingerprints, and Voila!  A Mexican Driver’s license – yes way!  I as on cloud nine, did a little shopping at the Soriana, and jumped back into a very excited dog, then headed back amazed….

Next day, all originals to HC and my FM3 would be renewed just in the nick of time!

So there is the Oaxaca thing, plan A was to be “sick” Thursday, and head to Oaxaca with “the dog” and spend a few days chilling.  Realization set in and I knew I should and needed to be at the inservice we had Friday, so I succumbed to responsibility ( I hate that).

Friday – I was to race around, get the dog groomed and head out.  All worked out so far, except I picked her up at 6:00 PM, and it was a 4 hour drive.  I had all packed in the truck, and traffic, which I knew, was CRAZY – it took me 2 1/2 hours to get from outside Condesa to ROMA – normally a 20-25 minute drive.  AT this point I was not feeling very good about this and just had a big NO enter my head and was sure (still 50-50) I would not go – I was outside the World Trade Center trying to get to Roma, and I felt my truck being lifted, and that is right, a little, itty bitty cab tried to pull in front of me, and I did not even see him, minding mu won business!  What the HECK?

We get out, of course there is a crease in his taxi, and not a speck on my truck, lol, nothing.  He is adamant this is worth 1000 pesos of damage, I beg to differed…Being one to not want to tempt fate, we settled on 500 pesos and we could walk away and we did just that.  Not feeling good about this, as if I JUST received a ticket, I totally decided, despite the dog looking awesome and ready for Oaxaca and me being TOTALLY ready, home was the place for me and being home all break would give me a chance to catch up.  Catch up I did, on rest, cleaning the house, organizing everything, best choice I could have made! I did sleep through the Independence Day fireworks as well, and have to say it was an off year for me celebrating but I did not mind in the least!

This Thursday is our FIRST 2012-2013 Open Mic Night, and I have to say this is exciting for me.  Our staff last year, jumped to 28 this year, and received the Silver Trophy of recommendation the FIRST year of publication from Columbia University.  COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, the GURU of journalism….I could never have been prouder.  The exciting directions the staff is going this year would blow your mind, so yeah, is it an epic year – one hundred percent.

I see an amazing generation of students rising up and being creative, and impacting others’ lives.  This is the most amazing treat to have as an educator to see, I am so incredibly lucky to have (I have said this in the past) had the Kate Baltz’s, Alison Schwinn’s, Christina Stevenson’s to name a FEW – as well as the tire Aloha Staff I had for years, as well as an entire STAFF of amazing young minds now surrounding me, does life get any better?  There are major dips, turns, dead ends, and turns arounds I never saw coming.  Yet, I have seen some of the most amazing things in my life, experience the most amazing people, and still cannot put it into words. Still.

To ay this has been a wild ride at my age of 40 would be an understatement.  I truly felt I have lived the life of two others, and that was my goal ages ago, to live a live reminiscent of my father who gave to everyone, and of my friend Dave who took his life because he felt he had nothing to give anyone. Somewhere in the middle, I have been lucky enough to have finally reached a middle ground, and soon, I will be able to sit back and say about these amazing individuals, “I knew them.”

I wish I had a penny for everytime someone told me, “You do way too much.”  Yet, I have absolutely no regrets.  The things I would have missed out on I could never obtain in another life, and each and every individual has made each and every moment amazing.  When I read my writing tomorrow night at Open MicNight in Condesa, it is dedicated to the people that have brought me so far, and given so much.  Life is good.  Next post – sooner to come than you think (so that means less than 2 weeks!)

WOW! Okay, WHIRLWIND of events but they counter the things that occur that are negative that occur.  I apologize to my readers who see a pattern of my venting when negative appear to the surface.  When I get pulled into the negative comments, remarks, etc, I explode and just want to say – “If you don’t like it, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!”

On that note, let’s talk about how AWESOME things are thanks to the people around me – Yesterday – Xochimilco – WoW – DOUBLE WOW! What a GREAT day!  I remember going last year as a new hire and was intrigued, but this year was FANTASTIC!  Thanks to Jack – Janet’s hubby, he hired a Mariachi before Elisa had  chance to – and well, okay they  were off- key and a little rough – but – this set the stage for – yes, the same group we had last year – and as Maraichi’s go – they rocked!  (Can Maraichi’s rock?) lol.

The sun was out, it was a perfect day, we laughed all day, I had my first elote  (YES, I will be having more!) – a followup Michelada – it was early but I have to say that combo of Chili – YUM –  this is the thing with the Elote – biting into this – a cooked corn on the cob, with luscious mayonnaise and chili – just for started, MOUTHWATERING! I mean it, it was better than  thought could be from a combo and well, I am hooked!

I keep forgetting the story of the baby dolls, so here is the link!

http://thelostdutchman.hubpages.com/hub/The-Island-of-the-Dead-Dolls

The music rocked but the company there made the day THE BEST! I love this trip out of all things, perhaps the most  Discussing the Steelers with a fellow colleague’s boyfriend/(or husband – I never did find that out!) was a little highlight that added to this day.

When we got to the plants, wow – no holds barred – I remembered what I wished I would have gotten last year – so – this year TONS of pots, between three of us hiring a wagon (Veronica, Bill, and myself) we looked like we could open up our own stand!  I took pics of the ones  I grabbed now at my house, grabbed, and then cool thing was we took a bus for just the plant buying people, and headed to our homes self delivering them, saving TONS – TONS of $$$$$!  The hard part was getting the huge bag of dirt, a pot the size of my sink, and several plants up 4 flights of stairs.  No casualties, except a cracked window trying to get it onto the balcony.  What is it with that, first Amanda’s apartment, my old apartment, and this one and cracked windows?  However, after setting the dirt in place and getting all arranged, I definitely made the right choice in getting these for the apartment!

I realized I have gotten to know better the area of Mexico City as we find everyone’s homes too! I loved this day and am so glad it came!

And speaking of firsts, selling almost ALL our Repentino. magazines thanks to the marketing skills of our staff and Mr. De la Parra, who single handedly went out like the musical Newsies and made all of ASF aware of the magazine – this was just a precursor to the event that would blow us away- receiving word the next day that we received –

drumroll

– the SILVER Trophy for our magazine from Columbia University!  WHAT? I had to read it twice, and the feedback we received  will be priceless to turn around make Repentino. for ASF – a landmark publication representing the four corners of the globe.  The staff, Admin, and all involved with Repentino. so deserved this!   I loved Back to School night despite the burps and inconsistencies we sometimes have with having food, etc ready!

Yet it got better- the faculty from Upper School took a bus to their homes and five of us – Mr Hamilton, Megan, Veronica, the newest English teacher from…(Chicago maybe?) and me hunkered down and just chatted the night away. To be honest, it was one of the best Friday nights I ever had, we had SUCH a GREAT time together and we didn’t even know we would as we well, never had done that all together before.  This was truly a GREAT end to a cool evening of parents at Back to School Night, ending in Roma Norte!

Sunday – the day that the Steelers play the Bronco’s!  I am psyched – PSYCHED!

Attending the Meetup.com today at Museo de San Idelfonso, La lengua de Ernesto exposition, with good friends just adds to the excitement of what a great month this has been!

Last night, I needed cat litter, which led e to an excursion, in my truck, where I thought I was going to just around a few streets to the grocery store.  Um, no, somehow, the grocery Store Chedraui that Deb Lawrence had shown me, was not in the place my mind envisioned (shocking), I stopped to refuel and PemEx and the attendant in great Spanish and my bad Spanish – we communicated our love for the Steelers and he directed me in the direction of what I thought would be Chedraui, but I ended up in Buena Vista, (AMAZING WAL MART THERE) despite I do not like Wal Mart. In getting lost for like 2 hours, driving, lol, I got all I needed, food, cat supplies, more dirt, pots, etc, giving the garage attendant 10 pesos which he bowed and thanked God for, (he might have been the nicest person I had met) since earlier  today…

What a crazy and unplanned day, of meeting people, I didn’t know, did know, and just celebrating the day – several times I knew I was lost but recognizing the metrobus helped direct me back to DF – although I passed the airport like THREE TIMES.  It was funny because I could actually see the inside route of the metro as it passed me and I could tell I was headed toward the pink line – and I was driving, and I knew I was headed back!

I came back home to the building next door, 4th floor, having a Karaoke party – it was hysterical listening and watching them singing to the teleprompter, yet there was something satisfying falling asleep hearing them sing to the songs by the Beatles after all the songs in English they were singing, for them, Karaoke was being used for their party but ALSO to help them speak English better – AWESOME idea!

My second floor neighbors also were having a party and as you walked by you could hear the parents singing with the children – way too cool party involving everyone.  It was a final night to a week of so many highlights, and this is only Sunday morning!

I have 1000 updates to the restaurant blog which will happen over the next week (fingers crossed) and missing the Friday night restaurant is okay- having one of those blinding headaches and sleeping all night into Saturday morning helped me prep for the good days that followed!

I tried to recap the last several days that have taken the negative aspects of things that occur, and counter them with the priceless events that occur among friends, students, and fellow colleagues, that boils down to one word – friends.  Time spent with the people that just want to enjoy life, and make it a good one, well, the three words – Life is Good – results. You haven’t even hard the best part yet about the Department of Defense, a call for papers about Librarians and Media Specialists impacting the international libraries, and…okay …next post!  Stay tuned for the pictures on Tuesday that will go with this blog (inserted later).

A lost Kudos to Tammy Pham, Anthony, and other volunteers that went back and cleaned up Soroptomist Park – activism happening in Delaware and warming me up to how awesome student are in Mexico and Delaware.  We are surrounded by some pretty awesome people if we take the time to notice…:)

Letter to my Repentino Staff:

Here’s the situation, I returned home tonight in disbelief. Why? This is why. There are very few people, clubs, let alone students strong enough to disprove the masses. Yet disprove the masses you did. Tonight, Thursday evening, you sold more magazines, you promoted the magazine Repentino more than I have seen anything promoted this week than anything, even 6 years of working yearbook, and you showed when crazy odds are against you, you rise to the challenge and inspire others around you to do the same. I AM SO PROUD of the accomplishments you make on a daily basis in front of everyone and and when no one is looking. We lose people along the way, that is life. Yet, you still keep the faith and diligence to keep being successful, working, hard, and others begin to see the shine that comes from you. I am SO PROUD of all of you as Repentino staff, there will be position changes over the next few days and well again that is life.

We either learn or fall by the wayside, or find out there are other directions we want to devote our effort toward, there is NOTHING wrong with any of this. As long as you take away something for yourself to grow from, then it is all worth the while. I have come to already miss each one of you even when you aren’t going anywhere, and that says so much about what each of you mean to me as the Repentino staff, I admire being able to be around each of you. ANYTIME, I mean anytime, you doubt how important to anyone else, let alone the impact you make on this life, you come see me, and I will remind each of you of the strengths you offer every single day, often things you don’t take time to recognize in yourself.

Humbly, I am honored to spend the time with a staff as you that is willing to show others, you will beat the odds. I watched this video and it emphasized the point of how powerful each of us are, without anything holding us back. This last week, I have been so proud of each of you, I can’t have children at this point and be any prouder. 🙂 After watching this video, do me one additional favor if you would, please send Mr. de la Parra an email thanking him for his trusting, believing, and energetic spirit that helped sell almost every magazine except 20, that is right, all except about 30. PLEASE send him an email of thanks for putting all he has behind Repentino. Wether you realize it or not, he has paced his time, energy, and belief in a publication that will go on to represent you even as you get out of college. So you see, there is more to turning in bylaws than just justification, it is a deeper meaning that that, it preserves a legacy each of you started. Please email him today and let him know how much you appreciate his time and belief in something to believe in too…MWAH! His email is: (PRIVATE!)and the video you need to watch is below: