PAVEing a Blog

Sorry for the title, but it will work itself out in the details below, promise!

As being Thursday August 2nd, so many events have happened, so many!  All memorable! Strange too – hail the other day the size of dimes came down pounding my umbrella – and I was just caught in the rain, then hail, and had – was relentless!  Moving onto the week of orientation – wow, I have met so many amazingly positive and excited people – this is AWESOME!  The thrill of finding apartments for people and giving them your viewpoint honestly – it very difficult for you not to enjoy – and we are now standing back seeing a sense of accomplishment as each person gets more comfortable.

Tonight was dinner at Paul Williams’ (ASF head)  house and as usual, all was as positive, exciting, vibrant, and happy as you could imagine – it was awesome seeing everyone forget their worries, and enjoy good food, good friends, and just overall a great  atmosphere.  Getting there, a different story…

All seemed normal, we meet at ASF, bus in front, then I noticed Maurico stating the driver was being taken away by the police?  What the heck?  Sure enough the driver was NOT supposed to park in front of the hotel, and therefore had a boot placed on the bus – the bus we were supposed to go to Paul’s on!  LOL….We figured out that the police were asking for the fine (400 pesos) to remove the boot, only catch is the driver had to pay at the station 5 blocks away.  I JUST happened to grab money and was initially not bringing any – the fine was 500 pesos, which I happened to have, so I paid it to the driver so we could get to our destination.  He went to the police to pay the fine, we waited, and sure enough, he came back we hopped on, and yeah!  We got there!  In the meantime, the other bus, at ASF, had been called to pick us up in case the driver could not go where he needed, and met us just as our bus was leaving – it was a caravan!  lol….

As always, with some excitement, we headed our way – arrived, and settled into an evening of fine dining and hospitality thanks to Mr. Paul Willams and the HC staff!  The newly arrived educators were so excited, and their excitement was contagious as we all felt lucky to be surrounded by so many fun and light-hearted conversations.  Overall, it was the first time all of us could be together and let our hair down – so to speak – and we enjoyed every moment of it.  A great night, a great group of people, and Mexico is a good place to be.

It was ironic, Elisa made the comment that driving incidents and excitement involving driving seemed to follow me, I agree and might have to wave off driving until I know these “adventures” involving driving am down – Karla gave me the best compliment ever – that I seemed to go with the flow and not let the burps (so to speak) bother me – can you imagine someone saying that say, 3 years ago?  I was strung at tight as a guitar string – and I feel how good the change involving Mexico has made me – honestly that was a compliment that made my evening!

No, Mr Williams, I promise, I did NOT tell people the bus was here at 8:15 to get everyone to leave early, and I did listen to Karla – Laughing.  No Jessica you did have enough, lol.  It is exciting to be surrounded with such the dynamo group of this year’s teachers and that alone made it a great night!

Despite the previous incident, accidents, and “fogetcidents” (love that Brakism) – Mexico City is AWESOME.  Arriving and quite exhausted, and despite my key breaking in the lock and me being ransomed by a LOCK and KEY in my apartment, lol, my neighbor in #4 came to the rescue and grabbed a locksmith from down the street who sprung me free, I replaced the lock, (1000 pesos) and wondered, did I ever wonder if I would have a dull experience here?  Yet- each moment was countered with an act of kindness.

I crashed and was excited to be in a real bed! – so glad to see the youngsters (Dewey,

 , Decimal,  and a currently unnamed saved feline) – and met some amazing new people the Sunday I arrived back as well as Monday, the first day of orientation.  Individuals ranging from Iowa, Serbia, Rio, San Diego, Lebanon, and all over!  I took a small group to show them the Chedraui, Wal Mart, Sam’s Club, and how to navigate the metro.  Aid juggling helping people with trying to locate apartments, the first day seemed to be much productive and an exciting start to a fresh year.  I think if you can keep an open mind, when alot of downsided things occur, it is a major major challenge not to grumble, complain, or just feel awful inside, but hope is very real and optimism is stronger to make ever situation that occurs a walk away learning lesson. The more individuals we help out along the way, the Pay It Forward occurs and that sentiment will carry through.

Tonight – I offered to work the desk at the Buddha Bar, for an Internations event where, we will meet even more people – tons!

…so as we walk into a very sterile and quiet white room, I sit down at a desk with two secretaries, explain my situation with the now worn out copy of my Fm3 – lol, an they make a call.  Within minutes a man comes in, I explain my whole, “I had an Fm3, no idea where it went before my trip (skipping over the fact that I was able to board without it by feigning ignorance) – I made a copy of it – but I am scheduled to create a new one when I return to Mexico- can I just sign in as a tourist until I obtain the new card and I can carry my copy id with me?” – Okay well up to this point, I figured I was pretty um, screwed?  lol…but – mysteriously it turned out I could obtain a FM3 here ( I think only because I had proof that I had one before  🙂  strange, huh?

I was asked for 5 pictures of myself, as luck would have it, I had photos (extra) of myself taken when I had my initial FM3 taken – so I pulled these out, but I was shy 2 photos…:(  Sooooo, I was drawn a map and shown where to go a few blocks away to retake some photos specifically for my FM3.  I figured, I am going to do this quickly, because Bill had left already and was on his way and I did not want to be here until midnight!  🙂

I followed his directions, came to a photographer’s studio, and it seems this was a very professional and formal studio.  However, they did not do quick/instant photos, they did just formals and you order later, etc, so they pointed to a photographer a block away that did. I went there, and yep!  No prob!  100 pesos, and I had by 5 photos for the FM3!

I raced back to the immigration office at the border, presented these, and then was told the difficult part would be needed ( the difficult part?!  What?! LOL).  I needed to have an affadavit created, and signed of/stamped by the local police station stating that I in fact did lose my Visa – um wow.  Generously, the guy  across from me found an old stamped statement, and he retyped the whole thing for me – then I signed and  inked my thumbs to the affadavit and now – I was put into a taxi and taken to the police department about 10 minutes away.  Surprisingly, the taxi driver walked up with me, but could not go farther than the front gate, then I went on, found where I needed to go on the second floor, a police representative named Uri! (reminded me of Uri Rebolledo!) and went into her office  I explained my situation again, ( I was getting good at this! and we chatted about how I had a former student named Uri, etc.  She was awesome as she signed/stamped it within 5 minutes, I left and headed back to the immigration office, and the whole process cost about 300 pesos and 30 minutes by the time you added in taxi, photos, etc.

I made it back again, we worked on the FM3, and despite closing at 1:00, the representative stayed until  we had a FM3 created.  Now 3:00 PM, I would try my luck back at the original stations I had been at – thanking the office profusely for their life saving tactic to get me an FM3!  🙂

Back at the original station – I went through station, 1, 2, and now 3 again.  They recognized me at this point at station 3 (I was trying to hide) and we decided I had all the paperwork necessary – processed all the info, and when we went to swipe my U.S. debit card for the 284.00 for the permit cost for my vehicle the teller was surprised when I gave her my FM3, she thought I had found it, but I explained it was was new one!  This was not y problem with this transaction THIS time though.  of course, the card came through denied.  SO close, yet, what?!  I figured, I would just call the bank and see what they said, and I was told when I talked to the bank, just jump back into the same teller, not at the end of the line, 🙂

I called my U.S. bank, all the while wondering, and thinking, “You know, if I would have received my income tax funds back as I had back in March – then scraping the barrel would not be an option, lol” and the other thoughts of “Where am I going to sleep, in my car, that is safe in Laredo?!”

In talking to the bank, I realized that I did have an overdraft protection allotted, and could go over by 350.00.  In doing so, I would be charged a feee, but would have that funding there.  However, I DID have money in my account, it just was the upper admin did not receive my permission to use in Mexico m somehow the email was overlooked I had sent them.  Stephanie told me to wait 5 minutes, the card would be cleared, and then all would be well!

Not wanting to draw more attention to myself, I got into the back of the line, station 3, and waited.  Oh this would not do, lol – I was spotted by the teller next to mine! – waved up to the front and we started over again…:)  10 minutes later, ba bing!  Can you believe it – it went through!  LOL –

I grabbed my decal, thanked them profusely after telling them they would have nightmares of me from being here so many times, and got into my vehicle as fast as I could, lol.

I had talked through this process several times with Bill as he was now outside Monterrey by 20 minutes, but felt confident that after this, anything would be possible  🙂  I had this excitement as I left Laredo that I was actually driving in Mexico!  KWAZY!  🙂  As I believe you know the rest – the 103 degrees in Monterrey as I left, the first for me of ordering at a McDonalds in Spanish – (they have no SWEET TEA in the McDonald’s here, AGH!) – and just the amazing scenery – along the drive, again, take away the wonderment of how I was going to get home after funds disappeared mysteriously, and the FM3 dilemma, you had a pretty cool adventure, take into consideration those two elements, Batman overcoming the odds would be a little more appropriate, lol.

Oh, so, get this – I enter Mexico on Friday about 10:00 AM – not even in the Observatorio area for 5 MINUTES and police pull me over – I show them every paper I have and explain I JUST arrived here, and I need to go for my emissions testing next, and then I will have all despite my DE plate.  They let me go, no bribe forced on their part – super excited and surprised!

That honestly wasn’t the major event I am referring to though, I was referring to the call to Moct, who had been watching my apartment (“Man!  Guess what?!  I found your FM3 slid in between the cabinets in the kitchen?!) The rest of the conversation was like a Charlie Brown teacher conversation…

The pictures that will accompany the blogs the last few posts as well as to this post are AMAZING.  I will do that in a few days to keep up with everything!

Being in Delaware was for this trip, more about revisiting my storage and organizing, removing, selling, downpacking, etc.  I did realize I need to put less importance on papers and “things” and do not let them hold me back – which they have a tendency of taking up precious room that could be invaluable in other places.

I think this might be one of the most hysterical blogs ever, so let me begin with the newest chapter not known to others (that is a good band title) – let’s start with the day before I was to leave Seaford on my cross country driving trip.

Last Monday – I had decided to wait one more day – so that I would have enough time to see Alison Schwinn (BACK FROM JAPAN AND THE NAVAL ACADEMY!)  YEAH! – and Fabricia together at Davelli’s.  I did not realize how much I missed them until we were all together, I did not want to stop hugging them!  So…..Monday I had spent heading to Davelli’s, I spent not enough time just chatting with them 🙂 – loved it – LOVED it and I had a chance to tell Alison, a Biden story – I had been carrying that around forever!  🙂

Then I was lucky enough to come across Chris Michaels, Coach Smith, Tynetta Washington, and alot of people I had put into the former post.  You could tell the mixed emotions of being in two worlds – two places, with people that are not able to be left behind was catching up to me…the day was CRAZY – literally spent with a portion of everyone I needed to desperately see and so many more needed!  🙂  no matter what occurs, there is NEVER enough time, EVER – 🙂  packed my truck so tight the whole ordeal with being searched was a major issue but I did not come to have half of my items left behind, right?  🙂  You could not even fit in an extra shirt that is how tightly packed I made it – LOL – so – I was nervous to say the least – but by giving my Mom a small computer, my stereo, speakers, and some other items, I made room for so much, that it seemed to be okay and I had to put my trust in the border and getting lucky at passing over.  Monday I was so incredibly lucky to have had the chance to spend time with so many, yet my stomach was turning cartwheels on nervousness.  CARTWHEELS!  I was so nervous I made one big boo boo – (still kicking myself) – when I was loading items in, I bumped the front windshield with my one speaker and made a small crack in the front windshield!  I was so incredibly MAD – I did not want anything to be wrong with the truck – AGH!  And now there was this small crack in the passenger side, so I resolved to repair that on the way to Mexico…

Heading out at 4:00, I actually was driving at 4:15 AM and I was so tired, it was difficult to be nervous!  My mom packed me food that truly lasted the whole trip, and without that, I would have been hurting VERY badly.  Also, the Fields’ did the courtesy of fine tuning y truck My GOSH – the engine was so clean you can eat off it (this is after my trip!) and the car was so smooth the whole way, I was sure I had been switched trucks!  AMAZING, and wow, talk about a “finely tuned machine” that was my saving grace, even when I was in 103 degree, yes, my gauge clocked the temp at 103 when I crossed into Monterrey on Friday – yet I did not shed one ounce of sweat, amazing what no humidity can do.

I crossed across the bay Bridge and remembered what it was like moving to DE and I was in shock, that I was actually moving to a state full of the environmental topics I loved – and look where I was 6 years later – moving into MD, then I crossed into VA – then Georgia, – onto Tennessee – Alabama, and I found myself in Mississippi.  I called Danielle Levredge and found out she had almost turned her ankle into a fact from the “Alien” movie, yet wanted her “eye-witness” that I just cleared under 1000 miles, about 20 miles short, but I was SPENT.  SO far, the drive was amazing, as I captured pictures from every state as I spent through, and made a pattern of filling up gas when my tank became half full, so I did that every time, I have the actual mileage and amount spent each time I stopped, so I will make that the next blog I just do not have the energy to look through the receipts right now, lol.  I had a body pillow, thanks to Tim Fields’ grandmom, and THANK GOODNESS.  I was playing it safe and erring on the side of caution, I found an AWESOME rest stop that had wireless, and when I stopped, I was so tired I didn’t even get out of the truck – I simply grabbed the pillow and sacked OUT.  Yes, I could have done a hotel, motel, or hostel, lol, but I wanted the road experience an things I learned…And this Was the GRAND DADDY of Rest stops at Toomsuba, Mississippi.  There is security on patrol 24 hours to watch over people that stay there and sleep – there is wifi, the facilities are HUGE – I learned how to shower with a wet nap – and my gosh, the food packed was a saving grace, as well as being able to SAVE tons of money along the way – however, my first night sleeping in the truck was aok as this rest stop was awesome for cleaning up and getting ready for the next day!

I sacked out – woke up – around 4:00 -AM-ish again? – mapped out the Public Library in New Orleans – after hearing a 96 degree day and feeling like 105 – I was headed to a public library to check in with Wifi, banking, info, and just to let the heat die down!  🙂  The day was awesome, hot yes already like 86 degrees at 6:00 in the morning! – I stopped at the Louisiana border to just refresh with making sure I was on track- but what I was really shocked about, when I came to the bridge leading to New Orleans, the length of the bridge heading to the water, I had no idea!  I took plenty of pictures, but the ribbon-like look of the bridge was amazing, you couldn’t see anything past the bridge it was so long – I didn’t know what to expect but was so excited to see New Orleans – and just had no idea what the layout Looked like – the view – and I snapped many, was amazing!

I came into New Orleans, and found the public library surrounded by construction, after a few passes, I found a garage for @6.00 all day!  DEAL!  I made it to the library – got some GREAT info on Overdrive to use in our library – took pictures of the library then headed OUT!  I was able to see the front harbor, the French section, the Mardi Gras layout of streets, the stadium, all the stints you could see in a day – and surprisingly, I found that I liked it, yes, but was not drawn to it as I thought I would be ?  The pictures I have are AWESOME – you will like ALOT – but I realized that when I was at the library – my credit, debit cards had been frozen – I had no new access…this presented a new problem..this was….Wednesday – Monday was our true paycheck day, but we get our pay early – zoo…good chance this was going to be in (our pay would be in) tomorrow – sooo…do I keep the truck in the garage where it is safe and guarded, but risk sleeping in the truck in the garage and being stopped by security – OR – (I had 3/4 tank of gas)  take the risk and push forward and get into Texas and stop and chance a truck stop there and be that much closer to the border?  –  If our pay was not in on Thursday – I would be stuck in Texas hopefully at a place I could “camp” out until our pay came through, AND I could try to figure out why my debit cards, credit cards, all were frozen….I was a little distressed…but I just had this pit in my stomach that I DID NOT WANT TO STAY overnight there, it was just a feeling.  True, I could wake up – and have instant wireless at the library before heading out but weighing the chance of not finding a place to clean up or shower and having to remain awake for many miles…I took the risk with my heart beating and made for the Texas border.  I, not having a GPS and doing unbelievably good so far – made the one dumb mistake of not taking a ramp right outside of New Orleans to Route 10 and instead went route 12, then to route 10, and I wasted literally almost 1 hour worth of gas – I was BEATING myself on the head when I passed the exit for the New Orleans front where I have been earlier today and now passing one hour later after having left – mistakes like that cost you being stranded in the middle on no where and I was ALREADY nervous about making to the Texas Border and how far in I should go – could I make it to Beaumont? – Houston?  I doubted I would make it to Houston as I had 15.00 available right now – and I was in Louisiana with a little lest than half a tank – and trying to get to Baton Rouge – made it, and still gas…sooooo what the heck….pushing to Lafayette – stopped for gas – 15.00 saw the had a caged tiger for display at the Grosse Tete , Louisiana Gas Station – wow is all I could say – I could not go over and see him, I did not approve of that small concrete cage – but held my breath as I crossed bayous and it seemed Lake Charles was doable – I found a Love’s Truck Stop right before Lake Charles, and had  a little of 1/3 tank of gas left but wanted to find out if there was a place here, like I had in Mississippi, I signed up for $4.99 wireless at the truck stop but then it stopped working so no wireless to see, when our pay came in I could transfer the funds to my American Bank to have access there, I was sure the restrictions was because someone saw the charges from state to state, and despite the call I made ahead of time clearing this, I was sure this was the case – NOT GOOD when you rely on that on the road and go from state to state wondering – will I make it?  (That took my anxiety level to new highs in certain locations…) BUT – I am a gambler and thought – moving to at least make Texas tonight, and if I was stuck anywhere, I needed to see I was making progress.  I also thought, if I wound NOT have given into the temptation of seeing what New Orleans was all about, look where I would be? – OR – maybe not since I saved tons of gas by using the garage for 6.00 in New Orleans!  (So far, I found by filling up when I was at half a tank of gas, worked well – and I managed to pay all the way from 3.20 a gallon to 3. 11 in places, I was getting to be a guru of gas pricing!).

The only bigger bummer was on the way – somewhere,  truck had a large object fly out of the back of the truck, and yes, you guessed it, happened to hit where that crack was in my windshield.  Um yeah, not a small crack anymore, it was spreading across to the middle!  I had only obtained liability, I found out that the windshield was not covered, and well, this was only one year old too – I had had this replaced before – but only a year ago – so all that combined, it was hard to put my anger over the windshield below my conscious level every 5 minutes,  but I would find out there were more pressing concerns…

When I asked if there were places other than this truck stop in Lafayette, LA that I could park and sleep – well, little favorable response helped me to decide to move forward to Lake Charles, the next stop, which I did.  Something persuaded me to keep going to Vinton, LA, as close as I felt comfortable going to the border without further notice of funds for gas, so just short of the Texas border, I found the Longhorn truck stop, saw a 18 wheeler pulled of, parked beside that truck, and that was the last I remember when I passed out exhausted!  It;s funny sleeping in my truck, that was already packed to the hilt – I look at my truck COMPLETELY different now, LOL, bur I realized when you are so tired from driving, I was grateful to just be able to have someplace to stop – sleep, and nothing else!

I woke in the morning, and knew this stop had showers  – I went to the restroom planning on changing and cleaning up in the bathroom, and saw a shower stall someone had left open.  This is the deal, truckers come in, pay at the desk for a shower – return the key when done to the shower room – (four of them) and close the door.  Someone had left the shower #4 open!  – I slammed in there so fast – getting a shower was HEAVENLY – and walked out with a different shirt on but it seemed none the wiser – (I left the door open too).

Feeling 100 times better, AND seeing we DID get paid early on this Thursday! – YEAH!  I felt BOLD – confident, and Texas here I come!  I had a little less than a 1/3 tank of gas left, but I headed for Texas, stopped at the Welcome Center, called Bill Cox, the Seaford teacher ahead of me, hired at ASF, he was in Houston, and told him I was headed into Texas and would meet him in Laredo this evening – (I didn’t want to take in too much how far I was looking at, but figured, after driving nearly 1000 miles the first day – the second leg would be nothing compare to that!).

I arrived in Beaumont, Texas, and almost pulled off the road, there was a Bancomer Bank there!  I could find out why my credit, debit all were frozen, and said there was money according to online, yet when I tried to use them, declined every time!  AGH!  I pulled in like I saw the Embassy, amusedly told my story to the Bancomer member I hit through the door first, :), and found out no one spoke Spanish there!  – Ironic! – but I tried to call the numberon the bank of my Bancomer card, and when I did yesterday – was told that no English speakers were available until the next day (which did not help me – I needed gas NOW to get out of Louisiana when I had called!) –

I tried several things and still – NOTHING – I was dying!  🙂  But I knew the transfer I had made would be going through today – Thursday! – so I headed to the nearest mall they directed me to get wireless.  I went into the Barnes & Noble in Beaumont, an went to it.  Money there !  – transferred from Intercam (love them!) to my American Bank – YEAH! Here is love for ya – I bought the books for the ASF library requested by various people, and that was my first purchase even though I had been stressing if I had enough fumes to make it to the Mexican border, so if anyone questions my loyalty to ASF, please direct them to this page!  I proceeded to fill the tank up, line up the Mexican insurance to cover my truck, purchased some board games for the library – then to check about getting my windshield repaired.  Looked like 298.00 and if I learned anything from this trip so far,I decided to NOT and have the money if something else would occur – so I did not do my windshield repair) this KILLED ME knowing it needed fixed! – and called Bill telling him I would meet him in Laredo this evening.

The thought occurred to me that money is a major comfort but in different ways to people.  SO many let it go to their head, but here I was, just grateful to have the amounts I needed to get me on the road – to get home – and that was everything to me!  I love the fact that I was brought up to not let it get to me, and still share the wealth even if I had lots of money – and I was sooooo freaking excited to have funds (even though no news on the Bancomer funds yet) – however I had been able to transfer them to my American account – I so felt like I had lifelines or something….:)

I left Beaumont, Texas around 3:00 PM and arrived in Laredo, Texas around 11:00 PM, filled up with gas, got the Hotel 6 where Bill was at, and CRASHED.  Literally.  The mental exercise of trying to figure ahead if I don;t have enough money here, I can pull from Here, then here, then there…well you can imagine.  My next fear was exactly how much I would need to get my vehicle permit and immigration cost – what if I did not have enough?  What the heck would I do? I still had no original FM3 (my Mexican work visa) and this weighed heavily on me too, could I come back in as a tourist even though I could not locate my working visa?  I was so tired, the best thing that could happen was to fall asleep…

We woke to pouring rain in the AM – but despite that headed out by 6:00 AM – I followed Bill (our first time we travelled together, LOL) – and made it with a wave of hand through the first step of vehicle inspection – I couldn’t believe it!  All the items I was worried about coming across, NO PROBLEM?  WHAT THE HECK?! This was  GREAT sign!

We rambled a little before finding the vehicle permit building, but then sure enough found, it.  There are three stations, first for showing immigration papers, passport, etc, second for copies of these items to take to the third station, where all is checked to allow for your permit for your vehicle and pay for it then you are free!

We both made it through all the way to step three quickly, and then I was hung up on the copy of my FM3 at this point.  No, I cannot get a vehicle permit unless I have the original.  I told the staff there impossible, because I lost it and I did not know where the original was, just this copy – and I was scheduled to get a new one when I arrived in Mexico.  Still no, so yes, this was an issue  🙂  – I was told to go back to immigration – the step one stage – they looked at it again and said it is okay – I went back to stage three, they said no – impossible without original!  LOL – I went back to stage one, got at the END of the line, got up told them the same thing again, and this time – was told to go with this one individual to an outside where I first drive in – first thought was for me – I am SCREWED – this is like an interrogation room, right? – Bu this time – Bill -(by the way, he had two dogs that he was bringing in, and when we had gone through the lines, and he presented his form to have his pets pass, they said they were not worried about that!)  WHAT?  I could have brought a million animals and I do not think they would check!  I couldn’t believe it! He was cleared and ready to go, so we decided he needed to start to not let his dogs sitting in the card for who knows how long so he started ahead on the Mexican adventure!

Sorry reader at this point, if you are not tired from the above experiences, I have to say, I am exhausted.  Reliving this whole scenario has wiped me out, but this is not eve the best part YET.  I am going to let you soak all this in, and then you will see what happened what occurred when I walked with my escort to the other office building for immigration, so until tomorrow?

..what is next!  🙂  It will make a great blog when I return, lol….:)  So cloooooose!

After Outward Bound and a week of orientation in Vera Cruz, I think “roughing it” has not been a big deal…LOL…

This is my route I took leaving yesterday at 4:15 AM:

How do you get to Mexico City from Delaware? Well…

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

US-13 N is just past US-13 S
– If you reach Old Furnace Rd you’ve gone a little too far
(go 5.18 miles)
6. Turn left onto SR-404.
– SR-404 is 0.2 miles past US-13-BR
– If you reach Newton Way you’ve gone about 0.3 miles too far
(go 2.14 miles)
7. Turn right onto Seashore Hwy/SR-404 (Crossing into Maryland). (go 6.09 miles)
8. Seashore Hwy/SR-404 becomes MD-404 W. (go 23.56 miles)
9. Take US-50 W.
– US-50 W is 0.4 miles past Owens Rd
(go 47 miles)
10. Take the I-95 N/I-495 N exit, EXIT 7B, toward Baltimore/Silver Spring. (go 0.45 miles)
11. Merge onto I-495 S/Capital Beltway/I-495 OUTERLOOP via the exit on the left toward Beltway (Crossing into Virginia). (go 29.66 miles)
12. Merge onto I-66 W. (go 64.74 miles)
13. Merge onto I-81 S via EXIT 1A on the left toward Roanoke (Crossing into Tennessee). (go 376.21 miles)
14. Merge onto I-40 W via EXIT 1B toward Knoxville. (go 53.46 miles)
15. Keep left to take I-75 S via EXIT 368 toward Chattanooga. (go 83.4 miles)
16. Merge onto I-24 W via EXIT 2 toward Chattanooga/I-59/Birmingham (Crossing into Georgia). (go 17.26 miles)
17. Merge onto I-59 S via EXIT 167 on the left toward Birmingham (Crossing into Alabama). (go 124.09 miles)
18. Merge onto I-459 S via EXIT 137 on the left toward Tuscaloosa/Montgomery. (go 33.14 miles)
19. Merge onto I-59 S via the exit on the left toward Tuscaloosa (Passing through Mississippi, then crossing into Louisiana). (go 289.96 miles)
20. Merge onto I-12 W via EXIT 1A toward Hammond. (go 84.94 miles)
21. Merge onto I-10 W via the exit on the left toward Baton Rouge (Crossing into Texas). (go 467.76 miles)
22. Merge onto I-35 S via EXIT 572 toward Laredo. (go 151.88 miles)
23. Take EXIT 2 toward Airport/US-59/Freer/Corpus Christi/Houston. (go 0.21 miles)
24. Stay straight to go onto Santa Ursula Ave. (go 0.1 miles)
25. Turn left onto US-59/Lloyd Bentsen Hwy/Lafayette St.
– US-59 is just past Baltimore St
– Burger King is on the corner
– If you reach Madison St you’ve gone a little too far
(go 0.08 miles)
26. Welcome to LAREDO, TX.
– Your destination is just past San Dario Ave
– If you reach San Eduardo Ave you’ve gone a little too far
(go 0 miles)
————————————————–
B) Laredo, TX US
————————————————–
>> TOTAL ESTIMATED TIME: 28 hours 58 minutes | DISTANCE: 1863.95 miles

And by midnight of Tuesday I arrived here in those directions –

Merge onto I-59 S via the exit on the left toward Tuscaloosa (Passing through Mississippi

Just under 1000 miles travelled, and I fell asleep – voluntarily – at a rest stop just across the border of Mississippi – and figured out how to shower, change, sleep (security is there so you can do so) and check my email free – since the day is going to be 102 degrees, I found the nearest pubic library, well, on my way and it is in New Orleans, so what the heck…:)

and then when it cools off I will be on my way again – I am learning some things about how to make a trip cheaper….and not necessarily uncomfortable….:) 

Since I made so many miles in one day, I feel I can make the trip to Mexico, safely, and making sure I am prepared – in 3 days….let’s see….:)  

Martinez – Kang
Moving Sale!!!

We’re moving!!! and we need your help getting rid of our stuff and funding our flight tickets!!

Please come by on

Saturday, August 4, 2012
between 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Everything must go!!!
Fridge, rugs, books, kitchenware, plastic containers, all furniture including bed, dresser, etc., and even hangers.
All will be ready for pick up on the spot. Please do drop by.

Address:
Los Alpes 25-11, Col. Los Alpes
Alvaro Obregon, D.F. 01010
Door Bell says “Raul Caballero”

Home Phone: 55-4333-8969

As an added incentive, free lemonade in the morning til 2 p.m. and free beer until supplies last.
So, even if you’re not buying, do drop by and say hi.

Oh, and tell your friends!

= )

Helen and Alex

I do not even like the word…:)  This mini update is being written in Starbucks about 10 minutes from Tennessee, as I begin to enter “The Volunteer State!”

I had so many mixed emotions leaving, I LOVED seeing those who I did, sad I did not see everyone I wanted to, but overall it was SUCH a visit, wow…the food Mom packed me for the road will last – um FOREVER!  🙂

I want to try and make it into Georgia or Alabama the first day, and this will be some god mileage.  I have been driving through storms, but overall, leaving at 4:15 this morning was a GREAT idea, no traffic except outside of Roanoke, Virginia, due to construction.

Seeing all of the above mentioned and so many more, was AMAZING – just wow—-hard t imagine Mrs Vaughn and I taught a year ago and now we are not in the same place at all!  So much to report on, but as I get back on the road in 15 minutes, I will try to sort it all out in my mind before I come bcd to to add the news post…on the drive I have learned about female genitalia mutilation that is HUGE popular in the UK (shocked), orphans that have been asked to sing at the Olympics (you need to check that out regarding the 2 hour walk these kids have, then  they were heard three years ago and not forgotten, AND they had never seen a plane until performing at the Olympics this year!) as well as a thousand other amazing things thanks to BBC on the radio…(You were wondering where I was getting all that, didn’t you?!)

Okay, I am heading back on the road, but wanted to remind everyone how incredibly lucky I am to have such close ties to individuals like you – you make me feel, no matter where I am – a part of a larger group – as if we were beside each other all the time!:)

I will just post a new post adding to the brief Starbucks’ thoughts I have placed here….:)

Price of gas here is 3.25/gallon, but the lowest I have seen has been 3.11/gallon in northern Virginia…:)

I have realized that the best gift I have received was that of being single – I have been THE luckiest guy in the world to see the girls and boys turn into young men and women. I could have made the sacrifice of making a relationship work – but I could never turn back and do without the experiences I have been lucky enough to have with these amazing individuals, I have had dates, girlfriends, andrelationships, and none of THOSE experiences have made me feel as good as the experiences I have been lucky enough to have with these amazing individuals – when I find someone that has all the best qualities as all of those that have surrounded me all those years – then we have a match! 🙂

Going into Saturday was well, a little scary knowing I had some expectations of ridding myself of some material possessions, and counting on this being the “fuel” for my excursion across the U.S. and through Mexico,   🙂   Go Friday night I was a bit antsy….anxiety-filled…

Thursday, I began to feel the levity the tasks at hand, and I headed out to Chapel to just reflect – however, I stopped by Nancy McGee’s and just caught up – for about 3 hours – as she said, it was the first time we were not talking through vehicles, on the street, me here, there, and everywhere – literally just hanging out and chatting – I liked that new self I had become! 🙂  Arriving back home late but ready – I thought for the challenge at hand!

Friday was heading to the local Uhaul in the morn at Big Daddy’s (love that name) on 113 – chosen since it was close to the storage in Felton, DE. Credit card denied, – AWESOME! Calling Mexico and Bancomer, clearing for use in the United States again, trying 5 minutes later, success!  Realizing that my Mom’s Honda is overheating-C to H in 30 minutes- NOT good  🙂  Nursing her car back to Seaford, then myself to Felton Storage to see what we are dealing with, make it to the storage facility, find pod #85, – open the sliding door to the Pod – literally, boxes to thereof….trying not to think about he volume in front of me – loading, loading, loading, big items first!   🙂  Uhaul loaded to the hilt – I mean from 11:00 AM – 4:45 PM – constant and in a mode of little concentration and 100% doing doing doing – loading desk heavier than three people combined weighing 180 pounds, lol…(take a look at this awesome desk on my facebook page – 🙂  still available if you want a desk to last through – well – anything! 🙂 – loading the mattresses, beds, lamps, another desk – ohmygosh, WHEN did these get so heavy?!  🙂  – dresser, (light compared to the King Kongs mentioned above….- friend Nancy McGee stopped by and heaped organize and toss – not to mention the Arizona tea and fish taco – to DIE for – thank you! –

Finding two bottles of wine – Merlot and Chavignon from when I lived in Butler more than 13 years ago – in the pod – ?  That was hysterical – grabbing those wondering how the quality lasts in a pod – full to the hilt – heading to Jeanine Kleimo’s for a visit!

Jeanine and Chuck have been assisting with bringing Exchange students into the country for a VERY long and extended amount of time, something special to my heart in recalling so many individuals ilk Firdavsi – Berkay- Azu, Lisa, Seb, Vika, I’m, TONS!! – and coming here was a homecoming of sorts – but the best was yet to come! – swimming pool (finding cleaning the pool initially was very relaxing! – then ribs piled HIGH – bulletin through 4 glasses of Lemonade and countless glasses of water showed me the amount of water I had sweat loading in the humidity! – then corn on the cob – potatoes, crumb dessert with ice cream – MAJOR WOW dinner, MAJOR…..:)  DELICIOUS! – we talked, chatted, handmade arrangements to unload some furniture that might linger and could be used at the shelter Jeanine helps operate/supervise –

In leaving this evening and having the chance to catch up with Nancy and Jeanine, I flash forwarded to what my experience will be like NEXT summer and hope it will be even more filled with memories like we have had so far with my friend Linn as well, full of encounters not being able to cashing while I was teaching but packed with laughter and memories!  🙂

Leaving Jeanine’s and headed home, it was a restless night – knowing it was expected to be at Bargain Bill’s at 4:00, um yes, 4:00 AM as people been buying then – I remember this fact about flea market gatherers, and was not sure I was up to the task after a grueling unloading day – yet….I tumbled out from the alarm at 3:00 AM, headed out in the dark, arrived, began unloading in a chosen spot somewhat central to the lot – people had come by and bought over half the smaller collectibles I had as I was unloading, lol – this is in all respects legit too – Bubba – who I need to go back to – ended up buying collectible steel cars I had, my collector’s Michigan helmet signed by Woodson – let me tell you, people did get some deals yet – the mentality of letting things go you have had for years – was all through me – in all honesty by 2:00 PM I only had half the truck left – and $160.00 in hand – paying for my rental as well as the Uhaul – and giving me some extra incentive to sell more that remained in the storage – thank you who came out and helped so much! – I have to find the certificate of authenticity for Bubba and go back for the helmet follow up – I knew at the point of that item that I was able to get rid of all and a whole lot more…:)

I met an individual at the market that wanted to but a file cabinet – yet he had little money on him and he had arranged for the DART bus to pick him up – oh- I knew about the inconsistencies in the DART bus and what if he could not take the cabinet he wanted on the bus to Millsboro?  He relayed stories to me about his girlfriend being called slow by his former neighbors, and although a little short in the department of being completely a social wallflower – he was a nice guy and I felt – help him out.  SO yes, using the Uhaul, and packing it, and offering him part of my lunch when asked what I had ( I felt I was sharing on the playground!)  and amid seeing Danielle Levredge and Josue, as well as Kathia! WOW! – I loaded his cabinet, and him, lol., we headed to Millsboro.

Through the beginnings of rain, and him trying to call DART to cancel the scheduled stop and me losing minutes (little I had) on my tracfone – (yes I still have that Amber Matthews from the gift ages ago from the New York-going students!) – We arrived at his apartment in Millsboro – unloaded, I met strangers I did not know watching tv in his apartment, (it’s kind of awkward walking into a house with someone still in a towel, watching tv, on the couch, with a file cabinet saying hello!) – and then the 4:00 AM timezone starting hitting me- yes, I was finally exhausted – driving down the lane and having someone run up to the truck telling me I left the slide door open down the road awakened me briefly….:)

Headed over to Bethany with the Uhaul, meeting Linn Duryea in the parking lost of the bank to pick up Money I transferred into my Libreton Mexican account to pay for – yes – my truck! –  (still feels like I am dreaming it has been too long for driving) – her stating I have the money, you got the powder? – LAUGHING – sitting in the parking lot DID feel kind of shady  – LOL – (wondering when I am going to get my income tax I filed like 4 MONTHS AGO to help with this cross-country TRIP! and pay friends back! – HINT!) – coming back to Seaford with a tiredness of the last 2 days I never knew I had…..-

Crawling into bed at like 3:30 PM – Saturday – amazing I did better than the money I spent that day amend some slight rain bursts – then up at 6 PMish, back in the Uhaul and on my way to Soroptomists to drop donations off, then back to Cambridge to see Jeanine about my kitchen table to donate – get this….(I love this fact)

I bought this Country kitchen table my first year out of Edinboro College as a student – from AMES! – and still it exists and is rocking’!  – SOLID yet it is compressed wood – we made a del that Jeanine would get this to redo the top in tiles like the table she has inner kitchen – I thought it fitting it would continue to exist – so we head over to the shelter she manages – I open the back sliding door, and my Dad’s voice in the gruff kind of short response saying, “Whatta ya doing?  Give them all they need”  – it made me JUMP when I heard it – I mean, this was a VERY urgent prompting, and knowing I was worried about having enough $$$ to cross the East side of the U.S, yet I knew this was right –  I unloaded almost everything to this shelter as they would benefit the most from it – and my truck was empty again – amazing to see the eyes of the guys (nice rhyme) as I unloaded desks, kitchen appliances, scanners, printers, everything – back to Felton to the storage – 8-ish and getting dark….

Loading clothes out the wazooo – truck packed again, and back to Seaford by 10:40 PM…tired yet?  Amazingly – I was full of energy still, yet stopping by Arby’s on the way home I downed the milkshake fries, and Beef n Cheddar – my first one in over a year and a half – it was the best one based on the progress we made that day!

Game changer – INSTEAD of going back to Bargain Bill’s on route 113 and paying for a spot for tons of CLOTHES mainly – I took the advice of my friend Nancy – headed to Georgetown where I heard there was a market set up –  saw two vehicles, and wondered, here?  Ironically, right beside El Mercado – backed in, lifted the back door – BOOM! – explosions of people came by asking where I had acquired the huge Mexican flag – Thank you for that Ms Lamb!  we engaged in Spanglish among the Latino/Hispanic community and it was off – one lady that was a regular there literally opened boxes for me I did not know – who served as an auctioneer for me holding up items to the crowd, yes, crowd! – sweat pouring off of main waves – yet the truck contents diminishing, the last bed mattresses disappear – individuals from Haiti began to appear too now – clothes by the TRUCKFUL disappear – two cokes brought to me to revive me during the heat – 175.00 later – and meeting three families that heaped me clean up the garbage, talking-to younger children in Spanish about my upcoming trip, the heat – I walked away, 2 cokes, and 2 Arizona teas –  dazed from this experience because of being able to rid myself of so much – yet directly seeing a group of people benefit – I realized amazingly how much it was the right choice to come here instead of route 13 at Bill’s! – dazed by the success, I came home, had to shower to remove three layers of sweat – Mom’s ca could not drive me back from Felton – so we both headed int he uHaul amid rain to pick up items I had, oh yes, there was more –  at Charlotte Vaughn’s house – a small,high Country table, two large speakers, a wheelbarrow, and then to the Fields’ to YES! – pick up my Mountaineer! – thanking the Fields’ for storing, maintenancing, and caring for the XC icon! – but not inspected! – 🙂  Following closely to the storage – literally unloading items that were 4 times my weight but all IN!  YESSS……truck empty –

Returning the Uhaul to Big Daddy’s (laughing) – driving back in my Mountaineer downing two large Arizona iced Teas –  I have to tell you – it had been ages since I had been behind that particular driving wheel, and it did not feel the same AT ALL – driving through several storms, dropping clothes and left over post Sunday items off at Goodwill – kitchen table and wheelbarrow in the truck (anyone need one of these things to buy cheap?!!!  🙂   – home – out to Pizza KING!  YES! – literally drinking 7 glasses of sweet tea – Chicken Cheddar enchiladas and boardwalk fries, and realizing how parched I was from the humidity of the weekend – this can be measured in drinks obviously as I KILL the liquids post humidity day –

Arriving home and realizing, I STILL have a pod full of items and how did I ever keep and maintain so many dry “THINGS” – UGH – literally THINGS! – double UGH – yet the experiences I had were because of those possessions, and I jumped back, hearing My Dad’s voice – meeting the people I did meet – they helped me unload so much even if at major bargains to them, trying to retrace the rapid movement of all these actions in this process, I treasured the going back and cleaning up my past – through this whole process – it makes me tired as I retype and review how the past two days progressed, but wait until you see the pictures I add of all this later – LOL – it’s time to officially register my vehicle with DMV and let me tell you, being behind the wheel has never felt sweeter – just wondering how unloading the next batch of items will go – where, when, and then – on the road to Mexico!  I also realized, I would rather be short hundreds of dollars heading to Mexico, barely making it there, and be in my Mountaineer and doing the things I did, the way I did, and meeting the people I did, for the long haul.  Strangely, I have less anxiety of that upcoming adventure than the one I had this past weekend – 🙂   Life is funny….:)  Thanks for coming along with me on this journey as I wind down this last week – out of DE and to Mexico – I am a little frustrated as the 1500.00 plus due back from taxes to help me visit my family in PA, as well as cushion the trip to Mexico from here was a major element, but then this angry – stubborn stance that – not wanting to rely on others for the success and way I feel good about an experience – is way more important.  I feel like saying, keep the money you owe me, even though if I owed you money you’d be on my doorstep – I will find a way without your empty promises and walk away a better person for it….:)