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….:)

This word keeps coming back in waves at me, but I think at the heart of these ruminations, is the pleasant surprise that all the world around us is a learning experience if we take time to let those experiences sink in.

Several examples of some wonderful encounters need explaining…

I love the fact that most people fear riding the buses on DART – it seems this is so but I have learned so much about Delaware FROM riding the buses in Delaware – riding the buses before in Mexico so much opened my eyes, yes, to a culture and people not experienced from the windows of a taxi, and the same can be said as I came back to Delaware and making a comparison to the bus experience of public transportation in Delaware.

I realized, that there are many individuals that have experienced jail time, bail time, and other encounters with the law that ride DART – which that statement might not encourage people to ride DART, but I have to say, I have had positive experiences because of it.  True, the correctional facility in Georgetown is along the way and an official stop for route 212 from the Service Center in Seaford.  This fact, the first time I rode the bus in the wee hours of the 5AM route, to get the express route to Lewes, to make it to summer training for the AP Institute in Lewes, well, to be honest, terrified me.  I saw the penitentiary looming ahead and I thought, “My gosh, I am one of two people on this bus, and there is a crowd of say, (looking at the upcoming stop) –at least twenty workers/aka current inmates coming onto the bus for their work release time-  and that would be every seat filled here – gulp – this was a terrifying realization not knowing what the ride would be like – and sure enough bus loaded, but the ride was anything but boring.  “How much time did you have left?”, “She expectin’ me to be at work at 9:00 AM and not lose my job when they do not release me until 10:00?”  “How will that work?” , “Tom caught smuggling items put him right back for another year…” and well, you get the idea.  I sat there like a Gringo in Mexico, only on the bus listening and taking this all in.   But somewhere along the line –

I began developing an interest in these lives, these stories, so far out of reach of my own experiences, and here I was – seven years later, on the way to Fenwick Wednesday to stay overnight with my cousins.  I now am looking forward to that experience heading to the penitentiary – but no takers for the stop this late in the afternoon (11:00 AM!) – yet – not to be forgotten –

I start to tune into the story across from me – a member of a fishing vessel that goes out to sea 20 days at a time – begins to unfold his story that he came back after his last tour and turned himself into the magistrate due to an outstanding fine.  This has a lot to do with the fact that anyone that is guilty of a crime on a fishing vessel – if convicted while on the vessel and docked – the vessel will not be allowed to leave – hence since his pay averages about 14% of the catch – around 850.00 a day – it was in his best interest to take care of any obligations that would barr him from his job – a job he could rely on.  All this so far has been acquired from the 5 stops so far on DART!   As we moved along, I realized how this individual spends winters in Cancun fishing, that due to the high mercury count truly we can only handle ounces of raw fish in our bodies a YEAR – opposed to the Japanese who have a natural metabolism not confined to this restriction – the 121 pound crab caught many years ago off of Ocean City used for one of the President’s inauguration, to the 24 foot white shark this man and crew had caught last year – then the processes that go into the process of being a day worker on a vessel – 150.00 a day, compared to working your way up from a percentage earning vessel member – from 8% to 14% – and making the $850.00 a day for 20 days – knowing there are only two main places that really serve fresh sushi in the Ocean City/Delaware area – to how sea going fisheries preserve the fish on deck from deck to delivery – exporting per pound is much more profitable than domestic supplies – now after all these details and realizing this man missed his ship out – due to the fact that he turned himself in to pay his fine – how would and could you learn all this – when you hold expectations on others – and refuse that experience?

I found it interesting as he had a phone of 9 numbers, all vessel captains, and hoped he would be able to catch one of the vessels that needed another individual that might have not showed.  As I was ready to leave, there became one captain calling back saying he needed no one at this time, but he had 8 more possibilities.  I couldn’t help but feel privileged to be a part of this conversation.

I realized that trying new situations would reveal doors I never knew existed – as I walked off the 208 bus in Fenwick, I realized coming back I was still learning much about myself.  Thinking I knew what groups of people were best to associate with I found experiences were still changing for me.

Fenwick – so far visiting Bethany, Rehoboth, and then Fenwick Wednesday evening was – unique and awesome.  Seeing and feeling the wind that has broken since the massive heat wave last year – as well as the cool events of getting into water that towered over 5 stories high, possibly the hardest and roughest I have been in – sleeping on the beach with the relaxing saltwater tides coming in and out – the advent of kites in the night sky with glow sticks to track them – feeling the wind move over you in the night along the water – and the smell of the coast during your waking moments, going to bed, and enjoying that last swim – summer is magical – and the feelings of these inspired moments – are worthy of a blog because they allow us to look back and realize how important things are that we often overlook…  I think I love Fenwick as much as I like Bethany.  Eating at Ledo’s bringing back the memory of when this used to be in Seaford, now in Fenwick.  The salad and pizza was AWESOME, !!

A sidenote – seeing the show “Can You Cook” on television, I was shocked to see the location of Oaxaca as the place of the competition!  I recognized the courtyards, the church, the local Mercado!  I was like – “ I KNOW THAT PLACE!”

I find myself a little filled with anxiety in the days coming up to reducing my possessions to a smaller storage space – but yet it will feel as another level of responsibility is being removed from my shoulders!  It is exciting to see so many days filled with unexpected surprises, and that’s right, most of them are right before our eyes free for the taking…J  By the way, there is NOTHING, NOTHING like sleeping at night to the waves and tide going in, and waking up to the same – Fenwick is a magical place!  Thank you Roger and Lois!

There are MANY important details left out of the blog from visiting Rehoboth last Thursday!  🙂  (July 5th!)  Being spoiled by the bus system in Mexico – I planned out my route without a vehicle to the beach -Georgetown – (new bus stop location!) to Rehoboth YEAH!  I loved that the bus stopped outside of Dogfish Head Brewery.

and then I proceeded to go to the Rehoboth Library, asking them anything and everything about Overdrive – wow, they did not buy Kindles for their patrons to use and the circulation statistic went up like CRAZY – so people did go crazy of having access to Ebooks, I m thinking Mexico will not have the amount of people and numbers that the U.S. has, but there still was a major increase – so that is good news for us!

I then proceeded to shops along the main strip – camera store gone – I was hoping to get a tutorial on the new camera a acquired – the Rebel T3i (It is AWESOME) – but then came across Browse About Books in Rehoboth, and good thing!  Jill Biden was signing her book – wow!  the VP’s wife (as Delaware claims the VP from Delaware)  AND – I took part in the FREE, yes, free, ice cream (YUMMMY!) and then as I walked on amazed I just saw the VP’s book and her book signing, found a new, (gasp!) fries place on the boardwalk!  Bricker’s!  GET THIS – yes, it is not Thrasher’s but – they tasted the same – I mean the fries were AWESOME and only 6.00 for a huge bucket!

TIP – when you are near a beach go to the local library, and pick up an edition of their local beach guide….it has hid away secret coupons for tons of free items and discounts!  I was able to get a free drink with the fries, and then later, after purchasing towels and some sun tanning lotion, SPF 50 – I have been FRIED! – after the beach stopped by the world famous The Ice Cream Store which has flavors from Bacon, to ever type of fruit, to Frappe’s – I chose a rd raspberry smoothie with vanilla ice cream frappe!  It ROCKED!

Even though it was hot, it was an awesome beach day!

This weekend taking DART is bad – get this – ONE bus goes ONE to the beach ONE time per day – and that is IT!  AND – none from Seaford to Georgetown, just from Georgetown to the beach area – what kind of transportation is that? That means NO ONE from Seaford can go to the beach – on the weekend, unless they catch the bus from Georgetown – CRAZY – why?  Why should you be forced to catch the one and only bus that goes to the beach, could there not be at east a morning AND an afternoon bus?  That seems crazy not to provide this!  True, roundtrip service is only $2.10, but no good to use it if you can only catch ONE on the weekend and miss that, out of luck, IF you can get to Georgetown, which is almost 15 miles from Seaford – so that definitely limits people t where they can go….very frustrating if you want to catch the beach and this is a HUGE contrast to the availability you can get in Mexico!  I am being spoiled!

If you think if it, the gains they make in utilizing the eco-bici throughout Mexico, as well as the many forms of public transportation – wow – lessons that can bet a ken away to better communities!  I just would like to see Delaware as a smaller state allow routes to the beach areas be more accessible more of the time!

Hitting the beaches again in Bethany, even under the duress of the weekend schedule, as well as on Sunday were GREAT! – VERY very relaxing.  Places I am adding to the list of restaurants is Five Guys – (Awesome beach burgers and fries, it filled me up with that meal!) – Star Gate Diner – amazing, Monday they have life guitar and singing talent in the diner, what used to be the Golden Corral, I had steak, potatoes, fried zucchini, and what an improvement over the Golden Corral!  WOW! – and Southern Grille for breakfast – DELICIOUS – yum yum yum!  It was awesome seeing Monse and Victor come in, where she works, as Coach Doakes and I were enjoying a DELICIOUS breakfast!  I never realized how much I missed eggs sunny side up!  YUM!

Eating at Alfredo’s rocked as the originally made stromboli was absolutely on the spot appetizing as the owners had sons that were my students, (the Fascelli’s) and I loved coming to Pizza King to take in their pizza twists – yummmmmmmmYYY!  Some things about Seaford bring back awesome appetite memories, lol.

This upcoming weekend will be full of getting items out of the storage pod I have  – selling them – selling them like crazy, and reducing my pod storage to what will be a small storage bin!  I hope by next week to have the plans ready to insure my truck, as well as get it back on the road – and then been mapping and buying let minute items I want to grab and take with me!  (jeans, shoes, items for the apartment, swifter !  LOL – kitchen appliances that are a few the rest GONE! – )  it will be a relief to clear this accumulation of years into dust and thin my claim on that fateful word – MATERIALISM, lol.

Returning to Delaware – it’s funny how you think you know how you will react – for me, mixed emotions took over but I had no idea how I was going to be – anymore – how are any of us when we change so much of what we thought we knew of ourselves – what happens when that shatters? – changes, right before your eyes?  🙂   These are some of the things I struggle with as I am sure I am changing and have changed and still trying to finding that meeting place if who and where I am…:)

Wednesday was my first true day at the beach – I rushed to Bethany – and there are some memories you never change – somewhere in the mix – there is things I do not want to let go of – the smell of the salt in the air, the and as you step so far to a certain point and you feel on your cheek the change in the wind and you know – before you see it, you can hear it – the waves, the hiss of the water hitting the rocks, then – when the heat seems to burn through your shoulders – the water  – it has to be the alternative – and you know the stance – grabbing the courage to edge in slowly, – inch by inch – the shock of the water biting your ankles – yet – you know what happened when you let it completely immerse you – relief!  – There is something about that initial reaction to the water that hits you – but et saves you – it is so hard to explain – but the initial taste of the salt, and the water that shocks you as you go under that incoming wave – it is one of the best escapes that truly slips you into your own space – away from everything and everyone – and the freedom to go back and forth into the tide – it literally sways you into a lullaby sense of relaxation – the most amazing aspect to me has been the beach and the saltwater that is so addicting, that being addicting to running, ice crew, and so many other things….:)  Being immersed in the feel of the aspects of the East Coast – aspects I never had the chance to truly take in without feeling I had somewhere to be, somewhere to go, assignments to check,  truly – the chance to see your surroundings without the stress of cutting the time to take it all in – cutting your time so much that you miss the things that matter and tell you something about yourself – that sees to be what immersion means to me – the day at Bethany – my first opportunity to visit what I feel in love with in the first place – then again on Thursday – and on again on Saturday – back at Bethany – the smell of the cocoa butter, the laughter of the children, the whole scene – I know the temperatures have been soaring and there have been so many complaints- yet there are so many aspects I didn’t realize that meant so much to me!  – From walking through Chapel – hearing the wind in the trees – seeing and hearing birds and the thickness of the woods – and truly – just like C.P. mentioned – if you listen closely the wind in the trees do talk to you, and remind you of aspects that we often overlook –

I find myself in a quandary – working anywhere except in Mexico would be a portion of myself that would  not be complete, but I would not be complete without the sway, smell, and taste of the Eastern Shore – it’s amazing what happens when you slow enough to take in the things that matter – I am lucky enough to have that happen at the Eastern Shore…:)

I love the technical aspects of Delaware I cam across.  I feel that you will be surprised in a future post of all the exciting things Mexico has when summer on the eastern shore is not so alive!  🙂

Why Live In Delaware?

Bethany Beach made Travel & Leisure’s Best Secret Beaches on Earth list

There are many great reasons to call Southern Delaware home. Here are a few of our favorites.

Significant Tax Advantages

• NO State sales tax.
• NO State tax on SocialSecurity income.
• NO personal property taxes.
• One of the lowest property tax burdens in the nation! Sussex County homeowners taxed on 50% of property’s current market value based on a 1974 assessment and with no property tax increases for over 21 years, the average 2011 Sussex County property tax bill on a single-family home was only just over $100 annually. (Sussex County Government News Release May 18, 2010)
• Kiplinger’s PERSONAL FINANCE Magazine picks DE as one of the 10 most tax-friendly states for retirees.
• Pension Exclusions: For each person 60 and over, up to $12,500 of pension and eligible retirement income are exempt from Delaware income tax.
• Each qualified homeowner 65 and older in Sussex County receives a Senior Citizen Property School Tax Credit up to $500.
• $110 in tax credits multiplied by the number of persons age 60 and over, plus the number of personal exemptions allowed for Federal purposes.
• America’s Most Wealth Friendly States: Ranked as one of the top four states (with Alaska, Nevada, and South Dakota) as being the Best States for Trusts. Major reasons: No tax on assets held in a trust, allow dynasty trusts permitting assets to pass to future generations and avoid estate taxes, seek to protect trust assets from lawsuits and creditors. SOURCE: Thetrustadvisor.com
• Corporate Capital of the World: Delaware’s pro-business tax and corporate laws have made it a corporate haven. As of November 2010, nearly 900,000 companies are charted as Delaware corporations. ln the last seven years over 80% of new ln¡tial Public Offerings (IPOs) have made Delaware their corporate home.

An afterthought…:)   A friend recently told me I should lower my standards, they are too high.  I thought about it…nope, not happening.  🙂  Enjoy your Fourth to the fullest!

Fourth of July – Freedom!  I love it!  🙂  Seeing Seaford in laid back and relaxed eyes is amazing, and I have to say, I love Delaware when I do not have to be pressed every minute.  I am so grateful for the people that have surrounded my lives – and influenced my lives – I cam across an article that I will share that to me, epitomizes everything I think education should be – and teachers could use it as a mantra!

Coming from Mexico to the U.S. was a tricky maneuver, rumors of shell shock from the narcotics shoot out at the airport, Terminal 2, has all kind of interesting situations coming back into the states, but WHEW – made it!

Coming into DCA airport, I did have a euphoria of what it would be like one year after I left – I was able to check into the rental car agency, and they Upgraded me for free to a Santa Fe – Waaaay cool!  My first time behind the wheel in ages felt wonderful, awesome, and just, good to be back!

As I crossed Alexandria, VA into Takoma Park, MD, I phoned my cousin who told me to brace for one heck of a storm, and BAM!  Out of nowhere, winds that could move the vehicle, and rains that had large cats and dogs (lol) came!  A tree two different times (not the same one!) came down – in the road, I went past them, around them, you know….for one minute I thought I was in a Flintstone’s care wash with all the trees and nature around me!

Arriving at my cousins, I realized they had no electricity – I did not doubt it after seeing the strength of this storm, welcome home!  🙂  Waking up, I was in a pace to get to the wedding, that is right, Kate Baltz’s wedding on Saturday, June both?  Was I excited?  ARE YOU KIDDING?  YEAH!  I rolled into DO, leaving my delelectrified cousins behind wondering when they would resume electrical power, what a home-coming storm?

I spent the day breaking in my BestBuy credit card getting the new Cannon Rebel camera, with lenses, and coming back to ready myself for the wedding.  All I can say is, THAT might have been the best wedding and event I have ever been to.  From the familiar faces – friends, students, and so many more, to representing the BlueJay Mascot in pictures and the dance floor, to just being a part of someone’s special day, I realized how much the Baltz’s had inspired me as a teacher as well.  Kate had truly been my first mentor for how I could channel all things from my Dad through me to others, and that gift would never leave – I would be forever grateful for this gift given.  I had so much fun, I would never forget the times I had as a part of Drew and Kate’s special day, this truly made coming home a special memory that would be one of the best.

Sunday – BEACH!  I loved getting my tanbark, smelling and tasting the saltwater, and just the smells, sounds an being a beach bum, I LOVE THE BEACH!

Monday – Tuesday I finally arranged little details of the beginnings of selling my household items, getting my truck ready for the road trip of a lifetime, and WEDNESDAY!  Yes!  Today!  Hitting the boardwalk with Tammy and Tuyet, Mom, and family, with Free Hugs shirts, appointments for matching tattoos,  🙂 and a Fourth of July that would rock the house because of the people around me.  Visiting Chapel Branch in the AM brought me to this awesome revelation –

Taking a year off from the Summer 5k’s was a difficult choice, yet, I have received over 15 calls from previous sponsors – vendors that want to be sponsors for the 5k’s we held last year!  WHOA!  When you don’t have 5k’s, and people call, that is kind of….AMAZING!  Looks like next year will be making up for not having 5k’s this year, so anyone interested in being on the mailing list, let me know…but – it gets better.  I had a dream of creating a nature center at Chapel Branch, to allow a running shoe store, center of running/sports activities, as well as a center for classes that bring the resources of the environmental classroom of the “Chapel” to students.  Someone contacted me and expressed an interest in helping sponsor this initiative, in a BIG way.  How exciting is that?  I feel the dream of bringing back students to work in such a project for the summers is exciting, and the possibilities are limitless.  🙂

Which brings me to a memory – one day  few years back,  parent blatantly said to me, “Someone who wants to spend more time with their students then outside the classroom has a major mental problem.”  Hearing this, I realized, I had always been mental, but – this motivated me to show people they were right, I DID have a problem, I cared more for my students that the relationships I could have that would not be as fruitful and rewarding.  No offense, being single – well to the public is a bad thing, but ever since I recruited and have worked alongside some students that have surprised me their selflessness and heart warming giving back, I realized, the time I have invested in them has been worth more time that I would ever entertain in a bar, trying to meet someone in hopes of a “relationship’, and honestly, the dividends back have been ten fold.  So to that parent who motivated me a long time ago, thank you.  Your actual negativity inspired me to dig deep and reward myself in ways I had no idea would occur!

This all came back to me in this article I came across for my studies for the 21st Century, obtaining course credit from the University of California and through NCTE.

Framing the text Using storyboards to engage students with reading

This article also talks about the value of teachers being there as role models outside of the normal curriculum.  In doing so, students become stable, and more appreciative of eduction.  I grew because of this philosophy and it has never steered me wrong.  My comments below about this article are below:

I loved this article in the ways that it was stressed this strategy could be overused.  I think this goes for any strategy, and shows there is a multitude of strategies available to educators that can achieve a states’ assessment goal.    By using storyboarding, personality is added to the assignments, and students understand there is life inside AND outside the classroom.

 I like that this is a subtle approach to art. Many people think using art is dragging out markers and colored pencils, when in reality, art is such a wider range if interpretation for so many mediums, such as film, fiction, and poetry.  This is a testament that technology can be used, but the simple tools such as Powerpoint, often considered antique, have its role when the creativity in a lesson is the true aim, not the technology. 

Overall, I have learned in so many more ways how to turn the jealousy, creativity, and negativity of others into something positive and blossoming.  I learned this from the best teachers around, my students.  🙂

Two great places to join events, and to meet some awesome people are the following:

http://www.internations.org/

and

http://www.meetup.com/Mexpat/

These will continue to have rolling events for meeting up and seeing Mexico!  🙂

Okay, this is the day I wondered about, returning to the states after my first year – mixed thoughts and emotions.

Honestly, I don’t want to leave.  I have found a new philosophy of life, work, and individuals that I only imagined about when I had in my mind, culture, multiculturalism, diversity, open mindedness.  I found it here in a place I never knew I would.  I can’t put into words the experiences I have had here and how they have exceeded what I expected.

I do miss my close friends and students in the U.S, alot.  However, I see myself returning to the U.S. with a different set of eyes, which allows me to enjoy the places, events, and scenery like I never have before, as I was too busy.  There is a statement in there that is a philosophy of life….:)

I am thrilled to be attending what I consider my first students’, (the first one that made me say, WHOA!) wedding, and some exciting things will occur as a result of that, I am super excited.  I love flying into my cousins in Takoma Park, it gives me a sense of calmness and excitement being able to enjoy the location of their place, I always tried to scape there when I needed to calm down and just recollect my nerves after how trying school became…the same feeling of calmness occurs there!

I plan to lay low and to just take in the scenery I often took for granted being in Delaware.  Beaches, the water, the seashells, the seafood, all of it.  I want to get my running game back, enjoy Chapel Branch in solitude and the quiet it offers, and just again, take in the things I never could because I became too busy.  I am excited to visit for sure, but I already miss some of the aspects of Mexico I will be leaving!

I began to go back and add the restaurants I forgot to add to my list of 100 in a year and although I did not reach 100 yet in a year, I made a good run.  You will want to check out the newest one I added today, as well as the ones I will go back and add that I did not yet.  The menu of those is to the right of this area – just the 100 restaurants in a year link, and you will see a wide variety – the cool thing was this did not turn out to be just about restaurants, but each restaurant revealed a piece of Mexican culture as well, I am sure there is a book in there based on that, lol.

Here’s the extensive list and dates of upcoming excursions!

Hi all,

Herebye we would like to invite you to our upcoming day trips, tours and holiday packages :-).

• This Saturday, 30th of June – Day trip to Africam Safari & Town of Cholula (near Puebla; great vulcano views!)
  • Why would you go to an African Safari in Mexico ?? Well, just to have one of the best days of your life !

  • Africam Safari is the most important Safari in Latin America. We are sure you will live a completely different experience from that of traditional zoos, as you can go deep into African-like paths in the fascinating wild world on a safari-like trip. It is YOU who will be observed by more than 5,000 eyes !

  • You will travel among several sections where we will drive among giraffes, antelopes, zebras, rhinoceros, deer, Bengal tigers and lions, among others, in refuges specially designed to resemble their natural habitats. Here you can live with more than 2,500 animals and 350 species worldwide into the wild !
  • After the Safari we take you to the lovely town of Cholula, home of the largest Pyramid in the world, with the beautiful Nuestra Señora de los Remedios sanctuary on top of it. We will also take you to the town center, were you can enjoy amongst others the 16th century monastery of San Gabriel. Be prepared for some amazing vulcano views !!
  • My Mexican wife Lidia Herrera & my self (Dutch) will join you on the tour to make sure that everything will go smoothly. The price of this day tour is 500 Mexican Pesos and includes transport and the entrance to the park.
  • Click here for a virtual tour / online pictures of Africam Safari and here for Cholula

• Saturday 7th of July – Day Trip to the beautiful Natural Water Park `Las Estacas`
  • The aquatic park Las Estacas came out of your dreams and became reality in the tiny Mexican state of Morelos. The park is sunny, breezy, lush, fun, and relaxing, all rolled into one. The focal point of this park is a sparkling, clear, cool, artesian fed river that borders on much of the bathing and sunning areas. There is a slow, steady current that makes floating delightful and swimming upstream exercise.

    The river is perfect for a lovely swim – right after you get used to the coolness, which makes it wonderfully refreshing. It’s not so cold that you get goosebumps; our “experts” guess that it’s around 75 to 80 degrees (23 to 26 degrees Celsius), or just a little cooler than a lap pool. The depth is around 7 feet (approximately 2 meters) in most areas and much deeper in pools. The pool in front of the rental area is 20 feet (6 meters) deep with a platform built for jumping or diving. Peaceful little fish ranging from 2 to 30 cm glide around the sparkling depths. Every few meters there are artfully constructed retaining walls with “stepping stones” below them that maintain the natural look yet provide easy access and exit points for swimmers.

    The design of the rest of the park supports enjoyment of the river and provides for activities pleasing to everyone. The sunbathing area has a perfect grass lawn for lying in the sun and a cement “boardwalk” equipped with ladders for exiting the water after invigorating cannonball leaps. It’s easy to move around the park, yet there are plenty of surprises as you round a bend into a new area. The landscaping is a balance of very tall, elegant palm trees and other vegetation creating semi-private gardens separating large, grassy open areas. The partially shaded grassy areas are perfect for kicking or tossing a ball around and make it easy to play. Every area is perfectly mowed and raked and you can go barefoot all day long.

    Despite the fact that it is perfectly manicured the park still feels natural, especially along the river because it is shaded by a variety of flowering trees common in Morelos.

  • My Mexican wife Lidia Herrera & myself (Dutch) will join you on the tour to make sure that everything will go smoothly. The price of this day tour is 570 Mexican Pesos and includes transport and the entrance to the park.
  • Click here for a virtual tour / online pictures of Las Estacas.
• Sunday 8th of July – Spa Day to Cuernavaca
  • Pamper yourself during a luxurious day in the best Spa in Cuernavaca !
  • You can use the 2 swimming pools and green zones of this 4 star hotel / spa; with free use of Tennis, Squash and Volleyball courts + the Gymnasium. Includes a free Temazcal (Authentical Aztec Sauna) + Jacusi + fresh fruits afterwards. You will return reborn !! Let us take you there for just 650 MXN; transport from Mexico City (just 1,5 hour away) and all the services and facilities mentioned incluided.
  • Have a look at our Online Pictures to obtain an idea of the excelent facilities.
• Saturday and Sunday 14th & 15th July – Weekend Tour to Morelia
  Ask for our program and price !!
• 20th to 22nd of July – Weekend tour to Guadalajara & Tequila Express
• Ask for our program and price

Holiday Packages (ask for the programs and prices):

• 7th to 15th of July – Riviera Maya
• 14th to 22nd of July – Huesteca Potosina
• 15th to 22nd of July – Chiapas Increible
• 4th to 12th of Agust – Oaxaca Natural
• 25th of Agust to 4th of September – Europe Tour !! (London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam + more 🙂

Offers 2 x 1 Flight and hotel to all mayor tourist destinations: ask for the programs and prices

More tours and holiday packages can be found on our website: www.AztecaTTA.com

Kind regards,
Peter & Lidia
Directors Azteca Travel Tours-Art
2621-0387 (Office) 04455-1308-3732 (cell phone)

Looking back in the drafts that I meant to post, I figured I would add this post and then try to catch everyone up in one day..:)

“The question is often asked – How do you come up with the ideas of things that you do ? It is amazing?! I have to say for once, I am blessed with genes that were handed down to go back and reflect deeply on my experiences growing up. I think we ALL have this possibility to do some amazing things, but how many people pay attention to those possibilities?

When I heard this phrase below from Glen Hansard – (CHECK HIM OUT!) it struck a chord….Time around 4:50 is so – it is casually said but full of conviction!

One of his quotes –  “I mean, everything that I’m doing today I imagined when I was standing at bus stops with my guitar on my back. And when I sat in the back of the bus and on my way to the city to go play music on the street; everything that I imagined at the back of that bus is what I’m doing now.

So, the imagination is a very, very powerful thing and it literally invents the path before you. And if your head is stuck in Facebook or texting or something – which is all fine – you might imagine yourself into a kind of a cul-de-sac, and I worry about that for people.”

This is a much better way to make create a life that is more enriching – pay to more attention to our life experiences and have them come out in a different, rewarding way – :)”

Father’s day and as of late I keep thinking back to my father –

“Dad’s are funny – what is the power a Dad has on his children?  I am not sure – yet I know I will never be the same since MY dad, who wasn’t the typical Dad – had done so many things in his own way for me to see. 8 tracks, Johnny Cash, auto motives, sneaking out in the night to help people, were just a portion of who my Dad was, and I still do not know the depth of who he was – yet – on Father’s Day today I am the better man because of who he was!”

Okay, rewinding, last week was the last official week I had to come in to ASF as part of the school year.  However, I felt my body tired, but gearing up for some things -moving into a new apartment, getting ready for returning to the states, having said goodbye silently in some cases to some very dear people I have met as teachers at ASF, as well as saying goodbye in other forms, add these all together and some days it’s difficult to get your body and mind ready for all these changes – but let me try.

Thursday – the 21st – was a bid nervous and anxiety-ridden for me, as for some reason (not really sure why to be honest) – I arranged for movers to come and get my furniture, and move to a new apartment that was a little bigger, to allow to keep the place cleaner with CATS!  🙂  🙂  I always said I wanted a place that would allow cats, but you would not have to smell to see them to know I have them! (meaning no loaded down chairs with hair, smells of litter box, etc)

I get home – and look to see an approaching storm – to save time, I took the couches and chairs out of the apartment, took the plants (I didn’t think I could carry them) down to the ground landing, under cover from rain, and began to move the rest of the furniture into the living room – and I was excited to see physically, I saved I think what would have been  at least 40 minutes of moving, and perfect ! – movers showed up at exactly 4:30, a driver and three others – and they used ropes to carry down furniture from the top landing – very efficient, – and wow – we were on our way and to the new apartment before 5:20 – and then arrival at 5:30 – I was laughing, I was looking at the wrong corner of the intersection  – wondering where the apartment was, and turned to the other corner, ta da!  LOL – we unloaded all items to the 4th floor – (UGH – NO ELEVATOR) – I was amazingly testing the limits of myself physically, HYSTERICAL with the one neighbor on apartment 6 (VERY ATTRACTIVE!) – asked if I was okay and I needed to take a breath, LOL…

Finally all in, I gave the movers chocolates that were in the fridge – and everything I could find to drink, myself grabbing every available drink of water, soda, juice boxes, lol and then amazed that all was IN! Including cats, lol.  I went back once to the old apartment and walked back with plants, items, etc and died in my sleep!  🙂

Friday, last day at work officially for 2012 !  🙂  I did as much paperwork and wrap up items as possible, and headed back to prepare for a send off party for Helen Kang and Alejandro Martinez – I arranged items in the apartment – brought back a few more items from the old to new apartment.  Late night, scrubbing, cleaning apartment, 🙂  There was something about the new apartment, a positive, good vibe, I felt good things would be able to be done from here…:)

Saturday – I spent the morning preparing for the gathering at ASF for Helen and Alejandro, Mr Gipson came and picked up two mattresses and he dropped me off at a nearby metro, as I made my way to ASF.  Arriving, I began to move items into the library to prepare for the send off, food ready – decorating in little ways, etc.  Students arrived, (not as many as I hope but yes, a bad time for arrivals with vacations, end of school, etc) yet the company was great – we laughed, reminisced, and enjoyed Helen and Alejandro – then – sum sum dum….the cat….:)

We saw the cleaning crew bring a carrier with a cat inside, well, heard it, meow meow meow – and Helen and group went to see it, and came back with a carrier   😦 – Deja vous with Dewey – and lone behold – we let the cat – VERY black, out, (deja vows!) and it (she or he?) stopped meowing and chilled.  This cat obviously had been domesticated, at least acted like it, it was so well-behaved.  After finding, it hiding behind books, and it running around and us chasing it, lol, we decided, it was no good to leave the poor kitten in a carrier all weekend – :9  – you know where this is going…lol…I brought the cat back – let him/her out in the apartment, and then proceeded to make trips to the old apartment to obtain as much and get it out in preparation of Sara arriving into my old apartment Sunday.  Despite the rain, I was determined to make some progress, and yes, walking to my old apartment three times from my new apartment, and then carry boxes to the next block Citio to take a taxi to my new apartment (three times, 3o pesos each time, (3.00 USD) and I managed to get all boxes and items into the new apartment! 🙂

This is the thing, new apartment – 4th floor – no elevator, I had started to feel sore the night of moving into the apartment Thursday, and since then – I just had kept moving, moving, and my muscles never truly had a break. However, I felt good that I was determined to work through the pain and I was able to keep going!  Yes I am writing this on Monday and am very slow to move, yet, I can see I improved physically by moving through the challenge and hope to be able to keep on adding to the activity and pick up my running schedule again  🙂

After getting all those items in, I went on to scrub the oven, sink, walls, etc to the foundation from a layer of grease that was, well, just to put it lightly pretty gross, but it felt so good to get all items cleaned and scrubbed to the surface!

Needless to say, I felt like I died when I hit the bed Saturday night – after mopping, scrubbing, sanitizing, organizing, I felt some major progress hd been made!   🙂

Sunday rolled around, I got up early, headed to the apartment after some follow up mopping and cleaning again at the new apartment, and retrieved the last items in the apartment, as well as on my way back I stopped and grabbed some Churros, flowers for the vase in the apartment – and a balloons to mark the apartment – made it to the apartment.

I headed to the nearest grocery store, and although narrower, loved it more – the bakery inside and just the feel of the store, I liked it much  more!  Carrying supplies for the party today for Helen and Alejandro, I finished last minute of de-hairing of furniture, cleaning floors, bathrooms, etc.  🙂

The crowd that arrived was a little disappointing, but I think the weather and time of year had alot to do with that.  However, the food from  Paulina, Deb was delicious.  Dean came later, and so did Moct, and overall, we just enjoyed each other’s company.  I was lucky to have met in my experience such individuals as these and was blessed to have a mentor like Helen and Alejandro while at ASF.

Looking back, it was amazing the amount of time it took to move into a new apartment, here are some views of it – I love the vibe of the place.  I love the air flowing in, and it just feels like you have the potential of walking into a new world with the view, the upbeat air of it, and I feel good things will happen while I am here – that is a good feeling to have with a place you live!

Cats – I love animals in general, and yes, it is easy to criticize that I am accumulating cats, this is the thing, with so many people in the world, is it too much to ask that if people can;t who generosity to other people, that they take care of animals?  This means not dropping them off and abandoning them, etc.  Call me crazy fine, but I see in cats, as well as other animals, the basic need for a home someplace that is reliable food, shelter, and just to enjoy life, period.  Is it that difficult a request to ask for that?  When I give this to animals, you can just feel the content factor roll off of them – and heck, that is what people should do for each other as well, let alone animals.  I could always see that trait in my Dad, he would patiently take in animals and just care for them knowing there was an unspoken promise to care for each other in general, and hopefully others would take that example.  It works out, and no, I do not plan on taking every stray that comes along, but I hope I can count on others to help stop people from just dropping cats off and instead, asking people if they know of someone that can give them a good home.  🙂

Which bring me to this question, a cat named Dewey, a cat named Decimal, lol, it feels wrong to name the new addition System, so what should be the name of this cat?  🙂

Help!

More updates on restaurants thoughts on returning to the states in a few days!  🙂