PAVEing a Blog

I like the Life is Good logo, and products! Today, well, for unusual reasons, was a GREAT day despite some crazy things that would normally be a BAD day. LOL. Okay, here goes, I digress (as usual).

Last time I left off trying a good pasta place Pasta i Basta. It was great. I was lucky! The week back from break, Thanksgiving, well, hard as usual but cool that we began to set up CHRISTMAS Decorations! 🙂 Speaking of this, I will not be coming home for Christmas, this bums me out as I had some sentimental gifts for my Mom, cousins, Melinda, friends, other family. Bummed. But, all things work out for a reason right? 🙂 (Keep saying that). However, I will get them the gifts I have here somehow! 🙂

Okay- so Christmas here, but, it will be cool to see how Mexico celebrates I have to admit. Speaking of WHAT A CHRISTMAS PARTY by ASF! HOLY WOW! The decorations were AWESOME, BIG SCREEN TV’s given away, Xboxes, ipods, laptops, all employees received a certificate for a TURKEY! I mean, wow! The food, seriously, despite having an adverse impact, :), I have never seen such an event for employees…WOW! I loved it! As thew week winded down, the lit magazine staff gathered and began to look through submissions!

Holy cow! We have over 60 submissions already and more from around the globe! I mean EVERYWHERE! 🙂 Friday, finally it is here! YES!

This week saw a good friend – Jen leave for her hometown of Canada. The funny thing, I had a chance to sit down with her, at a great restaurant, El Dragon (awesome authentic Chinese and wonderful to slip into a new environment just within a restaurant!) and we talked and talked and I really got to know her and she is amazing! It is amazing when you actually take time to get to know someone. I visited her apartment /penthouse. ohmygosh! A bathtub! Wood floors! it was a true penthouse and I loved, L O V E D the room there, Amazing view, amazing everything!

Saturday – Loved the day! Went on a look around to see the Angel in Reforma, and while I was reading on the steps, someone came over, wrote on a post it note “Sonrre ama y Disfruta” – she smiled at me across the way and they handed out post it notes to alot of people there….way cool! It was just nice though, I do not get what Sonrre means? Anyone? 🙂 I took some awesome pics, and then headed back. That night…

Wow. not sure what happened, but it seemed liked someone punched me in the nose, it hurt to touch it! I took like three hot showers, to try and rid myself of the migraine, and breathe in the steam. It had all the markings of a sinus infection I hoped. I looked up on the internet, and it was a cross between celulitis and sinus infection. I couldn’t lie down as the pressure was too much, and behind my nose it ACHED! I made it somehow through the night (one of those nights that seemed it would never, ever end and could not sleep!) and I literally bee lined it for the hospital next door. (One advantage of being across from the hospital!) It seemed I DID have a beginning of cellulitis, (GROAN), immediately bought antibiotics, and took them with Advil. I could literally tell the difference in a few hours, YES! I immediately went to bed despite the sunny outlook and I was OUT….

When I woke up at 2:00, I literally felt so happy to be alive, and to have slept! LOL…All through the night Dewey had been by my side, awesome! I got up, showered again (like 4 in one day!) – the hot water felt GREAT – and then headed to Condessa to El Pendula. I settled in and read a GREAT GREAT book – House of SILK by Anthony Horowitz, the first new Sherlock Holmes book in a series, and WOW! You NEED TO READ! I want to read all of Sherlock Holmes’ older ones now! – I loved El Pendula, the waiter was AWESOME – and I loved the atmosphere. Take a look at the cool appetizer, then vegetarian wrap, and then dessert . Seriously, my body ached, from the sick battle, most of you felt that way, after being utterly out of it and then it feels like your body was in a boxing match, and this place was perfectly relaxing WOW!. Food was stupendous, and was a great place to listen to music (Beatles!) and finish a book. All was great. I was not rushed, and the waiter was EXCELLENT! 🙂 I felt just sooo content and began to think…..You know. I have alot to be thankful for. Friends that are to die for in Delaware, friends here that are amazing, and there are so many people complaining about soooo much….I mean, look at the bad things that happened to me yet, you know what, pick yourself up and enjoy the good things despite that, and help others out. There are so many people that can complain a storm away, me included, yet, the weather, the food, people around you, can in fact be wonderful if you look for that. It is there. I miss my friends and family yes, ALOT, yet, if I was stressed out and answering to everyone above me, I would not be happy. It is important to have people trust you for the job you do everyday, what you are capable of, and have people challenge you to improve YOUR skills, not to make the others satisfied alone, that is a shallow place to be. Anyone that pushes another into that place for their own reasons becomes just as shallow. Good riddance to that, and hello Christmas.

The thought I am able to think about and receive about my friends are the best gifts in the world. I looked for gifts tonight for the Library cadets, and found nothing that was their value at all, and realized, I will write down the things they might not see about themselves and present that to them, in a special way, but the materialism of Christmas fades away when you push it aside and just spend time and do some creative things for and with the people that have shared things with you. Then, the material things begin to fade away and for the first time, you see what the holidays are all about and you can’t get enough time to spend with friends and family! That is satisfying.

On the walk back, I thought these thoughts, and then realized, Christmas in Mexico or Delaware, or anywhere, does not need to be Christmas without me being there. The memories, thoughts, and event I had with all those people, if they meant something, will be with them and myself wherever I go! 🙂

I hopped on the puter to update these thoughts, and ran into Lee Mayer! We talked about Zach Cain and the days of the XC team, and wow, I miss those days badly! I liked catching up on the doings of Lee, and again realized, how lucky I was to have had the chance and opportunity to spend with those students and learn so much about myself! I remember, when Zach (who tried out for XC the FIRST TIME and gave up a familiar sport) and when Lee and Zach ran together, they competed yet everyone else faded away, and it was them, the course, and Vince. That was it. You could see it in their faces. Over the years, people lose the ability to keep those important to them close to their heart, and in what they do. However, what I admired about Lee and Zach, they kept Vince alive and still kept a portion of the run for themself. Not many people do that, in XC let alone in life!

I always thought admin would be a great job, interact with students, etc,but no. I have not seen hardly any admin that are servants to the cycle of politics, being the bow down to someone else, and I never want to sacrifice my time to be able to share with someone else. I think the students at Seaford High were unbelievable and when given a curriculum that freed their minds, they could do anything in and out of school. Given freedom to soar, and being able to create a school that would allow that kind of freedom, can you imagine the possibilities? Amazing! Dreams, lol…

ASF is a great school to be able to spread your wings, but as anywhere, you have to learn to say no in some case, yes on others, and figure out which will let you grow the most. I am relieved the earthquake here was little, I did not even feel it, and I am grateful for the chance to truly experience another culture instead of out of a textbook. The thing is, this is so easy for anyone to do, the world is at people’s doorstep, and to avoid it or neglect that opportunity is such a shame! It is amazing, and Mexico can be the best and worst of places, just like teaching can be, however….it takes a group of people to stand up for what is right and what it was like to be a student and then change that results to make it better than anyone can before or after you…and the positive things start to float up….:) I have noticed about myself, when things begin to give me a hard time, it is sometimes easier to let them go, and move on to the things that matter more, people, your thoughts, time to reflect, time to enjoy. This is what makes life Good! 🙂

I was lucky enough to be asked to write about various experiences recently, and well, here they are! It is important to let your voice be heard sharing gains and bounds in education!

Collaborating with teachers and students on P2PU

So much has happened – and well, I still ned to go back to the NCTE posts and explain what happened at convention. That is like being at camp, and you can’t put into words the whole experience…I will try to do over the next few days…the words I heard, people I met, and things I shared and gained take me above what a teacher could possibly do and turn people into educators!

Before the weekend, I had an amazing teleconference with 10 people at the same time, on Teachers Teaching Teachers! Check it out!

This weekend, quite awesome. Friday, I came home relatively early, LOVED THAT! Went to Pasta i Basta , (see the restaurant page review!) – I loved it! The owners came out talking to me as we had previous conversation on facebook, and they were worth the visit just to visit! I like places because of more than them trying to be more fancy and above the bar than someone else, and when it comes to people people, :), winner! Great place, great food, and they defy that fast food can’t be healthy and good!
After that, I went to Starbuck’s, and began to get some actual reading done! I DID! I mean, I had alot done! One thing I did notice, I always, always, ALWAYS lately anyway, have had a drop dead, good looking lady come by and sit near me while at Starbucks! I have to say, it motivated me to get alot done, wow! I am not saying that because it as me they sat down there, trust me, they didn’t know I was there unless I made a move to place my things aside, and well, to be honest….I am not at the stage where I can breathe normal let alone tell them I love them in Spanish…LOL….I love Starbucks for the academic atmosphere, there were so many people that had books and resources out and were working on academic things, it was cool to see. Sure the Condessa and hip style/stereotype do stick, and there were plenty there that reinforced that, but overall academic won over trendy tonight!

It was peaceful just to wander back and relax, yes, relax and well I love Friday nights and single…strange maybe but I enjoy seeing and enjoying at my pace! I took Dewey to the park in Condessa and chilled and think she loved the fresh air too…:)

Saturday – slept in! (My version was 8:00 AM but was awesome!)
I decided, I want to see Libreria del Fondo Rosario Castellanos, and wow. I want to speak Spanish, then read it ASAP to take in all these books in Spanish! This place used to be a former movie theatre, and the children’s reading (and the reader could SING!) and just the overall AWESOME feel of the place, I loved it.

After that, I made my way to the metro, to San Angel, where I walked from the Metro stop and found Diego Rivera’s house/Frido Kahlo’s and now museum. There is something about seeing items that belong to people contained a mystery, a beauty, yet a mysteriousness about them. This was such a place, I loved taking my time and seeing it all at my own pace…It is free with a teacher id, and I paid 30 pesos to take pictures hoping it would help the museum. I also took pictures of the San Angel Inn across the street, it reminded me of a restaurant called Tara, in Ohio! While in San Angel, I happened across the shops we had been to when I first arrived, the restaurant, Sabado Bazaar, and a wedding! It was picture perfect! I took some great pictures, and headed to the Metro finally…:)

On the way back, I stopped at Sumesa, and bought some blackberries, a sandwich, and mineral water with lemon for the walk back to the Metro. It quenched my thirst! I ran into an art museum on Revolucion I want to see next time, and then boarded and decided to go to the school in Observatio, where I processed my application form for a Scholarship to finish my Master’s at Mansfield! (Fingers crossed) I got back on headed home, and realized how tired I was! 🙂 I slept the rest of the night!

Sunday! – I washed my own clothes, tons of shirts, socks for 2 weeks! YEAH! 🙂 Updated and finished a wiki project for P2PU – check out the wiki our groups made for educators!

I then hurried up, travelled to Freedom Bar/Restaurant for The Steelers versus the Bengals! YEAH! I love being among other Steeler fans, and wow, awesome awesome game! We dominated! Loved seeing Steelers, it has been awhile! 🙂 Next, the BROWNS! 🙂 And we are first in our division! 🙂 WOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO! While there I was able to also catch up on my Spanish notes, that was GREAT!

Came home, checked out the World Trade Center on the way back, took some pics, checked on my laundry I left like 2 1/2 weeks ago but it was closed! –
Maybe Monday! 🙂

I still need to…..1)Update my bog from NCTE, work on that this week.
2)Work on NCTE 21st Century Learners PD on site!
3)organize my table in the living room
4)Celebrate that one of my Seaford co workers is coming to MEXICO next year! 🙂 YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
5)Get ready for Secret Santa in the Library!
6)Prepare for our meeting after school tomorrow for Lit Mag!
7)follow up with detentions for fine owers at ASF 😦

Make it the best Monday possible! 🙂

P.S What is the Harry Film Festival at ASF? Who is Harry, besides me? He has got to be good looking to have a film festival named after him? Should I claim I know what that is when alot of students keep asking me about it? 🙂 Maybe it will bring some people? Really? I have never heard of a Harry Film Festival, but I like it…..:)

After a great weekend, and reading the first “This I Believe” book, I decided to do my own. If you don’t like long blogs, you might want to shelve this one. I was motivated by the Steeler victory check out my contribution to a wonderful win today and being in first place of their division. But before we get to the Steelers who I value in this order:

God
Family
Steelers
Friends
Steelers
Food
Steelers
pets
Steelers
women
Steelers
toilet paper

Let’s look at a few personal This I believe’s I came up with:

I believe that life is too short for all things to be realized.

I believe the best parts of the week are Mondays – they challenge you to be your best on the lest unexpected days

I believe it is better to have more unanswered questions that answers to your life

I believe it is better to be single and hold no regrets, than married and have many

I believe the perfect marriages that exists are due to the willing of two people to sacrifice, and not one.

I believe money exists to be a test of true characters

I believe that people that have an attitude, have no personality worthy of notice

I believe money is the root of all evil, whether you need it or not

I believe dating many people is not the best philosophy for all people

I believe animals are the harbingers of people’s personality

I believe the more I have to suffer, the more I will learn

I believe the best classes, the best courses, the best education, and the best jobs are those that cost nothing, earn nothing monetarily, and intrinsically pay off the most

I believe looking down on another is also looking down on yourself

I believe being a friend is something you can’t define

I believe putting yourself last is not negative, and these actions will place yourself first naturally

I believe that tattoos, piercings, plastic surgery, are not negative, but do not make someone better looking

I believe the the beauty that exists without makeup

I believe in holding doors and placing coats on rain puddles

I believe in never sacrificing my beliefs for the sake of not being single

I believe money is one of many tools to help others

I believe education should not be earned for grades, points, credit, or certificates, it should be earned for intrinsic reasons

I believe that peanut butter and chocolate should be made a national food

I believe that free public internet should be provided in public places

I believe that women are more powerful than society allows them to be

I believe that running is a religion

I believe that your body is a sanctuary

I believe that a woman, with the right smile, personality, and perfume can make a life-lomg memory

I believe faith, pets, and friends have the ability to heal as much as medicine

I believe old age comes with inner happiness and selflessness to others

I believe less in others and more in myself

I believe technology is a tool, education is a staple

I believe the Steelers are the lifeblood of many attributes of generosity,selflessness, and kindness and example getting your hands-dirty and giving 100% of yourself in many ways – here are many reasons why-

The Steelers were the first team to demonstrate equality, believing in starting the first African American quarterback.

Being the first team to have the first wide receiver receive the Super Bowl MVP.

Being owner and recipient of the Immaculate Reception.

Being the oldest team in the AFC.

There is a reason Joe Paterno turned down the coaching job of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chuck Knoll accepted.

That 1969-2006 the Steelers only had two coaches.

On of the biggest mistakes was cutting Johnny Unitas in 1969, but then we did have Terry Bradshaw…:)

Loving that the Steelers were the first team to have professional cheerleaders.

Being the first team in history to win more than two superbowls.

There was a reason Al Bundy was released in 1969 from the Steelers.

There is a reason the Pittsburgh Steelers have won the most Superbowls.

There is a reason the Steelers are the only team that has the logo on one side of their helmet.

Being able to compliment another team when the Steelers fall short, and yet, loving them more than the other team.

Not hearing the Steelers complimented from other teams and realizing, Yes, am part of the Steeler nation.

I believe teachers impact every aspect of life and are not given enough credit

I believe state tests are a weakness to come up with a better education system

I believe should laugh at I told you so’s and use them to improve

I believe nontraditional approaches are the best

I believe in standing out in the crowd, quietly and loudly

Three generations of Rooneys show the power of keeping a team family, ignoring money as a factor, and facing issues players might have and trying to work through it, not hide them under a rug (sorry Joe Paterno).

For the above reasons, and from watching the Steelers in my grandparents as a child, and being driven to the funeral of Art Rooney’s wife and seeing the team in paying tribute, and knowing, there is a trace of lineage in my blood of Rooney’s, no matter how slight, I believe in the Steelers above any other team, despite good or bad.

Throw your excuses at me, once a Steelers, once a native of Pittsburgh, it is always in your blood, this I believe about the Steelers.

I believe in believing. 🙂

No elaborate titles needed! 🙂 I woke up and really, it was awesome being back in my bed from flying in from Chicago yesterday. Everything still has me spinning, and if you read my previous blog, I stopped on the Thursday I arrived, so my plans will be to go back to that and try to finish tomorrow. I learned so much there. I met so many people, and I brought soooo many books back for the library here, lol. But the real reason I am writing this is for the following realizations…

I am so thankful for the the support staff I have in Delaware, Melinda, Mom, Danielle, my cousins Lois and Roger in Maryland, Monse, Deborah, Beverly Blades to name a few. They keep and have kept the conflicts and systems running smoothly there, even when there are quite a few bumps in the road! I received an electronic card from Melinda today reminding me it was in fact Thanksgiving. It was neat seeing the airports offering coffee to everyone in the lobbies as part of the traveling on Thanksgiving experience. It was ODD not being near family physically today, yet, I knew that all my friends and family felt close by!

I also received a package in the mail today from Andrea Paun, who I worked with in observations at the Baltimore Aquarium! What better timing! It was Awesome! I received homemade mustard, Vegemite from Australia!, an oven mit from Australia, toys for the cat, a towel that grows when you add water, ironic there but cool, and way cool a dvd of pics from the Aquarium! Take a look at this pic of the trainers when we were observing dolphins!

I realized how much I needed to escape the triviality of the classroom and being subject to administrational whims, but also realized how much I appreciated the Baltimore Aquarium, and how I was JUST getting to know the Whole Foods and other cool things there, and loved the relaxation of the Aquarium. I still can hard;y wait to return there in December, I am so excited! 🙂

Presenting and meeting Karen at NCTE and the collaboration we had was priceless, and she made me so excited of what is to come with online courses we can create, present, and develop involving students as well. She is truly a motivator and easy to follow and create so many different packages of ideas that will impact so many people! Through her I was able to meet and connect with so many resources, she always seems to be a pillar of strength that will bring so much more to the table.

I also have been blessed to have had the experiences I did have in the classroom. For those reasons, I had so much better ideas of what I needed and wanted to do to improve things I did and had seen before in the classroom. I was so motivated at NCTE, I was seeing what the board of NCTE did, and attended every board session I could, and realized, this is what I want to do. I want to have and earn the freedom to go to schools to help their teachers, to help their systems and help improve the life of education as a a whole. I wrote the current president of NCTE via email. Her presidential speech was amazing, as she is from Hawaii, and her speech was on Storytelling and why stories are so important. It touched me and made me realize that I needed to be a more active part of NCTE and wanted to be part of the board in the future. I am thankful for the people I met that extended their hand to me at NCTE and realized all the things I have done so far have been just babysteps to larger things I can do to make a difference.

I was so grateful for the care Mark showed in looking after my place in Mexico while I was gone and how much he has helped me get along here. Additionally, I also am thankful for the transition my boss Elaine gave me coming here, it made all the difference in the world.

Additionally, the friends I have made in Mexico have been so supportive and life changing, it has changed my stressful run to this task to the next task down so many notches, I do not even recognize myself in the mirror.

Additionally, I still feel part of the loop when all my former students, their parents, and the influential people such as Doakes and the XC team as a whole still include me in their posts and emails.

I was lucky enough to meet up with my awesome SRU ally, Natalie Dorfeld. She had come through for me so many times, and to actually see her in the flesh and be able to spend quality catch up time, as well as share her brother’s Thanksgiving gathering so I could have one, was AWESOME.

I am so proud and thankful for a Literary Magazine Staff I have come into at ASF. The future of this magazine looks so exciting in connecting with schools in the U.S and other countries that will share the benefits of talents that we discover across so many continents, exciting!

I am so thankful for skyping with Vika the other day right before I left for NCTE, she had me all motivated and excited with possibilities, as when we get a group of people together anytime that are optimistic, the ideas we come up with are priceless and turn out to be reality so easily! It is exciting that Vika among others will continue to be a part of something so large in the upcoming months.

Life is good, and life has become even better with so many new possibilities on the horizon. There are countless more to thank and be thankful for, and the said thing is I know this is only the beginning, but in a way, this has been a great Thanksgiving for all the people involved in so many changes in a short time. I am beginning to realize this has been a cleansing experience for me, the change, and one that has been needed for quite awhile. 🙂

It will take me serval days to get caught up with the packages I acquired from Chicago, the organization of ideas to implement, as well as getting back to nearing towards my 50 000 word goal in NANO by November 30th, (I am at 31, 700!) but the magic of seeing Christmas in Chicago, as well as the treasures I brought back, are well worth the catch up time needed now.

The absence of shopping and the rush to the next holiday, being detached from that all and realizing that I have so many people to be thankful to, especially those following this blog, for so many reasons, it makes a Thanksgiving in Mexico well worth it’s weight anywhere else. 🙂

Wow. No kidding about life. Things have been a blur since I last posted, and trying to keep up has become harder and harder…:) Overall the last restaurant I frequented for the Friday dining was MOG, loved the sushi, soup, and the wait staff. We met our waitress who was from Texas, she was great, and so inviting, inquiring, it was an awesome location and an awesome hang out. I wanted to put this link into the blogs about Delirio’s and Mog, as it reminds me of this film : St.Elmo’s Fire. I love the fact that there is a deeper story than just a movie title to St.Elmo’s Fire. A definite metaphor for life….

Since that Friday – whew, I am not sure I can keep up. I was able to reconnect with Vika, the Russian AFS exchange student that had come to Seaford, and she is studying in Israel. We started a conversations about sharing photos, writing, etc from other parts of the world in our lit magazine – and wow….great idea to add the world influences section to our magazine, it will be a hit.

A moment about our literary magazine staff – for BabyCakes. Please go to our site and like it and keep tabs as we begin to gather submissions.

Saturday was amazing as this was the Art Fair at ASF. organized by the parent association, this was BIG time. The students for thelit mag arose to the occasion, selling 44 pizzas and the whole time I was a bit holding back as this brought my concession days to a head and reminded me of the students back home. However, that being said, I love my staff. From Camila, to Ji, to Anne, to Carlos, to Maria, to Milo, to Esther, those there and not there are willing to make this year’s Lit Mag something like no other. We laughed, we stressed, we screamed, we went back to laughing. The pizzas were amazing as they sold out, and the staff, well, I could hug them. They made at least 5000 peso through a long day. What was amazing was the art and music that surrounded us all day. From kindergarten to the jazz band, the departments and teachers, no educators 🙂 we AWESOME. This again was big time, the whole campus was flooded with art that turned the school into a museum. This truly was Art in the Park I recalled from the Shakespeare Festivals, to the museum tours we had done in Spain, I promise some pics that will take your breath away will be posted later. I wanted to get the words out first. I am proud of the Lit Mag and the staffers have made a renewed effort, using others’ photos to advertise the artistic atmosphere they hope to capture with everyone surrounding them. These photos are art in themselves. Definitely go to the facebook site to see the chance to submit your art, I dare say they will make history this year. Loved Saturday and so proud of the staff amid a flurry of activity – surrounded by art would be my phrase I daresay for the day.

The weekend was enjoyable to catch up on NANO…
a few words (less than 50000). I never thought I could keep up with such as daring venture as writing a 50 000 novel in one month. Here I sit with ideas constantly going back and forth, and am past the 25000 word mark with November 30th looming like an owl on my shoulder. Yet, what a state of self exploration and chance to get things out I have had inside for YEARS. This is an amazing and committed experience with a staff that supports you all the way. There are a few things in one week I will never forget, this will be one. SO progress every day occurs with Nano and I can hardly
wait to let my friends see this, as they make up the weight of its contents.

The whole while I have been anxious about leaving and heading back to the U.S. in Chicago, anxious is not strong enough, but just almost on the edge of anxiety. I am going to present at NCTE AND head back to the states, very nervous but excited. As with anything of that nature, the time crawled as I worried and tried to prepare as best I could, but the days ticked off so incredibly fast, and Boom! Wednesday, time to head off.

As with anything, again, the day FLEW, and I did not have time to do all the things I wanted, – yet – I was sitting here, in the airport, ready to take off. As I arrived at the gate, the adventure really began…

“Sir, your plane is not due to take off until 5:00 PM- arrival 9:00 as there has been a change.” – My heart sunk, no way. Yet, there was light, there had been a change to switch to United if I wanted and I would be able to depart at 3:30 and arrive around 7:00 – YES! I would take it. A little confusion ensued where I had to find the correct ticket counter for United, customs, etc, all was ready and I was on the plane! YES! I watched a cool movie Monte Carlo, with Selena Gomez. I loved this film, I love Selena Gomez, sorry, but overall, I loved this film made for a chick flick I think, but the story behind it, perfect Hollywood feel good film, and overall, gives you the dream the right one is out there somewhere. I enjoyed the plane film! 🙂 I was so nervous I kept moving items around, losing things right under me feet just plain NERVOUS.

I got off the plane, worked through customs, and wow – no luggage, no joke. I am doing better at keeping my calm while screaming inside, AAAAGH! Someone, who did not have the right ticket or name on their ticket, picked up my blue suitcase, and I had no clothes except what I was wearing. I made the claim, found the blue line Metro which was like 16 stops to Hilton Palmer House, and made it inside, and sat and thought, I can’t believe this. I did GREAT on the anxiety factor considering what had happened. I was starving, and I went out found Subway, and it might have been the best hoagie I had in years, lol. I loved it.

I have to tell you, flying in and seeing the switch between Mexico and the U.S, i realized, even with the bills, and the stress of change, I realized how lucky I was to be surrounded by people I was well, basically be lucky to be around. No matter how little money I have, I am always so rich int he friends I have, and the rich family, rich is so many unmonetary ways I am LUCKY – and this has enabled me to experience things so far I never DREAMED of doing. Thank you to all of them for a moment. I thought this as I landed in the U.S and was just again, NERVOUS.

So despite the bad things going on, I couldn’t be unhappy, I WAS AT NCTE! 🙂

Overall, the night was long, as I realized no internet unless you paid for it each night, and I was hesitant. I wanted to save save save to make sure I had enough to cover all! Again – crazy fate – phone rings in the wee hours and Ta Da! Luggage RETRIEVED! – Can you believe it? And all was there – everything. Awesome, s keeping the right attitude was – yes, the right thing to so.

Thursday – already?! I jumped up and was heading to Starbucks, somewhere, tat had free Wi-fi – and then it hit my. NWP Conference sign in the lobby. I stopped, I was part of the first NWP in the Endless Mountain Writing Project in Mansfield, PA! Today, before NCTE! I had hours to burn so I thought, what the heck, check it out. AMAZING things developed. FREE HUGE breakfast (check, that taken care of!) – sign in for FREE, and then before I knew it, in a first meeting for NWP and meeting people beside me. Not just any people, the lady to my left – was from Chicora. This might not be significant to you, but this was the small town my Dad had last lived in, and it was close to my hometown, and still for some of my siblings. She worked at Edinboro. I went to Edinboro U. The similarities continued around the table, someone from Kent State – I just had done the JEA Kent State Journalism grant experience there, and that is not where it ended. I was in amazement, to a conference I had not even KNOWN about until today. Amazed. Then, heading to the plenary session, I volunteered to speak, and realized I would get up in front of the whole group to state what our initial group had come up with issues that needed addressed or we felt important. I did, I did it quickly, wanting to say the whole time, I can’t believe I am here from Mexico!!!!!!!!!

NWP – you need to check this out, I am going to try and start a INWP – International and begin a record making trip through Mexico I can bring back to next year’s convention. I met so unbelievable people from the Eastern Shore NWP, as well as Delaware. AMAZING. And it is 8:21, and I have the second say of workshops to be ready for, I have been typing here since 6:00 AM on this Friday, and I only have started the adventure that began to unroll on Thursday. I will be back today, but in the mean time, check out NWP – AMAZING. 🙂 I have so many new challenges I want to bring back and work through, and that seems to me the most opulent part of this adventure so far, the energy around others charging up more and more!

Traditions, wow! In Mexico a little different! Halloween is still a big deal, but the week of Spirit week for Homecoming was great! 🙂 I did the days, Twin Day,

Pajama Day, Sport Day, and ASF color day, but despite nailing all the days, the freshmen came in last in points, 😦 I was sponsoring and supporting the freshmen as they had been the ones I went camping with but they were great and provided a shirt for me to wear that said, “I’m with the freshmen!” it was great…:) It even had my name on it!

Let me rewind as usual….:) Let’s work backwards this time! This weekend, minus proctoring the SAT test yesterday (7:00 AM should be nothing but I was BEAT the rest of the day and slept it, then also rested and laid low Sunday, wow! I got caught up on ALOT!) As you will find out, I entered into NANO, which is in November, all over the world, people enter to write a 50,000, (that is right) fifty THOUSAND, word novel, I am at 8000, right now, but I have until November 30st to get it all in, so around 17000 words a day MINIMUM and I am good. I chose to pick events that actually happened and turn them into a fictional story, so far, so good…I just hit mini roadblocks and that just comes with well being new to the process I think…? (fingers crossed!) –

Friday – I headed back to Delirios for dinner, wow. The thing about Delirios is you need to keep purchasing little portions, there really are not large portions of meals served, but what I had, a salmon sandwich, two rhurbarb tarts, americano coffee, it was all DELICIOUS. VERY busy around 4:00 until 5:00 then slowed off… but a very good meal in store for you, not to mention I think I fell in love with my waitress….:) She spoke English but that was incidental, she was beautiful! The last time I went there was for Sunday brunch, but again, the food is always fresh and always wanting you to order another!

The last week of October was fun as it was Spirit Week, Halloween, all wrapped up. Friday was awesome as I was invited to attend a friend’s Birthday party, and he had it all decorated for El Dia de Muertos too! During Day of the Dead, which was November 4th, I travelled to the Frido Kahlo Museum, as well as the Trotsky Museum as both lived close to each other. WOW! I learned so much! 🙂 Before arriving at the Trotsky and Frido Kahlo Museum, I arrived at a mall that was all Christmas! The mall, Palacio de Hierro in Coyoacan was AMAZING! I thought I was on New York again! 🙂 I hung out with Deborah and Michelle, fellow colleagues of ASF, and Deborah was going to kill me with all the text messages I sent!, but we ate at Meson De los Leones, a cool corner restaurant that was relaxing as the light shown in. The food was very good, I wolfed it in 8 minutes, but it was good. I can’t say anything stood out – but the bill was very reasonable and it helped cure a major hunger, and it was not anything I would not go to in Coyoacan again either! I loved the steady pace and oh! A MAJOR FIRST! At the end of the evening I went to UNUM (The Mexican University here) to see the many displays in honor of El Dia de Muertos. Very cool but crazy crowded, it reminded me of the Delaware State Fair!

I had my braces removed after over 9 years! It took awhile, but my gosh, not to have them or anything on my teeth, YESSSSSSSS! It is amazing and I think Dr. Castro is too! 🙂 It feels WONDERFUL!

I received by Saucony running shoes from Mom – from my house, WONDERFUL! My feet sooooo needed that! My shoes, I am keeping as a memoir, snce the soles are literally rubbed down to the sole almost! It feels so good to be wearing something with good support! Now I can run!

The Friday of Halloween week, I at at the awesome restaurant I mentioned in the restaurant part of this blog, Origenes Organicos, let me tell you, it as fantastic! All organic but the Campeche Sandwich I had there was awesome, and just, well it was the most relaxing Friday in awhile and it was food good for me! I lined up the staff that worked there and took pictures of them and they were great, I figured if I advertised for them they would not mind, and the food was so worth it! 🙂 The following night, Saturday, of Halloween weekend, I dressed up as Harry Potter, dyed my hair dark, and attended Amanda’s Halloween party, the costumes were a RIOT including the Michelin Man he was HUGE! lol…It was fun to see people outside of work and celebrating Halloween or really El Dia de Muertos!

Funny, here it is all about celebrating family that has passed away, ALONG with the rituals of Halloween a little bit, but more so the rituals of family that have passed away takes precedence. The offrenda (altars) that are made in honor of the are amazing! It was an awesome twist to the way the U.S. focuses on Halloween, yet Mexico focuses mainly on family. I thoroughly enjoyed the pictures I took to capture this!

As time draws nearer, I get excited to be able to travel to the U.S to present at NCTE in Chicago, and was even MORE excited to know my friend Natalie will be there at the same time visiting her brother, so we can reunite and catch up! WOW! I haven’t seen her since she was married several years ago! 🙂 I am also attending a luncheon after I present at NCTE (National Conference of Teachers of English) where author James Patterson and Anthony Horowitz will be speaking, so that will be a huge highlight as well!

It is unusual I will not be home for Thanksgiving, and I will miss this very much 😦 I have learned to value the time we had with our family and associated with Thanksgiving!
Natalie informed me I would be able to have Thanksgiving dinner with her and her brother, (I will be leaving Chicago, with my cat Blackie!, on November 23rd morning EARLY….:)

It seems there is so much more to say, yet with my writing for Nano, my arm and brain seem to be getting their share of writing in that they however had a chance to with the teaching I had done!

I am excited I am able to keep up with the winning the Steelers are doing, and am excited to follow their progress tonight against the Ravens, puts a whole new meaning on eating crow! 🙂 I am still amazed at the warm weather here and hard to believe we have cold weather in Delaware, it seems the weather is neutral here based on the altitude, and I can’t say I will ever complain! 🙂

Looking forward to bringing more news to you, from Mexico…:)

Ugh….:) Steeler’s loss last night was heart breaking to the Ravens’, 😦 but I love the rivalry, and the Ravens’ played worthy of that win!

I love acronyms! For the first time since coming back from the 9th Grade Camping Retreat, it looked as if I had a calm Friday night October 14th, what to do….:)

I walked Southern Insurgentes knowing there were alot of unexplored restaurants from finding the Steelers fan club there and I knew there had to be something. I passed alot of small Sushi restaurants, contemplating, but I really wanted a dining experience! About 45 minutes later, I came across the World Trade Center, and laughing, passed by IHOP. I thought, come on, a dining EXPERIENCE, and well kept walking circled around and found a MAC store behind the World Trade Center, then came back on IHOP’s steps. I figured, this is the first time I can eat in an American restaurant since arriving, why not.

I was greeted by an awesome hostess and waitress, and saw something phenomenal on the screen – not knowing what was going on. As I sat watching, I realized the Pan American Open Ceremonies were on!

A note about the Opening Ceremonies….AMAZING. People were hanging from the high ceiling wrapped in a type of cloth, and mimicked flying as butterflies, were able to wrap themselves into the cloth, then unwrap, the whole time imitating gymnastic-style movements – AMAZING. Then the music accompanied by thousands of instruments and operatic to pop social styles, to works of art that was choreographed by dancers and singers, it was a definite site to be witnessing – and it was exciting to see so many people around me enthralleI worked my way through some of the best Quesadilla’s I EVER had, a knockout series of coffee, and the best ice cream with cinnamon and apple I could have expected. I watched for at least 2-3 hours the Pan American opening ceremonies, and realized, it does not have to be a 4 or 5 star restaurant to be the best dining experience, it just has to be relaxed, fun, interesting, and comfortable. I received all of these on a Friday night and walked away the more contented for it. Thank you IHOP!

Friday…dinner….promises of a new and exciting place, a long week deserving a shot at a relaxing dinner with friends, would the locations desired live up to the expectations needed on a weekend? — Wait until you see and hear these locations…

2:45 hits and we gather in the library, two groups, my reliable and dependable eatery boss Elaine, recommender of the week Michelle, and her Lower School colleagues as well as a handful of dining faithfuls in Tracy, Sue, we are off to a coffee shop. Or so I thought. Only this was better.

We show up at the front door of a side street residence, and I am looking. And looking. And looking. Where is the shop? I do not see signs, I do not see any evidence of a coffee shop yet we are here? …..I am confused… a door swing opens and a friendly garcon, ooops, sorry, caballero, opens, greets and ushers us into a patio.

We look around, we see some wooden chairs, some trees, a few apartments, residences. No coffee. Anywhere. I am not saying anything as I am sure this is a stop along the way, and THEN to the coffee shop. Them I know and hear, this is it, we have arrive? What?

Amazing what unfolded next – wooden tables appeared, a white drink (this is where my friends come in) with cinnamon was served out of nowhere while we waited and ….wow! This is good! “We are getting a a table around the corner for you, you are early, but we will begin…” I am still amazed at the thoughts of, “This is a coffee shop?!” – –

Then we saw here, I believe Camilla was her name. She came home from school, unafraid and ready to socialize, the cutest and sweetest daughter of the host you could imagine.

As we waited for our second group to arrive, she entertained and made us laugh. The best part of our Friday outings began to unfold, we talked about our anticipations, laughter, anger, and general thoughts of our experiences here and I knew we were in for something special. Our second part of the group arrives (Tracy, Sue, Michelle) and the folding table with chairs arrive, and we move to a table.chair set across the outdoor patio. Camilla joins us….coffee beings to be set in front of us….and with hearts no less. But this is just the beginning. Perhaps the best Cappuchino (and I have to say I am a novice) set in front of me is served. The design of the heart

is the bonus, the taste is the giveaway…WOW.

The lesson of the history of retrieving the beans from Oaxaca as well the as process of his services to fix coffee machines, preparing the beans for grinding, collecting and returning with these valuable resources to enable this experience, all during the demonstrations of how the designs are created, and servings of Expresso, Chocolate, the taste of the actual chocolate BEAN – and the offers of a dinner if we wanted it, the taste of the meat and potatoes we could have for dinner, a total of 150 pesos is a STEAL. Should we blow off our reservations? Well, we just did at 5:30, that was a distant dream – and who cares? The coffee testing, the good company, the great hosts, the patio has been turned into the best coffee parlor you could imagine and the surroundings have peeled away from view to reveal a courtyard of hospitality, magic, and great experiences.

We are given a Day of the Dead sugar skull,

fruit-like frozen popsicle desserts,

and Camilla continues to turn on the charm constantly.

Having to pull ourselves away from seeing the factory and the warehouse was an understatement as we resignedly leave to our dinner destination, all hoped up with the best coffee served…(I didn’t mention how we could purchase kilos of this magic coffee….amazing and I know what certain people are going to get for Christmas, begging for the source of THIS coffee)… AMAZING undercover experience we had, could it be topped…with TAPAS not that we missed our dinner reservation?….

Oh Yes…another hidden treasure, we arrive at Broka, on Zapecata, or so it appears as I stand in front of another garage door – what is this, Inspector Gadget or 007 night for finding good places? 🙂 A waiter sees me peeking into the window and asks if I want to enter….into what? We find a narrow passageway and cut through the kitchen and then the inside of a warehouse opens up into a dining area and central wood stepped dining area that at first just causes you to be amazed this can’t be really opening up? Then, we are seated, and we begin drinks It is 7:30…after a few hours of conversation, I look at the board and wonder if the promise of food will become a reality, and sure enough….TAPAS! (Marrow filled delicacies, mini pizzas, Springroll like delights, and more and more and more…) How many do you want? We go through one, two, three, four….hours later and after number ELEVEN – ONCE – we wonder how much this is going to rack us for….12 pesos per Tapas does not even begin to classify how wonderful, delicious, and what a great find Broka is. A night if surprises was certainly this dining out experience and having missed the dinner menu and received Tapas turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as the Tapas were perhaps the best I had, maybe next to SPain…an VERY distinct memory begins to produce in my mind of Tapas in Spain and I realize the blending of the delicious servings here remind me of Spain and Portugal in a heartbeat.

Perhaps another “one of the best” Friday experiences occurs thanks to my boss Elaine, Coffee guru expert finder Michelle, and a great collection of friends that have joined us in this experience, have made this perhaps a one of the best Friday dining experiences in Mexico….:) If you miss Broka, you are missing one of the best parts of Mexico, and I can’t suggest the coffee secrecy destination unless you have an in with Michelle, which I am eternally grateful for this chance to meet such a wonderful family and experience as this…I plan to return November 4th, and if you have any wanting for an AMAZING experience, you might want to track down Michelle…:) Gracias\ Mexico!

It hit me just like that the whole weekend, no warning, no anything, just Bam! – RECYCLING…

I had a list of all the things I needed to do, get, buy, from the store. I begun to search on the web and I eliminated the list completely.

Here we go:

I had 4, 2 litre bottles, I cut off the top – turned upside down, pout inside the bottom part of the bottle, instant self watering planters for the new plants I had acquired (Thanks Mark!) Need planters? Nope…

That water bottle for the water dispenser, no need to give back, new terrarium…way cool!

Cat toys, desperate….okay – so take the two toilet paper cardboard rolls, cut into rings, voila – huge ball for the cat to roll around on the floor….:) — Also, you can use toilet rolls for seed starters!

64 oz bottles, I cut those into smaller planters, self watering with the top off thing, and dang, they really work!

Finally, the cereal boxes, oh yes, awesome idea I found. I cut the bottom and top off and used as trays for the paper clips, thumb tacks, small items that were hanging all over the closet shelf…:)

What was left? Well, the 2 litre bottles I found just outside the apartment, I was able to get twine, cut them, and hang them with no labels so they are clear (and dipped in paint they look cool!) making 2 hanging plant containers for the outside that yes, are self watering as well.

Finally, I added up the damage I could have caused….I saved over 200 pesos if I was to go out and buy those containers! 🙂 No kidding! 🙂

Hysterical, all those were functional and were going to go into my garbage! 🙂