Are you in the Bay Area, CA, and did you lose your phone?

Yeah, so I'm in the middle of an often punctuated yoga practice and I hear my phone ring, again... and this interesting voice says: "Hi, I found this phone in the street in Oakland." The phone number is: 510-827-9782... I just got a new phone recently, so while I vaguely recognize the number, it isn't someone I can identify right away.

IF THIS IS YOUR LOST PHONE, call Abe: 415-707-9128. He's got your phone, go get it back!
Lots of love
Casandra

Buy Nothing Day, Friday Nov 27, 2009

Hey, all!

I'm in the thick of planning for Buy Nothing Day, and we have a REALLY GREAT couple of events scheduled for that day.

If you are interested in joining in on the morning action, I'll be happy to bring you up to speed, email me: hypertextual@yahoo.com

The map should be posted tomorrow, I'll put a link here as well as send out an email.

We're having a BARTER PARTY in the afternoon!
4pm at the Cultural Plaza (on "M" between Lake and Lucerne, across from the Library).

Email me at hypertextual@yahoo.com for a letter flier or 11x17 poster for this event.

More details coming soon!
FUN IS FREE!

Visit: www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd

Hooping pics from LAKE WORTH BEACH FULL MOON DRUM CIRCLE

Lots of thanks and sweaty hoop hugs to Tom Tracy, of Tom Tracy photography, who cornered me while I was taking a personal moment at the water's edge with my purple LED and asked if he could photograph me.

THANK YOU TOM! Visit his website: www.tomtracy.com

Here are some of the shots from that night....

WOW! Halloween, and then some!

Quick update...

Halloween fest in Lake Worth: www.halloweenstreetscene.com Featuring the Resolvers, Burnin Smyrnans, hoops and spooks, etc!

Spam Allstars at Propaganda Friday night, October birthday blowout bash in PBGardens (email me for details), and the THE Halloween Party Saturday night (email me for details).


THEN>>>

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 3: Poetry Slam at Dada Featuring Todd Caviness... No cover, $100 cash prize for first place!
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 5: Talk UNDirty to Me at Voices and Vybes- should be an inspiring event!
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6: Jared Paul at the Write Side Poets Cafe... $2 with a canned good.

Email me for more info...YAY! I love life and life loves you too!
Next week I PROMISE I'll update all about October and my travels this month.

Today is my mom's birthday.
I love her most of all.

Hello, traveling fall

Well, here I go again.

THIS FRIDAY is the last Hoop So Fly class at Downtown Dance for a little while, I'm going on an extended break while I travel a bit.

Tuesday September 29 I'll be performing a feature set of poetry at Will's Pub in Orlando (heads up UCF-ers, although it is probably more polite to call y'all 'Knights,' right? I didn't forget you Full Sailors!)
The info:
Casandra features at Backroom Words
9:00PM, Will’s Pub
1040 N. Mills Avenue
Phone: 407-898-5070

Then I'll head up to Gainesville for a few days of following my favorite dub band around (wow, it's like college! Only with less car accidents!)... Dubconscious!!! They play The Social in Orlando, Thursday, Freebird Live in Jax on Friday and the Farm to Family show in Gainesville on Saturday!!! YAY!!! By the way, did you know Gainesville has a 24 hour vegan ice cream and coffee shop?!?!

Then back home. POETRY SLAM AT DADA, TUESDAY OCT 6! HBO Def Poet (and my favorite Filipino dish!) ASIA features, plus a $100 cash prize for first place.

THEN BACK ON THE ROAD... headed up to Washington DC for the Mind Life Institute Conference: Educating 21st Century Citizens. THANKS TO ALL who voted in the poll, but no matter how many times you voted for me to hit IWPS (STEVE M.!) my heart pulled me to Washington. This might be the last time I miss IWPS, and it's a killer one to miss (SIGH, THE BAY AREA IS GOING TO THROW ONE GRAND EVENT- LOVE TO YOU ALL!), but I have to make the personal discoveries in education right now.

I'm kicking around the decision of whether or not to go to the LEAF festival in Black Mountain, NC the following weekend- it might just be TOO LONG to stay away, and LEAF may have to wait another year. Either way, I'll be visiting Dawn (I HOPE), Daniel and Melissa in Durham, HOPEFULLY Terisa in Charlottesville, VA, and likely doing a bit of hooping as I go.

WHEN I GET BACK--- HOOP SO FLY classes will pick up at Downtown Dance in Lake Worth in November! I'll be performing a few times at the end of October in Lake Worth for a Downtown Dance showcase and for Halloween, and I'm looking for the perfect place to start teaching HoopDance in Hollywood and Miami- contact me if you've got any ideas.

MEANWHILE- The Lake Worth Unschoolers, Rise Out Loud (teen poetry workshops at the West Palm Beach Library) and the Florida Poetry Events Blog are about to go PUBLIC. Lots of fun stuff on deck for the fall.


HEY! Did you even know it's FALL?!? Take a walk and tell me what you see!

And now, some fun pics from my last jaunt to SRQ, ST PETE, TAMPA & ORLANDO...

IWPS or Educating World Citizens for the 21st Century Conference?

People, I need help.

I know, some of you do NOT regard this as 'news'. :)

I am deciding whether or not I should attend either IWPS or Educating World Citizens for the 21st Century. Both are happening October 8-10. On opposite sides of the country. Both have a lot of prods on THEIR side, the only real CON is cost... and having to CHOOSE!

IWPS, or the Individual World Poetry Slam:
* in the Bay Area.
* specifically in Berkeley
* sure to be one of the BEST COORDINATED AND RUN events in a LOOOONG time
* chance to do outreach in Bay Area schools
* chance to mc? depends on who the tournament director is... and how many other mc's are a foot
* lots of friends
* incredible poetry
* opportunity to come early/stay late for Bay Area fun (HOOPING!!!!)
* airline tickets are hovering around $220
* can probably share a room with a poet or two to cut cost



Educating World Citizens for the 21st Century
* in Washington DC
* can fly and not disrupt Rise Out Loud schedule (workshops at WPB library)
* can drive and VISIT LOTS OF FRIENDS ON THE WAY
* HH the Dalai Lama. Really.
* chance to converge and network with education depts are major universities
* awesome panel discussions
* possible hooping fun in area
* can probably stay with a friend or share a room
* chance to connect/work with Lisa Pegram- DC area youth poetry activist/teacher
* chance to visit with fun Naropa folk


SO... which do I choose?
HELP!

Current Events- Poetry Slam, HoopDance Classes, LW Unschoolers, Rise Out Loud!

So, August has been busy and full of awesome-cake!

(The National Poetry Slam, held a week and a half ago RIGHT HERE in WEST PALM BEACH, totally monopolized my life for the end of July and most of August so far... if you missed it, well... you missed it!)

Yesterday was the icing on the awesome-cake: the 2009 National Poetry Slam MADE THE HUFFINGTON POST!!!

Read and enjoy the video from the Huffington Post here: "Top Performers from the 2009 National Poetry Slam"

Also, there has been a TON of press on NPS 2009 and other ongoing poetry events locally... to get a taste, visit: National Poetry Slam 2009 – Press

There have been a number of NPS Top Ten lists published on blogs and Facebook in the last few weeks. Here's mine:

Ok, even I have a top ten list... and I missed most of Nationals!

10. Hula hoop war in the courtyard. Surprisingly, I did not win.
9. After party DJs Jive Poetic and Greg
8. Workers' struggle poems in finals, particularly from ABQ
7. Pre NPS slumber party/penne party in my kitchen with Dez and Erin
6. Post NPS slumber party
5. Cipher outside the Lounge on Wednesday night
4. Emily's and Tiffany's faces under the tent: entranced by poetry at NUPIC
3. Kevin McCamery (spelling?) sneaking a tequila bottle into finals
2. Devils horns and angel's halos for volunteers- thanks Winnie!
1. My mom's surprise appearance, and her continuous insistence during finals: "I want to hear something funny."

BONUS- OFF THE CHARTS: DECATHALON SLAM!!! A true triumph for humankind!

So... in the shake out after Nationals (AND NUPIC, or what I'm calling 'Undies' which was well worth most of the work I did during the week just to watch and enjoy!...
check one of my fav performances here, from Joshua Bennett).....
WELL:
I'm now, again, fully involved in the "poetry scene"..."Reunited, and it feels so good!"

If only I could find time to WRITE! :)

Oh, I'm writing THIS. Hmmm....

The Poets Anonymous Poetry Slam at DADA in Delray Beach is BACK! First Tuesdays of the month: $100 cash prize for first place! Upcoming slam features AMY STEINBERG- Sept 1! Next slam, Oct. 6: HBO Def Poet ASIA!




In other news... THE HOOP SO FLY SITE IS LIVE!
Hoopdance for Beginners starts Friday August 28 at Downtown Dance in Lake Worth (in the former Klein Dance building: 811 Lake Ave).


Getting together with the Lake Worth Unschoolers this week- pool party on Wednesday! Exciting developments with that... but that news will have to wait a bit. :)

And Rise Out Loud! Youth writing and performance workshops at the West Palm Beach Public Library on Clematis Street (the new building! Oooo... ahhhhh...). Starting Saturday September 12, 1:30 pm.

PG Slam, at the National Poetry Slam

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PG Slam: a PG Poetry Competition Judged by Teens
Noon, Saturday, August 8, 2009
West Palm Beach Library Auditorium, 411 Clematis St.

The 2009 National Poetry Slam in West Palm Beach, FL is proud to present this educational tool and family event featuring:

Simone Beaubien: Renowned poet, host and SlamMaster of the Boston Poetry Slam at Cantab Lounge. Coach of the Boston Poetry Slam team, finalists in 2008!

Blair: HBO Def Poetry Jam Website Featured Performer and National Poetry Slam Champion-Team Detroit.

Taylor Mali: 4-time National Poetry Slam Champion, 3-time HBO Def Poet, teacher and teacher recruiter!

Sonya Renee: National Poetry Slam Champion, International Poetry Slam Championship runner-up, Four Continents European National Slam Champion, and HBO Def Poet.

Lizz Straight: host of “Poetry Is” on 88.5 WMNF radio in Tampa and streaming online, Southern Fried Poetry Slam Champion, and Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival Champion.

Scott Woods: President of Poetry Slam, Inc. Host and SlamMaster of Writer’s Block Poetry Night, Columbus, OH, and the first poet to ever successfully accomplish a 24 hour solo poetry reading!

Zork: National Poetry Slam poet, ZorkSlams youth poetry spotlight series creator, SlamMaster for Wetschester County, NY., and author of Stolen Snapshots


Vibrant slam veteran and forensics teacher Deb Marsh hosts this all ages event that celebrates poetry as an inspiration and transformative influence for kids, and provides teachers an opportunity to incorporate performance poetry and poetry slam in their traditional reading and writing curriculum. The invitational competition will be held on the final day of the National Poetry Slam in West Palm Beach, FL, and feature the voices of some of the most inspiring poets of the new millennium.

The PG Slam competition is a traditional one or two round slam for 7 internationally- recognized poets. Each poet will come prepared with two original pieces, appropriate for middle or high school (either as is or self-edited for the purpose). Kids age 10 to 15 will be chosen from the audience to judge the slam.

The PG Slam Competition is the second project in a series of age-appropriate events and DVDs featuring the work of slam legends and rising stars who have exceptional appeal and powerful messages for children in high school and junior high. This year’s event, part of the 2009 National Poetry Slam in downtown West Palm Beach, is organized by Laura Vookles/LV--mother, assistant slam master of the White Plains slam and a two-time competitor in national events; Casandra Tanenbaum, high school teacher, dynamic south Florida poet and poetry organizer, and Eric ZORK Alan, a multiple times National Slam competitor & White Plains Slam Master.

We believe that all participants and spectators will understand that the underlying premise of the PG Slam is not about censorship but about wanting to bring slam poetry to more young people and realizing that there is a “time and place” component to performing art for children. This lively event will be well attended and enjoyed by fans of all ages.

“Slam Poetry” and Performance poetry techniques for writing and performance encourage students to step outside their shells, learn to respect both the literary and dramatic value of the written and spoken word and then to use this knowledge to start to express themselves both on the page and the stage. The tools used with slam poetry do far more than just help students pen and then perform original poetry, the skill sets of self examination, self expression, crafting prose and then learning to properly present those ideas will help a student throughout their primary and secondary education, and later in their careers as adults!

For more information, contact: Casandra Tanenbaum (561-704-0054, hypertextual@yahoo.com), “LV” Laura Vookles (914-500-8558, llv1mini@mac.com) and visit www.nps2009.com

NPS 2009 in WPB!!! AUGUST 4-8!

This is an all call.

The largest spoken word event in the world is landing on Clematis Street in August. PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD!

For those of you who know how important poetry slam is to me, but have never been to one: this is the BIGGEST, BADDEST, BEST, BOMBASTIC, BRILLIANT slam to ever visit our little region! WHAT A KILLER TIME TO CHECK ONE OUT! Preliminary competition begins Tuesday night August 4 and continues Wednesday and Thursday. AND THERE ARE EARLY BOUTS- you can enjoy the event AND get to bed at a reasonable hour (unlike the slam at Dada!). Teams from as far away as Hawaii and France will be lighting the street on fire with hot lyrics, battling for a spot on the finals stage.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE EVENTS and VENUES, visit: www.nationalpoetryslam.com or www.nps2009.com

This is the 20th anniversary of the National Poetry Slam. It will be amazing. You will want to have been there.

TRUST ME ON THIS.

IF you want to help promote, particularly in the far flung regions of our county (south county, Wellington, Belle Glade, north county) PLEASE CONTACT ME. I can get you all the fliers and posters you can possible handle, and I'd love to get you involved.

IF you want to volunteer during the event, use the volunteer link at www.nps2009.com... the form will come to me, and I'll send you a form letter back so we can get critical information for placing you at a volunteer post. EVEN IF YOU CAN ONLY VOLUNTEER ONE NIGHT, it's worth it (and you'll get in to that night's event for free!)

Finals night is at the West Palm Beach Convention Center.
There are late night and day events (specialty readings, vendors, etc) as well- these are ALWAYS super fun.

TEACHERS: The National Poetry Slam is putting together a special presentation just for you! Want to bring poetry slam into your classroom? Learn from the pros! The 'PG' Slam on Saturday at the West Palm Beach library is designed to give you a workable tool kit for integrating this innovative literary and performance work in your curriculum! OH, and its a FREE event!

LOVE, and MORE POETRY PLEASE!

Masters of Contemplative Education summer intensive @ Naropa

This may be the only time I feel really comfortable about describing my experience here during my first of 2 summer retreats at Naropa's Masters of Contemplative Education program. I am IN it (we still have more than one week left) and today is a Day of Contemplation... one way I enjoy contemplation is through writing (duh) so, here it is.

I chose this program for its emphasis on integrating mindfulness in the lives of teachers. I was looking at a number of different graduate programs (teaching social justice in Pittsburgh, Ed Leadership, Curriculum, Interdisciplinary, etc) but I was really drawn, intuitively, to apply to this program. I came to visit the campus in February, and felt really drawn to the energy of the community. After the interview, I felt a total sense of trust in the department, and that is something I've never experienced in a university setting. EVER.

So, I arrived and met my roommates, Elizabeth and 'domestic' Amy (we have two Amys in our cohort: one is domestic, one is imported) and then tried to meet everyone else. The first few days is meet and greet, easing into the routine of regular sitting meditation practice, and thesis presentations. After that, the 'third years' graduated and our real work began.

There are three classes we take, every day: Presence in Teaching, Contemplative Teacher, and Community Practice Seminar. We also have 45 minutes of meditation in the morning and 45 in the evening. We share lunches, tea time, and dinner. Our day begins with morning meditation (which was just shifted from 7:45 am to 8:00 am) and then classes. CPS ends our day (used to end at 8:30, now ends at 8:00pm... 12 hour day, yay!).

An excerpt from one of my reflection papers:
"Walking into Presence class each day is a bit of a task. I consult the syllabus, only to discover it is “only for visioning purposes” and “should not be considered a reliable reference (Worley, 2009).” Still, I settle into the ‘recommended’ reading, imagine that something from it will ease me into the unknown that awaits, and then cross the threshold returning to Shambhala hall. The class assembles, and then we discover our awareness of the vastness of universal space; we throw our weight around, and zombie walk through sensation and location. So much disruption, every day, can be stupefying. Presence class delivers a direct embodiment of contemplation: our own experiential guarantee that understanding occurs in the physical, sensitive, livable, lovable world, experienced by a physical, sensitive, livable, lovable body, in community with other such bodies. This is quite far from my “intellectual” expectations of the limits of contemplative practice!"

We have been encouraged to stretch ourselves here more completely than in any other context I've every experienced. IT IS AMAZING.

And, it transforms into a distance learning program when we leave on June 18.

All right, I must be off. This day is MY day, and I've got to do some living in it before it's gone!

Hoop Path Retreat 2009 Carrboro, NC

Well, we loaded up Big Momma (the Jeep) with the Hoola Monsters and headed out of St Pete early Thursday morning after a rocking good sleepover party. Unfortunately, the party didn't include a lot of ACTUAL SLEEPING, so we began with sleep deprivation, and that pretty much ruled the whole trip, at least for me!

We got into town and headed for the host camp site where the Hoola Monsters were staying: Camp Water. It was LOVELY- and its loveliness even inspired ME to want to camp there! But I had OTHER plans... Melissa Norton graciously hosted me for the weekend, which was AWESOME and just like being at home!

After setting up camp we scooted to the opening reception/potluck, hoopjam and Flowcase! I had contacted Ann earlier to get on the list for the Flowcase, and I was SO EXCITED to perform just after ANOTHER POET! Lori's poem about the body as a luscious sacred vessel was a beautiful kick-off, and I felt a little bad about shifting gears by performing Life of the Party just after her. BUT I had to introduce myself, so... :) AFTER US- it was all hooping & bellydance! STELLAR performances by "HoopGirl" Christabel, Spiral, Miss Rosie and Adrian (from NY! only her SECOND hoop performance EVER!!! YOU ROCK!) and some lovely VERY INTRICATE bellydance from Anastasia! Then, HOOPING ON THE FARM TO A KICK ASS PLAYLIST!!! I fell in love with some great music during the retreat, but the BEST was ON THAT FARM!

Day one was orientation, welcome, organization of mini-tribes (to present some ritual during the fire ceremony) and the first workshop. That night, we rested (yeah, right. Ha ha ha).

Day two was more workshop and the fire ceremony at night. The fire ceremony included a kava ritual (YAY! KAVA!!!! I'm going to bring up the GOOOOOOD STUFF next year!) and hooping and group rituals, and ceremonial burning and then more hooping! We also received our rings for the retreat: each member gets a brass ring, a little bigger than the year before, with grip tape! We were visited by a BEAUTIFUL big black snack, too!

Day three was the last workshop (HOOP CHURCH!) and the Hoopers' Ball. After an intense, dynamic, inspiring and transformative (SERIOUSLY) workshop with Baxter and Ann we all split up and then came back to Camp Water to PACK UP THE GEAR and GET READY FOR THE BALL! It's a real treat to tear down a campsite in fishnets and tutus!

Enjoy! More photos on Flickr soon...

Thank you, thank you...

I WANT TO DEEPLY THANK ALL WHO HAVE COME TO PARTICIPATE IN 'POSTCARDS FROM THE EDUCATION REVOLUTION' AND THOSE WHO HAVE KINDLY TOLERATED MY QUESTIONS AND COMMENTARY ON EDUCATION. This is my life's work, thank you for being a part of it!

So now that I'm home...
I'm not stopping.

As if the list at the bottom of the last post was not enough, I decided to take on two conferences/retreats before I begin my graduate school residency.

The first was the Florida African Dance Festival. WOW.
WOW.
This was one of the most BEAUTIFUL events I've ever participated in. Seriously. It makes my eyes moist to just think about it. The dancing, the drumming, the teaching, the learning. THE COMMUNITY. I thought I knew SO MUCH about community before this event. I was fooling myself! The people who participated in this festival, and those who put it on, are part of a huge network of dancers, drummers and aficionados of African Dance- and MAN do they ALL LOVE ONE ANOTHER. There was SO MUCH LOVE at this festival! Three main styles of dance were taught: Sabar (Senegal), Bougarabou (Senegal) and Djembe (Guinea). The Festival consisted of two VERY FULL days of dance and drum workshops, a performance and some parties. Vendors selling drums, outfits, jewelry, awesome t-shirts (like: "Sorry I Stole Your Drummer", and "Just Play for My Solo," and "Real Men MARRY African Dancers" !) set up booths during the workshop days. All told, there were 10 dance workshops (5 each day) with 5 master instructors (each taught once a day). AND YES: some people really did take EVERY workshop. AMAZING. Veronica and I took only 5 (well, I took 4.5: halfway through the last workshop on the last day I felt too tired to dance well, and could only dance sloppily. I said THAT'S IT! After all, it was disrespectful to the teacher to dance so sloppily.) and we were WRECKED- so tired we could barely speak. Days later, I'm struggling to remember all the moves and the different dances- time to get BACK IN PRACTICE!!!

The next big thing is the Hoop Path Retreat in Carrboro, NC. I'm staying the night in St Pete to drive a myself and a carload of HoolaMonsters up to NC tomorrow for 4 glorious days and nights of HOOPLOVE!

MORE SOON... THEN GRAD SCHOOL AT NAROPA!!!! AHH!!!

Home sweet home

I haven't posted in about 3 months.
But I've thought about how to do THIS post all that time. Having come to no definitive conclusion as to 'strategy' I'm just going to wing it. Here goes...

Leaving San Francisco (in early March), my homesickness had turned into a full blown cold. As I began the three-day intensive HoopGirl Level 3 Teacher Training, I was sniffling and slightly worn down. Bummer. I still relished the training, but with much less expressed enthusiasm than normal, even sitting out for a few of the teaching practicums to save my strength for my own.

Here are a couple of photos from the training... we spent half the time working with Zoom hoops, which are small and not intended for body hooping! Thanks to ScottKPhotography for these!






I had a fantastic time, learned a lot, and am so grateful to be part of the teaching community established through Christabel "HoopGirl" Zamor's hard work and dedication to hoopdance and joy. Check out her latest project: Hooping (the book!) http://thehoopingbook.wordpress.com/

After sniffling in San Francisco I flew to sneezing in Portland. Some young friends of mine invited me to their apartment, and I even tried to sneak out of the invite because I knew I wasn't feeling 100% and I didn't want to inflict myself on them. Little did we all know...

After a week of enjoying the sights (THANKS SKY, CODY, REBEKAH AND LAUREN! AND THANKS for the heads up on the slam, Anis!) and visiting The Village Free School (a really great school... one of my two favorites while traveling) I became VERY VERY ill: fever, chills, cough, bloodshot eyes, and without voice... IT WAS THE FLUUUUUU! Luckily it was before the swine flu scare, but it was a REALLY AWFUL instant sickness. And Portland did not help- the air there was too cold and wet for me to feel comfy. After a terrible sleepless week I booked a ticket to Orlando, rented a car and drove to my mom's house in Gainesville... where I slept for a week. After one more week helping out around my mom's house and hanging out with my good friend Veronica and her awesome child Naim, I packed up once more to head back down south. HOME....

Settling in took a little while. I'm living at my mom's old house in Boynton Beach (though the mailing address is Lake Worth... weird.) with my friend Steve. Another roommate just moved in: Andrew the accupuncturist! We call this place the Make Worth house, and since returning I've been hard at work making worthwhile things:
The Slam at Dada
Helping with the National Poetry Slam (West Palm Beach this August)
The SAFE Slam @ NPS (a slam training for teachers)
Postcards from the Education Revolution
Lake Worth Unschooling group
Florida Native Plants book
Native Offerings III invite
Rise Out Loud Workshops at the WPB Library (starting in August)
AND>>>>>
STARTING MY HOOPDANCE BUSINESS!!!!

Check out my website: www.hoopsofly.com!
Classes will begin at Downtown Dance in Lake Worth (formerly Klein Dance) when I return from my graduate school residency at Naropa in July! Look out Lake Worth... the hoopers are COMING!!!

Colorado and San Francisco- February

Yeah so I'm going to try to encapsulate an entire month of traveling in this post.
Supposedly!

In January we successfully moved my mom into a new house in Gainesville! YAY! Mom has a real home and it is beautiful and the dogs love it, too. I made it down to Lake Worth for a couple yummy days before heading back to Gainesville to prepare for the last, long leg of my trip: a west coast swing, with a stop in New England and then HOME in April/May!!!

In early February I headed out to Colorado... I had a list of schools to visit, and awesome friends to stay with. I also planned an admissions interview at Naropa, for the Masters of Contemplative Education program I applied to in January. Elizabeth (my first host) and Anne (another host) had a few activities planned for my trip as well!

I'd always wanted to visit Colorado, particularly the Celestial Seasonings Tea Factory in Boulder... in fact, I had requested such a trip for my graduation gift in high school, to no avail. I knew this trip held the promise of a factory tour and trip to the tea tasting room, and I WAS ECSTATIC. Seriously, the place is next to heaven, as far as I'm concerned... if I lived in Boulder, I'd visit nearly every day. During this trip, I went three days in a row!



For most of the trip I stayed with Elizabeth Baker, a friend I met during IDEC in Vancouver (August), who runs the Patchwork School in Lousiville ("Lewis-ville" NOT LOUIE-Ville!) CO.

Fun times at the Patchwork School:





Elizabeth has become one of my closest friends, and I am SO SO SO SO GRATEFUL for her, and for all the hard work she and Michelle have put into the Patchwork School community. The space is beautiful, the students are supported and free. It's a great gift to the area, and I am growing to consider it like a second home! Seriously.

Colorado is breath-takingly, painfully BEAUTIFUL. I drove through Rocky Mountain National Park on my way to visit Eagle Rock School in Estes Park:





The Eagle Rock School is a whole blog post in and of itself, as was my visit to the Living School (Boulder), so I'll save those stories for next time... last February I applied for a Public Allies fellowship at Eagle Rock, and was denied, and I'm SO GLAD for this: after a year at Eagle Rock, I'd have been spoiled of teaching! The digs are SO LUSH... anyway...

SO THEN I went to Naropa University: to check out the campus myself, and let the faculty and admissions staff check ME out as an applicant for the Masters of Contemplative Education program. I took a tour, did two interviews, met some students/alums... and FELL IN LOVE.

The oldest sycamore tree west of the Mississippi? It sure is beautiful...



Students raiding the 'free box' (its more like a FREE CLOSET!)


Meditation space


When I left the campus, I felt an overwhelming sense of faith in the program and trust in the integrity of everyone involved. A few days later, I received a call that I had been accepted, so (YAY!) I will begin the program in June.... YIPPEE!!!! I am so excited, and so grateful, and so blissed out over this. Not only will I be studying contemplative education from the leading edge practitioners and scholars in this field, but I will be returning to a community that I quickly grew to love...Elizabeth's friends in Boulder welcomed me in a way I've rarely experienced outside my own community in Lake Worth, and I LOVE THEM ALL!!!

One element of our interaction was a series of February Fun activities, including play in the park (see the facebook photo set from Elizabeth!), film night at CU, and an open mic that Eric (love you) invited me to at someone's house!

WHICH WAS MAGICAL, by the way... I met someone there who shares an old friend (TERISA SHOUMATE!) with me, and we cried together in happiness at the synchronicity of our encounter.

I spent one night in Denver, and went to a big show downtown... then I spent a night in Golden at Anne's... I met Anne during the Level 2 HoopGirl Teacher Training... we went SHOPPING for awesome dance pants at Paprika, toured the Coors brewery (yep, free beer. on a Monday afternoon.) and then got ready for some hooping! For fun, Anne planned a little photo shoot, before her beginner hoopdance class at Mercury Cafe, with help from her AWESOME assistant (whose name I forgot, but she's awesome):






By the time I left Colorado, I knew: I wanted to return, and I had a reason to return. It was a hard exit, though- I truly did not want to leave... remembering the excitement that lay ahead for me in San Francisco was the only way I was able to leave with a smile on my face.

I landed at SFO and made my way to the Tenderloin. Yep, THE Tenderloin, about which Dave Chappelle famously noted: "There is NOTHING tender about that place!" The SF City Center Hostel was my again destination for a week and a half long stay...at least I know how to get around from there!

My first order of business was to stop by the Youth Speaks office and clear a karma loop: I volunteered for a day, and that was that. Glad I could be of service for them, I have a tremendous respect for the work they do.

THE NEXT DAY was the 826 National 101 Workshop, hosted by 826 Valenica in the Mission, aka The Pirate Store!

The workshop was INCREDIBLE- the organizers packed a three day training into one day: we worked THROUGH lunch, and took maybe two 10 minute breaks during the whole day! We covered: the mission and vision of the organization, different elements of their programming (including an immerssive field trip experience), the FUNction of the store (and someone was summarily mopped!), interviews with a panel of volunteers, what the 826 model CAN mean for public education, funding and fundraising, non-profit startup stories and advice... it was HUGE. Pages and PAGES of notes! AND two other attendees are starting a similar organization in Lake Worth!!!! Keep your eyes out for Blue Planet Adventures!

Some pics of the National 101:









Yummy breakfast. Yum.







And after the workshop... we drink! Or, at least, staff and interns drink!





Yeah. Word!

I had a bit of time in between the National 101 and the HoopGirl Level 3 Teacher Training, and spent it either running to dance and yoga classes in the city (THERE ARE SO MANY! Yippee!), volunteering at 826 Valencia, or spending time with some new friends...



check out my San Fran friend Steve's blog: FLUXLIFE... I'm adding to the roll on the right. He's a pretty great writer, and there is interesting commentary awaiting you there!

Finally, there was HoopGirl Level 3 Teacher Training... but it will have to wait for a later post... with love from the fog!