On the Sunday of Thanksgiving, I had the pleasure of seeing Rosie Thomas in concert yet again. She came to World Cafe Live in Philadelphia to kick off her tour for her Christmas CD. I gave the evening and her CD a perfect 10. Rosie has such a unique voice and always puts on a great show. I think even people who have never heard of her will always enjoy a show she puts on. Here are some pictures of the evening. In the very last picture, you will see myself, my friend Kim, Rosie Thomas' brother Brian, and my friends Mary and Suze. Last year when I saw Rosie in concert she came out after the concert and talked to people for a few and we got a picture with her. Well this year the concert was recorded by NPR and she was being interviewed backstage so we couldn't get another picture....therefore I settled for a picture with her brother. I figured that was close enough :)
Also you will notice in the first few pictures that Rosie is dressed rather...well...she is festive but she is also playing the part of her alter ego Sheila Shaputo. She basically plays this late 20s early 30s single woman who just can't seem to get her act together. It is hysterical and makes for a very funny comedy bit.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
West Catholic Football
Well I have been delaying reporting on this all week because I was trying to find footage online with some recap of the game or the visit to our school that all the news stations made but I haven't been able to find it....so this is an article fro the Daily News here in Philadelphia about the game. As you can see, we didn't win. It was actually pretty heart wrenching and many would say we had multiple chances to win throughout the game and we just couldn't capitilze. There are some links to other articles at the bottom so feel free to read. We are immensely proud of the football players here. Tough way to end the season but what an experience the last 4 or so months. There are also some pictures of the game on the Inquirer Website. You can see them here:
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/gallery/20081214_PIAA_Class_AA__Wilmington_35__West_Catholic_34.html
PIAA Class AA: Wilmington 35, West Catholic 34
By Rick O'Brien
Inquirer Staff Writer
HERSHEY, Pa. – In one of the most exciting PIAA state football championship games in memory, underdog Wilmington upset West Catholic, 35-34, in double overtime in the Class AA final yesterday at HersheyPark Stadium.
After a 2-yard touchdown run by Raymond Maples in the second OT answered a Wilmington score, Burrs coach Brian Fluck elected to go for two points and the victory. On a left-side conversion run, quarterback Curtis Drake was tripped up and hit the turf 1 yard shy of the end zone.
"We have athletes out there," Fluck said, explaining his decision to go for the victory. "We thought we could go in from the 3-yard line. We fell just that much short."
Wilmington, a District 10 school located in New Wilmington, about 60 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, won its first state championship. In 1988, the Greyhounds advanced to the final before losing to Bethlehem Catholic, 26-11.
"It wasn't something that I wanted too bad, that's not it at all," Terry Verrelli, Wilmington's 30-year coach, said. "I don't coach just to win a state championship, but it's just a tremendous reward for me that these kids could come through like that and win that game. I'm just amazed."
At least two other times, West Catholic, so dominant all season, was a play away from clinching the crown and bringing the championship trophy home to 45th and Chestnut Streets.
In the first overtime, after Maples scored on a 5-yard run and the Burrs went ahead by 28-21, the Greyhounds (15-1) faced a fourth-and-goal situation from the 16.
Somehow, QB Shane Wagner, zigzagging from left to right, found his way to the end zone. He escaped at least four would-be tacklers on the incredible scramble.
"I rolled out left, there was nobody open, so I decided to run," Wagner said. "It felt like the play was happening in slow motion. When I was at about the 5, I just held up a bit and waited for their last defender to commit."
Another heartbreaking moment for the Catholic League and city champions came with just a little over a minute left in regulation. After driving 78 yards on 11 plays, they were faced with a fourth-and-goal from the 1.
Fluck rolled the dice and opted to go for the TD instead of sending Tim Carroll onto the field for a try at a game-winning field goal of 18 yards. That decision backfired. Drake, on a keeper over left tackle, was stopped short of the goal line.
"You don't know what's going to happen there," Fluck said. "You're at the 1-yard line. Put it in [Drake's] hands and see if he gets it done."
Electrifying all season on offense, West Catholic (14-2) came in averaging nearly 50 points per game. Yesterday, after taking a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter, it looked as if the Burrs were going to bring home District 12's first state football championship.
But Wilmington fought back with a pair of third-quarter scores to forge a tie. The second, a 1-yard plunge by fullback Derrick Burns, followed an interception and 25-yard return that set the Greyhounds up just 12 yards shy of paydirt.
"In the second half, we came out and we got it done," Verrelli said. "We moved the ball, used the clock, scored. I don't know what else to say."
West Catholic regained the lead on the first play of the fourth quarter, a 5-yard burst by Rob Hollomon. But Wilmington answered with a 12-play, 82-yard scoring drive to make it a 21-21 contest.
Wilmington 0 0 14 7 7 7 - 35
West Catholic 7 7 0 7 7 6 - 34
WC: Maples 28 run (Carroll kick)
WC: Drake 29 run (Carroll kick)
W: Wagner 11 run (Wilson kick)
W: Burns 1 run (Wilson kick)
WC: Hollomon 5 run (Carroll kick)
W: DeMedal 1 run (Wilson kick)
WC: Maples 5 run (Carroll kick)
W: Wagner 16 run (Wilson kick)
W: Burns 1 run (Wilson kick)
WC: Maples 2 run (run failed)
Some other articles:
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20081215_High_Schools_-_West_Catholic_s_season_ends_with_disappointing_double-overtime_loss_to_Wilmington.html
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/high_school/36121314.html
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/gallery/20081214_PIAA_Class_AA__Wilmington_35__West_Catholic_34.html
PIAA Class AA: Wilmington 35, West Catholic 34
By Rick O'Brien
Inquirer Staff Writer
HERSHEY, Pa. – In one of the most exciting PIAA state football championship games in memory, underdog Wilmington upset West Catholic, 35-34, in double overtime in the Class AA final yesterday at HersheyPark Stadium.
After a 2-yard touchdown run by Raymond Maples in the second OT answered a Wilmington score, Burrs coach Brian Fluck elected to go for two points and the victory. On a left-side conversion run, quarterback Curtis Drake was tripped up and hit the turf 1 yard shy of the end zone.
"We have athletes out there," Fluck said, explaining his decision to go for the victory. "We thought we could go in from the 3-yard line. We fell just that much short."
Wilmington, a District 10 school located in New Wilmington, about 60 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, won its first state championship. In 1988, the Greyhounds advanced to the final before losing to Bethlehem Catholic, 26-11.
"It wasn't something that I wanted too bad, that's not it at all," Terry Verrelli, Wilmington's 30-year coach, said. "I don't coach just to win a state championship, but it's just a tremendous reward for me that these kids could come through like that and win that game. I'm just amazed."
At least two other times, West Catholic, so dominant all season, was a play away from clinching the crown and bringing the championship trophy home to 45th and Chestnut Streets.
In the first overtime, after Maples scored on a 5-yard run and the Burrs went ahead by 28-21, the Greyhounds (15-1) faced a fourth-and-goal situation from the 16.
Somehow, QB Shane Wagner, zigzagging from left to right, found his way to the end zone. He escaped at least four would-be tacklers on the incredible scramble.
"I rolled out left, there was nobody open, so I decided to run," Wagner said. "It felt like the play was happening in slow motion. When I was at about the 5, I just held up a bit and waited for their last defender to commit."
Another heartbreaking moment for the Catholic League and city champions came with just a little over a minute left in regulation. After driving 78 yards on 11 plays, they were faced with a fourth-and-goal from the 1.
Fluck rolled the dice and opted to go for the TD instead of sending Tim Carroll onto the field for a try at a game-winning field goal of 18 yards. That decision backfired. Drake, on a keeper over left tackle, was stopped short of the goal line.
"You don't know what's going to happen there," Fluck said. "You're at the 1-yard line. Put it in [Drake's] hands and see if he gets it done."
Electrifying all season on offense, West Catholic (14-2) came in averaging nearly 50 points per game. Yesterday, after taking a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter, it looked as if the Burrs were going to bring home District 12's first state football championship.
But Wilmington fought back with a pair of third-quarter scores to forge a tie. The second, a 1-yard plunge by fullback Derrick Burns, followed an interception and 25-yard return that set the Greyhounds up just 12 yards shy of paydirt.
"In the second half, we came out and we got it done," Verrelli said. "We moved the ball, used the clock, scored. I don't know what else to say."
West Catholic regained the lead on the first play of the fourth quarter, a 5-yard burst by Rob Hollomon. But Wilmington answered with a 12-play, 82-yard scoring drive to make it a 21-21 contest.
Wilmington 0 0 14 7 7 7 - 35
West Catholic 7 7 0 7 7 6 - 34
WC: Maples 28 run (Carroll kick)
WC: Drake 29 run (Carroll kick)
W: Wagner 11 run (Wilson kick)
W: Burns 1 run (Wilson kick)
WC: Hollomon 5 run (Carroll kick)
W: DeMedal 1 run (Wilson kick)
WC: Maples 5 run (Carroll kick)
W: Wagner 16 run (Wilson kick)
W: Burns 1 run (Wilson kick)
WC: Maples 2 run (run failed)
Some other articles:
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20081215_High_Schools_-_West_Catholic_s_season_ends_with_disappointing_double-overtime_loss_to_Wilmington.html
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/high_school/36121314.html
Friday, December 12, 2008
Qoute of the Day
Ultimately, we have just one moral duty: to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves, more and more peace, and to reflect it towards others. And the more peace there is in us, the more peace there will also be in our troubled world.
- Etty Hillesum,
died in Auschwitz in 1943 at the age of 29. From An Interrupted Life, a compilation of her diaries and letters.
- Etty Hillesum,
died in Auschwitz in 1943 at the age of 29. From An Interrupted Life, a compilation of her diaries and letters.
West Catholic Football Team
Somehow I have failed to mention that West Catholic is the Pennslyvania AA High School Football State Championship game on Saturday. It is a really big deal obviously and yet I have completely forgetten to post about it.
Today we had our pep rally at school and there were four news stations at school recording the assembly and interviewing the students. I am going to try and find the footage online tonight after the news and send some links so you can see my school and the students I work with at West Catholic. The game is on Saturday at 1pm and of course we are hoping for a win.
This game is especially important because this year is the first year West Catholic or any of the Catholic schools in Philadelphia for that matter can compete for a State Title in any sport. Before this year, there was a seperate Public League and Catholic League. The Public League teams have always been able to compete for the state championship but the Catholic League teams would just compete for City Titles and then be done....no state competition. I thought it was strange when I moved here but at the time the Catholic League and West Catholic were in the process of becoming part of the PIAA (high school sports association) so we could compete on a state level.
This is our first year as a part of the PIAA and as a result the first year we can compete for a state title...and wouldn't you know it we find ourselves in the state championship game. It is almost unreal and the students here are very excited.
Once I find the link to the news stories I will send them your way and maybe you will see me in the background of some of the shots...you never know.
Today we had our pep rally at school and there were four news stations at school recording the assembly and interviewing the students. I am going to try and find the footage online tonight after the news and send some links so you can see my school and the students I work with at West Catholic. The game is on Saturday at 1pm and of course we are hoping for a win.
This game is especially important because this year is the first year West Catholic or any of the Catholic schools in Philadelphia for that matter can compete for a State Title in any sport. Before this year, there was a seperate Public League and Catholic League. The Public League teams have always been able to compete for the state championship but the Catholic League teams would just compete for City Titles and then be done....no state competition. I thought it was strange when I moved here but at the time the Catholic League and West Catholic were in the process of becoming part of the PIAA (high school sports association) so we could compete on a state level.
This is our first year as a part of the PIAA and as a result the first year we can compete for a state title...and wouldn't you know it we find ourselves in the state championship game. It is almost unreal and the students here are very excited.
Once I find the link to the news stories I will send them your way and maybe you will see me in the background of some of the shots...you never know.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Thanksgiving Blessings
Well I finally had time to type up my story from this past Thankgiving. It is both funny and rediculous. You will be left asking yourself "Did that really happen?" Becuse I know I was.
I am not going to post it here for a couple reasons. First, it is incredibly long. Second, it isn't something I want to post in such a public internet space.
If you would like to know what happened, I will happily send you an email with the story attached. I warn you it is long but worth the read.
Just send me your request to my email address:
mari.anzicek@gmail.com
I will send you the story as soon as I am able.
I am not going to post it here for a couple reasons. First, it is incredibly long. Second, it isn't something I want to post in such a public internet space.
If you would like to know what happened, I will happily send you an email with the story attached. I warn you it is long but worth the read.
Just send me your request to my email address:
mari.anzicek@gmail.com
I will send you the story as soon as I am able.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Cool
I stole this blog post from my friend Curto.....so ifyou read her blog this is a repeat...if you don't take a look
Here is something you don't see everyday...forget the design shows with a budget of $500.... Try $10 and a Sharpie
See Room Here
Here is something you don't see everyday...forget the design shows with a budget of $500.... Try $10 and a Sharpie
See Room Here
Monday, December 8, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Quote
Lead me from death to life,
from falsehood to truth.
Lead me from despair to hope,
from fear to trust.
Lead me from hate to love,
from war to peace.
Let peace fill our hearts,
our world, our universe.
Peace, peace, peace.
- Satish Kumar
from falsehood to truth.
Lead me from despair to hope,
from fear to trust.
Lead me from hate to love,
from war to peace.
Let peace fill our hearts,
our world, our universe.
Peace, peace, peace.
- Satish Kumar
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
LVs Run Philly and Students Run Philly Style Recap
This post is a long time coming. I have been anticipating writing about what it was like running the Philadelphia Marathon with students from my school and now I know. We ran on Sunday, November 23rd and everyone finished. It was an incredible day. I wrote a long thank you letter to individuals who supported me and the LV program financially. I recognize not everyone has the ability to do that, but I still wanted to share my experience with you. The following is a bit long but definitely worth reading. I am also posting photos at the bottom of this so scroll down to see those. The LVs also posted information on the website with pictures from the weekend. Feel free to check those out as well. Here is the link
http://www.lasallianvolunteers.org/marathon/
Awesome. Incredible. Inspiring. I could add many more words to describe how I felt after the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday, November 23rd. It was a jam packed weekend that ended successfully with every Lasallian Volunteer and student runner from West Catholic finishing their individual race and seeing the LV program exceed our fundraising goal of $56,000. As of last count, we raised just over $64,000 and donations were still coming in. I am excited we exceeded our goal, but my greatest highlight of the weekend and probably one of my life is seeing each student from my school finish the half marathon and marathon.
Race weekend started on Friday with myself and two other running leaders from our team taking our students to the Marathon Expo. None of the students had ever been to an event like this and needless to say they were excited about all the vendors and of course free stuff. I am sure each student received more than their fair share of free Smart Start cereal samples, 5 minute massages, cookbooks, clif bars and many other things. After the Expo, we headed too West Philadelphia for the Students Run Pasta party. It was a pump up event of the race and of course an opportunity to “carbo-load” for the race on Sunday. We had to build up our reserves.
I headed home to a community already filling up with LVs, Brothers and friends from around the country preparing to also run the races in support of the Lasallian Volunteer program. I connected with old friends and enjoyed a houseful of excited first time and veteran runners.
Saturday was also incredibly busy with trips to drop runners off at the Expo, making final arrangements for the race on Sunday and preparing for our pre-race mass and dinner. The day flew by and before I knew it we were eating dinner with 130 supporters of the LV program and our runners. I did my best to get to bed early to be ready for the race, but failed miserably. I figured 4 hours of sleep was better than none.
I awoke at 4am, quickly put on my running clothes, ate breakfast and was out the door by 4:30am to pick up some of my students. Did I mention it was 25 degrees outside and 18 with wind-chill. It was a chilly day but nothing was going to stop me from seeing these students start and finish the race. We arrived at West Catholic at 5am to meet the Students Run Philly Style bus to take us to the race start. We met the other Students Run Philly Style teams at the Art Museum in Philadelphia and waited for the race to start. There were over 100 student runners that day preparing to run their first, second and for some their third marathon. I will always remember posing on the Art Museum steps that morning with the many students and running leaders anticipating the race start.
Students Run Philly Style has a customary cheer we do before every race. It is a call and response that goes like this:
Leader: Who are we?
Everyone: Students.
Leader: What do we do?
Everyone: Run.
Leader: How do we do it?
Everyone: Philly Style.
It sent chills down my spine that morning as we all screamed the cheer together. I realized how far my students have come from our first practice way back in March and our first race in April when they were introduced to the cheer. Nine months prior to Sunday it was difficult to get them to run just 1 mile and here I was with seven students getting ready to run 13.1 miles or 26.2 miles.
After the cheer and a picture on the Art Museum steps, we headed to the race start as a team. Melissa, another running leader, took our two half marathoners to their race start and myself, Gina and Adam took our four student marathoners to the marathon start. We waited in anticipation for the race start. Before we knew it, we made step number one of many that day. All of us stuck together for about 5 miles but slowly started separating as the race went on and individuals slowed down or settled into their pace. Gina and I ran the entire 26.2 miles with two students, Rafael and Tip. They were troopers and fought through cold, wind, sore muscles and even ice on the ground to push themselves to a 4:51:44 marathon finish.
Tip’s first words after finishing went something like this, “Wow...I have done something less than 1% of the US population has done.” He understood the magnitude of what he just accomplished and I was beaming with pride. Chris finished shortly after us at 5:18:34 and Haftom finished in 5:52:28. Our two girls finished the half marathon as well. Christina finished in 2:21:02 and Jamella finished in 2:25:28. I am pretty sure I teared up each time one of my students crossed the finish line but also when I saw any Students Run runner finish. It was incredible watching these students push through pain and being tired to finish something they set their mind to months ago.
I still don’t have words to fully capture how I felt watching each student, LV, Brother and random individual finish the marathon and half marathon on Sunday, November 23rd. I think running is incredibly inspiring no matter what distance someone is completing. This was my fourth marathon. It wasn’t my fastest but it was by far my favorite. My memories from that day will continue to live in me a long time….hopefully forever. I don’t want to forget the overwhelming pride I felt as I ran with each of my students and saw them accomplish something so incredible. More than that I am proud of the team they have become. They think of each other as a small family and only they really understand each other and what it meant to be a part of this nine month experience. I am already looking forward to March when we start again. Hopefully with all of the same students and new faces looking forward to starting their nine month journey to complete a marathon.
I wrote this story to give you a glimpse of what the marathon weekend was like and an idea of what an amazing cause you chose to support. I am humbled by your generosity and grateful for your support. Thank you for supporting the Lasallian Volunteers which in turn supports me and the 55 other volunteers I serve with throughout this country. Not every volunteer runs with their students, but we are each doing incredible work in our own way. My personal fundraising goal was $1000 and I was able to exceed that amount raising close to $2000. Thank you for helping me meet my goal and helping the Lasallian Volunteers exceed our fundraising goal. If you would like to hear more about Students Run Philly Style, the Lasallian Volunteers, my experience running with my students or anything else, please don’t hesitate to call or email me.
Peace,
Mari
http://www.lasallianvolunteers.org/marathon/
Awesome. Incredible. Inspiring. I could add many more words to describe how I felt after the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday, November 23rd. It was a jam packed weekend that ended successfully with every Lasallian Volunteer and student runner from West Catholic finishing their individual race and seeing the LV program exceed our fundraising goal of $56,000. As of last count, we raised just over $64,000 and donations were still coming in. I am excited we exceeded our goal, but my greatest highlight of the weekend and probably one of my life is seeing each student from my school finish the half marathon and marathon.
Race weekend started on Friday with myself and two other running leaders from our team taking our students to the Marathon Expo. None of the students had ever been to an event like this and needless to say they were excited about all the vendors and of course free stuff. I am sure each student received more than their fair share of free Smart Start cereal samples, 5 minute massages, cookbooks, clif bars and many other things. After the Expo, we headed too West Philadelphia for the Students Run Pasta party. It was a pump up event of the race and of course an opportunity to “carbo-load” for the race on Sunday. We had to build up our reserves.
I headed home to a community already filling up with LVs, Brothers and friends from around the country preparing to also run the races in support of the Lasallian Volunteer program. I connected with old friends and enjoyed a houseful of excited first time and veteran runners.
Saturday was also incredibly busy with trips to drop runners off at the Expo, making final arrangements for the race on Sunday and preparing for our pre-race mass and dinner. The day flew by and before I knew it we were eating dinner with 130 supporters of the LV program and our runners. I did my best to get to bed early to be ready for the race, but failed miserably. I figured 4 hours of sleep was better than none.
I awoke at 4am, quickly put on my running clothes, ate breakfast and was out the door by 4:30am to pick up some of my students. Did I mention it was 25 degrees outside and 18 with wind-chill. It was a chilly day but nothing was going to stop me from seeing these students start and finish the race. We arrived at West Catholic at 5am to meet the Students Run Philly Style bus to take us to the race start. We met the other Students Run Philly Style teams at the Art Museum in Philadelphia and waited for the race to start. There were over 100 student runners that day preparing to run their first, second and for some their third marathon. I will always remember posing on the Art Museum steps that morning with the many students and running leaders anticipating the race start.
Students Run Philly Style has a customary cheer we do before every race. It is a call and response that goes like this:
Leader: Who are we?
Everyone: Students.
Leader: What do we do?
Everyone: Run.
Leader: How do we do it?
Everyone: Philly Style.
It sent chills down my spine that morning as we all screamed the cheer together. I realized how far my students have come from our first practice way back in March and our first race in April when they were introduced to the cheer. Nine months prior to Sunday it was difficult to get them to run just 1 mile and here I was with seven students getting ready to run 13.1 miles or 26.2 miles.
After the cheer and a picture on the Art Museum steps, we headed to the race start as a team. Melissa, another running leader, took our two half marathoners to their race start and myself, Gina and Adam took our four student marathoners to the marathon start. We waited in anticipation for the race start. Before we knew it, we made step number one of many that day. All of us stuck together for about 5 miles but slowly started separating as the race went on and individuals slowed down or settled into their pace. Gina and I ran the entire 26.2 miles with two students, Rafael and Tip. They were troopers and fought through cold, wind, sore muscles and even ice on the ground to push themselves to a 4:51:44 marathon finish.
Tip’s first words after finishing went something like this, “Wow...I have done something less than 1% of the US population has done.” He understood the magnitude of what he just accomplished and I was beaming with pride. Chris finished shortly after us at 5:18:34 and Haftom finished in 5:52:28. Our two girls finished the half marathon as well. Christina finished in 2:21:02 and Jamella finished in 2:25:28. I am pretty sure I teared up each time one of my students crossed the finish line but also when I saw any Students Run runner finish. It was incredible watching these students push through pain and being tired to finish something they set their mind to months ago.
I still don’t have words to fully capture how I felt watching each student, LV, Brother and random individual finish the marathon and half marathon on Sunday, November 23rd. I think running is incredibly inspiring no matter what distance someone is completing. This was my fourth marathon. It wasn’t my fastest but it was by far my favorite. My memories from that day will continue to live in me a long time….hopefully forever. I don’t want to forget the overwhelming pride I felt as I ran with each of my students and saw them accomplish something so incredible. More than that I am proud of the team they have become. They think of each other as a small family and only they really understand each other and what it meant to be a part of this nine month experience. I am already looking forward to March when we start again. Hopefully with all of the same students and new faces looking forward to starting their nine month journey to complete a marathon.
I wrote this story to give you a glimpse of what the marathon weekend was like and an idea of what an amazing cause you chose to support. I am humbled by your generosity and grateful for your support. Thank you for supporting the Lasallian Volunteers which in turn supports me and the 55 other volunteers I serve with throughout this country. Not every volunteer runs with their students, but we are each doing incredible work in our own way. My personal fundraising goal was $1000 and I was able to exceed that amount raising close to $2000. Thank you for helping me meet my goal and helping the Lasallian Volunteers exceed our fundraising goal. If you would like to hear more about Students Run Philly Style, the Lasallian Volunteers, my experience running with my students or anything else, please don’t hesitate to call or email me.
Peace,
Mari
Monday, December 1, 2008
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