Queequeg Washes Ashore

As you all know, my personality is akin to a ray of sunshine.  I am a beam of positivity and sincerity.  In honor of this new era of "hope and change" (yeah I said it) I am going to try something different and list off things that really do bring me joy.  Some of these things are videos, some are people, some are just facts about my life.  They vary from old things to new and are in no particular order. This is by no means a pretentious list of things that you should like, it is pretty much a self indulging list of my favorite things.  Unlike Oprah, I can't offer you new cars or a trip to the baHAMAS!!!, but I can offer you a few youtube links, so here goes...

Dr. Don E. Corbin was a long time educator and administrator in the Antilles Consolidated Schools. He moved to Puerto Rico in 1963 and served as principal at several schools including Antilles Elementary School and Roosevelt Roads Schools before his retirement. He was born in Delta, OH in 1918. He attended school in Delta and at Riverside Military Academy and Culver Military Academy. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Toledo, his Master’s Degree from the University of New Mexico. He returned to school in his seventies to complete his doctorate at the Sarasota University. He was a veteran of the United States Navy. As a young man, he worked as a musician and for Delta Novelty Company before embarking on his career as an educator. He and his first wife, June Corbin, were teachers in a two room schoolhouse in Chilili, New Mexico, for several years where they commuted from a ranch where they resided with their three sons near Estancia, NM. He also taught in Albuquerque, New Mexico for a few years before moving to Puerto Rico. He is survived by his second wife Naomi, Guaynabo, P.R. and their children Samantha B. Corbin, Guaynabo, P.R.; Gian V. Corbin and wife Dilsette Zayas-Moreno, Orlando, FL; and his children from his first marriage, Don E. Corbin, Jr. and wife Judy, Los Lunas, NM,; Charles B. Corbin and wife Cathie, Phoenix, AZ, David E. Corbin and wife Josie Metal-Corbin, Omaha, NE; plus 11 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. There will be a service from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on July 16th, 2008 at Guaynabo Memorial. ____________________________________________________________________ Here's what I wrote for the service: The first memory I have of Nono is when I was about four years old. I remember him riding up on his motorcycle and removing his helmet. As he took the helmet off, his wig came off too. I didn't even know what a wig was at that point and I remember being shocked to see his completely bald head. To me that story sums up my grandfather. He was a man full of surprises. I don't know anyone else who could say that their grandfather rode a motorcycle, was a muscleman in his seventies, or had tattooed on eyebrows. He set a precedent for his children and grandchildren as an artist, a salesman, a musician and an educator. He was a traveler who forged a path for his family to live in locations across the United States and introduced us all to the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. He taught us all the importance of a healthy lifestyle and a sense of humor. Something else that I remember, but probably isn't appropriate for church is when we were having difficulty getting into the Caribe Hilton for an event and Nono was getting upset. Victoria, who was about 4, turned to me and said "Jesus Christ!....that's what he always says." _____________________________________________________________________ What my father wrote for the service: Student, son, musician, sailor, salesman, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, cowboy, yoga practitioner, man of many faces, mentor, senior athlete, health nut, body builder, traveler and, of course, educator—That’s my dad. Fortunately, Dad lived a long and mostly healthy life. He taught me many things from my first guitar lesson to how to ride a horse to how to drive a car, although I must admit the driving lessons were not that pleasant-- but I did learn how to drive. When I was growing up, he frequently quoted this A.E. Housman poem: The time you won your town the race We chaired you through the market-place; Man and boy stood cheering by, And home we brought you shoulder-high. To-day, the road all runners come, Shoulder-high we bring you home, And set you at your threshold down, Townsman of a stiller town. So, Dad you knew this time would come when we would set your threshold down, and without you, we are clearly the townsmen of a stiller town, Year’s ago I sent Dad the Dan Fogelberg’s song “The Leader of the Band” to pay him tribute and to remind us both of the value of saying “I love you” to each other--which we learned to do. So, now I’ll say good-bye with a modified version of part of Fogelberg’s song. The leader of the band is gone He let the good times roll His blood runs through My instrument And his song is in my soul -- My life has been a poor attempt To imitate the man I’m just a living legacy To the leader of the band. ____________________________________________________________________ Here is what my Aunt Samantha wrote: What can I say...the years passed by so quickly.... I am now a mother with three children accepting your passing. I love you dad as do many. You were an unbelievable human being...You had an extraordinary sense of strength, guidance and belief. You believed in people and that anything no matter what could be done. Your support and security was the base of our family that lead to the survival and successs of Gian and I... along with mom. As I speak to others they mention many positive things about you... things that I know and will always remember... On July 13, 2008 I realized that life will never be the same without you... but I must continue to live and use all of the positive things that I have learned from you to help me be strong. You never complained, you never gave up...you just said...”Everything is great!” I will keep you with me always in my heart...no matter what...I will always think about you..every moment...throughout every step of my life dad.....as will Victoria, Irving and Ezra...... Irving asked yesterday... “Do you think Papa Dios will lend me Nono for a little while?” I started thinking he lent you to us for a long time...to me for 32 years and now you will be at peace with him and grandma Belle... I love you dad... No words can express what you mean to all of us..... Your daughter, Samantha Belle Corbin Dafini

Friday was the last day of classes and it was sad to say goodbye to everyone.  My class was truly the best group of people I have ever met as a whole in an academic setting.  The good thing is, I have friends to visit all over the world now.  We had our final exhibition and Mitch, Jared, and Vicki came.  

Mitch was watching Flight of the Conchords with me the other day and figured out that they filmed Inner City Pressure near our house.  It is off of the J/Z train (the train that Jay-Z lived off of and named himself after).  Clearly that makes me famous.  I am on the hunt for theatre jobs now and am thinking of applying for an internship with The Manhattan Theatre Club.  Let me know if you have any brilliant ideas.

Seems like I haven't written a blog forever.  It was a busy week at school.  This is our last week and I have three huge assignments due.  I'm scared and uninspired.  Last week we presented a group project of pictures from Red Hook.  Our group chose to talk about the gentrification and forced adaptation of nature in the area.  My group was me, Sebastian and Melisa.

I have decided that my favorite thing about New York (and I don't mean Tiffany Pollard) is the built in leisure time and exercise.  Whether they want to or not, New Yorkers have to walk from their homes to their subway stops and from their subways stops to their next destination.  The subway trip allows for reading, eating and most importantly a break from all cellular phones.

My internet is finally up and running.  My air conditioner however, does not exist.  As Steve Knox would say, "It is hotter than two rats fu@#ing in a wool sock".  So much to catch you up on.  For starters, my new roommate has arrived and I am once again part of a Three's Company household.  This time I am the only girl, so I guess that leaves Mitch to be Chrissy.

My internet is very touch and go right now.  Time Warner is coming to check out my modem on Wednesday, so hopefully it will be fixed then.  In the mean time, I miss you all dearly.  Here a few short updates: