After a long day...a little Aidan is all you need

Last night Aidy reminded me how to smile, laugh and dance....he's such a cutie~

Come join me @ my summer home~

Please feel free to join me @ my new summer home~
My tiny bungalow is on the left side of the palm, right next to David Beckam's....
Hope to see you there~
(and then I woke up)

whirlwind of thought

whirlwind of thought, originally uploaded by shakycam.

I feel like this girl....thoughts of work, life in general seem to invade my head, just as I am attempting to sit and start to do some hardcore academic work.
I have only a few hours to be productive today and I keep thinking about....
am I good teacher?
am I good at this whole academic thing?
What do I really want?
Why I am doing so much SHIT for GSA
Why are all my friends leaving?

I guess spring is making me feel like new things should be happening. As I see the grass trying to grow outside my house...I feel like somehow I am also trying to grow...
But I still feel confused....
Where should I grow?

StoryCorps: Recording America--NPR special

I heard this story and it made me smile~
I wanted to share it with all of you...so we remember how all of us are/can be connected with each other...

Listen yourself to mroe StoryCorps, or make one of your own!
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=8939266

Judge Joe Pigott served nearly two decades on the bench in Jackson, Miss. But he says no defendant confounded him more than the man nicknamed "Pip" — otherwise known as the late Willie Earl Dow, whose exploits often landed him in Pigott's courtroom.

Recalling those days with his wife, Lorraine, Pigott said that Dow had two bad habits: drinking, and stealing in order to support his drinking.

"You didn't have to try him, he always pled guilty," Pigott said. "And he was a likable person."

Dow also sent the judge an occasional letter. In one, he wrote from prison to tell Pigott, "I feel like I've been up here long enough this time, and I would appreciate it if you'd write the parole board and see if they'll let me out."

Pigott did so — and Dow was released.

But six weeks later, Dow robbed one of his friends, taking a watch and the keys to his car. The friend called the sheriff, and soon Dow was back before Judge Pigott, pleading guilty yet again.

"I am so disappointed I don't know what to say," the judge said. "I just don't understand you," he told Dow as he prepared to announce his sentence.

"Well, judge," Dow answered, "I'm disappointed in you."

"Everything in the courtroom got deathly quiet," Pigott recalls.

"When I was here four years ago," Dow went on, "you were sitting in that same chair, wearing that same robe, making that same speech."

"I figured a man of your caliber ought to at least be on the Supreme Court by now."

"I told him, 'Mr. Dow, I was going to sentence you to five years,'" Pigott recalls. "'But since you are so perceptive, I think I'll just give you three years,' which I did."

The next time Pigott saw Dow was at the time of his retirement, when a ceremony was held at the courtroom. And in strode Willie Earl "Pip" Dow.

"Mr. Dow," Pigott said then, "I am so glad to see you."

"Well," Pigott remembers him answering, "I heard they were going to hang Judge Pigott at the courtroom, and so, I didn't want to miss that."

Pigott then asked Dow how long it would be before he was back in trouble.

"He said, 'Judge, you're resigning; I'm resigning. I'm going to retire just like you.'"

That led Pigott to ask the new judge and the county sheriff to keep him informed about Dow, and to let him know if "Pip" was arrested for anything. And Dow kept his promise in the remaining decade or so of his life.

"Sometimes you make friends in strange ways," Pigott says.

Produced for 'Morning Edition' by Mike Garofalo. The senior producer for StoryCorps is Sarah Kramer.

This American Life hits TV!

If there is one thing I am dedicated to, it's "This American Life"...the best Radio show about unexpected, true stories about life in the U.S.
Now, Ira Glass brings the show to TV! Now I have to go out and get SHOWTIME..

check out this trailer:

Photos "show a slice of life"....a quote from Annie Leibovitz

Last night I was lucky enough to check out this show about Annie Leibovitz. She is a photography with vision, talent and passion. She was also Susan Sontag's long-time partner....and you can see the influences within her work and life choices--check it out!...

To read more check this out: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/leibovitz_a.html

A Chippppy Birthday Saturday~

Ciprillius Magnificus Supebus Maximus etc was born on March 15....in what year we are unsure....as you can see from his birthday cake below, it was possible to have been 133 years ago.

What we are sure of ...is how much we all love him! He has to the sweetest guy I know...that still has a super tough guy imagine..."lets ... them all"...
I feel very lucky to have Ciprillius as my good friend. He is the one that would help a friend in need...who knows just when to give you a big hug...and who will make one of the best Dads in the world~

La Multi An!

My cute nephew asked me to upload these pics

Well, Aidan wanted me to make sure you got to see how cute he is at his Grammy's birthday party, so here it goes~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!~

Today is my Mom's birthday...
While everyone is usually very biased and says things like "I have the best Mom in the world" for Jen, Mike, Dave and I, it's TOTALLY true. She has always put us before any of her needs, she spent countless hours helping us with spelling, writing, or just playing Barbies with us. And now...she continues to help Jen and I...and is a constant beacon of hope, love positive feelings...
I love her so much...and I know that I am very lucky to have her in my life!

International Womens Day

International Womens Day, originally uploaded by JIGGS.

Happy International Women’s Day!

It's funny that it isn't a holiday that is really celebrated here in the U.S-according to the official website for International Women's Day, it is now an official holiday in Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
In these countries, the article below says "the holiday “sees men honoring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues and with flowers and small gifts.”

What the heck happened here! AHHHHH
Check out this interesting take on this :
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/
RTGAM.20070308.wdoyle0308
/TPStory/Entertainment/columnists

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRIS~

Today is Kris' birthday! Yeah! We have shared so many great adventures together....here we are in Morocco~

Not many people are as lucky as I am to have a friend like Kris. She knows just when to give you that pep talk you need, she always listens and most importantly...unconditionally cares...and she unconditionally shows love for so many people. I hope all the people she has in her life realize what a wonderful person she is! I sure do!

Many warm wishes for a VERY happy birthday Kris~

Love Di

Happy Birthday Catalina~

Yesterday we celebrated Catalina's birthday!

She is one of the strongest women I know. She balances her PhD, two kids, wonderful Karl and GSA operations with ease. On top of that, she always has time to chat with you....to offer great advice and to give you many hugs, just when you need one.

She's a wonderful friend...and I feel very lucky she came to Buffalo~

Many warm wishes for a Happy Birthday~

YOU too can be a bollywood dancer!

Check out this funny story about UK Yorkshire residents that dream of becoming bollywood stars....will this soon hit the states? C'mon let's start our own dance studio! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6393263.stm