Highlights from Costa Rica

This was a fabulous holiday! There are so many pictures to post.
I am so grateful to Catalina and her family for hosting me....I loved the country, people, food (the fruit is SOOOO wonderful), landscape and of course...the coffee!


Catalina's family---and our adventure to a park. Check out the friend we met below!

Our trip through the mountains to the city of Jaco. Catalina's sister's in-laws allowed us to stay in their summer home for the weekend. The view from the pool took my breath away!


You can walk down to a semi-private sandy beach.


Catalina has such a wonderful family!
This is Catalina's dad's tree house! We stayed there for 2 nights. We could hear monkeys at singing to us at night!

Banana's are just growing everywhere....they taste like candy!
mmmmm. did you know how good coconuts are to drink?
This is dragon fruit. As you can see....I was in LOVE with the fruit. Below is the flower that only blooms at night.

Molek-Ramming Shower and PIg Roast

This was the best wedding shower I have been to! Thanks to Kris and Joe's family---and the Molek wine---fun was had by all :)
Check out some of the pictures.

Mike and Bill couldn't wait for their share~

Joe and his dad brought out the Molek wine!

Best Wishes Joe and Kris!

Do we look happy or what?

Their grapes are still little babies...but they are growing fast!

I was at the shower for 12 hours...and if it wasn't a Sunday night, I think we all would have stayed as long as the home-maid wine was available!

Learning compassion

Light of Infinite Compassion, originally uploaded by cyanatic.

The universe has been so kind to provide me opportunities to understand and learn about compassion.

My most recent experience has been with people's feelings.

As we travel through life we can hurt someone's feelings--and when we do, that person usually (not always) reacts. This is the opportunity for us to experience compassion.

I have learned to stop, take a deep breath and allow the other person to act out their own drama--and I have learned to not accept their drama as my own.

I have been getting better at this---but of course sometimes it is not easy. Therefore, the universe continues to provide me with opportunities to get better at this.

So I thank the universe--and those friends that provide me with light and understanding on this journey.

David Byrne goes from Talking Heads to singing buildings

I heard the coolest story on NPR about an art instalation called Playing the Building in NYC--by David Byrne. Many times I have heard my own home singing--whether it be the heat pushing through the pipes or the refrigerator starting it's temperature decent....your house can sing a song all it's own. Now you can go to NYC and make the The Battery Maritime Building sing.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92470122

Kris' Bachlorette Blast

This past weekend my adopted, fantastic cousin Caroline hosted Kris and I for a Bachelorette party--and SPA weekend! Oh wow...did we eat well, shop well and enjoy this oasis of a SPA in downtown Toronto.

I am so happy for Kris--she has found a really fantastic guy in Joe--and I am so happy that Caroline and I can be a part of her big moment....

This heavenly place is called Body Blitz Spa. It's so worth the money. I felt transformed after leaving the place :)

Toronto is full of trendy little hide-a-ways that only a local would know about--and not just any local---but our very cool friend/cousin Caroline~ She's is in the "in crowd" for sure.
Not only did this place have a wonderful brunch--it also has probably the best looking waiters in all of Toronto-thanks again Caroline!

This is one of the roof top terraces in Caroline's building--it's a dream space in downtown TO~

Dinner with friends~

The bridesmaids (Caroline & Di) and future bride~
Thanks Caroline for the lovely weekend.

Kudos to Jason

One of my good friends from high school--Jason Sperling (an extremely talented artist) has been involved in an organization called, Barrel of Monkeys)--this organization really makes a difference for kids in Chicago. Most importantly he has been voted Monkey of the year!


Here is more information about BOM, and how you can you can help them help others!~
"Barrel of Monkeys (BOM) is an arts education theater ensemble that works with some of the most under-served students in Chicago. BOM achieves its mission by teaching fundamental creative writing skills; providing a safe and supportive learning environment; building self-esteem and confidence in children; adapting stories written by children for the stage by professional actors; and presenting a smart, funny theatre experience."