Life on the road...

For those that do not know (and I think by now the majority of you do)...I have been dating a wonderful man in Pittsburgh. I have been spending a bit more time than I imagined driving through southern NYS and Pennsylvania...

Here is a picture that I took while driving (that's probably illegal right?).

As I drove last Saturday, I admired how the sun rose to the left of me and seemed to kiss the white trees.

While I am not a big fan of driving long distances, I have come to enjoy the time in the car--It allows me to think and be grateful!

Grateful for my trusty Subaru, grateful for how snow can come brush us with a clean white coat, cause us to pause, relax a bit and just enjoy (or maybe---aggravate us, depending on your perspective)]...and grateful for all those in my life.

Especially for Vivek. He's a shinning star in my life. He makes me smile when life has gotten the better of me, he listens to me when I need to just tell my story. He's funny, fun, smart, handsome, a wonderful communicator, and importantly-- ready to travel to anywhere in the world (as long as they have nice pillows and sheets :)

He takes care of me in so many wonderful ways- but MOST of all--likes me for who I am. Thank you Honey--for being you and being a wonderful partner.

My cute little niece Emme

My lack of blogging is just horrible I know. Well, life gets in the way sometimes---however, one of the recent stars in my life is my cute little niece Emme. She's happy (almost all the time)...healthy and full of smiles. She's a wonderful little soul---and I can't wait for her to be more of highlight on my blog.

the growth of understanding follows an ascending spiral rather than a straight line

. the growth of understanding follows an ascending spiral rather than a straight line ., originally uploaded by beesquare.

I really like this quote...and this picture.

I have been drawn to spirals for a while now---and I think it's because of the subconscious connection with growth. How growth isn't a straight line but a spiral.

I am appreciating my growth and the ascensions and setbacks that comes with it.

And I thank the universe for the little messages that help me continue on the upward path.

5-year-old Di Di

Yesterday I was reminded of something very important. Become friends with who YOU were when you were 5-years-old....invite that bundle of love and energy back into your life. She/he will help remind you to speak from your heart. To always speak truth--and to just love.

Yes, this cute little girl on my blog is me :)

I am becoming her friend--she has a lot to teach me.

Thank you Caroline for reminding me of her. And..thank you Melis for your guidance as well!

I am Energy and Prosperity!

highlights of summer trips

This summer has been really fun! I have been lucky enough to take a few short summer trips to visit a wonderful new friend. Here are some highlights from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

My friend Vivek took Mike and I to see Frank Lloyd Wright's famous house, Falling Water. It was truly beautiful!

These pictures were taken at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
Artist Isaiah Zagar--a former Peace Corps volunteer--created this beautiful mosaic garden in S. Philly--creating a community of art. It was by far my favorite part of Philly.

Garden Walk 2009~

I so enjoyed today's gathering of friends and their extended families over lots of yummie food. It was such a joy to bring together these unique people....
I feel so very lucky to have such wonderful friends with such diverse backgrounds.
It's as beautiful as the flowers we saw today!

I really love these Lillies...they smell so good!

I am always grateful to spend time with Kris.....I am so glad we still have time to enjoy these little joys together :)

Happy Auntie...again :)

Last Sunday...Joe's girlfriend Annette had her baby. Sage Isadora Hardy is my new little niece. She's was just so precious when we met her the first time. She was just born yet her eyes were wide open! She was ready for the world and all it has to offer her.

We are all so happy for Joe and Annette. I know she will grow up around love, light and happiness. AND YOGA!

Plus...she has tons of other aunties to help her along the way as well...

Welcome Sage. We love you already!

Patience...

So, for those of you that know me...know I can be on the go all the time. I have a tendency to do so many things per day...it makes most people head spin. And I think mine as well :) Because...I miss some important moments. Maybe I don't miss them, but I am lost in my head--either living in the past or the future.

So...wonderful souls in my life keep reminding me to live in The Present Moment.

Thank you!!! I am grateful for that message---

One person is my Reiki Teacher---who sent out this story in her newsletter. Her name is Caroline and she is really a bright light for us all...

Here is her lesson to remind us all of staying present...

“A Lesson in Patience”

About 20 years ago I experienced one of the biggest patience lessons of my life. I had stopped at the supermarket on my lunch hour, and was happy to find a checkout line with only one other person ahead of me. “I can be out of here in minutes!” I thought… but that is not the way it happened.

I guessed that the woman in front of me was about my age (as close as I could tell from behind) and shewas the slowest moving person ever! One at a time she moved items from her cart to the conveyor belt. She dropped a can, was confused by a question from the cashier, could not seem to find the correct change, etc. All the while my impatience was building as I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. “Why do I ALWAYS pick the wrong line?” I thought, as I looked at my watch again and again. I was going to be late getting back to the office, and it was HER fault! I was really building up steam, looking around at the person behind me with a large sigh and a look on my face that said, “Do you BELIEVE this?”

And then the woman in front of me turned to look at me. One look at her face and I knew that she was very, very ill. “I’m sorry I’m so slow,” she said, “but I just came from my chemo appointment and my brain is a little foggy.” “Oh, that’s O.K.,” I replied, “I’m not in a hurry.”

It is difficult to find the words to explain how I felt at that moment. Twenty years later as I think of that day I can still feel that feeling in the pit of my stomach… shame…embarrassment…self-loathing. Did it really matter that I was going to be a few minutes late compared to what she was going through?

I remember checking out and walking to my car in a kind of daze. I got in and sat behind the steering wheel for a moment, and the tears began to slowly slide down my cheeks. I sent off a prayer and an apology to the woman, and realized that the tears were for me. My eyes had sent daggers of angry impatience into her back, and for what? For a few moments of my time? How sad…

I have thought of that woman so many times through the years when I see other people huffing and impatient about “waiting”, sometimes very vocal about their displeasure. I think of her when I am waiting in other lines, or standing at a red light, or driving behind the slow driver, or any time my patience begins to run thin. And I think to myself, “If this is the worst thing that happens to me this day, life is really, really good.” And I smile in gratitude for the lesson in patience I learned so long ago that helps me today to live calmly in the moment, appreciating, accepting.

The next time you are feeling impatient, take a couple of really deep breaths and relax. It may be a lesson in patience for you, and a reminder to BE in this moment. It really is all we have.

http://www.reikicare.com/newsletter.july09.htm

Helping each other...just sing...

This song somehow resonates with me...maybe it's that I feel like sometimes I am lucky to have a flashlight through the foggy world we go through. Hopefully I bring that flashlight with me to help others..

This song makes me smile...we can help each other--- just sing:

sing , the last thing on your mind
the last word on your breath
i'll be the one to keep you
i'll keep you at your best
the last thing on your mind
cause i don't need your mess
i'll be the one to keep you
one disaster less

July 4th Fun in D.C.

This week I am working...really working on my dissertation in Washington D.C. My dearest friend Sofia is hosting me....and allowing me to work in her beautiful building. I am so very grateful for her friendship, her support and her joy for life! It's always fun to spend time with her :)

But...I have been taking a bit of a break and enjoying all that D.C. has to offer. (Including her beautiful pool)...

Here are some pics from our 4th of July adventure. We enjoyed spending time listening to music, watching people and waiting for the fireworks show...

It was a mini-Buffalo reunion!

I so enjoyed watching all the people. I noticed that in many cases there were more international people than your standard "Americans" in the crowd....of course..I just Loved that :)

The Fireworks show was wonderful....I felt so very lucky to have experienced this! :)

A very happy birthday

Thank you to all those wonderful people in my life that have been wishing me a happy birthday today...it feels great to have so many people wish me well.
I am so very thankful for my friends, family and of course my Mom and Dad--without them I wouldn't be here!

Here is one of my best gifts....Aidy singing :

Introducing Emme..

My niece, Emme Grace, was born on Friday, May, 29th. She's such a cutie..

congrats doctors....

There are three doctors in this picture...Dr. Diana Vela, Dr. William Godoy and Dr. Catalina Crespo! We enjoyed some chicken wings @ Duff's. Soon, all three will make their way either across the U.S. or back to S. America.
I will miss our Latin parties...
But, I know the fun has not yet ended....

Old Pictures...

Today my brother sent me these old pictures! I love it...the first one is of my Dad--fishing. 

There are many days I think about him...fonding. I am not sad--of course I wish he was still here with all of us, but I try just remember being with him. And to think about what kind of advice he'd give me..

When we were kids...he use to take us fishing...that was always fun. 

One thing I remember about my Dad...that he love to sit and watch nature. Being as busy...impatient and energtic as I am, I thought this was totally borning! Now...I see he was doing his own form of meditiation. I found myself recently sitting and watching my beautiful trees from my house---and enjoying the cycles of nature :) 

This is a great picture of Mom.  Very Mrs. Brady-like. My sister and I alway tease my Mom that she looked like Mrs. Brady in the 70s. 

Hopefully Dave will send me more....these pictures made my day! 

happy

Lotus Flower Reflections - IMG_1724-refl, originally uploaded by Bahman Farzad.

Today I am feeling really happy. I am not sure if it's the combination of the wonderful sunlight we have been having, or that I am doing Yoga more frequently, or if it's because I am feeling more and more peaceful.

Whatever it may be....I am feeling like lotus flower..

And so it is :)

Spring is here

I am just so happy that things are growing. I love the last week in April/first week in May--bam..there are buds everywhere and leaves grow so very fast. 

I am amazed at nature sometimes. Sometimes it seems to take forever to see things grow...and other times, like how leaves return for spring--it happens so fast you forgot what it was like before the leaves where there. 

And the cycle begins again.  

I find myself more and more interested in these cycles. Maybe I am trying to get in touch with nature. I think it's to align myself more with the beauty and gracefulness that is nature.  How peaceful it is for nature to experience the change of seasons. 

 Hopefully you are reading this now and are feeling peaceful as well :) 

A Day in the life @ UB

This is a cute video produced by Amy in the International Admissions office here at UB. If you watch closely, you will find me :)

Baby Fiona!

Yesterday I met baby Fiona! All of four days old...she is a happy, healthy Baby. Gail and Randall are both so happy to have this new addition to their family. I can't wait to get to know her better!

Yummie Cozonac...

Friday I enjoyed a fantastic dinner @ Raj and Ramona's place.  They are wonderful hosts and great cooks! Best part of the evening was Ramona's Cozonac. It's a Romanian sweet bread....oh, to remmber the good-ol' days in Romunia! 

Her Cozonac was the best I have tasted in a long time...

Oh yeah....the get-together was in honor of Sofia being "home" :) 

Then we were off to more sweets at Rita and Ali's....oh man...time for more excercise! Yoga here I come...

Reconnecting with old friends...

It was such a joy to host a dinner for some of my close friends this past Saturday night...
One of the best things about having my own space is the ability to bring into that space people I really care about and enjoy. These friends have seen me grow since I have moved back to Buffalo--and even though our lives have been going in many directions one thing remains, our good friendship.

This is a sweater I made for Gail's new addition, Fiona. It was designed by crafty friend Rima--and it's called, "Bombay Love".

I am so very happy for Gail and Randall, I can't wait to meet there new little angel!

For Baby Emme

I finished my first blanket for baby Emme (my niece yet to be born)....
I can't wait for her to come into our family....we are in the need of more women :)

My pressure cooker

I got a fantastic deal on this pressure cooker @ Macy's this weekend! I am so excited to be able to cook my own beans! NO MORE CANNED BEANS FOR DI! :)

Maybe if you are lucky...you will be invited for dinner at my house to enjoy some tasty dish from my new pressure cooker....

My house :)

Here are some pics from my house :) It's somewhat of a blank canvas. Here and there I have started to find my style. I have never had such room that required my style talents (which I still have not "found")...
So---I am sure once I know more my aesthetic "theme"...I will be implementing changes.

But, I am so very thankful that I have this bright home--and that I share it with Mike. One of these days I will post pics of his pad too :)

(No secret here, he has the artistic talent I lack, but couldn't knit a scarf to save his life, hehe).

Yes-- I know I need curtains...send me suggestions!

Thanks to my brother Mike who has helped me with so many little things...like putting up my candle holder above my fake fireplace :)

The sun bursts into my dinning room.

I love my pantry!

The kitchen needs help~ Soon....