Making a come-back

So much has happened since I have posted on my blog--
Mostly really great things I have to be grateful for: being engaged to my love, finishing my PhD, and enjoying a new city and new job!

I guess I have a lot of catching up to do. Anyway--I am happy to be alive and kicking! So--if you are still out there waiting for me to post, I am making my come-back...so watch for future posts!

Love and Light..

Dr. Di Di

March Birthdays

March is a time for celebration! Two of my most favorite people were born in March--Kris and MY MOM! Happy Birthday ladies. You both are such loving people--and I am so very grateful for both of you. You love me for who I am...and I love you both for who you are! Hope you enjoyed your days!!!

Happy Birthday Mike!

Today is my brother Mike's birthday! Happy Birthday Mike!!

Known as "big mike"--he has always been such a rock within our family. He's always ready to help me fix my car, help with my housing projects, help me figure out what to do when my furnace is not working--you get the idea.

He's been so "BIG" in my life---and I don't take that for granted at all. While he is always there..he's a rock that really cares and loves us all. I am so grateful for him--even if we don't agree all the time. He's my "BIG" brother and I love him a lot.

So thanks Universe for giving me such a wonderful brother!

Happy Birthday Blog

Happy Birthday Elise, originally uploaded by Alexandra Bill.

Today my blog is 4 years old!

Wow...time has gone by. So many wonderful events have happened...many babies have been born..and some very loved ones have passed. Many good people have entered my life--Vivek for one--and some have moved on to other parts of the world.

All in all....I have so enjoyed blogging about my adventures and I hope to continue (as time permits). Life is so busy---I hope to try and blog more to remind me to stop and be grateful for all that I have.

So "Happy Birthday" blog!

Fun @ Niagara Falls

Can you have fun at Niagara Falls when it's below Zero? The answer is YES! I really enjoyed hosting Vivek and his parents for a tour of the winter wonderland in Canada... Here are some fun pics of our adventure.

Yes it was cold! But am I ever grateful for this long coat! :)

Pictures from Christmas!

I so enjoyed spending Christmas with Vivek. He's a wonderful soul. I am very lucky!

I can't believe it took me so long to upload these pictures of our Christmas Eve bash @ Breckenridge... but such is life. :)
Aidy really was excited this year for Santa to come.

The whole gang was at my house--including Vivek's parents. Vivek's mom--Angela was so sweet to prepare a traditional Puerto Rican meal. It was so delicious!

Baby Sage is just so very sweet. She is quiet and takes in everything! And of course..we all just love her so much. It's amazing how much she looks like Joey! We call her LJ..Little Joe :)

We ate and ate and ate. Then we opened our secret Santa gifts...it was really a pleasure to host this year for Christmas Eve. It was my first time and I really enjoyed everyone around my table. I am so very blessed for such a wonderful family, friends and a great partner! Thank you Santa for providing such wonderful people to surround me. I am truly blessed!

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!