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

Happy Birthday Dr. ALI~

While today is officially Ali's birthday---he was actually born on Feb. 29th..a day that doesn't come each year...I think this makes Ali even more special!
Ali is so full of life...each day I spend with him I feel so luck to have entered his dynamic presence where at one moment he will "wow" me with academic intellegence and the next moment making me laugh with his belly dancing abilities. I thank the Universe that Ali has come into my life...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. ALI!

CIES in Baltimore

This past weekend was all academic...as the Comparative Education Crew from Buffalo hit Baltimore...It was fun and exhausting...
I always walk away saying...do I belong in Academia...and do I even want to be here? Questions I am sure will answer themselves within the next 2 years...

Lunch-time break...some good music

So today I was browsing utube..and I found my favorite Arab singer..Amr Diab!
Check out this video....it will make you dance around your desk!
The picture isn't that great... But crank up the speakers...this is a pleasure for your hips! Practice for my next party!!!

Happy Birthday Jean Law!

Today is a former ISSS co-worker's birthday...Happy Birthday Jean! She's hard at work back in Singapore..

She has such a beautiful spirit about her...her smile always made us enjoy working...as well as her GREAT sense of humor...We miss her here @ ISSS...especially now that it's Jan and Feb time...and OPT time...

Many warm Buffalo Hugs Jean!

UB Chinese student shines in Buffalo News!

"I like the culture here. I like the people here. It's so different from Shanghai."
Yunlong "Jeff" Guo, Univeristy at Buffalo freshman from China


Charles Lewis/Buffalo News
By JAY REY
News Staff Reporter
2/19/2007

When Daemen College officials traveled to China last fall, the visit was more than a chance to see the Great Wall.
The small, liberal arts college in Amherst signed a pact for a student-exchange program with two Chinese universities.

"We decided we really wanted to push hard in China," said Edwin G. Clausen, Daemen's vice president for academic affairs. "The growth of China in all areas makes it a perfect place for collaboration."

International exchanges and academic programs overseas are nothing new, but U.S. schools big and small are resolving to get their foot in the door in China, which celebrated the start of the Chinese New Year on Sunday.

The economy is booming, the appetite for higher education insatiable and the potential for students, such as Yunlong "Jeff" Guo, bountiful.

"I like the culture here. I like the people here," said Guo, a University at Buffalo freshman from China. "It's so different from Shanghai."

Exposing more Americans to the world's most populous country - and a budding superpower - is part of the plan, too.

"We need to have more young Americans who speak Chinese who know the country and can do business there," said Stephen C. Dunnett, UB's vice provost for international education.

UB was the first American university to have an exchange agreement with a Chinese university. Dunnett and engineering professor George C. Lee negotiated a deal in 1980, after the communist country instituted economic reforms and opened its doors to the West.

"It was a very dark place," Dunnett said, recalling his early visits to China. "The universities were not in good shape. People were demoralized. What gave me hope were the students. They were diligent and eager to learn what they could from me. Many of them slept in the classrooms, because they didn't have dorms."

What a difference a quarter-century later.

A middle class has blossomed. Bicycles are being replaced by cars. Beijing and Shanghai make Manhattan look like it's standing still, Clausen said.

"Twenty-three years ago, large portions of Beijing were one- or two-story mud-brick buildings," said Dr. Richard V. Lee, a UB medical professor who travels with med students to China. "Those are virtually all gone and replaced by huge high-rises that are all glass and steel."

The country has its problems. China is one of the world's biggest polluters and still is home to a vast population of poor.

And while China has expanded its higher-education system at an extraordinary rate, it still cannot keep pace with the demand from its 1.3 billion people, Dunnett said.

American institutions see it as an opportunity to fill a need by setting up exchanges or branch campuses with Chinese universities.

It also opens doors for collaboration with Chinese researchers and the chance to recruit high-quality faculty and students to America.

More than 1,000 UB students and faculty members from UB and its partners in China have participated in joint exchanges, programs and research over the last 25 years.

That long history in China has been a reason so many Chinese students enroll at UB, which touts China's education minister, Zhou Ji, as one of its alumni.

Last semester, UB enrolled nearly 500 undergraduate and graduate students from China. "The tuition is not too expensive," said Guo, 19. "I am a business major, and UB has a very good business program. That's a main reason I came."

But some refer to the recent interest in China as a gold rush.

"There's an unbelievable rush," Clausen agreed. "I think there are high expectations that colleges and universities are going to be able to fill their ranks with Chinese students. That's ludicrous."

The U.S. schools that can be successful in China are those that are deft in the language and culture, and play to their strengths, he said.

Daemen, for example, signed a student-exchange agreement with Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Sichuan University in fields where Daemen is strongest, such as physical therapy, chronic wounds and visual arts.

"We picked very carefully areas we can sustain over the years," said Clausen, who has a doctorate in modern Chinese history. "You have to be very, very careful. I think there's a cautionary tale there."

At UB, a contingent traveled to China last fall for the 25th anniversary of its partnership.

UB has renewed its exchange agreements over the years to include medical students, although in 1989 it closed the English language center it ran in Beijing for eight years.

UB's School of Management - which established the first U.S. master of business administration program in China in 1984 - also still operates an executive MBA program in Beijing, said John M. Thomas, dean of the school.

That experience in the country is an important advantage for UB, which is considering opening a branch campus in China but is treading cautiously, Dunnett said.

"We do see our university expanding its presence in a careful, deliberate fashion to ensure that our efforts in China benefit our Chinese partners and the University at Buffalo," Dunnett said.

Guo, meanwhile, has been enjoying his first year at UB.

He will visit Shanghai maybe twice a year, but truthfully, he doesn't miss home that much.

Guo only wishes he would have known what kind of weather he was in for in Buffalo:

"It's much, much colder than the weather in my city," he said.

Happy New Year! Welcome the year of the PIG!

Here is a picture of Singapore....Angela is there now enjoying the celebrations with her family...Happy new year Angela!

So...I am always curious what attributes these animlas represent....And I found out from this article below...what to expect during the year of the pig:

Dikky Sinn, Canadian Press
Published: Saturday, February 17, 2007
HONG KONG (AP) - The Year of the Pig starts Sunday and Chinese fortune-tellers say it will be a good time to have a baby but also warn there will be an upsurge in epidemics, disasters and violent conflicts around the world.

"The Year of the Pig will not be very peaceful," said Raymond Lo, a feng shui master in Hong Kong.

Pig years can be turbulent because they are dominated by fire and water - two of the five elements Chinese mystics maintain are the basis of the universe, Lo said. Since fire and water are conflicting elements, they tend to whip up trouble, he said.

"Fire sitting on water is a symbol of conflict and skirmish. We'll also see more fire disasters and bombings," he said.

Mind these apples!

Apples from my garden, originally uploaded by kristianchef.

This was sent to me by Rachel......a very good message for all us TOP apples!

Apples and Wine


Women are like apples on trees. The best ones are at the top of the
tree. Most men don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they sometimes take the
apples from the ground that aren't as good, but easy. The apples at
the top think something is wrong with them, when in reality, they're
amazing. They just have to wait for the right man to come along, the
one who is brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree.

Now Men.... Men are like a fine wine. They begin as grapes, and it's
up to women to stomp the crap out of them until they turn into something acceptable to have dinner with.