Sunday, April 10, 2011 at 11:50AM I'd like to take a moment to answer everyone's #1 question: NO, no one has been on the road with me taking my picture, I don't stop strangers and Lulu has yet to learn how to use to zoom! I use a tripod for all of the pictures I've taken across the country! Thank goodness for my tripod! CLICK HERE TO VOTE!
Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 09:32PM I received this little pearl of wisdom from Jermaine today, so I thought I'd share:
I have learned that life is a journey, and to live we have to learn.
Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 09:49AM Sri Dharma Mittra: Closest thing to a real life guru you're ever going to find!
I took a class with Sri Dharma last year, right before I headed out on this adventure. What an INCREDIBLE class and such a funny little man! My friend Tanya came to class with me. If you're self conscious about taking yoga, don't go with Tanya! She's one of those people that can bend like gumby without ever even stretching. I think she must have some Russian circus performers in her genealogy. Anyway, funniest moment happened in the middle of class, when Sri Dharma came over to adjust Tanya into a hot pretzel and looked over at me and said:
Your friend moves like an old lady!
Laughing uncontrollably and peeing myself slightly, all I could think was, "No sh#t Dharma! That's why I'm here!" I'll be heading back to NYC in a couple weeks and I'm definitely going to take his class. Will be very interesting to see if I can hack it! And no, Tanya's not coming!! (JOKE! KIDDING!)
Reduce your wants and lead a happy contented life. Never hurt the feelings of others and be kind to all. Think of God as soon as you get up and before you go to bed. ~ Dharma Mittra
yoga Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 10:54PM OK, here's one more sad, but uplifting story!
As I've explained in my letter to The Darrell Gwynn Foundation, Jonathan is a struggling quadriplegic and desperately needs a new power wheelchair. The letter of need is only the first step. Next, my right arm Jenny at Mt. Sinai, needs to see him for measurements so the application can be completed! The only problem is, Jonathan's old, ill-fitting power chair has completely broken down!! AHHHH He's trying to get a loner replacement but not sure if he'll be able to! OY VEY! Jonathan can't even sign himself out of the nursing home, but Blake's little sister has offered to do it for him (thank you, Amber!). Although that's one very big hurdle out of the way, the lack of a power wheelchair makes it very difficult, maybe impossible for him to get to Mt. Sinai! UGH! So painful this young man is struggling just to get to the hospital. He's a prisoner right now. Double Ugh We're on a deadline to submit the application for his new power wheelchair, and it'sabsolutely mind boggling to think he might miss out because of a broken wheelchair, the VERY thing we're trying to get for him!! Holy smokes! Who knew doing good could be so stressful! ;)
So here's the funny part. Jonathan and I communicate mostly via Facebook. I notice he posted "it was all good just a week ago..." as his status update. Of course I panic and think something is wrong. I email him immediately! Oh man, looks like the joke's on me! Apparently it's a song he likes by JAY Z! Wow, I feel so white and old sometimes!! Hilarious!
He aslo adds:
If you feel like calling, here's my number xxx-xxx-xxxx. If I don't pick up, just remember I'm handicapped. lol
Somehow he's still joking around even though things are super, crazy stressful! How these young men manage to maintain a positive attitude EVER is beyond me!!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 04:42PM 
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 03:42PM For those that personally know lulu, you know she's got some quirks! The biggest being the fact that she only likes drinking out of a glass! She always has a full water bowl; however, every time I'm holding a glass of water or she sees one on the table, she has to have it! Yes, I'm fully aware I'm making it worse letting her drink out of a glass, but I can't help it! She's so cute! (and like mom, she prefers no ice) :)
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 02:21PM I eat so much hummus, I think I might turn into a garbanzo bean soon. I'm eating some right now – that's what inspired me to post this!
I decided to start making my own for a few reasons:
1) It's expensive!
2) There's so much sodium in store bought hummus!
3) I can never find hummus spicy enough!
Here's a recipe I "sort of" follow. You can adjust as needed. For example, I quadruple the amount of jalapenos, jalapeno juice and I add roasted red peppers!
ORGANIC TIP: You might not think it's smart to pay the extra money for "organic" garbanzo beans, but I'm here to tell you it's worth it! Look on the label and you'll see that organic G beans have about 1/2 the sodium! Totally worth it to buy organic, in my opinion!
Monday, April 4, 2011 at 09:31AM I'm writing on behalf of Jonathan Gonzalez, a 24-year-old young man paralyzed by tragedy four years ago, now forced to spend his days in a dark, depressing, state-run nursing facility with little hope of ever leaving.
Dec. 30, 2006, only steps from the safety of his home, Jonathan was gunned down under a hail of bullets by a faceless coward. Jonathan's mother, blind with fear, raced to her son's lifeless, unresponsive body. Terrified and in pain, she screamed for answers, "How could this happen? Why did this happen?" They never got the answers, and they never caught the shooter. The hopeful, happy life he once knew was destroyed. Jonathan is now a severe quadriplegic, unable to move his limbs again.
Pains me to know that a little more than one month prior (Nov. 7, 2006), Jonathan was joyously celebrating the birth of his first son, Andrew. Jonathan was young but determined to be a good father. Now, 4 years later, in a tragic turn of events, Jonathan barely knows his son. Visitors fade, and people move on, while Jonathan is stuck treading water to keep from drowning.
Jonathan's condition is so severe, and money is so scarce it's unlikely he will ever live outside the confines of the nursing home. He has come to accept his grim reality but is still hopeful. He is optimistic that one day it will be his turn – something good will happen – he just knows it. Currently reading "A Million Little Pieces" by James Frye; he's a thinker and a dreamer. Makes me sad to know how painfully difficult his life is, but I smile at the thought of his courage and determination!
FACT: Like the other young men at Beth Abe, Jonathan does receive money from the state each month; however, by the time the nursing home takes their fee, he is left with only $55! Simple necessities are impossible. So tragic. He will ALWAYS tread water unless he gets a little help!
Like the other "Boys of Beth Abe," insurance will not pay for a new wheelchair. He is forced to use an old, outdated, barely functioning wheelchair, which drastically limits his already limited movement!
JONATHAN'S WORDS: "Getting a new wheelchair would help me a lot because it enables me to regain some type of independence for myself. Instead of having people push me around in a regular manual chair, which gets really uncomfortable. My current chair is old and beat up, it's a loaner so it was not made to fit me especially on top and it breaks down all the time. Also batteries die almost instantly and that is a huge pain because I can't go long distances because I'm so afraid of getting stranded. I always need help and a push."
(Need a moment. Wiping tears...)
Thank you for considering Jonathan for a new power wheelchair! Your gift will give Jonathan hope and the independence he so desperately needs. I am forever in your debt for everything you do!
