cold in NY!

This is me today when I got to work - after walking 12 minutes in the icy winds hahhahahahah
:-p

this is beautiful!!!

Boy, 7, raises $240,000 for Haiti appeal

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/01/25/uk.boy.charity.haiti/index.html?hpt=T2

London, England -- He's no Wyclef Jean or George Clooney, but that hasn't stopped seven-year-old Charlie Simpson from raising more than £150,000 ($240,000) for the Haiti earthquake.
Simpson from Fulham, west London had hoped to raise just £500 for UNICEF's earthquake appeal by cycling eight kilometers (five miles)around a local park.
"My name is Charlie Simpson. I want to do a sponsored bike ride for Haiti because there was a big earthquake and loads of people have lost their lives," said Simpson on his JustGiving page, a fundraising site which launched his efforts.
"I want to make some money to buy food, water and tents for everyone in Haiti," he said.
Donate to Charlie Simpson's Haiti fundraising page: http://www.justgiving.com/CharlieSimpson-HAITI
And with that simple call, messages of support flooded the site.
"Such a big heart for a young boy, you're a little star!" wrote one supporter. "Well done Charlie. A real celebrity," said another.
More donations began pouring in after the story caught the attention of the British media -- with many cheering Simpson past the £100,000 mark.
Even British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is spreading the message. His "Downing Street" Twitter alias said: "Amazed by response to the great fundraising efforts of 7 yr old Charlie Simpson for the people of Haiti."
David Bull, UNICEF's UK executive director described Simpson's efforts as "very bold and innovative."
"It shows he connects with and not only understands what children his own age must be going through in Haiti," Bull said in a press statement.
"The little seed -- his idea -- that he has planted has grown rapidly and his is a place well deserved in the humanitarian world.
"On behalf of the many children in Haiti, I thank Charlie for his effort."
Money raised by Simpson will go towards UNICEF's Haiti Earthquake Children's Appeal which will provide water, sanitation, education, nutrition as well as support child protection.

wow what a miracle!

Man Pulled Alive From Haiti Rubble 14 Days After Quake

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,584013,00.html?test=latestnews

A crowd of Haitian looters called for help from U.S. soldiers on Tuesday after finding a man buried in the rubble of a building that had been repeatedly scavenged since the devastating earthquake in Port-au-Prince two weeks ago.

A witness told Reuters the man, covered in dust and wearing only underwear, was rescued by soldiers from the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division at a ruined building on Rue de Miracle in downtown Port-au-Prince.

The Americans treated Rico Dibrivell, 35, for a broken leg and severe dehydration. Dibrivell said he had been trapped under the building since the Jan. 12 quake.

The military provided no details about how he managed to survive, saying only in a statement late Tuesday that Dibrivell's family said he had been missing for two weeks.

"He got sent to the hospital. He’s going to make it," Specialist Andrew Pourak, one of the rescuers, said.

I love loving you

Watch the Video :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHsyevb3lC0

I love the way you are, what I'm not,
I love the way we fit together,
I love the end of every day with you,
For worse, or for better,
Oh, I love you,
Oh, I love you,
I love, loving you.
I love, loving you.

Hope for Haiti Now

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1630214/20100122/story.jhtml

Jan 22 2010 8:50 AM EST
'Hope For Haiti Now' Telethon Airs Tonight At 8 P.M.
George Clooney, Wyclef Jean and Hollywood's biggest names help raise money for earthquake relief.

On Friday (January 22) at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. CT), MTV's "Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief" will air across a number of networks, including MTV. Hollywood A-listers will join forces with some of music's biggest names to raise funds for Haiti after the devastating earthquake hit the nation last Tuesday.
Brad Pitt, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Clint Eastwood, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jon Stewart, Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Nicole Kidman, Robert Pattinson, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hanks and Will Smith are among the many participants joining George Clooney (in Los Angeles), Wyclef Jean (in New York) and CNN's Anderson Cooper (reporting from Haiti) for the event.

"You got about 130 to 140 actors, athletes, singers and television hosts, and they're all coming up not to be on TV, but simply to answer the phones," Clooney told MTV News on Thursday. He added that the telethon's main goal is to "raise money, period. That's it. ... Just first and foremost that we can raise a lot of money. If I thought that we could all pick up shovels and go in there and not be in the way, I think a lot of people would do that."

The musical performances will include ones by pop legend Madonna (in New York) and Haitian artist Emeline Michel (in Los Angeles) as well as Wyclef Jean, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Shakira and Sting in New York. In L.A., Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder and Taylor Swift will take the stage, plus there will be a group performance by Keith Urban, Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow. London will feature Beyoncé, Coldplay and a collaboration between Bono, The Edge, Jay-Z and Rihanna.

"It's gonna be historic," Jean said about his performance at the show. "I have my sister with me, Melky, my cousin with me, Jerry. I have [producer/musician] Papa Jube; he's in charge of those traditional horns that you see. It's definitely a family vibe you'll see tomorrow."

Beginning Friday, iTunes customers will be able to exclusively pre-order the "Hope for Haiti Now" full-performance album ($7.99) and the full two-hour video telecast ($1.99). Pre-orders will be delivered in the days following the telethon. Individual audio performances will also be available for purchase and download for 99 cents each in the days following the telethon. Apple, the record labels and the artists will donate their share of the proceeds to Haiti relief funds managed by "Hope for Haiti Now" charities, including the Red Cross and Wyclef's Yele Haiti foundation. Performances will also be available for purchase in the days following the event through Amazon's MP3 service and Rhapsody, through distribution provided by INgrooves.

Clooney thinks the opportunity to purchase the music afterward will help to extend the shelf life of the relief efforts beyond the one-night broadcast. "We're gonna have 18 songs, and you're gonna get to hear Jennifer Hudson sing a song you never heard her sing before," he said. "John Legend is singing 'Motherless Child'; it's just great. We're gonna have some amazing performances, and I think that's gonna make it last a little longer than just a telethon."

"Hope for Haiti Now" will begin accepting donations at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT on Friday. "Hope for Haiti Now" will benefit Oxfam America, Partners in Health, the Red Cross, UNICEF, United Nations World Food Programme, Yele Haiti Foundation and the newly formed Clinton Bush Haiti Foundation. Proceeds from the telethon will be split among each organization's individual funds for Haiti earthquake relief. With the exception of the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, each partner organization was selected for its history of operation and collaboration within the NGO community in Haiti.

"Hope for Haiti Now" will air across ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN, BET, The CW, HBO, MTV, VH1, CMT, PBS, TNT, Showtime, Comedy Central, Bravo, E! Entertainment, National Geographic Channel, Oxygen, G4, CENTRIC, Current TV, Fuse, MLB Network, EPIX, Palladia, SoapNet, Style, Discovery Health, Planet Green, CNN en Español, HBO Latino and Canadian networks, including CBC Television, CTV, Global Television and MuchMusic. The event will be live streamed online globally across sites including YouTube, Hulu, MySpace, Fancast, AOL, MSN.com, Yahoo, Bing.com, BET.com, CNN.com, MTV.com, VH1.com and Rhapsody, and on mobile via Alltel, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and FloTV. "Hope for Haiti Now" will also air internationally on BET International, CNN International, National Geographic and MTV Networks International, which is available in 640 million homes worldwide. "Hope for Haiti Now" will be available non-exclusively to all terrestrial radio stations around the globe and SIRIUS XM Radio as a one-time-only radio broadcast via the MTV Radio Network and Westwood One.

"Hope for Haiti Now" is produced by Joel Gallen and Tenth Planet Productions, in collaboration with Viacom's MTV Networks and George Clooney.

Learn more about what you can do to help with earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti, and for more information, see Think MTV. Join George Clooney and Wyclef Jean for MTV's "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon, airing commercial-free Friday, January 22, at 8 p.m. ET, and visit HopeForHaitiNow.org or call (877) 99-HAITI to make a donation now.

MBA begins!

and my MBA begins... day 1! :-) I'm learning how to juggle working full time, the gym, MBA, a relationship, friends, family, having time for myself also, and living a healthy and balanced lifestyle....good luck to me! ♥

I love my apt <3

Female director wins!

Tonight at the Critics Choice Awards, a female film director WON - for the FIRST TIME IN HISTORY - a woman director winner! I have been waiting to see this day for more than ten years - ever since I myself started making movies and videos, as a female director myself!
Im so happy and proud!
:-)

request

Hello to all my wonderful family and my friends and to all the people in my life,
I hope this email finds you well, safe, happy, healthy and at peace :-)

As you know, today our world is facing a crisis of huge proportion.
"On Tuesday afternoon, January 12th, the worst earthquake in 200 years - 7.0 in magnitude - struck less than ten miles from the Caribbean city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The initial quake was later followed by twelve aftershocks greater than magnitude 5.0. Structures of all kinds were damaged or collapsed, from shantytown homes to national landmarks. It is still very early in the recovery effort, but millions are likely displaced, and thousands are feared dead as rescue teams from all over the world are now descending on Haiti to help where they are able."

I hope that no one had any minor or major loss or personal connection to the people in this earthquake, but just as being a part of humanity, we are all connected and affected in many ways.
We are blessed to be able to donate and give our money to help others, to volunteer our time, give our prayers and lend our support to them. So let us share our fortunate blessings with those who have been directly affected by this horrible natural disaster, and anyone who has been affected in any way by it.

The world needs our help. I write to you today to ask you to join together in helping to save hundreds of people in their time of need.
And please share this message with your friends and family. The more people and support - the better.
You can donate money. You can volunteer your time. You can pray. Everything makes a difference. Every dollar. Every minute. Every prayer. You are making a difference and you will help to save lives.

Today I donated to help victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti through the United Nations website.
Please donate too - even a few dollars! Just a little bit of money can save tons of lives!

You can donate online at:
United Nations Foundation:
https://secure.globalproblems-globalsolutions.org/site/Donation2?idb=1649881960&df_id=1240&1240.donation=form1

or here:
Oxfam is providing providing clean water, shelter and sanitation to those affected by the Earthquake in Haiti.
https://www.oxfam.org.uk/donate/haiti-earthquake/index.php

"World leaders pledged hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of troops, but delivery was a logistical nightmare, and aid was arriving only in a trickle to the 3 million people thought to need assistance.
Power was still out and telecommunications rarely functioning. Most medical facilities had been severely damaged, if not leveled. Supplies of food and fresh water were dwindling. Ships could not bring their cargoes of supplies into Haiti's damaged port; the airport was functioning with severe limits; roads were blocked not only by debris but also by people who had no place to go for shelter. Search and rescue teams worked with the materials at hand, or waited, frustrated, for much-needed heavy equipment.
The Haitian Red Cross offered a cautious and rough estimate of the possible death toll.
"No one knows with precision, no one can confirm a figure," said Victor Jackson, an assistant national coordinator with Haiti's Red Cross, according to Reuters. "Our organization thinks between 45,000 and 50,000 people have died."
Former president Bill Clinton, who has partnered with former president George W. Bush to lead the country's long-term humanitarian and recovery efforts in Haiti, is urging Americans to donate money to relief groups to help bring aid to the devastated Caribbean nation.
"You've seen the pictures," Clinton said in an interview late Thursday with The Washington Post. "The streets are full of the wounded, the orphaned and the dead. It's a devastating, devastating thing."
Clinton, who also serves as the United Nations special envoy to Haiti, blitzed the network morning shows on Friday from his home in Chappaqua, N.Y., saying he and Bush are committed to helping earthquake-ravaged Haiti "build back better."
President Obama has tapped his two immediate predecessors to head the recovery, a partnership similar to one that Clinton and former president George H. W. Bush formed following the 2004 Asian tsunami.
Clinton and the younger Bush will help raise money in the United States, from their supporters and ordinary citizens alike, and funnel funds toward the most constructive rebuilding programs. They will be responsible for private-sector fundraising, which will supplement the $100 million in federal aid Obama announced Thursday. Clinton and Bush also plan to keep a spotlight on Haiti's recovery over the months and years to come.
"Once we get through this, the worst phase, and find the living and find the dead and try to preserve them so that their families can bury them, which is really important -- then we can start cleaning up the place and resume this development program," Clinton said in the interview, referencing projects that were launched before the earthquake by his charitable foundation and other groups in Haiti."

figuring out career options

What kind of job and career I want to have – my ideas and options:

1) work at non-profit or good for-profit that is in health related field or anything dealing with helping people and work as a director or coordinator of events, etc.

2) work as a director at a children's hospital or in a hospital but in the children's ward - same in management or event planning

3) work in fitness / health at a company and/or have my own company - something similar to camp - so either a camp or a after school program or work at some fitness company that is legit and real - on the management, coordination, etc

I want to have my own health and fitness company – similar to CCF – possible like overnight camp or day camp or after school program or going to companies to promote healthy lifestyle and fitness.

my life's purpose

CCF (Camp California Fitness) changed my life. Both when I was a camper there in 2005 and everything and I learned, and when I went back as a counselor in 2006 to help others. My life was changed and I helped to change others lives. There is nothing more rewarding or fulfilling. The closing of that camp is one of the most devastating things that I have experienced. I cannot imagine that program not existing and helping so many people each year. I think of all the girls it helped over the 5 summers that it was open, and throughout the year during the follow up program. It shared truth and information about living a well rounded and balanced healthy lifestyle in mind, body and spirit, and how to keep that throughout life. It was more than a weight loss camp. It was a healthy lifestyle camp for all aspects of one's life.
There is not one person who was not helped in at least one way, learned at least one new thing, and took away one thing that would better there life in some way. And for others, it helped them in countless ways and changed their entire life. Many campers returned as counselors. And even after camp closed, girls all remain friends with each other, as they continue to grow and keep a healthy and fit lifestyle, and remain a support system for each other. So many true friendships, bonds, best friends and lifetime friendships emerged and came from those summers at camp. Some of my best friends even today are people I met at camp, and they remain a positive, supportive, encouraging presence, friend, and influence in my life, and I know they are rocks that will stay for life.
I know I want to help people on a daily basis. More than just volunteering, I am happy that my career is going into Health Services Management now. While I have some ideas of where I could and would work for the first few years (non-profit in health and/or fitness, good for-profit in health and/or fitness, hospital in children's ward or children's hospital, company in health and/or fitness), I eventually want to have my own company, to start a camp like CCF, to share the same teachings and values, starting with children and moving to adults. The best is to start when they are young, so that they carry it with them throughout life, although many adults need help too. CCF was an all girls environment, which helped them to be comfortable and share openly, especially it being an overnight sleep away camp. So if I had a similar camp, I would keep it all girls, but if it was more of a day camp or after school program, I might make it co-ed for both boys and girls. Also I would like to have an adult fitness program also - maybe going to different companies to share about living a healthy lifestyle in mind, body, and spirit.

CCF was so well rounded. We ate healthy meals and snacks and still enjoyed treats and yummy food. We played different sports every morning, enjoyed afternoon activities from art to nutrition class to cooking class to exercise science where we gained knowledge about food, our bodies, and enjoyed expressing our talents and ourselves in different ways. And enjoyed evening activities like group games, movie night, group dance performances, and so much more.
I remember the counselors and friends who changed my life - many of whom are some of my best friends today. And I remember the girls who I helped when I was a counselor. You know you have done something big and forever changing when you see a girl grow up - even within the summer at camp - and then years after - and they hug you, crying when they are leaving on the last day, and telling you that you changed their life and how much they realize now and want to live a healthier lifestyle - whether they were overweight before or had an eating disorder and now ate properly.
This is the kind of difference that I want to - and have to - make in people's lives during this lifetime of mine, however long it may be. I want to help to change the world, and the most important thing is health. It is #1. Without it, we have nothing. Healthy lifestyle includes fitness, food, healthy and balanced in all aspects, in mind, body and spirit. I want to share this knowledge with the world, and helping one person at a time is how I will contribute to changing the world.
If I do this, and I can and will, this is how I feel that I will fulfill my life's purpose and my purpose for being here and this never ending feeling of wanting to help others and give to others. This is my life's purpose. And I have gained experience from CCF camp and knowledge through my MBA in Health Services Management and also experienced my own personal struggles and issues and self-destructive behavior with food and other things over the years. Having overcome that and moved past that with help and support from family and friends, going to a therapist, and my CCF experience, I now want to share the message of a healthy, balanced, fit and well rounded lifestyle with people of all walk of life - all ages, races, religions, backgrounds, genders, everything.
If I can do this in a small or big way on a daily basis, this will fulfill my life's purpose. In every single moment :-)

Whether I work for a small or big fitness and/or health company, or help to start a new company in fitness and/or health, or have my own company, or partner with someone to have my own company in fitness and/or health, but even if I work for a company, this is the kind of job, work and career I want to do and have, and help people on a daily basis in small and big ways, and this is how I want to give back and help to change the world, and share and spread knowledge and help others in a selfless and giving way. At least this will be my job on a daily basis - whether I work part-time or full time - it will be my job. Then I can volunteer in addition if I want to also, even a couple times a month. But work will be all the time - or at least most of the time - or a lot of the time.
This is my life's purpose :-)

party in the USA!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M11SvDtPBhA&feature=related

So I put my hands up
They’re playing my song,
And the butterflys fly away
Noddin’ my head like yeah
Moving my hips like yeah,
And I got my hands up,

They’re playin my song
I know I'm gonna be ok

Something stops me everytime (everytime)
The DJ plays my song and I feel alright!

realizations

I am realizing more and more each day that the more I change, evolve and grow for the better and positive and more peaceful, that I relate less and less to most people in general, and also many of my close family and friends. I do not understand negative thinking anymore or being nitpicky or stressing over small things or micromanaging others. I want to just be, be me, be free and have peace, be positive, happy, love and be loved. Give to and share with others. :-) And I dont judge others, but for me in my life, I want to be good, do right and live a positive and peaceful life for me. And even if that means Im not so close to those people anymore or not relating to them, well there will be other family and friends with whom I do relate :-) old and new ones and people. Life and people are ever and always changing. And I choose that change for the better, in mind and body and spirit, even if I stand alone. I love my openminded view and positive outlook on life and knowing the big things that are important and what truly matters in life :-D and to feel happy and joy inside and out, to believe and pray and have faith and be thankful for health and life, and to want to help others, to give, share and love unconditionally :-) and I do not believe that Im wrong in any of all this. So even if I cannot relate to many close family and friends now because of how I think and feel, I wont change for them. I change for me, for good, for better, for more positive, for peace, for right, for strength, for faith. Amen! :-)

Avatar

Everyone go see Avatar, esp in 3D IMAX. The film is amazing, beautiful, and filled with about 50 different themes (especially about saving our planet and natural resources), feelings, meanings, symbolism, history, Hindu mythology, and lessons that we can and should all learn and live by in our own daily lives ♥

"The word “avatar” literally means reincarnation of Vishnu in Hinduism. He’s always depicted as being blue colored in paintings and temples, and all the characters in the avatar movie are blue."

"An important concept within Hinduism is that of avatar – meaning literally, "one who descends." Many Hindus believe that God does not adopt a material (carnal) body, but appears in spiritual form."

"The ancient Hindu scriptures have forever reiterated that whenever the world would be on the brink of disaster and mankind faces extinction, whenever the vessel of sin is about to spill over to create death and destruction, the divine Lord Vishnu would consider it his duty to manifest himself in mortal, palpable form to save mankind from the impeding doomsday....In the larger perspective the Avatar is meant to be the savior, the messiah of his own race and people. Cameron is alluding to that tenth avatar of Vishnu becoming manifest as the US marine (the character played by Sam Worthington) in Pandora's universe. The deliberate choice of the blue skin instantly, magically and metaphorically relates our protagonist to two previous avatar’s namely Rama and Krishna."

:-)

festive time of year!!!

Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanza and Happy New Year!!!!

:-)
Wishing you and your family and friends all the best during this wonderful happy holiday season!
Love and hugs,
Anisha

today yayyy!

going home to Cali!!!!!!!! YAYYY winter holidays!!!!! WOOHOOOOO!!! ♥

holiday spirit in NYC!

Enjoying the winter holidays in New York City, with beautiful sights, holiday sounds and music, snowy bliss, pine Christmas trees, sparkling ornaments, twinkling lights, peppermint hot chocolate, yummy food, and the holiday spirit all around, with my sweetie, who took this picture! ♥ Thank you love!

Photographed by Mohit Choudhary :-)
December 2009

Life is Beautiful

Life is Beautiful
by Vega 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVrwcG3PV1w

Life is beautiful I will hold you tightly When the hurting kicks in. Life is beautiful, but it's complicated, We don't need to understand, There are miracles, miracles. Stand where you are. We let all these moments pass us by. It's amazing where I'...m standing, There's a lot that we can give. This is ours just for the moment.

yay!

Officially registered for my MBA classes for Spring 2010! SUNYIT MBA in Health Services Management :-) Now I am out and about enjoying the NYC world of decorations and lights during this holiday season with my loved ones ♥

MBA decision

After taking the Gmat exam two times and pondering grad school and what to do with my life for the past year, I applied to 5 graduate schools for MBA programs, and I got into all of them :-) This is due to all of my hard work and also due to support from my loved ones <3

The 5 colleges and programs are:
State University of New York Institute of Technology
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Western New England College
Texas A&M University

All of the programs are general MBA programs except for SUNYIT. So while UMass was my first choice in my general MBA program, SUNYIT is the only one I applied to which wasn't a general MBA program and I have decided to go with that - and that is my first choice, not just for program, but graduate school as well. So I am going to do an MBA in Health Services Management at State University of New York Institute of Technology :-) My program starts in January. This program, degree and knowledge will help me on my mission to help people every day in every moment and contribute to changing the world. MBA here I come!!!! :-)

fun weekend

Seeing lots of friends and family this weekend! First a baby shower for my friend, then babysitting my nephew, then seeing one of my best friends, all in NYC! ♥ Cold but beautiful city all weekend :-)

thoughts

It does not help my diet that our new office is across the street from Dunkin Donuts :-p

We make life plans for ourselves. And then love changes those plans. Love changes everything. For the better. For the best ♥

new office

Our work office has moved from Chelsea to the lower east side on Madison Avenue :-) And love my new office area! Ten times the work responsibilities, but still, I love running the office :-) Rockstar!!!!!!!!!! ♥

My own first Xmas tree!!!

I bought my first own Christmas tree, lights, ornaments & decorations at the 99 cent store across the street from my apt! Total cost=only $32! Im putting it all up now in my living room! Tonight is also the lighting of the most famous Christmas tree-in Rockafellar Center! I love holidays-esp Christmas :-)

my brother's dog Smokey

Ashwin's dog Smokey :-)

11 months years old!
Siberian Husky SO CUTE!

I love my family <3

Visiting my family - my cousin-sister, brother in law, and nephew - in Philly all weekend :-) YAY!! And tonight, I am babysitting my darling 2 year old nephew Liam, who has grown taller, and now talks so much, and says "I love you Aunty Nishi" :-) awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww ♥ my heart is filled with joy and love and happiness and pure bliss!!!! :-)

people in our lives

I have moved a lot in my life. The first 15-20 moves were during childhood or in college, and so they were not really my choice. But the last few were on my own and my choice as an adult. I have learned many happy and sad things about friends. Some good and close friends drift away from you when you move away. This is because even when you make a good effort and try to keep up your half and in touch, they no longer make their 50% of the effort, so no equal 50-50 from both sides. And then there are some friends who make effort and remain close, despite any distance. I know I will always meet people wherever I move, even if they are temporary, situational or area friends, that you have when you live in a particular place, or ones that you initially meet when you move somewhere or at work or something, that no matter where you go after that, some of them remain with you for life as your friend. It is all about the individual person and friendship relationship that you have with them. If people do not try or make an effort to be 50-5o in any and all relationships, it work work. And physical distance or time difference is no excuse, especially if the friendship is real, true and deep. Anything and everything can be worked out, whether a friendship or any other kind of relationship. But all relationships do change, none of them stay the same. Some change for the better and closer and some change for the worse and more distanct. It is the truth, even if hard and sad sometimes. Life keeps moving forward. Some people come and go. Others stay forever. That is the flow of life. And gifts we receive from God. Good to treasure and cherish all the memories of life, and then make new ones with old people and new people also in our lives :-)

health shock & sadness

What is the world coming to? People are now discouraging health, wellness, and cancer prevention?

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/19/mammogram.guidelines.insurance/

How can they take mammograms away from women?
How can they discourage women who are 40-49 from getting them?
This is outrageous! This is what saves women from detecting breast cancer when it's too late!
It's the life saving yearly test!!!

AND INSURANCE MIGHT STOP PAYING?!
What is this world coming to!!!!!!!!

It costs "$640 and up" to get a mammogram when you don't have insurance, according to Paul Keckley, executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions.

Discouraging women in their 40s is the wrong message to be giving women.
--Sara Fought

"I want to scream, 'No! No! Don't listen!' " says Evans, whose cancer was detected by a routine mammogram eight years ago when she was 46. "If I hadn't had that mammogram, I wouldn't be here today."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/19/mammogram.guidelines.insurance/

(CNN) -- A government task force says women in their 40s don't need annual mammograms, but Sara Fought would beg to differ: She says she's alive today because a routine mammogram found cancer when she was 42.

"I had to read the guidelines twice because I really couldn't believe women in the 40-49 age bracket were being discouraged from having mammograms," says Fought, who lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland. "That's foolhardy. They're playing with people's lives."

Fought is one of many breast cancer survivors and doctors who are outraged over the guidelines released Monday by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advising against routine mammograms for women in their 40s.

my favorite faith quote

"The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you."

Happy Diwali!!!

Happy Diwali to you, your family and friends! :-) Wishing you a day of smiles and celebration, and a life of happiness, love, peace, light and bliss :-) :-)

how I feel about life and people

Life is too short to think and worry about who is related to who and all the titles and relationships. Just be together. Be friends. Be family. Be happy. Love, laugh, sing, dance, smile, hug, enjoy :-) That's all that truly matters in this life. That is bliss <3
That, however, does not take away from the fact that there are "rules" like fidelity, loyalty and honesty for people, like those who are in romantic relationships, and things like that. As long as loyal and honest to yourself and those in your life, then be free as a bird, and the rest is just about togetherness and love and happiness. What I meant is that people can be friends, can be family, can all just be together. That's how I feel. Blood related or not, those people are my family. They are my people :-) And sometimes we dont have to wait until a blood relation or a ring on a finger. People can enjoy together, be together, be friends, be family, celebrate life together, and just love and be happy. And enjoy.
Bliss :-)

love and togetherness

One of the most powerful videos / messages I have seen.

All it comes down to is love. Doesn't matter the race, religion, ethnicity, culture, or gender.
It's just about people wanting to commit to eachother legally, spend their lives together in love and happiness.
Up until last year, gay and lesbians had the right to same sex marriage in California and it was a legal marriage. Last year, no thanks to Prop 8, this human right was taken away.

More than the actual issue at hand, hear what he says, and hear the message of love and togetherness.
Please watch this message because it's SO incredible and SO beautiful :-)

(thank you for sharing this Shree)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChanTFSmqao

good story Mohit shared with me

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, hat the well needed to be covered anyway and that it just wasn't worth retrieving the donkey. So he invited all his neighbours to come over and help him.

They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quietened down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.

Gmat and MBA

So I took the Gmat for the first time last Saturday. I did alright, but the math was much harder than I expected, and it started a bit of text anxiety for me. So now I'm going to take it again in 5 weeks, on October 31st, because I want to raise my score and do better (because I know that I can for sure, and I did much better in my practice tests). I am retaking it because I want my score to be above the average Gmat score for admissions to the 5 colleges that I am applying to. Today I am working on my MBA applications :-) And studying daily for my Gmat re-take exam :-)

a pretty pic to share :-)

Hiiieee y'all,

While I was looking up directions to my Gmat exam testing center, I had to google a few different subway train lines to find out which ones were local and which were express (since I was taking the B or D train for the first time and didn’t know specifics of their routes) and while reading about the D train, I came across a very pretty picture, of the train going above ground (which only some subway trains do as most are underground completely, or part underground and part above ground, like this one). And the train picture is taken above ground while it’s winter in NY, and it’s such a beautiful picture, with the snow on the tracks and all around, and the winter trees visible behind the train. It reminds me of childhood memories, as I remember the snow in Boston or when we would go visit family and family friends on the east coast, this picture reminds me of a scene from a movie, which would have a voice over about remembering people, places and memories, and a very comforting feel of winter, snow, memories, as this train glides through the snow all around, during a winter in NY. Really beautiful and triggers memories in my mind and feelings and emotions in my heart :-) This could be in the early morning or in the early evening, as it gets dark earlier in winter. The lights are on, guiding the train.

Winter, and especially snow, reminds me of Christmas, family, friends, loved ones, being cozy, cuddly, hot chocolate, family dinners, hugs, Christmas trees, decorations, scent of winter which is something like burning wood, gathering around the fireplace, stockings, candycanes, snowmen and snowwomen, snowball fights, laughing, running, playing, warm coats, sweatshirts, big boots, gloves, mittens, hats, beanies, scarves, earmuffs, snowshovels, childhood memories, growing up, traditions, and so many more beautiful things :-)

Reminds me of traveling and being with loved ones, most of all :-)

Wanted to share this with you! <3

Children & Kids - life's lessons

A few days ago, I was at Jamba Juice here in Manhattan, and while I was sitting down, these adorable kids were looking upward, behind me, and started dancing and doing cute moves, and I was wondering what they were doing, but smiled in amusement at their cuteness. Then I looked behind me and saw the tv screen connected to the security cameras, and they could see themselves on the tv screen, and were dancing and doing karate movies and jumping up and down and laughing hysterically. For them, this was the most exciting and fascinating thing for them, and it made them so happy, and made me so happy just watching them. Twirly dresses and toothless grins. They had no worries in the world, and no concern with anyone watching them or the people around. They were happy doing their dance moves and enjoying the small things that made them so happy. Pure bliss <3

I believe that as adults, even though we have lots of worries, stress, work and responsibilites that children do not, we can still learn all of life's small and big lessons from children. Kids see the world through eyes open wide, everything in wonder and amazement, with no judgment of anything or anyone, pure heart, love, care and concern for everyone and everything. They are pure innocence. The smallest things are so exciting and bring them so much joy. We should all remember to sing and dance, laugh outloud, hug, love, roll in the grass, play in the mud, write in the sand, run through the sprinklers, let the raindrops fall on our cheeks, and snowflakes fall on our eyelashes. Watch a Disney movie, go on a ride at an amusement park, run around the park, be silly sometimes, have fun and don't take life too seriously. Remember to work hard but also enjoy and have fun. Remember the simplicity of life as a child, and to keep that simplicity and bliss throughout our lives, even after our actual childhood has passed and we are grown up, but we can always keep that childlike spirit and remain a child at heart :-)

9/11 in NYC - 8 years later

There is nothing like being in New York City on 9/11, even 8 years later, it is a day to remember, and forever a part of this city, having changed the lives and skyline of Manhattan forever, so prayers to all, and wishes for peace in a world filled with chaos.

Photo credit: Newsday/Newsday Photo / Thomas A. Ferrara | Phoebe Bennett of Arlington Virginia speaks with her daughter Cordelia Davies in front of the light batteries for the Tribute in lights memorial near the old World Trade Center site on the evening of September 11, 2009. (Newsday Photo / Thomas A. Ferrara)

how cool!

Today is 9/9/09!!!!
:-)

Sink or Swim

We all have this choice in life - I choose to swim :-)



"Sink or Swim"

Kamikaze airplanes in the sky
Are we going down or will we fly?
This could be a shipwreck on the shore
Or we could sail away forevermore
This time it's sink or swim, sink or swim

Hearing the song in your laughter
A melody I chase after
No one else has done this to me

Take a deep breath
No more time left
This is what I thought I wanted
Why am I afraid?

NY is #2!!!

Chicago is America's most stressful city, according to Forbes magazine, which recently placed the Windy City ahead of New York on its list of the most stressful cities in the country.

New York was No. 2 for stress in the latest ranking. Detroit, Los Angeles, and San Francisco round out the top five.

Ranking No. 6 through No. 10 for stress were San Diego, Cleveland, Salt Lake City, Providence, R.I., and Philadelphia.

quote for love and life <3

"Did you say it, I love you, I don't ever want to live without you. You changed my life. Did you say it? Make a plan. Set a goal. Work toward it. And every now and then, look around. Drink it in. Cause this is it. It might all be gone tomorrow."
~Greys Anatomy

all it comes down to

I think stress, lack of water, lack of breathing & lack of peace are the main causes of all problems in life, from physical to mental to emotional. We all just need to chill :-) and especially to find some time for ourselves. Very important and necessary.

I've Got a Feeling!!!

I love the Black Eyed Peas so much. They are one of my all time favorite bands.
I bought their most current and recent album released in June of this year. It's called The E.N.D. - which stands for The Energy Never Dies.

Hear my fav song off of it - it's called "I Got a Feeling" and it's their 3rd top hit off their album.

This song makes me feel so alive inside, makes me want to jump around, up and down, and just throw my hands in the air and say "I love life, everything is great, everything is blissful!" because besides the beats, the music and the melody is amazingggggggg!!!!!

The melody and their voices rock and are beautiful, esp when they say "That tonight's gonna be a good night, oooo hoooooo" (and the voices go higher in pitch and it's so beautiful :-)

"I gotta feeling that tonight’s gonna be a good night
that tonight’s gonna be a good night
that tonight’s gonna be a good good night"

my new haircut!

Thank you Christella!!! :-)

beautiful quote <3

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
Leo Buscaglia

New Day

How I feel about myself and my own life :-)




Before the light I found the dark
Before tonight I feel apart
Frozen up I've realized that something's gotta change

It took a crash to understand
Time kept slipping through my hands
I never used to know
The sun will shine after the rain

Say goodbye, say goodbye to the way I was before
Say hello, say hello to a new way
I was lost, but I found what I was looking for
Waking up, waking up to a new day
To a new day

I was sleeping in a twisted dream
Dying just to make believe
A pretty situation was far from where I was

But I'm not up for giving up
Lying down and out of luck
My mistakes are in the open and know I'm finally coming clean

Cause everything, everything ends at the start
I'm healing and feeling all of my scars

dance of life ~ for my Nani <3

For anyone who has been affected by cancer themselves, or knows someone who has been affected by cancer - and won the battle, lost the battle, or is still struggling.......

"Choreographer Tyce Diorio put together a beautiful dance for Melissa and Ade on the July 22nd episode of So You Think You Can Dance. The dance was based on a woman struggling with breast cancer, and showing the way she deals, as well as how her friend might deal as well. The judges loved the dance, even guessing that it would get Tyce nominated for another Emmy."

My Nani is my grandma - she had breast cancer, but beat it and won her battle, and is a survivor, but many people also lose their battle or are still struggling.....prayers and hope, light and love to them all <3

See the power of the scarf that Melissa is wearing in the video - represents her struggle as someone who had to undergo chemo (well the character she is playing had to go through that) and the scarf is representing her struggle and her battle, and you see the desperation in her facial expressions, but also the beautiful hope in her dance and movements, and that she is not giving up her battle with cancer.

:-)

Practice and dance and judges comments showing the performance that touched everyone and brought them to tears

Just the dance

Song "This Woman's Work" by Maxwell

Messages from the people who posted the videos on youtube.com:
"This is from tonight's "So You Think You Can Dance" featuring Tyce DiOrio's courageous choreography, drawing attention to the turmoil of a woman struggling with breast cancer, and its affects on her partner. I found it very moving, since my own mother struggled though breast cancer herself, but was fortunate enough to survive.
Brilliantly and sensitively performed by Melissa and Ade, this was their second performance of the evening, and brought everyone to tears, including all of the judges.
To Dick Clark Productions and Fox: Please leave this posted. It is a strong and meaningful message and it will draw a bigger audience to the TV program."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Tonight's "So You Think You Can Dance" featuring Tyce DiOrio's stunning choreography, drawing attention to plight we face from breast cancer.
Every week I am touched by the beautiful dancers on SYTYCD
with their effort and creativity. Tonight my heart ached with love, hope and sorrow.
Melissa and Ade performed such a touching piece that brought tears to my eyes.
My dear Laura who lost her battle to cancer just over 1 years ago.. She is thanking
the performers Melissa and Ade, Tyce DiOrio, Fox, Dick Clark for allowing this message to be
watched by millions and with hopes that more will see this perfect performance with this posting.
I agree that this powerful creation should win an emmy in 2010.

To Maxwell - This Woman's Work and the strong and meaningful message it delivers I do hope this will draw attention to such a wonderful creation."

beautiful summer day in Central Park <3

Pic I took with my phone!!!

Central Park

July 5, 2009

Happy 4th of July!

My Sister's Keeper

I want to share this with you - this is a new movie, from the writers of "The Notebook", called "My Sister's Keeper." It has an all star cast.
Here is the link to the film:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1078588/
Just watching the trailer makes me cry and I haven't even seen the movie yet! But I see so much love, hope, togetherness, a strong sibling bond, and a family bond - a family who fights to stay together through all the tough times, and to do what is right for their family and for each other, support, care, love, and a family who fights for life for those they love.

I know it's going to be a beautiful family movie about fighting for those you love to live, and about becoming stronger and closer as a family, and that you will do anything for the life and love and bond and togetherness of family and what it means to be a family :-)
I've included the trailer below - definitely watch the entire trailer, listen to the dialogue, hear the music - I'm watching it again at work right now and I cannot stop tears from flowing down my face! In a good, beautiful way :-)
You will hear in the dialogue of the trailer how their older daughter is sick from - I think - renal failure, and they need a genetic match, so they decide to have another child - but during conception, they genetically create the embryo to have the genes to save the other daughter's life. They have another son also. And the trailer shows how this second daughter was born with a purpose, how she wants to save her sister's life and the bond she feels with her sister (thus the title, My Sisters Keeper) and how the disease both takes a toll on the individual, the family, but how love and bravery also brings them together.
Omg I am crying again just writing this! It's not sad crying, it's tears of being touched by the trailer, but more than that, touched by the characters, the dialogue, the music, the theme of love, family, unending care, fighting for life, being brave and tough in the face of any adversity - or like Mohit has shared with me - they aren't difficulties but really opportunities to make us stronger :-)

If the trailer makes me feel so much, I can imagine how I will feel about the movie. I want to see this movie, even though I will probably cry throughout the whole thing, but watching the trailer, feeling what I feel, seeing what I see and realizing what I realize from these beautiful themes, it makes me want to stand up and live my life to the fullest in every single second, that no matter what we face, no matter the ups and downs, life is good, things are good, and will only get better with each moment and each day, and that no matter what we struggle with, esp if it's health related like in the film or like in many of our lives, that we are not alone, that we have faith and God, and that we have love in our lives, family, friends, people who love us and who we love, people who will fight for us, stand by us, stand up for us, be brave with us and help us to be braver, be strong for us and help us to be stronger and never give up, and people who share light, peace, and positivity with us.

Life is beautiful, life is bliss <3
Enjoy :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdZZLdjBfCI

helpful info - airline, flight, and luggage tips

For those who like to fly or fly a lot or will be flying soon:

Airlines that still allow some free luggage to be checked in:
Choose an airline with no or lower fees for checked baggage. Southwest doesn't charge for checked bags, and some airlines, including Delta, AirTran, Virgin America, Alaska Airlines and JetBlue, still let you check one bag for free.

Pack light to make the most of your baggage allowance. Weigh your packed suitcases to make sure they don't go over your airline's weight limit, which is typically 50 pounds per bag. Be sure to leave room for souvenirs. If you don't know your airline's baggage weight limit, read your contract of carriage to find out how much each bag should weigh.

Weigh and measure your carry-on bag, too. Carry-on weight limits range from 16.5 pounds (Virgin America) to 40 pounds (Delta). Carry-on item dimensions vary by airline and type of aircraft. Some airlines don't publish carry-on bag weight limits on their websites, so it's a good idea to check your contract of carriage to be sure you know if such a limit exists.

If you fly often, stick to one airline so that you can build up enough frequent flyer miles to attain "elite" or "premier" status. Once you hit this milestone, you won't be charged checked baggage fees.

Rent large items you'll only use once or twice, such as golf clubs, skis, scuba gear, surfboards or bicycles. It's often less expensive to rent sports equipment than to check it as baggage, particularly if you already plan to check two bags. Some airlines charge as much as $100 for your third checked bag – and that's only for a one-way flight.

Personal tips I want to share with you about flying:
1) always pack your suitcase with items that you are prepared to lose if your suitcase doesn't make it to your destination (I have known many people whose luggage was misplaced, didn't make the connecting flight, lost, stolen). So pack things that you can buy again (clothes, shoes, etc and NOT personal memories, expensive things, etc).
The airline does not reimburse you for every single thing in your luggage, there is a limit. Plus personal items and memories are irreplaceable.

2) Always keep your carry on items in view, esp if they contain expensive items. People's laptop computers and other carry on baggage have been stolen from the overhead compartments so keep your carry on items with you or in view at least.
Don't trust anyone :-)

3) If you lose your luggage, keep calling the airport - they do not deliver it automatically to you.

Happy safe travels!
:-)

beautiful poem

On Marriage
Kahlil Gibran

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

Morning Motivation

My Mom got this nice email and shared it with me. I really love it :-)
<3

Morning Motivation When I woke up this morning lying in bed, I was asking myself What are some of the secrets of success in life? I found the answer right there, in my very room. Carry a Heart that Never Hates. Carry a Smile that Never Fades. Carry a Touch that Never Hurts. HAVE A PURPOSEFUL DAY!

springtime love <3

Pigeons playing, sparrows hopping, leaves twirling, flowers blooming, smiles & hugs, a flowing fountain in the midst of the downtown buildings, a cool breeze around us, the warm setting sun on our faces, the protective trees above us, springtime love in the park in NYC <3 bliss :-)

beautiful quotes about God

"Trusting in God does not make a big mountain small, it makes it easier to climb!"

"Faith is taking the first step, even when you cannot see the staircase."

Current music favs <3

Kelly Clarkson

"Already Gone"

This singer is amazing - Nick Pitera - I found out about
him while surfing youtube - his vocal range is INCREDIBLE!!!!

"A Whole New World"

"Already Gone" and "Halo"

thoughts

Sometimes we need a sign to know that what we choose is right for us. Sometimes we need light to guide us through the mist of confusion and feelings of being lost. Sometimes we think and do so much good for others, we have to remember to take care of ourselves as well, and probably firstly. We are a priority to ourselves and our own life. Take care <3

my favorite music quote

"Music Speaks What Cannot Be Expressed, Soothes the Mind and Gives It Rest, Heals the Heart and Makes It Whole, Flows from Heaven to the Soul."

<3

new Paula song!

I'm Just Here For the Music :-)