A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words

This is a painting that a neurologist in Corpus Christi,  Dr.  Juan Bahamon, donated for a benefit. Sammy Giraldo is the son of  Dr. Jose Giraldo, a mathematician at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi and a very dear friend of mine.  I have known Jose and his family for five years. They are, in short, at the top of my list of loyal and dear to my heart. Sammy got into medical school at Ross University, but then red tape and immigration have entrapped him and prevented him from returning this semester. It's quite a story you can read about here. So, Sammy's friends had a benefit to help raise the money needed to re-enter school. Hence, the painting -- part of a silent auction held at the benefit. The lighting does not do it justice...believe me, it is magnificent.

I fell in love with this painting the minute I laid my eyes on it. The roseate spoonbill is prolific in Corpus Christi, and also in Ecuador, where this composition was originally photographed before painted as seen here. You can see the water falling from one of the bird's beaks as it 'sifts' the food while sloshing the water in it's wide, spoon-shaped beak. The featheration of the bird in the center is ... amazing. Such an elegant creature captured in such an unusual pose...I had to bid on it. I spent the remainder of the evening making sure no one upped my bid. And left -- hoping it would be mine in the morning.

It's now in my living room, a centerpiece above the couch, surrounded by a blue wall...the first thing you notice when you enter that space. I love it, it's perfect, and so unusual.

Sammy's fate is still to be determined. Only God knows what will happen and I pray His will is done. As for the painting, it reminds me that while trying to help Sammy, I was rewarded with one of the most amazing pieces of artwork I have ever come across.

There are many more amazing things happening in my life -- all part of the collective whole becoming larger than the sum of the parts. Blessed beyond measure.

Rain Forest Renovation at Moody Gardens

You may remember Hurricane Ike came and tore up Galveston three years ago. Galveston is coming back, and it's great to see an absence of blue tarped roofs and more people on the Island. Some things will not be replaced, but one thing that did get renovated was one of the displays at Moody Gardens. A visit to a rain forest in ...Texas. Yeah. Really cool.

John Muir was always a favorite - he and Aldo Leopold are my top wildlife conservationists....

Here is one of the prettiest features at the rainforest :)

Giant River Otter - yes GIANT river otter!

Orchids abound -- just beautiful:

Some parrots - obviously in love!

Swallow-tailed butterfly:

A monkey - check out his face. Super cute!

A chinese alligator:

Super pink birds - curlew I think:

Parrots taking a break:

So many cool plants I could not begin to get photos of all of them:

Love the blue!

We had a great time!! There's lots more to see - totally recommend going and getting back in touch with what's really important.

Bountiful Blessings

1.  Scott came for a visit this week. We had a blast - even though I had to work. Much great conversation with intermissions involving gelatto from my favorite source...and great times. Love you Scott!
2. A paper my friend Olga and I wrote was accepted WITHOUT ANY REVISIONS -- this is a first for me, and practically unheard of. I am elated. It is going into Journal of School Science and Mathematics - a peer reviewed journal and highly respected in my field. I am going to get the copyright form in QUICK before they change their mind :)
3. I won another teaching award - the last that, due to budget cuts, will be given by Texas A&M University system. I was amng the top 3% of student evaluations for all system faculty. I am so thankful to my students. A nice stipend -- saving so I can see my family in California and West Virginia.

Such abundant blessings!!

First slide of the summer session

...yup. A speeding freight train. The first powerpoint slide to greet students during this summer session of teaching. "This is you in this class. We cover one week of the regular semester at every class meeting. If you are taking 2 other courses, or are working a job, or have 3 kids at home or a husband/boyfriend that thinks you are 'off' for the summer, please go and drop this course. Because if you can't hang on the train, you're gonna get left behind."

 Problem is, you-know-who has keep far enough ahead of the train so that she doesn't get run over....