Amour & Besos

Every where we went there were couples holding hands, kissing, being affectionate, and sharing intimate moments. You can feel the love and enery of genuine kindness as you explore Brazil.

Corcovado

Our first tour took us to Corcovado which is 710 meters high in to the mountains and gave a sweeping panoramic view.  The statue of Christ the Redeemer is the crowning jewel of Rio.   

Those who really know me understand this photo.

 ....and those who saw the pic from Halloween 2009, know why I have that grin on my face. 

There's No Place Like Home: Lafayette, Louisiana

The Catherdral of Saint John The Evangelist.  The first church in Lafayette Parish was "l'Eligise St. Jean du Vermillion" built on a gift of land donated by Jean Mouton in 1821. In 1824 he donated land for a court house and founded Vermillionville, which is now Lafayette.

See where the sign says "Crawfish & Spinich Boat" ....maaaaaaan! It was so good. Imagine the flavors of a cream based crawfish ettoufee (blanc sauce) with spinich served over a bread bowl.  It was an instant 10 pounds and at least 3 hours of extra cardio, but very much worth it. Yummy!

I was stalking her shrimp po-boy, but had no room left after "The Boat" mentioned above. :(

Artists from around the world come to Lafayette and exhibit their creations.  This exhibit was stunning and life-like.  Crowds of people stood at the booth and looked on in astonishment and appreciation.

Atraversiarmo: Let's Cross Over

Atraversiarmo means "Let's Cross Over" in Italian. Each time I travel from Houston to Louisiana, I cross over several bridges.  This one is over the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge.  I am inspired by sunsets so it was a great capture. Funny thing, I wasn't trying too hard or overthinking it. I was actually driving..so I just held the camera in one and snapped without even looking.

Discovery Green Turns 3

Discovery Green celebrated it's third anniversary with a free performance by Galumpha, a trio of acrobatic dancers performing "movement magic" and "human architecture" making their first apperance in Houston.

Discovery Green is a 12-acre urban park located in the Downtown Houston. In its first three years, the park welcomed more than three million visitors and hosted more than 800 public and private events.  Discovery Green has become one of my favorite spots in Houston. Happy Birthday!

Read Every Day

Last week I visited Thompson Elementary School with my Leadership Houston Classmates.  The faculty, staff and students were amazing.  They create a winning learning environment with very limited resources.  This bulletin board struck me because I am an avid reader and reading has always been a huge part of my life. Any one who has seen my bookshelves can attest to that!  Reading opens the mind to possibilities, fosters an active imagniation, and sparks creativity. Please take the time to read to a child or have them read to you.  It will lay a solid foundation for the rest of their lives.

SLAM Magazine 2011 Final Four Event

I won't post all of the photos here. This photo represents so much more than ya'll see.  My dear friend was once an editor at SLAM.  He always sent me the issues hot off the press and I'd read them from cover to cover. He helped me in ways I can't even begin to explain. I, in turn, helped someone else accomplish a goal.  That person pays it forward by continuing to help me and others. 

 The lesson:  Life comes full circle. Don't hoard your gifts.

Give them and help others. It all comes back...plus some.

Sidenote:  Shout out to my girl for posing for the pic.  Thanks, Doll. :)