It's a Girl!!

IT'S A GIRL!!
Kaitlyn Marie Johnson
Born: April 28, 2006
6 lbs. and 15 ozs.
and 21 inches long
Mom and Katie are doing great!

Congratulations to Kathy & Mike!
We can't wait to see her :)

And also Congratulations to Stacy & Adam too!
They had their triplets 2 weeks ago!!
2 girls and a 1 boy :)
2 lbs each and doing well!
Lots of love & blessings to you guys!

(must be baby season this month;)

sun

Feliz nueve!!!!

Today is a special day because I met one of the coolest friends I have ever known 9 years ago today :)
Daniel Alejandro Velasco.
(visit his Blog HERE )
(OR HERE)
(although I like to call him Danielito, Hucasys, danvil, & Pescao too ja)
He is one of my VERY best friends and always will be :)
Ironic too, because we have never even met face to face!
Only by here, on internet. (which of course turned to postal mail, phone conversations by the hundreds of dollars, packages, etc etc. lol)
Dan lives in South America, Chile, although he is abroad at the moment living in Spain. (he followed a girl whom he loved to France, but it didn't work out (loooong sad story :( so he headed onto Spain where he now has a wonderful new girlfriend, Luisa, and by the email I recieved today, seems those two are moments away from tying the knot :) Wow! And here was a man determined to NEVER get married! ja.. "No Suzanne, I don't ever want to get married! Esta Loca? Nooo!" Lol... See? See what love does to you? :)
So Congratulations to you both! Daniel SO deserves to find happiness, esp after all he has been through the past few years!

I can't say enough about Dan... such a warrior in the true sense.
He has been such a good friend to me..
We have shared so much and he has helped open so many parts of me that I can't even begin to count -over the past years. So it is true to say that he is one of those people who makes you a better person for knowing him :) Yeah, he'll probably deny the whole idea jaja but it is true :)

So today I am smiling :) because I know we share this Earth together even though we are continents apart. Even though we both live so different, we also both live the same. I am smiling :) because it is a rare gift indeed, to find such a true friend in what I believe has become such a hostile crazy world at times. I am blessed! :)

Thanks for always being there Daniel!
Count on me not once, nor even twice, but simply, count on me :))

Sabes lejana en esta noche
de sabanas y viento
tu recuerdo me incendia vida
a fuego lento

Que hacen tus manos
que habla tu boca
quien duerme en tu mirada
quien tiene en cautiverio frio
la madrugada

En esta noche
En esta noche

Dile a la nube que ruegue al viento
y que obligue al albatros
que te traiga volando cielo
al sur y a mis brazos

En esta noche
en esta noche
en esta noche...

Te quiero, siempre...
Suzannita

I had to post some of my fav photos of Daniel over the past 9 years!!
I have too many to post but found these :)

















Is this the COOLEST picture ever????
Jaime Atenas from Congreso, Daniel and Pilar!! (sister in-law)
Ahh P.S. Feliz Cumpleanos to Pili today as well!!!)



















Daniel looking over Argentina.....






















Balia con migo or Borracho?? ja... maybe both.. ;-)




























Waking up in Algarrobo! Someday I will walk the beach in Algarrobo!! :)





















Fuma??? Yaaa!!! Daniel HATES fuma!! jaja... :)

Here's to 9 more years!! :)
Cantó porque el sentimiento,
cantó porque la amistad,
cantó por la realidad,
cantó por el sufrimiento,
cantó porque su talento
en la música desgarra
cantó porque las amarras
se soltarán de la gente,
se le oyó decir ausente
cantó porque la guitarra..... (:

Cora BellaMare

Is that not the most beautiful baby name ever? :)
Visit Rob and Amy's Blospot to see their most adorable new baby girl HERE...
Congrats to both of you again! You are so blessed! We can't wait to meet her :)

The Trees

In honor of Earth Day

The Trees by Rush:

There is unrest in the forest,
There is trouble with the trees,
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas.

The trouble with the maples,
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light.
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made.
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade.

There is trouble in the forest,
And the creatures all have fled,
As the maples scream "Oppression!"
And the oaks just shake their heads

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights.
"The oaks are just too greedy;
We will make them give us light."
Now there's no more oak oppression,
For they passed a noble law,
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw.
lol.....


Check out Earth911 HERE

Dharma Center!!!

They finally got it!!!!!
I am so happy! :))))))))
How cool is this???
They are also planning to create a cafe where friends can enjoy tea, coffee, conversation, and light snacks.
Can't wait to go!
Anyone interested in that cup of coffee? :-)



Dear friends,We did it! I am very happy to share that Wednesday evening, December 7th, only three years after our dream began of establishing a "permanent" home for Dharma on Long Island, the Center has purchased a building at 282 New York Avenue in the heart of Huntington village. Through the incredible support of the entire community, Dipamkara is now the owner of this 5,000 square foot building.

Our vision, inspired by Venerable Geshe-la, is that through the continued support of many, we can transform this building into a Kadampa Buddhist Temple where tens of thousands of people will learn how to find real, lasting happiness from within their own heart.

This beautiful accomplishment began with a Friday night meeting of about a dozen people at the Center with Gen Togden, our former Resident Teacher, to brainstorm ideas about the possibility of establishing a Kadampa Buddhist Temple on Long Island. Months later followed our inaugural event for the Temple project, a Temple Dinner at the Zen Palate in Westbury, followed by Halloween and Valentine's Parties, Bake Sales, Talent Shows, Kick-Off Events, a wild and wacky Rummage Sale, 4K Walks at Caumsett State Park, donations to the Merit Table and even collections of "loose" change! Capital campaigns, generous donations and loans from benefactors, along with all of the hard but joyous work of those involved over the course of the past year and a half, made this a most memorable and special event that is a tremendous milestone for the long-term development of Kadam Dharma on Long Island. Thank you for all of the ways that you have supported the Center throughout the past few years. In the future may we be able to help even more people live a happy and meaningful life by training their mind in the Dharma, or Buddha's teachings.
The following is an excerpt from a talk Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso gave about Dharma Centers:

"Dharma Centers provide special teachings, meditation and study programs, offering others the opportunity for spiritual development, and providing them with a real method for solving their daily problems and gaining true, everlasting happiness."

A great big "Thank You!" for your efforts in making this building purchase a reality. I hope to see all of you soon.

With Gratitude and Love,Kelsang Rigpa

A Vision for Inner Peace
Here
Midst the clutter and clatter,
Confusion and din
A Temple arises
Serene oasis of sanity
Key to peace.......

Gregs Band "Road Rage!"

Tony, JeanPaul and I checked out (Tony's brother) Greg's new band "Road Rage" on Saturday in Kings Park!
They were so awsome! We loved them :)
EVERY song was Relentless!! There was no letting up! Sabbath, Zeppelin, Deep Purple, The Who, Preist, AC/DC, Robin Trower.. and others. A MUST see to believe! I'll post here when they play out again! Ah yes, summer is coming indeed :)

Then Tony, Jean Paul and I went to see Jeff, Rob, and Greg (not the same Greg as earlier;) play down the street at another bar in Kings Park :) They got Tony up there to play Johnny Be Good of course :)
Sounded great on acoustic!
















And a special P.S.
"Congradulations to Rob who had a baby girl last month!!"
She's just beautiful!!

Chuck Before and After

Tony (point of reference) and Chuck with and without the beard.
Don't worry, he didn't cut the pony tail :)

Visit St. Baldricks HERE for more info or to get involved!

Happy Easter Weekend!!

Congrats to Matt & Joanne!!

Congradulations to Matt (drummer from The Moonshine Band) and Joanne!
They had a 9 pound baby boy last week (wednesday?)
Alexander :)

Happy Birthday Jason!!!

Happy Wonderful 33rd Birthday Jason!
(one of my oldest dearest friends:)
I shall have to find that photo of us taken 31 years ago and post it!!
(ah and the one of your first birthday covered in cake :)


Visit Jason's Cool Website HERE!

RENT

Tony and I rented the movie Rent (the musical) Friday night. We LOVED it!! We thought they did such an awsome job with it! (My mom and I saw the Broadway Production of Rent years ago and loved it!!) I loved how they filmed on the streets of New York City and the subway and the Parks. All the original cast members joined in the filming except Joanne (Maureen's girlfriend) and Mimi. The two new girls were just incredible and fit right in. I liked how they used dialogue at times that is usually sung although I have to say I was expecting some of the lyrics to be sung as I have always known it by heart. For instance: When Rogers answering machine goes on and his mom calls singing: "Roger, this is your mother..." etc. etc. The movie version of this part is spoken now and I have to say strangely enough, it disapointed me because I was expecting, "Roger, this is your motherrrrrr" lol... I also was disapointed with the deleted scenes that are on disk 2. They should have left ALL those IN! They were incredibly poignant - pivitol moments and songs! For instance, the scene between Roger and Mark, when Roger is leaving and gong to Santa Fe. They exchange some pretty serious words through song!! They weren't long scenes either.. and I thought they should have left them ALL in- as to stay TRUE to the original score and Broadway production. I guess I also have one more complaint about the movie: (although don't get me wrong, we really loved it overall!!) At times, the music was so powerful, that it overpowered the vocal lyrics being sung! This kind of drove me crazy! The lyrics are so important! And I am one of those active type listeners! ;) The CD version isn't like that at all nor was the Broadway production vocals. I also am pretty sure they also left out a song!!! So I'll probably go back to my recording and see which one as I forget the exact name except for some lyrics ;)
I also liked the alternate ending better (which I usually never do lol) with Angel rejoining the stage and cast. (I just adore Angel!!!!!!!!) That's what they did on the Broadway Stage.
























The second disk also had a wonderful special feature about the wonderful late Jonathan Larson, who wrote Rent. What an incredible story! Such ironic tragic timing for such a talanted light force in our world. Just a devestating loss for us all. We are so lucky to have his powerful musical Rent.
"I want to write music. I want to sit down, right now,at my piano, and write a song that people will listen to,and remember -- and do the same thing, every morning,for the rest of my life." Jonathan Larson..



















Two thumbs way up from us! What are you waiting for?
Go see the play or better yet, rent Rent!! :)

Happy Rhodes/Kate Bush Film!

THIS JUST IN FROM VICKIE!! :))))

Happy met with two filmmakers who are going to be
making a documentary for Dutch public television about Kate
Bush. She got along with them famously, and has agreed to be
interviewed for the documentary. They'll be filming with her
later this summer. At first you might think that it being for
Dutch TV, few people outside of Europe would see it, but a
longer version is going to be released theatrically (for "the
Indie circuit" as Happy put it) so who knows, it just might come
to a theater near...well, whoever lives in a city with art
houses, anyway. But that also means it might be available on DVD
in North America. I don't know how much of Happy we'll see...I
assume her bit will be part of "other artists influenced by
Kate" but if they play her music, I just might die of a
happiness heart attack in the theater!

Gretchen Rau

Gretchen Rau
3.29.06

Our friends mom, Gretchen Rau, sadly passed away on Wednesday.
Gretchen was an amazing woman. She just won an Academy Award Oscar for Best Art/Set Decoration for the beautiful movie Memoirs of a Geisha. Her filmography work is just outstanding!

The movie industry will not be the same without her.
Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with her, Jean Paul, and her family.