Brandon's Puppy

Cuba Nostalgia at a Glance

Here are some pics I took last weekend during the Cuba Nostalgia convention.

Here's the entrance to the hall.

Hey, Wanna Email Fidel?

Here's George, Steve and Julio hard at work....or is that hardly working?

What a beautiful sight!

Hope this gives just a little taste of this wonderful event!

Live Blogging, Day 3

Here I am, on the last day of Cuba Nostalgia.
As I was arriving at the booth, the great Israel "Cachao" Lopez was sitting on a bench between the two buildings that hold the exhibits. I shook the man's hand and gave him a kiss on the cheek. I am honored to have been able to meet such a legend. Check out Babalu Blog for details.
The convention ends in 4 hours, and we're already planning for next year! I don't mena to be reduntant, but this is truly an amazing experience.

Oh, and go wish my sister a happy birthday, will you? She turned 25 today, as I posted here.

Happy Birthday, Titi!!

Happy Birthday, my Titi. See you at your party. I love you!

A Quarter of a Century

25 years ago today, I was given a great responsibility--I became a big sister.
We are almost 4 years apart, and at times that takes its toll. Most of my childhood memories are of fighting with my little sister, over toys, over who gets to watch what, who gets what side of the room, things like that. But in those years, one thing was for certain, we were together.
My sister moved to Virginia in December, it will be six months on the 26th. She came back home to spend her birthday with her family, so we shall be seeing her later on today.
Maura, we're so glad we can share today with you. Happy Birthday, may you be as happy as you have made us.

Live Blogging, Night 2

Here I am again, live from the Cuba Nostalgia convention.
I got here at about 6PM this evening, and I've just now been able to sit down for a period longer than 30 seconds. There's been constant traffic. Several Babalu readers have come by to give their congratulations, and many have come by to see pictures from yesterday's Assembly to Promote Civil Society. Others have simply come in wondering if our "Email Fidel" sign is for real.
I've taken a few pictures, but these will probably not be up until after Sunday.
I am exhausted, but it's a good thing. Very worth it.

Blogging Live from Cuba Nostalgia

Hello everyone. I'm here live at Cuba Nostalgia, at the Babalu Blog booth. This place is amazing. It's almost 8 PM, and the traffic is starting to pick up. We expect tomorrow and Sunday to be a madhouse.
What a great feeling being here with all these people, young and old, with one goal in mind: A FREE CUBA!
This is truly a family event. Across the room is my mother and stepfather's art booth. There is a huge banner in the middle of the hall, at the "Mariel 25" exhibit for visitors to sign that will be sent to fidelito.
If you are in town, come on by and send fidel a little "love note"..HEHE!

LIVE FROM CUBA NOSTALGIA

Check out the Cuba Nostalgia convention live at Babalu Blog. And while you're there, send fidel an email or two.

This is a beautiful, beautiful thing you're doing, Tio. I'm so proud of you! And I'm so glad to be a part of it. See you tonight!

I am a Jedi Master!

May the Force be with you.

(Thanks, Yoda!)

It's a SWEEP!

Our beloved Miami Heat won Game 4 against the Washington Wizards last night, 99-95. They now get a well-deserved rest for a week or so until they face either the Detroit Pistons or Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals.

GOOD LUCK, GUYS! BRING IT HOME!!

Happy Mother's Day!

I received this via email last week, and it says everything I want to say on this wonderful day.
Happy Mother's Day, everyone. and thank you, God, for making me a member of this very special club a little bit over two years ago.

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with
sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with
Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's
okay honey, Mommy's here."
Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end
soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.
This is for all the mothers who show up at work with
spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses
and diapers in their purse.
For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies
and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who
don't.
This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies
they'll never see. And the mothers who took those
babies and gave them homes.
This is for the mothers whose priceless art
collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.
And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal
bleachers at football or soccer games instead of
watching from the warmth of their cars.
And that when their kids asked, "Did you see me,
Mom?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have
missed it for the world," and mean it.
This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in
the grocery store and swat them in despair when they
stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before
dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten
instead, but realize how child abuse happens.
This is for all the mothers who sat down with their
children and explained all about making babies. And
for all the (grand)mothers who wanted to, but just
couldn't find the words.
This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their
children can eat.
For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a
night for a year. And then read it again. "Just one
more time."
This is for all the mothers who taught their children
to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And
for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.
This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to
cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.
This is for every mother whose head turns
automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a
crowd, even though they know their own offspring are
at home -- or even away at college ~or have their own
families.
This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to
school with stomach aches, assuring them they'd be
just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from
the school nurse an hour later asking them to please
pick them up. Right away.
This is for mothers whose children have gone astray,
who can't find the words to reach them.
For all the mothers who bite their lips until they
bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.
For all the mothers of the victims of recent school
shootings, and the mothers of those who did the
shooting.
For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who
sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their
child who just came home from school, safely.
This is for all the mothers who taught their children
to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely
from a war.
What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience?
Compassion? Broad hips?
The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a
button on a shirt, all at the same time?
Or is it in her heart?
Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or
daughter disappear down the street, walking to school
alone for the very first time?
The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed
to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a
sleeping baby?
The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M.
when you just want to hear their key in the door and
know they are safe again in your home?
Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your
child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a
child dying?
The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our
thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through
diaper changes and sleep deprivation... And mature
mothers learning to let go.
For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.
Single mothers and married mothers.
Mothers with money, mothers without.
This is for you all. For all of us...
Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we
can. Tell them every day that we love them. And pray
and never stop being a mom..
"Home is what catches you when you fall - and we all
fall."
-Author Unknown