speakout

I bought my first piece of art! It’s not just any piece either, it is a painting by a Hispanic, female artists, Celia Casarez. I attended an art auction hosted by Plaza de la Raza, a nonprofit organization that provides arts education and serves as an art center and school for visual and performing arts. LAGRANT COMMUNICATIONS was one of the sponsors for the event and I was happy to attend my first art auction.

There were two auctions happening that day: one was a silent auction and the other was a live auction. Looking through the gallery of the silent auction art pieces, it was very interesting to see the many different works by Hispanic artists. I was very proud to see not only the beautiful artwork, but was very happy to meet many of the artists as well. Getting toward the last set of pieces in the gallery, one caught my attention right away. This particular painting is titled, La Virgen (The Virgin Mary, pictured above). (more…)

Four NFL players with roots in Nigeria visited the country in March to establish scholarships at 10 Nigerian universities, distribute HIV testing kits to clinics and dig water wells during a a mission called Athletes in the Diaspora: Community Interventions. The participating players were Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora, Houston Texans defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, and Chicago Bears defensive linemen Adewale Ogunleye and Israil Idonije. Plans are in progress to return to Nigeria in 2009 and to visit another African nation in 2010. Source: New York Times

Golf sensation Lorena Ochoa was named one of the most influential people by TIME magazine. She was not only recognized for her domination of the 2007 LPGA tour but also for her philanthropic work. She founded the Fundación Lorena Ochoa in 2004 to provide disadvantaged children with academic resources and is the leading benefactrix of the elementary school La Barranca located in her hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico. Source: TIME

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How could I have forgotten?  How could I have let it slip my mind?  Well it did and I paid the consequences this Saturday.  Instead of going to the beach for my walk, I fought the crowds at the mall looking for a last-minute Mother’s Day gift.  And don’t tell me I had all day Saturday.  My family celebrates Mother’s Day on May 10.  So needless to say I’m calling my voyage through the mall my exercise for Saturday.  Did I sweat?  No.  Did I bend down, stretch, reach, hop a little (I’m short) to get to various items.  Yes I did.  All for the perfect Mother’s Day gift.  But wait.  Last week was not all a lost cause.  To add to my exercise routine, the elevator in the parking structure where my co-workers and I park has been out for I don’t know how many weeks.  So every day after work, heels or flats, I make my way to the 5th floor via the stairway.  And let me tell you, it’s not getting any easier.  Did I mention I went dancing last week?  My muscles were hurting the next day!  So although I may have fallen off track remembering Mother’s Day, I stayed on track by being active in other ways beside walking on the beach and getting sand in my shoes, and my car, and my house.   After all it’s all about staying active and having fun!