Do not touch

I am convinced that someone dropped my other lens. The repair man said that it was destroyed inside. I haven't dropped it and can't explain how it got damaged so bad.

That leads me to believe that someone in my house was taking pictures with my camera and dropped it. It could have been that I left it too close to the edge of the table and someone bumped into it. I don't know but it doesn't feel correct.

Well, the new lens is working well. I can't wait to take some pictures when I go to Honduras next week. I'll come back and post some of the pictures. It's going to be fun.

Friends and family

These are my friends (left to right) Sonia, Willie, and my niece Jenny. The picture was taken in Central Park at the onset of spring 2010. It was one of those boring Sundays where you have the energy and want to do something but don't know what. It was beautiful outside and after the winter we had I just wanted to enjoy the sun. I called my sister and a few friends and headed to the city.

WE walked a lot that day going from the East side by the zoo to the West Side by the Apple store on Broadway. My sister and niece gave up and took a cab back to their car on the East side. I don't remember what I did next but I'm sure it was fun. I always have fun with my family and friends even if we don't do anything. We can sit on the sofa watching movies and messing with each other until we get into a cushion fight or something like it. There is always something to do.

cell overload

This is one of those days where nonconformity shakes up the creativity cells in my brain and gets me thinking the entire day. I go from room to room exploring every single detour on my path. Where the road splits I usually go right. Every time I go left I do so with a bit of trepidation, not sure why.

What that has to do with flower? Nothing. That goes to show you how fast my mind is racing today.

I think the light on this picture is way to harsh. I need it to diffuse the light for a smoother finish. My lens broke. Marty said looks like it was dropped but I didn't drop it. It's kind of mess up because that is my only lens. I almost bought one the other day but revisited at the end, it cost almost $800. That is too much. The lens is a Nikon 18-200 mm. f3.5 VR, It's not the best lens; I'd love to have some thing that could allow more light but, but I'll be happy with this one.

I want to take it with me to Honduras net week. I've been told to be careful for this or for that; and have read on some of the travel websites, as well as the US Department of State to be very careful with thieves, and even murderers. Why am I still going? Could the lens attract unwanted attention? There are lots of things to consider. However, any respected photographer would bring a lens or two of great quality. After all their jobs depend on taking great pictures.

I know I'm rambling. Bye.

New lens

I don't have any pictures to post today. I do want to inform my huge public that I just purchased a new Tamron lens for my camera. The old one broke and it was just as expensive to fix it than to get a new one. I didn't buy the same lens, though. I wanted a Nikon lens but couldn't afford it. Actually, my conscience wouldn't allow me to buy. But I did buy a cheaper brand but that I hope will still give me high quality photos.

I really rather not talk about it naymore becuase I still want the Nikon lens and the more I think about it the more I'm inclined to return the Tamron and get the other one.

Let me stop.

Cake Baking

This is the funniest and most delicious cake I've ever baked. My brother, my sister, and I have our birthday's on the same month. My other sister missed March by one day. We decided that for our birthday's we each would bake a cake and make a cake competition out of the occasion.

We thought it would be fun and different; it turned out to be that and more.






My brother baked a cake in the form of Puerto Rico with the flag on top. It had coquies, tropical fish, and a sea made of coconut. My sister went all out and made a cake in the form of an amusement park with a carousel, tigers, and so on.

My cake turned out to be a mess. I tried using fondant but the temperature in my kitchen dissolved the sugar and rendered it unusable. So there I was with a chocolate cake without frosting and I had spent all the money I had on tips and other cake stuff. I went to the store with five dollars and bought rice crispies which I glued to the sides of my cake and then I painted on it.

To say that we laughed that day is an understatement. My sides and stomach hurt of so much laughing. I am now honing my cake baking skills getting ready for next year. So far no much progress to report.

Leaving Iraq

I am a soldier. I left the Army and Navy many years ago but the time I spent serving the country stayed with me to this day.

The things you learn, the experiences you take with you, and the friendships you make directly impact you who will become once you walk away from any of those institutions. It changes your life forever.

I was one of the lucky ones not affected negatively by being in a war. I don't wake up in the middle of the night sweating because of nightmares and I still have all my limbs. Today, thousands of soldiers leave Iraq putting an official end to the war. Our heroes won't be home anytime soon but at least they are out of harm's way. About fifty thousand troops are still in the country but not in a combat capacity. Still we hope that sometime soon all of them are back with their families.

Thanks to all our soldiers.

New York at night

I went up to the top of the Empire State Building a couple of nights ago. I went up there with my cousin who was visiting from Puerto Rico and had never been to the building.

When I called to see if they were still open the person who answered the phone told me that if visibility dropped then they would close early, but it turned out to be a very beautiful night. You could see all the boroughs and New Jersey. I do not get tired of looking at New York from that elevation especially at night. The cars look like LEDs on an electronic panel, and all the lights against the deep black it is just amazing.

WE went up to the 102 floor. Once you reach the 86th floor they make you take a older elevator; one of those where you have to move the level back and forth to make it move. An older gentleman, I figure he help build the building itself by the looks of his age, was in charge of taking you up and down. "I hope you enjoy your visit to the Empire State Building" he said, mechanically. I felt tired just by looking at him.

My cousin really enjoyed the visit to the Empire State Building. I'm glad he did; I take pride in showing off my city, more so to people that have never been here before.

Did you know that the electricity used to power this building for one day is enough to power alight bulb for 100 years? Go ahead and drop by 34th street and Fifth Ave for a unique experience on top of New York's tallest building: the Empire State.