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.

Banking

Can you get excited about banking? I guess you could if you were depositing large amounts of money in your account, which is not my case. I am excited about banking, though. I especially like mobile banking by Chase.

I have an iPhone and Chase has an application that allows me to make check deposits from the comfort of whenever I am. Take a couple of pictures of your check, click here and there, ans voila you made a deposit. No lines, no ridiculous music, no salesperson trying to sell you Chase stock.

I wonder how far are we going to go with this technology thing. My friend related my experience to that of Wallie; fat people lounging all day long just pressing buttons to have their food, drinks, laundry, and yes, banking done for them. Let's see if I'm there: fat, almost there; lounging all day long: only on weekends, clicking here and there for some of life's most annoying chores: we are there.

Technology is our friend. It is up to us to use the time we gain by simplifying many of the usual tasks we do in a productive way. We are managers of own lives.

I have to go and deposit two more checks.

Chinese Food

Chinese food has a bad rap. People can't stop associating my favorite food with cats and dogs. It is a shame.

One of my favorite restaurants in the city is Ollie's. The place is clean and the food is great. There fried rice is amazing and the vegetables that accompany every dish are fresh. As soon as you sit down a friendly staff welcomes you with some hot tea. It is almost always green tea but I had occasion where they served black tea. Either way it is refreshing even when hot.

I also like the neighborhood Ollie's is at; in the upper West side. There are plenty of stores and the movie theater is across the street. Next time you hit the Loews on 68th street in Manhattan for a movie, get there an hour earlier and have some Chinese food at Ollie's.

About the bad rap and the unfair associations with animals; I have tested dog and it is nothing like what I've had at any Chinese restaurant in New York.

Jealous of merchandising

You are walking hands in hands with your partner and you notice she is looking at the huge sign taking three display windows. The sign shows a man wearing nothing but jeans, half his buttocks exposed. You already know when she likes something; and this she likes.

Should I care? Should I get jealous that this woman, walking right besides me, now wants a man that at present time is not even real. My brain tells me that I'm the idiot here if I even say something but being a man I am a bit reasoning deficient. So I ask... "What? You like him better than me?" Just as soon as the words come out I know, instantly, that I said something stupid. Yet I wait for an answer. I can't just apologize and move on. Now I have to meet her silence with another stupid comment. "Want me to drop my pants like that?" Even I know that the sight would be nothing like the man in the sign. Bless her heart for putting up with the extra pounds I carry. Now I'm hoping she says no because it would be embarrassing to pose like that man. I don't think I can do it even if I tried; I might get down but I'm not going to get up.

Bored

What is the purpose of writing if no one reads. I am getting bored with this assignment; I find it without purpose and there are definitely no rewards. No one gives you feedback, no one cares what you write about, and no one gives a shit.

How do I know that what I'm doing is the right thing? How do I learn from this? I can't even make money by monetizing this blog because no one visits.

I have no choice but to continue with this assignment for another two or three weeks; then I'm stopping altogether. I think I may even delete the blog. Hey, it could be that today I'm very tired. I have been listening t people's problems for a whole day. I, contrary to the people that make me write on this damn blog, care about what others have to say.

Manhattan

The night was hot and the air was thick and sticky.
I thought about staying home; the ac pumping cold air and making me feel comfortable, but I decided to drive to Manhattan and walk around.

I drove through Queens and crossed the 59th street bridge. I found parking around 68th and walked towards Lincoln Center. The fountain was lit and people gathered around it, taking pictures, and admiring the symphony of water noises as the water from the fountain jumped all over the place.

I also had some very good and tasty gelato. There wre about 2o flavors to choose from which it always makes it difficult for me since I like them all. I thought the colors looked somewhat pretty so I took a picture of the gelato selection. The display made them all feel so inviting that I had two scoops; one of vanilla and the other one was mint. After awhile I went to the movie theater at 68 street to watch "Despicable me". It was better than I expected and I had a great time. I do this things once in awhile. Hit the city by
myself and be just another tourist. New York is a very inviting place even if you are just wondering about by yourself. There is always something new that attracts your attention and the way you feel, knowing that for a couple of hours at least, it's just you in one of the biggest cities in the world, is exhilarating..

Colors

I don't know if it's true but they say dogs see in black and white. Although I do like black and white photography I am glad that we get to see in color. Differentiating objects by their shape, smell, or feel is interesting but adding color to our environment changes the whole picture, pun intended.

The picture to the left is of flowers in a supermarket stand in Ridgewood, NY. They are beautiful to look at and they make a nice composition.

Now look at the same exact picture in black and white. It loses its magic. So that is what color is to me: the magic that makes our brains enjoy the things we like to do. Even marketers use color to their advantage. A restaurant will paint their walls red or a shade of it to get out the door quickly. A cafe may paint their walls blue to make feel at home, relaxed, and to allow you to linger a bit longer.

Watch commercials about depression and you'll notice that they represent depression as black and white; once you take their pill the whole world becomes alive with color.

I think we all need a little bit of more color. When you feel down or in a bad mood try looking at colorful things and you'll see how quickly your mood turns around. At least that works for me.

Canyon of Heroes

This is one of my favorite pictures. It was taken during the 2009 Yankee Championship celebration in Manhattan.

The parade took place in the Canyon of Heroes and there were thousands of people celebrating with the NY Bombers. At the end of the parade, after everyone took off, Broadway was left out littered with tons of papers and ticker tape. I was trying to get a photo of the street when this man cut me off and put himself in the frame. A soft breeze picked up his coat at the bottom and I snapped away.

After I got home I started playing with the colors and came up with this shot. Just enough color
to make it interesting. I have a long way to go in making my pictures look better but I enjoy the process of changing them.

Doors

Doors are mysterious. You never know what's behind them even if it's a door you know. Is someone hiding behind it? Is there any mail waiting patiently on the floor to be picked up?

If it is a door you haven't open before the mystery is even bigger. What kinds of smells or visual motivations lurk waiting for you? My friend works as a recruiter. She knocks on doors for a living and has many stories to tell. Once she stood in front of a twenty-something year old, recruiting the young fellow while he listened patiently and naked to her speech. It turned out he wasn't interested.

I myself have found surprises behind known and unknown doors. A meat cleaver once came down on me shining on the kitchen light before splitting open my head. I can still remember the warmth of my blood as it came down my face. Doors are mysterious, indeed.

I also like doors because people can't leave them alone. Some reek of urine, while others provide shelter to the homeless. A door can instill fear of what, or who, is inside or it can bring back memories of good old times. I simply think that doors are fun in the way a hunted house or a scary ride is fun.

Japanese Garden

The path turned sharply right hiding from view the wooden gate, doors now ajar, that welcomed us into the Japanese Garden. As soon as I saw it I knew I wanted a black and white of it.

From the time you cross it Japanese flora surrounds you; I won't even try to mention the flowers and trees names because I didn't stop to learn their names. I was there to photograph nature using my style. I can take five to ten pictures of the same object from the same location; the exact same picture. I do change the settings on my camera and then I study them to see which aperture or f-stop gave me the best results.

The one reason I like black and white photography is because the picture takes on a different aspect that goes beyond just the lack of color. It makes my mind wonder into a time in the past in a way that color photography doesn't do it. I also find b&w photography more artistically satisfying.

It is amazing how nature uses colors to bring you peace. I could sit in a corner in the Japanese Garden looking at the koi pond and enjoying the greens and reds and yellows, all in a canvas of perfection. Add to the same canvas a colliding force of chirps, waterfalls, and children laughter to make a day at this amazing place one to remember.