According To Tango Singer Carlos Gardel, "Twenty Years Is Nothing".

After six years of retirement, last night I had a vivid intense dream about a situation that I had to face on a daily basis with my former employer. Not sure if I should categorize it as a dream or as a nightmare. 

Dreamt that I was still working at the health center facing the same challenges with our clinic mental health department in order to assist our HIV/AIDS patients. Sometimes HIV/AIDS patients are dealing with a myriad of psychosocial conditions rather than a simple dual diagnosis. From sexual abuse, PTSD, major depression, chronic physical diseases, drug addiction, on top of their HIV diagnosis.

It was a constant frustration dealing with the long wait times for appointments trying to assist a patient in crisis who needed immediate attention. Not to mention the unqualified staff, and dealing with individuals who are indifferent and lack the empathy to the plight of the less fortunate. 

I was so frustrated in the dream, that I forced myself to wake up. As much as I miss my old job and loved what I did at the health center, I don't know how I lasted so long. Carlos Gardel sang the line "que veinte años no es nada" (that 20 years is nothing) in the classic 1935 tango "Volver". Twenty-six years is a long time. It is exhausting dealing with unqualified staff who lack both skill and basic work ethics, and coworkers who ignore human needs instead of offering support.

Chasing Childhood Motorcycle Dreams

Before I purchased my first bike in 1974, I used to visit my hometown motorcycle dealership, MotoCentro del Oeste in Mayaguez, P.R., when it was closed at night to drool over the new motorcycles. Lots of thoughts those days about buying my dream motorcycle.

The Power of Music

I attended the first Percussion class workshop in Philadelphia last Saturday. There were a total of 15 adults in the class; I was surprised as to how quickly the workshop went. 

Had the opportunity to watch a group of children take their music class first, and a group of women learning to dance Plena; therefore, I am glad I arrived early. 

The music helped me to get into the mood, motivated me and helped me relax. To my surprise, learning the instrument it is not as difficult as I initially thought. I am looking forward to my next lesson next Saturday.

The Possibilities Are Endless

I've come to realize that when it comes to GoPro, the choices on where to mount a GoPro to a motorcycle, are endless. I have so many places to mount the camera on my bike and have purchased so many different bracket adapters and accessories, that I feel overwhelmed with all the choices at my disposal.

Despite having all these options, I keep going back to what feels most comfortable to me, the helmet chin mount. I should stop fighting the desire to find new camera mounts, and rather use what is the easiest and most familiar mount to me. I believe that that will allow me to create and capture motorcycle riding videos more frequently.

Estampa Tradicional del Jibaro Puertorriqueño

Ayer hablando con unas amistades, salio el tema de vivir en los campos de Puerto Rico. Eso me hizo recordar cuando mi papa nos llevaba al pueblo Las Marias a visitar la finca de la familia de su segunda esposa. Era el 1964, en aquel tiempo yo tenia solo 8 años. 

La ruta para llegar al campo de Las Marias era un poco tediosa y aburrida; muchas curvas y habia que subir y bajar montañas en una carretera bien angosta. Lo peor era que cuando llovia, para llegar a la casa de la finca habia que dejar el carro abajo en una esquina de la carretera. La calle en esa comunidad de Las Marias no estaba pavimentada, y teniamos que caminar a pie subiendo por una calle de barro. 

La suegra de papa vivia en una casa bien modesta, era una casa de madera con techo de zinc. Ella recogia los granos de cafe de la finca, y los tendia sobre una tela de saco al frente de la casa para que se tostaran con el sol. Debajo de la casa, existia un espacio con una pendiente empinada donde ella molia y trituraba los granos de cafe a mano usando un molino de hierro con una manivela. Ese espacio debajo de la casa olia a puro cafe.  

Me encantaba visitar la finca, era inmensa. Aparte del cafe, en la finca habia arboles de chinas, guayaba, aguacates, panas, platanos y guineos, etc.  En la parte baja de la finca existia una pequeña quebrada o arroyo. Ella no tenia animales, pero los vecinos de ella si. Habia de todo, desde gallinas, gallos de pelea, y guineas. La primera vez que vi una guinea fue en la finca del vecino de ella. Tenian dozenas de guineas. 

No olvido lo mucho que me encantaba caminar solo por la finca. Era relajante y brindaba un efecto calmante escuchar el sonido de la brisa mecer y balancear las ramas de los arboles. Caminando en la vereda de la finca, se escuchaba el sonido de las cotorras, y el sonido del agua corriendo en la quebrada en la distancia. 

Esta mañana me levante con deseos de tratar de recrear una imagen que ilustre aquellas buenas memorias de la infancia. Una lastima que no existen fotos de aquellos tiempos. Dicen que a veces los mejores momentos son esos que quedan grabados en la memoria, porque los sentimos y los llevamos en el corazon.

Teriyaki Chicken

After exercising my constitutional right to vote yesterday, I had lunch at my favorite Japanese restaurant, FUWA Japanese Teriyaki in Center City, Philadelphia. I love Teriyaki Chicken !!!

Despues de ir a votar ayer, el hambre me estaba matando, y me antoje de comer un plato de mi comida Japonesa favorita. Fui a FUWA Japanese Teriyaki, al lado de la alcaldia (City Hall) en el centro de Filadelfia (Center City). Me encanta el pollo Teriyaki !!!

Today's The Day of the 2026 Midterms Elections - Please Vote

Today's The Day! Please Vote. 

If you didn't mail in a ballot, or vote early, please make sure you vote today.

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¡Hoy Es El Dia! Por Favor, Vota.

Si no enviaste tu boleta por correo ni votaste de forma anticipada, asegurate de votar hoy.