70 Años De Vida

Por primera vez en mi vida, decidi celebrar mi cumpleaños todo el mes. El 4 de abril del 2026 cumpli 70 años. Este pasado mes celebre un año más de vida, agradeciendo por la salud, la familia y las personas que alegran mis días. Este mes celebre mucho mas que un cumpleaños, celebre una vida llena de momentos inolvidables. Es el momento perfecto para valorar el amor propio y recibir una nueva etapa con gratitud, alegría y metas renovadas! ¡Feliz cumpleaños para mi!

My birthday celebration lasted the entire month of April, for the first time ever. April 4th of 2026 was my 70th birthday. This month, I celebrated much more than just a birthday, I celebrated a life filled with unforgettable moments. I celebrated another year of life, giving thanks for my health, my family, and the people who brighten my days. It is the perfect moment to give thanks for my health, cherish self-love, and welcome a new chapter with gratitude, joy, and renewed goals! Happy 70th birthday to me!

Bienvenido a la Jungla de Cemento

En los muchos años que vivi en Brooklyn, siempre detestaba manejar la motora en Manhattan, por eso preferia viajar en el subway. Todos los años la cifra de accidentes y muertes de transito en la Gran Manzana era una cosa fuera de lo normal. 

No se como es ahora, pero en aquellos tiempos los choferes de los iconicos taxis amarillos (Yellow Cabs) se peleaban los pasajeros. Manejaban muy negligentemente, haciendo maniobras agresivas y cortes de pastelillos sin importarles si causaban accidentes, especialmente si el otro vehiculo era una motora.

Manejar en la ciudad de New York es comunmente conocido como "manejar en una jungla de cemento". Para poder sobrevivir guiando en la Gran Manzana, hay que ser agresivo como ellos y estar constantemente pendiente del trafico y los peatones impredecibles. 

A pesar que las estadisticas de muertes por accidente de transito se redujeron en New York al nivel mas bajo en la historia por primera vez en el 2025, nadie debe perder la vida caminando, manejando carro o motora, ni corriendo bicicleta en la ciudad.

Desde La Comodidad De Mi Hogar

El avion llamado Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, es un avion de combate que se utilizo durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial. En los ultimos años he querido visitar Massey Aerodrome Air Museum en Maryland o Mid Atlantic Air Museum en Reading, Pensilvania para tomar fotos del avion junto a mi Kawasaki Ninja ZX14. Por alguna razon u otra no se ha dado la oportunidad. Gracias a la tecnologia de Inteligencia Artificial, anoche logre hacerlo desde la comodidad de mi hogar. 

Ayer tambien logre hacer una foto de la 1974 Kawasaki Z1 900 con mis colores favoritos. Estos son los colores que voy a tratar de utilizar en mi 1978 Kawasaki LTD cuando este viviendo en Puerto Rico. En mi opinion, las dos fotos quedaron espectaculares!

Ladrones y Bandidos del Salvaje Oeste

Cuando yo era niño, una de mis series de television favoritas era "The Wild Wild West", protagonizada por Robert Conrad y Ross Martin. Con todo lo que me gustan los trenes, no me quiero imaginar vivir en el tiempo que los asaltantes andaban montando en caballos asaltando los trenes. 

Es una lastima que la serie fue cancelada despues de cuatro temporadas en la television despues de el asesinato de Martin Luther King Jr y Robert F. Kennedy. Aparentemente algunos grupos pusieron presion politica en el Congreso en contra de la violencia. 

En mi opinion, la serie de television "the Wild Wild West" estaba muy adelantada a su tiempo en temas de espionaje y ciencia ficcion. Ha sido una de las mejores series de television de todos los tiempos.

Creacion original por el artista David Uhl.

Un Paseo Por El Viejo San Juan en Motora

Es sorprendente como la Inteligencia Artificial (AI) le ha dado una nueva vida a mi fotografia y al blog. Estas dos ultimas fotos han sido hechas combinando/uniendo fotos tomadas en el Viejo San Juan en Puerto Rico. La primera foto es del 2022, y la segunda foto es del 2018. Lo unico que le he añadido a las fotos ha sido mi motora, la Kawasaki Ninja ZX14. 

Verdaderamente he quedado bien sorprendido lo excelente que han quedado estas fotos hechas con Inteligencia Artificial. Ahora "puedo viajar" a cualquier pais del mundo en la motora, con solo hundir un boton del teclado (keyboard). Increible, no hay duda que con la Inteligencia Artificial (AI), el cielo es el limite para la fotografia. (the sky is the limit). 

Photo Dump

No entiendo porque han utilizado la frase "photo dump", para describir el poner muchas fotos juntas en un post. A quien rayos se le ocurrio literalmente llamarlo "vertedero de fotos"?

Dicen que "photo dump" es el termino que se usa en Instagram para subir fotos o videos sin necesariamente tener alguna relacion entre ellas. Pienso que seria mas facil y correcto llamarlo "el resumen de la semana". "Photo dump" suena mas a basura, y pienso que yo jamas consideraria nada que tenga que ver con la fotografia con basura. 

La Bahia de Mayaguez, Puerto Rico

Anoche soñe que ya estaba viviendo en Puerto Rico. En el sueño me veo en la motora dando una vuelta por la Bahia de Mayaguez, para ir a las tradicionales verbenas de la Virgen del Carmen en el barrio El Seco.

Las verbenas de la Virgen del Carmen en el barrio El Seco, eran de las mejores verbenas que se daban en Mayaguez. Si no me equivoco, la ultima vez que visite las verbenas del Seco fue antes del final de los 1970's. Que mucho ha llovido. 

Recuerdo que una noche, llegando cerca de donde es ahora la cancha de Baloncesto de El Seco, me encontre al policia que llamaban Riverita dando trafico. Estacione la motora en la acera para que Riverita no me viera, y me fui caminando al Yaguez Diving and Fishing Club a darme un par de cervezas. 

Una vez, por puro chiste, Riverita me jarto de boletos al frente de la Escuela Barreto. Ese hombre vivia aborrecido, odiaba a todo el que andaba en motoras. Debe estar revolcandose en la tumba. Jajaja.

Unofficial Start of the Motorcycle Riding Season

One of the things I never liked as a motorcycle mechanic, was changing tires or doing tube repairs. In my personal opinion, even with the proper tire equipment, changing tires was the worst job in the shop. If I am not mistaken, the last tire I've ever changed was in the year 1987 when I replaced the rear tire and the clutch plates on a 1987 Honda Gold Wing 1200. 

This coming weekend is the unofficial start of this year motorcycle riding season. The biggest and most popular vintage motorcycle event in the east coast, the Gathering of the Norton, is this Sunday in New Jersey. My bike is ready; new rear tire and oil and filter has been changed. I am looking forward to attending this motorcycle vintage event! 

A Crowning Moment In The Life Of A Motorcycle Technician

One of the benefits of working in a Honda motorcycle dealership, is that most reputable dealerships were required to send technicians to Honda specialized training to become Honda Certified or Master Technicians. 

Living in Brooklyn during the 1980's, I was fortunate to being closer to Cherry Hill, New Jersey, where American Honda training facilities were located. I received my American Honda Technician Certification in less than 2 years while working for a motorcycle Honda dealership in New York. In addition, every year dealerships were mandated to send their best technicians to attend specialized training to stay updated on the new models, technology, and repair procedures.

Graduating from Phoenix, AZ, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in 1986 was a milestone in my life, and represented the culmination of years of hard work, persistence, and personal growth regarding my future in the motorcycle industry.

In 1988, Honda introduced the Gold Wing GL1500 model with a flat-six-cylinder engine.  Being selected to attend a week-long specialized training at the American Honda training facilities on the new Gold Wing GL1500, was one of the most memorable moments in my motorcycle technician career. 

Being selected for this training proved that my hard work and experience had been recognized, validating my skills and expertise and differentiating me from my peers.  At that moment in time, I felt I had reached the pinnacle of my career. Even though my motorcycle technician life has been over since 1994, I am very proud of the things I was able to accomplish.

Independent "Mom & Pop" Motorcycle Shops To The Rescue

Typically, dealerships don't work on older motorcycles. Could that be because technicians are not familiar with old technology, or because bike parts are no longer available?

A quick internet search tells me that motorcycle dealerships refuse to work on bikes (older than 10-20 years old), because parts are difficult to source, and motorcycle technicians lack the training on obsolete technology. 

A friend of mine purchased a 1993 Kawasaki Zephyr 1100 from overseas. After the motorcycle arrived, he realized that the bike slips out (popping out) of second gear. To make matters worse, Kawasaki no longer makes or sells the parts needed to complete the transmission repair. Now is a matter of waiting to see if the parts become available in the used motorcycle parts market (Ebay, etc.)

Thanks to "Mom & Pop" used motorcycle repair shops, older motorcycles are very much still on the road. The good news is that there is hope for many vintage and older motorcycles for years to come. 

Comprar Herramientas No Es Un Gasto, Es Una Inversion

Para muchos mecanicos, la adquisicion de nuevas herramientas es un proceso de toda la vida. A medida que pasa el tiempo y se gana mas experiencia, las necesidades cambian y la tecnologia de las herramientas avanza cada dia mas. Lo que conlleva a comprar mas equipo para hacer un trabajo mejor y mas eficiente.

Obtener herramientas adecuadas y de calidad, es muy esencial para cada trabajo. Cada tipo de trabajo requiere herramientas especificas para garantizar la calidad del resultado. Las herramientas no hacen al mecanico, pero un buen mecanico sabe que las herramientas adecuadas marcan la diferencia. 

El taller que no invierte en las herramientas correctas, esta condenado a fracasar. En mi opinion personal, las herramientas no son un gasto, son una inversion. 

Motorcycle EZ-Pass Battery Tester

Unlucky people like me live in the toll plagued eastern states. I had always paid cash at the toll booth, and up until a couple of years ago, I refused to get on board with EZ-Pass. Until the day I received a Maryland toll invoice, for an alleged unpaid toll. Despite stopping at the toll booth and paying the Maryland toll in cash, they sent me an unpaid toll ticket, attached to a picture of my license plate.

I haven't used my motorcycle EZ-Pass since 2022, so later today I am stopping by an office of Triple AAA to have my EZ-Pass transponder battery tested. I am not going to wait until is time to ride my bike out of state to realize the transponder battery is dead, and start receiving unpaid toll invoices in the mail.

Vintage Motorcycle Prices are Out of This World

This morning I was looking at a 1982 Kawasaki GPz-550 in pristine condition that was offered for sale at no reserve and sold for $12,500. 

The original manufacturer's suggested retail price for my bike (2010 Kawasaki Ninja ZX14) was approximately $12,399 when it was brand new in 2010. These days, bikes similar than mine are sold between $4,950 and $6,999, depending on condition and mileage.

In the early 1970's I purchased a blue 1972 Kawasaki 750 two-stroke triple. After years of riding and a ton of fun, in 1979 I made the biggest mistake of my motorcycle life by selling my beloved bike for $650.00 dollars. 

To my shocking surprise, the cost for these bikes are taking off. I have been blown away at how much people pay for these old Kawasaki two-stroke triples these days. Kawasaki (H1 500cc, H2 750cc) often exceeds $30,000 - $55,000 at some auctions nowadays. I'd love to buy another one, but these days they cost an arm and a leg.

Riding My Motorcycle In The City Late At Night

Sometime this week, I am going to record a GoPro video riding my Kawasaki Ninja ZX14 in downtown Philadelphia late at night. I am planning to capture the illuminated blurred city lights, and Philly skyline at night. This coming week will be perfect to ride my bike since temperatures are expected to be in the low 80's for the first time this year. I am looking forward to it. 

Tinkering With Harleys

Woke up this morning thinking about expanding my skills and maybe start working in other motorcycle brands. If I put my mind into it, I can probably dabble part-time into Harley-Davidson's repairs. As a former motorcycle technician of Japanese motorcycles, I believe I can transition to work on Harley-Davidson motorcycles as long as I get the proper tools to work on them. 

My only concern is that as part of my retirement, I only plan to work part-time on bikes. Harley-Davidsons, especially older ones generally require more frequent maintenance and repairs compared to newer models. And from what I gather, there are lots of Harleys in Puerto Rico. 

Would it be worth it to spend more time at the motorcycle shop than enjoying my retirement? Regardless of what happen once I am living permanently in the island of Puerto Rico, I don't expect that to be the case.

A Bit of This, A Bit of That

Ayer finalmente termine el proceso del papeleo de los impuestos del 2025. Nunca he entendido porque rayos tengo que hacerlo si lo que me devuelven son unas migajas. He tenido suerte que la contable que me hace el papeleo de los impuestos ha sido la misma persona por los ultimos 15 años. Ayer termine con el papeleo, y ya estoy pensando en que voy a gastar las migajas que el gobierno federal me va a devolver. Jajaja

My 70th Birthday - part 2

Today Is My 70th Birthday

So, this is 70. Like most folks turning 70, I never expected I would be here. I can't believe how fast life goes by. Seventy years, it literally went by in a blink.

I am celebrating my 70th birthday without a party, I honored the occasion with a scenic day trip to NYC, by focusing on an intimate, quiet dining experience with myself in New York doing things that I truly enjoy.

Later today, I would be engaging in my favorite hobby at the garage with the motorcycles. To me, the little things are the ones that matter, like spending the afternoon changing oil and filter on my motorcycle and making sure the Ninja is ready for the upcoming riding season. I also went out on a shopping spree for colorful and vibrant clothing; the color clothing that enhance my personal style.

My 70th birthday is a milestone worthy of a quiet celebration, focusing on gratitude, family and my small circle of friends. This coming week I would be reflecting on 70 years of life and focusing on what truly matters. Happy birthday to me. 😀

I Am Glad I Stopped Drinking Alcohol 30 Years Ago

After reading an amazing testimonial about his journey to sobriety, from a FB friend earlier this morning, I realized that this coming Saturday marks my 30 years of abstaining from alcohol.

To make a long story short, I am glad I stopped drinking in 1996. It was the week I was turning 40 years old. Giving up alcohol has been by far one of the best decisions of my life. 

When Tools Become Extensions of You

When a tool in your hand "becomes part of you" it's not just a metaphor. Whether they are tools, toys, a musical instrument, or a smartphone, they become extensions of you. Tools relax me, they make me feel good knowing that I have the ability to fix things. I feel most comfortable surrounded by them.

A person losing their belongings in a fire is a traumatic experience I don't wish on my worst enemy. It happened to me at a storage unit I rented 3 hours away from Philadelphia over 25 years ago. Some of the things lost that day, held deep sentimental value and they are irreplaceable. 

What I miss the most are all my personal school notes, my Kawasaki KX-125 dirt bike, and a lifetime collection of tools used to make a living as a motorcycle technician. Tools of all brands acquired since the 1970's. 

It's been more than three decades since the last time I worked at a motorcycle dealership and or worked full time on motorcycles. Returning to the motorcycle repair business, at least part-time, it is going to be a huge adjustment for me. Especially with all the new motorcycle technology available now. 

At this stage of my life, I plan to spend time at the motorcycle repair shop as a part-time hobby and to stay busy for a few hours. I had been preparing to this day for years now. I've been buying tools gradually, little by little, to replace the ones lost in the fire. Knowing myself, just in case I live to be a productive 100 years old, I'll probably keep buying new tools until the day I die. 😀

The Rat Race in a Nutshell

This AI caricature image of myself, encapsulates the long hours and hectic schedule that surrounded my previous work life. 

Managing time between patient's home visits and completing documentation on time was very time consuming. In the meantime, they were days where you have to add education workshops, pre-post test HIV counseling and testing. Helping people with HIV with access to medical care and social services. Assisting with appointment adherence and to stay engaged with HIV treatment. Plus offering street sex workers outreach, and last but not least, visiting shooting galleries to promote our health center medical and mental health services. 

As is always the case, the documentation often falls behind due to high caseloads, and not enough staff to complete all the tasks. If the worker does not take care of him/herself and manage stress effectively, work burnout and employee turnover is usually the end result in most healthcare scenarios. 

It is a mystery to me how I did it for 26 years. Passion for one's work is a great motivator for success. In my opinion, when you have a genuine passion for what you do, it becomes easier to overcome challenges.

All-White Attire Party

Looking at some old pictures from 2018, I came across the image that inspired this caricature. Earlier that same year, I was invited to an all-white attire birthday celebration during the month of August at Willie's Steak House in the Bronx. 

Prior to this event, I had never been at Willie's before and didn't knew many people at this bar/restaurant. The one thing I was confident was that they play and dance Salsa music. I don't drink alcohol, so I knew I would feel weird to sit at the bar if I am not spending money in alcohol. I contacted a friend from the Bronx to meet me there; so she and her partner could make my visit at Willie's Steak House more comfortable. 

I rented a hotel in midtown Manhattan and spend my first full day in NYC taking pictures. The following night I took the #6 subway train to St Lawrence Ave Subway Station in the Bronx. I am glad I attended the all-white party event. It was a great birthday celebration among friends. As I recall, I didn't even dance once, not sure why. It didn't matter, it was a great night listening to good Salsa music and hanging out with friends. 

Thanks to Artificial Intelligence, I was able to revisit the all-white attire I was wearing that night, and the NYC subway ride to the Bronx. AI created this new caricature from one of the pics taken that night. Cheers!

No Kings Philadelphia Protest - Saturday, March 28th, 2026

Parece Que Fue Ayer - Seems Like Only Yesterday

Uno de los logros mas significantes para mi, lo fue el dia que me gradue de mi alma mater, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute en el 1986. Este año marca el aniversario numero 40th de mi graduacion. Para ser honesto, la unica razon por la cual vine a Estados Unidos lo fue para estudiar en MMI en Phoenix, AZ. Tengo que admitir que ha sido una de las mejores decisiones de mi vida.  

Uno de las motivos por el cual personas buscan una educacion avanzada es para tener un mejor futuro. Ya sea un futuro financiero o para desarrollar su maximo potencial intelectualmente. Es importante adquirir las herramientas necesarias para crecimiento personal y para mantenernos actualizados; a la misma vez se abren nuevas puertas y oportunidades en el futuro. Parece que la graduacion en MMI fue los otros dias; ya han pasado 40 años. 

Seems Like Only Yesterday

When it comes to education, nothing means more to me than the day in 1986 when I graduated from my alma mater, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Phoenix, AZ. 

While looking at some old pictures, I came to the sudden realization that this year marks a significant milestone, my 40th year graduation anniversary from MMI. To attend MMI is the only reason why I relocated from the Enchanted Island to the United States many years ago. Seems like only yesterday.

HIV/AIDS Education Workshops

There are many things I miss about my old job. If given the choice to pick the top two, they would be running the support groups. And doing HIV/AIDS prevention & education workshop presentations in schools and the local community. It was a deeply rewarding experience, while cultivating lasting connections with students and families.

Dreaming Of Being Back At My Old Job

For the last several weeks I keep having recurring dreams about my former job at the Health Center; a job I haven't had since retiring in 2021. It's been five years since retirement, and I am very happy to be retired. So, I don't understand why this keeps happening since I haven't even set foot in any of the Health Centers.

Soñando Con Mi Antiguo Trabajo

Llevo semanas que frecuentemente he estado soñando con mi ultimo trabajo en el Centro de Salud. Han pasado cinco años, ya que he estado retirado desde el 2021. Estoy contento y satisfecho con mi retiro. En todo este tiempo tampoco he visitado ninguno de los Centros de Salud y son pocos los ex-compañeros de trabajo con los que he compartido o me mantengo en comunicacion.

My Golden Era of Motorcycling

In the late 1970's, when I was in my early 20's, I had the good fortune to work at motorcycle dealerships in my hometown. Motocentro del Oeste (Yamaha/Kawasaki/Suzuki) and years later at Centro Honda (Honda/Triumph) dealerships. 

At the time, I didn't know how lucky I was to be part of two dealerships that competed against each other by running successful motocross teams. One thing I miss about those times is the competitiveness and camaraderie among members of both teams. Once a month the entire team would travel to the racetrack at another town to compete against each other; to us it felt like going to a family picnic. Friendships were forged and have survived the test of time.

It was a great time to be involved with motorcycles. That's what I call perfect timing, since I'd happen to purchase my first bike in 1974. The Kawasaki 900 ZI's, the two stroke Kaw 750 triples, Honda CB 750's, Honda CBX 6 cylinder, the Yamahas XS1100's, Suzuki's GS-1000, and many others were the kings of the street during that era. To this day, they are still my favorite motorcycles.