I Pray Religiously

It was long overdue, last night I began to backup and organize some of my files. After spending two hours looking for a bicycle garage photo from the Netherlands trip, I realized I had to do it.

Suprisingly, I didn't start backing up and organizing my digital photography images; I began with my cartoon comic strips. I started using the Bitstrip personalized comic strips in 2012. As someone who spent a big chunk of my childhood drawing and painting, and at the age of seven dreamed of working at Disney creating cartoons, I fell in love with the Bitstrip application.

Since the application is no longer available, I have been recycling different variations of the ones I created twelve years ago and saving them on USB flash drives and the cloud storage. I believe that these comic strips are unique, their captions speak so much louder than text, and they add personality to my blog posts. Don't you think?

A Stranger Random Act of Kindness

Last night at the supermarket something malfunction at the cash register, and the cashier said their scanner was unable to read credit cards, cash payment only.

I almost never carry cash with me, so I told the cashier to put my items to the side and to take care of the customer behind me, while I retrieved money from the ATM.

By the time I retrieved cash from the ATM machine and returned to the cashier to pay, I was told that the woman behind me had paid for my groceries. I was stunned, took me a few seconds to process. The cashier just kept saying, "she paid for your groceries". By the time I realized what had happened, the stranger was already gone.

So I asked the young couple with two small children standing in line behind me if they accepted if I pay for their groceries, so I did.

Behind The Shot : Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 1

My first digital camera was a Nikon D100, designed for professionals and advanced enthusiasts. It was my first serious camera. Despite being a camera made in 2002, it's a well built camera and still takes beautiful photos.

The testing ground for my first DSLR images was one of the most iconic New York City locations, Brooklyn Bridge Park. Despite anticipated crowds over the 4th of July long weekend, the location wasn't very crowded when I arrived. It was a bright, beautiful, sunny day.

Something quite interesting took place, the first arrivals was a group of people older than me. Among them was a group of what could be considered grandmothers. It's funny because sometimes I forget that at my young age of 63, and having white hair, identifies me as a senior citizen. Our patronizing euphemism for the dreaded words “old man". At my age, young people call me "Pop", but I digress.

They were prepared with digital cameras and tripods of various brands; they even brought their own food. While we waited for the sun to go down in the horizon, they shared their food among themselves. It felt like being at a picnic.

Tried to engage them in conversation to find out what motivated them to get involved in photography, unfortunately no one from the group spoke English.

I hope that when I reach their age, I am able to continue learning, improving, and above all, still enjoying the art of photography.

The pictures below were taken that day. Click on this link to see a bigger version.....

Un Pueblo Que Elige A Corruptos, No Es Victima, Es Complice

Dicen que la frase "cada nacion tiene el gobierno que se merece", es una frase que responsabiliza al pueblo por las acciones que realizan los lideres politicos elegidos.  Esta frase se puede aplicar a la ignorancia de los votantes sobre quien los desea gobernar.

Es lamentable, pero muchas personas votan sin saber cual es la plataforma del candidato y el partido politico al cual se le da el voto. Muchas personas votan a ciegas, no saben que ideas o soluciones el candidato ofrece para tratar de resolver los problemas que nos aquejan como pueblo.

La realidad es que una gran parte del problema en el cual esta sumergido Puerto Rico es culpa del mismo pueblo puertorriqueño. Nosotros somos expertos culpando a otros de nuestros problemas.

La triste realidad es que a la hora de votar en las elecciones, en vez de darle el voto a una persona capacitada en su puesto,  a una persona con buenas ideas para mejorar el estado economico del pais, generacion tras generacion preferimos darle el voto al mismo alicate incompetente de los dos partidos principales del pais. Siempre elegimos a un corrupto del Partido Popular Democratico o a otro corrupto del Partido Nuevo Progresista.

Le damos el voto al mismo soplapote que por generaciones se ha estado robando los chavos en la alcaldia o en el Senado. Acostumbramos a votar por el mismo charlatan, el que ofrezca mas mantengo y ayudas gratis, el mismo politico chanchullero por el cual voto nuestra abuela, nuestros padres, etc.

Pasamos las de Cain con Fortuño y el Partido Nuevo Progresista, y le damos el voto a el incompetente Alejandro Garcia Padilla del Partido Popular Democratico. Para colmo, sacamos a un incompetente y elegimos a Ricardo Rosello, un individuo sin ningun tipo de experiencia politica, hijo del gobernador mas corrupto en la historia de Puerto Rico. Sacamos a Guatemala y le damos el voto a Guatapeor. Nuestro pueblo es un pueblo masoquista, nos gusta que nos traten mal.

El Partido Popular Democratico y el Partido Nuevo Progresista son los que han llevado nuestra isla a la quiebra, y todavia nos estamos quejando como nos tratan y abusan de nosotros.

La culpa es de nosotros, el pueblo puertorriqueño, por continuar dandoles el voto. Un pueblo que elige politicos incompetentes y corruptos, no es victima, es complice de la incompetencia y la corrupcion.

IRS Tax Refund : The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

This year I filed my taxes at the end of February. That's kind of late for me, I usually do my taxes as soon as I get my W-2's from my employer in mid January.

My tax preparer normal fee is $49.00 dollars. Unlike previous years, this time I decided to bite the bullet and pay a little extra to get them via direct deposit.

The income tax preparer promised a quick return, I would get them in 7 working days, she said. She's being preparing my taxes for the last 4 years, so I had no reason to doubt her.

Every year, submitting my tax return via snail mail, I usually receive my refund 5-6 weeks later. The refund check did not arrive in 7 working days like my tax preparer promised, it was not a direct deposit either. I went to the IRS website and read a notice that said they were unable to process my direct deposit; it also said they will be sending the check by mail.

One thing I noticed at the IRS website is that they stated that most e-filed tax returns will be processed within 21 days from the date the IRS receives your tax return, not 7 working days like my tax preparer promised.

The refund check arrived by mail, 5 weeks after my tax preparer filed my taxes and charged me extra for direct deposit. During lunch time went to the bank and deposited the refund check on my account.

Today, I came home from work and found a letter from the IRS with this message:

Like I said, my tax refund check is already deposited in my bank account. To be honest, I am not upset that my refund check arrived 5 weeks later after I paid extra to get it quicker. I figured, as long as I don't owe money to the IRS, I am a happy camper. 

Life's too short, so smile while you still have teeth .....

A co-worker asked me why I took the day off.

Today is my birthday, and I know the world doesn't stop turning just because it's my birthday, I replied. Besides, the clinic is closed on Christopher Columbus, George Washington and Martin Luther Kings birthdays, I reminded her. It is only fair to celebrate that I am still alive the day I was born.

Who among us hasn't needed a break from work? Don't get me wrong, I am not a workaholic, but I am always reminded by my supervisor how much unused paid vacation I'll have accumulated.

I return to work next Monday. I thought about running errands, hanging out with friends, riding my motorcycle on a trip, or spending the day in New York. Instead, I spent the whole day sleeping.

On the day I was born, I am writing a blog post about how I decided to spend my entire birthday in bed with my laptop, by myself, with enough snacks and food to sustain me the day.

Life's too short, so smile while you still have teeth ......

A Day In Court

Several months ago I received a summon for jury duty; I reported for jury duty today. Some people make it sound worse than it is. Due to the type of work and field I am in, I am always selected. Always (sigh).

Jury duty is a civic responsibility, and as a responsible citizen, it is my duty to serve as a juror.

It was reported last year that more than one-third of Philadelphians (250,000 residents) don't bother to respond and ignore jury duty summons each year. Maybe the $9.00 dollars per day as compensation has something to do with it.

This time I received a higher number in my jury duty panel. Inside the courtroom the judge read out the charges against the accused person, it was a case of sexual abuse among siblings. The judge said it will take at least five days to hear the case, unless the defendant plead guilty before trial.

When the judge said five days I felt a little uneasy because I have a doctor's appointment that I cannot miss next Friday. In fact I've been looking forward to see my primary doctor this week to receive the results of multiple diagnostic and blood tests I took recently.

I am not a religious person, (I'm spiritual but not religious) especially when it comes to organized religion, but I was "praying" inside the courtroom and hoping they would select the jurors early before it was my turn.

Fortunately I lucked out, I didn't have to sit in the jury box. Before my jury panel number was called by the judge and attorneys, they selected the jurors after questioning the people ahead of me in the courtroom. I was given a jury fee check and was dismissed before noon.

I was a very happy camper when I left the courtroom, and didn't have to report to work until tomorrow.