My Dogs Are Barking

The phrase "my dogs are barking" is an old American idiom that means your feet are tired, aching, or hurt. I've been living and managing Rheumatoid Arthritis since 2009. 

I am 70 years old and for the last few years I have been looking for a pair of comfortable pair of shoes or sneakers that I could wear all day pain free. I tried many other quality brands that fell way short. Today I received a pair of Orthofeet Tilos Orthopedic sneakers. Orthofeet Tilos are by far the most comfortable and supportive shoes I have ever worn. I love these sneakers. 

Tomorrow's LOVE Park Salsa dance, with Salsa dance lesson at 7 pm, and dancing until 10 pm will really put the sneakers to the test. Wish me luck.

Bitten by The Tail of the Dragon

Last night I've read the story of a biker on a Harley Davidson motorcycle that went down riding the Tail of the Dragon. He spent three weeks in the hospital after completing several surgeries. 

In 2018, I rode 11 hours on my bike from Philly to get to Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort in North Carolina. During preparations for the trip to the motorcycle resort, I remember thinking that I needed to be extra careful riding Tail of the Dragon to avoid getting into an accident. I felt the need to make sure my bike was in one piece, so she could take me home at the end of the week. 

The same day I arrived at the motorcycle resort, a kid from Canada unloaded a motorcycle from his pick-up truck. Less than ten minutes later crashed his bike in one of the 318 curves that are notorious for accidents if riders are not careful. 

An average of 1.5 to 4 riders die annually on the Tail of the Dragon. I tried my darndest not to become part of the Deals Gap statistics.

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.

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. 

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.

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

Subzero Wind Chills (minus 20 degrees) For the Next 48 Hours In Philly

Another nightmare weekend, extreme cold and freezing temperatures the next two days. We are expecting minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Subzero wind chills and a possibility of more snow for the Philadelphia area.

I need the snow from the last snowstorm a few weeks ago to melt down soon. Hopefully, after next Tuesday, temperatures are expected to become milder with rainy conditions. Can't wait to take my motorcycle out for a spin.

Time Doesn't Stop For Any of Us

Last night while having a conversation with a childhood friend, I mentioned returning from Puerto Rico to Philadelphia at the end of February of last year. As soon as those words came out of my mouth, it hit me. It is already February of 2026, and I've been back in Philly for one full year after my trip to P.R. 

It is a reminder that time does not stop for anyone. Every day you either get closer to who you want to be or further away from it. Sometimes we waste our days waiting for the "right" moment; it may never come. Live now, breathe now, laugh now. This is your life, and the steering wheel belongs only to you.

This Is Why I Cannot Leave Philly

An arctic blast is bringing wind chills that will make it feel below zero as the Philadelphia region braces for heavy snow and freezing rain. 

When I woke up this morning, temps were in the 0 digits. Snow, sleet and freezing rain is expected beginning this evening into Monday.

The Real Zombieland Photo Request

The corner of Kensington Avenue and Allegheny Avenue in Philadelphia is literally the city's "ground zero" for the fentanyl-opioid crisis. As someone wrote in his own words, "if you look up videos of the worst of the opioid epidemic, you will see Kensington's "zombies." "People seem to fall asleep standing up, lingering under bridges and near subway stations". 

In 2016, my first year into photography, I took a couple of pictures of SEPTA's Metro L train station building of Kensington and Allegheny Avenues. I've always liked the architecture of this building, in addition of being the train station I took to work to the Health Center every day.

A couple of weeks ago, I received an email from the editor-in-chief of a magazine called Novellum Magazine. He said they came across one of the images I took of the corner of Kensington and Allegheny in Philadelphia (Ground Zero of Philly's Opioid Crisis) and asked for permission to use my image as a cover picture for their magazine. 

After reviewing the magazine, I agreed to their request. The top picture is a copy of the corner of Kensington and Allegheny Avenues train station building; the bottom image is a sample of their magazine cover.

I Hate Winter. I Wasn't Made For This Weather.

My Top 5 Favorite Photos of 2025

Photography Adjustments To Change Things Around

I think that when I am taking pictures of the architecture inside a Cathedral or a Museum using a Platypod, I am doing it all wrong. Most likely I am making the mistake of keeping the architecture background in focus, especially when taking photos of the Cathedral Basilica. Same situation happened when I recently photographed the Tyrannosaurus Rex at the Academy of Natural Sciences museum.  

I am currently using a Sigma 10-20 wideangle zoom lens for these type of images. Maybe I need to keep doing what I am doing for the (BTS - behind the scene image), and work on keeping the final edited image a little less sharp. I guess I'll need to work in the blur and focus later. Obviously, I need to make photography adjustments to change things around.

Behind The Scenes Pt. 2 : Smartphone on a Platypod eXtreme

For the time being, these images will be the last one's taken inside the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. 

I am planning to travel to New York City and Washington DC soon, to photograph inside other cathedrals and churches. Some of these buildings offer spectacular architecture, which can translate to unique and interesting compositions. 

Platypod will never replace my trusty tripod. But have earned a permanent home in my camera bag if I am using a DSLR, a GoPro action camera or my smartphone.

And Yes, The Ice Cream Was Delicious

The forecast for Philadelphia includes a wet weekend, with showers and steady rain continuing into Monday. Yesterday, before the rain arrived, I decided to head on over to one of my favorite spots, the Schuylkill River near Boathouse Row.

This is a historic and scenic area in Philadelphia known for its row of 15 Victorian boathouses, which house rowing clubs and are a popular spot for rowing, walking, and viewing the illuminated lights at night.

I was hoping to capture a few behind-the-scene images of my GoPro Hero on a Platypod eXtreme. Surprisingly, maybe because of the weather conditions, the area was empty. Faster than the blink of an eye, I took all the pictures I needed, just in time before the rain arrived.

Before heading home, and to celebrate the successful photo walk, I purchased a "Swirl" from the ice cream truck parked in front of the Philadelphia Art Museum. A "swirl" is a combination of vanilla and chocolate ice cream in a cone. And yes, the ice cream was delicious. 

Behind The Scenes: Smartphone on a Platypod eXtreme

For weeks, I've been planning to visit the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. It is one of the most beautiful cathedrals I've ever seen. I was hoping to capture a couple of low-angle pictures inside the cathedral using the Platypod eXtreme. 

As expected, this cathedral is very crowded. Catholics and tourists from all over the world come to Philadelphia to admire the sacred art, the cathedral stunning architecture and the significant religious and historical importance.

To avoid the crowds, I arrived at 9:00 am sharp. It was ideal to take photos, only the maintenance cleaning man and I were the only ones there. I had the cathedral all by myself. I noticed that most of the lights inside the cathedral were off, so I sat in a cathedral pew to kill time. 

At some point the maintenance man was cleaning in my area. I asked what time the cathedral lights usually are turned on since I was hoping to take a few pictures. He noticed I was holding my camera and asked me how long it would take me to take the photos. Maybe 5 or 10 minutes, I replied. The gentleman was so kind, that he turned on the lights of the entire cathedral. His kind gesture surprised me. 

On my way home I realized I forgot to take "behind the scenes" pictures". I didn't see the maintenance gentleman again either; to thank him for turning on the lights. 

I think the Platypod eXtreme has been of the best photography tools that I have added to my camera gear.

Platypod eXtreme at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

Esta mañana visite la Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul en Filadelfia. Llevo semanas planeando como fotografiar dentro de la catedral usando el Platypod eXtreme. 

Esta catedral es muy concurrida, turistas de todas partes del mundo vienen a Filadelfia a visitarla. Estuve el jueves pasado, pero habia una boda programada y no pude tomar fotos. 

Hoy llegue antes de la 9:00 de la mañana y estaba ideal para tomar fotos, el hombre de mantenimiento haciendo limpieza y yo eramos los unicos alli. Me di cuenta que las luces dentro de la catedral estaban apagadas, solo estaban encendidas las luces mas minimas. Me sente en un banco de la iglesia a matar el tiempo. 

Al preguntar a que hora prendian las luces, el hombre de mantenimiento al verme con las camaras en la mano, me pregunto cuanto tardaria en tomar las fotos. Solamente de 5 a 10 minutos le respondi. Fue tan amable que el caballero encendio las luces de toda la catedral para que yo tomara las fotos; ese gesto tan amable me sorprendio. 

De camino a casa me di cuenta que se me olvido tomar fotos de "detras de la escena". Tampoco vi mas a el empleado de mantenimiento para darle las gracias por encender las luces. Asi es esto, en cuestion de fotografia no todo sale siempre 100% perfecto. Gracias a Dios no todo fue una perdida, me gusto como quedo la foto del celular Samsung con el Platypod eXtreme dentro de la catedral. 

Pienso que el Platypod eXtreme ha sido una de las mejores herramientas de fotografia que he añadido en mi arsenal.

Elfreth's Alley and the Platypod

Elfreth's Alley is a National historic landmark street in the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia, dating back to 1703. 

Yesterday morning I decided to visit Old City trying to capture a couple of pictures using the Platypod Ultra. It is one very crowded and busy street that attract lots of tourists. The historic landmark is labeled the “nation's oldest residential street". 

I knew the alley would be empty if I showed up very early in the morning. In less the 20 minutes I was able to take some pictures without any interruption. I went out for breakfast afterwards; and made it to my apartment before 8:30am. Mission accomplished! 

The View From My Window

What do you do, when you enter the subway after leaving your favorite bank, and you are the only person on the platform?

With only the echoing sounds of the station, the distant rumble of an approaching train and the visual emptiness of the platform stretching out before you? You take out your cell phone out of your pocket and begin taking pictures, of course.

This may be one of those rare instances when you enter the subway, and the Philadelphia subway platform is empty. Since I am always looking for new opportunities to find objects to photograph, it was easy to notice the converging lines creating a perspective effect for my composition to add depth and interest to this particular image. I love it! 😀

Getting Together For Lunch

Had a conversation yesterday with a former co-worker trying to arrange a day to get together at the health center for lunch.

After exchanging pleasantries, and talking about the job, we agreed to meetup next Monday at 12:30pm for lunch. The phone rang, and it was her to remind me that next Monday is Labor Day, and the health center is closed. Now that I am retired, I don't pay attention to holidays much. We agreed to meetup Friday of next week. But I digress.

To keep my favorite hobby and passion alive, went out for a photo walk last night. It was a beautiful night outside. Was the first time picking up my digital camera in quite some time.

For no particular reason, I chose Broad Street facing City Hall in Center City, which is a favorite wedding photography location for Philadelphia couples. A group of young ladies approached me, said they needed to book a photographer, and inquire my price for a wedding photoshoot. I don't shoot weddings, but have a friend who does so I gave them my friend's contact information.

It felt great to go out on a photo walk. It is a great exercise, it gets me connected to my surroundings, and it gives me something to occupy my mind and stimulate my brain.