Hungry? Would Some Fruits Help?

I would think so. The truth is that I have gone through two instances in near memory where food was scarce mainly because of financial reasons. Plenty of times in the past if I had accidentally dropped food on the floor and it would have gone directly into the garbage, but in those two instances I mentioned above that food on the ground was all the food I could afford. Eat it or go hungry. I have children now and that feeling is one I never want them to go through. It shouldn't surprise anyone if crime related to attaining these necessities for survival are going up.
The times are so tough now that I wonder how many more people are struggling to feed themselves and/or their children. The reality is that no one really cares at least not the bill collectors, so finding a way to remove cash and financials as a barrier to attaining the necessities of life is crucial. It is also key to wiping out the thoughts and actual acts of crime related to wanting the basics like food, clothes, diapers, clean water etc. This is especially so when so much of this resource is literally growing on trees and going to waste many of the times. Here in Mountain View California just after the cold weather really sets in around mid-late November you will notice the many fruit trees left bare of their leaves and displaying their beautiful array of colored fruits. Many birds are having a feast and they should continue to, but a concerted effort should be made to remove the majority of that fruit for human consumption. It can literally save lives. If the owner of the property can't or simply won't themselves why not allow someone to do it for them?
Maybe someone from the neighborhood with the support of local community teams such as the Police and Fire Department. The mission being to donate the food to those who can't afford it or who need to be allotting their income for bills like rent and utilities. No more cleaning sidewalks of rotten fallen fruit, which if left untouched will become a brooding ground for other creatures. So the tree owner gets a clean tree with clean understory and less visits from local critters, which depending on the occupants could be positive or negative. Of course no one will be forced to do this but just think about how much less crime there could be, how much financial and moral worth you're instilling in people as well as how many more trees will be ready to bare more and bigger fruit next season because of your actions!

Perfect Day to Play in the Leaves

Office Life Not Suffice!

The Advertising world I was so into created the illusion that in order to be successful I would have to fit one of the previous proven "pictures" of "success". I tried, but realized that I wanted and needed full stimulation of my being. Not just sitting at a desk, which was the job, to be at my desk doing work. A walk around the office including speed-walking to and from lunch were the only physical expressions throughout the day. Working on Building the body up instead.

Build the Body up! Don't Beat It Down!

"You look fat". Haha. Someone recently said that about me, but I think they were being sarcastic and trying to draw more attention to my being "out of shape" in their eyes. My cheeks may look big around the time of good harvest, but that's not always the case. Nonetheless I doubt I would ever really look fat. I'd hope not.
Being "Out of Shape" really means a lot to me now a days and it should to you too. Many people get caught up in what they see and wanting to emulate it almost applying a carbon copy strategy and pasting their faces on the models body. That's where I believe we start to go wrong. We have all been blessed in one way or another by the genes and traits of our forefathers and mothers so it shouldn't be a surprise to you if you end up with the same physique your parents have. Analyze it, we men do. Always have. Most importantly is that we must work through it and with its understanding in mind. My father, his father and siblings are all of thin and small build. I can't expect to change that. Whether it be because of the physical labors they put in our a regular basis or because of the closely knit past of those who were enslaved to work it also shows in their smaller framed, but chiseled muscles. Those genes are strong within our blood and I have come to see that as the blessing that it is.
I didn't always see it as such and detested when I was called 'flaco' and the more I matured, the more I heard the complaints coming in and the majority were on the other side of the hill with those wanting to lose weight. That really seems to be more difficult to deal with specifically as a woman. Maybe not as much for a man who would be thought of as being bigger, more 'bearish" or "manly". That became a big part of my false reality (That you needed to be a big ass muscle bound person to be a real warrior until I discovered the warrior Bruce Lee). People get so caught up in the losing weight aspect that they forget what they are working with and if you go at it like that you are setting yourself up for failure. Expectations are important and commensurate with degree of training, workout and diet regimen so be smart and balance yourself so you can know your starting point, understand the near future expectations as well as how far out to set future goals.

Bruce Lee showing off his small frame - (Wiki picture)

That's Chocolate.

Happy 12/12 2011. Here is some advice to help make your days happier. Get your hands on some quality chocolate like "Michel Cluizel - Noir au Grué de Cacao". I found it at Whole Foods. It's a dark chocolate that I just tried for a second time. It's stated to be no less than 60% with cacao bean pieces in it, which gives it an awesome crunchy and nutty mouth-feel. It is almost perfect to me and I wish you all can experience your own satisfaction of enjoying a few pieces of dark chocolate after a meal for example. Versus having a Snickers for brunch on the run. I love Snickers and KITKATs, but regardless, the quality and taste is unparalleled and to have thousands of chocolates to choose from... Oh Life is good.
Just make sure it's a darker chocolate and if it has got pieces of cacao in it then it'll really lend you it's antioxidant and nutritional potentialities. Enjoy. I will.

Just Keep An Eye Out...

Okay, I will admit that my energy was quite negative at the time. I was feeling sort of rushed and I was still trying to regain my emotional balance from a previous conversation so all that untamed energy might have done done it. Truthfully, I know I did not put much force on the dipstick. I simply looked at it then lowered it onto my left hand awaiting with a McDonald's napkin. I remember stroking it once and then on the second rightward motion I hear Snap-Crack-Pop! That was the dip stick a snappin', the two pieces crackin' and poppin' me in the eye! That sucked! Mainly because I had so much to do.

That day was the toughest day of all. I could clearly see the scratch to my cornea and it came served with a side of sensitivity to light, headache, random dryness feeling like there was something sitting on my eyeball plus the tear that was also forever flowing to wash it all down. Is that what I get for buying a Honda Civic instead of a BMW? (just a question)

Well just a note of caution. The fact is that the darn dipstick starts out feeling like rubber when you first buy it brand new, but after some use (80k miles in my case) it will get brittle and can possible snap if bent beyond its threshold as it happened to me. Watch out now!

Oh Delicious Apple

Why is it that right after eating a delicious cold (out the fridge) red apple I get the feeling that I should have never let it go in the first place. It's been over 3 weeks since I had tasted an apple. Obviously too long. I will plant thy seed cause 'HOT DANG' you tasted mighty fine just now!

Keep Your Skills Sharp!

During tough economic times many folks look for alternative income methods whether by finding a second or third job or creating their own opportunities. Times such as these are ripe for those that have always wanted to run their own business. Create work instead of looking for work! Just another way of thinking positive and being part of the solution.
One other method such as the alternative method mentioned above would be to start creating business transactions through portals such as Ebay.com, Craigslist, Etsy, etc. This serves several purposes. One which is to keep you in tune with business ethics and creating and maintaining a business frame of mind. Some other advantages include the creation of future opportunities as well as automating the habit of being in the know or up-to-date as far as your personal businesses are concerned. Efforts such as these are so important that the lack of it has been used by hiring companies as the reason why they don't want to hire the long-term unemployed. Many hiring companies feel people loose their edge and motivation over time as they sit at home (being denied opportunity after opportunity or like many others sitting at home awaiting job responses that never come). Well if that is the case you can say well, even though there were no jobs available for me I decided to go out and create my own opportunities by volunteering, starting "this" project, selling and trading "here", staying informed and studying "there".
Speaking of studying that is one effort in my opinion that everyone should continue to invest as much of their energy as possible after structured schooling is done. Remember that most schools are in the business of making money and educating. The marketing makes you feel like any other education would be inferior, but ask anyone who has succeeded without a college education or experience and they will tell you that there is no better teacher than yourself. Search for what YOU Love or have a passion for. Search any University of your liking, find their accredited degrees' syllabus and book list. Head to the library or search online, read the books and find the answers to questions you have. The best method for that is to search and save (bookmark) several trusted sources online as well as having trusted like minded folks that you can share and use as a resource. Keep reading, researching, asking questions and applying that knowledge. Now, that's an education! Share the love and you can become the shining beacon or business of your wildest dreams!
Check out these links:
Steve Jobs did it: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/220515
You can do it: http://hbr.org/2011/10/making-yourself-indispensable/ar/1?cm_sp=most_widget-_-hbr_articles-_-Making%20Yourself%20Indispensable

Energy, Oh So Wonderful Energy!

What I do know is that I will be listening to that feeling/sensed warning inside me (maybe someone's energy there was wicked...). First time I ever broke anything (well dislocated), but I felt it coming is the point. Before it was only little cuts and bruises, but the fact remains I had a prior warning and need to learn to listen to it.
I started visualizing and breathing exercises and I feel more in control immediately. Ideas have always been popping up for me on a regular basis and now I am focusing and applying those ideas. It's awesome when you discover something new that attaches itself and extends or unravels even more of your prior understandings of life. Reading Science of Breath by Yogi Ramacharaka was part of a major breakthrough for me. Being able to concentrate on my frequent stomach or headaches and feeling it disappear by using the power of meditation was awesome..., but simple and for some reason I never grasped the greater potential of this power. I wasn't quite ready for that level yet. I must say I continue to feel blessed and I thank everyone along the way. Everyday I'm getting stronger mentally, physically and spiritually.

I am so excited about my newly re-found love and focus on nature. I have always had a natural love for nature and more specifically the nature of the Dominican Republic. I remember waking up from a dream and into a nightmare. The feeling was awful and deep in my chest. I had just awaken from a dream that had my spirit floating across the landscapes of tropical jungles and forests.

That troubling feeling in my chest was proof of how satisfied my spirit and soul had been in that dream. Well, moving to California was the first part of connecting again and coming closer to nature. I quickly outgrew Central Park and all of the moments and experiences that brought me towards moving west were decisive and felt so in tune with the energies of the world that it makes today's happenings have so much power and momentum.
I have gotten closer to nature and so much so that I realized my father was in agriculture as well as my grandfather and obviously every family member prior to that including my maternal side of the family. No wonder the connection felt so deep.

Today almost all of my relationships dealing with nature have been blooming and reproducing including fish, oranges, calamansi, eggplants, bell peppers, cacao, bananas, etc... I get real deep in my Tropical Reserve & Economical Education blog. On that note, I won't get any deeper on this. even thought I am sure to touch on the subject again at a later date. Thank you for reading.

On the Bright side, I still have all 10 fingers!

During sporting competitions I sometimes get that feeling which requires a split second decision like, "should I jump and contest this shot?" The majority of the times I am putting in the extra effort simply because I'm competitive that way and not trying to prove any kind of point. Just like Wednesday night at the basketball gym but the cause of my injury occurred after this decision was made. The decision this time was simply to contest the driving layup after which I'm picking myself off of the floor. As soon as I put my hand down on the floor, a player from the other team landed precisely onto my left hand ring finger. I saw the floor, the sneaker and my bent finger, I clench my fist and took another look at my hand to notice the inch long vertical rip from the middle of the first crease at the tip of my finger down to my knuckles crease in the shape of an upside down Y.
Now, I can't confirm that my finger tip broke, dislocated or caused the laceration, but the burning sensation, visual of my bent finger tip along with the instinctual act of clenching my hand make me think it was dislocated and popped back into place. I can't focus on the detail and there was no discernible pop or feeling of that sort. I'm mostly dealing with the wound but several times I have felt nerve and other pains up my arm all the way to my chest. A minor setback.
I could've lost a finger completely or not had the bone pop back into place. I'll take it the way it is, but it's a lot like what happened back in 2005 when I tried to save a ball going out of bounds (don't think I succeeded but I made the effort) and that scar remains on my right hand pinky finger. The other image of the cut on my right hand index finger came from opening a can by hand. Learned the importance of utilizing the right tool for the job and will hopefully avoid that in the future. Its so much more difficult to avoid these situations when the catalyst that put me in dangers path was an instant decision on whether to compete or not to compete because most of the time I am going to compete.
One thing I have learned throughout the years has been to not put myself in the path or situation that can lead to mishaps and/or accidents, but this is my toughest battle yet!

11.26.2010

09.21.2011

Tom Kha soup - Finally get to use that coconut milk before it goes bad.

One of my wifes favorite dishes whenever we think Thai food is this coconut chicken soup with mushrooms, carrots, red bell peppers, garlic, red onions, ginger, lemongrass, chicken broth, chicken breasts, salt, brown sugar, fish sauce and cilantro. the idea for tjis meal was a random request by my wife, but it fell into place perfectly since our daughter has caught a slight cold as of yesterday. Heavy up on the ginger, lemongrass and garlic. Nothing new as far as garlic is concerned. We all eat plenty of garlic on a daily basis, but this is my first time cooking with fresh lemongrass. Next time I must remember to cut the lemongrass, long enough so it is easier to remove once the plate has soaked up it's flavors. Anyhow, I am proud of the results. We shall be sleeping soundly tonight with satisfied appetites. Hopefully our little sick chickadee wakes up feeling as good as she looks now. Good night.

Community Emergency Response Team

The stimulating point to join was after the Japanese tsunami and watching it with my wife and kids. I knew I needed to be better prepared, so I found and joined our local C.E.R.T the Community Emergency Response Team, which had been originally implemented on a national level. That at least got me started with some of the main tools I needed as well as much guidance by Aaron Grossman who leads the Mountain View team. I started some supplemental training, which was led by Lynn Brown the Coordinator of the Office of Emergency Services with the Mountain View Fire Department. On August 24th, 2011 we were on our second night of training and earlier that day had served as a great lesson even though the impact from the 5.8 earthquake centered in Virginia was minimal we were able to tackle some tough realities like the fact that my Grandfather would need some major assistance walking down four flights of stairs in the case of another emergency. It also solidified the importance of having this background knowledge (as they say here in California) not in case something happens, but WHEN the next one happens. I have also reserved time to go get licensed as an Amateur HAM radio operator and Lynn asked about helping out with the Spanish C.E.R.T class , which would be awesome. I would like nothing more than to do the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people in this short life span of ours. There is still more to learn as always so on and forward to the next chapters.

"The Unemployment Numbers in the United States - July 2011"

As July unemployment numbers are repeated there are also mentions of a discouraged workforce leaving the employment arena. I think what bothers me most about those mentions is the word "discouraged". I personally feel blessed as far as having my complete health, a strong family, and a relatively young mind and maybe that is what has helped me maintain such a positive outlook. I see it as an opportunity and I always have whenever I left any place of employment. Being able to do what I truly LOVED this time around. Making enough money to not worry about bills is another story. What has helped is that my mentality for the past couple of years has been one of a person focused on creating his own business opportunities, in industries of my own choosing to ultimately be HAPPY in life. I guess I have also been "discouraged" in the sense of the searching for responsibilities in the traditional labor market and in that case would be content because the end result of that should be the growth of private and small businesses.  We all have a responsibility to each other to motivate one another and keep each other or at least ourselves passionate and social (NOT facebook) about the things we LOVE in life.

Everything Happens For A Lesson...

The important part is that there's always a lesson to be learned with every negative or perceived to be negative occurrence. You just have to find it and understand it. There is no use in fighting it because even though I loved what I did at T-Mobile for Ritmo Latino Wireless I felt that I was meant for more and I DID think about all the time I would spend with my children along with being paid several months severance, but then again I was losing out on an opportunity even though it was for a small spot under an aging birds wings.
What can you do?
Move on.
After all I worked for a private business owner who made a decision about his own company regardless if I had done anything in the wrong deeming separation he was legally allowed to do it and I knew it. It was unexpected just as I'm sure it was to many others, thus legal actions against them now are not surprising.

That's life so make lemonade right? I love lemonade so ;) here we are today with my quality of LIFE at an all-time high. I can say I am ultimately happy even though I had always targeted a career with a company that had a great reputation where I could build tenure and retire feeling accomplished. Unfortunately, that job style is going extinct. I've felt like I was in the Matrix or The Golden Child with the ground giving away as I stepped on it. First with Anheuser-Busch and all their entities in Busch Gardens/Agriculture, Incredibly effective and funny Advertising & Marketing (my strength and degree) and their many years of being an American staple. I figured I could work here forever specially after seeing all of the money they spent on Marketing. Then one day they get bought out for $52 billion. I guess the dollar was weak and it was a great opportunity in many respects for the Belgian/Brazilian company (InBev) and a couple of months down the line they felt it was most efficient to just sell the wholesaler that I was working for in Stockton so I moved on to try and find opportunities back on the Peninsula closer to San Francisco. Business is business again and there's no real right and wrong. You just have to keep hustling. I knew that even if they had not sold our branch that at some point down the line we would fall victim to cut backs (Labor is the major cost for most U.S. companies). Unfortunately most of what is usually being trimmed doesn't necessarily get reinvested into the companies from which their taken and much of it will be expected by those who "approved" the merger/buyout.

In-between I worked for Comcast through an employment agency and I will say:
#1. Don't ever work through a third-party unless you must
#2. Until Comcast changes their ways I will never work there or recommend anyone working for Comcast
#3. I would quit using Comcast services if there was actually a better option.

Then I wound up at T-Mobile through Ritmo Latino. I always thought T-Mobile made a great decision reaching out to Ritmo Latino. Otherwise Ritmo may have never made it past it's last bootleg stages selling colognes and such but they do cover a very important need which is that of properly servicing the Spanish speaking community. Hundred$ of billion$ of dollars worth of annual spending power. Por eso te lo digo! I thought I could actually grow with this company, but they have their own ways and ideas that unfortunately for them are very different than mine own so on we go... I could easily do a lot of things like go back to T-Mobile corporate. I love technology specially mobile technology, which I think is the future of communication, but instead I spent time with my family and have since gotten in tune with my own natural impulses and motivations in life as well as my ever-growing passions in Horticulture, Writing, Several business ventures that I have an actual personal interest in,  Sports like basketball and baseball, which serve as my ultimate sources of exercise, our health, happiness and overall success in Life.

My life has changed. I no longer feel that I have to put my life aside in order to go work and pay bills. I will live and love what I do every day. I'm not financially rich so that complaint will still be there, but that's about it. I love you Annaliza, Ava and Paolo!

A few more sayings to live by: Don't live without being and feeling alive! - Everybody dies, but not everybody lives.

Keeper of the Greens...

Loving my responsibilities at the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers! One of those things that have kept me feeling ALIVE through all my life responsibilities and all of the efforts I have put forth in my career has been growing and taking care of many plants at home and I couldn't think of anything better than continuing my life in a career as Keeper of the Green. I have been following my passions in many respects and NATURE is definitely one along with SPORTING so I've also started coaching a 13-17 year old basketball team for the City of San Mateo, which interestingly enough also falls under the Parks & Recreation umbrella.

Sneak peak @ The Conservatory of Flowers. An amazing place.

Austin & MadLib forever Connected

I don't know who I first heard it from, but Every person you meet is an angel, a guide towards your own ultimate direction. Just as many people may say after a break up or separation that it just wasn't meant to be, but it was meant to be up to that point. You gained certain aspects, outlooks, views, opinions, felt certain energies, emotions, experiences that have now led you to being who you are in your mind frame because of that person. To get right to the point of this blog...Thank you Austin for introducing me to this clip of music because there is NOTHING like Madlib, The Further Adventures of Lord Quas, Yesterday's New Quintet, Peanut Butter Wolf etc.

Capital is only loyal to Capital

Folks work all their lives, 30 maybe 40+ years at the same company and you'd think they would be well set once they retire, but when you really look at it they have no value in their retirement accounts or not enough to retire with. Then you factor in lay-offs, and check this out: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/20/business/20tax.html
That story there talks about Apple, Google and Microsoft, but then also speaks about million and billion dollar companies like Merck, Pfizer and Hewlett-Packard so just imagine how many other corporations are doing it. Between only the first three companies mentioned here there is a total of $58 billion in vast profits outside the country and they are pressing Congress and the Obama administration for a tax break to bring the money home. Isn't it the law? If you do business in the United States you should pay the taxes in the U.S., but those clever accountants have found ways to significantly reduce the taxes corporations pay the government because the company in turn has to turn profits for their share holders. That's why accountants and executives get paid the big dollars. Capital taking care of Capital. Can't really blame them. Now if everyone was playing fair, but only a few went rogue then we could easily discipline those that have been misguided, but it's like EVERYONE is doing it! That's partly responsible for the economic downturn we're in.
Now the mentality of the people turns from working in their lives to working in order to survive and it shouldn't be that way. The capitalistic world will dominate life and living will be made impossible without being a part of the fabric of that society. I tried to get myself that corporate job that respected tenure where I could work and build a life around. I invested my time in Anheuser-Busch. Two years later they get bought out for an amount if $52 billion in cash I believe. Ridiculous, but if I had 1000 shares I would have also voted to sell I guess. It just seems that the folks who have "capital" and that sort of weight to throw around do so without a care of the sweat, blood and tears that are being spilled just to feed hungry mouths. I rather not get my eggs mixed up in that bag. I'll spread them around else where. I may not get the ROI in terms of capital, but I have learned in the last month that If I continue to focus on what I Love and have a passion for then I will progress, and live a Happy, Healthy, Successful Life!

Everybody dies, but not everybody lives! 

So...

Do what you LOVE EVERYDAY, EXCEL and let's LIVE and LOVE LIFE!

The Insurance Battle with WarrantyDirect.com...

This really Sucks the life out of you! My wife had paid almost $3500 that she had gotten back from her tax return to protect the car she loves. It was supposed to be a 3 year extended warranty on top of the current Jaguar warranty that was about to expire. The highest option offered by WarrantyDirect.com since as she put it she wanted , "Everything possible covered". It was a stick-shift/manual 2004 Jaguar X-Type 2.5 in White of course. Those were two main qualities in a car for my lady...it must be White and have a Manual transmission. I don't know about you all, but for me it is a turn-on to see a woman handle a manual transmission vehicle a whip it around like a pro. That takes skills and it's rare because from my experience the majority of women I've seen driving are more afraid of the machine and power vs  understanding the machine and knowledgeably trying to manipulate it.
Well, back to the story at-hand. A couple of years in we're driving the Jaguar to San Francisco to work from Foster City. I'm driving and remember paying attention to the RPMs that morning. The vehicle did seem a bit "cold". Experienced drivers know more or less when you drive a vehicle enough that it needs a tune-up. I had been driving my Civic most of the time so it wasn't obvious to me right away. After driving about 12 miles north on 101 we hear some weird noises from the front passenger side of the car and the Oil light turns on as well. At this point we continued slowly keeping RPMs under 3000 for the rest of our 14 miles or so to work. The car was then taken to the Jaguar dealership that morning before work in San Francisco ultimately to find out later that there were, "metal particles in the oil that was drained". A cause of some over heating I suppose since it was never explained to either one of us. What they said was that there was no oil in the vehicle and practically went dry. The interesting part was that we parked the Jaguar in our same parking spot every day and there was no recent oil drips and the car was not yet due for it's oil change. We hardly put miles on the car. To this day it has about 56k miles and man she still loves her car and I do as well.
The Jaguar dealership sends its report to the insurance company, which turns around and sends us a letter saying the damage is a cause of neglect and the claim was being denied. Our complaint was that we never had any reason to think there was a problem. We had gotten the regular oil changes at their designated mileage and directly from the Jaguar dealership. We never noticed any issues and when we did notice something we immediately drove it to the dealership to get checked out. DENIED! Now we have a vehicle sitting at the Jaguar dealership with our name on it, they're asking us what we are going to do with it because they can not keep it there. A new engine was about a $10k job, we still owed $7500 worth of payments, my Wife is 7 months pregnant at this stage too. JAJA. What a time we have experienced and surpassed. Well, I felt like if they weren't going to help us then return the $3500 paid for the worthless insurance. After some pressure and writing several letters to WarrantyDirects parent insurance company, then one to the National Association of Insurance companies. We did find some very helpful folks whom helped us finally get an approval to our claim and they got a used engine from the same type of vehicle and everything almost the identical amount of mileage then. The Jaguar dealership finished the job of putting the new engine in. i don't want to get into the efforts put in from the folks at the Jaguar dealership. Maybe they're just really busy and that's another story. I'm so glad this whole thing worked out. We were in a a critical time in our lives with the babies coming and potentially losing out on the car and having to continue making payments...imagine that. It was quite the upgrade from the ZelRydr (White Acura Integra Manual Transmission). We had fun in that car! I'll post the pictures soon. ZelRydr from beginning to end. I think you can still find pieces by Oakland Coliseum out there.
Lesson of the story. Get your extended warranty directly through the dealership. It's worth it or you'll be fighting it out with those whom you've been paying to supposedly be on your side.

BBQ Beef Ribs with Moro de Maiz and Blue-Strawberry Salad

MMM...BBQ! We're lucky enough to have a Nice big brand new butane grill courtesy of our apartment management, but I just like the charcoal, mesquite, smokey taste. Anyhow, just added this 21 season salute seasoning we got from Trader Joe's, added some salt and BBQing slowly with the charcoals to one side and a pan of water underneath the Beef Ribs to keep them moist. BBQ'ed for an hour now...The rice is a mixture taken from what my mother taught me, which was how to make Moro with rice. That's when you make your rice with beans, corn or another flavoring married/Casado to the rice. After moving to the West Coast I heard a Salvadorian lady call Moro, Casado. It makes sense. I Love it. The kids love it as well. Specially Moro with our favorite Green Pigeon Peas aka Guandules Verdes that can only be found at Whole Foods here in California or when my mother sends us cans from the East coast. We still have about 8-9 cans left from her last visit. Gotta Love it! a mother's Love is like no other. Back to my other Love...BBQ food. I'm writing all of this as I'm waiting for another hour to pass for a total of two hours slow BBQing Beef Ribs. Made ourselves a nice salad while we waited. baby Spinach/Spring Mix with Strawberries, Bluberries and a Strawberry vinaigrette dressing.

Cottage Cheese, Sour Cream & Honey

I think I've got it right. I remember being at a Romanian friends house about 15 years ago and they made me this dessert out of Cottage Cheese, Sour Cream and Honey. It tastes great even now. I do equal parts sour cream to cottage cheese and then add honey while I mix it to just the right sweetness. It just fulfills certain taste buds and sensations...I love it! I feel like there may have been one other ingredient though. Well, if anyone has any insights into that possible fourth ingredient...feel free to comment. Otherwise enjoy yourself what I believe to be an Eastern European Yogurt / Desert!

Personal Quote to Live By...

Whatever it is in Life...Just Go Ahead & Do It or you'll Never know of the Satisfaction!

About 11-12 years ago I asked a couple of folks whom I felt were well experienced in Life what were some of the things that they may have regret for after all their experience and they mentioned the same things that I myself felt regret for in my Life.

"All those things that I was going to do, but just never accomplished for whatever reason. Man they stick in my head...I wonder what if I would have...

Mother LOVE

Gentlemen, When was the last time You bought Yourself fresh underwear? I'm not afraid to admit it, but I didn't usually buy my own underwear and it's not like I can't, it's just that for every Birthday and Christmas at least I can guarantee that my Mother will get me a bunch of Saks Fifth Avenue brand tank-tops and boxer-briefs (Yes, I'm a Boxer-Brief guy, Boxers 2nd favorite...never Briefs). She gets great employee discounts! Thanks Saks and Thank you Mother of mine for that wonderfully fresh and confident feeling you always made sure I had. Te AMO Mammi.

I live on the West coast of the United States so I buy my own tank tops and boxer-briefs now and this thought came up...Why not make sure that this year for Mother's Day at least my Mother has all the Wonderfully Fresh, Confident feelings I can buy. I'll need my Wife-To-Be's help. Anyway, it's minimal, I owe this woman my Life and Upbringing and almost all that encompasses me today, but today is another Mother's Day. Mother Nature! Well, I gotta go enjoy me some. I can hear the kids having fun outside without me. Ya voy!

The Neverending Thirst For Knowledge

I have always thirsted for knowledge and understanding. I have sourced through my Grandparents, Family, school, friends, my love of reading, the Encyclopedia's my Mom bought for us (for $1000's) and then watching National Geographic, The History, The Discovery Channel and GOOGLE. After college I thought of the next chapter of my life as the time when I get to choose my own teachings. It's the way I learned to love reading. Farenheit 451 was the first book to open up my literary imagination, but after that I said well let's read some subjects we are interested in or that I would like to learn more about. (I say "we" because even though I am ONE singular person I do have urges that feel like they come from different parts of me. Like the quieter more reserved side of me vs the much more outspoken, energetic self). Then came Siddhartha by Herman Hesse, Plato's Republic by Plato, Science of Breath by Yogi Ramacharaka, The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown and The Dominican Republic a National History by Frank Moya Pons among many more. It's funny, but the more that I learn in detail about say programming, investing in the financial markets or horticulture the more I KNOW that I DON'T know. That's wild, well It feels crazy sometimes because of all the directions my mind wants to go in. There are so many questions and so many more possible answers and it makes life worth every moment. Time becomes more and more precious. Becoming a Father definitely added value to my time as well, but then again because of technology like that of the Internet and GOOGLE we can do SO MUCH MORE today than what we could back say 20 years ago so time has truly gained value. Man if I could invest in THAT stock I know it'll go up...a lot like GOLD. If we really think about it, it's like everything else in Life. You have a balance. Much more information can be looked through and garnered, but the quality as to say the sources and knowledge of those sources will be lacking. That's an area of opportunity for anyone able to fight for the cause let me know and we can work on establishing a standard across the Internet sort of like a seal of authenticity for tracing and finding sources and references used to make claims in reports etc. Make reporters responsible for listing these in their online writings. I've seen many sites where certain words within the writings can be clicked on. It seems pretty simple from an implementation aspect, but the difficulty lies in finding an authentic look and feel as well as getting folks to actually utilize the format where their sources can be clicked on and followed to be read through for accuracy. I often feel like I can do anything on my own though and I get excited just thinking about building this, reading that and accomplishing different goals and projects. My current self teachings are in horticulture, programming and planning my wedding with my beautiful Wife-to-be Annaliza Cruz Francisco. She has her own blog named, "Nature's Wife" (Natureswife.blogspot.com). Nice name! Check it out!

Why Don't We Eliminate Car Accidents?

I thought of this idea a few years ago that would use magnetic fields or more specifically wrapping the frames of vehicles with opposing magnetic fields. This way when two cars, trains, cell phones etc come dangerously close together these opposing magnetic fields would keep these cars from crashing, trains from colliding or people texting in the streets from running into other folks dumbfounded by their own smartphones.
On the other-hand though there is the Auto-Body Industry as well as parts, paint shops, insurance agents etc that would stand to lose out unless they adapt...Hmm. I guess it all comes down to who has the most at stake business-wise and capital to invest in it moving forward as well as probably the most political pull because this would have to be an industry led effort.

NYC2BAY

NYC - Underground Tunnel

In SF

Rooftop @ the Phun Factory, Queens

Man I Love California. The weather (78 degrees today) just inspires me to THRIVE. It's the feeling you get after the gym or a good workout where you're Present in the moment, so much so that you're aware of your breathing and how fulfilling that simple automatic response/process can be. A Blessing. I Love NYC also and I've always described the difference between it and the Bay Area as a matter of Quantity of Life vs Quality of Life. It all depends at what stage of life you're in. If you've got the energy you should be in a place like Queens, Manhattan or Brooklyn. There's so much going on, so many different, fast moving people with their own sets of priorities that if you don't have a focus and goal at heart you will get left behind. I say earn your money and keep it so you can enjoy it somewhere else (It's not how much you make, it's how much you keep - Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest). There's always some place open to relieve you of your funds. Why should they sleep? The Capital of capital. Money, Marketing, Fashion, Lights, Action! Man there's no place like New York and then again there's no place like the Bay Area either. NYC will always be my home though. My parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, G-Mom & G-Pops (on my mothers side), my best friends/homies growing up, etc mostly live in NYC, and my family tree has expanded past NYC and the Dominican Republic finally.  We have a couple of uncles on my Mothers side living in Florida now and the rest of my folks as well as the majority of Family from my Fathers side are in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. I figure family bonds, the availability of goods from the Dominican Republic and the opportunities available in the Rotten Apple overcome the torment of the Wind Chill Factor! Here in the Bay area after five years I have personally met only three Dominicans, but I hear that there are more out here. We're currently living in Mountain View, where Google has its headquarters, great school system for the little ones, close to two major airports and some of the best weather compared to the rest of the Bay area. I can't complain. I'll just continue to soak up the good vibes and Progress towards a brighter future.

Plantanos, Yucca, Salchichon Y Queso frito

Downtown NYC

B to the K...Brooklyn!

La Republica Dominicana

City by the Bay!

Golden Gate, CA