USPS Day 1 - Palmyra Harbor

     Today was interesting.  It marked my first day at the United States Postal Service.  I showed up at the Cinnaminson Post Office at 7:50AM thinking I wanted to be nice and early.  I met up with the Postmaster who was fixing an automated machine with a technician.  He seemed surprised to see me and said "9:00AM", introduced me to my trainer, Harry, who has twenty years of experience under his belt, and Postmaster told me I could wait in the break-room until then.

     I waited.

     I was requested to follow Mail Carrier Harry onto our route.  He pushed his massive basket filled with mail and parcels to a waiting truck, which swallowed both paper and man alike.  In other words, he loaded the back while I climbed into a waiting chair that appeared hastily bolted into the frame of the storage cell of the postal vehicle.

     Mail Carrier Harry is exactly what you'd imagine if I said "Heavy Metal Bass Player."   He's a 42-year old father of two teenage daughters and is happily married.  He stands at about 5'11" and sports a goatee that is clearly made of granite.

     It was 32 degrees out.  Fun.

     We continued on our routes and he demonstrated how to finger through the mail.  I observed how he quickly sorted through and delivered each address's package.  I sensed the excitement of possibility rising in my chest as we conversed about the postal service and all things disregarding the postal service.

     After the initial day, I'm exhilarated to have realized this sensation of being alive!

Summertime is Great

After watching this video, I was inspired to write this poem to my friend, Del.


Summertime is Great



I don't know how.
I don't know why.
My pupils are dilated.
I can't find the sky.

It could be this.
It could be the
red and white peppermint twists,
hiding under my tongue.

A chill so deep,
coursing through my bones.
After watching this video,
I can't help but moan.

Why oh why, Del?!!
Why'd you make me sit
through the blissful reverie
and treasury, such as this?

I see myself now,
in sleeves of white
in a rubber room
under the cover of night.

Laughing at the cat
who's floating under my tree
Pit, pit, pat, pat,
goes my drool to
the pool underneath me.

Alas, and farewell
to the logic I ONCE had.

In my heart and my soul
I feel, and I know,
somehow and some way,
this video is...inspiring.

Juan Dolio, Rep. Dom

Sunrise in Juan Dolio

I had a great time traveling with my family in the Dominican Republic.  We were able to empty the house, see our uncle, meet up with the lawyer, verify that all paperwork was still under our name, go to the beach, and most importantly, swim!  Overall, I consider the trip a grand success because we were really productive.  The productivity is thankfully due to the beauty of maintaining order, staying focused and checking off tasks on our list.  This feat demonstrates that anything is possible as long as we're dutiful and our positive vibrations are aligned within ourselves!

Jacobo behind the iron gate

Palm trees under the stars

Purple skies and blue water

Chesapeake Bay Getaway

Canadian Geese flying in and settling on the icy Chesapeake Bay

"You don't need magic to disappear.  All you need is a destination."

It's great to spend a few moments away and experience the unknown with incredible company.  For the big 30, I had a wondrous time in the Chesapeake Bay in a bed&breakfast called the Lovely Chesapeake Waterfront Flat and we couldn't have had a more splendid time!

It's ideal for couples who want to get away from it all for a few days and is close enough to the local supermarket.  I highly recommend the hot tub!

The bay behind the Lovely Chesapeake Waterfront Flat

An abandoned crab cage 

Driftwood on a Chesapeake Bay beach

The bay behind the Lovely Chesapeake Waterfront Flat

Philadelphia Flower Show 2014

Philadelphia Flower Show

The Philadelphia Flower Show, the world's largest indoor flower expo, is held every year in Philadelphia at the Convention Center to showcase manicured gardens and explosions of colors and fragrances.  It's hosted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, which has been in effect since 1827.   The society's main goal has been to establish a pronounced presence of horticulture in the city of Philadelphia, one of the oldest cities in USA.

A lovely young lady and I had a jazzy time building memories at this year's Philadelphia Flower Show.  We were both surprised and astounded by all of the luscious sights and aromatic areas in the convention center.  With this rough winter, quite possibly the wettest winter on record pending tomorrow's snowstorm, it was invigorating to experience the rebirth of plant-life and realize that spring was just around the corner!

Click on the picture to enlarge.

Philadelphia Flower Show

Philadelphia Flower Show

Philadelphia Flower Show

Philadelphia Flower Show

Philadelphia Flower Show

Philadelphia Flower Show

Philadelphia Flower Show

Philadelphia Flower Show

Philadelphia Flower Show

Philadelphia Flower Show

Philadelphia Flower Show

World Sword Swallower's Day - Atlantic City, NJ

History of sword swallowing

Sword swallowing has amazed and entertained crowds for hundreds of years.  Normally, one would be able to find a sword swallower at a carnival or a circus.  The performer would usually look straight up with the chin in the air to provide a clear plane for the throat and carefully slide the sharp blade into the mouth and esophagus.  If a performer has shaky hands or misses by the slightest centimeter, it could mean injury at best or death at worst.

Modern-day practice

"Some people think sword swallowing is an illusion.  I'm here to tell you that it's not," said David Peyre-Ferry as he addressed a crowd of about fifty people in front of Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum in Atlantic City, NJ.

David Peyre-Ferry demonstrating one of his blades.

Peyre-Ferry is a sword-swallower who has been honing his craft for years.  On February 22, 2014, the day that commemorates World Sword Swallower's Day, he displayed then ingested swords of varying shapes and lengths, none of which were shorter than 20-inches, to mark the occasion.

"Are you going to die?"

"You're crazy!"

"Why would you do that?"

These were some of the responses from children present in the performance, and Peyre-Ferry, a budding showman, played to the crowd well.

Peyre-Ferry performing one of his feats as his father looks on.

He asked the youngsters "Does anyone want to switch?" as he was about to enter yet another blade into his mouth.  Not likely Mr. Peyre-Ferry, and some of the children were plenty vocal about their opinions, which mostly resounded in an overwhelming, yet adorable "NOOOOOOO!!"  Nicely said kids, nicely said.

What most impressed me about this back-and-forth was the emergence of wonder in the children's eyes, which for so long have been deadened by illuminated screens.  These little people, at that beautiful moment in time, not only knew that sword swallowing was dangerous and best left to the professionals, but were also spectators and inductees to one of the world's oldest (and oddest) skills.  There's nothing better than leaving a lasting impression on a crowd, and what better way to do that than to astound the masses with a reminder of how flexibly freakish the human body could be.

Lonely Hearts' Commune Club - Daegu, South Korea

Here's a photo of one of the venues my cover band played in while we were in South Korea.  I dug the energy of this picture, plus it helped having a few brews after our set :D