Wandering Thoughts

Sunday, March 23, 2014

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

Thursday, March 20, 2014

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

Sunday, March 2, 2014

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

Sunday, February 23, 2014

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.

Monday, February 17, 2014

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

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Teaching...

I’m having trouble differing between reality and fantasy again. It happened again today. I was teaching, looking at my students, and I just felt myself leaving my body. Floating effortlessly, I wafted towards the chalkboard. Looking at my surroundings, I finally focused on the back of my head. ‘You really have to stop giving yourself shitty haircuts, people will start to think you’re off the rocker…’ Who said that? Regardless, it wasn’t such a big mystery.

Everything always seems to have gone by in flashes, like a strobing light that casts these minutes of amnesia, as if the seconds in between them are actually hours, because before I knew it, I had left the classroom. I started watching myself through the glass from outside of the door as my corporal went through the motions and taught on the other side. I knew I had about 2 hours left of teaching period 2, so I left noticing myself jumping on the desk, getting the students all wild-eyed and rambunctious about The Tell-Tale Heart. Yeah, he's got it under control...and I took off.

Walking down the yellow and gray hallway, my mind started to wander again. I was looking down at the ground, counting the soundless thuds my faded, brown boots weren’t making on the scuffed linoleum. ‘Yea, he’s got them under his thumb, especially that Tony Valdez. I’ll just be gone for 10 minutes, run around the building or something.’ I said to myself. Then I started to think, if I talk to myself, while having an out-of-body experience, does that mean I’m crazy? Better yet, I’m having this out-of-body experience, does THAT mean I’m crazy?

My mind has the tendency to travel light years ahead and make round trips into and from the realm of the forgotten. I’ve been at this school for about two years now. I can’t even believe two years have passed by. At first, I was this clean-shaven, baby-soft shirt, tie, and pressed slacks-wearing rookie, nervous and sweating about the young minions about to devour my soul. Now, I come in, I haven’t shaved for weeks, haven’t shined my shoes in months, and I’ve got those cherubic puppies eatin out the palm of my hand. The small people love me, and they do whatever I say, it’s bizarre.

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Lorca

Federico Garcia Lorca was a Spanish poet and theater director. He traveled extensively from rural Spain to Argentina sharing his passion for the creative arts. He became prominent at a time when his country was under strife that led to the Spanish Civil War, which was fought for three years. He was executed by Nationalist Forces whose motives, a subject of controversy, may have been to exterminate intellectuals from staging a revolt or to extinguish homosexuals from the public eye.

A talented musician and classically trained pianist, some of Lorca's poetry revolved around his love of music, and in this poem published in 1921, his adoration of flamenco guitar is a prominent symbol.