Friday Night 80's Rap Jam

When Rap was young and fun....

Misters, grab the Mrs.
Mrs., track down your hubbie.
Singles grab a broom.
Techno Dweebs... take the wireless keyboard in one hand and the mouse in the other.

Turn it up. It's Friday Night..
Join the man again... and Bust a Move... but be careful not to break anything. We are a bit older... well, i know you are.

Shivers, you call that dancing?

Wednesday Evening Funk Jam

I learned today that my friend, who’s struggling with cancer, has taken a turn for the worse. He’s worried he might not make it to his son’s graduation in June. Another good friend in going in for surgery for colon cancer… other stuff going on too.

Beautiful night tonight… i went for a bike ride with my ipod and this song came on pushing me further into my funk. Let’s be grateful for what we have and don’t sweat the small stuff. In the end it’s all going to fade.

The man was a Hindu but he was a man of great compassion and had an insight into the human condition. George Harrison died too young at 58. He also had cancer.

Isn't it a pity, isn't it a shame
How we break each other's hearts
And cause each other pain
How we take each other's love
Without thinking any more
Forgetting to give back, isn't it a pity?

Some things take so long
But how do I explain
There are too many people
Can't see we're all the same
And because of all the tears
Their eyes can't hope to see
The beauty that surrounds them, isn't it a pity?

Art Part II

And speaking of famous artist, after much research it was discovered that Vincent Van Gogh had many relatives.

Here are a few:

• His obnoxious brother, Please Gogh
• His dizzy aunt: Verti Gogh
• His prune eating brother: Gotta Gogh
• His constipated uncle: Can't Gogh
• His brother that liked to bleach his clothes: Hue Gogh
• His Yugoslavian grandpa: U. Gogh
• His Italian uncle, Day Gogh
• His brother that worked in a convenient store: Stopn Gogh
• His cousin from Illinois: Chica Gogh
• His Mexican cousin: Amee Gogh
• His Mexican cousin's American half-brother: Grin Gogh
• His uncle who was a magician: Wherediddy Gogh
• His ballroom dancing aunt: Tang Gogh
• His sister that liked disco: Go Gogh
• His stagecoach driving nephew: Wellsfar Gogh
• His bird loving uncle: Flamin Gogh
• His nephew that is a psychoanalyst: E. Gogh
• His fruit loving cousin: Man Gogh
• His aunt that taught positive thinking: Wayda Gogh
• His cousin, the astrologer ... Vir Gogh
• His extremely bouncy nephew: Poe Gogh
• And finally his grand-niece that no one has heard from because she's been traveling around the USA for years: Winnie Bay Gogh

And there ya Gogh!

Nyuk, Nyuk.

ART

This past weekend I came across this cool program that allows you to create art. It's called Zbrush. I've had it for a while but never had time to fool with it. Well, I had some time this past weekend and started playing around with it. I had a ball.

Now keep in mind I can't do this yet. I like the more abstract part of it. Hey, if Sylvester Stallone can do it and charge $850 I can do it too.

I need a name for my first piece and how much I should charge. Help me out.

Click on the smaller image below to get a feel for the size, colors and textures ....

Gracias a Dios por nuestra querida Tia

On April 10th is the birthday of our beloved, Titi Marta.

We have all shared many incredible memories with her. Let’s take time out today to thank God for sharing her with us.

This picture of her with Tom and I always makes me laugh. We were in Puerto Rico for Carlos & Nilsa’s wedding. We went to pose for a picture with her and in her trademark “fresceria”; she pushed both our faces into her bosom as the photo was taken.

God, I miss her!

The Fish King

Over the past few weeks I've been teaching the little guy card games like Go Fish and WAR. He's gotten quite good and always ends up winning. Every day when I get home from work it's "Wanna play cards Papa"?

I ask you, with a face like that how can you say no?




You'll notice we're playing with my 50 cards. On my birthday in December I was given a deck of cards with comical sayings about turning 50. They're called my Uh-Oh Five-Oh cards. Here's my favorite:

Easter Morning Suprise

Well we had another visitor to our backyard. But this time not so scary looking!!

Take a look at the shots we got of an eagle sitting in the Oak Tree next door this morning. VERY COOL!!!!

This shot shows the Eagle flying away. Dave was getting too close trying to take pictures.

Other friends of nature that have visited our backyard include fox and a bobcat. However, they were way too quick to grab a camera. Maybe next time!

Resurrection Day Jam

You can't keep a good man down.

Happy Birthday Chick

Sorry it's so late. I couldn't find the right picture.
Today is the birthday of possibly one of the greatest baseball players Lansdale has ever produced. In the words of Tio Gilberto : "Ah no, ese muchacho sabe jugar!"

Happy 47th, Chick. I love you. Glad you finally made it down here.

Another Fine Institution . . . Gone.

It is with great sadness that we announce that on Saturday April 7th, the Skate Ranch on 309 will be closing its doors. A local auto dealer has purchased the real estate and will be occupying it immediately.

Like the LansBowl (the bowling alley that burned to the ground three weeks ago), Skate 309 was another place for us to hang out in the days of our youth. Although I have only been there a few times in the past twenty years, I’ve had fond memories every time I walked in.

Ladies & Gentlemen, the final skate will be for couples only.

You Play Ball Like A Giiiirrrrllllll

A quote from a film that was shot in Lansdale, on 2nd St, between 1966 and 1972 (Chick, back me up).
This guy was not coached by Ulyses Cardona Sr.

You're killing me Smalls!

For Sale

Tom: Maybe you can get somebody to go half with you.

Background here. I don't think "he" comes with the car.

Lame

I liked the others better.



1. What makes Mr. Authentic so authentic? Blue jeans and a t-shirt?
2. Does wearing a suit and tie make you a dork?
3. "I lost my job because I didn't pray enough..." None of us pray enough or read scripture enough.
4. Is Satan ever to blame?
5. Is there no such thing as spiritual warfare?
6. Are there things in life that just happen? And what exactly does that mean?

Just asking.
I think this guy had it right:
buttoned-down dogma versus spiritual cool, this time with more vinegar directed at the PC/dork side.

Real Age

I just wasted 15 minutes of my life finding out what my real age is. And the verdict is . . .

Chronological Age: 46.01 years old

Real Age: 48.9 years old

Bummer. While I was hoping to have a “technical excuse” for being immature, this website tells me that I better start eating better and get into a regular exercise routine. Who am I kidding? That ain’t going to happen.

4 years of working out

Maybe i should start

Nahhh... i'm too tired.

Beware of Thermal Imaging Cameras at Airports

Ok. Last one for today.
Have you ever been walking the mall and you walk into this invisible, sulfurous wall of odor? Well, it's no longer invisible.

Notice how at the beginning he turns a little to make sure there's no one around. Pig.

It's a Thursday Video Avalanche

Owwww, that's gonna leave a mark.

This is a big horse

The Translator

Yeah, I can do that.

Randy Stonehill Jam

Ron and Tom, this one's for you.
Best lines:

And even though she's nonchalant
And acts as if her habit's a joke
She won't do too much laughing
When her life goes up in smoke

And every time that she inhales
A cloud of that cigarette smoke
She's just one step closer to the man in black
And sixty cents closer to broke

Happy Birthday Adam

I also forgot to post this one. My boy celebrates his magic birthday today:
26 on the 26th. Happy Birthday, buddy. I love you.

Have you seen my pet Gator??

Well this is Florida.....the home of the Gators. And I don't mean the ones that wear Orange and Green and clap their arms up and down on game day! We were at home the other day during the week of Jennifer's wedding and this guy in an airboat came by and knocked down the watergrass that was growing on the edges of the lake that our house sits on. Not only did he make a mess, but he created a haven for our new pets. We visit them now in the afternoon's when we get home from work and low and behold Grandpappy was there today. Boy is he big. I would have to say that this is the biggest one I've seen since we've moved here. I would guess he's got to be 12 to 13 feet long. Although I've never seen them out of the water (except the little 5 foot one in the driveway one day!) I was a bit nervous about getting too close. They're usually afraid of us and when we get close they swim away. But this big guy wasn't moving anywhere. We thought we'd share a couple of pictures.

We were about 15 feet away from the gator when we took this picture.


After a little while he turned to swim away.

You can't see it too well, but if you look closely there are actually three gators in this picture that were all on the edge when we walked up. The two smaller ones were scared and swam into the water pretty quickly but didn't go far.

Monday Blues Pick-Me-Up Jam

You know the drill. Echale un poquito de...

Happy Anniversary, Mom & Pop

It's been 51 years. Today is Mom and Pop's anniversary. So many things to say about Mom and Pop. The one thing that God truly blessed me with was my parents. Pop's constant life lessons and Mom's unconditional love.

I remember 1976, Pop was my little league coach. That year we went undefeated and won the championship. U and Dave were playing for the community league on seperate teams. Pop would be coaching my game and after we were done (winning), he would run between their games to show support. Mom would work at night at Philco and at her dinner break she would spend it at the fields watching us play. The days she was off, the entire days would be spent at the fields. UNBELIEVABLE !!!!

U recently saw a movie called "Butterfly Effect". Him and I talked about what if Mom and Pop never moved to Lansdale and stayed in Philly. I believe that they were lead by God and the rest is history. I was talking to E (son) and he said "Dad, what if Papa never came to the states and he stayed in PR". Things would have been different, the story goes that Pop was engaged to be married..... but then he saw mom and the rest is history.... GREAT HISTORY.

. . . And Baseball

In the spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love . . . and baseball.

Congratulations to young Adam Cardona and his lovely Sara. While it seems to most of us that it was only days ago that Adam was just a child, I’m sure our parents would agree that it was just a few weeks ago that we were just kids and the most important thing to us was getting to Moyers Road to play Little League baseball (hopefully on the Pirates or Orioles team with Mr. Ulises Cardona as coach.)
Live life the way it was intended (Luke 12: 27-31). Enjoy, love, laugh, learn and remember.

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. James 4:14

Saturday Night Jam

Misters, grab the Mrs.
Mrs., track down your hubbie.
Singles grab a broom.
Techno Dweebs... take the wireless keyboard in one hand and the mouse in the other.

Turn it up. It's Saturday Night..
Join the man... he started the whole thing...

More Wedding Bells

My boy is getting married. This should have been posted 3 months ago but I was waiting for Adam to give me the picture from his trip to NY.

Over Christmas he took Sarah to New York city for a few days and at the top of Rockefeller Center (Top of the Rock) he got down on one knee, pulled out the ring and proposed. They had a photographer up there so as soon as I get the official picture I'll post it.

We're all very excited. Sarah is a gem and we're all looking forward to having her be a part of the Cardona family. We met her family a while back and they are very warm and down to earth. Best of all they love to have fun like the Cardonas. The wedding should be a blast. It's set for November this year, the day after Thanksgiving.

Happy 46!!!!!

Happy Birthday Tomás

The Ceremony

I'll post the story of how I came to perform Jennifer's ceremony later. It's late. Enjoy.

Rita Day

What started out as a chance to get one free water ice has turned into a holiday for my family and I. Years ago we found out that on the first day of spring (March 21st), Rita’s Water Ice gives away a regular size water ice to everyone. No purchase required. Just ask for it. My kids and I travel from store to store, town to town, franchise to franchise to see just how many of these we can enjoy. While it is quite refreshing, it gives us a chance to try the new flavors (green apple, chocolate, mango, etc.)
I understand they have several Rita’s in Florida, so please, after the two hour drive to Clearwater enjoy a nice cold cherry flavored ice and think of me.

Books

I've been on a reading binge of sorts for the last 3 weeks. Friday I finished a thriller that had me at the edge of my rocking recliner.


The best part of these books are usually reserved for the last 20 pages. You're trying to read as fast as you can because you want to get to the end but you don't want to miss anything. It's like watching a movie in slow motion.

Sunday I took a trip to the library again and picked up three more books; one fiction and two works of non-fiction by Malika Oufkir. I remember hearing about her story a few yeas ago in the news. The books are Stolen Lives, written in 1999 and Freedom: The Story of My Second Life, written last year.

Here's the story from the book jacket:



While accounts of the unjust arrest and torture of political prisoners are by now common, we expect such victims to come with a just cause. Here, Oufkir tells of the 20-year imprisonment of her upper-class Moroccan family following a 1972 coup attempt against King Hassan II by her father, a close military aide. After her father's execution, Oufkir, her mother and five siblings were carted off to a series of desert barracks. At their first posting, they complained that they were short on butter and sweets. Over the years, subsequent placements brought isolation cells and inadequate, vermin-infested rations. Finally, starving and suicidal, the innocents realized they had been left to die. They dug a tunnel and escaped. Recapture led to another five years of various forms of imprisonment before the family was finally granted freedom.

20 years in captivity! From 1972 until 1992. Can you imagine being cut off from the rest of the world for 20 years? When she was arrested she was 19 and 39 when released. I devoured the book in a day and a half. It was an amazing read. The escape was the most thrilling part. Their reaction to the societal and technological changes around them after the escape were the most amusing. I would highly recommend the book. So would Oprah.

I started her second book today. It's mainly about her adjustments to civilization. She came over to the US to promote her book and Oprah got her to come on her show and talk about the whole ordeal. They booked her a hotel in New York and I leave you with a quote from that chapter and a big reason why I love my country:

"The valet delivers me and my luggage to the room, then wishes me a pleasant stay. America is the land where they wish you the most good things. A good time, a good trip, a good visit, good afternoon, good evening.....If a mere fraction of these wishes comes true, the United States must really be paradise on earth."

It's the closest you'll come to it. As Yakov would say "What a country!"