Mario and I have a new green baby in the family, no its not Shrek!

We planted three new plants of cherry tomatoes on or about March 1st, 2010, italian flat parsley, and a new batch of basil.

Looking for some herbs for teas. Any ideas out there? I have fresh mint and I makes fresh mint, camomile, and lemon skin tea and it is wonderful. Sometimes substitute the lemon skin with apple skin. Maybe I can get a camomile plant or seeds. Grew my oregano from seeds and it is an absolute beauty!

But so is the below baby tomato! How sweet looking is that?

Another very necessary reminder for me today!

Healthy lungs vs. smoker's lungs!

my cousins ... plus

Anthony, Rafa and Ginnette are by closest cousins. Then there is Karen who is Antonio's wife. Anthony's nephew Antonio's wife. One of my favorite people in the family! Thank you for sharing this Karen. And on I share. Love this one!

25 days clean of this monster with someone smoking around me!

It was a very hard weekend with regard to my smoking cessation. Had to clench my teeth and jaws a few times and leave the area. I did not break down, but when you have it in your home, it is difficult, very difficult. But I am determined. Wish me luck!

And this photo to remind me of the awful habit!

today... friday march 5 2010

I would love to be sitting in Old San Juan drinking some nice puertorican coffee, which later has been known to the rest of the world as Cafe Latte. Funny isn't it? And as I sip this magnificently flavored dark but yet smooth coffee I eat a scrumptious "mallorca" from La Mallorquina which was founded in 1848. But since I am not I am drinking a nice tea made of my fresh mint from my herb garden. I have added a new herb, flat Italian parsley, and started a new basil plant. Should be able to harvest before the end of the month, if the weather improves. It has been cold this week and very windy. I also planted 3 cherry tomato plants.

This is a satellite view of my "island of enchantment" as our poet Rafael Hernandez referred to her in his famous song "Lamento Borincano". Marc Anthony's Link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02Vs7_dYKrw


Now I am on my 8th day as a nonsmoker again so I decided to remind me of the filth in the habit.

So today I will feel proud of myself for not putting this filth in my system!

Accepting Imperfection by Melody Beattie

According to Beattie a woman went to a weight support group feeling less than human because she had eaten 1/2 a cookie. She found out that everybody cheats a little. This to prove her point on accepting ourselves. She goes on to say:

"Why do we do this to ourselves? ... Why do we punish ourselves by thinking that we're inferior while believing that others are perfect -- whether in relationships recovery, or a specific task?... Whether we're judging ourselves or others it's two sides of the same coin; perfection. Neither expectation is valid.

It is far more accurate and beneficial to tell ourselves that who we are is okay and what we are doing is good enough. That doesn't mean we wouldn't make mistakes that need correcting, doesn't mean we won't get off track from time to time, doesn't mean we can't improve. it means with all our mistakes and wondering, we're basically on course. Encouraging and approving of ourselves is how we help ourselves to stay on track.

Today I will love and encourage myself, I will tell myself that what I am doing is good enough, and I'll let myself enjoy that feeling."

Melody Beattie

Puerto Rico tierra de mis amores,,, 1-23 2010

Happy birthday to me! What a nice trip. Went to the mountains with my best friends and had a very strange but refreshing experience. Mountain people are mountain people no matter where you go. Gotta love them. They are the left over essence of our idiosyncratic nature. Their simplistic and hard life made me think. I have been to these mountains before. I layed mami's ashes in Guavate in Cayey which is the next town down or should I say up. Ja ja... cannot tell. Did not go see where her ashes lay on this trip. Not enough time. Only a weekend trip.

So the party started at the church and it was raining...

The 15 yr old decided to celebrate her day in the New Orleans carnival style. Different to say the least. There were 2 photographers from Germany filming this event. I was a bit apprehensive of this concept of Germans taking photos for a magazine of this event when it is just a small representation of who we are as a country. Hopefully their reporting will be consistent with the reality of the whole island. The event was very strange but nicely put together. The 15 yr old chose a green chartreuse color for her gown. That in itself told me at the church that this was going to be a memorable evening. And so it was.

After mass the 15 yr old was escorted by Trailer tractors to the party salon 5 miles away. We, 5 of us (city folks) sat in a van waiting for all this commotion to stop and caravan to be cleared. At one boring moment as we sat there for about an hour I looked over to see these birds sitting on the wire over a "Flamboyan." Nice.


We would go take breaks outside to smoke cigs in the middle of all the dancing with the father and all the photos taken at the ceremony. The evening was beautiful and chilly for Puerto Rico after a nice rain and high in the mountains. Well at one point I saw this beautifully lit tractor trailer. I felt like Alice in Wonderland. It was totally black with lights blinking all over. I asked if I could get inside and I did. Oh my God it was a total display of lights and small sounds. Very creative and actually it looked pretty nice. So much space! Nice for a long drive. The height of the vehicle is another matter. I felt meek and small.

I will share more from this trip later. I love my friends and my island! Can't get enough of them or it. Ja Ja.

La Bombonera and my trip on 1/2310

Well you thought I could not be part of a great restaurant history? Well you were wrong, here I am on my birthday, 1/23/10 eating with my friends Oscar and Norma. I had just discovered my old friends "vejigante" store on San Francisco Street. That was a nice thing. She is prosperous and her whole attitude and disposition changed. Check out the beautiful mask behind us. I bought this wire craftsmanship which I will take photo and post. It was a beautiful display of Pablo Casals, famous puertorican cellist.



Me in front of La Bombonera on 1/23/10. Best day of the year!

La Bombonera in Old San Juan has been around for over 100 years, today it’s still one of the most popular places with locals and visitors to grab a quick snack or a hearty meal. Famous for its Mallorcas; a buttery bread that is grilled and sprinkled with powdered sugar and filled with your choice of ham, egg, and cheese, or even plain. This sweet and savory combination is a must for anyone visiting La Bombonera. Along with Mallaorca’s the menu includes typical Puerto Rican pastries, various filled sandwiches, tortillas, home-style Puerto Rican soups (Asapao) and typical Puerto Rican dishes.

The layout of La Bombonera is old style diner, with counter seats and tables. The restaurant can be rather busy, but it’s well worth the wait. The restaurant has been featured on television, several times, and was recently seen in Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre Foods episode on Puerto Rico.

From Sandwiches, soups to typical Puerto Rican main course dishes, the prices at La Bombonera are very reasonable. On a recent quick visit, a glass of fresh orange juice, coffee and a quesito came to $6.

What: La Bombonera RestautrantWhere: 259 Calle San Francisco, Old San JuanMap It: La Bombonera

Fiestas de San Sebastian - Viejo San Juan, Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is getting ready for the 2010 Fiestas de San Sebastián [The Feast of Saint Sebastian].

The festival, which is sponsored by the Institute for Puerto Rican Culture, takes place along San Sebastian Street in Old San Juan for three days, celebrating Puerto Rican culture with a full program of parades, costumed revelers, performances, folkloric dancing, traditional and contemporary music, food, art exhibitions, crafts, and fireworks. It is usually organized close to January 20, St. Sebastian Day. The festival will be held from Thursday, January 14 to Sunday, January 17, 2010. The festival has become the largest community cultural event on the island. This year, Old San Juan expects to host around 300,000 people including the participation of over 500 artists and artisans. Although the official schedule of events has not yet been announced, over 60 activities are in the works.

St. Sebastian, a martyr of the early Christian movement during the height of Roman Empire, was put to death, fired upon by arrows. From Milan, he was already venerated there in the fourth century. He was the son of a wealthy Roman family and was an officer of the Imperial Roman army and a favorite of Emperor Diocletian. During Diocletian’s persecution of the Christians, Sebastian visited them in prison, bringing them comfort and food. His aura was said to have cured a woman of her muteness, and that the miracle instantly converted numerous people. He is the patron saint of young adults and athletes.

For more information, you may call (787) 724-0910 or visit http://www.sanseba.com/, http://fiestasdelacallesansebastian.blogspot.com/, http://holapuertorico.blogspot.com/2009/11/cuando-son-las-fiestas-de-la-calle-san.html and http://www.puertoricocheaphotels.com/fiestasdelacallesansebastian2010.html
Posted in Caribbean Culture, Upcoming Events Tags: Festival, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, Saint Sebastian, San Sebastián

SOME FACTS ABOUT PUERTO RICO!

SOME FACTS ABOUT PUERTO RICO Walmart in Carolina, Puerto Rico broke the selling records of all Walmart stores

Puerto Rico is the country with the most cars per square mile in the world:146 vehicles per street mile and 4,300 vehicles per square mile.

Plaza Las Americas mall in San Juan is the most profitable mall per squarefoot in the world

The highest grossing Borders book store in US territory is located in PlazaLas Americas Mall, in Puerto Rico.

Busiest Toys "R" Us in the world is also in Plaza Las Americas,Puerto Rico.

The highest grossing Sears store in the World is in Puerto Rico.

The highest selling Kmart in the US is in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Radio Shack store in Plaza Las Americas mall is the busiestand highest grossing Radio Shack in the world.

The largest JC Penney store in the world (a full 4 stories) islocated at Plaza Las Americas mall, in Puerto Rico.

The Port of San Juan is the fourth busiest seaport in theWestern HemisphereSan Juan is the oldest city in US territory (Older than the city ofSt. Augustine, FL) and was founded in 1508 by Juan Ponce de Leon.

Piña Colada was "born" in PR in 1954.

The legal drinking age is 18.

Puerto Rico has won the Miss Universe pageant a record five timesPuerto Rico has the only rain forest in the US- El Yunque.

The place in the world with more pharmaceutical companies persquare mile is Puerto Rico

There are about 1,100 people per square mile, a ratio higher thanwithin any of the 50 states in the United States.

Puerto Rico's populationdensity per square miles is among the world's highest - only Bangladesh,The Maldives, Barbados, Taiwan, South Korea and the city-states of HongKong and Singapore are more crowded.

Puerto Rico is the third country in the world with more physiciansin proportion to its population

The Camuy river in Puerto Rico is among the top three longestunderground rivers in the world

Puerto Rico has one of the highest rates of alcohol consumption inthe world

The longest pool in the world is located in a hotel in Dorado, PRIt is estimated that there is more Nickel in the mountains ofPuerto Rico than the whole United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.

There are more Puerto Ricans living in the rest of the United States than inthe island of Puerto Rico itself

La Fortaleza in San Juan is the oldest executive mansion in the New World

The state of Florida was discovered by Puerto Rico's first governor, Don JuanPonce de Leon

The first shot fired by the United States in World War I was in Puerto Rico byLt. Teofilo Marxuach.

86% of the rum drunk in the U.S. is from Puerto RicoPuerto Rico has one of the world's highest productivity ratios.

The world's highest concentrations of bioluminescent waters are in PuertoRico

Coffee grown and brewed in Puerto Rico is the official coffee of theVatican.

Puerto Rico ranks 6^th in the world when it comes to college graduatesPuerto Ricans are the only people in the world who regularlyapplaud when a plane lands and when it reaches the gate

Puerto Rico has more Gas Stations, Churches, Cars, Roads, and Walgreens per square mile than any other country in the world.

World biggest and largest radio telescope is in Puerto RicoTelemundo, the second largest Spanish language television station inthe United States, was founded in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has more rivers per square mile than any other place inthe world..The second radio station to be inaugurated in the US was in PR.

The longest running TV program was in Puerto Rico.The first Emmy went to a Puerto Rican... Jose Ferrer.

He also got the Academy award for the same role.

Rita Moreno got those two and one for Best Actress in a Broadwayshow.

No one else has matched that.

The most outstanding soldier in Europe at the end of the SecondWW was chosen from the Pueto Rican 66^th Infantry.

One of the three still living WWI veterans is a Puerto Rican.NOT TOO BAD FOR A 100 X 35 MILES ISLAND...

ONLY IN AMERICA

What a country!
ONLY IN AMERICA ! ! !
Stella AwardsIt's time again for the annual 'Stella Awards'! For those unfamiliarwith these awards, they are named after 81-year-old Stella Liebeck whospilled hot coffee on herself and successfully sued the McDonald's inNew Mexico , where she purchased coffee. You remember, she took the lidoff the coffee and put it between her knees while she was driving. Whowould ever think one could get burned doing that, right? That' s right;these are awards for the most outlandish lawsuits and verdicts in theU.S. You know, the kinds of cases that make you scratch your head. Sokeep your head scratcher handy. Here are the Stella's for the past year:

*SEVENTH PLACE * Kathleen Robertson of Austin , Texas was awarded $80,000 by a jury of herpeers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was runninginside a furniture store. The store owners were understandably surprisedby the verdict, considering the running toddler was her own son. Start scratching!

* SIXTH PLACE * Carl Truman, 19, of Los Angeles , California won $74,000 plus medicalexpenses when his neighbor ran over his hand with a Honda Accord. Trumanapparently didn't notice there was someone at the wheel of the car whenhe was trying to steal his neighbor's hubcaps. Scratch some more...

* FIFTH PLACE * Terrence Dickson, of Bristol , Pennsylvania , who was leaving a house hehad just burglarized by way of the garage. Unfortunately for Dickson,the automatic garage door opener malfunctioned and he could not get thegarage door to open. Worse, he couldn't re-enter the house because thedoor connecting the garage to the house locked when Dickson pulled itshut. Forced to sit for eight, count 'em, EIGHT days and survive on acase of Pepsi and a large bag of dry dog food, he sued the homeowner'sinsurance company claiming undue mental Anguish. Amazingly, the jurysaid the insurance company must pay Dickson $500,000 for his anguish. Weshould all have this kind of anguish. Keep scratching.. There aremore...... Double hand scratching after this one.....

* FOURTH PLACE * Jerry Williams, of Little Rock , Arkansas , garnered 4th Place in theStella's when he was awarded $14,500 plus medical expenses after beingbitten on the butt by his next door neighbor's beagle - even though thebeagle was on a chain in its owner's fenced yard. Williams did not getas much as he asked for because the jury believed the beagle might havebeen provoked at the time of the butt bite because Williams had climbedover the fence into the yard and repeatedly shot the dog with a pelletgun. Pick a new spot to scratch, you're getting a bald spot..

* THIRD PLACE * Amber Carson of Lancaster , Pennsylvania because a jury ordered aPhiladelphia restaurant to pay her $113,500 after she slipped on aspilled soft drink and broke her tailbone. The reason the soft drink wason the floor: Ms. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 secondsearlier during an argument. Only two more so ease up on the scratching....

*SECOND PLACE* Kara Walton, of Claymont , Delaware sued the owner of a night club in anearby city because she fell from the bathroom window to the floor,knocking out her two front teeth. Even though Ms. Walton was trying tosneak through the ladies room window to avoid paying the $3.50 covercharge, the jury said the night club had to pay her $12,000.....oh,yeah, plus dental expenses. Ok. Here we go!!

* FIRST PLACE * This year's runaway First Place Stella Award winner was: Mrs... MervGrazinski, of Oklahoma City , Oklahoma , who purchased new 32-footWinnebago motor home. On her first trip home, from an OU football game,having driven on to the freeway, she set the cruise control at 70 mphand calmly left the driver's seat to go to the back of the Winnebago tomake herself a sandwich. Not surprisingly, the motor home left thefreeway, crashed and overturned. Also not surprisingly, Mrs. Grazinskisued Winnebago for not putting in the owner's manual that she couldn'tactually leave the driver's seat while the cruise control was set. TheOklahoma jury awarded her, are you sitting down? $1,750,000 PLUS a new motor home. Winnebago actually changed theirmanuals as a result of this suit, just in case Mrs. Grazinski has anyrelatives who might also buy a motor home. Are we, as a society, getting more stupid.... or are more members of Congress serving on juries these days?

7 stages of grief

Here is the grief model called "The 7 Stages of Grief":
7 Stages of Grief...

1. SHOCK & DENIAL-You will probably react to learning of the loss with numbed disbelief. You may deny the reality of the loss at some level, in order to avoid the pain. Shock provides emotional protection from being overwhelmed all at once. This may last for weeks.

2. PAIN & GUILT-As the shock wears off, it is replaced with the suffering of unbelievable pain. Although excruciating and almost unbearable, it is important that you experience the pain fully, and not hide it, avoid it or escape from it with alcohol or drugs. You may have guilty feelings or remorse over things you did or didn't do with your loved one. Life feels chaotic and scary during this phase.

3. ANGER & BARGAINING-Frustration gives way to anger, and you may lash out and lay unwarranted blame for the death on someone else. Please try to control this, as permanent damage to your relationships may result. This is a time for the release of bottled up emotion.
You may rail against fate, questioning "Why me?" You may also try to bargain in vain with the powers that be for a way out of your despair ("I will never drink again if you just bring him back")

4. "DEPRESSION", REFLECTION, LONELINESS-Just when your friends may think you should be getting on with your life, a long period of sad reflection will likely overtake you. This is a normal stage of grief, so do not be "talked out of it" by well-meaning outsiders. Encouragement from others is not helpful to you during this stage of grieving.

During this time, you finally realize the true magnitude of your loss, and it depresses you. You may isolate yourself on purpose, reflect on things you did with your lost one, and focus on memories of the past. You may sense feelings of emptiness or despair. 7 Stages of Grief...

5. THE UPWARD TURN-As you start to adjust to life without your dear one, your life becomes a little calmer and more organized. Your physical symptoms lessen, and your "depression" begins to lift slightly.

6. RECONSTRUCTION & WORKING THROUGH-As you become more functional, your mind starts working again, and you will find yourself seeking realistic solutions to problems posed by life without your loved one. You will start to work on practical and financial problems and reconstructing yourself and your life without him or her.

7. ACCEPTANCE & HOPE-During this, the last of the seven stages in this grief model, you learn to accept and deal with the reality of your situation. Acceptance does not necessarily mean instant happiness. Given the pain and turmoil you have experienced, you can never return to the carefree, untroubled YOU that existed before this tragedy. But you will find a way forward.


7 stages of grief...
You will start to look forward and actually plan things for the future. Eventually, you will be able to think about your lost loved one without pain; sadness, yes, but the wrenching pain will be gone. You will once again anticipate some good times to come, and yes, even find joy again in the experience of living.

George Carlin on Aging!

IF YOU DON'T READ THIS TO THE VERY END, YOU HAVE LOST A DAY IN YOUR LIFE. AND WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED, DO AS I AM DOING AND SEND IT ON.

George Carlin's Views on Aging:

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions 'How old are you?' 'I'm four and a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead. 'How old are you?' 'I'm gonna be 16!' You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life ! You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony. YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling.. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away... Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.But! wait!! ! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would! So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE IT to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday! You get into ! your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; 'I Was JUST 92.'Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. 'I'm 100 and a half!' May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them.'

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3.Keep learning. ! Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever, even ham radio. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's family name is Alzheimer's..

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips.. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS ! REMEMBER :

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. And if you don't send this to at least 8 people - who cares? But do share this with someone. We all need to live life to its fullest each day!! !

Santa go home... or visit my son!

Glad this guy is trying to get out into the horizon. He did not stop at my home this holiday season. Oh well, He must have taken his HO HO to other places. Hopefully he made it to where my son is, wherever that may be. Yeah Mister in the red suit...

Hey Mister in the red suit you seem to have your math and your calculations all messed up. You go to homes and you bring presents amounting to thousands of dollars... then you leave those who have NOTHING without a home, without a pack of cigs, without a piece of chocolate.

If this is your intent for next year, just stay away until you learn how to distribute your presents and wealth amongst the indigent, homeless and hungry FIRST and then visit the rest.