Commune with Nature and Friends

My best friend and I had a tradition of going to another friend's house every year in Massachussetts. Since I moved away from NY to NV 6 years ago, we haven't made that trip.
Well this year it will happen again. I am leaving tomorrow night on an overnight flight back east. We'll drive from NY to MA and probably New Hampshire. I am so excited!!. I will finally go hiking, which is something I love but haven't done in 3 years. My health is not great, but after walking from the Roman Colisseum to Vatican City in like 20 minutes a few weeks ago, I think I can handle Mt. Washington.
And at long last, we will do some lake fishing, another thing I love have haven't done in ages. I dream about fish or fishing on a regular basis, I don't know why or what it means, but I'm sure I'll enjoy myself.
I'm sure we'll have a blast hablando basura like we used to do in high school and college. I really need this, but it's too bad it's only for 5 days.
I don't know what will happen between now and next year, but I'm already looking forward to driving down to Key West, going deep sea fishing and getting drunk.
Life is short. Let me enjoy it.

Where would I be today

I left DR 18 years ago. Having lived in the US most of my life, I have fully assimilated the american way of life. Most of my friends are americans. I think in english most of the time. I eat, drink, talk and sleep american. In fact I am considered quite successful by american standards.
I am an american citizen. Still, I am not really an american, although some might question that. I remain, like it or not, dominican. My childhood was dominican. Sometimes I wonder what would be of me had I not migrated to the US. My family wasn't poor, but it wasn't rich either. Nunca nos falto nada, we even had maids. So I guess we were comfortable.
But where would I be today, had I never left DR? I will never know that, but I'm sure I'd be a different person. My mother always encouraged my sisters and me to educate ourselves. Both my parents instilled religion and morality by words and deeds. But who would grown up Henry be today?
DR has changed so much in all these years, that it's sad to think that the fun memories of my childhood are nothing but history that cannot be repeated. Customs have changed, people changed, the economy has changed, the whole dominican culture is not the same. Unfortunaly, change is not always for the better.
All these factors considered, I know I would be someone completely different. After all, aren't we all products of our environment? The real question is: would I be a better or worse person today? I guess i can only wonder.

Life is short

It's amazing how as we get older the years just pass so much faster. I remember when I was a kid how Christmas took an eternity to arrive. Now that I'm older I understand what they mean when they say life is short. It feels like Christmas was just a few weeks ago but half the year is already gone.
We really need to learn to appreciate the time we have here, because that time is very brief. So why do we waste so much energy on the little insignificant things that bother us.
My father in law was recently told he had cancer in of all places a big toe. This is a man with financial wealth, but obviously always unhappy. It took for him to hear that he might have a limited time left for him to realize that he was merely existing, not really living.
His toe had to be cut off and doctors are hoping that he'll be okay. Now, he's planning to take the family to Europe next year. This is something he's never done before, not because of lack of money, but because he didn't want to spend it. I guess now he knows what's more important.
But why did something bad had to happen for him to understand that.
I guess it's better late than never.

Delta Means Change

In economics, a triangle is read as delta the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet. It represents change in an equation. I don't like delta. I don't deal with delta too well. Change to me usually means a venture into the unknown, which is scary.
I'm not leaving my job, but I am going to try something new I think I will enjoy. I am embarking in a new career at least part-time for now. I am excited but very scared. I enjoy real estate dealings very much, and this has something to do with it.
Today I went to the sherif's office and got my fingerprints. Having a criminal background check is a requirement to become a LOAN OFFICER. El que no tiene hecha, no tiene sospecha. It felt great going there knowing that they won't find anything on me. Well, except for a parking ticket.
This new career will put me in front of people, discussing their finances and being able to help them be part of the american dream we know as home ownership. I don't have many referral people, but I think the ones I have are pretty good.
I'm scared, but excited!!

I FEEL LIKE A PROSTITUTE

I work from home, which is something most people wish they could say. It's a pretty sweet deal. I don't have to get up early, shower and fight traffic to get to the office. I don't have to shave all the time and take clothe to the dry cleaners. I don't have to deal with office politics, gossip and anyone looking over my shoulder everyday.
On the other hand, I'm always stuck at home. I don't get to punch out and leave work at the end of the day. I don't have any coworkers to share with. I don't have office parties or get to talk about stuff I saw on TV or heard on the radio.
Five years have gone by and I haven't stopped feeling lonely. Life is short and 5 years is a pretty long time. The thing is, the money is great. I make more money than most people I know, and I'm sure if I leave this job I won't be able to find another that pays nearly as much.
I don't completely hate my job for the reasons mentioned, but I feel it is taking a toll on me. I have gained weight and have a bunch of medical complications including suffering from depression which I'm sure is caused by my lack of social interaction.
I know there are things I could do to alleviate this, but they are just not me. I can't go to church hoping to socialize. I don't care for sports or drinking at a bar. So how the hell I'm I supposed to meet people.
I feel like a prostitute because I'm selling myself for money and I don't like what it's doing to me.

A Considerate Tattoo...

Fred gets home late one night and his wife, Linda, says, "Where in thehell have you been?"

Fred replies, "I was out getting a tattoo."

"A tattoo?" she frowned. "What kind of tattoo did you get?"

"I got a hundred dollar bill on my privates," he said proudly.

"What the hell were you thinking?" she said, shaking her head indisdain. "Why on earth would an accountant get a hundred dollar billtattooed on his privates?"

"Well, one, I like to watch my money grow.
Two, once in a while I like to play with my money.
Three, I like how money feels in my hand.
And lastly,instead of you going out shopping, you can stay right here at home and blow a hundred bucks anytime you want..."

How do you feel about this?

I'm wearing a t-shirt I brought from Florence with a sketch by daVinci. Ever since I put it on I keep repeating a quote by daVinci that I heard a few years ago. It goes like this: "I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who endowed us sense, reason and intellect intended to forgo their use". I believe in God, but I hate people who don't question Him and the world. I think as human beings it's our nature to question everything, so why don't some people question him.

80 THINGS ABOUT ME

1. I have two birthdays
2. My family pronounces my name wrong
3. I have to crack my neck several times a day
4. I finished high school in three years
5. I live in Vegas and don’t know how to play poker, baccarat, craps or roulette
6. I’ve met Michael Jackson’s father
7. The President of the Dominican Republic attended my high school
8. My college yearbook says I have a Masters in Economics not a BA
9. I have never ever done any kind of illegal drugs.
10. I have only gotten drunk three times in my life
11. I became a wine lover after watching the movie Sideways
12. I have worked from home for five years
13. I hate stupid and narrow-minded people
14. I have no problem with people being gay as long as I’m not affected by it
15. I am catholic but have questioned God’s existence many times
16. I love tropical fruits such as guava, passion fruit and mango
17. I was physically abused on a regular basis until age 14
18. I still resent my father for it
19. I watch Oprah and The Golden Girls all the time
20. I hate scary movies
21. I have talked with Harrison Ford
22. I think it’s important to have a gun but I’m too scared to own one
23. I was told I had skin cancer when I didn’t
24. I have never cheated
25. I never want to live in New York again
26. I planned on moving to Atlanta but found that racism is very much alive there
27. I have gained 50 pounds in the last five years
28. I have back problems, liver problems, skin problems and head problems
29. I owe more than a million dollars in real estate
30. I have no credit card or car debt
31. Everyday I think about friends I left behind six years ago
32. I have no criminal record
33. I’m sorry that my soul is not as clean as it used to be
34. I have become very critical of people who do wrong in my eyes. I don’t like it
35. I used to be a procrastinator. I still am some times
36. I once was setup and accused of robbery when I wasn’t even there
37. I dream about fish or fishing on a regular basis
38. I collect books from the 1700’s
39. I once had a hermaphrodite piglet
40. I’m convinced I won’t live to age 65 due to health
41. I once pretended I was wheelchair bound at an airport
42. I joined the army but backed out at the last minute
43. I can’t tolerate noisy music
44. As a teen I went through classical and country music phases
45. I don’t have any tattoos or piercing
46. I trained to be an auxiliary police officer
47. I unsuccessfully started my own business at 18
48. I call my parents mami and papi
49. I go to a depression support group to feel better after listening to others feel worse
50. I swam with dolphins
51. I can’t drink coffee
52. I can’t stand Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie, Pam Anderson or Jennifer Lopez
53. I think Bush is causing the US permanent damage
54. I envy people who have many good friends
55. I was voted most likely to succeed in high school
56. I have been to twelve different countries
57. I played volleyball and bowling in high school, badly but I played
58. I buy books all the time but never read them completely
59. I have no faith in politicians, salespeople or celebrities
60. I hate people who steal or harm children
61. I hate Reggaeton music
62. I have been a teacher
63. I have been a vegetarian
64. If I have a son I will name him Henry
65. I’m a nomad. I have moved 6 times in less than 6 years
66. I hate women with large fake boobs
67. I have no respect for people who enjoy wrestling
68. Learning to drive stick shift has been in my new years resolutions several years
69. I think Faith Hill and Nicole Kidman are two of the most beautiful women
70. I have a tenant who used to be a mermaid
71. I have two older sisters who I wish lived closer to me
72. I am an organ donor
73. I made two slices of my right index finger with a ham slicing machine
74. If I had three wishes come true, I’d ask for: health, money and 3 more wishes
75. I once took photos that put gang members in jail
76. My relationship with my best friend changed after arguments at the Grand Canyon
77. I have never seen Gone with the Wind or Casa Blanca
78. My doctor says I’m pretty close to getting diabetes
79. I lived in NYC for 13 years and never went to the Statue of Liberty
80. I never had a teddy bear as a child