Halloween: Last Saturday of the Month?

     Snickers has announce the one million candy car giveaway if the federal government changes the date of Halloween to the last Saturday of the month. Naturally, there were mixed reactions. Especially from the people whose birthday lands on October 31. I think this is a good idea. As a parent of course. I don't have to worry about taking my kid trick-or-treating on a school night. I don't have to worry about all the candy my son will consume Saturday night. I don't have to feel the need to get back early to sleep enough to wake up for work the next day. This is just from a parent standpoint. It is beneficial for the parents and the kids. Then again, what I really want to see is the last Saturday of October the night when kids can go out and ask for candy as if it were Halloween. October 31 should remain Halloween and have whoever wants to celebrate birthdays, scary parties, amusement parks, haunted houses and hayrides. The long tradition of Halloween should remain as immortal as July 4 or December 25. This may not technically count as changing the date officially and Mars Incorporated would probably have to withdraw their million candy bar promise.

New York Post: "Sorry, Childless Milennials Going to Disney is Weird"

New York Post article: Link    

     One of the best things about Disney Parks is the amount of activities aimed at people of all ages. It is no surprise most toddlers can instantly recognize the famous mouse from far away. I am a millennial, born in 1986, and have a four-year-old son. I recently attended Disneyland and realized the low level of enjoyment I had ensuring my son fully enjoyed the park. That gave me the idea of waiting until my son is old enough to return. A time he will actually enjoy the park and remember the trip for the rest of his life. In the meantime, as long as he is little, if I am going back to the park it will be without him. Because I do like Disney. It is one brand I associate with my childhood.

     I don't have a problem with millennials going to Disney without any kids because the park was designed for everyone. This millennial age is the best time to visit the park because it's fun. It is even more fun without kids. I noticed some parents pushing strollers with babies still in the bottle. It did not look fun and rather weird. Their faces looked tired and their attitude did not justify the happiest place on earth. When parents take their babies to Disney they have to feed them, change them, tend to them when they cry and the countless things I do not miss when my son was a baby. I can't imagine myself with a baby at Disneyland. No way. Those millennial parents with babies are the weird ones. You have to be a hardcore Disney fan to go with a child old enough to say "dada." One thing I noticed about the park are the countless spaces taken by the plethora of strollers. Just imagine if the park could eliminate just the double-seat strollers (I saw a lot of those). The capacity of the park could potentially increase. If you're a millennial without kids, take the trip to Disney if you can. Especially if you plan to have kids one day.

The Homeless Paradox

      I was confronted by a man in the supermarket early in the morning. He was in his late forties, untrimmed beard, long uncombed hair, oversized clothes, and overused white sneakers. With his hands in his pockets he looked at me and asked, "Excuse me sir, I am really hungry and I was just wondering if you could spare a dollar or whatever you'd like to offer?"
     I looked at him for a few seconds trying to decide if he was worthy of my money. He looked like he could work. He managed to walk all the way to the supermarket to ask for money. I had money. It was not going to affect me in any way. If I wanted, I could have given him a ten dollar bill. However, given the fact his appearance suggested he had strength and energy to work, I only gave him one dollar. He thank me and walked away.
     I approached the register to pay for my items and there he was with his friend and about to pay for two forty-ounce bottles of Miller High Life. I placed my items on top of the belt and could not believe what I had seen. He looked at me and said, "Thank you."
      "Is this what you used the money I gave you? You said you were hungry. What the hell?" I responded with veins on my fists.
      "I'm sorry I lied to you. The truth is we're hung over and need this to recover and get back to work." He said while his friend paid for their bottom-shelf malt liquor.
     He was about to say more but I interrupted him. I said, "Save it, don't care."
     That was not the first time I had been in a similar situation. One day, a boy in his teens approached me while I put my groceries away in the trunk of my car. He asked, "Excuse me. I am really hungry. Do you have any money I can have to buy some food?"
     I knew I didn't have any cash. I said, "Sorry kid. I don't have any cash. I just bought groceries. I can give you a banana and a bag of chips."
     To my surprise his response was "no" and walked away.
      Another time a man asked me in the parking lot outside a Starbucks if I could spare some change for food. Once again I didn't have any money. I extended my arm with a couple of muffins in a plastic bag as an offer. He rejected it. He placed his palm in his stomach and said, "Uh, well, no I can't. I have stomach problems."
     "Are you serious!? Then get the hell out of here!" I actually yelled. He walked away and towards the next person in the lot.
      Those three unfortunate occasions of rejected generosity are clear on my head. The times I have given money or food and accepted with gratitude are many and outweigh the others. I like to help. I don't mind sharing my hard-earned dollars with other less-fortunate individuals. My problem is when the individual uses the money for drugs or alcohol. I am quite sure there have been times when the individual abused the use of the money I have provided. As proven by the man with his bottles of malt liquor. Knowing what your charity is for can separate a good deed into a wasted effort of benevolence. Not knowing is a good deed used as a  personal act of satisfactory fulfilment of philanthropy with yourself. Therefore, if you are the type of person who likes to help others, are you ignorant and could care less for whatever the charity given is used for as long as it makes you feel good? Or are you the type of person who wants to help others but demands transparency in the charity given and used for nourishment and not a vice?
     Whatever the situation, if you give to a homeless person, be ready to accept the fact that money given can lead to a meal or a bottle. These people can be as honest and dishonest as ordinary individuals. I didn't like the three negative situations I was in with my charity. It will not change my mind about giving. I am going to give and hope for the best. I am going to give and feel good about it. I am not going to give if I get bad vibes from the individual because I should be giving and feeling good about it. The first time I was in San Francisco, I saw a homeless man holding a sign which read "Why lie I want a beer." I was impressed with his honestly and cleverness that I gave him five dollars.
   

Hechizo Joven

Jovenes escuchen ya

Tenemos algo que documentar

Somos los mejores

Sabemos los colores

Y todos los sabores

Entonces

No me trates como los menores

Estoy harto de sacar basura

Y de limpiar el piso

No se hable del patio

Que esta hecho un desastre

No quiero usar mi tiempo

Para impresionarte

Lo unico que quiero

Es irme con mis cuates

Y no lavar mas trastes

Si yo quiero studio

Si yo quiero trabajo

Si yo quiero duermo todo el dia

Hasta que la tarde se haga muy fria

Y la noche te traiga

Otra pesadilla

Si se puede te quito tu dinero

Me como tu comida

Te robo una cerveza

Uso tu carro con delicadeza

Uso la casa para una fiesta

Cuando te vallas de vacacionero

Y te dejare en cero

Algo que no entiendo

Porque castigarme?

Siempre lograba escaparme

Porque reganarme?

Siempre lograba filtrarte

Para que guiarme?

Todos tus consejos

Los tiraba a la calle

Lo unico que prendias

Era la luz del desmadre

Que iluminaba mi escape

Estaba en el fondo de un hoyo

Me meti en un rollo

Le hice caso a un vato

Y que me desbarato

No sabia como escapar

La ley la tenia como par

El juez me odiaba a morir

Y los polis me hacian sufrir

En el bote no podia ni dormir

Extranaba cuando me gritabas

Porque siempre enojado me sacabas

Hasta la espalda me sobabas

Ya entiendo que decias

Todos estos años yo no sabia

Tampoco te creia

Y menos cazo hacia

Estaba bajo un hechizo

De juventud loquera

Fuera lo que fuera

Siempre perdia la carrera

Todos mis amigos

Eran guias eternos

Me daban consejos

Solo que opuestos

Me daban un trago

Los seguia de vago

Me daban un toque

Luego un madrazo

Y aveces un repaso

No vale la pena

El dano que me daba

Los amigos que perdia

Corazones que rompia

La sangre que caia

Y el cazo que no hacia

Al final yo solo perdia

Pero ganaba la sabiduria

Vivo solo una vez

Yo entiendo todo al reves

Lo aplico mes tras mes

Y este sueño es como es

Room for 7: perfect steak

JACOB: What are you eating man?

DYLAN: (Sitting in couch, watching t.v.) Steak.

JACOB: There's some steak sauce in the kitchen. Want some?

DYLAN: Don't need it.

JACOB: I always use steak sauce on my steak.

DYLAN: I know. I always use steak sauce when you cook steak too.

JACOB: What's that supposed to mean?

DYLAN: You always overcook it. I like my steak medium, buttery and perfectly seasoned. 

JACOB: Wow! you just insulted my cooking skills, man.

DYLAN: You're a good cook. I really like your baby back ribs and fried chicken. You suck at steak though.

JACOB: Can I try a bite of your royal steak your majesty?

DYLAN: Sure.

JACOB:(takes bite)Damn. It's really good. I didn't realize steak sauce is an insult to steak. How'd you cook it?

DYLAN: I found a video on YouTube. Chef Ramsay taught me how to cook the perfect steak. I'll send you the link. So next time you cook steak, I better see the bottle of steak sauce in the trash.

JACOB: Can I have some more?

DYLAN: Nope.

Between the Walls

Ignore the signs and hold your load,
Don't let badges stop you cold.
Invisible is how to stop danger,
They see you and see a stranger.
Hold the hand of mom and dad,
Very tight and you'll be glad.
Crawl between very small spaces,
Don't get caught for the time races.
Avoid the light or game is over,
Use the plants and find some cover.
Allow the moon to clear your path,
Or you will feel their angry wrath.
Prepare to run be very silent,
Speed and stealth is your intent.
Don't look back you're almost there,
A victory sure is rare.
Your new life a few yards away,
A new flag is the only way.
This is not a dream it is quite real,
Pain is normal and it will heal.
Feel the soil of your new home,
A new place where you shall roam.
Nothing can steal your freedom,
And never forget where you come from.


Between the Walls (pdf)

Dirty Hands Blue Collar Man

    

      This is the gear of a man working for minimum wage. A man with a job in the morning and another at night. A man whose gear describes his limited resources. The hat to battle the sun as he walks from the bus stop to the doors of his job. The stained leather boots for walking from A to B to C. The power-packed meal to satisfy a hungry stomach before the next job. A charging cable for a simple cell phone. A black, durable leather jacket for the night journey home. This man works hard. He does jobs most of us don't want. The premises are clean and spotless thanks to his dirty hands. I am very fortunate to have him in my crew. What I need to do more often is thank him for all his hard work. I am sure you work with someone like him, thank him too.

"Arrangement in Green and Black"

     

     I made this in August 2013. I was not having a good day. I started with the black lines using India ink. Then I began experimenting with greens using color pencils. I finished by rubbing the pigments with a piece of cloth. Two hours later, it was completed and I was smiling with the result. By the way, my favorite color is green.

Room for 7: drive thru

CASHIER: Hi welcome to Mike's my name is Candace can I take your order?

EDDIE: Hi Candace. Yes, I will have a cheeseburger with fries, extra pickles and a Sprite. Please.

CANDACE: Would you like a small, medium or large Sprite?

EDDIE: Go big or go home.

CANDACE: What?

EDDIE: Sorry. Large please.

CANDACE: Anything else?

EDDIE: Yes, my friend would like a burger, no dressing, no onions, and a large diet Coke. Please.

CARMEN: Burger means no cheese! And make sure the lettuce doesn't have brown spots, the tomatoes are fresh sliced and my fries are freshly cooked! I don't want fries left under the heat lamp! I can tell the difference between those and fresh cooked ones as soon as I eat the first one when I get home!

CANDACE: Will that be all?

EDDIE: Yes. That will be all. Thank you for your patience. Jeez Carmen, do you have to do this every time we get a burger? And I though I was the annoying one.

CARMEN: I don't care. I pay for my food and I expect to get what I pay for.

EDDIE: This is not a gourmet burger joint. This combo is only $7.99 plus tax. I bet they're laughing their ass off in the kitchen.