Why I don't auto-reply

A lot of people you follow on different social media and within a minutes they reply... or more so a bot does.

Hooray.

I have never automated replies because I think of how I feel when I get one and although it is convenient, I don't want any contact with me to leave that bitter taste in your mouth.

Being fascinated by all things human and the component of humanity in our lives, automating anything would feel fake and as "un-me" as I could think of. The more time passes, the more I'm disappointed when I have a new follower only to be contacted by their bot.

I get it. Life is busy. We're busy. We all have a ton of things on the plate, but think of those times when the human touch makes the difference. When human interventions improve an experience exponentially. Now think of every time you have to call a "convenient" call center where getting in touch with a voice, a real human voice, is nigh impossible.

That's why I don't automate anything. I do my best to reply to everyone on every channel and I even paused writing this blogpost to respond to someone who had written me on Facebook. It matters to me to do that because I want everyone to know that they are valued.

To have anyone show any interest in what I do with SO much content out there truly shows how lucky I am. That people retweet me, fav me, comment on Instagram, follow on Facebook, thumb up on youtube, and beyond is all so special to me because someone showed that they cared.

So the least I can do is care back.

The Industrial Revolution made production easier on a mass scale, it also left countless people without jobs. There is good and bad to this automation thing, but to me, nothing can replace the gift of time. So for as long as I can do it and how much I can do it, I shall always be the one doing the writing and commenting, because I have that old school desire.

Some people ask where do we find the time and I think the challenge is to make time yield as much as it possibly can. So to everyone who comments, messages, likes, and favs, thank you for your generous gift. If I delay, my bad... but I will always do my best to get back to you.

Cheers

A Mother's Day Tradition continues

For the last three years, I've been able to publish a book on Mother's day. The first year, it was Between the Tides. Last year, it was the physical version of the Daydreams on the Sherbet Shore. For this year, I've published my first Spanish Poetry collection: Pensando en Metáforas.

This was a promise to Mom, and one I am happy to say I was able to keep. I'd been promising this collection for the longest time and today marks the day when it is available digitally, which means that I will have it at the Puerto Rico Comic Con.

It is a work that about a third of it was crafted din one day at the hospital, while mom was getting operated on. I've talked about Emotional Alchemy before and this is the perfect example of what you can do with raw energy.

As they operated on mom I had to wait for about 5 hours until I had news from her. In that time I either wrote or would lose my cool. Luckily I stayed in control and mom came out with a new lease on life.

So this is a tribute to my Mother and all mothers.

Of special note to thank is my wife for crafting a cover that truly captures the essence of what I did my best to capture in Spanish poetry.

To any and all who have been waiting expectantly, thank you for the patience, although a word of notice... this is just the start. My best to all the beautiful mothers out there. May you show the strength and patience to help guide the upbringing of this next generation. To the grandmothers, bless you and my love for you and all you do to spoil those grandkids rotten.

With peace, love, and chocolate truffles.

Let’s Get Political

In an election year that is shaping up to be the biggest circus the electoral process has ever seen in the United States, I feel it is important to vote, and I will as I have for the past several elections. At the very least, that’s my carte blanche to complain, and at the most it’s my contribution to the democratic process, even if I'm in Puerto Rico (as a US territory, Puerto Ricans can vote in primaries although not in presidential elections, something I still don't quite understand).

Now I don’t expect everyone to agree with me on any of my stances, but I do expect my opinions to be respected as I would the opinion of anyone who is kind enough to read me. A lot of people want to keep their political views private, and I get it. I’m actually not one to mull over politics because I’ve noticed that a lot of people get very touchy when you don’t agree with them on everything. So to anyone who disagrees with my points of view, my apologies.

Off the bat, let me say that for demographic purposes, I’m 35, Hispanic, married, and mostly liberal. Some people may call me naïve, some people may think I have an idea of what I’m talking about, but the reality is that I’m just a human doing his best to be a good human, with whatever knowledge I may have. I pay my taxes, I try to recycle as much as I can, and I am sure people from all denominations are also doing their best and like anything, I welcome a healthy debate.

As I write this there are basically 4 remaining candidates in the electoral process for the presidency of the United States: Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders. (Not really counting John Kasich although he is a better candidate than both Trump and Cruz, from what little I've read. Let's face it, the other two make so much noise it's hard to break through the clutter).

First up, why I’m not voting for Donald Trump. I’ll admit it will take a lot of effort to not be snarky, but I want to make a point and don’t wish for a joke to get in the way of said point. Simply put, Donald Trump represents way too many things I can’t agree with: misogyny, elitism, racism, and what worries me is how much he incites violence and how eager people are to please. Bully tactics, smearing, and a severe lack of political intellect or a general sense of respect should make him the least likely choice to run for anything, yet he’s high up in the polls, as in VERY high. As a Puerto Rican, I’m worried. I’m genuinely worried and won’t deny I am fearful of even visiting pro Trump states. The slogan of Make America Great Again might as well be understood as Make America White again because that is the tone and manner in which he carries himself and his campaign. His ideas of foreign policy make Bush sound like a genius and his “make a wall” sound byte won’t happen for however much he barks. This has been a campaign run on violence, smoke, mirrors, and very little substance. “We’re going to get it done,” I often hear him say… but I rarely if ever hear HOW it will get done.

Secondly, why I’m not voting for Ted Cruz. When you have a video montage of how you cook bacon by wrapping it around a machine gun and release it the same week or week after a mass shooting, I have a problem with that. To say Climate Change is not science but religion is also a dangerous proposition because his campaign is running strongly on religious faith. I for one am for the complete and utter separation of Church and State, ESPECIALLY in the US, but that’s another matter altogether. I think it’s bad politics and can spark violence instead of harmony. He is the other Republican candidate that has made headway even if he’s way behind from Trump. Still, a Cruz presidency guarantees that nothing will be done to address the serious issue of gun violence in the US while more decisions will be made to appease lobbyists and large companies that focus on dollar signs instead of climate talks.

Thirdly, I’ll openly say that in the Democratic Primary between Clinton and Obama, I voted Clinton. I thought the US was due a woman president and I still stand by that vote, although I do think Obama has done as best as he can, even if I don’t agree with some of the decisions made, i.e. Iran invasion, Israel-Palestine situation, etc. Still, there has been a lot of progress and I think with all the challenges this administration faced coming in, they’ve done a good job, an opinion a lot of people don’t agree with me on. Although let’s be honest, we have NO idea what goes on in politics or international politics to be honest (meaning behind the scenes). But back to Clinton. Her experience and stances on minorities, equality, and other topics at that time were to my liking. But this election has cast an odd shadow over this potential Clinton administration. Simply put, it feels as if she’s playing with loaded dice and this does not feel like a fair race between her and the other democratic candidate. CNN and the media in general have played a rather odd hand. I think she has the qualifications to win on her own. I really do, but it does feel as if everyone wants to declare her victor and it feels odd and a little off.

Then there’s Bernie Sanders. A candidate who talks about the middle class, something I don’t think anyone has done and being middle class, that’s a welcome change. I hear informed answers, I hear and see a plan, I see the potential for change and I would like for change to happen. He flies coach, his donations come from ordinary people (like me), he has desisted from attacking candidates as much as he can, and he stays on topic. Oh, there’s also the small detail that his stance now is consistent with what it was 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and even 30 years ago. That definitely sets him apart from most candidates and is one of several reasons why I will vote Sanders in Puerto Rico.

Do I think Clinton is capable of running the country? Yes. Highly so. But my gut tells me to go with the other guy, for several reasons but I’ll sum it up this way: the difference between Hillary & Bernie is that Clinton looks in a mirror to know she wants to become president. Meanwhile, the same sentiment comes to Sanders but when he looks at people. Or at least that’s how it feels for me. Does that sound idealistic? Sure. But it is still my opinion, and you can have yours as well. Here’s to voting and regardless of the outcome to everyone doing their part to help the greater good.

Rant in Estrada Minor – 1,000 words on my teenage years

Braces, dance classes, awkward silences, strange looks, sexual tension, sexual discovery, kisses, acne, bullies, fights, writing, old friends, new friends, old new friends, new old friends, confusion, confusion, confusion, change, change, change. Teen years are not for the faint of heart although latest reports demonstrate that most of us make it. Some of the most painful deaths in your life will happen in these years. I had my share. My grandfather was awesome. And one day he was gone. So was one of my dogs. The first one to pass. That’s teen years for you. Sudden changes. Slow changes. Sudden deaths. Slow deaths. Mortality 101. Love 101. Desire 101. Master’s in confusion. Croaky voice, unwilling yelps as your voice breaks. Hair begins. There is enthusiasm with hair. Not like when you’re in your thirties. REAL enthusiasm. Protein and hormones conspire to give you a soft felt lip. Moustache hair. Armpit hair. Chest Hair. Hair down there. The kindling of manhood. I always liked girls. Now I REALLY liked girls. I thought of girls. I dreamed of girls. Girls, girls, girls. My first kiss was a tongue kiss. Here’s to overachieving. Everyone around you is breaking in their own way. Teen years bring heartbreak of varying kinds. 31 flavors of rejection and then some. No sprinkles. No whipped cream. Just rejection. And heartbreak. And Confusion. And redemption. Teen years are unpredictable. Things can be lukewarm, then an inferno, then artic tundra. There’s no escape from teen years because those formative scars, complexes, frustrations, and pain live for you. These are some of the most permanent memories in your life. Some of your best memories will be playing videogames. Being able to relate to pixels is weird. But you can. And you do. Part of who I am is defined by Super Mario, by Samus Aran, By Link, By Edgar, Shadow, Locke, Terra, Celes, and the liberating ride atop a chocobo. You want a mog. You also want to ride a luck dragon. You swear you know everything when you’re a teen. You know everything and your parents know nothing. I remember having a discussion with my dad. I was pissed. When he left the room I started doing one of those angry teenage dances where you’re flipping off into nothing and getting really into your moves at how unfair life is. Very mature. He walked backed into the room. He saw me flipping him off. He lowered his head and said in a low voice, “Why did you have to do that?” He turned around and left the room. That wound is still there. I’m sorry dad. There’s a lot of I’m sorrys when you’re a teen. That’s one of them. I’m sorry for falling in love with people I had no business falling in love with. I’m sorry the girl everyone wanted was into me even if only for one occasion. I’m sorry we kissed. I’m sorry she stopped kissing me. I’m sorry she told me she was thinking of her boyfriend. I’m sorry I was so afraid I had to go throw up. This was not a normal teenage guy. Actually this wasn’t a teenage guy. But she was a teenage girl and was with a man no one should be with. I’m lucky I wasn’t some sad headline: Stupid teen gets shot for making out with beautiful girl and boyfriend commits double homicide. In an alternate universe I’ve died so many times. Two of those times would have been in the water. I almost drowned twice when I was a teen. Got caught by a huge set one day and dragged across the reef. I was held down against my will. I was force-fed seawater. But I made it out alive. The same as I made it out alive from my teen years. I fell in love so hard I scraped my heart’s knee. Almost busted a kneecap on two occasions. I had a best friend I had a bad fight with. We had been best friends since 2^nd grade. We fought at the end of 8^th grade. We talked again well into 10^th grade. That’s two years of being too proud to admit it was a misunderstanding. It was a lesson in life and friendship. Now when things like that happen, I accept it. I had my first kiss at 14, first drink at 15, first cigarette at 16, and first cast at 17. I’m proud of only one of those facts. In Puerto Rico, underage drinking happened often. I saw Mortal Kombat under the influence of alcohol. I would have given it an Academy Award. You weren’t carded in the good old days. That’s why teens did stupid things under the influence. Now they do more drugs. Or maybe I’m just less ignorant. My dad smoked Winston. My mom smoked Marlboros. Yeyo smoked Salem. Padrino smoked Camel. My family smoked and I carried the tradition up and out of my teenage years. I’m happy I quit. But as a teen you know better until you finally know better. I used to get bad migraines in high school. A combination of needing prescription glasses and hormones. Or maybe I just liked to watch TV on a school day. I picked up a guitar when I was 17. I took two classes and learned I don’t like to take classes. Everything I learned, I learned on my own. It’s not much, but it’s mine. Much like life in teenage years. Sure you can have people tell you what will happen, but there is no better lesson than a cold bitch slap courtesy of life. There is an overabundance of those during your teen years. You eat anything when you’re a teen. You wonder why you don’t feel great. Then you do a recount of the tube of Pringles, the 3 sodas, the bag of Oreos, and still wonder what the hell happened. Just like teenage years. Often you’re left wondering what the hell happened. And somehow you survived. 

A lesson in Now

I often say people should dance outside their comfort zone and last Friday I was presented with an opportunity to do just that.

Here's how the sequence goes:

My brother sends me a message through facebook that they'll be offering free recording sessions at the Liceo de Arte y Tecnología here in Puerto Rico. It says to message Héctor Caolo Álvarez, someone I actually don't know at all.

I see my brother's message and say, Ok, I'll write later...... then I say no, not later. Now.

I write Héctor to say I'm interested. He responds in less than twenty minutes sending me another contact, Dennis Morales, a telephone to reach him, and tells me a lot of people are apparently calling. I think to myself, well maybe they're full... but I'll call later... then I tell myself, no. Not later. Now.

I call Dennis Morales, tell him I'm interested and he asks me if I could swing by Monday at 8:30 AM.

I say yes.

He says awesome, see you then.

If you see the above sequence, there are several instances where I could have said later, not now. And here's the thing, later is the root of regret and of passing opportunities. Hesitation is what makes you swing a half second late, take off on a wave too late, and either miss out on a life event or eat it hard. I actually did hesitate, but I willed myself to just give myself a chance.

That's why this Monday I recorded three of my songs in a beautiful studio with the help of a cool group of great students and a kind studio engineer who is a professor.

I am an indie writer with 5 published books. I have a youtube channel and occasionally record original songs and for now, one cover. I've sung in public 3 times: at my wedding, in my second book activity two weeks ago, and in a recording studio... this past Monday... in front of 15+ people I didn't know.

Common sense would clearly establish that I have no business being in a recording studio. Oh and did I mention that last week my allergies were acting up and I'd been coughing quite a bit meaning my voice was subpar? Might I also mention that I don't sing particularly loud.

Yet there I was: in a recording studio, with my voice and my acoustic guitar.

And it was awesome.

The students at the Liceo were super kind and they were hungry to learn and took me super seriously. They had patience and I gave my best during the experience. Whatever self doubt may reside within me, I gave it the day off and whatever patience I lack as a musician, I multiplied intensely to give whatever I have to capture those songs and help these students learn. In the process I also ended up learning a lot about myself, about recording, about opportunities, and about the discipline it takes to make a record.

My thanks to the students for their kindness while dealing with me and making me feel like somebody and appreciating my work and my dance outside my comfort zone. My thanks to Dennis Morales for the opportunity, for making me sound like a musician, for patience, consideration, and skill. My thanks to Héctor for answering my message on facebook. My thanks to my brother for passing the message. And my thanks to my gut for insisting on the now instead of the later.

Here are the links to my first three songs recorded in a studio. Click on the song title to hear them.

Are they perfect? No. Will they make me a superstar? No. But are they mine? Absolutely, and that is as wonderful a reason to have done this as I can think of. So here's to embracing the now.

Peace, love, and music.

Burden

The Rain

Braille