Carlos’s Photo Blog

Here are just a couple of shots from Pauline’s t-ball game. It is not her first game, but it is the first game I took my camera to. I will post more later…

Carlos

I was trying to find a picture to go with this article/letter. A friend of mine, actually a Brother of mine sent this out via email and I thought it was a great idea to share. I took this picture a few years ago when I was in Santa Clara. It is actually a picture of a church. They had these fountains. I was staying at a hotel right across the street. I stopped by the gardens a few times just to reflect and pray. Isn’t it great how thing work out.

So yes I am proud to be a Catholic. Not only that I am proud to be a member of the Knight’s of Columbus.

Maybe we all need a little more pride in the positive, rather than the embarrassment of the negative……

Excerpts of an article written by non-Catholic Sam Miller – a prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman:

“Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States, namely the Catholic Church?

Do you know – the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost to that Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. The graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%.

The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students.

The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people – not just Catholics – in the United States today.

But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage.

Let me give you some figures that Catholics should know and remember. For example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by the United Methodist Church, 41.8% of clergy women reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of laywomen have been sexually harassed.
Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia. 10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This is not a Catholic Problem.

A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving.

The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not
necessarily the fault of the Church. You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been totally weeded out by now.

Walk with your shoulders high and you head higher. Be a proud member of the most
important non-governmental agency in the United States . Then remember what Jeremiah said: ‘Stand by the roads, and look and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls’. Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all other religions.

Be proud that you’re a Catholic.”

Thanks,
Carlos Medina

After some coaxing I got my daughter to sit still for a few secs so I can take some pictures of her. She finally agreed if I took some pictures of her singing. Maybe she thought I was doing video, but either way here are the pics. These were taken on the front porch of my wife’s grandmother’s house. It was early in the morning I believe. No flash or other lighting. Just the glorious sun coming in from different directions, reflecting off the street, filtering thru the trees, etc… I love the sun sometimes!

I was shooting with my 50D and my old 50mm lens. I am still having trouble with it on my 50D. The autofocus does not always work. I was just manually focusing on these shots.

I should really take more pictures of my kids, but sometimes they are just such pills. No other info for the pics other than of course natural light. I tried to shoot all weekend with the 50mm, but on Sunday I took out the big gun. My fav lens so far. Check out the last couple of posts for those shots.

Thanks,
Carlos Medina

Here is a small conversation I completely fabricated in my mind! Laugh if you want, offer prescribed medications, or join in. It does not matter…

Me: Yo, you wanna go see Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Peter Frampton?
Voice in my head: Who the hell is Peter Frampton?
Me: You do not know who Peter Frampton is?
Voice in my head: Was he the guy from Peter, Paul and Marry?
Me: No, that was Peter Yarrow, besides you misspelled Mary!
Voice in my head: He sang “puff” the magic dragon right?
Me: No
Voice in my head: You know, I knew some guy that lived in honah lee.
Me: No that is George and he lives on a street called Honiley.
Voice in my head: So this was this the guy who played with Phil Collins?
Me: No that was Peter Gabriel!
Voice in my head: We built this city! We built this city! We built this city with Rock n Roll!
Me: Starship sang that song stupid not Genesis! But Peter Wolfe did help write it, but that is besides the point.
Voice in my head: I knew that, I just like that song.
Me: Peter Frampton played with David Bowie and was in band called Humble Pie
Voice in my head: You know I hate eating humble pie! It is GROSS!
Me: So do you know who I am talking about? He used a talkbox for a lot of his songs.
Voice in my head: Oh that guy! Isn’t he blind?
Me: No, dude you are thinking of Stevie Wonder! Peter Frampton sang “Baby, I Love Your Way” and “Show Me the Way” and “Do You Feel Like We Do.”
Voice in my head: I know how that guy feels!
Me: So you wanna go see the play?
Voice in my head: I thought we were going to a concert? You were talking about music and stuff!
Me: I was trying to see if you knew who Peter Frampton was? The play is called Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Peter Frampton. It is at MDP this weekend.
Voice in my head: nah, I have to catch up on episodes of LOST.
Me: You know this is the last season right!
Voice in my head: No, I just started watching it! I love that guy Hurley.
Me: Yeah he is pretty funny. Have you watched the episodes where Cheech plays his dad!
Voice in my head: What? I though his dad was dead! He was bringing his dead body back when the plane crashed right?
Me: No that is Jack.
Voice in my head: No Hurley!
Me: No, Jack!
Voice in my head: Jack is the big guy that Sawyer is always making up names for.
Me: Sawyer makes up names for everyone!
Voice in my head: I want to go out with Kate, she is cool, but she would kick my ass if I made her mad.
Me: Yeah, she probably could kick your ass!
Voice in my head: I did not say she could, but that she would try.
Me: You said she “would” kick your ass if you made her mad. And you would probably make her mad.
Voice in my head: I never said would!
Me: Hey you are in my head, I know what you said!
Voice in my head: nuh uh! I meant she would try!
Me: So do you wann go or not?
Voice in my head: Sure, so what band is opening up for REO Speedwagon!
Me: Dude, I told you is it a play called Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Peter Frampton. It is not a concert! I do not even know if it is about Peter Frampton. It is a play to raise money for the Athletic Association at MDP.
Voice in my head: So we gotta play some sports? I am not good at sports, maybe curling. I like curling!
Me: It is a play, we do not have to play anything. You just sit there in a chair and laugh at the funny parts.
Voice in my head: I have heard of these Todd Cardin plays and there are not very many funny parts!
Me: What are you talking about, the Christmas play was hysterical.
Voice in my head: You call that funny, I have seen more jokes on reruns of Murder She Wrote!
Me: Seriously?
Voice in my head: The Golden Girls get more laughs and most of them are dead already! Except that Betty White. She does not have a funny bone in her body!
Me: OK, I am going to stop talking to you.
Voice in my head: Hey you are the one listening to a voice in your head!
Me: Just go see the play everyone. I am sure it will be a great time. With of with out Peter, Paul, Phil Collins or the Dragon from Honah Lee!

For more details on the play please go to:
http://www.lifelibertyframpton.com/

I think we will be there on Saturday night. If it stinks I am sure you will hear about it and then you can pretend your aunt is sick or something.

Carlos

Here are some pics from Easter. Pauline loves swinging up real high. Makes her parents a little nervous. I am posting all the pics from the series. I was just taking some candids of the Easter egg hunt. I will post some other ones from the trip later this week. I got some homework to catch up on.

Carlos Medina

I told my wife I would post this for her. Check it out. It is for a good cause.

Go shopping March 18-21! Every time you use this 30% off coupon for Gap, Gap Outlet, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Big Brothers Big Sisters will get 5% of what you spend! Get your new spring wardrobe–and spread the word!

http://www.gapinc.com/giveandget/bigbrothersbigsisters

Lisa Moyer
Big Brothers Big Sisters SEPA
School Based Match Support Specialist
530 DeKalb Street
Norristown, PA 19401
484 684-1158
lmoyer@bbbssepa.org

She has been doing this Big Brother/Sister thing for a while. Even at her last job she was a mentor. I think it is cool. I wish I had someone when I was in high school or middle school to give me some advice. The stuff I got from my parents was crap! Oh wait I did not get any! Even better! Sorry about the rant, but can you tell I got issues with my parents. If you have read this blog before you can tell. I am working on it. Maybe someday I will grow up!

Carlos

I went to go visit my dad today.

This is the first time I saw my dad in the nursing home where he is at. When I was younger I used to deliver pharmacueticals to nursing homes. I drove around south Texas dropping off heart medication and laxatives to places I would never classify as a home to anyone. Don’t get me wrong, they were clean, but smelled like a hospital. Now my own father is living in one. How can I let that happen? Why is he even there? I am not sure if I am angry at my father or my mother! I just do not understand what is in their minds! What goes on in their heads to do what they do. They are not evil, they do not hurt people! They just hurt their kids. I am lucky I did not have to put up with half the stuff my older siblings had to. Maybe my family is just like everyone elses?Maybe I should not worry about it? Maybe life is just what it is and nothing more! Maybe all we are is what we do and not who we leave behind. Well I am not going to figure out in this post!

Carlos

I got this in an email. Does not matter if it is true…

Three Things that are Constant:

Father, Son & Holy Spirit.

I was walking around in a Target store, when I saw a cashier hand this little boy some money back.

The boy couldn’t have been more than 5 or 6 years old.

The Cashier said, “I’m sorry, but you don’t have
enough money to buy this doll.”

Then the little boy turned to the old woman next to him: ”Granny, are you sure I don’t have enough money?”

The old lady replied: ”You know that you don’t have enough money to buy this doll, my dear.”

Then she asked him to stay there for just 5 minutes
while she went to look a round. She left quickly.

The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand.

Finally, I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give this doll to.

“It’s the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much for Christmas.

She was sure that Santa Claus would bring it to her.”

I replied to him that maybe Santa Claus would bring it to her after all, and not to worry.

But he replied to me sadly. “No, Santa Claus can’t
bring it to her where she is now. I have to give the
doll to my mommy so that she can give it to my sister when she goes there.”

His eyes were so sad while saying this. “My Sister has gone to be with God. Daddy says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister.”

My heart nearly stopped.
The little boy looked up at me and said: “I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until I come back from the mall.”

Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where he was laughing. He then told me “I want mommy to take my picture with her so she won’t forget me.”

“I love my mommy and I wish she doesn’t have to leave me, but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister.”

Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly.

I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy. “Suppose we check again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll?”

“OK” he said, “I hope I do have enough.” I added some of my money to his with out him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough for the doll and even some spare money.

The little boy said: “Thank you God for giving me
enough money!”

Then he looked at me and added, “I asked last night before I went to sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy t his doll, so that mommy could give It to my sister. He heard me!”

“I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn’t dare to ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose.”

“My mommy loves white roses.”

A few minutes later, the old lady returned and I left with my basket.

I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I started.

I couldn’t get the little boy out of my mind.

Then I remembered a local news paper article two days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a truck, who hit a car occupied by a young
woman and a little girl.

The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-sustaining machine, because the young woman would not be able to recover from the coma.

Was this the fami ly of the little boy?

Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the news paper that the young woman had passed away.

I couldn’t stop myself as I bought a bunch of white roses and I went to the funeral home where the body of the young woman was exposed for people to see and make
last wishes before her burial.

She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful
white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest.

I left the place, teary-eyed, feeling that my life had been changed for ever.. The love that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is
still, to this day, hard to imagine.

And in a fraction of a second, a drunk driver had taken all this away from him.

Just wanted to share that with everyone!

Carlos

I really do not like the way the YAPB shows the picture in my post. I think I am just going to stick with thumbnails in the body. I wanted to post a big and small version of the same picture. Really just for me to see how it looks. It is actually snowing right now. I have tons of video on You tube of the snow. I have been doing some POV videos of me driving. Dont worry I am being safe. I mount the camera so I am not trying to drive and film at the same time. I might mount my dslr and take some pics…hmm I guess I need to focus on that since I like driving and photography so much. I just need to drive around and take more pictures. I am seriously considering taking the train down to center city and taking some shots down there. I missed doing that during the last storm. Darn it I left my camera at home.

Here is the same picture but in the actual full resolution from my camera. Of course I have been absent from photoshop for some time. So any of my pics are au naturale!

Ok, so that is totally huge. I think it will be ok to just use the small one unless someone really wants to see the high resolution image. I know in today’s world of “High Def” everyone wants all those pretty images on their website. I will keep playing with it.

I was conversating with a friend of mine and for some reason I started singing this song!

Don’t this the wrong way, I am not a fan of dope, but I am a Mexican-American!

Carlos