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I am a powerful, majestic beast. I stand on a mountaintop, overlooking a barren landscape scarred by the wounds of history. I let out a thunderous roar, and my voice echoes across the land, carrying the weight of my words: "The appalling silence and indifference of the people who sit around and say, "It's the past. Move on." or "I was not affected. I don't care." is just one of the main reasons injustice prevails." I spread my wings, casting a shadow over the desolate landscape, and my voice grows more intense: "For every voice that remains silent, a thousand injustices continue to thrive. For every heart that remains indifferent, a thousand cries for help go unheeded. The past may be behind us, but its shadows continue to haunt the present, and its wounds continue to bleed." I raise my scorpion tail, its stinger glistening with a fierce, venomous light: "We must not turn a blind eye to the injustices that have been committed. We mus...

Against the weathered bark so rough and worn, Where time has carved its stories deep and stark, Sweet blossoms burst like whispers of the dawn— Pale petals bright against the somber dark. The trunk stands scarred by seasons, storms, and years,  Its surface mapped with furrows, splits, and age, Yet from this harsh foundation life appears: Soft flowers, writing hope on winter's page. How beauty finds a way through rugged ground, Where gentle blooms on twisted branches grow— A testament that grace can still be found In places where the hardest winds may blow. The contrast speaks of nature's endless art: From weathered wood springs forth the tender heart.

The sky ignites in amber fire, While trees in copper robes aspire To match the heavens' painted glow— A masterpiece both high and low. Below, the quiet street winds home Through nature's gilded autumn dome, Where every leaf's a burning coal And sunset warms the evening soul. The ordinary world transforms In light that heals and light that warms, As day surrenders to the night In one last burst of golden light.

A shot at the front side of the Nativity Catholic Church (Iglesia Católica Natividad) at 6001 13th St NW, Washington DC 20011, a century-old church in Brightwood neighborhood. "Since 1900, our founding as part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, prayers have been offered on this holy ground. The first Mass was celebrated in 1901. For generations faithful Catholics of Irish & German decent helped build the campus & community of Nativity and its 5 buidlings in Brightwood--Georgia Ave. NW at Peabody Street. Since the 1960s, the Black Catholic commmunity of Washington has treasured, preserved and maintained our rich Catholic heritage and spirit of charity and brotherhood on this campus.  Saints have walked here, including St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta whose spiritual friend was our former Pastor the late Bishop William Curlin (Charlotte, NC) who was former Auxiliary Bishop of Washington. Thousands of children received instruction and Sacraments here including Nativity Alumn...

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic minor basilica and national shrine located in Washington, D.C., United States of America. The shrine is the largest Catholic church in the United States and in North America[1], and the tallest habitable building in Washington, D.C. Its construction of Neo-Byzantine architecture began in 1920 with renowned contractor John McShain while the Trinity Dome mosaic marked its completion on December 8, 2017. The basilica is the national and patronal Catholic Church of the United States, honoring the Immaculate Conception as Patroness, accorded by Pope Pius IX in 1847. Pope Pius XI donated a mosaic rendition of the image in 1923. The shrine has merited several Papal visits namely the following: Pope John Paul II raised the National Shrine to the status of Minor Basilica on 12 October 1990. Pope Benedict XVI bestowed a Golden Rose on 16 April 2008. Pope Francis who canonized Saint Junípero Serra,...

New York City Hall, the seat of New York City government, is located at the center of City Hall Park in the Civic Center area of Lower Manhattan, between Broadway, Park Row, and Chambers Street. The building is the oldest city hall in the United States that still houses its original governmental functions, such as the office of the Mayor of New York City and the chambers of the New York City Council. While the Mayor's Office is in the building, the staff of thirteen municipal agencies under mayoral control are located in the nearby Manhattan Municipal Building, one of the largest government buildings in the world. Constructed from 1803 to 1812, New York City Hall is a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Both its exterior (1966) and interior (1976) are designated New York City landmarks. Source: Wikipedia I took this photo during my December 2017 trip to New York.

This is not only the first snow of 2019 but also, the first for my family who just moved to the states late summer of 2018. 

Then the first snow came, she went out to brush the snow away... - Bobby Goldsboro, Honey.

I took this photo, one morning while on my way to work.

While we enjoy the beautiful colors of Fall and all the summer memories we recall, it's inevitable that these things won't last, at least until the next season. Seasons come and go. So does the old things. We need to let go of the past. To give way to a new, and hopefully better future. This is the view that I wake up to, during fall. Winter is coming and hopefully, I'll capture a winter version of this view. Stay tuned.

You may feel alone So many things on your own So, why not, come home?

Took this photo on the week before the Sakura Festival 2017. The irregular weather pattern took toll on the blooming of delicate sakura flowers.

A photo of a gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis pennsylvanicus) I took today at Lafayette Square. Gray squirrels are typically 12 - 21 inches long and weigh 1 - 1.5 lbs. Body color ranges form grayiish to yellow brown with light underbelly, hind legs and chin. They usually have 1 to 2 litters a year and 2 - 4 young per litter. They are usually active from dawn up to late afternoon.   Squirrels do not hibernate but become less active during cold seasons using leaf nests and tree cavities for protection. We have one nest on a tree near the porch :-) They dig shallow holes to store nuts and other foods for winter. They are primarily herbivores, with a diet that can include nuts, seeds, insects eggs, fruits and baby birds. They are typically docile animals and mind their own business, but can become aggressive when protecting their young.

Hello! Mr. Bunny Rabbit, will you have some tea? No, no! Thank you, not for me. I like to eat carrots I don't like tea! Here's a photo of a rabbit running around near the house, wary of the sometimes presence of a fox (who's quite loud when gets frustrated when unable to catch a rabbit).

If I held in my hand, every grain of sand Since time first began to be Still I could never count, measure the amount Of all the things you are to me If I could paint the sky, hang it out to dry I would want the sky to be Oh, such a grand design, an everlasting sign Of all the things you are to me You are the sun, that comes on summer winds You are the falling year, that autumn brings You are the wonder and the mystery In everything I see, The things you are to me Sometimes I wake at night, and suddenly take fright You might be just fantasy But then you reach for me, and once again I see All the things you are to me You are the sun, That comes on summer winds You are the falling year, that autumn brings You are the wonder and the mystery In everything I see, the things you are to me All the things you are… to me The song just came to mind while looking at this picture. I took this some time ago during our visit at Skyline Drive in Virginia. ...

During my early morning walk at this historic place in Northwest quadrant of Washington DC.

Few days before spring of 2015, I took this picture. This is near the old location of Washington Post at 15th St. Somehow this picture I took invokes a feeling of emptiness.