MARINE TIGERS: A NewyoRican Story

     HAPPY THANKSGIVING - I want to extend a special Thank You to all of you who have bought my book. The response has been awesome.

          Thanks also for all the positive remarks. The song my son wrote "Marine Tigers" for his band's current album, "Always Foreign" by The World Is A Beautiful Place And I Am No Longer Afraid To Die, was inspired by my book. The song has received raves from critics. In particular, Pitchfork music website rated it highly. It is one of many websites where the video of the song "Marine Tigers" can be seen.
            Marine Tigers is about my and my family's assimilation into American life; arriving in the New York City harbor on a ship called the Marine Tiger. So many of us came on the Marine Tiger in the forties, that many New Yorkers began referring to us as "Marine Tigers" or simply "Tigers" thus the title of the book.
               The book not only follows as we make our way into Americana, but includes characters and life in general as we experienced it, with all its highs and lows, from my point of view.
                My book is available at Amazon.com.
             

SHRED AND CHEERY

These two cereal characters, while from different families have found common ground. But, as most couples, things aren't always as they should be. 

ORANGE JAMBOREE

Here's a gathering of some of my favorite orange characters gathered here in a candid presentation.

PRAYERS FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS

RESAMOS POR TODOS SUFRIENDO LA TRAJEDIA DE LAS TORMENTAS EN PUERTO RICO. Oramos tambien por todos victima de todas las tormentas en el Caribe y aqui en los Estados Unidos.
           Que Dios bendiga a todos incluyendo sobrinas, sobrinos y todos miembros de mi familia que desde el principio de las tormentas en Puerto Rico no hemos recibido noticias de ellos.

 WE PRAY FOR ALL THOSE SUFFERING FROM THE TRAGEDY OF THE STORMS IN PUERTO RICO. We pray also for all the victims of the storms elsewhere in the Caribbean and in the United States.
          May God bless all of those, including nieces, nephews and all members of my family from whom no news has been heard since the start of the storms in Puerto Rico.

INCONSISTENT CRACKERS

These cracker ladies were hanging out on a box we bought. I like buying the off brands. Besides cutting costs, once in a while I'll get a batch with browned edges which I love. Consistency of product in some cases is unimportant, surprise me! The ladies were an added attraction.

OF THE SAME ORANGEIN

I found these guys on a container of orange juice. But strangely, and I don't know why, with as much as I like oranges and orange juice, for some reason lately, all I can think when I see the color orange, are either comical or negative thoughts. I guess it's just one of those things. I'll get over it sometime. I hope soon, though I'm afraid it'll probably take longer.

SOLDIER AND TOP HAT

Here are two characters I found on a Supreme pizza a time back. The soldier, looking like a drill sergeant, seems a bit perturbed by the whimsical antics of the colorful dancer before him.

CUPPY AND CREAM

They may disagree, as friends do, but they remain friends. I can't remember where I found them. Usually I make a point of knowing where I find these characters. I guess I slipped up this time. Sorry.
But, this doesn't mean I feel any less for them. They're still part of the family!
     I'll probably run into another friend of theirs sometime, then I'll revisit this post and make amends.

MY BOOK WILL BE AVAILABLE BY THE END OF AUGUST

ABOVE IS THE LATEST INFO ON MY BOOK. I'll have more about its release as the latest details concerning publishing and print information become available.  Thank you.

TRIO OF FLAKES

     My daughter makes a mean plate of rice and beans. But, breakfast time called for corn flakes and milk. And I was, as usual, looking out for my character friends on the box.
    That's when I discovered this trio of flakes among the others floating in the milk. They seemed to be begging for release from their fate of eternally floating in the illustration. An image enticing one to eat corn flakes and cool milk. And so, I chose to release them. And though they seem bewildered by their newly found freedom, now they have a new purpose: Pareidolic art.

DAY AT THE MARKET

This little lady was at the market struttin' her stuff and selling her goods; lots of good fruit. She was walking along a tall icy glass of tea on a box containing tea bags. I couldn't see her right away. I had to look deeply into the cool, sweaty glass of tea so sweetly airbrushed. I wonder what the artist would think of the art I've found within and beyond his.

     Sorry I was late with this month's blog entry. I was busy working on the formatting of my book, Marine Tigers: A NewyoRican Story, which will be out soon. I'll let you know.

ON THE RUN

I had a time catching up with this guy to put him on the blog; he's always running! He looks a little suspect to me, since he doesn't look like he's running for exercise. But, who am I to judge? All I know is he jumped out to me from a delicious pepperoni and mushroom pizza we bought at a discount supermarket.
     I thought he looked kind of old school cool, so I wanted to place him here along with so many other characters pictured. .----

     My book, MARINE TIGERS: A NewyoRican Story will be available (hopefully) sometime this summer.

CONFLICTING VIEWS

The fellow, or female? with the hat and the full lips joined me about a month ago. Then I re-discovered this activist looking guy. I thought the two could complement each other, since one is filled with nutrition and the other is a risky indulgence, whose nutritional value is suspect. But each one seemed to me to be adventurist enough to do one another good in some way.

A WINNING SPELL

Here's a crew I put together from two different packaged foods and they seemed to like their participation. I think the ladies liked the little guy. And the longer they stay together, the more they appear to enjoy one another's company. So, here they are for your viewing pleasure.

PS-Just a reminder: My art is on exhibit along with 35 other artists at the American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland (avam.org) until September 3rd of this year.

 - As an aside: My son David and his band, "The World Is A Beautiful Place And I Am No Longer Afraid To Die" went to see the exhibit and all the other attractions under three buildings and around the grounds situated across the street from Federal Hill Park and the Baltimore Harbor. There's lots to see.
 - By the way, if I aroused your curiosity (on purpose) about the band, you can go to the band's facebook page and see pictures and get information about the band and their tour dates.
   

A LOVING DANCE

I thought these Supreme Dancers from a Supreme Pizza would make an appropriate opening into the month of February, with Valentines Day highlighting this, my favorite month. Love is in the air and apparently on the dance floor. In fact, I'm contemplating bringing in another couple entering the dance floor, though in another place and time. I think I'll save them for Valentine's Day.
     Keep on dancing and if you haven't - START! It's great exercise, you can choose anyone of many dances, from Salsa to the Waltz. And it's a great excuse to hold a warm body closely.