Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Phoebe Insect Ready

Every bird plays a distinct role in our ecosystem. Whether foraging for insects, hunting small prey, or scavenging, each contributes to the balance of its environment. 

As an emerging bird photographer, my goal is to capture more than just an image; I aim to convey a narrative. Photography, at its core, is the art of translating a two-dimensional visual into a three-dimensional experience by infusing it with personal perspective.

The concepts of purpose and meaning have become central to my life following a significant health diagnosis late last year. That experience reinforced my understanding that my core purpose remains constant. Like the wildlife I photograph, I have a specific role to fulfill. I am dedicated to serving my clients, my family, and my community, offering connection to those who may need it most.

Ultimately, a clear sense of purpose enriches our lives and our work.

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Great Blue Heron with Sushi

When I journey into the woods and nearby ponds, I am on a quest. It's not just to find a new bird but to find meaning and purpose in my life. Allowing my brain not to ruminate but rather focus on what's around me, helps me find my peace. Some of you might understand but my brain never stops thinking. The brain is really good at obsessive thoughts and calculations.

There's a part of my brain that yearns to be free. Free from worry. It wants to just enjoy this moment. It wants to present. I need to enjoy today, this moment, and cherish it as if it’s the only one I have. I want to be interested in people as opposed to being interesting.

Whether it’s landscapes or birds, I choose to be creative. In fact, I need to be creative. In doing so, I am truthful to myself. It enables me to work on perfecting my craft and turning my compulsive thoughts into something worthwhile, for me. Thank you for letting me share them with you. Today, I am grateful

Omniscient Mothers and Birds

Red-shouldered Hawk

My mother was omniscient she claimed. Said she had a little bird that told her everything. I truly believed her because mothers, certainly not mine, do not lie. For most of my adolescent life and the early part of adulthood, I believed her. She did miss the mark when my mother's bird told her, that my pregnant wife was having a boy. Not only did the bird watch me but she boldly made her prediction out loud. She also dreamt it. On August third in the wee hours of the morning, my prophetic mother's hold on me collapsed and at 3:00 AM the doctor announced to me that we had a beautiful girl. Knowing that my mother’s clairvoyance never fails, I asked the doctor if he was sure. He said, “Look, there's no stem."

From that moment on my mother lost her talon grip on me. However, I developed a keen interest in birds and to this day, I wonder which one is the spy. Please be careful with what you speak in front of birds, they are the Alexa of the skies. Your secrets are not safe at least not for long.

 

Halloween Hippie

Halloween Hippie

It has been some time since I spent mornings blogging. I have been occupied with developing a financial advisory practice; although I have succeeded, something feels inexplicably absent. I miss conversing with you and offering a thought or two. You might agree or disagree. I know one thing: I am not alone in feeling this way, like an abused spouse with nowhere to go.

Since early 2025, an endless stream of verbal and mental abuse has returned. I attempt to ignore it, yet it worsens just as I believe we have heard the last absurd idea. My anxiety rises sharply, and my disbelief grows. Those once concerned about communism now embrace Putin and his oligarchs for the Art of the Deal. Money, greed, corruption, and power have gripped our government and are supported from evangelical pulpits and white nationalists.

I am living a nightmare, but I know I am not alone. I manage volatile markets and hedge against frequent swings as investors observe both our massive debt and failing foreign policies. The divide between those who possess wealth and those who work without it has expanded.

Progressives seeking change are called socialists and communists, much as they were during Hoover’s era. Franklin Roosevelt stepped forward to expand government’s role to serve and protect the people. His premise was that we all benefit when everyone benefits.

Imagine reviving that idea today—renewing promise and hope and restoring the American Dream for everyone, not just the top 1%. Roll back the tax cuts, eliminate the tariffs, increase

Old Man with Crooked Stick

Old Man With Crooked Stick
Colleyville, TX

He was an old man or so I thought. His walking stick was as crooked as his body frame. It made for an interesting photo, but I simply couldn't take his image and walk away the story wouldn't be complete. I got the nerve to introduce myself and then I realized this could be me.

His name is Mike and he's 79 years old. His body is betraying him and he seems well worn, but he walks everyday with the help of his walking stick. I asked Mike about the stick and he told me with a twinkle in his blue aged eyes, "I made this walking stick long before I ever knew I would need it."

Today is my 69th birthday and I realize that 79 is not that far away. My birthday wish is that age treats me with respect and mercy. You see I've not made a walking stick, perhaps I should. My hope is that I won't need one but I hope that there will be my wife, children, grandchildren, and plenty of friends to lean on.

Respect: Honor your mother and father

Pablo Hernandez Vargas
My father

My parents taught me all the basics: survival, respect for all people especially those older than me, the value of family, the value of extended family and friendship, compassion/empathy, justice, equality, and the sanctity of independent ethically driven thinking. They taught me the value of the truth and the principle that knowing the truth but not adhering to it made me guilty and complicit.

These were all principles they learned from their religion and their parents. They weren't simply guidelines, but rules they followed. They didn't follow the crowd; they followed their conscience. My father was a concientious objector (a non combatant medic) during WWII, like Desmond Doss, but he served his country. Through out his life he lost or was refused jobs because he refused to work on his Sabbath, Saturday. Again, he stood by his convictions. 

He was ridiculed for his "broken" English but employers loved his work ethic and his personal ethics. To gain respect, be respectful. My father, however, believed that we also must speak up for the disenfranchised. "Unto to the least of these...", he would quote. Respect is a responsibility that we owe each other.

As I've aged, I have begone to notice how we ignore our seniors as if they are all demented and have no value. Yesterday, I witnessed a group of elderly ladies simply asking if their order could be taken at the bar vs the table where they were sitting and waiting patiently to be served. They were thirsty and it was hot outside. The barkeep rudely repeated that the server said "they would have to wait". No compassion and no respect. The ladies were offended but said nothing.

Well, I said something to the bartender about her rudeness and lack of empathy. Then I went to the lady who was not served and asked her how it made her feel. She and her group said they are frequently ignored as if they don't exist. I told them that I spoke to the bartender about the incident. It bothered me enough to say something and do something.

The incident kept playing over in my head, and when I went home I elected to call the manager and complain about the bartender who had also served me, smile less and without a care about me. I told him it was bad for business and that seniors are folks with lots of disposable income and can pay tips. I let him know the name of the person and added, I left no tip.

People do not respect each other today. We no longer follower the golden rule or even any form of higher power nor conscience. Do what's right. Speak up. Honor your mother and father. Be honorable, practice your ethics, and your faith. Go the extra mile and do what's right. Listen to your conscience.

 

A Little Bird Told Me

Bluebird Waiting to Get Out
Keller, TX

My mother knew how to keep us all in line. She would tell us that she was omniscient because a little bird would tell her everything. My sisters and I believed her omniscience. When I spotted this bluebird on my walk, peering out, and watching my movement, I knew I had found one of her spies. Life has these omniscient little bluebirds. We should heed them.

Female Eastern Bluebird With Meal
Keller, TX

It turns out that there are political bluebirds out there too. Also with omniscient powers. One is tweeting like crazy on social media how the Big Beautiful Bill is a sham and that it along with tariffs will cause a recession as we add more deficits snuff out consumer spending and wreak havoc to industrial supply chains. The other bird, the President, is tweeting back his song of sunshine and that he will retaliate on the doomsday tweeter. Wrong or right, it's not a good time to be a parked car underneath these birds. Both have been rumored to do lots of hyperbolic tweeting. 

As both birds continue to sing and tweet, Congress ignores all economic advice, one thing we know, these tweeting birds have been known to crap on others their entire tweeting lives. I'm going to listen to the little bird that I inherited from my mother. And whether, I like Elon or not, I know that the Big Beautiful Bill is a sham, inflationary, and will slow down growth. Average folks like you and me have already seen the price of everything increase needlessly simply because of the President's loud tariffs tweets, and the tweets of FED economists. We've been warned. The GOP birds are flocking together claiming it will not add to our deficits and tax cuts, tariffs are necessary, one can only hope they migrate and leave us alone. I'm ready for the drama and noise to stop but that would sell less advertising.