Feliz Dia de los Padres

Disperte esta manana pensando en mi Papi, pero eso no es nada nuevo. Eso es algo que hacen 2,103 dias lo estoy haciendo. Mi Papa es mi heroe. En mis ojos, el era Superman. Pense que tenia que ser cierto. Para mi, el se parecia al hombre que lo protagonizaba en la television (George Reeves ... yo me crie en los primero anos de los 60's, y Superman, la serie de television filmada en blanco y negro en los anos 50's se estaba repitiendo en la television). Y por esa razon me enrede en la escuela primaria defiendo lo que para mi era la verdad.

Quizas fue mi septimo or octavo cumpleanos que se acercaba. Mis padres estaban organizando una fiesta para mi. Papi me dio permiso a envitar quien yo quisiera. Unos cuantos dias despues, en la escuela y durante la hora de almuerzo, le estaba contandoles a unos amiquitos que se acercaba mi cumpleanos y yo queria que fueran a mi fiesta, tambien avisandole que Superman iba estar con nosotros porque Superman era mi papa. Una nina dijo: "Como es posible que tu papa sea Superman? Superman es un hombre blanco y tu papa es Puerto Riqueno."

Eso me enrabio! No me importaba que ella tenia razon. Aunque asustada, me tire encima de ella, rodeando por el suelo enredada con ella. Nadie me apoyo. Nadie, excepto Dominick D. Aun hoy tenemos una amistad. Feliz dia de los Padres Dominick!!

Hoy le quiero dar honor a "Superman"; mi Papi, compartiendo con ustedes, la eulogia que escribi para el, el dia de su entierro, el dia 18 de Septiembre, 2005.

* * * * * * * *

Septiembre 18, 2005
Santa Isabel, PR
My Daddy

Pedro Juan **. Ese fue nuestro companero, esposo, Padre, Abuelo, Bizabuelo, hermano, tio, primo, Padrino, hijo y amigo. Nacido Mayo * * en Coamo, PR. Fue hijo de Rosario * y Juan *. Fue hermano bueno de Cornelio, Felipe, Claudina, Concepcion, Marcos, Baudilia y Jose Luis...mejor conocido como Guiso; y su hermanos de crianzo Rolyn y Carmin. Esposo y companero de Maria Mercedes por 58 anos, criando quatro hijos: Raymond, yo, Papo y Cuca. Abuelo de Taina, Mimari, Peter y Ross; Rafael, Angel y Carmen. Bizabuelo de Dayne - la manzana de los ojos de el.

A la edad de 24 anos se fue hacer una vida en NY, siguendo su gran amor, haciendola su esposa, su companera por vida. Apprendiendo el ingles por su cuenta y durante mas de 20 anos luchando en trabajos meniales nunca se olvido de su familia en PR. Siempre recordando que quiza estaban en necessidad y ayudanolos lo mejor que pudo aunque y mientras tenia una lucha criando su familia.

Si alguien de su familia quizo lograr su sueno de una vida mejor en NY, Papi, sin preguntas, con su corazon abierto, y sin reparar, habrio las puertas de su casa dandole a mas de 20 personas la opportunidad de lograr lo que buscaban, y muy feliz cuando se hicieron realidad.

Papi le encantaba cuando alguien de la familia lo visitaba. Atraves de todo esto, siempre mantuvo la fe en Dios, no solo por el, pero tambien por su projimo.

En 1979 logro ser Sargento de Seguridad de la Universidad de Rockefeller en NY, retirandose despues de 24 anos mas de trabajo. Ese trabajo fue su trabajo de sueno.

Pedro Juan * * fue un hombre que vivio por su familia -- esposa y hijos. Cualquier dolor que sentianos nosotros, se podia contar con el que te iba dar un consejo sabio y la fuerza para resolver tu problema.

Al retirarse en el ano 1993, volvio a PR y hizo su casa segun sonaba con ella. Y fue tan feliz. Feliz porque ahora tenia la opportunidad para estar con su "otro yo" todos los dias, todo el dia y se dedico a accomodarse en su nueva vida. Haciendo chistes, maldades, comiendo y mandando. Pero todo eso fue con amor y una risa o una sonrisa mella.

Cuando Mami se enfermo ese hombre por poco se muere. Con su fe delante se iba todos los dias al hospital para cuidar, confortar y demonstrale amor a su companera-esposa creyendo en el Senior que la iba levantar. Y asi fue. Mami se levanto, recupero su fuerza para poder luchar con el.

Papi callo malo el dia 22 de Junio. Mi hermano, Ramon, vino ese mismo dia. Apoyando nuestra madre, bregando con nuestro Padre. Mientras enfermo, nadie esperaba que regresara as su casa. Pero asi fue.

Papi murio Jueves, Septiembre 15...en su casa, con su mujer a su lado. Pero no antes de hacerle la ultima broma ... jugar con la agua que ella carinosamente le ofrecia.

Cuando su primera nieta, Taina nacio en 1980, ese hombre estuvo por las nubes. No encontraba donde ponerse. Cuando Tania tenia 27 dias de nacida, con su mujer al lado, se llevaron la nieta, para volver a criar una familia como si fueran jovenes de nuevo.

Siguiendo Taina, vino mi adorada hija, Mimari. Mimari fue la que lo hizo volver ser nino. Hasta casi el dia que murio mi Papi, se la pasaban hablando, el aconsejandola y ella diciendole chistes. Se llevaban como una y carne. Halandose la cadena, dandose cuerda uno al otro.

Entonces vinieron los varones ... Peter y Ross. Su relacion con su nieto Peter fue una donde no ubo muchas palabras. Peter no habla el Espanol muy bien, pero los dos de parte en parte, aprendieron a communicar, principalmente con sus corazones. Lo mas que Papi quizo fue que su nieto, con todo sus traviesos, terminara las escuela. El sabia que iba ser fuerte para Peter, pero tambien sabia que si Peter podria lograrlo, se iba hacer hombre. Imaginese su orgullo cuando el nieto que meno esperaban, que el nieto que todo el mundo esperaban que fallara se graduo del cuarto ano. Papi lloro dandole gracias a Dios. Peter quiere que todos sepan que el y su abuela, Mercedes ahora puedan sentirse orgulloso de el. Porque ellos, Papi y Mami le dieron el apoyo, la fuerza y antes todo el amor para logralo.

Ese fue Papi.

Cuando ya no esperaban mas nietos, nacio Ross, hijo de Cuca. Papi le puso Macho Man. El dia que nacio Ross, se enterraba nuestra Tia Saturna. Ross es el nieto del futuro de esta familia.

Ese nene conoce computadoras como nadie que yo conosco. En la sombra del dolor de la muerte de Tia Saturna nacio el sol del futuro de esta familia. Ross. Papi reconocio eso en su nieto. Siempre hablo de el con carino.

Ese fue mi papa.

Pedro Juan * *

Todavia se preguntan porque yo digo que el es Superman?

* * * * *

Hoy dia soy abuela de Dayne que todavia se recuerda de su bizabuelo and de ves en cuando menciona que el vive in el cielo ahora. El recuerda cuando chico se rescostaba en el pecho de su bizabuelo escuchando el latir de su corazon como hize yo cuando nina.

Espero que Dayne cresca y llege ser como su bizabuelo: un hombre carinoso, de buen corazon que no se avergonzaba demostrarle carino a su projimo.

Feliz dia de los Padres a todos ustedes padres, biolojico o no. Y a todas madre soltera que hacen el papel de madre y padre.

~~ML

Sinner's Ride Book Signing Event Sponsored by The Arctic Circle/Finns of New York

I am extremely pleased to announce a book signing event for "Sinner's Ride"!! My friends at The Arctic Circle/Finns of New York have been able to secure the rooftop garden at The Delancey in New York City for an event to include happy hour, a reading, a question and answer period followed by a raffle and mingling. I am SO EXCITED!!!

The Delancey is a beautiful dual-level site on the Lower East Side of Manhattan featuring a rooftop garden. We were so lucky that it was available for our event. Check out their website: www.thedelancey.com/gallery.html. So may I respectfully suggest you purchase a copy now and have it autographed at the event?

And here are directions:

The Delancey is located on the North East side of Delancey Street between Clinton and Attorney, at the base of the Williamsburg bridge.

By Subway:
Take the J.M or Z train to the Essex Street stop or the F train to Delancey Street stop. Please refer to www.hopstop.com for more details.

By Car:
From Brooklyn, take the first right off of the Williamsburg Bridge onto Clinton Street.

From Uptown Manhattan, take 2nd Ave. to Houston St., turn right on Ridge street, and right onto Delancey. The Delancey is between Attorney and Clinton Streets.


With regard to the raffle: Sinner's Ride is a heartwrenching story involving sexual assault and what happens mentally and emotionally when such a traumatic event takes place; one that occurs more often than we care to imagine. So many women suffer this malice at the hands of men they think they can trust and oftentimes they find themselves feeling that there is no escaping the situation. Some women are lucky. They get out and they survive it. Those women have friends, community leaders and others who lend a hand. There are organizations that offer support and shelter to the women and often the children of these women when they have nowhere to turn.

Some are not so lucky. My intention is to bring awareness to this monster and hope that I can help someone. For that reason, The Arctic Circle and I came up with the idea of a raffle.

We are on the cusp of what promises to be a sweltering summer. Therefore, we will be auctioning off a basket of summer goodies, including a signed, hardcover copy of "Sinner's Ride". As an added incentive for participants, we will not be placing a price tag on the raffle tickets, instead we ask that participants give what they can and all proceeds of the raffle will be donated to a women's shelter.

Also, I am ironing out some technological issues with the idea of streaming the event LIVE for those of you who can not attend personally, so details on that will soon follow.

And the ride continues.....

~~ML

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Good evening everyone!

Busy day at work today and I'm ready to crash but I wanted to reach out to everyone and wish you all a happy and above all a SAFE Memorial Day Weekend!  It is a three day holiday for us here in the States and beaches will be opening on the East Coast, which begs the question:  What are you reading while you bake under the sun?? The weather's going to be beautiful!

Would you prefer to have a little alone time with a basket filled with goodies and wine under a big ole oak or maple tree?   Or maybe you're like me ... I like to swing on a hammock and read.

So, before you do any of the above, go on over to http://www.minnielahongrais.com/ or amazon.com and purchase your e-book copy of Sinner's Ride!  I guarantee you won't be able to put it down.  Go on now!  What are you waiting for?  If you're going to be at the beach, don't forget to turn over and keep applying sunblock!  We don't want you to burn!  If you're hanging out on a patch of grass with your own personal basket filled with goodies, swinging lazily on a hammock hung between two big ole trees or just sitting under one, then get comfy and hold on tight.  You're going on a ride with Sinner!!

Enjoy and let me know what you think!


~~ML

My One-of-a-Kind Necklaces by Rosie's Creations

Hi Folks!

I know it's been a while since I've been on, and will remedy that real soon, but I wanted to share this with you all. 

Hope you like them as much as I do and if you want to get in touch with Rosie, she can be reached at rosiehcreations@gmail.com.  Give her a shout out!!

~~ML

Pandora's Box Blitz Tour

Good evening friends!

I am very happy to participate in my friend, Katie Salidas' Virtual Blog Tour!  This tour is to promote the third release in her Immortalis Series entitled "Pandora's Box" following "Carpe Noctem" and "Hunters and Prey" and it releases on July 12th!

I will be doing a review on "Carpe Noctem" on June 27th and a review on "Hunters and Prey" on June 28th.  And...get this!  There will be a giveaway for an e-copy of each book so stay tuned!

Please help support her! 

Now, without further ado, here is a little something something to tell you a little bit about "Pandora's Box" as well as a short bio on Katie:

Pandora's Box:

Alyssa thought, after a few months as a vampire, that she’d learned all she needed about the supernatural world. But all that will change when a mysterious package shows up on her doorstep - a Pandora's box. An ancient prison, created by powerful magic, the box was used to trap the most dangerous and deadly creatures on earth.

Once opened, it releases an ancient evil, with an insatiable lust for vampire blood. Within moments of its release it the feeding frenzy begins.

Alyssa must find a way to return the creature to the box. If she doesn’t, it will not only destroy her clan, but the rest of the vampires in existence.

About Katie Salidas:

The youngest of four children, Katie has always had a desire to entertain. Since, early childhood, she's dreamed fantastical characters and scribbled them into pages of various journals and notebooks. Taking an interest in vampires, she devoured every book, featuring those blood sucking creatures, in any genre she could find.

It was only natural that a love of reading vampire stories, turned into a love to write them.

Katie is also a Las Vegas native, having grown up in the famed City of Sin. She loves to feature it as a recurring setting for many of her stories.



*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of The Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by The Virtual Book Tour Cafe', no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely of my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

What's Up?

Hi people!

It is I...Sinner.

Woke up early this morning to the sound of pouring rain.  This made me very melancholy.  The sounds of the raindrops hitting the window pane made me think of all that's happened, making me think of Gabriel, Daniel and Stana.  I've had several sessions with my therapist and I'm slowly coming to the realization that this is now my life.  My reality is that I will probably never, ever be the same again.  But I have you guys now, and my creator is the reason I even have an outlet.

Minnie's so busy that I can't really invade her space any more like I used to.  She really understands me and I'm so lucky that we will always be part of each other's lives.  My therapist says that it's good that I realize the role I played in her life, but more importantly I realize the role she's played in mine.  I'm very grateful to her for telling my story.  Our mutual hope is that my story will help someone.  If my experiences help just one person, then I'm ok with that. 

I took a peak at her sales and wow!  People are buying my story and she's getting reactions from those who have either read it or are currently reading it.  We keep hearing the same thing:  "I can't put it down!"  I think that's great!  Also, I noticed that there have been sales in the Bronx -- my home town!!  I love that!!  If you like what you read, then please spread the word! 

This has been a very gratifying experience for us both and we are so very appreciative of your support!  Our fans are the best in the world!

Also, from what I hear, press releases have been sent out to various media outlets and soon it will go out to regular folk like us, so keep an eye out for it in your email inboxes.

Once again, thank you all for reading my story.  I have to go now.  It's almost mid-day and I haven't had a thing to eat!  I have to keep myself healthy so I can continue to hang out with you beautiful people!!

Hasta pronto!

~~Sinner

Sales are up!

Greetings everyone,

I've been sick with some sort of bug, but I think I've got this thing beat!  Quick update:  Sinner's Ride is slowly catching on and sales are up!  Thank you!!  A few of my friends just received their copies today and I can't wait to hear their thoughts!

Since I've had some time to think about things, I've been dreaming up ways to get you involved in my "party" and I have some ideas that need ironing out.  So, stay tuned for more info on contests and upcoming events.

With regard to Sinner, well, Sinner's Sinner and she's been working hard at sorting things out.  That's why she's been silent.   

So, for now, I wish you all a good night folks .  We'll be back!!  (In my Arnold Schwarznegger voice :) )

~~ML