"Celebrating Our Music" is the theme of today's Puerto Rican day parade in New York City.

Here is MENA-UDO enjoying the Puerto Rican Day parade in New York City two years ago.
(Read about her adventure here.)

2009 celebrity honorees include New York Yankee Bernie Williams, reggaeton star Daddy Yankee, and Grammy winner Olga Tañón. The parade starts at 11 am at Fifth Avenue and 44th Street.

After celebrating music, you can celebrate some great art that belongs to the Museo de Arte de Ponce. While that museum in Puerto Rico is under renovation, it's paintings are on loan. The only place you can see it's "Masterpieces of European Painting" in the Northeast is at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich through September 6, 2009.
Here is an interview with the curator of Museo de Arte de Ponce, Richard Aste.

MOTO MUTT in NYC


"If you really want to know
What I want in a guy
When I'm looking for a dream on a mean machine
With hell in his eyes.

A cool rider.. "

Willamena would be in love. Just when you thought you'd seen it all, New York City unleashes the surprises. I saw Moto Mutt on the West Side Highway. Scrambling to find my Flip cam while trying to mind traffic, I at least got a few shots. Watch as I approach the cool riders.


Driving through construction and traffic trying not to have or cause an accident, I lost Moto Mutt. However, Mena, your cool rider must live nearby because he took the same exit. I caught up with him on Broadway. I missed the opportunity to video him brushing out the dog and removing the goggles. But here are a few shots from a stop light. They saw me snapping.

Abandoned Puppies

Three puppies need a home! These two guys and a gal were left abandoned on a country road in Texas without food or water. My dad found them on his way to the post office to mail jalapenos he grew for me. (We must name one Jalapeno.)

It was a very hot day. Imagine- 98-degrees, no water or food, just left to die on the side of the road.

My mom says these pups are so young they tried to nurse her dog once they got them home, but at least they are old enough to eat. Actually, mom said they ate and ate and then ate her dog's food. Look at the round belly on the one lying down.

If anyone in Texas wants a pup, let me know.
Willamena was a rescue dog. Here are two of her earliest pics. She just turned 11 in April.

NEW YORK CITY THUNDERSTORM

Having overslept on Monday morning, I was slightly worried about getting up in time for work Tuesday. Both of my cell phones, which are my alarms, seemed to be acting out. I set an emergency backup for 3:00am. However, I didn't need any of them because nature was there for me.

Just minutes before my first cell phone alarm went off, (at about 2:45 am) I awoke to flashes of light and noise. It was a storm. Willamena was no where to be found. She somehow squeezed her 70 pound body into a ten pound space between my bed and the wall. She doesn't like loud storms. After several minutes of snoozing to the rhythm of the rain, I grabbed my Flip cam since the thunder didn't want to stop. It was like someone pounding a bass drum every once in a while with no consideration of the actual drum beat.

The storm seemed louder than the camera picked up. But then I was probably just worried about walking Willamena and driving to work. I actually like the noise. I should loop it and play it as background music. Maybe I'll use it in a future song. (There is a good flash of lightning and clap of thunder about two minutes in.) Also, you can hear my cell phone alarm at the end of the recording. I had to get up at some point.

Getting Caught in Times Square


Typically I avoid Times Square. I enjoyed the area while working at Reuters and running over to the Nasdaq for reports. However otherwise, I find it's best to avoid the tourist traffic.

Yet this weekend I jumped right in the middle of it. Recently the city closed parts of Broadway to traffic and opened what you may call a pedestrian beach. Right where people wait in line for discount theatre tickets, they've placed lawn chairs for people to relax. Then, on the edge of the beach and where the street traffic resumes, there is this chair shaped like a mitt.

NYC Dog visits Stamford, Connecticut.

35-miles from mid-town Manhattan, Mena finds plenty to do in Stamford, Connecticut.

Check out Willamena's visit to Stamford. Here you see her at the Bartlett Arboretum, where dogs can walk the trails on leash.

Click here for the DogFriendly.com "2009 Dog-Friendly City Guides."
Stamford isn't on the list, so you will have to use Mena's recommendations!

Purina's blog, Petcentric, has compiled several links to help you travel with your pet, including pet travel etiquette and a number to call on your cell to find dog friendly spots on the road.