Family

The Blessing Of Family

Posted by THEJNSREPORT on March 6, 2017

Posted in: Social Commentary. Tagged: Blessings, Family, God, Life, Love, THEJNSREPORT. Leave a comment

Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: The Blessing Of Family

This past February THEJNSREPORT was blessed with the opportunity to visit our beloved mother in Florida and celebrate her milestone 70th Birthday. What a special blessing it was to see the greatest example in our lives of perseverance, selflessness, sacrifice, discipline, dedication, wisdom, intelligence, love and strength reach her 70th year.

Sitting at her breakfast table eating meals she prepared for us while listening to mom recount moments in life in which God answered prayers and helped her lead our family through some tremendously difficult times left us in awe of the woman we know as our mother. I mean I could have been a total stranger listening to the various stories she had for us from times in our childhood we may or may not have remembered and still would be in awe of her. We were just amazed at how far she came to where she is now and how strong of a person she is to hold our family together.If you are fortunate enough to have your family especially your parents, tell them that you love them and how much they mean to you as often as you can. Save the most precious memories of the times spent together to reminisce on as time goes by. We love you mom and are so grateful to God that he gave us you as our mother. Long live the Queen!

Vacation 2016: Scenes from Ecuador & Chile

Posted by THEJNSREPORT on January 20, 2016

Posted in: Food & Drinks, Social Commentary, Travel. Tagged: Chile, Ecuador, Family, Image Gallery, Images, Life, Living, Murals, P.A.D, Public Art Displays, Reflections, Scenes, THEJNSREPORT, Tourism, travel. Leave a comment

Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Vacation 2016: Scenes from Ecuado & Chile

😀

So while we were away I thought it a great idea to capture and share some of the images and experiences had on vacation in both Countries. The above was taken at the beach in Manta, Ecuador. Plenty of people were out to soak up the sun and play in the sand.to Manta is probably the best city visited in Ecuador during our stay. The energy is a mixed one with every day people enjoying the beach city environment. While there certainly is more to Manta than the beach. The beach here is probably the first reason to visit Manta.Green Coconuts for sale and consumption right on the beach where they chop it open and supply a straw. La Policia stroll the beach. Kids playing in the sand.Looking out to the beach from inside a restaurant while having a Pilsner Light is what it is right now.

Plenty of public displays of art can be found walking the streets of Manta. Even the trees become part of the mural scene above.These birds are all around the shore line and beach front. Flying high and swooping in and out down and around and all about making for awesome shots like the one pictured above. The sculpt work here is beyond impressive! Last time I was here they did Giant Hippos.

I took this as we approached the Beach. To me looked like a shot worthy of making a classic Black & White.I like this for the simple phrase think Big.Driving through the various towns from Manta through Porto Viejo yields some colorful scenes.Looks like it could be a portal in some version of Mortal Kombat.Yes they do go to church at night.

This is the Angel de Porto Viejo.

Check out this barren Ceiba tree. I shot this while in a moving vehicle so it wasn’t the easiest shot to capture.

Below are some shots from various parts of Chile.

The Chilean Flag All over the streets of Santiago and other cities I encountered pretty cool public art displays from murals to graffiti images.I was surprised to see so much graffiti and art work on the walls along the streets of Santiago. No doubt about it art, graffiti, self expression is universal.Here’s another cool public display of art I came across in Chile.As I kid I wished I could draw this well. The detail is sick!!!See what I mean they just keep on coming.Here’s another pretty cool looking P.A.D.What’s that in the distance? Can you see him?This P.A.D I shot in front of a subway station in the center of Santiago.This was also near to the other mural at the entrance to the subway.This lamp was shot inside of one of Santiago’s best restaurants Eladios.Tiramisu Pizzeria Chile is an absolute instant favorite of mine for their cocktails and pizza alone period end of story.My second cocktail was my favorite of the day. Tiramisu’s Raspberry Mojito aka The Framboise Mojito

Tell me that right isn’t talking to your spirit right about now. Mmmm Mmm Son!!!

And then there was the Pizza…Absolutely F’ N Bueno!!!

The Costanera Torre 2 aka Gran Torre Santiago. Chile’s answer to the Freedom Tower. Absolutely stunning building to see in person inside and out.

Notice anything striking in this photo? Tell me what you see in this photo and what you don’t see as opposed to NYC’s transit system. There are tons more shots I have from this awesome trip. I hope you enjoyed this little peak at the wonderful experience had in Latin America. Thank you to our hosts in both Ecuador & Chile.

A Year Of Firsts

Posted by THEJNSREPORT on December 26, 2015

Posted in: Social Commentary. Tagged: Family. Leave a comment

Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: A Year Of Firsts

😀

This year has been a crazy year that honestly I’m looking forward to moving on from while embracing the prospects of a much better 2016. In this year of firsts the most immediate thought goes to reflecting on this “Holiday” Season and what it has meant to me, my family, & loved ones.

The biggest thing I realize is how important family is. In this year of firsts spending our first Christmas without our beloved mother together with all of us has been difficult.

We take comfort in knowing that we were able to speak to her and hear her voice as well as let her know that no matter how far away we may go we will always be a family.

Since late Christmas Eve to early morning today we’ve had some of the best moments in life because we were able to spend time with and bond with family and just really enjoy how great, how awesome, how powerful and how blessed we all are that we have the family we have.

Everyone vital to our family unit. Everyone fitting in their place within the family as they were meant to and us vibing and just really enjoying our time to together, especially now that we don’t get to nearly as much as we all would like.

How amazing it was to connect with my sisters & brothers with our dad and just reminisce on our childhoods and the influences and experiences we’ve shared from then to now.

I don’t think we all have laughed as loud and as hard as we did last night in quite some time. Here’s to the future and to brighter tomorrows. For those of us out there that don’t stay in touch with family as much I think if nothing else Christmas reminds me that having a family is such a blessing and I thank God for my family, my love, loved ones and friends. Here’s to Family.

The Human Condition: Life & The Family Bond

Posted by THEJNSREPORT on July 3, 2015

Posted in: Image Gallery, Nature - Environment, Social Commentary. Tagged: Afternoon, Bronx, Bronx Photography, Cinnamon, Clouds, Family, Ferris Wheel, nature, Scenes from the Bronx, Sunset, The Boogie Down, The Heavens, THEJNSREPORT. Leave a comment

Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: The Human Condition: Life & The Family Bond

Life seems to be a monster roller coaster ride filled with highs and lows, twists and turns through various stages of experience. Right now my family and I as well as my significant other are experiencing stages of life that are frustrating, painful, exciting, new, and a bit scary due to the uncertainty of the future unfolding for all of us.

Our family home has been the one constant in all of our lives since we were little kids growing up in the inner city. To have been lucky enough to be born in the greatest city in the world in the best country in the world is special. It’s something that I think for most of my life I took for granted. My family and I are the products of hard work determination, God’s protection & guidance and the wisdom, strength and courage of the matriarch of our family our mom.

In the past month there have been some new realities facing us as a family. We knew that the end of our habitation in the house we had known as home for the past 29 years was coming to an end. And still somehow it hadn’t really sunken in that our family was separating onto the different paths in each of our respective lives.

Embracing independence and the need to grow in our own paths and journeys in life is hard to come to grips with when for so long you’ve known nothing contrary to family being close to each other and living together often under the same roof. On TV the Hollywood reality scene would poo poo families sharing a living space together even into adulthood.

Everything comes to an end eventually. Even so, It’s a hard thing to embrace drastic or dramatic change while saying good bye to yesterday’s memories.

Our family Cat. And an amazing animal and joy!

Love this look of her in a natural environment loving being outdoors.

Scenes from the Bronx on glorious afternoons will be keepsakes and nostalgia for years to come as we look back on the way things were.

The Queen Roars or perhaps… yawns.

This shot above is one of our favorites and will always remind us of “The Boogie Down”.This guy is comfortable at work in the “Greatest City” in the world.

Is that an actual Ferris Wheel in the BX? I thought I’d see that only in Coney Island.Another beautiful sunset afternoon. Reflecting on the days behind us.A night time shot of mom’s gorgeous blue green hydrangea. Mom you have an excellent “Green Thumb”. We’ll always admire and appreciate the hard work and dedication you’ve shown to us and to your beautiful garden at home. Here’s a peak at Cinnamon in bed at home with Sis.This beauty was at home almost anywhere in the house.From one rose to another. Mom’s relentless dedication and hard work in her garden made images like these possible. Thank you mom for everything.Long live fond fair memories of days gone by. Here’s to the future awaiting us with God’s blessings. One thing we know for sure is that family is forever and is most important. We give thanks to God for blessing us with the amazing family that we’ve known all these years and to our family continuing to stick together and remaining close in the future. Hope you enjoyed our little showcase of images.

XMas Gifts

Posted by THEJNSREPORT on December 22, 2013

Posted in: Social Commentary. Tagged: Business, Christmas, Commercial, Commercial business, Economy, Family, Friends, Gifts, Holiday, Love, Reflection, Scrooge, Shopping. Leave a comment

Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: A Reflection on Christmas

While this is supposed to be a Christian Holiday marking the birth of Christ. In today’s modern day culture, Christmas has been transformed and its focus shifted to nothing more than a Commercial business holiday.

The idea of gift giving has become a financial burden many of us reluctantly bare simply because of herd mentality and the possible fear of being viewed as a “Scrooge”. I’ll tell ya one thing. I refuse to go into debt just because the business of America’s economy says I should in order for my loved ones to think that I love and/care about them.

I’ll just ask a simple question? What do you believe Christmas is and means?

Thanksgiving Day 2013

Posted by THEJNSREPORT on November 30, 2013

Posted in: Food & Drinks. Tagged: 7 Cheese Mac N Cheese, Blessings, Brussel Sprouts, Collard Greens, Cornbread, Cranberry Sauce, Edoes, Family, family & friends, Food, Friends, God, Gravy, Ham, Life, Mac N Cheese, Meal, Mercy, Rice & Peas, Roast Vegetables, Salad, Sharing, Squash, Stuffing, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving 2013, Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving Dinner, The Spread, Turkey, Vegetarian Loaf, Yams. Leave a comment

Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Thanksgiving Day 2013 – The Spread

Giving thanks to God for many of the blessings we’ve had during the past year my family and I sat down to Thanksgiving Dinner with some friends who graciously accepted and invitation to spend Thanksgiving with us.

Lucky and grateful to be able to gather together and enjoy a meal while communing with each other was an awesome experience that I often took for granted growing up as a kid.

In these latter days and years in life I’m appreciating the blessing of family and what it means to be close, in addition to valuing the time we have with one another.

I’m grateful for the brief moments in life that we are fortunate enough to have together and thank God for his blessings, his mercy and for family & friends far and near.

Without further ado we present Thanksgiving 2013 – The Spread. Here’s a look at the bounty we were fortunate enough to share amongst friends and family. The Bird

The Ham

Rice & Peas

Roasted Vegetables

The Stuffing

The Spread Close Up

The Polenta feat Quinoa

The Ham II

Vegetarian Loaf

Cornbread

7 Cheese Mac N Cheese

The Spread at a Glance

The Spread II

So we had the basics Turkey with stuffing, Gravy, Ham, Roasted Vegetables (including, Yams, Squash, Edoes, Brussel Sprouts, and herbs), Mac N Cheese with bread crumb topping, Vegetarian Loaf, Collard Greens, Lasagne, Cranberry Sauce, Rice & Peas, Salad and Cornbread. Desert had to wait a while as room was being made for it after the main course.

Mom was the star of the evening for having cooked almost all of the dishes, while I was responsible for the Mac N Cheese with a slight amount of char on it due to placement in a cramped oven lol. It came out tasting pretty good if I do say so myself. Till next time this has been Thanksgiving 2013 – The Spread by THEJNSREPORT. Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Things to be Thankful for: Thanksgiving 2013

We’re all preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving the American traditional holiday we’re all taught as kids celebrates the Pilgrims and the relationship they established with Native Americans back in the 1600’s. We know it as the first Thanksgiving feast. We learned that Abraham Lincoln declared a national “Thanksgiving Day” held every November in 1863.

Yet thinking about this tradition of giving thanks and what it means, I find myself not caught up in the commercial mania that is “Black Friday” but rather in celebrating being alive. Being able to share a meal while thanking God, for our blessings, our friends, our families far and near. Thanking God for his love, his patience, his mercy and this incredible gift of life.

Even in the midst of hardships and tough times there is always something to be thankful for. I’m thankful that I was born and live in this great city to the family that I have and for all the amazing people God has put in my life. I’m even thankful for the haters because without them I wouldn’t be driven to succeed and to do all that I’m meant to do.

I speak for my sister and myself when I say we’re both thankful for all the followers of THEJNSREPORT. I know on Thursday I’ll be thankful to be eating some Turkey and all the fixin’s with family and friends.

What will you thank God for this Thanksgiving?