"What type of men are you attracted to??"

Michael Buble
Singer


















Mark Brunetz
Clean House - Interior Design













Matt Iseman
Clean House - Go to Guy
Comedian

















John Slattery
Mad Men

















Chef Duff Goldman
Ace of Cakes
















Does this help??? I like all kinds. :-P

Yea.. well...

Not much new to report. I have been rather busy with school and work. School ends next week, and I have about two weeks off before starting the fall semester, and continue to plug along at my masters work. I'm looking forward to the down time before starting back to a full course load.

I went out for ice cream with Nick and Jason last week and we had a great time. A group of us were supposed to get together tonight, but our plans fizzled out. Tomorrow, I have dinner plans with Anne and Vince. I'm trying to do as much socializing as I can before school gets going full force. Who knows when I'll have the time again once I get back into the swing of things.

Other than that, nothing new. I'm boring. :-)

Hidden treasure in Buffalo

I met Bob out for lunch on the East Side in Buffalo. *flashes gang sign* It was the BEST sub sandwich I have had in a LONG time. It's always nice to spend time with the great and wonderful Bobby as well.

Since we were on the East Side, I wanted to stop in a local hat maker's shop.. one of the few places left in the country that still makes custom hats. Bob went along with me.. I was driving, so he had no choice. Ha Ha. What I thought would be a quick visit turned into an hour stay as Gary White (owner and master hatter) showed me around his store and described all the details of making hats. Being a huge hat freak.. I was mesmerized. It was a step back into time, into a true master's workshop.

Gary was so friendly, personable, and I loved his stories. He's been in the business for thirty years now, and hat making is his passion. He's made hats for movies like Indiana Jones and won Tony awards as part of the costume crew for Broadway plays like Thoroughly Modern Milly and Guys and Dolls, to name a few.

Yes, I did place an order for a hat, which should be ready in early October. It was SO cool to be designing my own hat.. style, size, brim length, color etc. It was so much fun, and Gary was so nice to work with. As informal as our conversations were, he kept calling me "Sir", and treated me like I was his favorite client. He has a wonderful work ethic, and is an overall charming man.

In Memoriam

Today, actress Estelle Getty, best known for her role as "Sophia" on The Golden Girls died at the age of 84. According to family, she died of complication of dementia, which she has been suffering from for many years.

Ms. Getty also played the role of a Jewish mother, struggling with her son's homosexuality in Harvey Firestein's play, Torch Song Trilogy. The movie form, which did not star Getty in the role, is one of my favorite films of all time. I wish I would have had the chance to see Ms. Getty play the powerful role. Ms. Getty was a strong and outspoken supporter of gay rights, and did much to raise money for AIDS treatment and awareness.

I grew up watching The Golden Girls, and when I catch it on television, it brings back such wonderful memories. I can recite the lines verbatim, and yet I never tire of watching the show. I admired Sophia's outspokenness and strength of character. She feared no one, and had a simple down to earth wisdom, which reminded me so much of my own Grandmothers. We all know someone in our lives who is like Sophia... feisty and crass, yet filled with charm and whit.

Eternal Rest grant unto her O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

Leaving Buffalo?

As I register for grad classes for the Fall semester, it seems very unlikely that I will have a teaching job by September. Actually, in terms of getting the masters done, this could be a good thing. I'll be able to make a big dent in the courses I still need to take to finish my degree. I am scared however.

With each passing day, I am becoming more and more aware of the good possibility that I will have to leave the state to find employment. That scares the hell out of me. I love the Buffalo area, and have so many family and friends here. I do not like the notion of having to up and move by myself to a place I know nothing about.

My grandparents on both sides had to leave their families and move to Buffalo where the jobs were. It was hard on them, but they at least had each other. They came to a new place TOGETHER to start a new life. Some family also came with them which lessened the homesickness somewhat. It would be easier if I had a spouse, and was considering moving with him, but to have to go by myself... that's scary.

Hopefully things will change, and I'll be one of the lucky few who can find a job. I have my degree to focus on, but the job is always on the back of my mind... nagging me... scaring me... reminding me that without it, the degree is for nothing.

Things need to change in Buffalo before it becomes a ghost town.

Da Baby

Joe and Katie had some sonograms done of the baby. We still don't know the gender, but we know for sure who the father is! The baby is shown to have a big nose, and suck it's thumb. That's Joe's kid alright!!! :-P

The new arrival is due the end of January, 2009.

Family Reunion Pics

Mark and Laura's dog - "Leo" a puppy that is already the size of a bear cub!
Danielle's soccer playing dog "Vienna Sausage"
Aunt Ann and me
The Italian Maffia is alive and well!
Trying to get everyone to stand still for the picture












Aunt Ann and Uncle Dom at the game
















Jennifer's husband Joe, playing for the "Depends" team. Jennifer also lends him to me as my honorary husband when I am in town. :-P













The "Pampers" team






Doing what Italians do best... EATING!!

Update

I haven't posted in a while as I had been busy preparing to attend the 47th annual family reunion in Wilkes Barre Pa this weekend.

I had a great time seeing all my family again, some of whom I haven't seen in about four years. The last time I attended the reunion, my Grams was alive, and I've found it difficult to go back in her absence... it being her side of the family, held at the home she grew up in.

It took my long enough to learn all my cousins names, and during my four year hiatus, they went out a reproduced! So many babies!!! It's so funny to think of my cousins, whom it feel like yesterday I played hide and seek with, as parents. I got to meet some new spouses as well, and it's wonderful to watch the family continue to grow.

We resurrected the tradition of playing a baseball game. Instead of the New York relatives (NYC) vs the Pennsylvania relatives (anyone NOT in NYC), we did the "older" vs "younger". Each team had a name, and a uniform shirt. 35 and under were the "Pampers". We had navy blue shirts with Pampers printed on the back, and the family seal on the front. The 36 and up crowd was "Depends", wearing a similar shirt in gray... like their hair.

Initially I wasn't going to play, sucking at sports and still nursing a bad back, but did manage to go up to bat. I swung three times, first two being fowl balls, and the second being a good hit, but caught by one of the Depends. I was just thrilled I hit the damn thing!

The Pampers won the game 12 to 6. The Depends team had to buy us champagne, but they insisted on checking our id's before we could have a drink.

Yesterday I celebrated my 26th Birthday. Anne and Vince took me out for ice cream, and then I had dinner with Bobbie and Jason at Mother's restaurant. The food was GREAT!! I had such a good time spending the day with my closest friends. We ended by having a drink at one of my local hangouts. I enjoyed the day from start to finish.. despite the fact it was one step closer to the grave, as Bob would say.