anger management

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T14:44:00.004-05:00

Trick or Treat! Trick or Treat!
Give me something good to eat.
Give me candy. Give me cake.
Give me something good to take

I Miss You My Friend

2011-09-13T00:15:00.017-05:00

I was looking for something in my library the other day and came across the following note from my mother. It was written on the day my husband and I returned from our honeymoon. As with most things these days, I thought back at how happy I was then, and it made me cry.

Then I looked at the other side of the note and saw that my mother had written me this lovely welcome home note on the back of a HILLS LAYAWAY advertisement, and it made me laugh out loud.
This is soooo Harriet. Finding this made me miss her and Dan more than ever. And like every other memory I have of them both, it made me laugh and thankful I had them in my life. And it made me cry that they are no longer with me.

Today is my 27th wedding anniversary.

If you haven't heard of her before, listen to this song by Eva Cassidy. (Esp around the three minute mark)

All of those years we spent together
Well they're part of my life forever
I hold the joy with the pain
And the truth is I miss you my friend

I love this song, but sometimes time ISN'T a healer. Sometimes its more than I can bear. I've been having a rough time of it lately. As Harriet would say "Better days are coming" I sure hope so mum. I sure the hell hope so.

Good Night Irene........Good Riddance

2011-08-28T09:13:00.008-05:00

My friend Ski called me yesterday. Since this has been a daily occurrence for 40 years or so, it was nothing out of the ordinary. But this particular conversation happened to be the same that I had with about four or five other long time friends this week.

The gist of it was that they had been thinking of me all week. Every time news came on about Hurricane Irene, they would have themselves a little chuckle.

What does that have to do with me you might ask? For that answer we have to go all the way back to 1973. I was a shy awkward junior at Lawrenceville Catholic High School. We had an English teacher named Sr. Angela. For all you English majors out there, yes, she's the reason this blog makes you cringe. I learned absolutely nothing in high school English. The proof being right here in front of your eyes.

All of you of a certain age who grew up in Lawrenceville has their own sister Angela story. I could write plenty of posts about this crazy old Polish nun that most took great pleasure into literally driving crazy. There would be one about Sr. Angela and BJ; Sr. Angela and the band room; Sr. Angela and "pennies from heaven;" I could go on and on and on........feel free to chuckle to yourself as a favorite pops into your mind. I'll give you a minute.......

Done? I bet some of you haven't thought about her in years.

How about the bangs and the white faced make up she wore that made her look dead! Sometimes I feel badly about how she was treated. But then I remember just how crazy she was!

Anyway, here's my story. For those of you that I met later in life, my name in high school was Eileen Quinlan. For some reason Sister Angela insisted my name was Irene McQuillan. FOR TWO YEARS! Stupid, I know. But it drove me crazy. When she would call on me to answer a question, the whole class would laugh. Not cool for a shy high school student. After a while I think she did it on purpose.

Word of this spread quickly considering there were only about 400 or so kids in the school. When Jeff Devinney and Georgie Duke got hold of this, I knew I was doomed to be Irene McQuillan forever.

As if that weren't bad enough.......During this time my friends and I spent many a night sharing bottles of Boone's Farm (ewwwww) wine at St. John's Ball field on 36th Street. Naturally, my curfew was about a half hour or so before anyone else my age so I was usually the first to leave to go home (We didn't want to piss off Bud!) EVERY NIGHT when I would leave to walk out of the park twenty or so 16 year old kids would break into the song "Good Nigh Irene". EVERYNIGHT! You can use your imagination as to how embarrassing this was for a shy 15-16-17-18 year old kid. Yes, it went on for years, and years, and years........

It quickly spread to everywhere I went. Everywhere! Even during basketball games when I was a cheerleader (I know, I don't believe I was a cheerleader either!!) For years.

It took only one or two visits from high school friends to Mercyhurst for "Irene" to follow me to college and beyond. Same thing for the singing. You haven't lived yet if you haven't been serenaded with "Good Night Irene" by people you hardly know while leaving a keg party with a boy you have been dying to meet since the first week of freshman year. I guess the plus side of that would be that at least he remembered my name!!! (Poor thing didn't know what he was getting himself into, God rest his soul!)

It even followed me to the FBI for cryin' out loud.

Few in the life I'm living now know me by Irene. Every once in a while, I will run into someone from my younger days and when they call me Irene, my kids or whoever I'm with think something like they must have not know me very well if they can't even remember my name.

If only.....................

Enough about me.

Happy to report that old friends and new have seemed to escape Hurricane Irene with minimal damages.

Thank God, GOOD NIGHT IRENE!!!!

Good Riddance.

*I should have named this post "What Hurricane Irene Means To Me." Sort of like the high school essay I never learned to write!!

And The Big Man Joined The Band

2011-06-26T08:53:00.006-05:00

Judi over at Stories From The Road says is better than I ever could.

"the background music of my life, the soul of a generation.
A sound that will play on. "

RIP Big Man. You will certainly be missed.

When the change was made uptown
And the big man joined the band
From the coastline to the city
All the little pretties raise their hands

We certainly did.........Thanks for the memories.

June 14

2011-06-14T14:24:00.004-05:00

Happy 58th Birthday Dan

Happy Flag Day Dan!!

Happy Decoration Day

2011-05-29T00:06:00.005-05:00

Sooooo, where was I????? I've been missing in action for a while. Sorry about that folks. I'll try harder to write more often. I promise.

As we fire up the grills this Memorial Day weekend, several thoughts are spinning in my head. As usual!

First up, to the men and woman, many of whom were kids, who gave their lives so that assholes like me can enjoy the freedoms to bitch about stupid things on this here blog, I am eternally grateful.

Memorial Day, or as my mother called it, Decoration Day
brings out a whole gamut of memories.

One of my most cherished memories as a kid is going to the cemetery with my grandmother, aunt and mother to "decorate" the graves. In later years, my parents took my kids with them. If I had to miss for some reason, my mother would call and tell me the daily total of graves that they "did." She would go on and on about how tired she was. And in later years, about how thankful she was that my kids were there to help.

I laugh because Harriet was much better at delegating than doing. I can't believe some CEO didn't pick up on that during her life and nab her to head their production lines. I can hear her now. Come on Bud, just do it now. 1,2,3. Boom, boom, boom. And it will be done. Silence for about 20 seconds. Let's go. Come on. Here, this shovel is all ready for you. She would drive you crazy, until you just did it. No matter how tired or busy you were. You just did it. And she would sit there and tell you exactly how to do it. Herself, never breaking a sweat.

Anyway, I am getting off subject. Yesterday, I grudgingly continued that tradition and made the cemetery runs. Decorating graves of relatives that were dead long before I was born.

One of those is my mothers brother who died in 1945. He is buried way back in the corner by the wall in St. Mary's Cemetery in Lawrenceville. When I made my way back to his and his wife's graves yesterday, I read his gravestone. He was discharged from the service on May 28, 1945. 46 years to the day. Strange coincidence.

His grave was decorated only with the flag that the cemetery staff puts on all the veterans graves.

George Jenkins enlisted in 1939. He left Pearl Harbor three days before it was attacked by Japan. My mother used to say that my Gram was so relieved when she heard he missed the attack.

As a kid, I remember going through my Gram's cedar chest and reading his letters home. Most information was blacked out with magic marker. I distinctly remember that. I also remember hearing stories of the various battle's he was involved in. I wish I would have paid better attention.

One of the items in that cedar chest was a huge Japanese flag. My cousin Jeff and I would look at it all the time. It scared the hell out of me because it had blood and bullet holes all over it.
My grandmother said she would tease him and tell him that she was going to wash it for him. And he would reply "Mom, if you only knew what I went through to get that flag."

I wish I had the opportunity to ask him. After he survived the war, he returned to Lawrenceville. Got married, bought a house. And died.

After surviving the war, him and his young wife died of carbon monoxide poisoning in the home they purchased as newlyweds. He was home from the war for only 6 months. My mother said my gram was never the same after that.

The least I can do is put a few geraniums and petunia's on him and his wife's grave to thank him for spending the last four years of his life fighting for my freedom.

Geeze, I need to quit complaining.

*When I was in 4th or 5th grade, I took that flag to school for show and tell. We think my teacher never gave it back, because no one saw it after that. That flag would be worth a small fortune today.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY or GOOD GOD HARRIET

2011-05-07T09:35:00.005-05:00

*This is a previous post from Mothers day 2009 (with a few additions)

My mother passed away over eleven years ago. There is not a day that goes by that I don't missed her. "Harrietisms" pop out of mine and The Madonna's mouth a few times a day and they still make us laugh.
I have turned into my mother. I don't mind.

At my mothers funeral, I delivered the eulogy. Her friends asked me, how did you do that? It must have been so hard. To tell you the truth, it was not hard at all. I started writing hastily on a piece of paper around midnight the night before her funeral. They say you should write about what you know. Well, I knew Harriet. Everyone knew Harriet! I started remembering what people said to me when they came up to the casket during the viewing. Of the 1,200 people who signed the book, yes 1,200, their comments were going to be my eulogy.

Here is what I came up with:

Everyone has a Harriet story. Today, I want to mention a few that I heard over the last few days....... At least the ones I can repeat in church.

There are four things my mom loved in this world.
1. Her Husband
2. Her Kids
3. Her Grand kids
4. Layaway
Not necessarily in that order.

She seemed to always make scenes in front of priests---Father, you know what I'm talking about don't you?

My Mother NEVER held a grudge.

She was a "child bride"

I believed that the gray streak in her hair was paint until I was 21.

She had hundreds of good times in Conneaut throughout her life. And who will ever forget the infamous "fall under the car"

She went to weight watchers and stopped after every meeting at Eat'n Park for a strawberry sundae.

She was responsible for getting all the guys at Quincy's Pub to quit swearing and watch The Guiding Light.

I guess now my sister and I have to learn how to wash and hang curtains.

She was the only person I know who believed OJ was innocent.

She was constantly telling my father he was hard of hearing when she couldn't hear herself.

She believed there was nothing like a good night at Zalewski's.

She honestly believed the Devinney boys were angels.

We were all sworn to secrecy about how she looked in a bathing suit.

How many times have we all heard my father yell "Good God Harriet"

She was every ones Aunt Harriet. Now even her great nieces and nephews friends call her Aunt Harriet.

You see, she wasn't just a Green or a Quinlan. She was a Devinney, a McGregor, a Gallagher, and an Olzak. She was a Piezak, a Flannery, a Neuch, and a Slemenda. She was part of everyones family.

I always thought if ones wealth is measured by friends instead of money, mom was a multi-millionaire.

I want to thank everyone here for being such good friends to her.

One of the nicest things I've heard over the past few days came from one of our old neighbors. This woman lived next door to us for about two years when she was 7 years old. She was now in her late 40's. When she read about mom's passing in the newspaper, she came to the funeral home because she just wanted us to know what a difference my mother had made in her life in the few short years they were neighbors. They were neighbors 35 years ago!!!

I want to leave you all today with one last thought. There is no need to worry about missing my mother. All of my life I've been told that my mother will never be dead as long as I'm alive. That surely is the best compliment I've ever been told in my life. If I can be half the person she was, or have half the amount of friends in my life then I'll die a millionaire too.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO MY MOM
Harriet Green Quinlan
Dec. 14, 1929 - January 19, 2000

As we say in the Quinlan Family: "Be dood to yo muddel Modwet". (Translation: Be Good To Your Mother Margret) Happy Mothers Day.

*Note: The woman I mentioned above who said my mother made such a difference, we lived next door to them when her little brother was dying of polio. My mother helped her mom while he was sick. Jimmy died when he was 5. My father was a pal bearer.

Sissy

2011-04-06T19:45:00.022-05:00

I was blessed in my life with a runner up mother. My Aunt Babe, My mother Harriet's sister. What's that they say at Miss America if she cannot full fill her duties? If for any reason Miss America cannot perform her duties the runner up bla bla bla........My childhood was something like that. If I needed permission to do something and I couldn't find my mother, Aunt Babe had complete authority over us kids.

My mother and her sister were 14 months apart. To write the words they were close just doesn't do their story justice. They spoke in a language known only to themselves. Even us kids had trouble following what they were saying. They never had to finish a sentence in their conversations and they always knew what the other was thinking.

And the phone.......Good Lord, the phone. It used to drive my father and my Uncle crazy. Uncle Pud used to yell, half kidding, What can you possibly have to talk about so many hours in the day???? They would spend the day together, get home, call each other the minute they walked in the door to recap and say how much fun they had!

The day of my mothers funeral 11 years ago, my Aunt Babe told me she didn't know what she was going to do because there hadn't been a day in her entire life that she didn't talk to her sister. She was talking to me not as my Aunt, but as a woman who lost her only sister.

Come to think of it, I don't think they ever took separate vacations. Year after year we all went to Conneaut Lake, probably for close to 40 years.

They loved singing the Dolly Sisters. Every time they got in a car, I swear they would start to sing. I think it was out of habit. When we kids were little, they did it to keep us quiet, but they were still doing it when we were into our 30's!

My uncle used to kid them that us kids were going to grow up confused about which one of them was our mother. I could go on here with stories, but you get the picture. These two woman didn't do much in thier lives without one another.

A few years ago my Aunt Babe was diagnosed with dementia. Some days are better than others. My Uncle and her still live in the house they have lived in for the last 30 some years. I'm sure its tough for him to repeat everything over and over because she can't remember he told her the same thing five minutes earlier. And five minutes before that.

After my mother died, sometimes it was hard for me to see my aunt because she was such a part of my mother. Every once in a while, when I was having a particularly bad day, I would call her and we would have a good cry.

When I stop to see her these days, my heart breaks and I wish my mother was still alive. She was always her memory, even when her memory was good! And I'm sure Harriet would welcome the challenge now. My mother was so patient. There's not a doubt in my mind that she would have wanted to sit by her side day after day reminding her over and over what she had for breakfast. I can hear her now. "Oh Sissy, you remember yesterday we saw so and so." or "you remember that white dress with the blue polka dots that I had on the time we went to the parade in 1959."

Last week, my niece Elisabeth was in town so we could make wedding plans (whole other post!). I wanted to give her my mothers wedding gown and veil to do with what she wants. She could wear it or take it apart and use the lace for something. Anyway, my mothers wedding gown is in my grandmothers cedar chest in Aunt Babes attic. I knew it was going to be tough to get her to remember that we were coming down to pick it up. But I thought it would be nice if some of her grandchildren and I could go through some of the stuff. Maybe it would stir up her memory and she could tell a story or two. Most of the stuff the grand kids had never seen. When we were kids staying at my Grams my cousin Jeff and I would look through that stuff all the time.

Uncle Pud and I lugged the stuff down from the attic. Four of her grandchildren, Elisabeth and I started going through the boxes which among other things consisted of my mothers prom gown, shoes, both their wedding gowns and bridesmaids gowns. Both of their wedding gowns were folded in their original boxes like they were bought yesterday. My mothers from the Marlaine Shop (in the Clark Building) and Aunt Babes from Joseph Horne's Bridal Shop.

We passed around each of the dresses and held them up to our bodies and took a ton of pictures. Aunt Babe slid hers over her arms and put on her veil. We all took pictures and laughed about the waistlines and had a wonderful time. Every five minutes or so, she would ask what was in the boxes. One of us would tell her that it was her or my mothers wedding gown. She would ask if she had seen it. We would say, "Yes Aunt Babe, we just took your picture in it, remember?" She just looked at us with a blank, confused look on her face not remembering that we all took pictures of her a few minutes earlier. Even though she couldn't remember, I think she had just as good a time as we all did.

It was getting late and everyone was leaving. Elisabeth and I were packing up my mothers beautiful wedding gown to take with us. When we had it all packed up, Aunt Babe asked if we were taking that box with us. I said yes, Elisabeth is getting married and she might want to wear my mother's gown. I also said something like wouldn't she be thrilled that her Elisabeth is getting married. Then Aunt Babe looked at me with the clearest look I've seen in a while. She said to both of us "My sisters wedding gown is in that box. I've kept that dress for her for 60 years. Would you mind if I just touch it one more time?" With that, the three of us burst into tears and hugged each other and then she hugged her sisters dress one last time.

Note: Funny Aunt Babe wedding story: Last year while sitting at my nephew Jeffrey's wedding she looked around and said to Uncle Pud "I don't know who any of these people are, but they sure know how to throw a party!!

A Wee Bit O' March Madness Or The Madness To March or The March TO Madness

2011-03-26T11:50:00.010-05:00

Now where was I???? Last we spoke, Steelers were going to the Superbowl. We all know how that ended. I'm ok with it though. Green Bay seems like a nice enough team. At least we didn't lose to a bunch of creeps.

The High Holidays (St. Patrick's Day) came and went without incident. I decided to march this year. I wasn't going to, but Devin really wanted to and I didn't want him to go by himself. It turned out to be a lovely day, despite being the 8th anniversary of Dan's death.

Speaking of Devin, he's been home with me for a few months now. He had to have back surgery. Poor thing. His back is "messed up." Those were the words of the Dr. when he came into his room the day after surgery.

Some good news. My niece Queen Elisabeth is engaged. Wedding date is May 27th, 2012. The best part is she is having her wedding at Fallingwater. I am so excited. More wedding plans to keep me busy. Woo Hoo!

So enough with the catching up.......

How about this years March Madness!!!! Holy Shit. First let me say that I come from a long line of basketball crazies.

Last night after Virginia Commonwealth University and Kentucky both won by making last minute shots I immediately called my father. It was well after 1 am. As I was dialing his number I heard my friend say something like "You father is going to be up and would answer the phone at this time of the night?" Not only was he up. He picked up the phone on the first ring. Instead of hello he started screaming. "Can you believe it, can you believe it? Both games won in the last second. I can't believe it.... Hello." He didn't know who was calling. He figured it was one of his kids or grandkids. I'm sure he had already talked to my brother 20 times throughout the night. He was so wound up. I'm betting he stayed up most of the night watching replays on ESPN.

And how about Butler's coach! He looks like he's about 15 years old.
How cute is he??? Even though they beat my beloved Pitt. I'll be rooting for them to make it to the finals. As I said above about the Green Bay, at least Pitt wasn't beat by a bunch of creeps. (ie Duke!!)

Best all round image so far for this years March Madness

Please look at how high this kid is jumping. Unfuckingbelievable!!! Who does that??????

The Madness continues...........................(in more ways than one!!!!!)

Erin Go Bragh!

2011-03-17T09:05:00.005-05:00

May those who love us, love us

And those who don't love us,

May God turn their hearts.

And if he doesn't turn their hearts,

May he turn their ankles

So we know them by their limping.

*Irish Blessing

Time Is A Healer

2011-03-14T12:03:00.010-05:00

And He will raise you up on eagles's wings,

Bear you on the breath of dawn,

Make you shine like the sun,

And hold you in the palm of His hand.

Dan D'Amico

6.14.53 - 3.14.03

As the song says "Time is a healer for all hearts that break."

* I love both songs. The second, by Eva Cassidy I think I must have listened to 100 times the first few months after Dan passed.

Happy Groundhog Day

2011-02-02T17:57:00.005-05:00

And more importantly, Happy Birthday to my niece Queen Elisabeth aka Bitsy!!!!
(shown here in one of her Grams rain bonnets! Isn't she beautiful?????

Proof

2011-01-31T14:13:00.010-05:00

The proof that you are born into Steeler Nation. It is not a "choice."

And into the not so distant future, those adorable babies swaddled in Terrible Towels will turn into this.

And then THIS!!!!!

Just sayin'

Here We Go, AGAIN!

2011-01-30T12:49:00.006-05:00

Sooooooo, As you may have heard by now, THE STEELERS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!! Woo hoo. My town is covered in black and gold from end to end. If you aren't wearing a Steeler shirt, you look like a tourist.

Some of my best memories of growing up were of the weeks leading up to the Superbowl. I'm happy the Steelers are doing the same for my kids. That's mighty nice of them, don't ya think?

As in years past, everyone has their Terrible Towels or Steeler flags hanging in the window. Half the fun of being in the Superbowl are these weeks leading up to it. The media gets a little carried away though. I really don't think its breaking news when one of the Steelers has breakfast!

Pittsburgh is such a football town. Here is an interesting take on the difference between the NFL and MLB. It would be even funnier if it weren't so true.

Happy Superbowl Week!!!! Have fun. Enjoy the ride.

And I'll be sure to concentrate on the Glorious Mysteries when saying my Steeler Rosary!

Knock, Knock, Knockin' on Seven's Door

2011-01-23T15:55:00.002-05:00

And the girls are ready!!!

Let's go Steelers!!!!!!!!!!

*These dogs belong to a friend of mine. Suzanne Garafolo. Love it!!

STEELER NATION..........................

2011-01-22T00:44:00.013-05:00

SEE YOU ON SUNDAY!!!!!!, at Myron's Birthday Party.

AND if that isn't enough good karma on it's own. I have the Steeler Rosary Beads (that were blessed by the Pope, no less) ready for action.

You want it.......You got it.......................blackandyellowblackandyellowblackandyellow......uh huh uh huh!!!

A Jolly Holiday

2011-01-16T22:43:00.006-05:00

Tonight I was transformed from an old, cranky 53 year old lady with sore knees back to a skinny lanky 9 year old who was still trying to get used to wearing glasses mesmerized by the magic of Mary Poppins.

I remember watching that movie for the first time like it was yesterday. What I didn't know that magical afternoon in 1965, was that I would remember it vividly more than 40 years later.
What I also didn't know was that the following week, my favorite afternoon pass time, sitting in the Arsenal Theater on Butler Street in Lawrenceville would become something I could only enjoy in my memory.
Mary Poppins was the last movie to play at the Arsenal Theater. A few weeks later, they tore it down to make a parking lot for PNC bank. Sigh, a parking lot.
It's hard to say whether my love for Mary Poppins came about because it was the last movie at the Arsenal. Or was it the perfect movie for a nine year old girl to escape into.
Probably a little of both I suppose.

That Christmas I can remember getting two things. A Mary Poppins doll. And the movie soundtrack. I still have the doll. The album? I'm assuming it got too scratched up from playing Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious over and over on my parents blue hi-fi. Either that, or it was replaced in importance by 45's such as Stone Soul Picnic, Sealed With A Kiss, and Hey There Little Red Riding Hood.

Anyway, I mention all this because tonight my best friend Ski, who I have known since childhood, took me to see the live version of Mary Poppins.

Let me tell you, with out a doubt, it was the best show I've ever seen live. Ever.

First there were the seats. FIRST ROW, CENTER, yes, front and center. Mary Poppins was singing to me. And I was singing back to her, (not so sure the person next to me appreciated that) And the Bird Lady. Ahh, the Bird Lady. She was looking right into my 9 year old eyes when she sang Feed The Birds. And after all these years, it still made me cry.

Tonight was a truly magical night made extra special by that fact that as I watched one of my favorite childhood memories actually come to life, I did so with someone who I've been friends with since the days when I saw the magic of the movie for the first time. Ski. My non-lesbian life partner.

What a joy both her and Mary Poppins are.

A Bad Dream

2011-01-09T05:30:00.008-05:00

I'm sitting here, awake, at 5:00a.m. It doesn't happen very often, but for some reason I can't sleep. Among other things, the events of yesterday are on my mind. I try, but I can't think of anything appropriate to write here concerning the events in Arizona yesterday. While listening to early morning radio I heard someone on KDKA read the following speech.

These words by Bobby Kennedy, spoken the day after the assassination of Martin Luther King, say what I want to say. Take a minute to read it. How sad that exactly two months later, this mindless menace of violence he speaks of found its way to him.

On the Mindless Menace of Violence

City Club of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio
April 5, 1968

This is a time of shame and sorrow. It is not a day for politics. I have saved this one opportunity, my only event of today, to speak briefly to you about the mindless menace of violence in America which again stains our land and every one of our lives.

It is not the concern of any one race. The victims of the violence are black and white, rich and poor, young and old, famous and unknown. They are, most important of all, human beings whom other human beings loved and needed. No one - no matter where he lives or what he does - can be certain who will suffer from some senseless act of bloodshed. And yet it goes on and on and on in this country of ours.

Why? What has violence ever accomplished? What has it ever created? No martyr's cause has ever been stilled by an assassin's bullet.

No wrongs have ever been righted by riots and civil disorders. A sniper is only a coward, not a hero; and an uncontrolled, uncontrollable mob is only the voice of madness, not the voice of reason.

Whenever any American's life is taken by another American unnecessarily - whether it is done in the name of the law or in the defiance of the law, by one man or a gang, in cold blood or in passion, in an attack of violence or in response to violence - whenever we tear at the fabric of the life which another man has painfully and clumsily woven for himself and his children, the whole nation is degraded.

"Among free men," said Abraham Lincoln, "there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet; and those who take such appeal are sure to lose their cause and pay the costs."

Yet we seemingly tolerate a rising level of violence that ignores our common humanity and our claims to civilization alike. We calmly accept newspaper reports of civilian slaughter in far-off lands. We glorify killing on movie and television screens and call it entertainment. We make it easy for men of all shades of sanity to acquire whatever weapons and ammunition they desire.

Too often we honor swagger and bluster and wielders of force; too often we excuse those who are willing to build their own lives on the shattered dreams of others. Some Americans who preach non-violence abroad fail to practice it here at home. Some who accuse others of inciting riots have by their own conduct invited them.

Some look for scapegoats, others look for conspiracies, but this much is clear: violence breeds violence, repression brings retaliation, and only a cleansing of our whole society can remove this sickness from our soul.

For there is another kind of violence, slower but just as deadly destructive as the shot or the bomb in the night. This is the violence of institutions; indifference and inaction and slow decay. This is the violence that afflicts the poor, that poisons relations between men because their skin has different colors. This is the slow destruction of a child by hunger, and schools without books and homes without heat in the winter.

This is the breaking of a man's spirit by denying him the chance to stand as a father and as a man among other men. And this too afflicts us all.

I have not come here to propose a set of specific remedies nor is there a single set. For a broad and adequate outline we know what must be done. When you teach a man to hate and fear his brother, when you teach that he is a lesser man because of his color or his beliefs or the policies he pursues, when you teach that those who differ from you threaten your freedom or your job or your family, then you also learn to confront others not as fellow citizens but as enemies, to be met not with cooperation but with conquest; to be subjugated and mastered.

We learn, at the last, to look at our brothers as aliens, men with whom we share a city, but not a community; men bound to us in common dwelling, but not in common effort. We learn to share only a common fear, only a common desire to retreat from each other, only a common impulse to meet disagreement with force. For all this, there are no final answers.

Yet we know what we must do. It is to achieve true justice among our fellow citizens. The question is not what programs we should seek to enact. The question is whether we can find in our own midst and in our own hearts that leadership of humane purpose that will recognize the terrible truths of our existence.

We must admit the vanity of our false distinctions among men and learn to find our own advancement in the search for the advancement of others. We must admit in ourselves that our own children's future cannot be built on the misfortunes of others. We must recognize that this short life can neither be ennobled or enriched by hatred or revenge.

Our lives on this planet are too short and the work to be done too great to let this spirit flourish any longer in our land. Of course we cannot vanquish it with a program, nor with a resolution.

But we can perhaps remember, if only for a time, that those who live with us are our brothers, that they share with us the same short moment of life; that they seek, as do we, nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and in happiness, winning what satisfaction and fulfillment they can.

Surely, this bond of common faith, this bond of common goal, can begin to teach us something. Surely, we can learn, at least, to look at those around us as fellow men, and surely we can begin to work a little harder to bind up the wounds among us and to become in our own hearts brothers and countrymen once again.

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T12:11:00.006-05:00

As I sit here thinking about the day ahead, I have to tell you, I'm not a great lover of New Years Eve. Yes, along the way I have had some good times with good friends. But as a rule, they have mostly been non events.
Well, there was that one year when I met my future husband on New Years Eve in 1983. By New Years Eve 1984, we were sitting home, in front of our first Christmas tree as husband and wife.
But other than a few standout years, they all passed by pretty much same old, same old. When we started having kids, we stayed at home, invited all of our friends who didn't have plans or babysitters and just sat around the table enjoying each others company. Something that we would have been doing had it been New Years Eve or any other day of the year.
When midnight came around, the kids emptied the kitchen cabinets of every pot, pan, lid and spoon. Headed outside, and marched around the block. Banging the pots and pans to bring in the new year. Then Devin (a dark haired male) had to be the first one to walk through the front door backwards. Don't know why we did that, but who know why traditions start. Harriet told me to do it, so I did.
The night would close with each of us breaking off a piece of the New Years Pretzel.
The next day, the kids woke up to the smell of pork and sauerkraut.mmmmmmmmm.

Did anyone else bang pots and pans on New Years? As my friend Ruth mentioned in her blog post, it was something we did growing up in Pittsburgh. My father would make us newspaper hats, we would gather all the pots and pans in the house. At the stroke of midnight, we ran outside and marched up and down the street banging the pots and pans together.
I guess I could make something up about the symbolism. Something like it's to make sure you have enough food to cook in the new year or something like that. But I'm pretty sure it was just that they made the most noise.

One of the few years I spent away from home on new years was in 1980. I was living the life in DC. We had a party (of course)at our apartment. When midnight was approaching, my friend Judo and I started handing out the pots and pans. People looked at us like we were crazy!!! We ran outside at midnight, I think we were the only ones out there. Weird.

Anyway........while New Years brings out a certain sadness in me, it also brings out some hope. Hope that better days are ahead. New Beginnings.

So here's to you, dear readers. To new beginnings.

Happy New Year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2010-12-25T11:51:00.006-05:00

Never A Christmas Morning,
Never The Old Year Ends,
But Someone Thinks Of Someone,
Old Days, Old Times, Old Friends.

Merry Christmas to all my friends, old and new!!

While I'm Thinking About It

2010-12-07T16:24:00.005-05:00

Every time I write a post, I keep reminding you all that I haven't been blogging much. I also haven't been keeping up on most of the blogs that I used to follow.
Last evening,I had a few minutes to catch up on some I used to read faithfully every day.
The funny thing about the blogging community is that sooner or later, we pour our hearts out writing about our feelings. Then complete strangers comment. You go back and forth talking about things you care about. Sooner or later, you become "friends" with these fellow bloggers. I always laugh that these people know more about me than my family. You know whats going on with them at work, their religious values, kid problems, family outings etc. Right Judi?

Eventually things they say come up in conversations with family or friends. Maybe someone will ask how long you've know a certain person you were talking about. I always have to stop and laugh at myself when I say "well I've never actually met them."

Anyway, I say this because while catching up on my favorites last night, I came across this post . Although it was written on Nov. 1, I just came across it now. Amy over at Callapitter says it so much better than I ever could.

The haunting thing about this is the title of her last post. I hope I don't die waiting for health care reform to happen.

She did die. Without the health insurance that surely would have saved her. Leaving a husband and two young sons behind. It's not a woman in some political commercial. Or some story a politician is citing as an example. Or a person from some far away place that makes you doubt it's real. It's a real person. A Pittsburgher. A young mother who traveled in the same blogger circles as me.

Sorry to be a bummer. This really makes me sad. I wish I would have seen this sooner.

Give Thanks.........Or Not

2010-11-23T10:53:00.011-05:00

Sorry I've been largely absent on this here blog for a while. Maybe that will be my upcoming New Years resolution. Can you believe we have to start thinking of that shit already??????

I bet you all were "Giving Thanks" this year that I've been quieter than usual..... Well, just because I haven't posted my opinions of late doesn't mean I don't have them...........so here goes........

Starting off with my ol' friend the Pope. He says that condom use is ok in certain circumstances, such as male prostitutes because basically they are having sex with other men so you aren't stopping conception anyway. THIS is exactly why people think Catholics are crazy.

Papa, Papa, Papa (as the little nuns were screaming at St. Peter's while they were trying to knock us over to get a first row view of the Pope) Do you really think you are going to be a deciding factor in anything a male prostitute does?

I can picture it now. Some strung out junkie, just turning tricks to get more heroin, says to the john, "Oh no, we can't use a condom. It's against my religion."

Really Papa, I don't think your opinions are that important in a male prostitute's life. They should be, but they aren't.....

Next up, the old standby, politics. I know, I know, quit groaning. I'll never shut up......

So after the Republicans won control of the house, the President invites them all over to the White House to discuss the future of the country. They ALL declined. All of them?????? You mean not one of them could make it?????? They ALL had scheduling conflicts??????? And they are getting paid to govern?????? They haven't done a damn thing is two years. Wish I had that job.

If the President calls you, you come. Period. Cancel the meetings. He's the boss. When they are the boss (God forbid!) they can command the same respect.

I think he's just too good for them. As the article goes on to say, they had a televised meeting last year. The President stood at a podium. They sat in the audience and had to raise their hand (gasp) and the President would answer their questions. Obama effectively answered their questions. They later stated that the President used that session to embarrass them and command the room. As well he should have............

How about this TSA whole body search fuss? Seriously folks, if they want to scan me, go right ahead. I guarantee you, it's going to be harder on whoever has to see my naked ass than on me walking through a scanner for 10 seconds. And to the Mensa's who are telling people to "say no." Wow, you can stand in line for four hours instead of the customary two during the busiest travel weekend of the year. Wow, that will show them. Them, being people who are scanning who have to be there anyway and are getting paid to be there..........

Which brings us to this week being Thanksgiving. It is one of my favorite holidays. Although since my mom passed away, its bittersweet.

We all go our separate ways now, but when I was growing up, Thanksgiving was always at our house and Christmas was always at the Devinneys. I could probably write a best seller on those two dinners alone!

My mother would get out the "good dishes." I think she got them with green stamps. She would set the table the day before, while Christmas music blared in the background to get her in the mood to clean. Things were the same year after year. Aunt Babe made the cole slaw. Mary Alice brought the relish tray. And cousin #2 Georgie ate it all. Of all 30 or so of us, I think he was the only one who liked olives and radishes. Come to think of it, I think he was the only one who ate the beets also. And the green beans. Maybe he just didn't like the turkey. I'll have to check on that!

As we got a little older, you knew wedding bells were in the air when one of us brought a boyfriend or girlfriend to Thanksgiving dinner. The engagement ring usually was given that Christmas.

When we kids started having kids, we just kept adding a card table. When there was no more room in the dining room, we just started setting up additional tables in the living room of my mom's tiny house.

We were young and we had no idea that when we were cramming around that table holding our hands up high in the air when Aunt Babe screamed "WHO WANTS PUMPKIN PIE?" that they would be some of the best moments of our lives.

Oh.......just maybe we did. The grandkids and great nieces and nephews still tell me how much they loved sharing holidays meals and were thankful that we did it as many years as we did until logistically, it just couldn't be done anymore. We only had one bathroom!!

These two crazy sisters raised their kids to enjoy each other. So much so, that all these years later, we still consider ourselves not just cousins, but friends. As my sister in law once proclaimed bitterly "Not everyone has a peachy keen family like yours!

And for that......this Thanksgiving I am especially thankful to Harriet and Babe! Thanks for making our crazy family "peachy keen!"

So folks, that's my take on things this week. Like it or not.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

*The picture above of my mother and Aunt Babe was taken on Thanksgiving 1974. The only workspace they had to feed thirty people was the kitchen table. Notice the towel rack right on the wall, And the sink with the pipes, my mothers apron,come to think of it, I don't remember having cabinets in the kitchen and can't remember where we kept the every day dishes. (we never had to do the dishes, Thank God!!) The "good" ones were kept in the China Cabinet.....my mother would kill me if she knew I sent this picture of her dirty kitchen all over the Internet!!

A MILLION THANKS!!!!

2010-11-11T10:45:00.008-05:00

The years between 18 and 21 were probably the best, most fun years of my life.
As my mother said to me, "College was the most expensive good time you'll ever have!"
I think about this as I look at this picture of my father when he was that age. When I was 18, my biggest problem was planning how to sneak a keg past Sr. Elizabeth while she stood guard at the front desk of Baldwin Hall. While my father at that age was loading bombs and unloading dead bodies onto planes in Africa and Italy. He was a baby for cryin' out loud.
I'm thinking he paid a much steeper price during his college years.
So when he should have been whooping it up, he was seeing what he prayed his kids and grandkids would never have to see. Hell, he was praying that he even lived to see kids and grandkids.
And while I was saying my tearful summer good bye's to Judo and Keto. He had to say permanent good byes to childhood friends and neighbors like the Owens and Stutzman boys.
I can't imagine. I really can't.
I am forever grateful to him and the millions of other servicemen who gave up the best years of their lives so that nuts like me could whoop it up!!!!!!!

* Here is a story of the day my father came home from WWII

* Here is a story about my Uncle who barely survived the war.

*St. Mary's Church in Lawrenceville lost the most parishioners in the diocese during WWII. The Stutzman boy was a friend of my fathers. He was a little older than my dad. He was shot down on Christmas Eve over Italy in 1942. Every year Christmas Eve mass was said in his honor. (Until they closed the church five years ago) He worked for the Pirates before the war. He let my father and other neighborhood kids be bat boys. It was something my father talked about for the rest of his life. This man did something in his short life that made life long memories for a bunch of poor kids from the hood!

Days Like This

2010-10-26T12:40:00.029-05:00

My friends in bloggerland (i.e. Judi!)have been after me to post some pictures of my nephews wedding. I've been talking (obsessing) about this wedding for over a year.

First, a little summary.
As you all know, my sister (The Madonna) moved to DC in 1969 or 70. She eventually married, had children, and grew a life in Maryland. One would assume our family would have eventually grown apart with the miles and years. That's other families, ours.....well, we like to talk on the phone. Alot.

Every day of my life, I still talk to my sister. When my mother was alive, she also talked to my sister every day. Most days more than once. My sister would tell her something. Mum would call me. I would call my sister to confirm. And there started the cycle. Most days it was nothing more exciting than what we all were having for dinner.

Anyway, I'm telling you all this to show we are a close family. To say the least.

Fast forward 31 years. My nephew and godson Jeffrey, meets a nice girl at work in Maryland and falls in love. Head over heals in love. Bonus.......she's from Pittsburgh.

Since Jeff and Kristy reside in Maryland, I become their Pittsburgh wedding consultant. Can I just say that I had a blast doing that!!!!!! Since I have boys, I don't think I will have another opportunity to be such an active participant in someones wedding other than my own. Kristy and I spent days, hours, weekends together planning this wedding. One day we had breakfast, lunch and dinner on the run while looking at wedding venues. A big plus was that we have the same taste. E.X.P.E.N.S.I.V.E.

One of the things we wanted was to showcase Pittsburgh because most of those attending the wedding had never been to Pittsburgh. Can I just say that they were completely in awe of the city. I really mean it. They LOVED every minute of it.

Here a sample of the fruits of our labor.

Kristy and Jeff David
October 9, 2009The ceremony: Heinz Chapel.

After the ceremony we all followed a bagpiper down the streets of Oakland to the reception.

The Venue: The Foyer of Carnegie Music Hall at the Museum in Oakland.By far the most beautiful place in the city to have a wedding.

The Bridal dance is done when everyone else (except wedding party) is up on the balcony for cocktails. The bride and groom are dancing in an empty ballroom. It give me goose bumps just writing about it. It reminds me of Cinderella. No one else in the world but the two of them!
This picture is sort of dark but shows everyone up in the balcony watching Jeff and Kristy.

The Cake

The Flowers

The Dancing

We had such a good time. Music was by the Dave Parker Band. Unbelievable. Everyone danced from beginning to end. Especially the rock star groomsmen!!!!(Pictured here with my niece Queen Elisabeth, who looks like she might have a gown malfunction in this picture) Can't believe they had last call at 1:30 a.m.

This is Kristy dancing with my father. (Who drank his FIRST drink EVER. He had a half glass of champagne. In all of his 86 years he never touched a drop of alcohol.)

We had the rehearsal dinner at the Roberto Clemente Museum in Engine House 25 in Lawrenceville. If you ever have a chance, check it out. Everyone loved it.

Our family and Kristy's had the time of our lives. Every last minute was perfect.

I pray they have many, many years of happiness!

If anyone needs a wedding planner, I'm available!

*Needless to say every time I have a "few" I tell Kristy that she was sent to Jeff by my mother. I know this in my heart of hearts because from the minute Jeffrey Andrew was born, she decided he was going to marry a "nice Pittsburgh girl!"

And THAT she is!! And she's so lucky to have found my Jeffrey Andrew David!

The Gift's That Keep On Giving

2010-10-20T10:12:00.015-05:00

We think this country is in trouble now???? You ain't seen nothing yet if a few of these people get elected into office.

From Christine O'Donnell in Delaware

Sharon Angle telling Hispanic high school students they looked a little more Asian?

Not to mention Sara Palin endorsing a candidate for Pennsylvania that's actually running in West Virginia.

All I have to say is, can we just get a few smart people elected??? I don't care if they are Democratic or Republican, just as long as they are smarter than me! Really, is that too much to ask?

Everything I'm reading says Republicans are not going to give an inch if they take control of the Senate and the House. That's unfortunate. Isn't that what politics is? A game of compromises?

Either party that wins, it still does not do ordinary people like me any good. The very rich and the very poor are all taken care of. And people in the middle constantly get screwed. I think that is what bothers me the most. People in the middle falling for the far right bull shit. As a former long time Republican, I fell for it. Big time. Until my life situation changed and I saw a whole other side. There is just as much corporate welfare out there as there is poor people taking advantage of the system.

Seriously though, I'm betting(hoping) that when/if the Republicans gain the majority, a few of those ideas that they wouldn't even consider the past two years will be put back into action as ideas of their own and in two years they will be all "Look at what WE did!!

And that's ok with me. As long as we are done with the goofy commercials and I can watch TV again!!!

*One more thing, then I'll shut up about it. Why is no one mentioning that most people's Federal Taxes are actually LOWER in the two years since Obama became President.

The Wheels On The Bus Go Round And Round....Deal With It!

2010-09-30T09:50:00.009-05:00

Reading stuff like this makes my head explode!!!!!

"Fisher-Price is recalling more than 10 million tricycles, toys and high chair over safety concerns.

In the recall of about 7 million Fisher-Price Trikes and Tough Trikes toddler tricycles, the agency is aware of 10 reports of children being hurt. Six of them requiring medical attention."

Reread this out loud to show what an asshole you sound like.

7 MILLION BIKES SOLD, AND TEN INJURIES.

Not ten thousand, TEN. Ten.

Give me a friggin break people.

Six required medical attention. Note that it did not include hospitalization, death, etc........

This makes me crazy. (OK, crazier.....)

To all the new parents out there, kids ride bikes, big wheels, wagons, they fall, they get hurt. They get up and do it again. But they live to tell the tale!!!!!!!!

Next thing you know these wacky parents will try to outlaw two story homes. Steps are not safe, you know! Look at all the kids falling down steps these days. Little Junior just might take a fall down the steps. So I propose we make everything in the universe one story.

Because the universe revolves around Junior.............AGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

(We think the world is messed up now, wait until Junior comes of age.......scary!!!)

Til Death Parted Us

2010-09-15T13:35:00.005-05:00

So today, September 15 is my 26th wedding anniversary. Yes, I am a little sad.
I am sad not only because I am no longer able to celebrate with my husband. I am also mourning the loss of that 28 inch waist!!!!! I guess that died along with Dan!!

*Notes on the faded picture above.

Someone once told me I had a sexy back (no laughing!!!)......looking back maybe that's why I loved the back of my wedding dress?? I bought the dress because of the back!! I also had to buy the dress in white, not the off-white that I wanted. Why? Because my husband wanted to wear a white dinner jacket so he could pretend he was Humphrey Bogart!!! How many brides have to get a dress to match the husband's tux? I'm thinking not many. That's why our marriage worked. Yep, I loved that man, with his perfectly ironed monogrammed hankies and all!!

Before You GLT.......

2010-09-01T16:54:00.007-05:00

I found this totally gem of a blog on Kelly B's facebook page.
Hilarious!!!!

They crossed Family Circus comics with actually lines from Jersey Shore!!!

Speaking of Jersey Shore. I watch it. It's like a train wreck. I can't help myself. For those of you who don't, here's a cheat sheet.

But, can I just say one thing. If I would have acted like they do on national TV, my mother would have been on the first plane to Jersey or Miami and she would have dragged my ass home by my hair.

I'm serious.

Just sayin'.

I'm not sayin that I haven't done some crazy things back in the day,(Or recently at the Gras, shut up!) but fortunately for my parents, I had the sense not to do them on national TV!

Favorite line so far:My boobs are so tight I can’t breathe, is that normal?

Whose Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?

2010-08-26T12:51:00.007-05:00

Every so often I read something in the paper that leaves me scratching my head. This morning I saw this in the Post Gazette. Fayette County Commissioners agreed to sponsor a 15 Million dollar federal loan application to 84 Lumber. At first glance. No biggie. Then I'm like "wait a minute, isn't the owner of 84 Lumber, Joe Hardy, a Fayette County Commissioner?" Is there something I'm not seeing here? Did he just vote to give himself a 15 million dollar loan from us, the taxpayers?

I don't know, maybe I'm just stupid or something. This seems crazy to me. Maybe Joe Harding should try limiting his divorces from baby girls to one a year. They must be draining him of his money. Or maybe he could sell a plane or exotic animal or something.

So whose smarter than a fifth grader? Apparently not me because this just seems stupid!!

Just askin'

Speaking of being stupid. How about these four Mensa's. Holy Shit. Who was their leader, Snookie? Hopefully Penn Hills School teachers union solved their contract disputes. This does nothing to help their case!

OMG, I just Googled "stupid looking Mafia" for a picture to go with this post. Urban Dictionary was the first link to pop up. Look at Urban Dictionaries #2 definition of Gangsta. Perfect. No picture needed.

S.T.U.P.I.D.

Maybe It's Just Me????

2010-08-10T14:53:00.007-05:00

WTF?????????
I mean really, what the fuck? A person gets nominated for a Presidential Medal of Freedom because he coaches a bunch of kids in a football game.

Chuck Noll said in his press conference when he announced he was retiring from coaching the Steelers, "It's time for me to get on with my life's work." (Or something like that) What he meant was there are things in life that are way more important than coaching football. It's not brain surgery for cryin' out loud.

I don't know, maybe it's just me. But who in their right mind would put Joe Paterno in the same category as Dr. Martin Luther King, Justice Thurgood Marshall, Dr. Jonas Salk?

Just askin'.

*When I was looking up a quote for Chuck Noll, I came across this one.

"Some coaches pray for wisdom. I pray for 260-pound tackles. They'll give me plenty of wisdom."

Love it!

On another note, is it just me, or does anybody else want to take Stephen Slater out for a well deserved drink? You go man......... We've all been there, haven't we? He followed through on what each and every one of us has wanted to do at some point in our lives. (Thankfully I have my AMG girls, we've talked each other off the wall too many times to count!)

Stephen, you are my kind of hero,not Grecian Joe Paterno!

Birds Of A Feather

2010-07-26T11:54:00.012-05:00

I think Sarah Palin just found her running mate!! Come on folks, wouldn't these two be a match made in heaven. Big hair covering the empty heads!!! Hollywood couldn't come up with a better pair!
Swoosh....................

*Thanks to Ginny over at That's Church for her little gem of a post about the Orie's angel lady.

*I've covered this nut before. Holy Pepto Bismal Batman!!

We Lived To Tell The Tale!

2010-07-15T11:18:00.006-05:00

This was sent to me in an email. I've read it before and I love it.

How did we ever make it - To all that have survived this era!!!!
Days of Black and White
(Under age 40? You won't understand.)

You could hardly see for all the snow,
spread the rabbit ears as far as they go.

Pull a chair up to the TV set,
'Good Night, David.
Good Night, Chet.'

My Mom used to cut chicken, chop eggs and spread mayo on the same cutting board with the same knife and no bleach, but we didn't seem to get food poisoning.
My Mom used to defrost hamburger on the counter. Our school sandwiches were wrapped in wax paper in a brown paper bag, not in ice pack coolers, but I can't remember getting e.coli.

Almost all of us would have rather gone swimming in the lake instead of a pristine pool (talk about boring), no beach closures then.

The term cell phone would have conjured up a phone in a jail cell, and a pager was the school PA system.

Speaking of school, we all said prayers and sang the national anthem, and staying in detention after school caught all sorts of negative attention.

We must have had horribly damaged psyches. What an archaic health system we had then. Remember school nurses?

I thought that I was supposed to accomplish something before I was allowed to be proud of myself.

I just can't recall how bored we were without computers, Play Station, Nintendo, X-box or 270 digital TV cable stations.

Oh yeah... and where was the Benadryl and sterilization kit when I got that bee sting? I could have been killed!

We played 'King of the Hill' on dirt mounts or piles of gravel left on vacant construction sites, and when we got hurt, Mom pulled out the 48-cent bottle of mercurochrome, kids liked it better because it didn't sting like iodine did.

Now it's a trip to the emergency room, followed by a 10-day dose of a $49 bottle of antibiotics, and then Mom calls the attorney to sue the contractor for leaving a horribly vicious pile of gravel where it was such a threat.

We didn't act up at the neighbor's house either, because if we did we got our butt spanked there and then we got our butt spanked again when we got home.

I recall my friend from next door coming over and doing his tricks on the front stoop, just before he fell off. His Mom came over, picked him up and swatted him for being such a goof. It was a neighborhood run amuck.

To top it off, not a single person I knew had ever been told that they were froma dysfunctional family. How could we possibly have known that?

We needed to get into group therapy and anger management classes. (NO COMMENT!!!)

We were obviously so duped by so many societal ills, that we didn't even notice that the entire country wasn't taking Prozac!

How did we ever survive?

LOVE TO ALL OF US WHO SHARED THIS ERA.
TO ALL WHO DIDN'T, SORRY FOR WHAT YOU MISSED.
I WOULDN'T TRADE IT FOR ANYTHING!

Good Night and God Bless!

Whoever wrote this must have been my next door neighbor because it totally described my childhood to a 'T.' Hope you enjoy it.

Lucy and Ethel Do Golf

2010-07-14T09:32:00.006-05:00

So I went to the US Woman's Open on Sunday. While it was certainly fun, esp in a VIP tent (free food and booze, woo hoo!) it wasn't for me. Why, you might ask. You have to be friggin quiet! I was in trouble in the first five minutes. Really. I was. I yelled out Ginny Ann's name while some lady had her hands up in the air. If you've never been to one of these things, when the people on the course put both hands in the air, sort of like a referee would when someone scores a touchdown in football, no one is allowed to talk. STUPID. They take one of those hands to point to you while the other is still up in the air as if to say "There is the asshole who's never been to a golf tournament and doesn't know to keep her big mouth shut." STUPID.

I've been thinking about this. Supposedly they need to concentrate. They are hitting a little ball while standing still. I know it's hard because if it weren't, I would be a golfer. Having said that, don't you think a baseball pitcher would need silence to concentrate while throwing a ball in the general direction of someones head at 90 mph? (esp. if I was the one with the bat!!)

I'm thinking it has to do more with tradition and how golf was played by the wealthy in country clubs and they are all boring and quiet folks and they got used to that so now its a rule. STUPID.

Needless to say, I was like a bull in a china shop.

But it was fun. Free food and drinks, hey I'm always up for that! Aaaaannnd I conformed. If you didn't know any better, you would think I so belonged there. I totally looked the part of a longtime golfer who hangs out at Oakmont.(hey, I do go there a few times a year with Aunt Patsy!!) I had my Oakmont visor on, my LaCoste golf shirt and my skort. PLUS, I was hanging with my favorite nun! Little did they know..............

*The picture above was taken on my contraband cell phone. OF COURSE I lied when they asked if I had one in my purse. NO ONE is taking that baby away form me!!!!!

It's A Small World, Afterall

2010-07-02T12:59:00.012-05:00

If you have been reading this blog for even a little while, you have heard me talk about my sister, The Madonna,many times.

She is very active in the international AFS program and takes in exchange students that live with her for a year. She's had kids literally from all over the world. You really never know who's going to be at her house and what language they will speak. Alot of times she brings them to Pittsburgh with her. More on that below.

This is all well and good, but there is one thing I just can't imagine with all of this. Why anyone in their right mind would want to live with a teenage boy or girl longer than they have to after their own have left home is beyond me. She's done it 11 times. Could any of you imagine going through your testy 17 year old, eye rolling sighs for 11 YEARS!!!! But she loves it.

Anyway, this past weekend, my father and I drove to DC to see her. Her Turkish student, whom I'll just call Butch, was getting ready to go back home. What a cutie!! (Pictured below)It's very emotional for them when they leave.

She keeps in touch with all of them and has free places to stay around the world. She's been to Spain, Italy, Belgium, just to name a few. The parents are so grateful that she took such good care of their kids they treat her like a queen. As they should.

Here is her facebook post this past week when she was on her way to NY. (I wish I knew how to take a picture of facebook posts like Ginny over at That's Church! Does anyone know how to do that?)

We've been through this 11 times already -- always a hard night -- AFS students packing a year's worth of belongings in 2 suitcases and getting ready to head back home, it is bittersweet for the kids, hard on us but we all know we will see each other again. Can't wait to visit Istanbul it is on my "list."

Here are some of the comments:
Rodgigo: Hopefully Rio too....
Maureen Quinlan David: Rio is ver high on my list!!!!! Go Brasil!
Rodrigo Séllos: Yeah!!!
Hut Pongpipatchai: Bangkok too!! lol

The post from the next day reads:

"Well we're just about ready, I'll get to spend the last day in America with all 50 of our AFS students and chaperon the bus to CWPost univ. on Long Island. I get to sleep on the bus tonight,put them all on the bus to JFK by country and return home tomorrow night. It is certainly a sight to see--hundreds of of kids ...from all over the world going home after almost a year living an American life on the East coast.

But its the comments from this post that got to me:

From Gabriella Pellecchi: that was the saddest day of my life... truly

From Maureen: Gabriella, I can remember the day you left just like it was yesterday. Lis and I cam home and cried all day.

From Gabriella: my trip to NY I was crying soo much

Now Gabriella was here 11 years ago. For her to still say that is a testament to the connection my sister forms with these kids. The poor thing was living with my sister the year my mother died. She is from Turin, Italy. We all know the Italians don't celebrate death like the Irish. I'll just leave it at that.

At the end of the year she had to state in front of everyone at her school what her favorite part of her year in America was. Know what she said? "Partying with the Irish in Pittsburgh!" I just about fell over. I asked my sister if she told anyone it was a funeral........

My father still gets cards addressed to "My American Grandfather."

When her son,Jeff moved out, his room became "their" room. Bahadhur,Quint, Rodriguez, Luci, etc......

On their last day, they sign the world map on the wall of their bedroom. She also puts up their picture on the fridge with the rest.

Here is the map.(Also pictured above) I wish you all could read some of the things these kids wrote.

She really makes a difference to kids all around the world. OK, so maybe she is "Perfect in every way" as my mother and grandmother used to say. There, I said it. The Madonna, helping the world one crazy teenager at a time!

*I forgot to mention the time we took a kid from Belgium to Spillway in Linesville on his SECOND DAY IN AMERICA!! I'm sure he was ready to jump on the first plane home.

Happy Birthday Dan

2010-06-14T09:23:00.004-05:00

Dear Dan,

Happy Birthday. More importantly to you, Happy Flag Day. You loved that your birthday was on Flag Day. I wish I could find one of the pictures to post here of you with your flag hat. As a matter of fact, I don't know what I did with that hat. Sorry. Maybe it found its way into the boxes of your stuff that I sent to New Orleans after Katrina hit. It took me all that time just to part with anything. Don't worry, I didn't give them your long underwear. Don't think they would have a need for that down there.

Anyway, today we will be celebrating with family and friends at the Elbow Room. Same as we did on the last birthday you celebrated on this earth. Some things never change huh?

Speaking of that. I can't believe you have missed seven birthdays. The world has changed so much in those seven years. So much so that you would hardly recognise things that you loved. Like the Republicans. Sorry buddy, but the Jesus freaks took them over. I can't imagine you liking that. But I can't imagine you voting for a Democrat either.

And your boys. The pride and joy of your life. They are so grown up. Sometimes when I look at Devin, I have to look twice because he looks so much like you. Especially when he laughs. Which is often. They have so much of you in them. Unfortunately not the working gene. But I'll talk to you about that on one of my trips to the cemetery.

Danny grew to appreciate your passion for books. One by one, he's reading his way through your library. You should be so proud. I'm just sorry he wasn't old enough to appreciate them when you were alive. He could have listened to you go on and on, an on. I would have been off the hook!

I do have one gift for you though. An apology. I'm sorry for calling you a jerk and an asshole sometimes when you drove me crazy. You got the last laugh though. I got your message. Loud and clear. I can see you now, legs crossed. Smoking a Marlboro with your elbow on you lap, slightly leaning forward and to the right. Laughing. Every time you send me a sign. I can hear you say "So, I wasn't such an asshole after all was I?"

No, you weren't. You were a loving father and husband who worked much harder than you should have had to. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't appreciate you and miss you.

I especially miss the flowers. So much so that I had to go and actually grow some myself. You would be amazed. Figured I'd better grow some for myself since no one buys them for me anymore! This whole gardening thing is kinda fun. I'm sure you would have gotten into that just as much as when you got into being the pool boy!!

Happy Birthday Dan. I'm sure you are dancing somewhere......just not in those yellow pants,I hope!

Love you,
Eileen

PS. Where was your tie in this picture? You always wore a tie. Even when you weren't going anywhere for cryin' out loud~

Hoop Hero's

2010-06-08T13:32:00.008-05:00

I grew up in a basketball crazy family. And that's putting it mildly. Somewhere around 1950 or 51 my mother decided that if she ever wanted to spend an evening with my father, she better pack us kids up and take us to the gym. We were at basketball games about five days out of the week. When we were old enough to sit by ourselves, mom worked the refreshment stand. I, of course, practiced being a cheerleader doing cartwheels on stage at St. Mary's Lyceum as if no one was watching. They were.

And then there's the story about how my dad got kicked out of a game for getting 12 technicals. He went and got The Madonna and sat her right in the middle of the court and told the ref's that she wasn't moving until he was allowed back in the game. She was TWO YEARS OLD!

The reason for all these basketball flashbacks? John Wooden, the coach every person who ever coached basketball aspired to be, passed away this past week at the age of 99.

Anyone who grew up in Lawrencevile knows my father's coaching style was more like Bobby Knight. They all have their favorite "Coach" story about my dad. But he idolized John Wooden and the UCLA Bruins. Our family dog, a big ol' sheepdog, was named Kareem. I know. We were weird.

I have been online this week reading some of the news accounts of his life. In an age when it seems the athletes run the show and leave college after a year or two, reading accounts from his former players is truly inspirational. He took the responsibility of not only teaching these kids to play basketball, but he prepared them to be leaders in life off of the basketball court as well. As Kareem Abdul Jabbar said it wasn't enough to just teach him to play basketball. He wanted to coach scholar athlete's. I read somewhere that when he recruited Kareem, who was then known as Lew Alcindor, Coach Wooden memorized poems by Lansgton Hughes, a black modern poet. He used that as a bridge to relate to his 7'2" star. It worked.

I could go on and on here, but I thought I would mention a few Wooden-isms. Famous Quotes by John Wooden.

Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.

If you don't have the time to do it right, when will you have the time to do it over?

It's what you know after you know it all that counts.

Never mistake activity for achievement. (I like that one!)

Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.

Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.

And my personal favorite. What you are as a person is much more important than what you are as a basketball player.

These are just a few of the reason's why there will never be another coach like John Wooden, and teams that he coached at UCLA. Not even sacred Duke with their Polish Prince.... They don't even come close.

I'm saying this as Red Quinlan's daughter. The same Red Quinlan who made his teams wear suits to every game. Even during the 70's. The same Red Quinlan that former players still are afraid to let him know that they smoke cigarettes. Even though they are well into their 50's and early 60's. And the same Red Quinlan that would talk basketball strategy to his kids every evening during dinner. It helped me get a date once when I was in DC. I was watching a game on TV in our "lounge" room at the apartment complex where I lived. I started talking basketball with the guy sitting next to me. Finally he said to me, "Would you like to go out with me. I never talked sports like this with a girl before?" We went out once or twice. It didn't work. I knew more about basketball than he did. In the 70's, that was a no-no!

Today's Soapbox

2010-06-03T12:04:00.002-05:00

How about THIS??????? What a white trash piece of shit this woman is!!!!

According to the Post Gazette:
She claims her home is uninhabitable and worthless because the operator didn't pass on information that her son Richard has weapons, resulting in the killing of three police officers"
Unmotherfuckingbelievable.

No lady, your home is uninhabitable and worthless because your son is a worthless piece of shit who staged a war against the Pittsburgh Police Department because YOU ALLOWED him to bring an army of guns and ammunition into your home.

So it's your fault lady, don't come cryin' here. You should have been a mother to this kid and stopped him any way you could after he started bringing home guns that were for more than "hunting" (I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt here that he started buying guns for hunting)

If your wondering why so crazy about this, here is my original post.

http://angermanagementgirls.blogspot.com/2009/04/when-its-not-beautiful-day-in.html

Ok, I feel better now that I got that off my chest.

Hail Mary.........

2010-06-02T17:20:00.006-05:00

So this kid was suspended for wearing Rosary beads to school. All the adults are up in arms saying he should be allowed to wear his Rosary Beads because they are not gang symbols.

Don't quote me on this but isn't wearing rosary beads around your neck a mortal sin? Isn't it? I was taught that they were sacred objects and that the nuns were to only ones to get the privilege to wear them. I remember as a kid always wanting to wear them and never being allowed. (Hmmmm....Maybe that's why I always dressed up like a nun, to wear my rosaries!)

And who says that rosary beads aren't gang symbols. The Catholic Church is one of the biggest gangs in the world for cryin' out loud!!!

Happy Days Are Here Again......

2010-05-26T10:54:00.014-05:00

I'm happy.

Yes, I'm happy.

For the first time in a looooong time, well 7 years and 73 days to be exact, I look forward to the new day when I get out of bed in the morning.

I get up with a smile on my face. Ok, maybe not a smile. But definitely not the dreaded feeling of wondering how I'm going to make it through another day.

This may seem like a shock to some of you who think I am all fun and bubbly and my life is great. Yes, it may be surprising to some that for seven plus years I was in such a deep funk that it took every ounce of will power just to get out of bed and face another day of the disaster that my life had become. I won't bore you with the details. But it wasn't pretty.

For those of you who constantly tell me how lucky I am. The hair on your back would rise if I told you real stories of how un-lucky I am. And I am serious.
But that is over now. New beginnings. Right?

Anyway...........I was talking to my friend Erin (who needs to move back to Pittsburgh because I miss her and her baby like crazy!) We were talking and she said out of the blue, "You finally sound happy again." And I thought to myself, yeah, I do, don't I. Erin is one of the people who know my whole story. She's one of the few I can and did call in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep because I couldn't settle myself down enough to stop crying. She's my friend I would call and vent when person after person would tell me how "great" I was handling my husbands death. She knew I wasn't handling it, at all.

It's not that I don't have great friends who would have helped me in through ANYTHING. I do. But it's just that we all know how I feel about sissy-la-la's. People who whine all the time make me crazy. I didn't want to be one of those "woe is me" people. I would rather cry myself to sleep than be considered not strong. I know, I know. I'm fuckin' nuts. But I can't and will not be a sissy-la-la.

Well all of that is water under the bridge now. I can finally stay home. I can finally sit in my living room and watch TV for more than ten minutes. I can finally lay in bed and read a book. I can finally laugh with my kids.
I guess that's why I can finally "out" myself as a sissy la la. Hope I didn't burst any one's bubble!

This is so not where I wanted to take this blog post. I never know what these will turn into when I start typing.

Sigh, enough of this touchy feely shit. People will start spreading rumors that I am push-over. It's bad enough I turned into a far left Democrat for cryin out loud!

Let's see, what else pissed me off this week? (Don't worry, It's a happy pissed off and not a I'm ready to hit you in the face pissed off!)

Passive aggressive people really piss me off. It's the one personality trait that absolutely drives me crazy. If you know me, you know what my opinions are on just about everything. If you know me, you know if I like you or not in about five minutes. If you know me, and you don't like me, or like what I'm doing, tell me for cryin' out loud. It's not the end of the world. I'll live and so will you all. Just don't start that damn whining!!!!! Stand up for yourselves people. No one else will.

How about that scum bag Jesse James! Talk about sissy la la's. Boo Hoo, I was abused as a child so I had to go F#%@ every tattooed porn star west of the Mississippi.Jerk. Just once can't some cheating celebrity just keep their mouth shut and face it like a man/woman. Quit blaming someone/thing!!!!!!!! Just once. Sissy la la punk. I hope he gets diseases. (Sorry Sr. Susan!)

Previously I've told you about a blog I read called Callapitter. It's written by a mother whose two children were killed in a car accident. After reading what she goes through, that's one of the reasons I hate to talk about my own problems. They pale in comparison to this poor woman. She has been trying to get a playground built in their honor. Ginny over at That's Church explains it better than me. I like Doug Shields and usually agree with most of what he does. However, this is puzzling to me. Doug, WTF???? Residents of the Frick Park area, if you don't like noise, how come you live near a park??????????????????

One more thing, then I'm done bitching, I promise. How about the people who want the government out of their lives, ie Republicans. Yes, they want the big bad government to stay the hell out of everything. Until there's a problem. Then there all like "where the hell is Obama, he's not doing anything to help us. bla bla bla."
Just askin'

I guess I'm done bitching for now, I better go dig out the white shoes and linen for Monday.

Where Angels Go..........

2010-05-12T10:15:00.019-05:00

OK, OK, I didn't drown in the bathtub.
Nice to know I was missed though!!!!

Sooooooo last we talked I was mad at the Pope. So yesterday he finally saw the light and says "Today we see in a truly terrifying way that the greatest persecution of the Church does not come from outside enemies but is born of sin within the Church,"
There Your Eminence (how does one address the Pope anyhow?) Was that so hard????? Geezeohman. You said it. Now.......let's move on.......I'm over it.

I've been busy lately. Seems like I've been running in circles from here to there and back again. One of the events I attended was pure joy though. My friend Andrea was honored with the Ted Craig Humanitarian Award for her work at the Woman's Shelter of Pittsburgh. Talk about a three hankie deal!!! Holy cow............

She is truly an angel to alot of people. Esp. the woman at the Woman's Shelter. And she does all of this with a life threatening disease that would have killed a lesser person long ago. Truly amazing.

Andrea and I met shortly after her divorce and Dan's death. Both of us being newly single and the same age, we hit it off. In no time we were jet setting our sorrows away. Italy, Camen Islands, Florida, New York, Vegas just to name a few.

Andrea's job comes with alot of perks and I am usually her number one seat filler.
One of her outings brought us to the Pirate Game on Mothers Day. In our box I met two of the most interesting Benedictine Nuns. Sister Susan Fazzini and Sister Audrey Quinn were foster parents to 160 children. YES, I said 160!!! Yes, they surely deserved a Mother's Day celebration much more than I!!!!!

During the game we started talking and I ask Sr. Susan what she thought of the whole Pope thingee and the healthcare debate, you know, my usual.......Andrea rolls her eyes and holds her breath and says "Here we go." But I know she's praying to herself saying "Please Dear Lord, don't let them bring up the Capachuns." (whole other story!)
Instead, I bring up the fact that I used to dress up like a nun and play mass when I was a kid, etc......So I pull up this here blog on my blackberry and show her. She in turn wants my blog address and so I gave it to her.

When I got home, I got to thinking. Man oh man what did I do? What if I offend her? She's a nun for cryin' out loud. Although not as scary as Sr. Florentine or Sister Margarete, but still probably could do some damage. So I went back through some of the rough posts and re-read them. Sort of like through the eyes of a nun. After all, I spent a few years in that habit. Plus, I didn't ask,but as someone who has eighteen years of Catholic Schools under my belt, I'm guessing I might have just as many, if not more, years of Catholic schooling. But don't quote me on that. I'm just guessing.

Anyway, I thought about changing some language, but that would change the whole tone of some of the posts. So I left it. And started saying the rosary.

Imagine my surprise when I got an email from my new BFF Sr Susan saying how much she loved reading my blog!!!!

She wrote me a wonderful note about the blog and my writing.
The extra rosaries must have did the trick!

You know, the world could use a few more angels like Sr. Susan, Sr. Audrey and Andrea. They are true Christians who walk the walk.

And you know what the song/movie says "Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows."........

Uh, that trouble would be ME!!!!

And for the record, that email is so going to be kept in the back of my mind for use when I get to the Pearly Gates. If St. Peter has to think about it, I am so going to mention that nuns liked my blog and I drive a blind lady I hardly know to get Chemo on Friday mornings after going out late with the AMG's on Thursday nights. Hey, that could be the deal changer. Hey, if it means Heaven or hell, I'm not above name/good deed dropping! Every little bit helps those of us on the cusp.

***I must be hanging with the right people because remember when I told you I was praying to the Patron St. of Computers for a new one? Well Ski called yesterday saying she got a new laptop and wanted to know if I wanted her old one. Thank you St. Charles Borromeo............Look out bloggerland, I'm coming back!!!!

Calgon, Or Anyone.........Take Me Away.......Please!

2010-04-19T16:16:00.016-05:00

I have this amazing bathroom that I rarely use. Seriously. Except for the obvious, I have never taken full advantage of the most amazing room in my house.

When renovating the house, I took a bedroom out of my second floor and made it into a very large bathroom. It has a soaking tub, a working fireplace, marble floors,the works.
When someone sees it for the first time, the first thing out of their mouth is that they would love to borrow my bathroom, light the fire, and sit in my tub with a glass of wine and a good book.

I have never done that. Not even once.

Now those of you out there in bloggerland who know me, know that I have trouble sitting still for very long let along soaking in a tub. I think to myself sometimes, what was I thinking? The money could have been put to better use. Oh well, It's water down the drain now!

Anyway. Today, I'm miserable. I'm bored. I'm just plain ol' tired. And I'm longing for my old June Cleaverish life. Looking back, I seriously didn't mind stepping over 15 bicycles to get into the house. The toys that I stepped on regularly didn't leave any permanent marks on the bottom of my feet. And the rugs eventually dried from all the kids running in and out of the pool to go to the bathroom.

Tonight, I think I need to take a long, hot, bubble bath. I want to close my eyes and be taken back to Sherrod Street. In my old bathroom. The one where I couldn't have a moments peace. Not the marble bathroom, but the one with the toy basket in the tub. I want my kids banging on the door telling me they are hungry, or they need help with homework. I want the dog barking either because he wants someone to take him for a walk, or one of the Grubbs boys snuck in the house again and is chasing him........Calgon.....Take me away!! Preferably into somebody else' life!! Angelina Jolie's maybe?

Thursday's Thoughts

2010-04-07T11:38:00.026-05:00

I know, I know.....I've been quite the slacker lately. Sorry to all my friends out there in blogger land. It's this whole not having a home computer thing. Hopefully that will be remedied soon.

I know there is lots happening out there that is just begging for my commentary. Since I have been MIA for so long I'm just going to do a little recap.

Here are a few of my thoughts on this lovely Thursday afternoon!

Oh, where to start, where to start, where to start.....

I guess I'll go with the obvious. I can't help myself with this one. The Steeler Gods are condemning me to eternal hell.

Sorry, but this was just too good.

Thanks to Ginny over at That's Church.

And how about that Terry Bradshaw. What a guy. I wasn't a big lover back in the day, but now I just love him. I love that he plays stupid. And he's ok with that. Yeah, he's stupid as a fox! This man is no dummy.
I can't recall where I heard it, but on one interview he was saying something to that fact that does Ben really think these girls would be caught dead with either of them if they were just regular Joe's? Right on Terry.

Next up, Jane Orie. I'm not going to say too much because I've already covered her here.
But, do we really have to say anything???? I'm thinking this picture says is all!

We were talking about her this past weekend. Gotta love Donna who hit the nail on the head with this comment. "Forget about arresting her for breaking the law. She should be arrested for that makeup!" One of the best lines of the weekend! One would have to look long and hard to find a more un-photogenic family.
Myself, I think she should be arrested for those nails. Really folks, who wears those nail and expects anyone to take them seriously?

I am sensing a recurring theme here. Opinions of mine that only need one picture to say it all.

Us Anger Management Girls went on our first "Retreat" this past weekend. OMG. We must be getting old. Instead of our heads hurting from a little too much to drink, our jaws hurt from laughing. Really, I haven't laughed that hard in a long, long time.

I just have one thing to say. My crazy friend wore her damn snugly all weekend. She wore it down by the lake when she was Moses, parting the seas. And she wore in in the picture below when she was Our Lady Of The Lake. I can't look at it without hearing her say "The snugly and American Idol are ruining her sex life." I'm not saying another word!!

And what's up with the Pope? Now before you all go calling me anti-catholic, I'm about as catholic as one can get. Catholic Grade School, HS, College, Grad School. Remember, I used to dress up like a nun and walk the streets. And how about that time I went to buy medals and the Nun's were trying to get me join their order? Plusssss, I was on the alter with the Pope for cryin' out loud.
Having said that, He's pissing me off. ducking to avoid lightening bolts I have a real problem with the 200 deaf kids that no one stood up for. This is really, really bothering me.

Enough on that.

Being a Maryland fan (The Madonna makes me by giving me shitloads of free stuff!I'm still pissed Duke won the national basketball championship. How about that Butler? What a bunch of cuties. If that last shot would have gone in, the place would have gone crazy!!! So would my dad and my kids.
This might be mean, but again, I can't help myself. I have never in my life seen an uglier bunch of white boys than Duke's basketball team. Again ducking the lightening bolts. I felt like I was watching the Arian National Basketball team.

Lets see......what did I miss. It's been so long.

I'm not even going start on the whole tea-baggers and Sarah Palin stuff. They had to bring her in on a row boat. That's the only song they can remember all the words to......

And just think, the Health Care Bill had been in effect (or is it affect? Damn I wish I would have paid attention to Sr. Angela) for how long now and last I looked, we still had a county. The world didn't end. How about that????

I'm going to start praying to St. Charles Borromeo for a new computer so I could post more often. He is the Patron Saint of computer users. I swear I am not making this up!

Maybe I shouldn't have dissed the Pope!!

Or I can always pray to Our Lady Of The Lake!

Whose Smarter Than A Second Grader?

2010-03-31T17:17:00.006-05:00

Sarah Palin is the best thing since sliced bread.

I can hear you all gasping!!!!!

It's true. She provides endless story lines, jokes, etc.....and will continue to do so for years to come. Face it people. NO ONE is easier to make fun of than her. Think about it. She does not even realize people are laughing AT her not WITH her. Something my mother taught me by the 2nd grade. Oh well, maybe she's a late bloomer.

Anyway, I read this little bit on Yahoo news today. It seems Sarah is hosting a special on Fox this week called Real American Stories. One of the people it plans to highlight is LL Cool J. There was only one problem. They plan on using old tapes of their guests.

I'm confused. What is Sarah actually going to be doing? Just commenting between old news clips? I don't get it.

Oh. Wait. A. Minute. Yes I do. They would never trust good ol' Sarah to actually interview anyone with an IQ over a basement apartment number. So they went through the old stuff and thought, here, let her do this. She can't fuck this up too bad. She can just read through the script. Old white guys will love it.

Only one little problem. When asked about it. LL Cool J said he did the interview over two years ago and they are promoting it like its hot off the press. He thinks that is misrepresenting the public.

HELLO Mr. Cool J, who's NCIS LA ratings blows everyone out of the water.........this is FOX.....what the hell did you expect???

Fox's provided the following statement:

"Real American Stories features uplifting tales about overcoming adversity and we believe Mr. Smith's interview fit that criteria. However, as it appears that Mr. Smith does not want to be associated with a program that could serve as an inspiration to others, we are cutting his interview from the special and wish him the best with his fledgling acting career"

Fledgling acting career???????And they want who to take them seriously???????

LL Cool J's reaction. "Nobody can bring you peace but yourself."

One of the two sounds like a second grader. We won't mention any names!

Did anyone call for "Childish, party of one?"

Won't You Be My Neighbor!

2010-03-22T18:03:00.011-05:00

Most of us Burgers either have had a family member who had to leave home way back when or we ourselves have had to leave this great city for greener pastures and employment opportunities elsewhere.
My first brush with this phenomenon came in late December 1970 or 71 when The Madonna packed up her 32 pairs of brown shoes and headed to "our nations capital." Her story was sort of different though. She really didn't have a job like most people, but she listened to that Ruth who wronged her and MADE her move. Hard to believe I know, but true.
Eight or so years later, I followed her......And that was Ruth's fault also. A few years later I came to my senses and moved back to my beloved Pittsburgh. Causing myself to be the butt of many non-Pittsburghers jokes. (That's alright, Harriet just told me to tell them "Jealousy will get you nowhere!")

Anyways.........why I mention all this is because I have just read over at That's Church about a movie Carl Kurlander did about his move back home to Pittsburgh after years in LA. People in the entertainment industry thought he was crazy. Even Oprah replied "Pittsburgh, really?!" when she was interviewing him on her show and he told her he longed to move back home, hmmmph.What does she know anyway? Of course us Pittsburghers know what the rest of the world is just starting to realize.

So if you get a chance, you have to check out this movie.

When the trailer played "Won't you be my neighbor" being sung by Pittsburghers in LA and NY,it got me weepy eyed already.

A few famous Burgers:
Nellie Blye
Andrew Carnegie
Rachel Carson
Mary Cassatt
Roberto Clemente
Annie Dillard
George W. G. Ferris
Stephen Foster
Henry Clay Frick
Martha Graham
Franco Harris
H. J. Heinz
Senator H. J. Heinz III
Henry Hornbostel
Cy Hungerford
Edgar Kaufmann
Michael Keaton
Gene Kelly
Kathryn Kuhlman
Samuel P. Langley
David Lawrence
Danny Marino
Bill Mazeroski
Andrew Mellon
Danny Murtaugh
Fred Rogers
Jonas Salk
Bruno Sammartino
Thomas Starzl
Gertrude Stein
Honus Wagner
Andy Warhol
George Westinghouse
August Wilson and my favorite David Conrad who is pictures with me above. He lives in Pittsburgh when he's not shooting Ghost Wisperer. He really is our neighbor!

Go check out the movie.

* I bet you all thought this post was going to be about health care didn't you??Don't worry it's coming.

The Pipes Were Calling.....

2010-03-16T14:11:00.006-05:00

This past weekend was the seventh anniversary of my husband Dan's death.
Some days it feels like it was yesterday. Other days, I feel like that life was all a dream. Mostly because my life is dramatically different now.

I didn't go to the parade this year. Don't know why. I missed it for the second time in 35 years. The only other time I missed it was the snow of 1993. I would have went but my mother wouldn't come to my house to watch my kids. I didn't feel like dealing with CYS if I dragged them with me to get drunk in 2 feet of snow.

Anyway.........I feel like I've already written all there is to write about Dan and his death. So here are some past blog posts about my self proclaimed Prince of Ireland.

http://angermanagementgirls.blogspot.com/2009/02/while-were-on-subject-of-hugs-and.html

http://angermanagementgirls.blogspot.com/2008/09/today-is-my-wedding-anniversary.html#links

http://angermanagementgirls.blogspot.com/2008/07/although-i-dont-listen-to-him-often.html#links

http://angermanagementgirls.blogspot.com/2008/06/happy-flag-day-happy-55th-birthday-dan.html#links

http://angermanagementgirls.blogspot.com/2008/03/stpattys-day-1996-or-1997.html

http://angermanagementgirls.blogspot.com/2007/09/im-not-in-mood-today-to-write-anything.html#links

http://angermanagementgirls.blogspot.com/2008/03/ok-girls.html

http://angermanagementgirls.blogspot.com/2007/06/happy-birthday-dan.html

http://angermanagementgirls.blogspot.com/2009/07/this-sweet-old-world.html

http://angermanagementgirls.blogspot.com/2009/03/oh-danny-boy.html

Here's to ya Dan! Raise of the glass

*How about my glasses!!! They take up my whole face! Would love to have that figure back though.

And The Sign Says........

2010-03-10T15:17:00.018-05:00

So the rest of the world thinks our exit signs are stupid.

According to this article, some in the international community want everyone to use an international sign for exiting.

Here's the thing, if I was going to China, before I went, I would learn all emergency signals that I thought were relevant. If you see the same thing in Chinese over every single door in China....well, lets just say it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out what it means.

So for all of you who think it's stupid, comon' now, it's really not that hard to figure out a big, red sign with the same four letters next to every single public door in the country. My kids knew what EXIT meant at a very early age. But then again, they are genius'!

Now myself, I'm not that smart. I really have a hard time looking at pictures and immediately knowing what they mean.

Take the signs below. WTF are they talking about?

How about this? Beware of pigeons maybe?

I think we could all use our imagination and figure out what this means.

Have no idea here folks. But by the time I figured it out, I'm betting it would be too late.

But here is my fav

Now that is a sign we all can all understand.

My Irish Eyes Are Smiling!

2010-03-04T09:38:00.009-05:00

How about this huh??? Just in time for the start of the "High Holidays!"(officially starting tomorrow in the O'Damico household)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release March 1, 2010
IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, 2010
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
From long before American independence to today, countless
individuals have reached our shores, bringing vibrant cultures
and diverse roots, and immeasurably enriching our Nation. This
month, we honor the contributions made by the tens of millions
of Americans who trace their heritage to the Emerald Isle.
Irish Americans fought for our independence, and their
signatures adorn our founding documents. When famine ravaged
Ireland in the 1840s and 1850s, many Irish men and women sought
a new beginning in the United States. Though they faced poverty
and discrimination, these immigrants transformed our cities,
served in our Armed Forces, and settled the frontiers of our
young Nation. Their children, and succeeding generations of
Irish Americans, have preserved their culture's values while
becoming leaders in every facet of American life.
During this year's Irish-American Heritage Month, we also
celebrate an extraordinary Irishman: Senator Edward M. Kennedy.
Throughout his career in public service, Senator Kennedy worked
tirelessly to create opportunity for all Americans. His legacy
lives on in the legislation he championed, which will bolster
and protect the health, education, and civil rights of Americans
for generations to come.
Across the Atlantic, the people of Ireland continue to
confront their own challenges with resolve and determination.
In the face of violence perpetuated by some -- testing a
hard-earned peace -- the people of Northern Ireland have
responded heroically. Undaunted, they and their leaders persist
on the road to peace and prosperity enshrined over a decade ago
in the Good Friday Agreement. The United States remains
committed to supporting the political process and the work of
those who have shown leadership in pursuit of a lasting peace.
Today, the sons and daughters of Erin can look back with
pride on their many contributions to the civic and cultural life
of America. Like so many of our Nation's ethnic communities,
Irish Americans are a people whose hard work and resilience have
brought them great opportunity and success, and whose service to
our Nation has left it a better place.
more
(OVER)
2
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by the virtue of the authority vested
in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States do
hereby proclaim March 2010 as Irish-American Heritage Month.
I call upon all Americans to observe this month by celebrating
the contributions of Irish American to our Nation with
appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten,
and of the Independence of the United States of America the
two hundred and thirty-fourth.
BARACK OBAMA
# # #

Gotta love our "Black Irish" President!!!

*for those of you not lucky enough to be Irish, Black Irish is not a derogatory term.

I'm Glad It's You

2010-03-01T12:03:00.004-05:00

Right before Tom Hanks shoots Paul Newman in one of my favorite movies, "Road to Perdition" Newman, knowing he's about to be killed turns and looks at Hanks and says "I'm glad it's you."

That's what I feel about Sidney Crosby getting the winning goal to beat the United States in yesterday's Olympic hockey game. If we had to lose, well then I'm glad it was him who beat us.

Sid, I'm glad it's you.

*Just one thought, what was with the Canadian fans booing US team as they were leaving the ice? That wasn't cool. There is no booing at the Olympics.

I Was Just Thinking........(oh no)...........

2010-02-22T20:11:00.009-05:00

So this past weekend I received one of those forwarded, forwarded, forwarded emails that we all hate. This was the content.

MY DOG
I went down this morning to sign up my Dog for welfare. At first the lady said, “Dogs are not eligible to draw welfare”. So I explained to her that my Dog is black, unemployed, lazy, can’t speak English and has no frigging clue who his Daddy is. So she looked in her policy book to see what it takes to qualify. My Dog gets his first check Friday. Damn this is a great country.

What do you all think?
Do you think emails like this are funny? What do you do when you get them? Send it back with a note? Delete it? By our silence, are we saying we find it acceptable?

In this day and age, how could anyone write something like this or forward it on?

Anyone out there?

Do you think it's funny?

Anyone?

Didn't think so.

The person who sent this to me doesn't see themselves as racist, by the way.

Don't Even Think About It!

2010-02-18T13:28:00.007-05:00

You have all heard of the Pittsburgh Parking Chair......

.....And what happens when you commit a mortal sin and move someones chair to take their parking space. In the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Amen.

Well over here in Shadyside, we have parking lamps. Oh yes we do.

Hey, no jealousy folks....it's lent.

Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition, Part II

2010-02-11T13:44:00.009-05:00

Roads not plowed, cars getting stuck, trying to walk on sidewalks not shoveled after said car won't move, cabin fever.....people are getting a little testy around here.

I have been bitching here pretty much all week about the state of the streets in my neighborhood of Shadyside. The main street of Ellsworth Ave got plowed TODAY. Six whole days after the first snow fall.

But that's not the reason for this post.

Every day this week my coworker came in to work telling us how they plowed her street AGAIN the previous night. Two nights ago, she said they were up and down her street THREE times. I asked her what she paid in taxes a year. She pays 1/4 of what I pay here in Shadyside. So it has been an ongoing joke all week. Our streets aren't done. Hers are because she lives in a neighborhood where the city maintenance workers actually live. They make sure their neighborhoods are done, while leaving the three neighborhoods that have the highest tax bills(Shadyside, Point Breeze, Squirrel Hill) untouched.

Anyway, this morning she walked into work in a rage. She told us that the city was starting this blitz through the neighborhoods one at a time to clear the streets. So far, so good. But the nerve of them, she says, they are starting in the Hill District. She went on a rage about how none of "those" people work. And why should they have their streets plowed, etc, etc......you get the point.

Being as "opinionated" as I am, I say something like "well, that seems to be a common sense place to start. Start in town and work their way out, an so on.

That didn't go over too well. Again, the rants about how none of the people in the Hill work so they don't need their streets done.

I went on to remind her that there are brand new housing developments there with the starting price being $200,000. She told me anyone buying a house in the hill has to be a "stupid jagg-off."

OK, so now I getting pissed. I also told her that alot of downtown buses leave the city by way of the hill (including hers). She told me they should do that main street and don't worry about the rest.

I know.

So I tell her that most of the people in the hill are dependent on bus transportation. If they or their buses can't get up and down the side streets, they can't get to their jobs. Jobs that don't give administrative paid leave because of a snow storm.

Didn't care.

Now I get her. I tell her that if I used her reasoning and stereotyping, than most people in her neighborhood are white trash who don't want to work also.

I thought she was going to kill me.

I went on to explain. I know four people from her neighborhood. She is the only one that works. Two are on public assistance, and the other one is on disability from a city job he had three years ago for six months. So if I were to judge her whole neighborhood from the people I know, I would say, yes. Most are while trash lazy jerks.

Then I ducked.

She didn't get the same conclusion.

I asked her how many people she knew who lived in the Hill District. She said none.

I didn't think so.

She then when on to tell the story about the ONE time she saw someone using food stamps to buy steaks. She tells the same story all the time. I said if "they" all do that every time you are in a grocery store, why don't you have more examples.

Ya know, I know there are people out there who abuse the system. Lots of people. Some people don't know that they are doing anything wrong because that's all they know. They didn't have a chance in life, even before they were born.

My parents didn't have a racist bone in their body. We never talked like that. All black people are not lazy and on welfare. All Irish are not drunks. All Italians are not in the mafia (hmmmm, ONLY JOKING!). For every black person abusing the system in the hill, there are whites in my city neighborhoods doing the same thing. I can't count the junkies I grew up with that get social security because they are heroin addicts. Aren't all white people who grew up in Lawrenceville heroin addicted, food stamp abusers? (Joking!!!)

I told her to go watch Precious, then she can tell me we all start out on equal playing fields in this world.

She would have slit her wrists by age 10.

Oh, and I almost forgot. She never misses church. How typical of them catholics! (I'M JOKING!!!!!) I think she needs to listen more closely to the homilies.

Da Pubic Option n'at

2010-02-10T11:16:00.008-05:00

What's that saying, A picture is worth a thousand words?

The photo above was taken at the Teabagger's Convention in Tennessee this past weekend.
I'm thinking she is a school chum of Sarah Palins.

The possibilities are endless here folks........
Just sayin'........

Ain't It The Truth!

2010-02-09T12:19:00.001-05:00

On Second Thought---

2010-02-08T14:47:00.005-05:00

I had planned to bitch and moan about the snow...lack of snow plows in my neighborhood....not having a TV for three whole days...etc, ect.....
Then I got a call from a friend saying that the young woman and her seven month old baby who died in this fire is the niece of one of our Anger Management Girls.

It certainly put my bitching in perspective.
The snow just isn't that big a deal anymore.

Count your blessings.

I Have A Dream

2010-01-28T15:36:00.008-05:00

**I started this post on MLK Day and forgot about it. I'm going to post it anyway.

So yeah, I have a dream.

I dream that every employer in America quits offering health care to their employees. Sorry folks, but yes I do.

You want to know why? Because when that happens, and only when that happens, this health care mess will be fixed in about forty five minutes.

Those of you who get health insurance from your workplace, you really, really have no idea what a mess this shit is. And I mean that.

Three days after the election in Massachusetts, I received a letter from my shitty health insurer telling me they were raising my rates by $100 a month. It's almost like they were waiting for the trump card.

To add insult to injury, the following was the last line of the letter.

"Hopefully, federal health care reforms will soon make health insurance more affordable to all."

Uh, yeah, right.

Slimy sonsofbitches.

Good God Harriet!

2010-01-19T12:57:00.011-05:00

Today is the 10th Anniversary of my mothers death.
There isn't a day in those ten years that I haven't missed her.
Harriet Green Quinlan
12/14/29-01/19/00

As my family often tells me, my mother will never be dead as long as I'm alive......although I think The Madonna is more like my mother than me. Hmmmph.... I would never carry extra shoes in a bag just in case or go to the beauty shop weekly like someone I know!!

*When my father got mad at my mother for something crazy she did(which was often), he would shake his head and utter "Good God Harriet." My friends and family picked up on it. To this day if something is not making sense or makes us mad, we shake our heads and say "Good God Harriet." Those who didn't know my parents look at us like we are crazy.

There, But For The Grace Of God, Go I

2010-01-15T11:00:00.008-05:00

I can't stop watching the news about the earthquake in Haiti.
While watching, questions keep popping up in my head.
Some are silly. Some have no answers. Some are just common sense questions, the answers of which I know nothing about.

Question #1. (Under the there are no answers category)
Why does stuff like this always happen to the poorest of the poor? Why? These epic tragedies seem to always happen in the poorest places on earth. We were talking about this last night. I, half thinking out loud said, why doesn't this stuff ever happen in Paris? I didn't say that against the French or anything, it was the first place that came to my mind when thinking about wealth.
Or better yet, why doesn't it ever happen under Rush Limbaugh or Pat Robertson's house?(May they both burn in hell, God forgive me)
I guess God knows who can take it and who can't? These people have nothing. Never did and never will.
Jesus, when is enough enough?

Question #2. (Combination of things I know nothing about but seems common sense is not being used)
So I'm switching from news cast to news cast and all they are saying is the airport is closed because of the backlog of planes trying to get in and out. There are planes that can't land with supplies and help.
So I'm like "Wait, how did you all get there with your hundreds of reporting team members?" Katie and company and hundreds of photographers, reporters, etc. got right into the country and to where they are supposed to be.
Does that make sense? Couldn't just one team go and share information and save the rest of the room on transportation vehicles for rescuing and supplies.
Plus, I might be wrong but I'm guessing here that these reporters have water and are not sleeping in the streets.

Just wonderin'.

Thanks to Ginny and friends over at That's Church, the two Pittsburghers and the orphans future is looking alot brighter than it was yesterday. But they are still not out of the woods.
Anyone out there know anyone with a plane?

Just askin'. Hey, ya never know.

All that comes to mind throughout this whole thing is what Harriet always told us. There, but for the grace of God, go I.

*Picture is of two Pittsburgh sisters at their orphanage in Haiti in happier times. (From That's Church)

News Flash??????

2010-01-08T14:18:00.004-05:00

Please KDKA, give me a fuckin break.

It's cold.

It's snowing.

It's winter.

It's January.

It's Pittsburgh.

It's cold and snowie in Pittsburgh in the winter.

Big. Fucking. Deal.

I'm sure there's more important things to tell me about today than the snow related stories that are taking up most of your newscasts.
Give me some news for cryin' out loud.

Get over it or move to Florida.

One more thing.

The townships and city are crying that there is going to be a shortage of salt pretty soon if it continues to snow.
Really?????

One more time.

It's cold.

It's snowing.

It's winter.

It's January.

It's Pittsburgh.

It's cold and snowie in Pittsburgh in the winter.

And what about that surprises anyone?????

I guess I better go now. I feel like I should go buy toilet paper or something.

Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish

2009-12-31T11:54:00.007-05:00

Or Happy New Year.
I'm not a New Years Eve person. Stayed in most years. Met my husband one New Years Eve. I used to joke with him that I should have stayed home that year too. By the next New Years, we were married.
Through the years, we just enjoyed being home and inviting all of our friends over who didn't have baby sitters. Some years we had a house full, the next it would be just us. Both were ok with me.

2009 was not one of my favorite years. Come to think of it, 2000-09 was not my favorite decade. 2000 started out great. Our whole family went to Firstnight to ring in the new millennium. We had a blast. But then things started falling fast. My mom died that January, 2000. 9/11, Dan dying in 2003.....life as I knew it was over. The list could go on and on. I'll spare you most of the details.
But as my mother used to say, as bad as you think you have it, someone always has it worse. Reading this in this mornings paper makes me realize that. I have been reading Amy's blog for a while now. Words cannot express what this woman must be going through. So I better quit complaining.

But I'm putting my hope in the new decade.
Let's hope it gets better. (can't imagine it getting much worse!)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-22T14:39:00.009-05:00

So every year my father and his brothers and sisters tell the same Christmas story.
I thought I'd share it with you all.

My father had 7 brothers and sisters. His father died when his youngest sister Patsy was five days old. Leaving my Grandmother to raise the seven of them herself. She did a pretty incredible job considering there was no welfare, food stamps, wic, etc. So she started writing numbers for a living. But hey, when she died, she had a home in O'Hara township. (Apparently bought by hitting on the Easter number, 136. But that's a whole other story!)
Anyway, those early years were pretty rough to say the least. They lived across the street from St. Francis Hospital and were fed by the nuns with leftover food from the patients cafeteria.

Needless to say, my grandmother didn't have any money to buy them anything for Christmas. So being the genius that she was, she told them that if they didn't get everything they wanted for Christmas, is was because Santa is hard of hearing and probably didn't hear what they were saying.

Don't you love it?

On this particular Christmas morning they all woke up and ran down the stairs to see what Santa left them for Christmas. Of course all they got was the usual apple or orange. That's it.
My six or seven year old Uncle Paul (God rest his soul) looked at my Gram and said "God damn son of a bitch must have been stone deaf. I didn't get a God damn thing I asked for!"

Merry Christmas. Here's hoping your Santa isn't hard of hearing!!

*Picture below is The Madonna and Me on Santa's lap around 1960(I'm the little one). Our Santa was NEVER hard of hearing!

Buddy, Can You Spare A Few Hundred Thousand?

2009-12-16T18:24:00.005-05:00

I'm so pissed I can't even see straight.
First let me say that I like the Superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools, Mark Roosevelt. I think he is doing a fine job.
BUT I am seeing red after reading this article in the Post Gazette.
So Pittsburgh philanthropic community is helping pay poor Mark Roosevelt's tax bill???
Here is a man who went to Harvard. He is Teddy Roosevelt's grandson. He makes $227,000 per year plus who knows how much in bonus'.

Excuse me, but I am having trouble paying my taxes. Shit, I never even thought to call the Hillman's, Scaif's, Mellon's, etc. Or even the Roosevelt's for that matter. Stupid me.

And just think, last week I went to a fund raiser to benefit Lawrenceville Library which was on the chopping block to be closed because they can't find funding.
I spent my hard earned money because they are pretty desperate.

Does anyone out there have a few extra dollars on their access card so that poor Mr. Roosevelt can maybe buy a can of soup of something. Wouldn't want him to go hungry now, would we?

I'm not even going to mention the fact that the premium on his life insurance is over $28,000 per year? WTF????

Am I missing something here?
If I am, please feel free to enlighten me.

New York Times

2009-12-09T13:33:00.010-05:00

I'm in a New York state of mind!!!!
Counting the minutes, hours, days until I'm ordering room service from our suite,yes suite, at the Plaza!!!
Yes, I will be there with my payless shoes and half price jeans.
I am so ready to get the hell out of town this weekend.
It couldn't have anything to do with the fact that today my boss had a birthday party complete with cupcakes for his dog. Yes, the dog. My birthday wasn't acknowledged BTW. Not even with an empty card.
But while in New York this weekend I will spend the better part of the afternoon shopping for his Christmas present. Again. Putting in more than my $hare because I always go over budget.
Sad part is, if I didn't do it. He wouldn't get a present. No one cares enough to go out of their way. Even a little.
Buuuutttttt, they get presents. And cards. And cupcakes on their Birthdays. (That I usually run around getting)

Bitter......Party of One.

That's Ok.
Because I'm not angry.....no I'm not. Actually he is fun to buy presents for.
It will be all forgotten.
Once I am at the Plaza!!!
Eating breakfast.
In this bed!!!!

Nope, not bitter at all!
Sadly, it will all go by faster than a New York Minute.

Another One Bites The Dust

2009-12-04T15:33:00.005-05:00

You knew the picture was coming didn't you. Sooner or later, a photo or Tiger and the wife was going to be photo shopped as above.

Here's the thing. I don't really care about Tiger cheating on his wife. I really don't.

But if it was me? Let me tell you something, I hope she took a club that he had framed or bronzed and hanging on a wall somewhere in their house and smacked the shit out of him and his escalade.

Comeon' Tiger. What the fuck are you thinking? You're not thinking, that's the problem.

What's wrong with these men who have it all plus a beautiful, smart wife and children? Why do they feel the need to pick up sleazy cocktail waitress'. (NO, as a former cocktail waitress, they are not ALL sleazy)

Just stay single for Christ's sake and you are free to pick up every waitress from Twain to Seattle!!

As for Tiger's wife. You go girl. Next time, knock a few teeth out too. After you melt down his most prized golf clubs of course!

Oh, and one more thing. Next time a police officer wants to pull me over and ask me questions. I'm just going to tell I will get back to them on that. At my earliest convenience. Yeah, that will work. Don't call me. I'll call you.

Does anyone have bail money I can borrow.?

Give Thanks

2009-11-25T11:29:00.009-05:00

This is a picture of our Thanksgiving last year. Notice the center piece. Pretty nice, huh? Are we fancy or what? Just a bunch of Marthta fuckin' Stewarts. How about the wonder bread and paper plates. Anyone hear that rumbling? It's my mother rolling in her grave.

Yes, this is just another of the Norman Rockwell moments at the D'Amico household. Looking at this picture, you would never know I was the one with "the knack!"

I am dead serious though. That was last Thanksgiving at my house. The Madonna's kids could not get to Pittsburgh until later in the day on Thanksgiving, so we had our big dinner on Friday, the day after.

I didn't want to have to cook a turkey twice, so I made beef stew on Thursday. We were in a hurry so I just sort of threw the bowls out on the table with the good china. We had such a nice time. After eating stew, we all went to Cousin #2, George's house for desert. (who in my eyes, made the jump to number one this year).

Believe it or not, it was one of the best holidays because there was absolutely no stress involved. Unless you account for my worries that I didn't have enough paper plates!

Thanksgiving was such a big deal in our family. Year after year all my cousins, aunts and uncles would come to our house and we would squeeze around folding tables. I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.

The ones that stick out though, are the ones that deviated from the norm.

Ten years ago, when my mother was in the last stages of her cancer, we wanted to make sure she had a special Thanksgiving. My whole family came to my house for what was to be my mothers last Thanksgiving dinner.

The day before, she got really sick and her Doctor told her it was too risky for her to be near a bunch of people because her white blood count was up or something like that. We were so disappointed. There we were, all eating at my house with out my parents.

So my father set up the card table at her bedside. We sent up all the food. And they ate, just the two of them. While 25 or so kids, grandkids, son's in law, etc. ate down the street at my house.

We all felt so bad. But you know what my mother said. She said it was one of her best Thanksgiving's. It was just like their first one together in 1950. Just the two of them. They spent their last, just like their first. But this time, they were thankful for a job well done as the fruits of their labor were a few streets away, happy, healthy, successful and enjoying each others company.

Thanks for a job well done.
That's what it's all about.

November 22, 1963

2009-11-22T12:54:00.008-05:00

Anyone of a certain age, and yes that includes me, knows exactly what we were doing about two minutes after this picture was taken.

I was sitting in Sr. Madonna's (No not "The Madonna") first grade class.

Every Day from noon to one, my mother watched Bill Burns, then Guiding Light and Search For Tomorrow. That's when soaps were on for only 15 minutes.

They broke into Search for Tomorrow with news the President had been shot. She then hurried up and called the school. Then I'm sure she called my Aunt Babe and they talked about if for hours on the phone.

We were told just to kneel in the aisle and pray. And that's what we did. No kneelers, no church. Just drop to our knees and pray right there. Right there in the aisle of Sr. Madonna's first grade class room in St. Mary's Grade School. I'm sure every other class room was doing the same thing.

Can you imagine if that were to happen today? Parents would be calling the school saying we ruined Johnny's knees for life and because of that, he will not have that future NFL career that he was sure to have!

Madmen did an episode about the assassination. Boy did they nail it. Hands down. That's why I totally loved that show.

What were you all doing that day?

THANKS DAD!

2009-11-11T11:38:00.004-05:00

HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY!

*Member of Army Air Corps, 460 Bomber Group.

I'm Working On A Dream

2009-10-13T08:00:00.007-05:00

It's been strangely quiet on this here blog lately. Sorry.
Not because I don't have anything to say, but because I am still computer-less at home.
And at work? Well that darn thing called work keeps getting in the way. Been busy.

Not much new here in Anger Managementland. EXCEPT.......it's the start of Birthday-rama. This Friday, October 16, I will be 52 years old. Yes, 52 and proud of it.

So, in honor of my 52nd Birthday here are some words of wisdom from people far smarter than me (hello, not that hard!):

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. Mark Twain

Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Samuel Ullman

Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional. Chili Davis

The years teach much which the days never knew. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been. Mark Twain

A woman is not old until regret takes the place of dreams. John Barrymore

Every wrinkle is but a notch in the quiet calendar of a well-spent life. Charles Dickens

Forty is the old age of youth, fifty the youth of old age. Victor Hugo

Everyone is the age of their heart. Guatemalan Proverb

Age is a high price for maturity. Tom Stoppard

By the time I have money to burn, my fire will have burnt out. Author Unknown

Old age is fifteen years older than I am. Oliver Wendell Holmes

Men do not quit playing because they grow old, they grow old because they quit playing. Oliver Wendell Holmes

Does age poison us, or do we poison age? Astrid Alauda

Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty - they merely move it from their faces to their hearts. Martin Maxbaum

Grandchildren don't make a man feel old; it's the knowledge that he's married to a grandmother(Jerk!). G. Norman Collie

None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm. Henry David Thoreau

First you forget names, then you forget faces, then you forget to pull your zipper up, then you forget to pull your zipper down.

The years between 50 and 70 are the hardest. You are always being asked to do more, and you are not yet decrepit enough to turn them down. T.S. Eliot

You know you've reached middle age when a Doctor, not a policeman tells you to slow down. Author Unknown

The great think about getting old is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been. Madeleine L'Engle

One of the best parts of growing older? You can flirt all you like since you've become harmless. Liz Smith

In a dream, you are never eighty. Anne Sexton

I don't do alchol anymore, I get the same effect just standing up. Author unknown

Regular naps prevent old age, especially if you take them while driving. Author unknown

Middle age is when your classmates are so gray and wrinkles and bald they don't recognize you. Bennett Cerf

Youth is when your allowed to stay up late on New Years Eve. Middle age is when your forced to. Bill Vaughn

True terror is when you wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country. Kurt Vonnegut

In dog years, I'm dead. Author Unknown

If youth but know, And old age only could. Henri Estienne

There was no respect for youth when I was young, and now that I'm old, there is no respect for age---I missed it coming and going. Ann Priestly (This is the story of my life!)

And finally my two favorites:

DO NOT REGRET GROWING OLDER. IT IS A PRIVILEGE DENIED TO MANY. Author Unknown.

OLD AGE AIN'T NO PLACE FOR SISSIES! The late, great Bette Davis.

I ain't no sissy-la-la. I can handle being old!!!

Onward Christian Soldiers

2009-10-05T13:50:00.016-05:00

From the "oh pleeeaase give me a fuckin' break" file.
I read this on Post Gazette's web site.

What a jerk this superintendent must be. Come on man. We're talking four. FOUR homeless kids. Like their lives aren't hard enough.

Jesus, this makes me angry! Maybe he should think that someday people could treat his grandkids in the same manner.

But I doubt it.

Or could it dawn on him one day the whole "there, but for the grace of God go I" way of thinking. Maybe?

So this lovely little school district whose median home price is $355,000 doesn't want four, yes FOUR homeless kids attending their schools?

What's puzzling is that 65% of its residence are college educated or better.

Shouldn't they know better?

Just a coincidence that the school is 91.3% white?

School district Superintendent Michael A. Panza said although the children are served by a day shelter in the district, they're sleeping at churches outside of the district.

These are the same people that will bitch about paying welfare for these same adults because they never got an education.

I'm sure they were also ready to "save" all those fetus' as long as they were in the womb.

But God forbid we should ever try to help them after they're born.

Jerks.

Speaking of jerks, there is a new donut shop in the strip called Peace, Love and Little Donuts.

When looking at the web site, it tells you get in touch with your inner hippie. So your probably thinking, hey this is probably run by some hipster or the like.
WRONG. I checked out his blog (which has since been deleted). This man is a far, far right anti-gay christian fundamentalist.

In his words:
This crowd will not rest until Homosexuality is mainstream,
until they pass the Fairness Doctrine and rid the county of Conservative talk radio; until they transfer our sovriegnty to the UN

Think he's talking about the Democrats? I wish I would have copied the other stuff before he took down the site.

Golly gee, those right wing fundamentalist are always confusing themselves with the peace loving hippies.

Don't ya just hate when that happens?

Sort of like when people confuse Rush with Rachel. (Well they DO both begin with R).

As the individual who sent me this information wrote; I plan on avoiding this place like the plague!

Onward Christian Soldiers. Really, onward. As in move forward. Outta here. Adios. See ya later. Bye.

* I know, I know. I'm going straight to hell for the picture of Jesus giving the finger. But you know, I looked and looked for an appropriate picture and kept coming back to this. I know it's in bad taste. But I just couldn't help myself. Because I truly believe Jesus really does disagree with these assholes.
THIS coming from one who used to dress up daily as a nun. Yes the girl on the top in the picture below is me!
a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GGRIH6T920c/Ssp9e-Dq-NI/AAAAAAAABPg/_wHLba8m2b0/s1600-h/me+nun.bmp">

Sorry Jesus. For my bad interpretation of a nun and the finger picture.

Bless me father..........

Dream On

2009-09-30T10:41:00.005-05:00

No you are not dreaming, this is a picture of the Point State Park fountain. And yes, it is pink. My friend Elaine is, among other things a breast cancer survivor. Tomorrow she is honored to be one of the survivors who will be putting pink dye into the fountain at the Point of kick off Breast Cancer awareness month. I could write blog post after blog post about what she has overcome in her life. So far she has beat her latest obstacle,just like everything else. You go girl!

Speaking of dreams, my God last night I had the weirdest dream. I'm talking weird, weird, weird. I dreamt Cyril Wecht tried to pick me up and my boss told me I had to post it on my blog.
See, I told you it was weird.
Wonder where THAT came from.
Funny thing is, Cyril Wecht got on my nerves even in my dream!
I was going to put every big word I know into one sentence for this post just like he does, but I don't have enough energy this morning.
Sorry.

On to other things.
Common Sense.
How about this!
Two things come to mind.
1. Who turned this lady in? Talk about creeps.
2. If I were the parents of those children, I would find out who sent the letter and come Monday morning, I would drop the kids off at their office.
Jesus, that is why government is given a bad name!

The Anger Management Girls are headed on a field trip this Thursday. We are going to the new Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh.
THAT should provide me with all kind of new stories to write on this here blog!

Wish me luck and pleasant dreams!

Cyril Wecht????????Where the hell did that come from?

And The Rockets Red Glare............

2009-09-28T12:12:00.003-05:00

I took this picture while at the Pirate's game on Saturday night. It was Skyblast night. It reminds me of the attack on Ft. Henry.

Calm Before The Storm

2009-09-24T10:09:00.011-05:00

This is Walnut Street today. Three blocks from my home. Hard to believe isn't it? On any day of the week, this street would be busting at the seam with activity.
Not today.
I feel like my city is under siege. Yesterday there were military transport helicopters circling overhead. Right now all I hear is police sirens. Lots of them.

There's not a person on the street. ANYWHERE!

Having lived in DC and working on Pennsylvania Avenue, I'm no stranger to protests. One time I was late for work(surprise, surprise)running to get there last minute. Marlon Brando and company had my whole building surrounded to protest the FBI's involvement in Wounded Knee. Let me tell you, I was pissed. I wanted to tell Marlon I really had nothing to do with it, plus I was late for a meeting, and my boss is going to be pissed enough as it is, so couldn't he just let me by this one little old time?

Anyway, you know what it feels like here this week, does anyone remember the scene at the end of The Untouchables when the Feds are at the train station waiting for Al Capone? The clock is ticking, the guns are aimed. Tick, tick tick, nervous perspiration is dripping from their foreheads. They are well prepared. Waiting. Then some woman starts walking up the steps with a baby carriage and screws everything up.
It feels like the city is the train station. All the guns are aimed, just waiting for a protesters to step out of line.

Hopefully I won't be the lady with the baby carriage!

Welcome G-20 Summit.

Now please go home so that my street can return to this:

Make Love Not War N'at

2009-09-23T17:58:00.008-05:00

So for those of you who don't read my favorite blogger of all time Ginny (formerly Pittgirl) over at That's Church Get your butt's over there and visit. You will not be sorry.

Today she writes about the Greenpeace Mensa's who dropped the sign off the West End Bridge to protest carbon dioxide emissions. The event snarled up traffic for miles. Soooo, cars backed up........engines idling.........yeah,you get the picture.

Reader Magus Patris provided us with this picture:

With the following comment:
"Greenpeace just put up a new banner on the West End Bridge. Spokesman says they feel for long suffering Pittsburghers"

Knowing first hand a Pirate fan's agony,THAT is some funny shit!

We shall overcome......Someday????

Public Service Announcement

2009-09-22T14:50:00.003-05:00

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

2009-09-17T14:11:00.007-05:00

Oh great, like I'm not already pissed off. I get this.

September 24, will feature a People's Uprising, a mass march to disrupt the G-20 summit. We'll be starting at Arsenal Park at 2:30 pm in Lawrenceville, a vibrant working class community in the city, and marching to the G-20 summit downtown. Our theme is "Power from Below, Not Impositions from Above." Our only permit is our feet and voices. The G-20 is in the house, throwing a party. Let's crash

Damn I hate party crashers. I wish my college roommates lived in Pittsburgh. Cheerio and Keto would take care of all them there protesting commie mf'ers. They would go running back to their mom's faster than that girl Mary something who tried to live with us for five minutes junior year. I guarantee it!

Seriously though folks, I have dear friends and family across the street from Arsenal Park. Jaggoff's better not mess with my town. Esp Lawrenceville. We all know how protective I am of Lawrenveville. Just ask Lisa!

So in the word's of Lawrenceville's own Mark Lewandowski of SPUD fame, HEY YOU, GET THE HELL OUTTA MY YARD!!

Or better yet,how about Charlie Daniels Just go and lay your hand on a Pittsburgh Steelers fan!

I dare you.

My Two Cents

2009-09-16T12:41:00.012-05:00

I know, I know. I've been strangely silent the past few weeks. A bunch of different reasons for that. Mostly I still don't have a home machine. So the only way I can write these things is to stay after work hours.......yeah, right!
Alot of crazy stuff has been in the news lately hasn't it? I'm sure you all are sitting on the edge of your seats waiting for my commentary.
So here goes. Some of it is old news. I'll try to be brief.

First off a few words of warning for G-20 protesters. Don't mess with my city Jagg Off's! I mean it. Take a bath. Get a good haircut. Get a job. The word will suddenly be a better place for which you to live.
Now don't you all go all crazy on me here. I'm not talking about the peaceful, lawful protesters. We all have that right. I'm talking about the anarchist nut cases. The ones who are pissed because they aren't going to be able to camp out in Point State Park and burn down buildings. Usually, when you visit ones city, you either stay in a hotel or with friends or make arrangements with a friend of a friend of a friend. It's really not up to us to provide a place for you to sleep. We didn't invite you here. Don't like it? Stay home!
My favorite thing about these nuts? They go on and on about big bad corporate America. You know, the companies that employee their parents so that they can spoil these jerks into thinking they can do whatever they damn well please. Yeah, so they protest everything/anything just to be cool. Then they go have their coffee at Starbucks!
Breaking that Gap window? Woo, that's telling them. I'm sure the Prime Minister of Italy is going to be sitting in the Convention Center thinking "oh wait, we better change that policy because some kid is breaking a window three miles away."
Yeah, break things. That's telling them. Real mature way of thinking.

Sorry, that took up more space than I wanted it to.
Next on my list, Kayne.
He's been all over the place saying he was going to apologise to that poor little Taylor Swift.
Hello Kayne, what's taking you so long? Actions speak louder than words.
I watched an interview with her yesterday and heard her sing for the first time. Loved her. Would never have heard of her if it wasn't for this incident. I'm thinking there are tons more people like me who are going to buy her CD. So she gets the last laugh.
(Besides, Beoynce is married to my boyfriend Jay Z. (Can you believe I have a crush on him?)So there's a little but of jealously there!
Oh and one more thing Kanye. This wasn't the freaking' Academy Awards for cryin out loud.
(Another one who was raised to think he is all important and can do whatever he wants to whomever he wants.
I'm beginning to think my generation has raised a bunch of first class jerks. What where we thinking? Some of these kids think the world revolves around them.

Next. Jim Wilson.
Someone should have dragged that man out of there by his ears.
By far my favorite was written as a comment over at my old fav Margaret and Helen.

”Rep Joe Wilson is a Col in the US Army reserves.
Please contact his Commanding Officer and remind him of his duty to maintain discipline in the ranks.
Article 88: Contempt Toward Officials: Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.”

Next, the Presidents big bad school speech.
Those of you who kept your kids home from school so as not to hear the President need to go back to school themselves. He is one of the most inspirational speakers of our time. His life lessons should be an something any parent would want their kid to duplicate.
I looked up the school districts in the Pittsburgh area that wouldn't let the speech be aired. Typical. I could have named them without reading the article. One surprise. Shaler-ville let the kids listen to it. I'm impressed.

I guess it's no accident these kids today are so fucked up with parents like this. (myself included)

Enough said.

Apples Don't Fall Far From The Tree

2009-09-03T13:05:00.008-05:00

September 3, 1901 Marie (JesusMaryandJosephCorkywheresmyteeth) Jeffries was brought into this world kicking and screaming and probably son-of-a-bitching everyone around her.

She was my grandmother. What a woman.

I think about her all the time. She was quite the character. I like to think I got all the good qualities of my DNA from her. Any bad qualities all of us kids had, my mother naturally blamed on the Polish in us.(which is very, very little Ski!)

All who knew my gram, my mom and me tell me that they will never be dead as long as I'm alive. I consider that a great compliment.

I stayed overnight at my gram's house every Friday night for most of my life until she died. She was the only one who would let me. My other Grandmother couldn't handle me. She could handle 32 other grandchildren at one time as long as I wasn't there. Go figure.

Anyway, those Friday nights were fun. They always started with a trip to the bakery. I would run down Butler Street to Gunther's to get cream puffs for company. Yeah, right. My great-Uncle George who lived next door would come over and sit on the porch with us (He never ate the cream puffs). They would talk for hours about people who had been dead for decades. I wish I would have taped them. When I was 10, I didn't care who these ancient people were. Now it do.

What I didn't realize until much, much later..long after she had died was what an extraordinarily strong woman she must have been. Even after her legs were amputated,as the result of her diabetes, her spirit was never broken.

She was married twice. The first marriage ended in a divorce. She had three young children. Caught him cheating and got the hell out of there. This was in 1925. Imagine being a single mother of three.....in 1925.

She then met my mother's father. Big Pete. His parents were straight off the boat from Poland. Imagine how well that went over. Nice Polish policeman takes a crazy Irish divorcee with three kids home to meet the family, none of whom spoke English! PLUS she smoked like a fiend and enjoyed a few bottles of Iron City.
I'm thinking they weren't really all that nice to her. Which would account for my mother telling us every bad habit we had in life we acquired from the Polish. My mother spoke of going there as a kid and hating it because they were all speaking in Polish and my mother sort of got the vibe that there were talking about them.

They loved my Aunt Babe because when asked, she would tell them she was Polish. My mom, she would tell them she wasn't Polish, she was a Democrat. Are we all getting who I take after?

She had to bury a son and daughter-in-law. He survived Pearl Harbor only to die of carbon monoxide poisoning after being home from the war a short time. My mother said she was never the same person.

While trying to cope with that, Big Pete dropped dead at age 53. My gram lived off his pension until her death. The big pension? $21.00 a month.

I mention these things because she did not let any of these tragedies defeat her. She loved life. You only had to be in her presence for a few minutes before she had you in stitches with a joke or singing an Irish tune.

She smoked like crazy. Towards the end of her life, she had Parkinson's disease. She never flicked her cigarette. The ash was as long as the whole cigarette. But it never dropped. Amazing.

The thing that I remember most about her, while sitting on her porch, I never knew who was going to stroll by. She treated every one around her with the dignity that they deserved. She never once rolled her eyes. Not even when Henny Nichols would stop by for the Popsicle sticks that she saved for him.

She was fiercely protective of her children and grandchildren. Just ask my cousin George. Poor thing cried once while watching fireworks when he was probably a year or two old. For the next fifteen years she locked herself in the bathroom with him during Forth of July fireworks just in case they scared him.

When we went to Parades downtown, which was often, every time a horse came down the street, she would yell at my mother and aunt to watch us even MORE carefully than they already were. In 1919 someone got kicked by a horse in a parade...... so you just never can be too careful.

Once, when I was about five or six, someone was picking on me. I ran home crying. While my mother just gave me a hug and told me to ignore them, my grandmother became furious. She told me in no uncertain terms DO NOT take shit from anyone. EVER.

My mother said that was worse thing anyone could have told me. My whole personality changed after that. Thank God, can you imagine me being a sissy-la-la?

I've been sticking up for myself for a good 53 years now.
Thanks Gram.
I'm thinking of you.

What's Your Coverage Baby?

2009-09-02T09:57:00.009-05:00

Found this on Pittsburgh Woman's Blogging Society Blog.

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It would be funny if it weren't true! How many people do you know who cannot get divorced because they do not want to lose their husband's health benefits? A lot!

That should be the new pick-up line. Hey Baby, want to check out my insurance? or My insurance has no co-pays, want to dance?

God Bless The Irish

2009-08-31T13:10:00.013-05:00

*I wrote this on Saturday while watching Teddy Kennedy's funeral.

I'm sitting here cryin' like a fool watching Teddy Kennedy's funeral.
I don't know why.
I think it's because it's really really weird watching all these historical figures doing what I've done hundreds of times. Sitting at a catholic funeral.
Words are the same, different faces.
All the Catholic traditions. The ceremony, the grieving wife, the kids saying the Prayers of the Faithful. Even the pallbearers.
I love the fact they had female pallbearers. My niece was one for my mother.

It's funny, I can almost hear them sitting around the table just as we did. Who's carrying up the gifts? Who do we want being pallbearers? Who is going to do the readings?

It's so personal, you have to do it yourself, no matter how much money you have.

Sort of like "Exactly the same....only different.

I think that is why the Kennedy's captured the hearts of so many Americans. Especially Irish Catholic Americans like me.

Teddy Kennedy did what alot of us would have done given the opportunity. He fought for what we would have fought for, given his power. He helped those who we would have helped, given the means. And he enjoyed life how we would have enjoyed life....if we only had a few million to spare!!!

Today, I as I watch his wife Vicky sitting in the first pew, I know in her heart she is wishing the mass would never end. I can relate as she almost runs to hug the pallbearers who walk past her pew on their way into church.
I know exactly how she awful she feels.

I watched those kids as they were saying "Lord, Hear Our Prayer" just as I watched my own children saying the same thing. I saw the look of pride on their parents faces.

I can see my own huge crazy Irish Catholic family sitting in the same pews, felling the same sadness as every person in that church. With Marion and my cousin Danny in the role of Obama delivering the eulogy of course. How appropriate!

Years ago Dan worked in Boston for a short time. He talked about it all the time. Him and a few buddies worked for a restoration company. He was particularly proud of the church he worked on. He went on and on about being so high up(I'm sure he meant that figuratively as well as literally!)in the scaffolding painting above the alter. He told me it was the only Basilica in New England. He always was telling me and the kids that he wanted to take us up there some day to show them the church. So as I'm watching this mass today, I am amazed when I hear a CNN reporter describe the church as the only Basilica in New England. I looked it up on the Internet and sure enough, tears ran down my cheeks. We finally got to see the church my husband was so proud of.

Last night, I cracked up when they all sang When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, just like we did at my mothers wake. Only thing........If the Kennedy's are anything like us.......Oh what a headache they are all going to wake up with tomorrow! I bet you can't find a bottle of champagne left in all of DC. I certainly do hope they tied one on. Just like any proper Irish Catholic family would do!

**The picture below was taken by The Madonna. She went to watch the motorcade going into Arlington Cemetery.

Pour on the Iron... or the Cane

2009-08-25T08:25:00.013-05:00

The reason I am sure there is a God? I could have been born in Malaysia and been this poor woman.
Holy hell. Caned for drinking a beer? There would be a shortage on rattan if I were born in that country!
Could you imagine if the Anger Management Girls went out every Thursday in Malaysia??
Talk about "Off With Your Head! Holy Hell.

Ya know, I can get on this little ol' blog and bitch on just about anything without consequences. It's my opinion and in this country you are allowed to have them. Yes, even the crazy right wing"terrorists" have a right to their opinion..... Unfortunately.

So, I was wondering what other offenses are punishable by caning.
Of course there's the usual rape, robbery and burglary.
But how about illegal bicycle races, perpetrators of get-rich schemes (not bad), illegal money lending, vandals (hello Daniel Montano)and my personal favorite "Men who desert their wives." Can we drop the illegal bike racing and double the caning on that last one?

BUT you will be glad to know that they do not cane death cases. You cannot be caned and then put to death. Whew, I'm sure some death row inmates are sleeping better tonight knowing that.

Maybe some of the death row inmates should start talking to a "Prison Consultant." WTF??? A Fucking Prison Consultant. Yes folks, we now have prison consultants. Plexico Burris has a prison consultant. Stupid rich people will pay for anything won't they?
I am definitely in the wrong profession.

I wish someone would bring me over an ice cold "Arn" right now. At least my ass won't be sore after drinking it! My head may hurt, but definitely not my ass.

Not to change the subject Babe, but (I can hear my mother say that to her sister Babe like it was yesterday) In just four days I'll be celebrating my 3rd Blogivarsary. Yes, my first measly little post was written on August 29, 2006.
I guess I'll have to have a few extra Arn's to celebrate!
Who'da thunk it? Three years, 233 posts, and over 15,000 visitors later and I'm still here. Do your ears hurt yet?

OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!

2009-08-18T09:59:00.012-05:00

Does anyone know where I could fill out an application for Sarah Palin's "Death Panels?"
Do you think it offers health benefits?
If it does, I'm in.
I will need references.
Anyone care to volunteer?
I already have plenty of experience.

I think I might have finally found my life's work.
OFF WITH YOUR HEAD.

Can't take off work to take your elderly father to that Dr.'s appointment.
OFF WITH HIS HEAD!

Kids driving you crazy?
OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!

And just so the kiddies don't feel left out.
Jane is no longer playing with that Caribou Barbie?
OFF WITH HER HEAD!! (If only!)

I think I'll like this new job.
Leave it to good ol' Sarah to come up with this! She's so smart.

Hero's and Weirdo's

2009-08-12T10:10:00.022-05:00

Sorry the posts are few and far between lately. I need a new computer. Hopefully that will be soon.

Anyway, what's new? I guess we all know where the idiots are spending their summer vacations. At town hall meetings. Really, just stop folks. Your cover is blown. Go home. Or better yet, take a vacation. Hopefully not to a hospital if you don't have insurance. But we all know you do. Otherwise you all wouldn't be making fools of yourself on national TV. I guess its not very catholic of me to wish for these people to loose their insurance and have to pay for their own health care. How about just for a month or two? OK, OK I'll go to confession this Saturday. Hopefully I won't get hit by a truck between now and then.

On to people worthy of my time and energy.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

"When the full judgment on the Kennedy legacy is made — including JFK's Peace Corps and Alliance for Progress, Robert Kennedy's passion for civil rights and Ted Kennedy's efforts on health care, workplace reform and refugees — the changes wrought by Eunice Shriver may well be seen as the most consequential," Harrison Rainie, author of "Growing Up Kennedy," wrote in U.S. News & World Report in 1993.

I have a child with special needs. You've all read about him here. My "Devin from Heaven" is a gift from God who touches everyone he meets. He attended St Anthony's School for exceptional kids throughout grade school and high school.
Every year they hold their version of the special olympics at the school. Each special kid brings a regular kid and the different sites compete against each other. It is something my Devin looked forward to the entire year.

The looks on these kids faces. The pride it gives them, it is something for which we all should be forever grateful to Mrs. Shriver.
Faces like this.

This is Devin's friend Eddie.

Thank you Eunice Kennedy Shriver for making a difference in so many children's lives. You are personally responsible for putting smiles on the faces of millions. For that I and many others are eternally grateful.
I especially thank you for the smiles you put on one boys face, my Devin from heaven.

*The other boy in the picture below with my Devin on the basketball court is his friend Richard Eberlein. His brother and he came to the games every year with Devin. I don't know what they are studying in college, but I think they have a calling for special ed. I wish I had a picture of Richard (or Robert, I can't tell them apart) when he picked up Eddie and carried him over a fence when Eddie was too afraid to do it himself. Their parents should be proud.

These kids fight for basic rights everyday of their lives, then we have the phony nutcases sent to disrupt what should be civilized discussions on an important issue like health care. Too bad that is what they choose to be good at.
As Harriet was fond of saying "They aren't fit to wipe my ass." (Or Devin's)

Awe geeze, I almost forgot. Happy Bandiversary to my good friend Judi over at Stories From The Road. Please read this, she is a riot! She is a hero to many of us here in Bloggerland! She's lost 100 lbs!!!!! Christ, to me she is a Saint!

This Sweet Old World

2009-07-30T14:50:00.009-05:00

See what you lost when you left this world,

this sweet old world

See what you lost when you left this world,

this sweet old world

The breath from your own lips,

the touch of fingertips

A sweet and tender kiss

The sound of a midnight train,

wearing someone's ring

Someone calling your name

Somebody so warm cradled in your arm

Didn't you think you were worth anything

See what you lost when you left this world,

this sweet old world

See what you lost when you left this world,

this sweet old world

Millions of us in love,

promises made good

Your own flesh and blood

Looking for some truth,

dancing with no shoes

The beat, the rhythm, the blues

The pounding of your heart's drum together with another one

Didn't you think anyone loved you

See what you lost when you left this world,

this sweet old world

See what you lost when you left this world,

this sweet old world

I heard this song today. It's one of my favorites. It always gets me. Especially the part about missing your own flesh and blood.

I miss Dan today. I really, really miss him.So do my kids. It's not a birthday, or an anniversary. Just a plain old ordinary Thursday. The 317th Thursday without my husband.
Sometimes the worlds just not so sweet.

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light.....

2009-07-26T17:10:00.005-05:00

Hopefully you don't fall in the dawn's early light and have to go to the emergency room.

Yesterday as I was trying to recover from drinking too many frozen cosmopolitans at Harris Grill. (Oye.........) I was lying (dying) on my living room sofa switching channels on tv when I came upon Bill Mayer's Politically Incorrect. Love it. Why can't someone like him be president. Can it be that he has too much common sense.? I guess Obama's the closest we'll get.

He asked a question that really hit home with me.

Why is it that when Republicans talk about patriotism, it's only applied to wars?

Does any one else but Bill and I think it's un-American that 50 million Americans are without health care? (80% of which are WORKING Americans)

How about every time someone says every American does not need health care, we call them un-American?

It sure makes sense to me. Let's all put on our patriotic hats. And wear them for more than one reason.

Ohhh say can you see..............

I Think I Died And Gone To Heaven

2009-07-18T08:50:00.005-05:00

This is how I have been spending the last few days folks.
In this house.
Sitting on this porch...............

Enjoying this view............

Angry. Who's angry?

*Pictures taken from my phone this morning. I know, I know.

One RingyDingy

2009-07-13T22:44:00.005-05:00

I got a new phone. I love, love, love it. It's a Blackberry. I've been confused by that name and insist on calling it a Burberry. When I showed it to Ginny Ann, she thought it would be brown plaid. That's when I figured out I was calling it by the wrong name.
It is the coolest phone. It's the same one Jack Bauer uses in 24. Same ring tone too. Every time it rings I want to answer "Bauer here, send an ambulance. Now dammit!"

I can now read blogs on my phone. How cool is that? Now I'll never have a life. I'll be reading blogs 24/7.

And yes, I've turned into the people I hate. Right in the middle of a conversation, I just start reading my phone!

D'Amico here, do an intervention. Now dammit!

Never Cared To Say Good-Bye

2009-07-07T11:51:00.009-05:00

ENOUGH ALREADY.

No wonder MJ was a loon. The Jackson family is even crazier that he was. Yeah, and give them three more kids to fuck up. Please, someone rescue those kids from that bunch of freaks.

Televised world wide? Pleeeaaasssee.

There was a private burial at some cemetery this morning. Then they announce that his casket will be at Staple Center(not crazy enough for them around Staples Center, let's see, bring the casket, that'll get them coming). I guess they want to get as much publicity as they can out of this. Whore the guy out even in his death Jackson Family.

Can we bury the guy and get on with our lives already????????

Yeah, I liked some of his music. Mostly the Jackson 5 stuff. But really, did he cure cancer? Compared to Mother Theresa, what exactly did he accomplish?
So he could dance. He was a fuckin' nut people!

I watched some old interview with him last night. He actually said with a straight face that his plastic surgery rumors were just lies. Michael, Michael, Michael, I have a big nose. I have my mom's nose. It's didn't get smaller with age. Even as I got quite larger, my nose still stayed the same.

Just like his life, his death is being so mismanaged.

I guess P.T. Barnum was right, there is a sucker born every minute.

Get a life people!

Better close for now, I have to get back to watching that damn memorial service!

*Side note: One time Ski and I were staying at the Waldorf and this older black man who looked really familiar got into the elevator with us. We knew we knew him we just didn't know from where. We thought he was Sala Udin the councilman from Pgh. Llaine, Ski's daughter just rolled her eyes at us and told us how stupid we were. It was Joe Jackson she informed us!

OK, Late Edition here. Watched on line while at work. (Before you all go "what the hell were you doing at work, my boss told me where to find it online, he was watching from his office.) I felt like I was watching In Living Color or Saturday Night Live. It was probably the tackiest thing I've ever seen. Until Brook Shields. She and Michael's daughter Paris brought the only bit of class to an event that was the goofiest thing I've ever seen. And when that poor girl was talking, they were all grabbing her and fixing her and stuff. LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE!!!You've done enough.

I say give the kids to Brooke. What a class act. And look how she was raised, with her kooky mother and all.

Late, Late edition: Watched the memorial on TV tonight. Wasn't as bad as I originally thought. I overreacted. OK? The Jackson family were the only really crazy ones, the rest wasn't THAT bad.

There's A Summer Place......

2009-07-05T21:00:00.012-05:00

As I've mentioned here many times, I grew up in the Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh. Growing up in a place like that has given me a lifetime of stories, enough to fill this here blog for the next hundred years.
Yeah, at least a hundred years. I have so many book ideas in my head about Lawrenceville, I can hardly keep track.
One could do a book just about the characters we grew up with. Henny Nicols, Kemosabe, Russian John, Kashu, Six Pack Sally, Chucky Boom-Boom, Jimmy Hanlon aka "Fighting Solders from da sky", Gootchie Joe and Indian Mary, just to name a few. God rest most of their souls.
I think just about all of them are dead except Six pack Sal and Goochie Joe.
Those of you new to Lawrenceville don't know what you missed. What a place!

Anyway, one of the greatest things about growing up in Lawrenceville was spending the summers at Leslie Park Swimming Pool.

THAT was living. I remember counting down the days to summer while sitting in Sister Edith, Aka Sr. Jane's 6th grade class at St. Mary's. I could hardly sit still.

You knew summer was close when you rode past and saw the water in the pool. I would run home and try on my bathing suit to make sure it fit. It was usually a hand-me-down from Ginny Ann or The Madonna. Come to think of it. I don't think I ever had a "new" bathing suit until I grew taller than both of them in the 7th grade.

I remember meeting Mary Alice or in later years Ski and heading to the pool an hour before "Girl's Session" started.

Yes, that's right, GIRL'S SESSION. Can you believe it?
Here was the schedule.
12-1:30 - Girls
2-3:30 - Boys
4- 5:30 Mixed (Over 14 only)
6-7:30 Adult (Over 16 or accompanied by a parent)

Could you imagine today's teen-agers, swimming with no boys?
Too funny.

So there we were, we would sit in a line along the wall waiting endlessly for Annie to open the locker rooms.

Annie was the locker room nazi. Oh my God. She seemed like she was 100 years old, but she was probably 40. When she would turn off Butler St to walk up the steps. Hundreds of girls would scream in delight. It was probably more like 40 of us. But it seemed like we were there for hours.... and there were hundreds of us..... and Annie was 110..... plus it was 110 degrees out!

We would race through the locker room. Through the shower room and out to the pool.
But wait. We still weren't allowed to swim. We had to wait until the lifeguard blew the whistle. So all us girls would surround the pool, and wait anxouslly until Walt the head lifeguard blew the whistle.You were hot shit if you were the first one in!!
Esp. if you were first in line for the diving board.

One thing strikes me. I don't ever remember seeing a parent. Can you imagine. Sending your 8, 9, 10 year old down the park to swim WITHOUT SUPERVISION. Yeah kid, have fun, see ya later. But we all lived to tell the tale.

When 1:30 came around we would see who could get farthest away from the ladder. Being the last one out. Yeah, we were so cool.

Time for the boys. We would go back into locker room and God forbid if you forgot your "Basket Number" You had the wrath of Annie. 110 year old Locker Nazi. And if you gave her an attitude. She had the authority to ban you from swimming for a week or more. Can you believe it?

When we were old enough, we stuck around for boy's session. We would walk down Virgie's for a frozen coke and wait FOREVER for mixed session.There, the boys would show their stuff on the diving board and with that came the summer crushes. I remember thinking "Oh, if only so and so would look my way". Funny after thought, thank God they didn't, most of them are dead from drugs!

After mixed session. And some flirting with the life guards. We would run home for a fast dinner and then my dad would bring us to Adult session. He would bring in half the kids at the park too.

That was our summer. Except for one week in Conneaut, that was it. And we thought we were the luckiest kids on earth.

The last day at the pool was bittersweet. There were diving contests and races. And both boys and girls were allowed to swim together. (thank God no one got pregnant from the water!)The best part, they filled the bottom of the pool with coins and you got to keep all the money you collected. We were rich! Oh yes, we sure were. We were so rich to have grown up in a place so special and ummmm colorful.

As we got older and bolder, we jumped the fence to swim after hours. I have a scar on my left palm from climbing the fence while running from police. Until the day she died, my mother thought I got it when I tripped in my own back ally. (Her Eileen would never jump a fence and swim after hours!)

Leslie Pool wasn't without tragedy. Dan's cousin Jackie drown swimming after hours. Dennie Golardo broke his neck diving off the top of the locker building.
In the early 70's the park and Lawrenceville changed. Vietnam came to an end and when the boys came home, they brought heroin and drug habits with them. Leslie Park became known as "needle park". Sometime in the 80s they redid the pool into something that became tough to actually swim in. The pool eventually was closed as a casualty of an almost bankrupt city.

It's taken a while but Lawrenceville and Leslie Park are on the upswing thanks to the hard work of lots of people.

What got me thinking about all this? An email I got from Lawrenceville Stakeholders
about an event IN Leslie Park Pool. The Accordion Pool Party. Does that sound like fun or what? I am so in!

OMG, wonder if any cute lifeguard's will be there. Ya know I'm single again!

*I spent half of the night searching for a picture of Leslie Pool. I can't believe I don't have a picture of something that was such a big part of my growing up. I looked on the Internet also. Nothing. Weird. Oh well, every inch of it is etched forever in my mind down to the very smell of the locker room, the red life guard chairs and the chain separating the shallow and deep ends of the pool. (it was an actual chain!)

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

2009-07-03T12:03:00.008-05:00

Sigh.......another year I will be watching "A Capital Fourth" from my TV. And saying, "Next year I'm going!" Sigh......and next year I'll be sitting on my couch watching "A Capitol Fourth...................and on and on.

Jimmy Smitts is right. It is so hard to explain the rush you get from seeing those fireworks set off above all the monuments. Real cannons blasting. The symphony playing the 1812 Overture. I get goose bumps just writing about it.
If you have never spent a 4th of July in "Our Nation's Capitol" you should add it to your bucket list. It is one the most spectular thing's I've done in my life. (And believe me, I've been around!)
Makes you proud to be an American.

If you can't get to DC, there's always good ol' Arsenal Park!!!! Same thing.... only different.
My cousin Jeff and I will be there playing our annual "Dead or Alive?"

Hope your 4th is just as fun!

2009-07-01T19:10:00.006-05:00

Just as Thursday is the new Friday and 50 is the new 30. Shur-Save is becoming my new Bruggers.
Why do I put myself through it? Why? Why do I bother going there. For those of you who don't know it, Shur Save is the old Bloomfield Foodland. It's purely white ghetto. Just like me!

But hey, it's cheap. Just like me!

So tonight I stop in just to pick up a few things. I go to the check out and my bill totals $10.20.
I go to hand the girl my twenty. She takes my $20 (or chwenty as Erin says!)bill and a split second later I say: Oh, here I have the twenty cents.
White trash cashier: No, I cannot take that once I put in the amount.
White trash customer (aka: ME): What? Just take the twenty cents and give me a ten back.
WTC: No, I have to give you back change for a $20.
WTC-Me: Well, you have the same amount in the register. Do you know how to count?
WTC: (Never looking at me) No, can't be done.
WTC-Me: OK here, give me the 80 cents. Thank you. Now here are three quarters, two dimes and one nickle. And here are 9 ones. May I have a $10.00 bill for this?
WTC: Sure, here.(Handing me a ten and still never looking at me.)

AGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

WTC-Me: I sure hope you like working here. I think you will be here for a long time.

WHY. DO. I. PUT. MYSELF. THROUGH. THIS.
Just to save a buck!

Ladies And Gent's Laugh -In Looks At The News

2009-06-30T23:18:00.007-05:00

Just a few short notes on some news items that caught my interest today. It would be funny if it weren't true!

1. Smoking in Projects

Newsweek Magazine had an article promoting aban on smoking in public housing.
Wha??????????
Yes, I can picture it now:

Pittsburgh Housing Authority Policeman: Sorry Ma'am, I'm here to tell you that you have to move. (bang bang bang in background) Wait, get down lady, they are shooting each other down the hall.
Any way as I was saying lady, smoking is illegal here and you are going to have to evict the premises. Yes, you can take all that heroin with you. Just pack it up. But I have to confiscate the cigarettes.
Sorry, that's the rules.
So....Here come de' judge!"

2. Hillary Clinton, you could have "bet your sweet bippy" I would have never lost the respect I had for you if you would have just handled your husband's indiscretions a little like Jenny Sanford. My new hero!!

When asked about her husband's political future: "His career is not a concern of mine. He'll have to worry about that. I'm going to worry about my family and the character of my children."
"And that's the truth!."pppththththth.

YOU GO GIRL!!!
Wait, I have an idea, make him resign and you fill out the remainder of his term. You are smarter than him anyway.

3. Soul mate????? Is this Sanford guy for fuckin' real? Can't even put down in public what I think of this douche bag!
Wouldn't you love to "Sock it to him?"
How typical another "Moral Republican" HA!

Plus..... I have two children and I can't even go to the ladies room without explaining to way too many people where I was.
This man is a Governor......He didn't think anyone would wonder where he was..... for four days?????

Again Governor Jenny Sanford is sounding pretty good to me.

So "Look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls!"

*I can't even get into the whole Michael Jackson thing. Good Lord!
Verrry Eeen-ter-es-ting

Anj....Where's My Bullet?

2009-06-29T14:24:00.004-05:00

Oh great,just what we need a few more mensa's with guns!

Bless Me Father.......

2009-06-28T15:58:00.009-05:00

What a nice day I had today. Well, so far anyway. Kids, you better not screw up the rest of my day OK?

For our 50th Birthday's Ski and I, aka Lucy and Ethel, went to Rome to see the Pope. I know,I know, it was not the "Real Polish Pope" as Ski calls JPII but a Pope none the less. It was a trip of a lifetime.

On the morning we were supposed to see the Pope we had to meet a man to get our tickets. The Diocese of Pittsburgh sent all the info that was needed for us to get an audience with the Pope, but they didn't give us the actual tickets for some reason. They just gave us a number to call. We called and and the man said he said he would meet us in St Peter's Square that morning. "How will we know who you are?" we asked. He said "you'll know."

So after a sleepless night with scenarios about all that could go wrong the next day going over and over in my head, Ski and I go to St. Peters. As we were wondering through the Square looking hopelessly around quickly we spotted him.

There he was this huge Teddy Bear of a man waving a Terrible Towel right smack in the middle of St. Peter's Square. Yes, we knew that was him. Turns out he is from Pittsburgh. He is the person who gives out the audience tickets for the Pope's blessings. When he sees a Pittsburgh address, he gets excited. Hence, Burger's get the best seats. WE HAD SEATS ON THE ALTER!!!

So we start talking and he tells us he's going to come with us to see the Pope. Poor thing, he got more than he bargained for. As I've mentioned here many times before, when Ski and I travel together (which is often) It's always an adventure. From Presidential Inauguration's to Audiences with the Pope and everything in between including hitch-hiking across the state one too many times back in the day.

Anyway, this man was a wealth of inside knowledge from knowing where the Pope was entering from, where to look. Which seats were the best. He was truly unbelievable. Plus, I think he got a kick out of us. Especially when The Pope asked us to hold up anything we wanted him to bless and I held up about 100 metals in this:

Yes, I had all my rosaries and metals stashed in a Crown Royal Wiskey Sack! He thought that was hysterical.

After,we went to lunch. He continued to give us tips on great local restaurants,etc. He was so nice to us. I wanted to give him something for his kindness. So I dug in my purple crown royal sack and pulled out a pair of tacky Steeler rosaries. Oh my God. He absolutely loved them. He couldn't wait to go back to show them to all the fellow seminarians from Pittsburgh. esp since they were blessed by the Pope. I hated to part with them, but I had a spare! (I guess they worked, we've won two superbowls since!) As an added bonus, his Terrible Towel he was waving also got blessed by the Pope. No need to thank us Ben.

Today Ski and I went to Fr. Nick Vascov's first mass as a Roman Catholic priest. He was ordained at St. Paul's Cathedral yesterday. The mass was at St. Bernadette's in Monroeville.

You know, you always hear the bad things about Catholic Priests. You also hear awful stories about the young kids of today. But let me tell you. This 24 year old man is truly all that's good about the catholic church and our young people!

God Bless you Father Nick. It was truly an honor to be in the congregation at your first mass and to get your blessing on the first day of your journey serving God. Hopefully it will be a long and rewarding one.

And please,keep those prayers coming. Lord knows I need them.

Love,
The Rome Ladies.

*Whew, will you look at that, I got through the whole post without one swear word. Fr. Nick's prayer's must be working already!

Late Edition: Lisa just sent me a link to a song I think goes beautifully with this post. Not to get all religious on you but what an appropriate song for today.
Just take a moment to listen.

Just Askin'

2009-06-26T12:21:00.005-05:00

Went to Walmart last week and took this picture. Do this many handicapped people really shop at Walmart? Jesus, some of the handicap spaces are further away than regular spaces. And this is just in one direction. There are just as many in the other direction.

I find this weird. Does anyone else?

Maybe they should do a study. Does Walmart have a disproportionate number of handicap people who shop at their store? Or maybe they need all those handicap spaces to accommodate all the senior citizens who lost their life savings who now have to work at Walmart just to have money to eat.

Just askin'.

Hey...... Where Did Everybody Go?

2009-06-24T13:15:00.005-05:00

I love this sculpture. People in Pittsburgh either love it or hate it. I happen to love it.
It struck me funny that they took all the people off to repair the pole.
My first thought was "Hey, where did everybody go?"

If your wondering where all the Anger Management Girls are going to be tomorrow, we are headed to Cafe Sam. It's one our favorite places. If you've never been there, you should check it out. The food is great and reasonable. They have a great deck and we will be sitting on it drinking something frozen!

Send In The Clowns

2009-06-18T11:03:00.013-05:00

So I'm watching some news show the other night and this crazy person comes on and I can't tell you one word of what she was talking about because I was obsessed with how crazy looking she was.

I think to myself "who the fuck is this nut."

I watched until the end when they said thank you to Jane Orie, Pennsylvania Majority Whip. Republican (DUH!) McCandless. And, get this she loves Sara Palin. Surprise, surprise!!

Good Lord Sweet Jesus, who elects these people? (I know, I know!)

And, of course she gets tips on her nails????? Seriously people, would you take any person seriously who had Christmas tree's on her nails????? I mean they are fine for Christmas week and stuff, but not on official State business for cryin' out loud! You are representing me, GET RID OF THE NAILS!

New rule: When you become an elected government official NO FAKE NAILS! AND NEVER, EVER should anyone, male or female be allowed to wear animal print in the Senate chambers.
And sweetie, do yourself a favor. Take a vacation from the plastic surgeon. Maybe that time would be better spent finding a new hair stylist!

And the Republicans wonder why they are in trouble??????Seriously, they don't know??? Come on' they really really don't know???? Look, they have this woman and Rush speaking for them. Pleeeeaaaassseeeee!

Seriously, I couldn't tell you what she was talking about I was fixed on her ugly yellow suit, crazy nails and bad botox.

My eyes hurt, I think I am going blind from all that bling!!!

*I wish I could have found a picture of her from the other night wearing the crazy suit and nails. Hilarious.

I think that dirty look she's shooting in the top picture is directed at me. Ya think?

Happy Birthday Dan, Happy Flag Day

2009-06-14T09:21:00.003-05:00

Miracle On Ice Part II

2009-06-13T23:53:00.004-05:00

June 12, 2009, Game seven of the Stanley Cup playoffs was the best game of hockey I've watched since Feb. 22, 1980. That night I was living in DC. We were going crazy, much like the rest of the city, as well as the country.

Monday, I plan on chasing Sydney Crosby down the Boulevard of the Allies, much the same way my friend Marilyn and I chased Jim Craig down Pennsylvania a mere 29 years ago. (This time, it will just take me a little longer!!!)

I'm sure 29 years from now, my kids will be talking about this year's Stanley Cup winners. THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

2009-06-13T12:22:00.001-05:00

HEY HOSSA..............HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!

LETS GO PENS

2009-06-11T13:49:00.002-05:00

Seventh Heaven

2009-06-06T10:01:00.015-05:00

TUCKER
JARED
CULLEN
GAVIN
QUINN
DERMOTT
LIAM
My cousin Tomasina has seven boys. SEVEN, I SAID SEVEN BOYS.
Look at the picture above. They are all hers. And I guess it's a sign of the times when I have to say, all from the same husband!
Tomasina is about six years younger than me so when we were kids at my Aunts house she was like a real live baby doll.....for The Madonna and Ginny Ann. I of course, wasn't allowed to play, but back to my point.
Years later Tomasina and I lived on the same street when our kids were small. The hell that was Private Mintwood. Cute little street, but I think you needed your discharge papers from St. Frances East Wing before they would let you buy a house there. Oh the stories I could tell about that street.

Anyway, a few more years later we were neighbors again when we both ended up on Sherrod Street.
By then my kids had grown and were in HS. She was still having babies.

Believe me, it was an adventure to live near them. I used to hide my key under a mat in the vestibule (I know, surprise, surprise) The kids found it and would let themselves into my house when no one was home.
How did I figure this out you ask? Well, when I went into my bathroom and every single thing was thrown down the laundry shoot, that was a big clue.

The Madonna was getting older and her husband was getting all sappy and sad that they didn't have more kids. It only took one trip to Tomasina's house. We were sitting at the dinning room table. A few of them walked right on top of the table and began shooting him in the head with nurf balls. Ted never brought up the subject again.

If any of you are worried about your teenage daughter getting pregnant. Take them to Tomasina's. It's worth the trip, you will sleep much better for it. Actually Tom, you could start your own business....Oakland Catholic could bring bus tours through your house. The boys certainly wouldn't complain! It's a win win situation for all involved!

Last year during the height of the election and all the Sara Palin stuff I called her on my way to the lake to tell her something funny I had heard. We trashed Sara Palin the whole way to the lake. Towards the end of the conversation I said to her, where are your boys? You have been talking to me over an hour and not one interruption. She wondered the same thing. It seems the older few were drawing on the youngest making him black. Yes, black permanent magic marker. Head to toe. She just yells and laughs.

When she found out she was having her sixth baby, she came down to meet us at the St. Patrick's day parade. Each kid had a sign. They were all in a line. WE....ARE....EXPECTING...ANOTHER......LEPRACHUN. Too cute.

Believe me.(I say this about the Madonna too)She will never die of a heart attack. Nothing bothers her. I think it takes a special person to have all those kids. And that she is.

When we first moved to Shadyside, I missed her like crazy because I didn't have her down the street to talk to when something was going wrong. After everyone was in bed I would just take a walk up a few doors and sit and bitch about the day. She always had a few still up and running around, suddenly my problems were forgotten with laughter. Now I only get to do that when we go on vacation together every year.

I often think about 60 years into the future when they all get together for holidays. Tomasina and Eric long gone. Those boys will have plenty of laughs on holidays just reminiscing about growing up. "How about the time mummy caught you......or how about when we used to sneak into Eileen's house?"

So in honor of my 10,000 hit (which she was a while ago-sorry)
Here's to my cousin Tomasina and her "Rug Rats". My hero! Think of her when your one or two children are crying and you're having a rough day. Think of that X 7! And as Harriet was fond of saying "That Kate plus eight bitch isn't fit to wipe her ass!"

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Honorable mention goes to her husband Eric. Works 25 jobs and still helps with all the kid and house stuff!

Psst.....while you are at church this Sunday, could you please remember her neighbors in your prayers. I'm sure by now if they saw one naked butt, they saw them all! Hopefully they have better sense than to hide a key where 7 boys can easily find it. Pine Richland will never be the same.