Not Just Christmas to me

On December 25th, 1927 my father, Stephen "Pete" was Born. Now He would tell you that he was born on December 24th. My Grandma (aka : Shortie) swore that it was the 25th, and the mid-wife is the one who mistakenly wrote the 24th because that is when she arrived at the house. Grandma says it was the 25th, and she was older and wiser than my dad when it happened so I believe her.




Grandma :




Pete (Dad) :

"The Tree"

Merry Christmas

Pictured here is not my tree this year, but my favorite tree. It has always been known as "The Tree" in our house. It was one of our last trees in our home in Shelton Connecticut before moving to Missouri. The tree you see purchased at our favorite tree spot Jone's Tree Farm (http://www.jonesfamilyfarms.com/)

This was the year I went by myself (Big Big Mistake). When I cut it the tree stood 12' tall. In order to get it in to our 9' ceilings I cut it down to 9'2". Once erected it broke three tree stands. We finally found a stand that would hold it, and had to screw the stand to the floor. We then had to wire the tree to three points in the wall behind it. We cut the plastic wrap off and low and behold "The Tree" was exposed to its full size of 8' wide at the base and 9' Tall.

Also pictured in this tree are the countless Hallmark ornaments, and family heirloom ornaments that usually adorn our tree. This one pretty much used them all. Also if you look hard you can see the tree top that has been placed on our tree for the last 28 years. It was the tree top from my father's house, which was on our tree when I was a child. So it is know at this point to be 45 years old at least.

Also in the picture (front left) is my Santa Claus. He stand about three feet tall (life size) and is made of paper mache. Like the tree topper he is known to be at least 45 years old because that's as long as I can remember him. He of course has had some repairs over the years, but it makes him no less a precious item to me.

So why blog about a tree, because I can....... I love Christmas, and to me the tree is where it starts for decorations.

Just for reference here are some of our other trees through the years

And It Was Spectacular

Just got home from seeing the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the Fox. It was a great show. The dancing was absolutely fantastic.

November

Ok, I am posting, but really do not know why. Nobody reads this blog anyway.

After winding up October with a trip to my High School reunion I have had a "work Filled" November. We are opening a new store in Oak Grove, and it fills my days up pretty well. I have been able to do a few things outside of work,

The family took in "Sweeney Todd" at the Fox. What a mistake it was HORRIBLE

Holly was in a play at ECC called "Last Mass at St Casmir's.


It was a great end to a trilogy of plays. Holly played (not really acting, the role was HOLLY). Annie. JT was Eddie, and Tyler W played Rudy much better than it had been played in the last play.

Ryan then had Mr OHS at which Joanne celebrated her FINAL Mr OHS by being a judge.

Then came Thanksgiving..... We had the family in for the usual fare. This year we fried a turkey. 44 minutes and very good. Thanksgiving fell on Holly's birthday this year so it was a double dipped celebration.

We ended November with a trip to
Ryan and I liked it a lot, Holly liked the dancing and music, but not the overall performance

Well, it's off to December...

Reunion

Ok, so here is the follow up. My reunion was a blast. Spent 5 hours catching up with old friends, and people I have known for some 30+ years. Even caught up with a friend Tim Cashman) from way back in my St Peter school days in Bridgeport.

in CT Again

Flew in to Hartford on Friday. Spent the afternoon and night at Lena and Pauls. Soccer in the morning, and then a ride to Fairfield. I am hanging with Ernie until 6:15 when I will be leaving for my High School Re-Union.......

More to follow

The Many Faces Of Ryan

Back Home Again

Not sure if that means that's where I am, or that's where I've been.

Took a few Days to go back to CT with some family. I am always amazed at how the place has changes these past 12 years since we left.

The trip was too active to go into every little detail, but believe me it was a great trip.
Big E
Soccer Games
Grist Mill visit
Brunch in Fairfield
Mystic Seaport
Stonington Beach
Great dinner at Taco Loco (Black Rock)
Pennington Beach
Captain's Cove
Wicked (New York)
Mets / Cubs (at Shea)
Visits with Family
Visits with Friends

It was truly a good vacation....

Is It Good To Be Live? Yes It was

http://javiermendoza.com/

Looking forward to performance at Release Party on Friday.

I am listening to Javier Mendoza's latest It's Good To Be Live Volume 2. Like the night it was performed I find this to be a quality performance. Although it is a little subdued, you can feel the passion and Javier's commitment to his music in these tracks.

I also enjoyed last year's recordings that were lost, and believe that they had a higher energy level. These of course you have to find on You Tube.

Head down to the Gramophone on Friday 08/29/2008 to hear and see the performance

Update:
The CD release Party show was excellent. Javier started with a "repeat performance" of the CD, but this time with a bit more ENERGY in the set. Once completed Javier and the band went in to a more rock oriented performance. Both sets were very good with 75% of the crowd really in to the show. Unfortunately, 25% were there just to drink and YAP which they should have done at their house rather than intrude on the night's true purpose.

Nietzsche Said

"Without music, life would be a mistake."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche

I kind of gave this quote some thought today. Think about it......................

I am not sure if it would be a mistake, but life would certainly be less memorable. I find myself sometimes traveling back to a time and place just by hearing a song. Sometimes this is a good place..... Some times it isn't quite as pleasant, but yet it triggers a memory extremely strong. Music, I believe will trigger some of your strongest memories. Think about it....Here are a few examples for me.

The "Good-Bye Girl", by David Gates triggers some very happy thoughts for me. It was the title song from the first movie Joanne and I ever went to together. We saw it at the community theater in Fairfield CT.

On December 20th, 1994 I lost my father. That year Randy Travis had a hit song titled "The Box". It was a song about somebody going through their father's belonging after he had passed away. To this day that song still bring me back to that day, and the emotions I felt after losing my dad. It is nearly 14 years ago, but the memory is still so strong.

Recently I lost my mother. While driving to the airport to fly back to Connecticut, I turned on my MP3 player, and the song it was playing (strangely by chance) was "Home" by Daughtry. While the song is not about traveling home for the same reason I was, it still rings thoughts of how we feel when we go home. That one was not only strange yet very moving.

Obviously these are but a few examples of what Music does to me, I am sure that you like me have many other memories that are triggered by hearing a song. So the next time you hear some old song, think about when you first heard it. Maybe, just maybe it will bring you to a place and time when you were truly moved....

Prom Time

Here is a shot of Ryan and his date Meighan before their Prom. They look great in their black and pink. I let him borrow the HHR rather than driving the Taurus.

They were Traveling with some other friends (Ashley, and Ellen)

After these shots they are headed to Miller's Grill for dinner, then to the photographer for Professional shots, and then off to the Prom.

Life Just Continues

I was awaken last Thursday morning at 2:35am by a call from my sister Denise. Unfortunately the news was not good (it never is at that time of day). My mother had passed away.

My sister conveyed that there were no funeral arrangements so there was no need for me to travel back. Regardless, I knew I had to. So I boarded American Airlines at 8:00am CT. I landed in Connecticut around 11:30 ET, and headed to Thrifty (not really they were way too expensive after the "add ons") I headed to Westbrook and met up with my Brother Steve and niece Tara. Vicky and my afore mentioned sister Denise had headed to Vermont to pick up my nephew Josh from school. We visited Swan's funeral home where we had a private viewing, and I was able to say good-bye to my mother (posthumously). Swan's has a great Obituary link that shows some great shots of my mom check it out http://www.mem.com/Story.aspx?ID=2413090
Later Tara, Steve and I went out for a Pizza dinner at Westbrook Pizza. Good stuff.

I left there late and headed to Fairfield to enjoy the hospitality of Ruthe, and Ernie. Friday morning brought a trip to Mountain Grove cemetery to visit my Grandparents, Uncle Dave, and my beloved father. I then stopped to see a friend of some 30 years Jimmy Sciortino. I returned to Westbrook after that, and visited with everybody at Steve and Vicky's (except Denise) and had a good visit. Steve and I talked for quite a while, and then I headed back to Fairfield. On Saturday I took off from Ruthe, and Ernie's early and met Rick, and his son Josh for Breakfast. After a great visit with these two good friends (really they are family in my heart) I headed to Natick to hang out with Lena, Paul, Noah, and Ali. We played Wiffle ball, took an excruciatingly long walk, and then returned to their house. Lena and I headed to Trader Joes so she could pick up some Organic and Healthy groceries, and half a liquor store worth of wine. We then returned to their house gathered the troops and went to Vinny T's for a great dinner.

Sunday was whistle stop day, Lena's, Steve's, I stopped and saw the "Captain" and then to Ruthe, and Ernie's. I left on Monday in the Rain and got back to St. Louis around 6:00pm.

I guess that is only a detail of what I did. Obviously I can / will not pour out the feelings that accompanied this trip, but let's just say that they run the gambit.

FOOTLOOSE

Cut Footloose. We thoroughly enjoyed the ECC production of Footloose last week. We had Holly doing what she loves to do, acting and singing. We also had Ryan doing what he loves, working on the Tech crew.

Obviously you can only appreciate the quality of Tech work if you pay attention closely. Ryan was on the spot on the rafters high above the stage. Watching the performance 4 times gave us the opportunity to follow how well he performed, and made sure he kept up with the actors movements.

Holly of course loved the role as Rusty which was quite a stretch for her. Rusty is a PEPPY, Happy, fast talking girl. She scored center stage at the opening, and in several scenes with her acting and singing. If you missed "Let's hear it for the boy" you missed a lot.

Much as I love my kids and their performances, the player who truly was one of the crowd favorites was the redneck side-kick Willard Hewitt played so masterfully by Mike Askins.

When and if Holly gets a copy of the DVD we will have a Footloose Party at the house.

Sorry There is no DVD for this Show>>>>>>>>>>>

KC Bound

On Friday 02/15/2008 I took Holly to an audition for the

http://www.sft.edu/conservatory

The audition was in Kansas City, but the school is in NYC. We left once Holly got off work at 5:00pm. We drove to the Comfort Inn just North of downtown KC. It was a nice clean Comfort Inn(my hotel of choice whenever possible). There were 4 pillows per bed, which may not seem like much, but made a major difference for me over the usual two crappy pillows you get at most hotels. We stayed there to save $25 - $75 over the downtown hotel rates, and we were less than 15 minutes from our destination.

Auditions started at 8 so as usual when you are traveling with me, we arrived at 7 to the

http://www.hotelphillips.com/index2.asp?sourceid=

Hotel Phillips. What a gorgeous hotel. It is located in Downtown KC.

So we waited for the school officials (Anthony and Joan) to arrive, and they did at 8:00am. Anthony took down names, talked about the process, and the kids filled out forms. Holly let another girl go first because she had to be back in Topeka by 10:00am. Holly went second for her interview with

Joan who is the school's director. The interview / audition was quick as Holly is only trying for the intense summer program. She won't know the "results" for a few weeks, but every audition is an opportunity that must be seized. Check out the website, and note the location of the school.

SUPER - STAR

Oh my GOD!!!!!!!!!! I took the kids to see Jesus Christ Superstar at the Fox last night. We actually got to see a SUPERSTAR. Ted Nelley who is 64 years old was OUTSTANDING. He hit notes that Holly can't hit

As you may or may not know Superstar was / is the first collaboration of two Broadway giants from 1971. Tim Rice and (Sir) Andrew Llyod Weber are credited with the lyrics and music.

Costumes were good, Lighting was fantastic, and like all great shows really enhanced the scenes. We had a great time.........

Super Bowl Sunday is here. Two weeks ago I was so routing for the Packers, and the Patriots (my two favorite teams) but came up 1 out of 2. Of course it could have been worse, I could have come up 0 for 2. oh by the way, I am not a Johnny come lately Patriot fan. I actually prefer the logo above to the "Flying Elvis"

I liked the patriots way back when Steve Grogan ran the offense. I actually started liking them because I couldn't stand watching the Giant and Jets anymore. CBS and NBC out of New York always showd the damn jets and giants, and they sucked. The Patriots games were on the Hartford station, and it was a good alternative. They weren't that great, but I liked their players. (I remember Russ Francis their all-Pro TE,, Darryl Stingley was a WR, later there was Tippet at LB.

So that being said, I will also have to think hard the day Brett Farve retires if the Packers will remain on my Favorites list. I am a fan of the game, and have changed by allegiance several times to follow certain players. As a kid I was a die hard Vikings fan.I cried like a baby when the Chiefs beat them (like so many other did) in the Super Bowl. How could you NOT love Bud Grant's style. I even had a Viking helmet which I wore playing with my friends T.R., Kevin, Brian, Bo, etc...in the back yard. Then they let Alan Page leave and play somewhere else. I wanted to run like the great (and mostly unknown) #44 Chuck Foreman, rush the passer like Page, Eller, Marshall, and Seimon, intercept passes like Paul Krause. After the Vikes allowed their team to walk away, I started following a team that had a gifted runner (Sweetness) and not much else. Some guy named "Bobby" Douglas was at QB and the team was going NOWHERE. Then came the "D", and the player who really caught my football interest #9 Jim McMahon. Add in the fiery Ditka, the genius of Buddy Ryan, and a wide eyed linebacker named Singletary and I was hooked.....Then of course the Bears dismantles that great team letting go of Wilbur Marshall, Richard Dent, McMahon. and the rest.....................So I hooked up with the Packers and that upstart QB Brett Farve. Like McMahon he played QB like an out of control blitzing LB. I loved it...

Baseball will always be my Favorite game, but I love Football. My love of Football is one of those things I got from my beloved father Pete. He of course also liked the college game (not me)

So bring on the Chips, the Smokies, and the beer. Enjoy the super bowl. 19-0

The Bucket

On Friday Joanne, Ryan and I went to see the "Bucket List".

It was a Great Movie. Nicholson and Freeman were a great team. I usually like Morgan Freeman, but jack I can take or leave. However, you will find yourself laughing until you cry. Well, I guess you will only if you get it.

After the Movie, I wondered what I would / should have on my "Bucket List". I also wondered who else has one that I know. Anyway, it was a very good movie, one I would recommend to see. I also went and saw Sweeney Todd for the third time, and enjoyed just as much as the first two.

Funny, As the years go by I have never seen the "Big Deal" about marking the movement of Father Time. The New Year's "Holiday" to me has always been a bit of over-hype. What is truly the big deal? It marks the passing of time, just like the clock, and the calendar do daily. So we change to the next number 2008, 2009 etc....

Your problems don't disappear, your bills don't magically stop coming, and it is probably the holiday with the highest fatality rate due to drunken fools who drive around after their partying.
I guess what I am saying is maybe we should mark the passing of every minute, every hour, and every day with the same zest for life that we do on December the 31st. That way our lives could be fuller, and more meaningful/

Just the thoughts from a Man who has never quite understood the day.