teeco71

Spirituality

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Some people find Spirituality in churches, synagogues, or temples. I think it is extremely important to have spirituality in one's life but I am not sure it has to come from an establishment. Do we need someone to guide us to spirituality or is it something inside us? Are we born with a sense of our spirit? Some say children can see angels and spirits or ghosts and then we grow out of it as we age. If that is the case, could we tap into our spiritual side at any time?

For me, it is about connection to people and things outside myself that brings me to my spiritual awareness. One of my favorite things to do is walk to the Verrazano Bridge near my house. It is the bridge that connects Brooklyn to Staten Island. There is a park that runs along the water that I love to visit and read, listen to music, and even chat online. The best part about going to this park is that it is right on the water. The sounds and smell of the ocean water make me feel peaceful. I can clear my head so I can think about important things, or just come up with ideas to write about. This past weekend I thought it would be great to share my place with you. One might say I feel a connection to creation among all that nature. The grass, trees, water, and air are gifts from somewhere. They are there for us to enjoy.

Another way I feel connected spiritually is through people. My family and a selected few friends can remind me of my spiritual self. There is a strange feeling you have when you are with your parents that you don't have at any other time. No matter how old you get, there is always that feeling of safety, of belonging. Even people I have never met in person can bring me spiritual joy when we join together for a good cause. When I was a part of Aquathon with Kirstie Alley or involved in Charity Water with Alyssa Milano I felt that spiritual awareness. Anytime I am involved in spreading the word about human trafficking and slavery with Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore I am reminded that we are all connected in spirit. You can say I am too sensitive or it is wishful thinking but it really does effect me in ways I can't explain. Simple things like playing with my one and a half year old nephew bring me back to my spiritual self. Reading a letter from a relative is another way to connect. Yes, I do have an Aunt who writes me and I write her back. In a world of emails and texts, we take time to make it more personal.

You never know who you will touch and how you can change some one's life just by being in it. I have a friend who probably doesn't even realize how much he changed my life. I call him friend because we have a connection I can't explain. He came into my life at exactly the time I needed him. We chatted a bit about nothing in particular and everything you could imagine. We have yet to meet face to face but his spirit changed me in ways I needed desperately and didn't even realize. I was holding back too much, not being true to myself. Through his example, he taught me that I have no reason to hold anything back. This is me, I am good enough and I need to deal with it. The strength I felt after that realization was amazing. I thought I was okay, strong enough, but I found I could be even better. For that I will always be grateful to Jason Dottley, you changed me for the better just by being you.

Are we all connected in spirit? I think we are. Think about what draws you to a person. Yes, sometimes it is physical but physical wears off. What attracts you may not keep you. I think the spiritual connection must be like a magnet, keeping you in each others' circles. Without the deeper, spiritual connection it could not last long.

Great conversation can bring me to my spiritual self because I believe all people come into our lives for a reason. So every truly inspiring conversation must happen to fulfill a purpose. The feeling you have afterwards is more than just happiness or contentment. It is satisfaction from a great connection, even if only made once.

Meditation is also a great tool in connecting spiritually. You would be astonished by the realizations you can come to just by being still, being quiet and listening to what is really going on around you. Our minds are always working but sometimes our own thoughts get shut out by all the outside noise we face each day. Focusing on just your breathing or on the flame of a candle can help you to block out all that outside noise and the things put into our heads by others.

Writing is a way for me to connect too. I can tap into my thoughts and believe it or not, I feel totally connected to the readers who may be reading my work. It is especially true when you get feedback and comments. It is all about the give and take, being brave enough to risk opening yourself up to the world.

Make plans to have dinner with your parents or other relatives, play with child for a few hours, call a great friend, make a new friend, or get involved in a cause that someone you admire is part of. Better yet, do them all. Try mediation, walking among nature, reading a good book, and let yourself truly relax. You could even try to just free write with no particular point in mind at all.

How do you connect to your spiritual self? What makes you feel more connected to nature and people?

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My Grandmother and Alzheimer's Disease

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Growing up we were very close to my Father's parents. We got together regularly, usually once a week for dinner, and always on Holidays. The weekly visits were usually on Wednesdays where we would have dinner at our house, some conversation, a bit of television watching, and of course coffee and cake. My Grandmother had a sweet tooth and yet never had a cavity (both qualities I have inherited from her).

My Mother's mother passed away at a very young age from cancer and her Father was mostly busy being himself so we never quite got close to him. My Mom and I both inherited our curls from her mother but I never got to meet her. I think that is why my Mom always made sure we were close to my Dad's parents and her Grandmother, who raised her and her sister after their mom had passed. We never thought of her Grandmother as our Great-Grandmother, we simply referred to her as Grandma. She was the only one we knew from that side of the family and even though she was more advanced in age, she did all the things a Grandmother would do with her Grandchildren. I don't remember exactly how old I was when she passed away, perhaps Junior High School age. I know she had a stroke which left her unable to speak or write but she still had her mind. It always seemed like she was very frustrated because she couldn't tell us what she wanted to. Most times you could tell she wanted to tell us something but shortly after, she suffered another stroke and it was too late.

My paternal Grandparents were a big part of our lives and I was lucky enough to be able to talk to my Grandmother at great lengths. I learned so much from her by learning about her. I learned how to cook and clean from both my Mother and from my Grandmother. Unfortunately, my Grandfather died of a heart attack when I was in high school and Grandma took it very hard. They had been together for so long, shared their lives and in the last years they were together almost all the time. They fought too, but you could always tell they were mostly joking around or just getting on each others' nerves. After he passed away, I started to go to my Grandmother's on the weekends to help her clean, cook, and keep her occupied. She always had pets and normally it was at least 2 dogs at any given time. She had a thing for stray animals as well as stray people. Her house was the center of it all.

They had started out living upstairs from my Grandfather's family but that apartment became too small for their family of five. Grandma was very proud to have her own house built on that same block. She wouldn't dream of moving too far from the family or the family business. They had an Italian bread bakery right there on the block and my Grandfather worked there with his father and brothers. Somehow over the years, Grandma became the leader of the family and was normally the one they all came to with their problems.

After my Grandfather passed away, the family began to notice she was getting a bit forgetful. She would forget things and then get argumentative, most likely because she was embarrassed about forgetting. In the beginning, we thought she was just suffering from the loss but it got worse over time. She could remember things from years before but not from the week before. When it was suggested that she see a doctor, she got very angry. She was never one to believe in doctors, she actually didn't really like them at all. Once we did get her to go, our fears were confirmed and then some. We found out that not only did she have an onset of Alzheimer's, she was also diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The Alzheimer's had probably started while Grandpa was still around and we suspect he may have been helping her to cover it up.

A few days after the traumatic doctor's visit, Grandma fell in the middle of the night in the bathroom in her bedroom. The odd thing was, she hadn't used that bathroom for anything since Grandpa passed away. It was his bathroom and she couldn't bring herself to go in there. But for some reason, she was in there that day and the fall caused her to break her leg. After that everything progressed so fast. The Alzheimer's was causing her to think her daughters were her sisters and at times would think I was her father. Her perception of reality was blurred but her body also began to deteriorate rapidly. The Parkinson's made her joints stiff so that the longer she was immobile due to her broken leg, the harder it was getting to move her around. Physical therapists came daily to get her to move her arms and the good leg. Once the leg was healed, it became apparent that she wouldn't be the same ever again. I think a part of her had given up or the Alzheimer's was just so far progressed that she forgot how strong she was.

Doctors told the family that we were actually lucky she was immobile because if she were able to get around she would have been wandering off. Yeah, we were lucky. The constant sitting and lying in bed caused bed sores that were difficult to heal. They had to be cleaned out daily and at one point it was so bad, I think you could see bone. Communicating with her became worse so it was hard to tell if she was in pain or just yelling at us because she was frustrated. When she could speak, she would talk about seeing people that had long since passed. She would say Grandpa had been there and was going to take her away to dance again. Was this part of the disease or was she really seeing angels? We never knew. She did live over 7 years being bed ridden and then she started having trouble eating. There were times when I would visit that I would see the shine in her eyes like she recognized me. Sometimes she would hold my had so tight, I knew she was in there somewhere.

Then came the dreaded day when I got the phone call from my Aunt. I knew from the sound in her voice, Grandma was gone. At the moment all I could feel was sadness, loss, and greif. In time, I realized her suffering had ended but it is still hard not to miss someone you lose even 15 years later.

I share this story with you to show how Alzheimer's Disease can make a stranger out of someone you know and love. This took place over 15 years ago so you should know that there have been strides made in treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's but early detection is the best defense. As with all diseases, if you have a family history you should look for warning signs and see a doctor if you suspect something is not quite right. To learn more about Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease you can go to the following sites:

http://www.alz.org/index.asp

http://www.parkinson.org/

http://www.michaeljfox.org/

Knowledge is power, empower yourself. Support these organizations or any of the many out there.

Confession

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Confession time: I am extremely shy. There, I admitted it. Whenever I tell anyone that, they usually respond with shock and disbelief but it is very much the truth. As a child, I had friends in school and of course outside of school but I was always more comfortable with those more familiar to me. When you are young, that is not much of a problem, your experiences are limited to familiar places and routines. As you get older, this becomes complicated. Going off to high school after being with the same classmates for just about 9 years was trying.

I was always a bit chunky as a boy. That sounds nicer than saying fat and when you are young, you can get away with calling it chunky. Not so cute as you go into your teen years and I knew that. The summer before going off to high school I was determined to drop the weight. I wanted to make the best impression possible and had convinced myself I would be more confident if I felt better about my appearance. WRONG. Yes, that summer as I watched the pounds drop off, I felt more and more sure of myself. I looked good and I liked it but I was with my family and familiar friends. The first day of school was a whole different ball game. Would they like me? What about my curly hair? What about the small amount of acne (really, I barely had any but of course as a teen one pimple is a major wide spread break out).

Needless to say, my first months and maybe even the first year of high school proved to be very quiet. I arrived at a certain time by bus, went to my classes, and then back to the bus stop for my return trip home. I was always very observant, watching what the others were doing. Praying the bullies wouldn't turn to pick on me, wishing I was part of the popular crowd. Thankfully, I was never picked on but I also never got to be part of the popular crowd either.

Something dawned on me in my sophomore year as I started to feel more comfortable and began making friends. I didn't need to be PART of the popular crowd, I just needed to BE. Soon my friends and I became our own popular crowd. Since high school doesn't last forever, I had to do it all over again in college and at work. Each time getting a little more confidence but still keeping to myself when need be.

Then came 2009 and Twitter. That day in April changed me in ways I couldn't have predicted. Who knew that this would be the thing to take me out of my shell and keep me there? I have been able to be the most authentic me, socialize with people, and even meet them on occasion. I am not afraid to express my opinion or be the first to engage someone in conversation. Somehow it has carried into my everyday life as well, I feel more sure of myself at work, I feel I can be more of myself all the time.

I am not suggesting that people need to use social media to solve shyness, what I am saying is it helps to find a hobby. Something that will put you in touch with people that share like interests while allowing you to be yourself. The more comfortable and passionate you feel about the activity of choice, the easier it will be to build confidence. You may even begin to shake off that shell without even realizing it.

I think the same would be true for parents of shy children. Encourage their hobbies and gently urge them to join groups with like interests. The more comfortable they are discussing their interests, the easier it will be to allow others who share their passion into the circle.

I think I will always have that shy part of me inside but hopefully I will be able to overcome it on most occasions. Too many experiences can be missed by being too scared to show the world who you really are. I prefer to take on as much as I can and enjoy myself as often as possible.

Happy Holidays 2009 Twitter family

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Twitter Family,
I would like to take this time to wish you all the Happiest Holidays!

I joined twitter in April of this year and had no idea what an awesome experience I was going to have. I have met so many wonderful people and I do cherish all of you so very much. All 2,749 of you! oops, 2,748, no 49 again. Well, I even cherish the one that left!

Whether we connect everyday, once a week, or even once a month, I can assure you that I have learned something from you and hope I have taught you something in return. The hearts of the people on twitter have helped me to realize the world really does still have good, honest people in it.

I have had the honor of being involved in so many terrific things this year. In July, I was part of Aquathon. Kirstie Alley had the idea of doing a twitter telethon to raise money for Playpumps, an organization that builds wells with water pumps in places that need fresh water in Africa. The genius of it is that the pumps are powered by a merry go round that children can play on and that is what powers the pumps to bring the water from the wells. Amazing, no electricity necessary. Steve Woods quickly jumped on board with Kirstie's idea and the two of them created an experience I will never forget.

I have also been privileged to sample new music from amazing artists, like TheRealNobody, Drew32, Jason Dottley, Josh Charles, Blake McKibben, and a few others. Their trust and generousity I will never forget and I hope they know I am here to support them whenever they need.

I have had the touching experience of being asked to sample writing from certain tweeters like EllenM7 and CousinSlowPoke. Both of these women have been through so much in their lives and what they wrote about touched me in ways that changed me.

Everyday is an adventure for me on Twitter, whether I am tweeting with Kirstie Alley, Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Coombs, Bo Burnham, Josh Charles, or various others or if I am chatting with my buddies and being silly it is fun.

I have had the opportunity to meet people from all over the country as well as people from all over the world. People I would have never come in contact with if not for Twitter. We may all be in different time zones but we have so many similarities and so much to talk about.

It really is like a family where everyone has a part to play and no one should feel less important than the others. We all have valuable roles and as we have proved this year, when we combine our forces we can do just about anything.

Because of Twitter, I went to Washington DC this year to be part of the Equality March. Another high point of my year! I got to meet Roger91367 and his partner there and we soon realized we were part of something huge. Without twitter, I may not have convinced myself to get on a plane by myself and head to DC to meet up and try to change things for the better.

I love the opportunity to pass on information or links that help people to get involved. Tweeting about Alyssa Milano's birthday wish to raise money for clean water, tweeting about SpiritJump, or tweeting to help get artists, comics, or musicians noticed is something I totally enjoy. I feel like I am part of the best community ever.

I was/am part of an amazing group of people, TeamButter, who make me laugh, think, and bring out the very best in me. We live tweet about reality tv as we watch and I always have the best time!

To the Power Tweeters like Jason Pollock, Kim, HeyKim, ButtercupD, Sarah_Ross, 9Swords, WebAddict, and so many more, you have taught me to be a good tweeter. I hope to be excellent some day.

To Erik and his 20days20causes, I was honored to be a part of helping you promote such a wonderful idea.

To CheddarChad, Tekee, AndyCrash, LiveSacred, and isweatbutter, you taught me that there are genuine nice people out there still.

To Joe Lawrence, Brandonxy, Chelsi Smith, and Geisha_Boy, you guys taught me to be FABULOUS and proud of it.

To Jeff Rago, Larry Sullivan, Tony Besson, Ashton, Demi, Kirstie, Alyssa, Bo Burnham, Josh Charles, Jason Dottley, Del Shores,and Jason Pollock, you all taught me that no matter how high profile you are, you still have time for your fans and friends.

To ALL of you, I am grateful for our friendships, chats, causes, and all the other amazing things we share together.

I wish I could mention you all by name but know that I am thinking of each of you when I say, "Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and a Healthy New Year to you all!"

I am sure 2010 will bring us even more opportunities to help each other and make a difference in the world.

Keep Tweeting, NEVER be afraid or ashamed to be exactly who you are, and remember to talk things out. You have a whole community that cares and is there for you.

Hapy Birthday Alyssa Milano

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When I was growing up, I knew Alyssa Milano from Who's the Boss. We are only one year apart in age so it felt like I grew up with her. She was so cute right from the beginning and then grew up along with us and became a young lady.

When she did her first movie, we went to see it and even as a child, I kinda felt like I knew her as Sam so it would be weird to see her in something else. Of course her acting was so good, that was not a problem. Later on, when she did more movies and other roles as a young adult I felt the same but she always did such a great job of transforming herself into the new characters.

When it was announced that she would be on Melrose Place I was so excited but again, felt like she would always be Sam to me. Once again, she proved me wrong. She was sexy, campy, and fun on Melrose.

When I heard Alyssa was signed on to be in Charmed I was on cloud nine. I love shows about the supernatural so I knew I would like Charmed but having Alyssa there made it more interesting. I knew Holly Marie Coombs from Picket Fences and Shannen Doherty from 90210 and knew Alyssa would make a great addition.

Little did I know how blown away I would be by that show. I was addicted for 8 years, never missing an episode on it's original air date. I even watched/still watch reruns on TNT and own the DVDs. The show was such a great escape for an hour each week. I got so involved with the characters that I even wrote a few fan fiction books based on them. Never published them though.

But, I say all this to say that Alyssa has transformed herself into many characters over the years while remaining the pure, honest, and kind individual she is in her heart. I always knew she was big on charities and community work and used her celebrity to gain attention for causes near and dear to her. She also made it known that her family kept her grounded throughout it all.

I am not at all surprised that she is good friends with Jack Dorsey, one of the co-founders of twitter. If you recall, Alyssa and her Mother started a site called Safesearch years ago for fans and other celebrities to have a safe place to surf the net. This innovative idea was in response to all the garbage that was out there on the internet that children were being exposed to. The idea was similar to twitter in that it was a community.

Back in April of this year, I joined twitter because I saw a show that Oprah did where she started an account and discussed how Ashton and Deme were using it. One of the first people I followed was Alyssa, thinking it would be cool to read her tweets and maybe even tweet her once in a while. I never thought she would answer me. Well, to my delight and surprise she did respond to my tweets and a little friendship was formed.

Yet again, Alyssa transformed herself from the person I have watched on tv and in movies to a friend of the spirit. So you may ask me why I cherish her tweets and to that I say, I cherish her spirit as it is clearly shown in her tweets. You can tell each tweet is sent with love and personal care. I have even seen her handle people being rude to her with grace and a kind word in return.

Recently, Alyssa announced that for her 37th Birthday she was going to give up gifts and ask that people donate to MyCharity: Water instead. Her goal was to raise $37,000 which she achieved very quickly. She then raised it to 50,000 and lastly 75,000. Right now there are 9 days left to donate and she is well over 76,000. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if she raises $100,000 by the end. More importantly, she has educated 1,225 on the importance of clean water AND motivated them to get involved. Who knows how many people they in turn educated on the subject. Not to mention all the people who just couldn't afford to give but read up on it and were educated. They will in turn educate others and that is also a great accomplishment.

I was not a bit surprised she was able to achieve her goals, Alyssa is very well respected and loved in the world and especially in the twitter community.

Happy Birthday, Alyssa...may you have all the happiness you bring others present in your life always.

You can still donate to My Charity:Water for the next 9 days here:
http://mycharitywater.org/p/campaign?campaign_id=2414

Thank you, Alyssa for all you have done for me personally. It has been and honor and privilege to get to know your kind soul,

Much love and respect,
Tommy (teeco71)

November 11, 2009 Veterans' Day Memorial

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

teeco71
Thomas Geraci SR. my grandfather. WWII vet
Donald Rainone, my grandfather. WWII vet
Thomas Geraci JR. my dad, Vietnam vet
John Daddino. my uncle, Vietnam vet

miss_tracker

#veteransday SSG Aaron Holleyman KIA august 2004

#veteransday christopher lee-7 years army

MsRosie89

My grandfather Richard Frazier, Company E, 193rd glider infantry 17th Airborne Division.1943 - 1946. Purple Heart Recipient.
My brother, Shane R. Long, United States Air Force, stationed in Alaska, serving from 1986 - 1988. He died in a car accident in 88

Pink Concert

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I got tickets to the Pink Concert at Madison Square Garden as soon as I heard she would be there. The tickets sold so fast that I was lucky to get the seats we had. They weren't the best but the way the show was set up, it didn't matter.

The Tin Tings opened for her and they were very good. I only know "That's not my name" but they put so much energy into their performance.

Once Pink came onto the stage the Garden went wild. The whole audience sang every song with her except "I touch myself." The show itself is full of colors, acrobats, clowns, props, and even a huge slide. But it really is all about Pink's amazing voice and style. Her talent is evident in each note.

What was most impressive was watching her singing while swinging from ropes, hanging upside down, and even being dunked in water. All without missing a note.

Then she did 3 encores. Each time you thought the show was over, there was another song and when it was really over, you didn't want it to be.

It was just so energizing and great to see everyone dancing and singing along with these songs we love. I was so into it, I was singing and tweeting the words at the same time. I think Pink had a smile on her face the whole time!

I got a few pictures and I have pictures of other shows I need to post here. I will as soon as I can. Meanwhile, if she comes to your city..........go see her!

Bo Burnham

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Anyone who knows me, knows Bo. He is currently one of my favorite comedians along with Kathy Griffin, Dane Cook, and Rosie O'Donnell. I listen to his cd all the time, in the car, on my ipod, even at work. So when I found out he was going to be at the Highline Ballroom in NYC, I had to get my tickets immediatley.

The only regret I have is that I went to the early show and the next show was coming in right away. I missed the chance to meet him if he did a meet and greet at the end of the second show. I should have stayed in the city and went back to the theater just for the meet and greet. Next time, I know better. I will go to the late show.

Now for the show, Bo was just as energetic and talented as you see on the You Tube videos and his Comedy Central Special. I am amazed that he is only 19 and has accomplished so much already. The fact that he has the courage to get on stage is even amazing. At 19 I was still so painfully shy. Even now, I can't imagine getting on stage but I would love to do it someday. He gets on stage and knocks 'em dead. He's got a CD that is awesome, a DVD of the Comedy Central show and some youtube stuff mixed in. He plays the guitar and keyboard with ease and is very comfortable rapping (for a white kid from Boston).

To describe him as a comic is not really fair. That does not do him justice. He is extremely intelligent as well. The material he uses ranges from current events, to politics, to Calculus. Yes, I said Calculus--that subject we always wondered why we were taking. When are we gonna use this? Well apparently, you can use it to make people laugh hysterically. Who knew?

I was shocked to see so many HS kids there. His humor is a bit more mature than that. But I will say, the crowd was of the more mature HS kid sect. They were all very well mannered and kinda cool in a HS kid way.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, Bo is their age and he happens to be very well mannered himself. He has tweeted me on a few occassions, which I thought was very cool of him. Okay, I admit, I was excited like one of those school girls to get the tweets---fine---I am not ashamed. He is cool, and he spoke to me! Don't judge me!!

Back to the show, he used some of his old material which was familiar to me and some new material, which was outrageously funny. The friend who came with me was not familiar with Bo's act but is now a fan for sure. I am glad I got her out from under her rock finally. I have mentioned Bo to her on many occassions and even told her to look him up on you tube. Now she is sorry!

One crazy part of the show was when Bo was resting his foot on one of the speakers and it fell over. You could see he was a bit shaken by almost falling off of the stage but he recovered quickly and went right back to the funny. It was one of those moments where you wait to see if the person is okay before laughing. But of course he even made that funny. Jumping around the stage is a common part of his act and there was a sofa up there which he jumped on a off of many times during the show. No other near injuries occured.

He even involved the audience in some of the act by choosing a boy to auction off to the ladies. Then, since he brags about being able to solve a rubix cube in record time, some smart ass from the audience brought one for him to do. Of course, the poor thing forgot to mix it up. He asked her to do so and once she gave it to him, he tossed it into the audience. That was his show, he doesn't have to prove anything.

I can only say that I enjoyed myself so much that I can't wait to see another show of his. Bo is going to be a big deal very soon (not that he isn't already).

Oh, and the food/drinks at the Highline were excellent. But I was really just there to see Bo....Fo Sho!!

Cyndi Lauper in concert

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Today I attended a concert at Westburry Music Fair in Long Island. The stage rotates and the audience is seated in a circular formation around it so that at some points during the event, everyone is directly in front of the artist. Such a cool way to see a show, plus it is not a very large arena so it can be very intimate.

Rosie O'Donnell opened for her. She did almost an hour's worth of stand-up. Her material was extremely funny and she interacted with the audience all throughout. From giving late comers a hard time to inquiring about what they were drinking and how much they were tipping the waitress. Her act was less political than I expected, which was okay because we really wanted to just forget any heavy issues and have fun. That is exactly what she gave us.

Cyndi came out and from the first note she was on point and energetic as a 12 year old. Amazing voice. Her range is so awesome, I don't think she gets enough credit for her amazing talent. Rosie sang backup for the first few songs too and she did very well. Cyndi brought Rosie back for the last few songs to play drums and she plays like a pro!!!

All through the concert, Cyndi kept running out into the audience and giving people high fives. We were a bit disappointed because our row was behind the sound guy and equipment. Toward the end of the show, Cyndi climbed over the equipment to run down our row. I even got a high five from her as she stood near us singing and dancing!! Her voice up close is just as AMAZING as it is on mic.

When it was over, I felt like I wanted more!! It started at 8 but ran to almost 11 with Rosie's comedy and then Cyndi taking time to talk to the audience throughout the show. Everyone was singing along and dancing to the songs and the crowd ranged in age from 7 to 70.

One other thing of interest, in the lobby Verizon was giving out earplugs. We thought it odd but once we got inside and he music started, we realized they were meant for any young children that may have been attending.
During the performance, if Cyndi saw a child holding their ears, she would run over to a box of tissue she had on stage. She would then bring the tissue to the child's parents and tell them to use them to stuff their ears. Then she would stop singing to ask if the child was "better now". She was amazing. At one point as she was checking on a child she said, "Okay? Better? Great! I gotta do a show but I'll be back." She sort of lost her place in the song and asked the band, "So, where were we? Ah, F--k it, we'll just improvise!!" How cool!

I will be seeing her live again as soon as she is anywhere near here. I recommend it to all of you as well. Cyndi Lauper is so much more than the multi colored hair pop star of the 80's. She is true talent and a class act!

Aquathon 2009

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Today I had the privilege of being a part of Aquathon 2009. The idea came about by THE Kirstie Alley one day while she was tweeting. You can often find her tweeting about ways to help others and the world. Soon after her idea was born, Mr. Steve Woods took to the task of helping her to organize an event that surely made history.

It was the first time anyone had a live twitter-thon including live streaming. Kirstie Alley was kind enough to allow us to be with her throughout most of the day via live feed and Steve Woods was right there with her. She assembled her children, her assistant, Kelly Coleman , and the fabulous sounds of Carlos Bertonatti, whose CD TIMES ARE GOOD is pretty awesome. Buy it from itunes asap! She also had her lemur, Forest.

The day started out with a few bumps. There was a storm the night before that knocked out the power at Kirstie's house in Florida so she had to go to a hotel in order to be able to stream live. Once she got her crew to the hotel and began steaming all was great! During the course of the day Melissa Gilbert and her sister Sara gave very generous donations as did all the tweeters who were involved. The event got some attention from a few notable tweeters as well. Ashton Kutcher (@aplusk), Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano), Jason Pollock (@Jason_Pollock), and Jason Dottley (@JasonDottley) were all kind and generous enough to tweet about it to their followers.

To date, the event has raised $28,000 which will be enough to build 2 playpumps. The whole concept is amazing. The wells are built where clean water is needed and the children of the village play on a merry go round which pumps the water as they play so no electricity is needed. I can only imagine what a blessing that is to a village.

Donations can still be given at http://aquathon2009.blogspo... please consider a small donation to help others get what we have when we simply walk to our faucets and turn them on.

I was very proud to be a part of this and look forward to being an even bigger part next year. Even though we were doing some very important work in raising the money and making people aware, we still had loads of fun! I especially enjoyed hearing my fellow tweeters as they called in to speak to Kirstie. I made some new friends that day and solidified existing friendships. The idea that Twitter is a family became a reality for me that day.

I would like to thank the people I tweet with that were a part of this. YOU ALL made a huge difference! @onceatweeter, @Jaylink_, @BengeeB, @Geisha_Boy, @EllenM7, @TheOmarShow, @KrisStepney, @YWalkWhenUcnFly, and Francie124 just to name a few.

Oprah always says that by making someone aware you take away their ability to say "I didn't know about it" and once they know, the next question is, "What are you going to do about it?"

After you read this, I must ask you, "Now that you know, what are you going to do about it?"

Sordid Lives

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I got hooked on "Sordid Lives, The Series" on Logo last year. Now it seems that Logo is not giving the second season the airing it deserves. This is NOT a good thing. This show is very important to society and to the community. The characters may be over the top at times, and that is what makes them so funny. Underneath that, there is a message we all need to hear and reinforce. FAMILY, no matter what it may be made up of, is IMPORTANT.

In this day and age, the family unit is always coming under attack from government and religion. The one thing they all forget is that it is OUR choice how we build our families. Once you have your foundation of a strong family unit, you come to rely on them and that is how we get through the tough times in life.

The cast is so talented and is made up of some heavy hitting stars! Olivia Newton-John, Bonnie Bedelia, Leslie Jordan, Beth Grant, Ann Walker, Rosemary Alexander, Newell Alexander, David Cowgill, Jason Dottley, Caroline Rhea, Sarah Hunley, and Rue McClanahan. It is written and directed by the genius of Del Shores.

Season One should be coming out on DVD soon and I know they are shopping around for a network. I recommend you check it out and if you know any way you can help find a network for Season Two, please let me know!! We must see this great show continue, it is our duty as fans and humans!!

Comment on: Sordid Lives

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:21:31 GMT

Never watched the series, but I must say I absolutely LOVE the movie Sordid Lives. When she keeps snapping herself to quit smoking i just lose it. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT

Interview with model/actor/comedian/activist Bengee

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bengee TWINTERVIEW WITH @TEECO71 BEGINS.... NOW!

Teeco hey, guys @BengeeB is here so we are gonna start some Q and A's

Teeco @BengeeB How are you tonight?

Bengee @teeco71 Marvelous... You?

Teeco great!! @BengeeB okay, cool, let's get to the first question!

Teeco @BengeeB What is your favorite Quote (by someone other than yourself)?

Bengee @teeco71 ANSWER ONE: "B thnkful 4 wut u have; u'll end up hving more. If u concentrate on wut u dn't hve, u'll nver, evr hve enough." -Oprah

Teeco @BengeeB very nice, Who have been some of your role models? Famous and not so famous?

Bengee @teeco71 That's a hard question to answer. I've become my own role model lately, thanks to other people that I've looked up to in the past.

Teeco @BengeeB that totally makes sence to me! okay Who is on your top 5 list of people to meet?

Bengee @teeco71 ANSWER 3: The man of my dreams. That's pretty much it!

Teeco @BengeeB wow, short list, Who would you have liked to have met that is no longer with us?

Bengee ANSWER 4: My grandfather whom I was too young to really know, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, & Michael Jackson.

Teeco @BengeeB very cool list...granpa would be proud! Can you name a difficult time in your life and who or what got you through it?

Bengee @teeco71 Middle school. I was bullied daily for acting like a 'fag'. My strength is what got me through it, both physically and mentally,

Teeco @BengeeB some ppl aren't so lucky, that was mature of you for that time....What is your happiest memory?

Bengee @teeco71 Coming out at an early age and being brave enough to do it. I was so proud of myself and overcome with happiness.

Teeco @BengeeB I hate to ask this one but on the other side of that..... Your saddest memory?

Bengee @teeco71 When my close friend committed suicide at age 16, because he was bullied for being gay

Teeco @BengeeB Damn, THAT is so awful and yet so understandable!
@BengeeB how do you follow that except to try and switch to a lighter question?What is your all time favorite smell/aroma?

Bengee @teeco71 Clean Linen. I prefer it in candle form!

Teeco @BengeeB well, we have that in common for sure! ............next up What job would you most like to have other than modeling/acting? Why?

Bengee @teeco71 I would choose to be a fashion designer, interior designer, or a makeup artist
@teeco71 Why? Because I'm just so fascinated by all three! I can already do makeup, but it's not my job!

Teeco @BengeeB this is starting to feel like a therapy session, haha What job would you least like to have? Why?

Bengee @teeco71 Anything that involves sitting @ a desk all day. When I was a kid, I promised myself that I'd never sit behind a desk.

Teeco @BengeeB I love this next one, Borrowing from Inside the actor’s studio, “What is your favorite curse word?”

Bengee @teeco71 What is anyone's favorite curse word? LOL... It rhymes with DUCK!

Teeco @BengeeB ah ha, LOL What is your most guilty pleasure/indulgence?

Bengee @teeco71 @Starbucks, of course!

Teeco @BengeeB But of course! What is your favorite sound?

Bengee @teeco71 Ummm... Music?

Teeco @BengeeB ah, Britney!!!! In school what was your favorite subject? Why?

Bengee @teeco71 English. Because I secretly LOVE to write.

Teeco @BengeeB another thing we have in common! Least favorite subject? Why?

Bengee @teeco71 Math. It's not that I'm not capable of doing it, I just find it boring. I can actually be quite good at it

Teeco @BengeeB I agree and yet I do payroll....let's get a bit deeper now What is the best advice you have ever gotten? Who gave it to you?

Bengee @teeco71 BE YOURSELF. NO MATTER WHAT! ... My parents.

Teeco @BengeeB now I see where you get your smarts!!! What is the best advice you have ever given?

Bengee @teeco71 BE YOURSELF. NO MATTER WHAT!

Teeco @BengeeB now let me get a little Barbara Walters you...What would you most like to be remembered for?

Bengee @teeco71 The lives I hope to change in the future and the person I am/will become.

Teeco @BengeeB wow, deep...Barbara would be proud or pwoud as she says haha What is your worst characteristic/quality?

Bengee @teeco71 I'm a hopeless romantic.

Teeco @BengeeB how about your BEST?

Bengee @teeco71 I'm a hopeless romantic

Teeco @BengeeB ah, double edged sword.......If heaven is a place on earth, where is it for you?.

Bengee @teeco71 Manhattan. It just does something to me! --- I love... ALMOST everything about it...

Teeco @BengeeB no wonder you are always shopping there.....okay MR. funny man, What is your favorite joke?

Bengee 'Why did the chicken cross the road?' ... Because it's just so stupid!

Teeco @BengeeB classic is always best........wow, this has gone fast...maybe cuz we know each other but I see how Oprah feels now! last one,ready?

Bengee @teeco71 Where's my final question? I've been ready!

Teeco @BengeeB okay,,,,speaking of @oprah Borrowing from @oprah what is the one thing you know for sure?

Bengee @teeco71 I know that I can be whatever I want to be, do whatever I want to do,
@teeco71 (cont.) ...change whatever I want changed, and live life the best way I know how. That's what I know for sure!

Teeco @BengeeB I could go on and on but I do want to thank you for letting me do this and trusting me too!I think you were very generous w/answers

Teeco @BengeeB also, let everyone know I will be posting the interview on my blog with your permission, I will post link once it is done!

Bengee THE TWINTERVIEW WITH @TEECO71 HAS CONCLUDED! --- AFTER A BRIEF INTERMISSION, WE WILL RETURN TO OUR REGULAR TWEETCAST! <3

from Teeco
as an afterthought to this interview: Bengee is going to be such a big talent one day. His raw talent is only outdone by the size of his heart and his unbelievable DRIVE!

I feel truly blessed to know him and honored that he allowed me to do this. One day I will say I gave him one of his first interviews............Keep Rockin' my friend! all the way to the top!

Kathy Griffin Live 6-27-09

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Tonight I went to see Kathy Griffin at Westburry Music Fair in LI. We had bought the tickets a few months back, as soon as we heard she would be in our area. Actually this is an hour drive for me but that day traffic was so bad, it took 2 hours and I would do it all over for this show!!!!

Let me just tell you that it was also well worth the price of the tickets. Kathy does 90 minutes of non stop jokes!
She came out an started off by thanking everyone for coming and for buying tickets in this economy and then promised to give us a few "dick" jokes in return. The whole evening was on laugh after another. Even looking around, I could not find one person who wasn't laughing.

It is like spending the evening with your best friend. Especially the way she starts to tell a story/joke and then remembers something else and says, "Oh wait, I gotta tell you this, we will get back to that one later, I promise."

She is exactly as you see her on TV, her notebook at her side with topics she wants to discuss and elaborate on. The way she tells the stories make you feel like you were there and are in on the whole situation.

On the way in I got myself a T-Shirt that says, "Everybody can Suck It" and a pen that has her signature saying, "Holy Fuck Balls" on it. I can say I left there completely satisfied and wanting more anyway.

I can't wait for her to come around again so we can see another show.
If you are lucky enough to have Kathy in your area, get those tickets. You will not regret it!

Twitter Addiction

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I am going to start a group for those of us addicted to twitter. Admittedly, I will be the first member. I am still learning but so far I have my favorites and I started sending their tweets to my text. Let me just tell you, great idea but at times too much. I can't go on from work unless I use my cell but I can, for now, communicate via text. I plan to get a new Envy touch with the new twitter app soon.
The hardest part is choosing who to get texts from. I want to stay in touch with everyone but I have chosen a few I am more friendly with.
I try reading old tweets when I get home but there are just too many, Being hooked is hard.
I have also found out that Kooks and Haters are lurking about. I guess it was naive to think we were totally safe there. We just have to look out for them and for each other so our time on twitter remains enjoyable and as safe as possible.
There are also super sensitive people. We are all sensitive to a certain extent and about certain things but EVERYTHING you tweet can be turned around if someone really tries to. Some of them seem to just sit and wait to pounce. Yet one thing they seem to forget is that a tweet on its own is totally out of context. Most times you would need to see the whole conversation to assess the true intentions behind the words. I can't tell you how many times I find myself thinking, "Gee, lighten up, will ya."

Still, I look forward to tweeting with you all, whether it be about reality tv, good music, movies, your life, my life, or my favorite flirty tweets.

Now as soon as I get some time, I will organize that support group but for now.........I am busy tweeting............

Comment on: Twitter Addiction

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:55:57 GMT

I know exactly what are you talking about, I can imaging how was my life before twitter. But the good thing about it is that after a long crazy day you can go there talk about anything or read other people tweet and have a good time. Twitter is like a best friend that is always there for you, that always listen to your stuff. Is like having a relationship without any commitment. You just go there and tweet whenever you want and as long as you want, and no body going to reclame nothing. That's why I love twitter. And that's why all of us are so addictive to it.

Comment on: Twitter Addiction

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:15:00 GMT

You have captured the world of twitter. I absoulity can't stand the mean sprited people. And hey a friendly flirt never hurt nobody. You always try to @ my tweets and I appreciate it. Thanks DarleneESmith

Weddings and Churches

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

"You gotta have a Church wedding," when I hear this still being said, I wonder where people have been for the past few years?
Haven't we learned by now that God is everywhere and you really don't need any PERSON from a Church to bless your union? Especially when their GRACE could be questionable.
I think the same thing goes for Baptizing a baby. God created your child so you don't need to introduce them.
Churches will do almost anything these days for a buck and look the other way when it comes to their own indiscretions.
The Church also shuts people out who have not paid weekly contributions and let's not even get into same sex unions. I am sure God did not create anyone He would then shun.

http://tgeraci.qhealthbeauty.com/

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

http://tgeraci.qhealthbeauty.com/ New business venture I am trying.....visit, shop, ask me about it!

Idol

Thu, 21 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

What a concept, still after all this time it is exciting to follow your favorite contestant to the end. I still can't believe how many people actually voted this year in total. To be given an opportunity like this is a true blessing.

It must be fate and God working together. The odds are unreal and yet, for one, very attainable.

One thing though, people keep referring to Kris Allen as the underdog. I do not believe he was. He had talent, looks, and that "Idol thing." Of course luck was a big part, as it would have been for any of them, and has been for all the past winners.

Idol has been on for so many seasons but this year it was different for me. I go to watch while on Twitter. What a great experience! I felt like I was watching with these friends right there with me. @isweatbutter had a group of us following each other watching and commenting on Idol. He referred to us as TeamButter and I was/still am excited to be a part of it. Comments ranged from hysterically funny to anxious to angry. All in fun, of course.

Now I, for one, was never much of a reality TV watcher. Okay, I watched Paula Abdul's show, I watch Kathy Griffin's show, and I admit I was glued to the TV for Being Bobby Brown too. Twitter takes this and so many other things to a whole new level.

The Twitter community makes it more fun to do simple, normal, routine things. For me, I am very busy Monday to Friday with work so I barely get home in time to relax and go to sleep. Twitter makes it possible for me to relax AND connect to people all over at the same time.

Bring on more reality TV, with my Twitter peeps, I can bare it!

Eyes

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The window to your soul.
If I can see the shine in your eyes, I can see the gleaming of your soul.
If I can see the blackness in your eyes, I can see the evil in your soul.
If I can see the red in your eyes, I can see the anger in your soul.
If I can see the blue in your eyes, I can see the freedom in your soul.
If I can see the green in your eyes, I can see the envy in your soul.
If I can see the water in your eyes, I can see the sadness in your soul.
If I can see nothing in your eyes, where is your soul?
Eyes, the window to your soul.

Genuine

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Can you remain Genuine? Or do you change depending on who you are around? I don't mean how you speak about sports with those who share like interests and then art or music with others who are like-minded. I mean do you have a true self, a true base of who you are that you remain true to throughout?

Or do you flim-flam and change with popular opinion? Do you meet new people and abandon old friends just because?

Would you smile in a friend's face and then talk about them behind their back?

Can you promise to be true and then hurt someone so deep that you take a piece of them with you?

Are you true blue or just someone who leaves others feeling blue?

Who are you?

Comment on: Genuine

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:18:59 GMT

Genuine to your true self.....why not? Why do we always assume humanity is so simple that we have to remain fixed or else there is something wrong? Isn't it possible that we are always true to ourselves despite the many hats we wear? I feel that we are multifaceted beings that need to change in order to experience the many faces of our collective soul. Without the change, we would be denying the universal truth that we are all one.

Fountain of Youth

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I think I have discovered a secret. Think about this and tell me if I am wrong:

IF as the older you get, you retain a very genuine connection to current music and artists it can have a fountain of youth effect on you.

Now, I am by no means claiming you will never look older or get wrinkles but at the very least, those of us who are blessed with this "gift" of that true connection seem to have a more youthful mind-set and attitude.

I know as I have gotten older my taste has expanded. Yes, I like the stuff from my teens and before but I have also ALWAYS been drawn to some part of whatever is current. Sometimes, in my head, I am still that teen.

Then we can also take examples of Dick Clark, Mick Jagger, and especially Tina Turner. They may not look 20 anymore but they have youthful spirits. Dick Clark seemed to keep aging at bay a good long time and Mick and Tina are still rockin it out.

Again, don't look at the lines that may have appeared in their faces or the changes that may have occurred in their bodies. Look at their smiles, the shining spirits-- THAT IS YOUTH.

Inner youth is just as important or more important than the outward appearance. Maybe this inner youth radiates outwardly to our benefit. At the very least, it would make us more attractive in so many ways.

Someone should do a study of people who have chosen to surround themselves throughout their lifetime with constant current music. Maybe we can find an alternative to surgery and creams. After all, it's not about looking 20. It's about looking and feeling your best at any age!