Category Archives: About Me

To Nana, with Love Always

For those of you who knew her, you knew and admired how strong Nana was. And another word for strong could be tough. Nana at both times was our biggest advocate and our most honest critic.

She never minced words when it came to the clothes we wore, the way we did our hair, the people we dated or our manners at the dinner table. And while I’m sure we may have rolled our eyes, it was the biggest lessons Nana taught us by example.

If someone needed her, she moved in. If someone needed a place to live, she opened her doors. The most important thing in Nana’s life was creating a home for her family, and that home has become a haven for us all. It’s the place we grew up together. It’s the place we still go to feel safe. And it’s the place all 30 of us camped out for a week as we slowly said our goodbyes to Nana.

And so today we want to say thank you to her. Thank you Nana for being so strong. Thank you for teaching us what it means to take care of people. And most of all, thank you for showing us all what can happen when two people fall in love.

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Filed under About Me, BEST Things Ever, The Funny Thing About Family Is That You'll Always Be Related

Beware the Ides of March

So, I thought I had a ghost. That may sound like a crazy statement, but it’s true. And while I thought the first haunting might have been a fluke, we’ve now had two encounters, and I’ve come to terms with the fact that he is very real and very much involved in my life.

In early 2010, I took a walk over to the old “Transportation Building” (now a food court) to get a coffee. In between the ATM and the Dunkin’ Donuts, a large flat screen TV has been installed in the wall, and it’s almost always playing Headline News. This particular morning, they were doing a story about US soldiers in Iraq playing flag football. I lingered a bit watching the piece, mostly to avoid going back to work, and after a minute or two, a man who I assumed to be homeless joined me. When the news piece ended, he turned to face me, pointed his finger in my face, looked me dead in the eyes and repeated three times: “West Point.”

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Filed under About Me, WORST Things Ever

Weight Loss Week Two: Personal Triumphs and the Men’s Locker Room

This is what my workouts look like in my head.

One pound down, nine to go. After gorging myself with junk food two weeks ago, I’ve since reformed, and this week managed an impressive weight loss. All while starting my half-marathon training! So far things are looking up.

I went for my first run on Sunday, and was in a panic because the last time I ran any kind of distance I was about 19 and only did it because I trying to watch the Army lacrosse team practice at Shea Field. I was also into spray tanning that summer – so with this half marathon training was coming a lot of teenage indiscretions I’d rather block out, thank you.

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Filed under About Me, Weight Loss Journey