MY THOUGHTS:
11/17/08:
Just the beginning of a new week...its brisk out and the weather is starting to get cold here...The holiday season is upon
us and time to be with family and friends.. I love this time of year...Thanksgiving has to be one of my favorite holidays....just
the thought of TURKEY..mmmmmm..the turkey leg, mom's famous sausage stuffing and patato pie..and the desserts...GOODNESS I
love this time of year...and then you have Christmas...Christmas Eve at mom and dad's with family and friends...Drink, food
and laughter...nothing but a good time..but I have fond memories of the times at Grandma and Grandpa's house on 19th st in
Brooklyn...if anything those were for sure the best days....Auntie Ann and Uncle Joe with the popcorn balls...Grandma and
Grandpa cooking all day...with all the family both close and distant gathering around having a ball....and then Santa would
stop by with little something for all the kids....but first he would have to stop by the kitchen for a littel boost of courage
to face all us crazy ass kids...and boy were we nuts...LOL!....But now we are all grown up and have families of our own, not
to mention traditions that we have started...for example: My family set up our Christmas tree the Friday after Thanksgiving
and take it down on Christmas day...I love the tradition.......
7/21/08:
Here's one for all of you to laugh at...I know I do everyday...You know how sometimes its nearly impossible to get in touch
with certain people no matter how hard you try..via CELL PHONE or HOME NUMBER....I try to stay in touch with family members
if I have your numbers, and I am not one to text anyone...I rather talk to you...but certain people just dont answer their
phone no matter what....I understand if your busy and at work.. but not to call back until days later if at all....HELL I
FOUND A WAY TO GET responses....if you want to talk to someone now a days..all you have to do is TEXT them...yep TEXT...send
them a message and they will always respond..TRUST ME...it works..I just have to learn to do it more...
7/18/08:
Hello everyone, its been some time since I have written. I hope that everyones summer is off to a good start. I know
that everyone is probably planning their summer vacations as well as I am..my family is planning to go on vacation the week
of Aug 10 - Aug 16 to Williamsburg VA, and Busch Gardens, it should be a good time....I just realized that in ONE YEAR we
will all be coming together for the first time since Grandma's passing as a COMPLETE family...and I have to admit I am pretty
excited....I dont know any more details about it....its pretty much in Cathy's hands now....I just set it up and got everyone
on board...Cathy is handling the rest I guess....I dont really now....but I will find out more.....I have been really busy
lately at work (both jobs) and really havent had much time to talk to anyone much...every once in a while I get the chance
to talk to John Michael, which by the way is still the same ole John Michael...LOVE YA CUZ...I havent tallked to Aunt Cathy
lately..but I will do my best to get in contact with her sometime this weekend...I hope everyone is in good spirits. Jennifers
husband, Jay sent me a copy of some software for revamping the website...it is going to take sometime to do..so be on the
look out for a new improved website....I will inform you all when it is up and running...
Christy and Courtney are doing fine, and we are planning Courtney's 13th birthday party bash...we are going to have it
at the local community center on Oct 11 2008...and the theme is ThE 70's baby...so it should be a BLAST..I cant believe she
is going to be a teenager...OH GOODNESS.....so one can only imagine what my house should be like with two women during that
TIME of month...I am going to spend that week or so at my mom's house..she dont know that yet....LOL!....I dont think theres
that much booze in the world to keep me sane...LOL!...
But in all seriousness I hope you all are fine and safe this summer...and God Bless..
love you all and miss you more..see you all soon....
6/24/08:
Just wanted to say hello to everyone, the weather here in MD has been hot and muggy...thunderstorms last night...watched
a video with Christy and Courtney "welcome home Rosco Jenkins" it was pretty funny....I have been in contact with Jennifers
husband Jay..and he is going to help me try to get a chat room up and running for all the family..so it should be pretty cool....I
also will be redoing the website in the future..so it should and will have a lot more extras...I talked to John Michael over
the weekend...he is in good spirits and is still working hard on running the store and raising his growing family...Aunt Cathy
and Uncle John are still going strong...they have the house to themselves .... the rest of the group is back on the East Coast
visiting family in NYC....Courtney made it to the 8th grade...and we are planning here 13th birthday party in October...we
want it to be special so we are renting a hall and having it like a dance type thing....I am pushing for the 70's theme myself..but
we will see...I dont have much of a say in it..just pay the bill..LOL!...I will be sending out more details about the reunion
when I get them...right now I am still waiting on head count and a count on those who would like to golf...
I hope you all have a good day
6/6/08:
Well...its the first full weekend in June...we celebrated Mom's 59th birthday this past Friday...May 30th....damn she is
getting old...you know I sit back and watch my parents with all of their Grandchildren, my daughter, Frano's two boys...and
Cathy's two girls...and it just amazes me ... I see little parts of Grandma and Grandpa in them...They love to spoil them
and yet still have control over them...and let me tell you....they need it....i also see me and my siblings when we were younger...the
way we used to argue and fight over stupid crap...and share...we werent bad....because when mom and dad bought something for
one of the boys they had to buy two more to make it all fair....DAMN i dont know how they survived it...LOL!...but when you
go over my parents house and anyone of the kids are there no matter who it may be.....you can rest assure that they will have
stuff to eat....running wild......but I see us when we would visit Grandma and Grandpa...the candy bowl always had something
sticky and sweet in it...and our parents were pretty much helpless when it came to us..>LOL< I watch how much we have
all grown up...raising our own families now...and seeing bits and pieces in our children....you just have to sit back and
laugh because all you can do is remember when......its hard to believe that my daughter Courtney is going to be 13 this yr
and will be in the 8th grade...Damn how time flies..and yet she is still Daddy's Girl...and I wouldnt change it for the world...like
last night we were up playing Wii Sports and she killed me in baseball all three times we played...I just have to play more....so
take it from me....sometimes you just have to sit back and reflect on your life....is it really that bad...NO...it could always
be worse...at least you have FAMILY and people that love you...
KEEP YOUR HEAD UP AND SMILE....
5/29/08:
Well its another beautiful day out and things are only getting better here....the more I think about the family reunion
the more excited I become....I really am looking forward to seeing the entire family and their families....its amazing how
much we have all grown in the past years...and I know that we all have gone through some major changes....but the one thing
that is the constant is FAMILY....I know it means so much to me...I love spending time with my family...no matter what the
occassion...whether it's golfing with Frano and Gary...or eating at mom and dad's...I really love it..I know that I dont say
it much..but I really cherish the time I have with my family, and I really encourage Courtney to spend as much time with her
cousins as possible...the way they all interact reminds me so much of the us when we would visit Grandma.....I wish we just
could do it more now and then.....I just want to take time out to Thank my mom and dad for everything they have done for me
and MY FAMILY...I know that I may act like I am not appreciative but I AM....you both have shown me the way to be a strong,
loving parent to Courtney as you were to me.....no matter what it is..YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE for me...and I want to say
THANK YOU...and to Christy...I love you very much and just want to say that you are the smile on my face...I love you and
thank God every day for you...I know that I can be a selfish pig at times but you still find it in your heart to love
and forgive....and then theres Courtney...my life saver, the reason to live.....you have changed me in so many ways and I
am thankful for that...you are God's gift to me and your mother...you just dont understand how you have touched my life....I
am so proud of you and I am and always will be there for you in everything you set out to accomplish in your life....and I
hope that you always remember this ...FAMILY IS LOVE....
5/23/08:
Well here we go the Memorial Day weekend is upon us...The Official start of summer...and
yet here I am at work and it is absolutely gorgeous outside..the sun shining, slight breeze, birds singing....and I am here
AT work..what the HELL...oh well....I am really excited about the family reunion next year..and I have gotten a lot of positive
feed back for everyone about it from all sides of the family...LaRuffa's, Canesa's and Sica's..it should be a real good time
had by all....so to you all Have a great weekend and enjoy FAMILY...
5/12/08:
Well this past weekend was mother's day, and I just wanted to say a Happy Belated
Mother's Day to all the mothers in the family...and To Grandma who is watching over us...ALWAYS on my mind...not a day goes
by when I dont think about you..I LOVE YOU GRANDMA....
The weekend was full of family time, celebrated Michael's 2nd birthday...and I will
have photo's soon..we even got dad to wear a hat..and I mean a parrot head hat...along with his grandkids....it was a good
time by all....
I am really glad of all the feed back I have been getting about the family reunion
and about the website...it makes me happy to know that everyone is enjoying it as much as I am....it keeps me sane and at
peace...along with the constant phone calls that I place to Aunt Cathy, Cousin John and Vinny....its always nice to hear their
voices......
The weather here is really yuck...I mean cold, rainy and windy...what the hell..its
May already..time for spring....I have had many of you request a website where we can all do some chatting together online....I
am working on it...and when I get it up and going I will let you all know..
All my love....
5/6/08:
Well its another day at work..and I have to say my mind is on the GOLF COURSE....but
I am stuck indoors...LOL!...but as I talk to other family members about the reunion I have to say..I am growing excited...I
am really looking forward to seeing everyone.....I try my best to do whats right and keep in touch with family members across
the land...from the California crew to G in St. Louis...to even my family here in MD...or if its cousin Vinny in Brooklyn..I
try to talk to them at least once a week if not more....and to be honest with you...just the sound of their voices makes things
better..its just nice to talk to them and just talk.....
4/29/08:
Well...the rain has stopped and it's really not feeling much like spring here on
the East Coast...kinda cool and wet..but hey at least it's not snow...it's been kinda slow here lately....not much happening...but
give it time...I am not one to watch the news, because it's nothing but BAD news and makes me sick to hear about all the stupid
people in the world....but I saw something the other day about the stimulate rebate from the Government..if you ask me not
much of a stimulate if we have to pay taxes on money that was giving to us to help us "stimulate" the economy....but anyway
one of our local news channels here were interviewing some random people about the tax rebate stimulate check..and an older
gentleman was pumping gas and said..."Stimulate...hell its been a long time since I have been stimulated by our government!"
and I just chuckled and thought to myself...HOW TRUE...I just think that its a sad day when the cost of living has gone up
but our wages have stayed the same....oh well....what to do...
4/25/08:
Well its another beautiful day here in Maryland...its about 80 degree's and the birds
are singing, the mowers are cutting the grass...and the Pollen is freaking everywhere...all the cars have a nice shade
of yellow tint to them....and eyes are wettering, nose running and sneezing like crazy....thanks to them damn allergies..LOL!..but
THANK GOD for the meds...seems to help...LOL!...I have been talking to John Michael and Aunt Cathy...its always nice to hear
their voices.....They were saying that everything last weekend with the family visits and all the activities went really well....its
amazing how family makes everything much easier.....
I am really excited about the family reunion...I hope we can get it put together....I
know that its a year away...and its hard to plan for something that far in advance..but since we are all LaRuffa's and Canesa's...WE
NEED THAT MUCH TIME just so we can be on time...LOL!....
John Michael is really looking forward to having their third child...and yes it is
GOING to be a BOY....look out world...another John Michael..LOL!....hell....it will be just fine...John will be ok...its the
rest of us that I worry about...LOL!...
4/23/08:
Well I am sitting here at work with my headphones on and I am listening to Mariah
Carey's "Bye Bye" and that song just brought back so many memeroies of Grandma....it brought a tear to my eyes...and I am
sure you will feel the same way..so if you can you should listen to it..I have posted the lyrics on the page entitled "Dedications"....
So I just wanted to let you all know that I love you all and miss you all very much...
4/22/08:
Well another day has gone by...and we are all getting a little older....the warm
weather is finally upon us here on the East Coast....so time for spending it outdoors...for many of us it means GOLF...for
others yard work....it has been a very busy weekend for the Canesa's Deanna made her First Communion on April 19.....John
and Priscilla celebrated Sophia turning a year old on April 20 and Aunt Cathy just celebrated getting older on April
21....Uncle Eugene is also celebrating getting older on April 22.....no but really...congradulations goes out to each and
everyone of them....
4/16/08:
Well the weather is finally turning warm....grass is growing, sun is shining...and
work is still work....LOL!....I have been getting some positive feed back about the family reunion...and I have to honest
with you all...I AM VERY EXCITED about it....it will be nice to see everyone.......everyone here is doing fine......And as
you can see by all the news coverage the Pope is on tour in the US...and everytime I think about the Pope or see him...I am
reminded about Auntie Ann....and when she met him, if you all remember she was on the cover of Time magazine with the Pope
during his last visit.....
So lets all enjoy the weather and each other...Love you all...
4/14/08:
Well it was two years ago today at 4:50 am that Grandma passed away....and so much
has changed in that time....our family as grown with additions of new members, from births to marriages, and also it has gone
through some hard times also...divorces and hardtimes...but through it all we are still strong and remain strong....we all
have a huge connection with each other and we should not forget that.......So lets just take sometime to sit back and reflect
on all the good times....I can remember going to mom and dad's house and there Grandma would be sitting at the head of the
table with a smile on her face....and just waiting there so patiently...she would just want to play Liverpool rumy or rumy
cube....and no matter what your skill level...she would take a easy on you AT FIRST than after that...GAME was on...and oh
yeah...need I say she hated cheaters....I can remember and just laugh thinking about this...she would hide the jokers from
the rumy cube game so that a certain someone could not cheat and hold them for last...but how she would hate that...and no
matter how much she hated playing with that certin someone...she always did with a smile on her face.....so I think today
we all should rememeber days like that....I can remember when we were at Aunt Cathy's house for John and Priscilla's going
away party and Danielle Canesa's graduation party...Grandma would ask me for a glass of Scotch...her drink of choice....and
she wanted a ice cube in it...so I would get her drink with ONE cube in it and give it to her..but by the time she would get
around to drink it the cube was melted....and she would call me back there and yell at me in her kindest and loving voice
and say "Joseph, Grandma wanted a cube in her drink"...I would say "Grandma, I put a cube in your drink"...she would reply
"where is it" I would say "MELTED, But I would get you another one"....so I would take her drink and put three cubes of ice
in it...so by the time she would stop talking to Grandma Rose...the drink have one cube of ice and she would look at me and
smile......we all have our own stories like that...and we all can smile about them...
So on this day lets all just SMILE and REMEMBER her that way....
I LOVE YOU GRANDMA..and MISS YOU MORE....
4/10/08:
Today is a beautiful out here on the East Coast...the sun is shining and the breeze
is cool....I was just sitting at my desk and I was reading Johnny Sica's description of Grandma...and I have to say I really
miss her, I just think about the times when as kids we would visit her and Grandpa on 19th st...and all the great times we
had together as a family...it's days like this that I miss her the most.....when she would be outside sitting on the patio
swing at mom and dad's house...with her little house coat/ apron on...I can still hear her voice in my head saying Joseph
I love you.........there isnt a day that goes by that I talk to here and just die to hear her voice, see that smile, and just
feel her touch....I know that we are all not going to be around forever..but to be honest with you...Grandma was one that
I always that would be...I never thought about her passing...I always saw her as the vibrant 62 yr old walking with Grandpa
on 19th st....I am very thankful that my daughter Courtney had the pleasure of knowing her...and that my wife Christy had
the chance to meet her....and I know that they both have grown and have and will be a better woman for that.....and as we
grow close to the 2 yr anniversary of her death...I know that it is not going to be easy for us...but I will just look up
towards the heavens and SMILE..because I know they are looking down the whole Gang of them....and they are SMILING upon us....Have
a BLESSED DAY...and a GOOD NITE...MISS YOU ALL
4/7/08
I just want to take time to tell everyone in the family....I know that the past two
years have been rough for some of us...and that harder for others....if you cant count on family who in the world can you
count on....Lord know's that I true on my half...my family has helped me through rough times and very hard times....and for
that I am very thankful to them all......I know that sometimes I havent shown much appreciation to them and that I could be
a better person to them....but I do have much love for them..and I try to help them anyway I can......
If there is one thing that I can say I have learned from Grandma and my parents is
that....FAMILY is IMPORTANT..and no matter what they are always your family......and we all know how Grandma felt about family....she
was always there for anyone and everyone in the family, no matter what you did wrong....we can all vouch for that...SHE ALWAYS
was there for us.....she always greeted you with a smile, a hug and FOOD......so lets not lose that....
I know that we all have gone our separate ways...we now have family all over the
nation...West Coast, down South, on the East Coast..and in the Mid -West area....and as our own families grow bigger and bigger,
I believe that Grandma and Grandpa are smiling down at us, and have to be happy and proud of us all....we all have accomplished
so much and have come so far....She is with us every step of the way guiding us through the ups and downs of this world...and
keeps us strong...
SO may you all have a blessed day and SMILE....
