True Life Blog

Being in the cosmetic industry, it amazes me how each year more and more celebrities are getting on the bandwagon; creating their own fragrances.

We have everyone from Jennifer Lopez to Paris Hilton, and David Beckham to Sean John, all promoting an aroma.

Now, it wouldn’t be fair for me to say which ones I like and which ones I think smell like a cows rectum, because when it comes to selecting a fragrance it’s all very personal.

What I might think smells wonderful, someone else may find repulsive.

And what someone else might think smells heavenly, I may find putrid.

But what I can say, is that some of these celebrity fragrances have been well thought-out, finely crafted, and smell unique. While others seem as though they were created with a childs chemisty set and are copycats of everything else that’s out on the market.

I remember the first time I picked up a bottle of a celebrity fragrance and inhaled it. And the first thing I thought was, “Is this what they smell like?” I often have a preconceived idea of what I think a particular celebrities fragrance would smell like, because of how I see them. But quite often, I find that the fragrance does not match my image of them.

One in particular was Christina Aguilera (who I happen to adore and worship). The second her fragrance hit retail stores, I immediately stopped in Bloomingdale’s because I was dying to see what it smelled like. Well…I was totally blown away, because it smelled nothing like I thought it would. I can’t say that I didn’t like it, but it didn’t even come close to the image I have of her. It actually surprised the hell out of me.

So, this just goes to show that what I might image a celebrity would enjoy in the way of a fragrance, does not always match their celebrity persona.

Anyway, this got me thinking about the idea if I were a fragrance, what would I smell like and what would I call it.

Personally, I’m drawn to more earthy and spicy scents. I tend to like the aroma’s of amber, musk, cedar wood, and patchouli. I also enjoy the aroma’s of black tea, pipe tobacco, and fig.

Not only do they seem to work well with my body chemistry, but they also seem to be both calming and grounding for my hyper personality. I also tend to get a lot of compliments when I wear these types of fragrances.

So, if I were a fragrance I would be in the category of woody, spicy and more natural.

And if I were to name my fragrance, I would call it Elixir.

For the past four days it’s done nothing but rain here in Philadelphia.

Now grant it, it’s also been cold, but even if you extracted the cold the people here would still fear and complain about the rain, because they do even in the summer.

I’ve spent part of my life in Florida. So if I allowed rain to affect me, I’d never leave the house.

However, I think most people here believe they’re made of marzipan, therefore whenever it rains an overwhelming paralyzing fear descends upon them that they’ll somehow melt on the sidewalks; creating human puddles of sugar and almond paste.

The first year I moved back to Philly, a friend of mine phoned me in a tizzy on the morning we were getting together for lunch and said, “OMG Ron…we’ll have to cancel our plans for lunch today.”

And I said, “Why?

He said, “Because the weather forecast says it’s going to rain.”

I responded, “Yeah….so what?”

He responded, “Oh….but we’ll get WET”

And it wasn’t only him because I soon discovered that many people here put their lives on hold whenever it rains.

Quite frankly, I don’t get it. What’s the big deal about rain? What do you think an umbrella is for? And even if you do get a little wet, you‘re not going to die for god sake.

My life is certainly not going to be altered because of RAIN.

And I especially look forward to when winter arrives, because if you think rain bothers them, you should see what a little snowfall does.

The first sign of snow in the forecast, Philadelphia calls Russia in a state of panic; asking for emergency assistance in snow plows, Siberian huskies, and dog sleds. And mind you, for the past three years we’ve had virtually 3-4 days of snowfall all winter long.

For a city that is so full of machismo, it fears the weather forecast as if it were Nostradamus predicting the end of the world.

There is only one word I can say to describe Philadelphia when it comes to the fear of precipitation…

A few days ago my blogging buddy Barbara sent me an email which included a Youtube link to a musical I performed in, back in 1994 called Falsettos.

Thanks Barb!

Well…I was shock to shit because I had no idea this video even existed on the Internet. I’m assuming it was made by one of the cast members.

Throughout my years performing onstage, I’ve collected various video tapes of some of the shows I was in, however I never got a copy of this particular show.

Being a part of Falsettos was one of the most enjoyable and exciting highlights of my acting career. And not only because of the show, but more so because of the cast. Once in a great while a cast will come together that almost seems as though it was destiny – and that was the case with this show. Not only was I honored to be performing along side such great talents, but it was also the respect, support, and love we had for one another that made this experience extra special.

Falsettos was perhaps the most challenging musical I was ever in because it’s basically sung like an opera with no spoken words. All the dialogue is expressed through music. And the challenging part for me is that I can’t read music. Therefore, I had to learn a three hour complicated musical score by ear. The cast was incredibly patient and supportive, as most of them were musically trained. I can sing, but I’ve never had any formal training in music. To be perfectly honest, I felt very insecure being cast in this show but I knew it was something I needed to try.

Falsettos is a story about relationships….

The plot:

After years of being married, Marvin discovers that he can no longer suppress his homosexuality and leaves his wife Trina and son Jason. Eventually he finds a male partner, Whizzer, who he ends up living with, while Trina ends up marrying her ex-husbands psychiatrist, Mendel.

There are also two other characters, Charlotte and Cordelia, the lesbian couple who live next door (one is a doctor and the other is a stay-at-home-wife). The musical is a series of scenes depicting the challenges and struggles, as each couple adjusts to their newly formed relationships. Jason also struggles with his father being gay, but eventually finds acceptance.

Even though this musical is predominately a comedy the plot suddenly changes towards the end, as Whizzer is diagnosis with AIDS and dies.

The story ends as all the characters come together in a hospital room supporting one another, showing us that the one thing all relationships share in common…

…is Love.

The Youtube clip is the opening number in Act 2 – “Welcome to Falsettoland”

I apologize that it’s so long (holy cow…over 8 mins). If you don’t have time to watch it I totally understand. This post will be up all weekend, so if you wish to view it later, please do.

I portrayed Mendel, the psychiatrist. I’m the guy you’ll see holding a flashlight at the opening of the number.

(other cast members include: Lucy Carney, Brad Howell Houghton, Ian Russell, Hilda Philips, Christine Robison, and John McColms, who has since then passed away)

Have a faaabulous weekend everyone!

If you look up the word Italian in the dictionary, I’m sure you’ll find the word eating included in it’s definition.

Italians and eating are synonymous.

Italians, eating, and talking are even more synonymous.

The photo you see above is of my mothers side of the family sitting down for a traditional Italian family dinner.

Notice the man sitting in the middle holding the wine glass. That was my mothers father. And I can still remember to this day that until he filled his wine glass and took the first sip, NO ONE was permitted to eat a morsel of food. Everyone took their eating cue from my grandfather. I swear to god, it was like sitting at the table with Marlon Brando as the godfather.

I don’t know whether any of you have ever seen the movie Moonstruck, but if you haven’t please rent it because it epitomizes what being Italian is. And all of the scenes you’ll watch of the Castorini family sitting around the dinner table is exactly how an Italian family acts while eating.

They like to talk. They like to talk VERY LOUD. And they all like to talk at the same time while every sentence overlaps each other.

Food seems to bring out the passion in Italians to the point of having to SCREAM every single word they utter.

“RONNIE….PASS ME THE GRAVY!”

So, if you’re looking to have a nice quiet meal, please don’t eat with an Italian family because I guarantee you’ll require ear plugs and several glass of Chianti to calm your nerves.

I remember my stepmother saying that the first time she sat down with our entire family to eat dinner, she thought we were all going to kill one another. She comes from a German-English background where dinner was eaten almost in silence, so eating with Italians felt like being in a sanitarium cafeteria.

You see, Italians like to wait until they sit down to dinner in order to have family discussions. The dinner table is a place where everything is literally laid out on the table, which means it’s nothing for them to argue while food is flying out of their mouths; slamming dishes around, as they’re passing platefuls of stuffed peppers and eggplant.

Now, to an non-Italian this may seem like strange behavior. But to an Italian it’s perfectly normal.

Dinner wouldn’t be dinner unless one good, heated discussion (half in English, half in Italian) was completed by the time the cannolis and coffee were ingested.

But no matter what was said in the heat of the moment, ten seconds later an Italian family will be kissing and hugging one another; saying what a wonderful dinner it was.

The men will all resume into the living room; smoking Italian cigars. While the women will resume into the kitchen; doing dishes and preparing Italian doggie bags for everyone to take home with them.

All looking forward to their next family dinner….

Even as a male, I often wonder why many men feel it’s male protocol to adjust themselves in public.

And I’m not talking about the occasional adjustment, I’m talking about those men who habitually do it 24/7 and 365 days out of the year.

You know the ones I’m talking about….

You’ll often see them walking through the mall resembling an infomercial for terminal jock-itch.

I can honestly say in my 54 years, I have never reached down and grabbed my genitalia; readjusting it in public view.

And please don’t say “That’s because you probably don’t have much down there to adjust.”

Because I do…it’s just that I have it neatly tucked in my briefs; not flapping around like an elephant trunk in either boxer shorts, or worse….commando.

And if on the rare occasion I do need to adjust myself I will either go to the restroom, or if a restroom isn’t handy I’ll find a secluded corner somewhere and do it in private – not in front of someone’s grandmother at Starbucks.

Not too long ago while I was sitting in the bookstore, I noticed a gentleman walking down the main book isle adjusting himself.

No….let me take that back.

He wasn’t merely adjusting himself, he was GROPING himself like a horny little chimpanzee in a zoo cage. In the short time it took him to walk down the isle, I watched as he groped himself as least THREE times.

And that’s not the worse part.

After he selected a book off the shelf and began skimming through it, he kept reaching down every so often and patting his crotch. Patting it as if it were his pet dog, like to say “Good boy…good boy.”

I wanted to scream, “JESUS CHRIST…WHY DON’T YOU TELL IT TO ROLL OVER AND PLAY DEAD!”

I’ve often wondered if some men habitually touch themselves because they fear that one day it may fall off. And perhaps they’re just checking to see if it’s still attached.

Well….for whatever reason, I think it looks barbaric.

Look, I enjoy my boy toy just as much as the next guy, but for heaven sake dudes, STOP PLAYING WITH IT IN PUBLIC.

And go buy yourself a nice pair of supportive underwear that will keep it in place.

Like this well-hung gentleman…..

I don’t know whether it’s because Dianne is originally from Brooklyn, New York and that I happen to love the frankness and directness of New Yorkers, or that I am in awe of her amazing gift for writing both real-life and fictional stories. But I love her. If I were to describe Dianne’s blog, I would have to say it’s a life blog. She shares everything from her strong opinions on politics, to hysterical pictorial stories of her cats Siren and Mia, Wordzzles, and most recently, the birth of her grandchild, Hope.

The thing I most admire about Dianne is that she’s diplomatic in sharing her opinions. She allows her readers to also share their own, without ever getting defensive or ugly. She has a razor-sharp mind and a hysterical sense of humor to go with it. She also has one of the most giving and compassionate hearts.

So, without further ado let’s meet the lady behind the blog, Fork Off The Moment.

Welcome Dianne…..

Why did you start blogging?

I was part of a forum devoted to discussing all things Craig Ferguson and my entries started to get, even in my own opinion, long winded and off topic. I enjoyed the reaction to what I had to say so I decided to start a blog where it was all mine.

This was also at the same time that my interest in writing and photography was renewed. I was feeling depressed and lost and wanted to feel more creative. The blog’s name came from something the shrink said about my needing to stay in the moment and my laughing about all the forks my mind takes – Hence ‘Forks Off The Moment’

Has your feelings about blogging changed over the years? And if so, in what way?

I’ve only been blogging for 2 years. 2 years this month so I’m still relatively new. I think the biggest change has been my adopting the ‘Blogging Without Obligation’ concept. I used to feel I had to respond to every comment, post every day, visit everyone. It’s not possible unless it’s all you do.

I have also become very anti awards and memes. More obligations. I participate in some photo and pet projects but I don’t accept being tagged for anything and I stopped passing on awards. I’d rather try and visit everyone who has posted a photo on Ruby Tuesday. Or try to visit and encourage a new blogger.

Do you write for you or your readers?

I always hope to make my readers laugh or feel or see something in a new way. When I read a comment that tells me I made their morning by making them laugh I feel great. So I guess the way I write has my readers in mind. Your reaction to my Pet Pride posts is a perfect example. It is a joy that you enjoy them so much.

My subjects are all me. My opinions are what they are. My cussing is what it is.

I have an eclectic readership so I do sometimes pause for a moment and think of who doesn’t like cursing or who feels strongly about something I’m about to mock but in the end I say what I feel and think.

I feel we all need to do that.

What are your feelings on organized religion?

It causes way too much trouble. It divides. It encourages judgments based on one and only one way of thinking. It was designed to control people. The Bible is a lovely piece of literature abused by people for their own agendas.

Right now the political ramifications of religion scare the hell out of me. To think that the Mormon church and the Knights of Columbus could cause Prop 8 in CA disgusts me.

Our founders guaranteed freedom from persecution based on religion and that is where any connection between church and state should end. I don’t think prayer belongs at a government function, I don’t think the President or judges or any official should be sworn in on a Bible.

They should be sworn in on the Constitution. And maybe a book about how to behave in public.

Do you think we’ll ever see a female president in the White House?

If it’s going to be Sarah Palin or anyone like her then I hope NOT!!!

Good Lord that woman set female politicians back. And the fact that women supported her simply because she was a woman is pathetic. She and her ilk are so anti-woman.

I do hope a woman becomes President one day. And an atheist. And a gay person. And anyone qualified to lead and inspire based on brains and heart and soul.

At this moment I fear we’re headed back toward a time of miserable old white men with shit for brains and even less in their hearts and souls.

If you were elected President of the United States, what is the first thing you would like to change?

I’d like to stop how hard it is to get simple things done.

President Clinton and President Carter have both stated many times that they have made a more positive impact on people in the private sector than they ever did as President! And that’s absurd.

Right now we have the resources to feed everyone in the world. To stop malaria with a freaking $10 net. To stop AIDS. To build houses. And on and on.

Right now we have a President with a good heart and an open soul and an even more open mind. And he has to spend his days justifying and explaining common sense to assholes with TV shows. I would say screw it! I might be a one term President and I might piss off my own party but damn if I wouldn’t get stuff done.

What is the biggest misconception people have of you?

If you had asked that question a few years ago I would have said people thought I was stronger than I am. Today I have so many misconceptions of my own about me that I’m not sure. I do think I come off as tougher than I am but even that façade seems to be fading.

Tell us one thing you enjoy and do not enjoy about aging.

The absolute joy of getting older is that you don’t sweat small stuff. Things that might have seemed a drama at 30 are laughable at 50. And you care less about what other people think of you.

I think physical limitations are the worst of aging. That and the fact that our society doesn’t seem to respect experience the way it should.

Many people feel that having a child interracially places a life-long hardship on them. Please tell us how you feel about that.

I think anyone who is “different” has some hardship to carry. We need to see people in broader strokes. My son suffered terrible insults as a child. People would ask why his Mom was white. He was called names. He also became an exceptionally tolerant and open hearted person, much as Obama did. And that’s one way to turn a hardship around. We can’t and shouldn’t help who we love and who we have a family with. I think a lot of those who see being multi racial or gay or autistic or deaf or whatever as a “hardship” are really just voicing their own inability to accept people as they are.

How has Hope enriched your life?

There is a wonderful sense of circle of life! LOL

I hear my son say something to Hope that I used to say to him and the joy is huge. I hear my Nana coming through as well.

It’s our way of being immortal isn’t it? Having some of our heart and soul continue on …

Well I survived my 6 day detox compliments of Nosh. They kindly allowed me to trial the service and I’ve been recording my thoughts over on The Style PA at Home. Here’s my verdict…

Convenience:

This service couldn’t really be more convenient, especially if you work in an office like me. Food is delivered each evening for the following day and each bag or bottle is labelled and identified in your menu for that day. At the beginning of the week you get a daily time line of what you should be consuming when and there is never long between meals or snacks so it’s quite easy to wait until the next bit of food. I was impressed with the freshness and quality of all the food, even though not all of it was exactly to my taste. I think it’s a good idea to be clear about your likes and dislikes to get the most from the detox. Most of the meals can just be popped in the microwave, it’s all been prepared for you.

Willpower:

Willpower is definitely required. Don’t kid yourself into thinking that this is the quick and easy fix, it will require some determination. However, once you get over the first 3 days, it’s plain sailing from there on in and actually I quite enjoyed it. You’ll get much more than your 5 a day and feel better as a result. If you start the detox with a bad headache rest assured that’s just your dependency on nasties found in your regular diet. My vice was caffeine but I’m so glad the detox forced me to cut down. There are a few extras you get with the food designed to help your body detox like teas, scrubs and supplements. The supplements take some getting used to… I suggest just hiding them in juice or soup.

Weight Loss:

You all want to know… how much weight did I lose? The answer is 4lb. Not bad for 6 days or willpower and yes, people can lose 4lb without resorting to a detox, but this was about more than losing a few lbs. It was more about giving myself a boost and stopping the cravings of all those foods that I eat without thinking and really shouldn’t.

Other benefits:

Post detox Diet:

I’m sticking to cereal for breakfast, soup for lunch and then a dinner of protein, carbs and plenty of veg. I’m drinking about 2.5 litres of water a day and trying to only have one glass of caffeine-free diet coke. Let’s hope this helps me build on the loss from the detox and shift a few more pounds.