Running the Streets..Queens Blvd.,Jamaica Ave..at midnite...

Lets see 1973-74. I was 13-14 years old. and my I had a friend whose Dad lived in Forest Hills, NY. We  would go every weekend . She had been born and raised there so she had a bunch of close friends. Once her parents divorced,  she moved to the town I was in. That's how we met.. She was a Big girl, and Tall too.. and we met in class, and became good friends. So, we would go into the city, and hang-out under the train tracks. Smoking, and drinking Colt 45's.. and Strawberry Knots Farm  wine..(yuk).. Hanging with our buddy's, Frankie, and Tony and Steve.. My friend liked Steve. SO he was off limits.. not only to me but any girl that looked his way.. Many  of times.. fights would break out. !! We weren't afraid.. We should have been.. Those streets were just as mean as they are now.. There were guns, but mostly in my circles were Knives..(Stiletto) and billy-clubs, and of course 'good ole fists..' . Well, I remember  what we used to call, and still do, 'running territories'.   Our hang-out at night was 2,3 certain territories away form  the apt. complex we  stayed in.. So, we through a tantrum sorta speak to want to sleep on the fire escape.. do you believe this. It was a couple of floors up, and we would  say we were going to sleep out there, and put our pillows and blankets out there, and when her Dad would go to sleep,  We, would lower the metal ladder down, and run !! We would run through these blocks ,without much of a problem till we hit Frankie's, and Steve's neighborhood, and then go to the Forest hills dome.. and hang!! We would Smoke, and make out .. and just clown around.. and then run back to the stairs, and raise them up, and go to sleep..Out on the fire escape.. Did not matter what the temperature was.. It was about risk, and taking it.. We survived,..lol. On certain rainy mornings, we would go down to the Delicatessen under the train tracks and meet our buddies, and hang there all day.. The train going by over head, and the smell of the city bring memories back when I think about those careless days I spent there.. Running Territories....

My brother ...

I have a brother..who NEVER liked me very much.. In fact, he hated me so much ,I could not even set his plate, fork, or silverware at the dinner table. I was not allowed to touch his 'stuff' . He called me names that would just wound me.. I would cry, and my parents if they heard this railing going on ..would intercept.. and tell me not mind him.. or don't give in , that what he wants!! Oh my god.. It hurt so bad.. I remember 2 times in my life, he had to make a decision to save my life.. I went to Gibbs pond to go Ice skating.. and it was cold, and everyone was there.. skating and laughing.. I remember him waving me over to him.. and being curious and (stupid) I  skated over there. and in a flash I FELL through the Ice... All I remember seeing is the murky ,yellow, and greenish water around me As I was going down.. it was so cold on my hands and face.. and I was in shock.. and kicking to get back up.. I stopped kicking, and I see that murky water, and roots with fuzzy goo on them,, I am raising my hands reaching for the area I fell through at, and that when my brother grabbed my hand and began to pull me up!! I believe several people grabbed me.. and as soon as I was up and out i headed for the nearest secure ground, and took those skates off and ran home crying.. I was so cold, and and upset.. I never skated on ice, ever again.. needless to say!!..It was  another time ,out on the Long Island Sound.. My parents would leave us , after meeting my Uncle and his wife where the Connecticut Sound meets the Long Island Sound, and for hours we would be out there swimming, and  jumping of the bow of the boat.. In the middle of the Ocean!! Well, I had hurt my middle toe some weeks before, and It was starting to come off.. Well, wouldn't you know I was swimming , and the tide was rushing out.. and I was being pulled out with it.. I was a good swimmer for like a third grader.. and so I was kicking and paddling anyway I could to get back to our boat, when I had to holler.. Help me.. my toe nail is falling off, and   it hurt so bad ,I could not move my foot.. And I needed that leg to help get me back in.. to the boat.. There was no land.. We were out in the Sound.. (awesome on any other given day).. Well, I can honestly remember my brother acting like he's thinking about saving me.. Do you believe this , I was scared by this time, and pretty far away form the boat, no life vest, no rope.. I am floating seriously out to sea.!!! I remember crying ..his name, saying you gotta help me.. , and I think he thought , I better have my little sister her when my parents return, .. so he jumped in and swam out to where I was, and grabbed me by my neck, and head locks me, and swims us back to the boat, and as so as we got up the ladders, he riped that nail off my toe... and was so mad at me.. It was not good.. But I had to calm down.. It was a very 'shaky' thing, to think I could have been ..Floating out to sea!!!

Always wanting more!!!

So, let me start with the fact that my bedroom was my favorite place to hang out.. It is where I would go and , be surrounded by my cool  "things'.  I had acquired a ton of items from the Mall..  !!..I had a huge box of Jeans, I had just walked out of a store with time after time.. Vests, and denim shirts, and Levi jeans.. , So, when I began to lose weight, I began giving them all to my Uncle.  We were getting ready to move to Virgina, and I did not want to fit into a waist 34...ever again. Well, when we arrived here in Va. I found it hard to adjust.. at 1st. My older sister and I found each other roaming the halls at the High School, after the bell rang.. for Homeroom, on the 1st day, and said lets get the H**l outta here.. So, we looked for the tall bldg, near our Town homes, and started to hike towards it.. just complaining..how  dumb this place was.. for it country bumpkin ways.. lol.. I do believe we were looking for a good excuse to cut classes.. It was'nt long after that , I met my friend, in the Study hall.. She introduced me to her friends, and we all got "high" so we all had something in common. Then she introduced me to this one girl, we were talking, and she let us know her father was 'doing things' to her.. Well,  basically she wanted to get him back, by having someone 'Steal all his worldly possessions..' Well, me and my girlfriend agreed.. !! We would break into there beautiful home, on the out- skirts of town, and steal his cameras, and 'teli -photo' lenses and whatever else we could grab!! Well, we set this whole ordeal up, and wrote out 2 copies of an agreement, with a map and directions:: on where to get the spare key.. and we had her sign..these 'contracts'. We even had this other friend..set up an appointment with some people downtown , Arlington, Va.  and have these item sold, on  the night we actually had the stuff. Okay that was near the beginning of 10th grade.. Well, we hung out that September, Oct. November, Dec. Jan Feb.March. April,  Let see , May was the Led Zeppelin Concert.. And then in June on the last day of school.. We , met and that morning at school, and said lets go for it.. today!! We made a call and had this stuff sold.. I heard, in the amount of  some  $14,000.00 dollars.. yahoo!!.. So, we 'siked' ourselves out .. and called our ride.. and we  went home and dressed in dark clothes, I put a pair of moccasins on.. to run really fast. If I had to.. Well , we had our ride drop us off at the back end of the property, we had to go through a good patch of trees, and  bushes.. and then there was some 'barb wire' fence.. and as I got my one  foot over the fence, We both saw a Bull.. a very eager, and angry looking bull.. I just got my one foot back over , when I said Run.!!. Just Run... and so, we ran ' like the wind' too!!!, those moccasins were great for running, and through the briar's, and thorns I did n't  feel a thing.. Well, we made our way up to the front door..  there was no key So we went around to the back door.. there was a coat hanger holding the door closed.. so we busted it off.. and proceeded to go inside..We put all the projectors, and cameras, and tri-pods by the door, and went up these spiral steps to the bed room, . We found Jewelry boxes, and we just dumped them on the  huge 'round bed' , and used the' bed spread' as a carrier.. Then, My friend, said lets  get the '6 ft.tall 'Pevi'  Amps, and we carried 2!!!! of them down those spiral stairs.. and out the back door to a creek. We put the bed spread of items there too.. I saw a 55 millimeter lens and a 35 millimeter camera, and threw that over my shoulder..and covered it on my shoulder with my faithful Indian fringe jacket I had worn.. Well, when we finally finished the list of items, we were waiting on our ride, and ,finally he came and we piled Acoustic guitars, and most of the big equipment in the station wagon, and for some reason we , ended up walking out to the front of yard,on the main road!!  While , he, drove on.. to a secluded place we had, to stash the stuff till that evening.. Well, we were seen, by a neighbor , a brunette and a blond..,..we were seen,  Because, that night while eating dinner the phone rang.. It was my Friend .. saying the Police were there and wanted to talk to my parents!! I hung up.. Well, she called and again , and said Pat, just tell them what and how this came about, and show them the signed letter..they are on there way over !! I was like Holy Cr**p!!!  .My Father was so pissed!!.. He all of a sudden knew.. where my stash was, and grabbed those carved boxes, and told me to empty them down the toilet, and then told me to get rid of my 6 ft Pot plants.!!. He did' 'say  to burn them'.. but I couldn't do that..and I said so..  So I dug a whole about 2ft long and wide in the woods by our Town house, and I bent them all up to fit in there, and even remember saying ' I would be back for you  later'.. So, about 45 minutes later, the FFX County, Police showed up....Well, I explained the deal, and showed the letter..to them, and my Dad.. And with that, they said our 'stories did match , and that was saving us.. Apparently the girl told her older sister what she had planned, and so since we had not done the robbery.. all year long ,she figured we weren't going to do it.. So, they knew all about it..and told us ,she was a sick girl..and the father , I was told had her committed.. I only think, he won again.. because she ended up going away for some 20 years.. to a 'loney House'.. Well, as for all the stuff.. I don't remember having to recover it all. There were items on the creek bed in there back yard, there were items on a hill at the Lake.. where we all hung out at.. Never the less.. We got away with it.. I was not allowed to see my friend again for the rest of the summer..and that is where I just stayed home and Exercised, and ate right, and, I lost another 25 lbs, so by the end of summer, My friend called me and said come on out , lets just meet and go an Party, and so we did meet on the golf course, and she said, she did not even recognize me!! I had gotten so thin.. I was like, I finally did it.. got rid of that weight.. and I went out and "Partied"..1977-78!!

In conclusion to my 'Dental Post' !!!

I just want to THank Dr. Swanson.. He finally got me my two front teeth . I ahve been waiting , and waiting for.. !! Thank you !! Okay.. I just had to post that.. Dr. Swanson, Southpoint Dental Group.. in Massoponax, Va. Well Done...

Talk about Drunk-Driving.....

• I was working for a Roofing company, about 2years. That was after I realized..the winters got to cold to landscape.. and  cut firewood and sell it. I just walked into the office of this roofing company and  I was hired !!! To Roof'. I never did this before, but I needed to work.. and a 9-5 job indoors just did 'nt get it for me.. ever.. not then and still.. So, I was welcomed aboard.. and I met the crew. I began working with Hot Tar..'built up roofs'  We had been all over D.C ,Maryland, and Northern Va. I was pretty strong..or so I thought..I went to put the huge mop in the bucket of 250 degree hot tar, and pull it out..I could not even it lift it let alone swab it on the plat form of insulation!!!! Well... I could not let that happen again..I have some proving to do.. I work with a bunch of men, and most of them  are 3rd generation roofers.. I will get to that point in  a minute.. So.. I gave it all I could.. and by the 3rd week into this job.. I was lifting that mop up and out of the bucket like a pro.. !! Which leads me to the pro'  This one guy had been roofing some 28 years.. his father, his fathers father.. his brothers.. Well, here he goes on this Hot summer day.. it was like 95' degrees on the ground, so it was like 110 up on the roof.. I remember buying a chocolate milk to drink with my lunch.. and Greg looked at me like .. Your not going to drink that now are you..I was like sure ..I love chocolate milk !! Well,  he says ' in 30 min utes your going to go home sick.. that is going to curdle in your gut..in no time up there.. Needless to say I did not drink it.. That made so much sense.. So, that day.. we are in Reston, Va. and Greg goes to get his mop out of the bucket.. all of us are working as usual, and We here a yelp.. and turn to it.. and it is him..with a crap load of Hot Tar all over his front . From his chin down he was burning.. and we  climb down, and go into the business and call 911... The EMS, did not even take his shirt off.. they said it had melted into his flesh... Yikes... Well, around the next 100 degree day.. I got back to the office and told Dave, my boss.. I just don't think roofing is for me.. "I need my feet back in the grass' lol.. I asked is there anything in the supply yard I could do.. ? Well, he said I think we can find something for you.. I began the next few weeks working around the yard ..I am a great organizer.. I fixed hie yard up of all the tools , and roofing materials.. I began ordering, and soon the 2 people in the office who were not really doing much of anything, were fired, and I became his sole 'Office Manager' I did Payroll, for his crews..22-30 guys.. I went to seminars to retrieve information on new tools,and so on..Well, this one time , I was asked to go to Fredricksburg, Va. - Holiday Inn, right off 95 south..Ironically, now that is the area I live in now... Well, I was told to bring a friend,go grab this'roofing information', and have lunch and drinks on his business credit card...Wow.. this was going to be good. In that year,1981-82, Fredricksburg was like a 2 hour drive..and pretty desilent..hi-way road.. Well, me and my friend sandy.. headed off.. We finally got to the exit, went into the seminar, grabbed everything on these Tremco.. products and left for the Bar , right through the lounge.. Well we hit it right at Happy Hour !!  3 for 1's a $1.95 !! Jack Daniels and diet cokes with 2 cherries!!!! # at once, and they were some pretty big drinks.. let me tell you.. So, there we were for hours shooting pool, and drinking and so forth..( please read my book, when published to get the full story..) lol This is family oriented blog.. So, we were so blitzed. Then Sandy said she was going home to get her check book.. I was like okay.. I am staying and going to finish my table of drinks!! I had a few round bought for me too.. I was intending on drinking them too.. so about midnight, I did not see Sandy, and I was ready to head back home.. and go to her house, way in the country to see is she made it.. Well, All I remember about 95 north was I laid my head on my arm..I had a Ford PU with a couch seat.. SO I put my arm up and laid my head on it, with my eyes blurred, and half a sleep.. I remember waking up once to see this hugh mac truck in the right lane.. and the next thing I remember I pulled up in Sandy's driveway ,you did not go up all the way, fro her boyfriend shoots then asks questions.. I knew him well.. So i stood up on my door way of my truck and hollered Is she here.. awhile he pointing a gun.. He said Yep.. I  just got in my truck and drove another 30 minutes.. to Reston to my mom;s apt.. and fell asleep.. I was so lucky!! to say the least.. Many a  time.. I stayed up for days one time.. and showed up for work, and I remember having to type contracts.. I was so snow blinded.. As soon as my boss left, I went home.. too.. It was like a year later, I would be packing to move to California..

Beauty School Days.....

I remember,once Larry and I got back into town,  looking for a beauty School to transfer to from Los Angeles.  I ended up in an  Arlington, Va.  Beauty Academy.  My hair was a scary ,Orantang orange.. in fact when Larry was looking for a brunette at the airport,in L.A, he said he 'freaked' when he saw it was me with this funky orange hair..screaming his name out .. but he was so shakin' from his first 'Airplane ride' that he did 'nt care what I looked like at that moment... he was so scared.. the Flight Attendants gave him free beer, and a little set of wings, and even let him sit in the cockpit with the Pilots... that would not happen today!! So, then we drove home in my souped up Pick-up truck..and it was here that I finally found a blond color to tone that horrible color down.. I was drinking pretty heavy at the time, Diet cokes and Rum-( A Qebra-le bra? They called it in the 80's.. I met my new drinking buddy  Mary. We would meet early in the morning and start drinking..the bottle we had,at like 10 am.. on my days off.. and then end up at the local Bar. Continue till the am hours.. go home and get up and do it again.. I fit my School in , and a morning -afternoon shift at the Holiday Inn as a waitress . I remember being in Theory, and reading my Cosmetology book, downing little bottles of Jack Daniels. (hee-hee) I passed all my tests.. Then I would meet Mary and we would drink, and dance and party!! Until,  I started another job waitressing at night , Too.. At the Golf and Country club of Fairfax, Va. I was in 5th gear!!! and in my early 20's. I can even remember sending lots of those people off with a To-go cup!! with whatever they were drinking.. , I would 'nt  be able to get away with that today either... So, I was getting to my am job at 5;30 am start the coffee pots, and get ready for a breakfast crew.. which by the way this is the restaurant I served the Redskins, and Steelers at.. I would then clean up, and get ready for the lunch rush.. and run home, right around the corner, and change into my white uniform, and go to Beauty school, some 45 minutes towards D.C and get out of there and go to my other waitressing job, till around midnight most of the week.. . Somewhere in there Larry and I were having problems.. and I ended up  with a DUI.. 2.6 bal.(blood, alcohol level) I don't remember even getting punished,  harshly for it... So, then I got another one ..that was a mess.. I had a wad of green apple gum in my mouth, and the cop was taking the glass case off of the breathing machine on his desk( that's how old the machine was..) he removed the glass, and moved the needle ..I was like wut the hell are you doing..? Needless to say, when court day came.. he could not even find my paper work.. and the Judge dismissed it.. The cop was so frazzled.. I left.. I still see him looking through his papers. just bewildered... ..lol.. I was then stalked by  the Herndon Police.. I mean I would be on my way to K-mart, and be pulled over.. and for ridiculous stuff.. like having a object dangling on my rear view mirror, like speeding 3miles per hr. over the speed limit. I had a list so long,,and one day I was on my way to K-mart, and this one cop.. comes up be hind me, and he has done this like 3 times.. and I wrote those times down,, and  this time I am not even a 1/4 of a mile form home, and he uses his speaker and says 'PULL OVER MISS DIDONATO-- NOW!!  I believe he said it 2-3 times.. I had to find a place to pull over  off the road, and he comes up screaming at me.. and asks for my name..duh.. and my license.. and he grabs it from my hand, and says if your license is suspended You know I know where you F'n live... and he walks away to go check it again for the forth time that 3-4 month period.. of my life.. Then he hands it back to me calling me names.. and makes me sign my tickets which were so bogus!!  See my house was right on a border of 2 towns... Loudon, and Fairfax.. and they knew the house was a party house.. but I would leave the property to go to the shopping center.. , innocently.. and get pulled over, that year I was in and out of court 26 times!!! That cop gave me a ticket ,for something.. but I went in and defended my self..I was so pissed reading everything I documented, and that Judge knew I was truthful, and said 'Waht is going on here? to the cop.. and told me I was free to go, and I found out later that cop was reprimanded,.. and on  review.. Man he just exhausted me.. that year. Well, then  I in my beauty school, struggling to make ends meet, looking around I seen all the Vietnamese, and Spanish girls with these new Uniforms, and gold dripping from them.. and at lunch time they would bring lil' ovens and crock-pots filled with food, for a feast.. and here I was in  thrift store used uniform... Well, I made friends with these 2 girls.. and one day, the one girls asked me to 'get' her a perm.. and in my white uniform I put one in my pocket, and the girl told on me !!!! I was caught!!!  I tried to say I was going to pay for it, but the girl already told them  she saw mw steal it... I was literally Expelled.. there was No-way I could go back.. that lil' B... I ended up.. working full-time.. and having to pay that School, for the months I had remaing.. in order to get my hours. I was stuck. see if I did n't give them the 3500.00 hundred, I would not recieve my credit hours.. What a mess..  I remeber saying a 10 month course , turned into a 2 year nightmare!! So, I worked my azz off.. I also sold my Pretty Black FOrd, PU Truck... and paid that school off, and enrolled in another School, closer to D.C then the other one..I borrowed, some money from my Dad..again, and found a little ford pu truck.. and paid $2,000.00 bucks for it.. now remeber I have had driven, all kinds of cars and ran heavy Equipment.. I knew about engines.. and so forth.. and this one time I put that much on a vehicle.. and it stops working after a few weeks, that just pissed me off to the max!! Some  'older'  guy seemed  like he could be anyones Dad.... ripped me off !!! So, I bought a new engine from Blue-chip , and I had a friend put it in, and I drove that for a round 30 days, because when it stopped running.. I called the Engine people up, and and they said my 30 day warranty was up....   a day ago!!! So, I sold that to  the mechanic.. and he got it running. and drove it for a long time afterwards.. I would see it in the church parking lot.. many years.. We have since left that church.. I see his wife on Facebook.. and they left around the same time I did.(thats a whole nother chapter.. So, I began that new Beauty Acedemy, and I was flying through the chapters, and the Practical work.. my Instructors were real fun, and not so uptight... I have  a well kept secret.. I may reveal later.. about  the ending of my School Dramas.., and the beginning of  a new Job in the Hair Industry.. I will put it this way the President of the Acedemy. was arrested  a month later for stealing &4,000.00 and trying to make it look like a robbery, when she got out of her car at the 7-11.. leaving the bank bag in her car.. but it all came around, and pointed to her... So, I read about it in the Washington Post... Let's just say I am glad to have gotten my Diploma, and so I began working..for Salon in Sterling,Va. It was there that I would really learn how to cut and design Hair!!!..REally..okay later!!

Hanging-out at the Park....

We had the Smithtown Park, right around the block from our development. Each night we would get all dressed up, and go and hang-out till all hours of the night..it is there that I smoked pot for the 1st time.. way up on a hill with  my best friends older sister.. not the one I was a kleptomaniac with, and not the one I took off for Florida with.. the other one.. She was a fighter..  the other sister... she had 3 older sisters.  Almost every time we hung out she would get into a fist fight with some -one, and I mean this little woman would deck someone out - to the ground in a matter of seconds.. I had  seen some of the biggest and toughest go down. I seen her jump up from behind and pull them down and punch the living day lights out of the person..It was okay at the time.. so long as you weren't on the receiving end.. At which one time I was.. I have no idea what we were in an argument about, but on a corner in front of my house we met there after a phone conversation lead to us meeting out front there, and  I brought a bat.. I knew she was a heavy hitter.. and we came face to face before I could even get in a swing position she punched me so hard in the jaw.. I was seeing stars.. I got all heated up and , basically astonished she hit me..She saw how I took it too.. and then we started to talk, and just walked off together as best friends to the park.. Like nothing ever happened.. That night we hung out in the Park lights.. with our regular friends.. I had a crush on this one guy..  I found out  he was a lot older then me, and already hooked on hard drugs.. He drove this big dark blue Caddy.. and his cute younger brother.. turned out to like me.. I would be about a 189 lbs.. at the time, and he asked me for my phone number... he was so cute, but I had never been really on a date.. So the night I was supposed to meet him, I was so nervous,, and my sister helped push me through this.. Even with the help form my sister,, and the reality of a first DATE...I walked really slow up to the corner.. just hoping I would be late.. I was  there and waited about 3 minutes and started for home.. really fast.. I was not going through with it..I mean I am like 12 -13 years old.. I am a party -rock-n roll girl, not that " frilly girly' dating type.. Wow that took the pressure off... So, I went home got undone.. and went to the other corner where my other buds were hanging , and partied there in Mills Path the rest of the night. I eventually went up to park and bumped into  that one guy..  we did not bring up the issue.. Life went on as usual.. I had another crush on a guy.. but he had a girlfriend.. she never hung out with us.. but I meddled my way into his crowd.. and I just remember being near him every second of every night, that I even heard him tell his buddies that"everytime he turned around She was there" pointing at me.. I turned red.. and left.. I was ..so embarrassed. He liked my friend Vanessa.. so I would hang-out with her and we three would walk home.. So I guess I felt I could hang out in his circle of people..he was actually a lot older then me and some of my friends.. I was just all over back then.. I just hung with who ever.. And attached myself at several points to any group , and then moved on.. It was like that for years.. The girls who would get punished would call me over , and we would get high.. and hang out all night in there rooms.. Then when they were off there punishment I would not here from them, and I would see them hanging out.. Well, that was life ..

Marshall Tucker Concert....

Well, it was going to be my 15th birthday present , to myself.. I bought tickets for the Marshall Tucker band. The Original Band. My 2 friends and me were hitch hiking to the same Arena some 20 miles away, and it was March, still a little frosty up North, at the time.. Well, we planned our trip..  and headed out early. We had gotten their so early we were right up against the stage.. Well, when the band came out and the lights started flickering..Woo-hoo!! It was great!!!  When they played "Can't you see?" the best song ever, , and then Fire on the Mountain..  We were right there, and I don't remember how it came about.. but I put my friend on my shoulders, as we sang and danced.. and the lead singer put his  Cowboy hat on her head.. and at least 15 -20 minutes we were dancing and cheering.. wearing his hat.. I know we gave it back.. and just were in awe.. See the stage was only 4  feet high, so that is why we were so close and at a level to place a hat on her head !!! Well, I do believe we left  and made it home w/o incident.. as opposed to my last concert there.. The sad thing is after that concert all 3 of the Marshall Tucker Band brothers had passed away in some form or another.. I  am sure at the time it made news, , but some how later, way later I found out right after that concert  one by one.. How sad for there mom.. I remember thinking , when I read the Bio.. I just have a good memory of the best 15 th  birthday.. ever..

Easy Money..

Which leads to my next story... my aunt had been working, and still living at home.. I would go in her room while all the adults were down stairs. One time my little sister was with me, and we had our new favorite 'colorforms' present ,  we had gotten at Xmas time. I,  had seen the nightstand draw opened a little bit, and I opened it to find 50's and 20's and 1',just  piled up on top of each other,  and I just had to have it.. So I opened  up the box and took the guts of the game out, and filled it up with all kinds of cash. Then my lil sister was was playing with hers, and I took it.., and opened it up, and filled it up with 50'and 20's...and closed it all up. We rode home to the Island, 45 minutes, and just knowing we knew what we had.. I was in like 2nd grade, and she was in maybe kindergarten.. She did not even ask me for a dollar, of it.. So , I put 4 one dollars bills in this lime green wallet my mom gave me in the past, and then I gave my friend  a $5,00 dollar bill. I put the wallet under a pillow in the living room.(no kids  room) . I went to school.. I remember just thinking My mom is going to vacuum or take a nap on that couch, and find my money..So my stomach was turning all day.. Well, when I did get home, I found it there and untouched.. Shew, I made it through those hours. It wasn't until After midnight, our phone rang.. and my Dad, came in my room, and in the moonlight, he was asking me where  I got $5.00 dollars to give her?, and I was like oh crap.. she told on me.. Then my dad said we would talk about it in the morning.. my stomach turned all night long.. What in the world did she do? I kept asking myself.. Well, by morning my Dad  told me She had it in a book, and as she walked into her parents room it fell out... and her parents asked where she got it from, and she told them what I told her.. Well, I had a horrible day at school, and when I came home my dad had me hand over the money, and explain what, and how I did get it.. it was returned to my Aunt.. and I never did turn over the 4 bucks in the green wallet.. I think I bought wax teeth with it.. lol, and my family would just forget that it ever happened.. Except..till this day my brothers, and one of my sisters would still think I am a thief.. But my one sister thought I dated truck drivers all my life also... Wrong!!, and one brother thought I was binging and throwing up my food , if we were out to dinner, and I just wanted to got freshen up in the bathroom.. he made a comment to my little sister ,about my throwing up my dinner.. and my sister stuck up for me.. and said "no , Patty likes her food to much to do that" I was like wtg ,  sis, when she told me what he said.. Later he would see, I dieted and exercised to lose and keep my weight down.. Well, where I should have been punished for what I did ..I did 'nt.. It may have scared me straight, but getting away with things like that.. proved to me that the paths I took in life were going to be very risky, and criminal..
Nevertheless.. a learning experience.. Crime does not pay.. I tried, and tried.. but I see, and have seen it first hand.. It takes some people a longer time then others.. and some ppl already know... I am like good for them... They have shown me..by example.I am impressed!!

Why were my Parents so 'lax'..??

I have been asked recently.. (and many a times in the past..and, I even asked my self.).Where was my mother.. while I was trapsing the niebor hood.. I really knew the answer.She was pms'ing on the couch, this  way before Midol.  Asprin, and wine..were the only things available,and they had just baley got her throuhg it.. So, I would just leave her alone and go play!!! And those later years, where we basically had no "curfew' I was told many stories, on how my parents were not trusted as young children, and in fact, beatenat the drop of a hat. So, when my parents became parents they made a pack not distrust us, and be nosey.. and believe me, they weren't!!! They should have beat us, and pryed ,I agree now with diciplining. My Dad was a man who would talk, and raise his voice , where you knew he was pissed, I did fear him,, He would take back hand me from time to time, and chase me up the stairs,I would be doing one step as fast as I could and he would be skipping 2-3 steps to catch up to me.. I was sad, because I got cauhgt cutting  class, or saying something stupid at the dinner table, after he would ask about a situation that came up.. But they did not snoop.. I had a room filled wiht all kinds of "party paraphnelia, and it stayed left alone for years.. The one story my mom told me was how she would have to wear these clothes my granmother laid out for her, and then, Grams would go to work, my mom would change into something she liked, and tassel up the other clothes, and throw them into the dirty wash basket.. and be dressed in her after school, clothes by the time gramma and pop got home.. One time my mom shaved her eyebrows, and widows peak, the evening of her Prom, and my grandmother beat her with pots and skillets, in a rage, and ended  up taking her to the beauty parlor to get them drawn in.. My mom.. never questioned my taste, and wants in clothes.. We would take a credit card and go shopping, and I would get my boots, and jeans and cool shirts.. (And yet, I still wrote my Dads, parents,, and asked them for money for school clothes..) well that backfired, when they showed up one w/e to tke me out shopping.. I did not want them to buy anything, so I refused to like anyhting at the mall.. I just wanted the cash...

Born a Brunette!!!!

So, since I was young, I can remember bleeding brakes, on the Ford Station wagon, with my Dad, and making sure on the rainiest dark and cloudiest days going to our boat, and pumping the bilge.. Grease under the fingernails was yet to come.. I would listen to every word any of my older guy friends had on keeping a car, truck, or motorcycle in great running shape!!.. I learned enough.. to keep my vehicles running and in great shape.. The only things I would need from  a garage was a front end alignment, and an Inspection sticker.. I even was able to Time my trucks..back in the day.. I used to say, a lot, Ford built his trucks so even a woman could work on em!!! You name it from Solenoids, to Freeze plugs.. I could change it, and whenever something did go wrong I knew what it was.. And anyone Else's car ,for that matter... shocked a hell of alot of men over the years..that was just fun!! Note; many times I was broke down in the middle of nowhere.. and cars would just race by me.. So, if I wanted to get anywhere I would have to figure it out,in order to get moving, So, you see, many blonde's don't know whats under there hood, or did nt in those days, But had I been a blonde I would have had a better chance of getting help.. except for this one instance:
              I remember breaking down on a trip to Roanoke ,Va.. at like 1 am , I thought I would just drive this lil' truck down there, and back,,I had just bought it, used had it painted Black, just like my big truck I bought in LA. (had to sell her,so I could live and go to  Beauty School) So, I bought a another one just smaller...and here I was on the Interstate, in November.. and she popped so loud, and cut off.. So I rolled over to the side of the road.. not a soul in site!!!, I looked up a head and in the distance I see an exit was a head.. about 1/2 a mile. I was just getting out of my truck when this big rig,pulled over...!! I was like holy chit, and a guy jumps out, as fr as I could see, holding something in his arms, I am alone, mind you, and my heart is pounding.. he gets up to me, and says, you may need these, and he had 5 quarts of oil...I was so relieved!!! I thought how nice is he, to pull off the highway,in that big truck, and help..me,, Well, we put them in and it still did not start.. So he called a tow truck for me, and said he had to get going.. I thought Thank-you... and away he went,,, I remember thinking.. I am in a Party-mode.. this can not be happening.. I want to go ..by my situation wasn't going... So, in about an hour.. I was being towed that 3/4 of a mile up the ramp, and on the first right... $65.00 bucks, I remember being so Mad!! I could have pushed my truck,for free... What a rip.. Then it started to rain cold sleet, and the driver, said there was a motel across the street.. Well, I woke the Old couple up, ringing the bell,at the office.. they gave me a room with a phone, and a Black and white T.V that flickered Barnabas Jones.. no cable.. not there any way!!!and so I called the ppl. I was supposed to be meeting.. and we talked for a long while when they realized I was not going to be making it, they left there room, and went down to the Bar, and never answered my calls again.. So, I had to call home the next morning, and sound pathetic, and , that I needed help.. So, a friend of ours, had a low boy trailer, and 6 hours later.. and a slice of cheese on white bread,with no mayo(dry), and nothing to drink.. I was lucky to get that sandwich.. there were no stores around, so this couple fed me.. sorta.. And I sat in their  kitchen awaiting my help.. because check-out time was of course 11 am.. I did not sleep.. I was so mad.. to say the least.. then I had to drive all the way back up North, and basically sell my truck for parts..and within a few weeks I was living back at the house on the edge of Herndon.About a year and half later, it would be burned up,mysteriously, while I was out one night..august 24th 1984....

Patty's Mystery'

I remember when I was in 2nd grade, I woke up late one night to find my legs totally bruised with huge black-n blue spots , and swollen so big. I woke my parents up, and my dad, had to carry me to the car. I could not even put my shoes on my feet, and my moms shoes would not fit either.. It was so bazarre, that the Doctor.. admitted me into the Hospital, and for the next few weeks, if not months I remained there on the 4th floor.. I had Christmas, and New Years there, I also remember my Birthday being celebrated there, so that was Dec. Jan Feb, and March.. Because all those Holidays I had made some kind of a  figure out of a toilet paper card board roll.. and cotton, and construction paper.. I remember my Grandparents giving me this raccoon Russian hat.. I wore with my flannel nite gown, I remember my hate full brother having to get me all my home work.. and I remember waving good-bye from my window to my family out in the snow covered parking lot.. I also knew where the cookies were.. at the nurses station, and I would wait till real late at night, and sneak up there. and get a pack of them.. I finally got back to normal, and the diagnosis, was never determined, so from then on my family and the Dr. just called it "Patty's ( Mysterious )Diesease' I
 never ever to  day  ever had another occurrence of it either.. I had gone back to school, and went straight into 3rd grade..I was back to normal...

Exercise, and Diet.. Exercise, and Diet !!!

So, I started to diet when I was 14 years old.. I began  running to my bus stop, and babysitting jobs. I stopped eating meat.. and peanut butter and jelly sandwich's at mid-night..By the time we moved to Va. I had lost 30 pounds, I was on a stationery bike for 2 hours a day!!! I would grab a radio and good book... and peddle. My dad would say "you are going to wear your knee caps out..) I did not think it would ever happen, and to this day I am thank-full it didn't.  I started Yoga, at home, and Hi-Impact exercises, and walked and  would take swims in the public pool.. (my dad , would never approve of this.. ) It took us  a night to get this. My older sister and I would  climb over the fence to the public pool, and go swimming, and one night we hopped the fence, and we began to swim , when I felt something hit my ankle.. in the dark water, that scares the hell out of me!! I said man, I am outta of here.. When we realized it was the furniture, and the pool had been vandalized,we were seeing blue lights.. , of a cop, coming up, I said " make like the pool fool'.. get under!!, I began laughing while going under the water.. It was all I could do to keep quite, but they flashed the lights on us and we had to come out..so we grabbed our towels  and I grabbed a 5 gallon gas can , I was taking for my Dad.. climbing over the fence, we were  asked questions ,
 about the gas can.. I had in my hands, behind my back.. I said I found it.. well, it turned out to belong to the Lawn crew..., and we were told to leave it.. Well, then we were asked where we lived, and had to show them. When we got to our house, it was after midnight.. and the cop, was going to knock on the door.. and we bolted.. that cop was not sure what he was walking into.. If we were scared, it made him even more the  nervous .. so he pulled his gun and told us to stop.. and with this we turned around and my dad answered the door.. well, we were lectured, and so forth.. and I don't believe we swam at night the rest of the summer.. Well, I had met a girl in school, and we hung out partying, I have written about those days.. It was over the course of the next 30 years, I would gain weight, and lose it gain it and lose it.. After I was put away for 7-9 months, I gained like 60 lbs.. I worked out in there.. but the meals we were feed were pure Carbs.. ..to fatten us up.. see.. It made the County look good.. if we were fat, instead of starving.. skinny women all gaunt, basically , like when we arrived.. I was a slim 129 lbs, like I said when I left there.. I was 189..!!! But I was Saved , and I was going to church.. and I thought  I would just live for the Lord, and I would get wisdom on the things I was to be working on.. In Jail, I grew in the word.. and Patience, and endurance.. among other things.. I was learning how to walk this life out , in the real world..  I guess 2 years into it and the numerous Missions trips I took..Honduras, and England, and Hawaii.. and then Israel, and Rome..  I came back,, and learned how to Roller Blade.. I bought a tread-mill, and I began a regimen of exercise , that I feel now  would blow any ones mind.. I had  good hours at my job.. so I could get up and get on my Treadmill for about 2 hours, then do my Tao-Bo and then Rollerblade for 1 and half hours, then get on my bicycle and cool down for about a hour ride.. I would make sure I had a plan of roads and paths everywhere I lived.. I had the same neighborhood pretty much the 4-5 different address's in Sterling.. And when I moved to Chantilly, I made a route that worked out too.. I did not drink, smoke or chew, and I did not hang with those who do... I had brand new smile, my brother, the dentist gave me.. sorta. I was in the best shape of my life.. I owned my Mobile home , and would stay up all hours of the night painting, and fixing it up.. I found though as the years went on I was still alone... I had some friends , but even they seemed 2 faced and shallow.. It went on , and on... I began to wither.. and the crap that was being thrown into my lap. and the emptiness I was feeling.. I should have stood.. the test, but I did not.. I was hit really hard.. and I took a path.. I know I should not have.. You know in reality, it has had meaning.. I know more now,of course from life's lessons, but in the Spiritual, it has meant growth  for me.. I have more Love and genuine care for the people I meet, and work with.. not just a passing 'put up with them, attitude, till they are gone.. but a real care, and patience, I did not have before.. So, I am graced to say.. I am and have not been Forsaken, or discarded.. as so I may have thought.. many a times. I am still walking this through.. but I seek God, for the paths I am to take.. each day.. I am very Thank-ful..

Music Teachers,and me....

I loved music since I was a baby!! I told you about how I would be singing Send A letter Maria, and Leaving on a Jet Plane, at 11/2 to 2 years old!! I carried these 45's around with me... everywhere I went. I dreamt of a set of Red Drums ever since I can remember, I hung out with anyone who could play them.. I remember a in like 5th 0r 6th grade I asked a friend of mine to play the drums on the stage behind the curtain, at lunch time.. and he did!!! He did Wipe-out a big hit from the 70's. and  it was on the money... I wonder now if he still plays.. but I did get in trouble for that.. I had to plan a dance scene to a modern Rock song.. and do it on stage during lunch the following week,. So I grabbed a few girls I knew, and we did a Dance to Your Momma don't dance and your Daddy  don't Rock-n-Roll.. it went well..  So why all the trouble with my Music teachers..  I went into this music class thinking I was getting into playing the drums.. She.. gave me a Clarinet!!!.. I was like no way!! Well, this teacher was pretty cool, She had brought to our class some tid-bits of news now and then.. Like,  Your so Vain was really written about Mick Jagger.. and as Carly and him were breaking up.. He came into to the studio and joined her  on the last parts of that song.. You can hear him.. and they did date. Some people say other men, but they weren't even linked together.. Mick and Carly were a known couple for a while there.. if you followed.. As I did.. I did because my mom and dad hooked me up.. We had a precription to  Columbia House Records..we would get 5 albums for a penny.. Janis, Cat Stevens, Lee Micheal's, Zeppelin you name it.. I had it all.So, to give me a Clarinet...was NOT Cool.. So, I raised hell the rest of that year... She would be so upset with me and send me to the Principals office all the time.. I was told on this one particular day to shut my mouth, and don;t make a sound , or I would be sent down to the Principals office.. Well she sits me right up front , and she pulls out this trumpet, and begins to put it together, when all of a sudden she blows in one end and this glob of spit comes out the other end, right near my feet.. I was like EWWHhh!! Yuk!!! and she threw that instrument down, and grabbed me by my neck, and turned me toward the door and pushing and grabbing me  saying that's it Didonato, she threw my up against this wall with the phone on it and calls down to the office saying I was on my way,, expect me there... She knows in the past I would kind of lolly gag in getting there, this time she called to make sure I was on my way.. she was pissed... to say the least...  So I finally finished that grade.. and ,  I found out that the next year I was going into Music Class with one of my older sisters Teachers.. Ms M..and she had some horrible habits.. She was a Prude.. Library type woman, She played Beethoven, and was talented, but she picked her nose... with almost every oppt'y. and then put it on this Pearl Necklace, and then put the Pearl in her mouth... Now you have to know I knew of this the year my sister and her friends were telling me about this.. So when I arrived in her class,  and I saw that Pearl necklace on her neck.. I laughed... and even more shocking and gross, she picked her nose and put it on the darn pearl, and then put the pearl in her mouth.. I am having a time  typing this ,,,Lmao.. So my story ends with, the fact that I could sing, but I was supposed to be found.. I wasn't going to take music in school anymore.. I did later take Voice lessons, and guitar lessons, and wrote tons of songs. that remain in note books, and on napkins... but for now, I won't quit my day job...

me ... and my Dad At Ellis Island...Pointing to our Names on the Wall.

Find a block where your people can find you,...

You never know when your making a memory... you wish you were here together again some day...!! (Ricky Lee Jones) And that's what we did.. we were making memories..Being raised with all the best things a kid could want in America.. We were spoiled.. but even that had  consequences. My grand parents were from Italy, there Parents came over by boat, Ellis Island 1894..  My Pop, on my Dads side  was 6 years old when they ,my Great Grand Parents Loretta, and Dominic came to America. They had  My Pop, his 2 sisters , and a little brother Phillip. Phillip and my Pop both had Polio, but Philip died real young, and my Pop survived. Then when he was 7 his Mom died.. and at 9 his Dad died. There he was  in the Bowery, on the streets of New York,  to raise his sisters.. and to that,  he did.. He went into boxing and  became a Contender. He was pretty good from the money, and awards  he got , in which I heard about,  from him, and the pictures I had seen.. In fact he gave me his  Everlast Original, Boxing bag, and his gloves...!!!   He also taught me to Bowl !! He bowled a perfect game!! So, that even the T.V program Bowling for Dollars would not let him compete, because he was a sure win!!!  You see when he met my Grandma.. she gave him an ultimatum.. Get a real job , and give up Boxing.. So, he did and went to work for Grumman's, making ammo.. And so he married grandma D. a seamstress.  She  was awesome with a needle and thread , let alone a Singer sewing machine.. She was working for Barnum Bailey Circus, and she made Gunther-the Lion Tamers outfits.. all the Sequence blankets for the Elephants, and much more. Everything I owned had, a sequence patch of some kind of animal,on it... She also made Liberace' s capes and some suits.. and her and ten little old women further down the road, where the ones who made the Outfits for Kiss, the band.. Well, while they were trying to teach us the Italian language , and how to sew, and crochet.. were rebelling and doing our own things .  I remember this doll house my Dad built me, it even had a double decker(hand-painted) marble  Porch that fit up to the side of the house.. my Grand Parents went to FOA Swhartz the biggest toy store in America, in the city to get the furniture for it.. So , through-out the year I would add pieces like a Tiffany lamp, and a cast iron telephone, a toilet paper holder.. even mini Da'Vinci paintings in the living room.. bunk beds for the kids room it was priceless.. but years and years of moving I finally hocked it in Manassas Va.. for $300.00 dollars.. I regret that now.. I remember about 6 years before Grams died, asking here to teach me to crochet... I was visiting them from Va. and she said" Take a course" I am to old to teach you that now... lol.. Pop and her were married like 60 something years, They even got a letter from the President.. and when they traveled to Los Angles to visit my Dad,and there oldest Daughter, My aunt L.. they would get free things like a bottle of Champagne, and bargains from the Airlines.. It was real nice that they would recognize them. Well, we had our great Grandma, my Grandmas 's mom.. she was so old and living with them while I was still very young, she had gotten gangrene, I was told form the Boat ride over.. the living conditions were very 'raw' and wet, and cold.. and she developed a sore, and it got infected, and she had to have half her leg amputated.. When ever we children walked in the room in there language, they would say.. cover it up.. I had seen it one time, and it was not a good thing for me to see at my age..Yuk.....Well, She was a trooper Great Grandma Renzuala... .. We are in fact on the Wall, on Ellis Island.. 3 names on both sides of my Family..  I will post pictures, as soon as I get this camera to work..ss..lol.. till later..

Halloween nites 1970-1976......

I remember Halloween being so exciting.. We lived in a suburban neighborhood with lots of houses  for blocks on end, and we would get ready for school in the morning, and put on our costumes and go through the neighborhood as fast as we could, and bring our bags of candy home and take off our costume, and then get on the bus, and go to school. When we got out of school, we would come home and change back into our costume and go Trick-or- Treating till 1 am .. our room would be so filled with brown grocery bags filled with candy.. no kidding!!! Remembering  too , in those days you would get a straight pin, or razor.. and even poison.. in our candy.. lol... but as for us we would find this as we sorted out the candy,, and laugh, and then throw it out..Well, I remember on one Halloween the Gang got together, and we emptied out a bunch of eggs with a needle, and sucked blue , and red paint , and even honey,,,back into them from the other end... Boy the time on our hands..huh?.. Well , we had bags, and crates filled with these eggs, and we had 'all',  gone door to door for our treats,.. until like midnight, and then the older group  of us met at the corner.. and we all headed to the assistant Principals house, and like 26 of us , on the count of 3.. threw these  eggs!!! Boom Boom Splat.. Crack... tons of them eggs were thrown, and then the front door opened , and to this day I see, 26 of us, split in half, and Run!!!  All different directions, but we knew where we would meet just in case someone got caught..See our hang-out ...Mills Path was close by, so most us ran there.. where the fire was still burning.. and we cracked open a beer, and partied,, Well that night, I was going to my friends,  house uptown,  in Ronkonkoma,  Her sister picked us up.. And the next morning when we woke up, we went into town.. and while walking , we were coming up to the local glass shop, and there was Mr. L. pulling all theses broken windows out of the back of his station wagon.. well, we walked by and then cut a corner and watched.. oh how devious,,,of us.. (we had  a nice up bringing , and  pretty safe for the most part.). One girl we knew, she had gotten raped in the paths  we hung out in.. I believe to this day it was one of the guys we hung out with.. he always spooked me.. and she was the same girl to have a bat fly down from the top of circling the lamp post , and get caught in her long blond hair... It was horrible.. she screamed and I still see the mess in her hair. All tangled, and she was red and crying and went home.. But this was the 'street light  we always meet at before going down the drinking hole.. Where the mini bikes, and Sl-70' and the one lime green Kawasaki.. would meet .. We had some older guys , Hells Angels- come down on there bikes.. those were the days  with Ape Hanger handle bars for real !!! These guys were much older then me.. but I remember having some great conversations with them.. Plus , either my sister or one of my girlfriends were dating  them. So, I got to hang out .Plus, I was a ' partier,' !.It  was very safe  environment and fun.. being out till wee hours of the night.. and at times I would walk home by myself, and make it.. You could not pay me now!! To do that..now..lol

Florida bound....at 15 years old!!!

We drove, changing drivers every couple of hours. Well, Steve would get tired, so we would prop me up on pillows, and I would work the clutch, and Steve would work the stick shaft, and away we would go.. flying down 95 south.. If we had to 'go'.. I would just pull over on the side of the road, and let the engine cut off.. We drove and drove, and finally by early morning we arrived in Orlando Fla. I had been there a few years earlier, with my family, so I figured I knew my way. Well to Disney !!!  I also knew we needed jobs. See I knew we weren't going to get far w/o one, I babysat, and cleaned homes, up North for years, so I had a pocket full of money.( I do believe Lisa thought we were going to find a man and get married.).  I found the local Unemployment Office , and walked in there and grabbed a listing of jobs. I found one , taking care of old people. So , we drove over to the address, and sitting on the porch was this woman we'll call Mariam, she was surrounded by Old folks in wheel chairs, and with walkers. We talked, and I made a bargain with her.She could have us ,Lisa and me for the same Salary $625.oo a month, and we would share room  and job duties. That was a Go!! So we had jobs , but Steve did not. So, I lose my memory here to as what happened, ,but I found out later, he turned around and went up North.. With that , Lisa and me, got unpacked.. I remember how hard it was keeping up on all these people. They were abandoned,  by family members for their inheritance. Just left to starve,  some were found in there homes no food , no furniture ,one guy did not even have  a front door.. it had some worth to it ,and his son took it too.. !! I mean these stories were horrible. Nevertheless, we made them happy, and comfortable. Well, we finally found a schedule that would allow us some party time, and boy did we ever!!! All night ,3 days in a row.. Well, we got caught sneaking in one early morning, I had my foot through the window, and as I turned to get all the way in I saw Maryam, she was pissed.. She said I won't and can't have you girls here doing this with my people, here.. It was just not a good thing. So , She said she would pay us for the month even though we were to move out..immediately. So, that's what we did, now we were homeless. I remembered later , I forgot an 8x10 autographed photo of Led Zeppelin!!! I was so pissed, I sat on there Tambourine box at a concert, in Va. and I seen there address on the side, and wrote them . and they mailed me this great Photo.. Only 5-6 people every saw that, because, I really did not have a lot of friends,when I received it. I did not take it with me to New york, now I am sorry I toke it with me to Fla. I had written them again, and they returned the letter, saying 'they've gone a way'...Well anyway, we hitched to  Disney, and set up camp on top of the Contemporary Hotel.. the one with the monorail going through it.. That's where I stayed with my Family..!!
      On the built up roof... and then we would go down stairs to the Pool Room and shoot Pool for  a 'Buck ball' That's when we met these brothers, and they seemed interested in us, and if we had a place to stay. WE said no..and with that we were packing up again to move into their trailer. So, when we got there we barley unpacked.. we needed to Clean!!! There was trash up to the ceiling... but it had potential... The Cockaroaches, were a foot long..Yuke. so we cleaned this place up  and I closed some holes in the floors  up. and made it home.

Oh what a night!!!!

I remember  this concert me and Fay and Elisa went to.. it was in Commack, at an Arena, about 20 miles away.  We told each of our parents we were sleeping over each others house. Our real plan was to pack up clothes and stuff, in a nap-sac , and put it in my back yard behind the above ground pool, and when we got home we would retrieve it and and go to Mills Path and camp out.. It was a very cold day in November.. but even at 14 years of age I covered everything we would need, and put it in my nap sack.. So, we hitch hiked to this concert and we were drinking and partying  the whole way there. When we got there we found our seats.. and then I went to the ladies room.. and while I was in there I found this cigarette pack with 4 joints , and brought it back to my seat, I told Fay, and Elisa , and we lit up the one joint, and  the lights went out, and the concert began!!! We  sat through this Robin Trower concert with one Eye opened,.. I still see there faces...lol We , were messed up !! It turned out to be Angel Dust, and that concert went on, an on.. I have know idea why we choose this concert.. I was a Yes fan, and Zeppelin Fan.. this was some hard Rock.. just blairing at us.. Well, it was finally time to go.. and at midnight, we walked out .. into a full blown-out snowstorm!!!We had to bundle up.. I had a Snorkel.. that zipped all the way up to my face.. but I still remember them being cold!! They had dressed to go out, they were not equipped for the night we were about to endure.  That snow and wind was horrible.. We kept walking, and then this cop pulled up aside of us, and asked where we were going and what were we doing out this late.. in the Storm.. I told him. Then I told him we were heading for Ronkonkoma.. and he said ladies,  its the other direction.... I was like  Wow.. really? So, then I asked him if he could give us a ride at least back to the Arena, and he said , No.. insurance purposes, and drove off!! So, we turn around and headed for my house, hitchhiking.. well, I do not recall getting many rides.. but by the time we were back in our territory, we decided to just go to Mills, and sit up until morning.. Well, that's all we could do with 4-6inches of snow on the ground.. We sat huddled up, on a piece of plastic I found.. the party was over!!! After a few hours with out fire, and tired from the nights ordeal, we slept ..sorta!! Well, at day break, we stood up.. all stiffened ,and freezing!! and started to walk to my house.. My mom was up and , we just went straight up to my room.. and fell out on my Big warm bed.. Then Elisa's  mom came for her.. and Fay , she only had to go 2 doors down, so when she Thawed out, she left.. and I took a very hot shower, and retrieved the back pack from my snow covered back yard, and then I got comfy, and , with no questions asked.. went about life as usual.. I just keep thinking how we could have frozen to death.. at 3-4 o'clock in the morning, and sitting still.. it was probably not worth dying over..but at 14,  I--, We got away with it.. I guess there was a hidden motive.. Because like I said, we were not Trower fans.. and what I found in that cigarette box messed us up!!!

Gym Teachers....

Well, in 5th grade , changing into these funky gym clothes became very Un-cool.. I was not going to wear  these little gold shorts with a stripe pattern on top, all sewn together... So, every time we had gym I found a way out.. I would sit out on the side  of the basketball courts. Unless of course we did softball, then I found energy to play.. and that I did. I would hit that ball out of the playground and run my fat, but fast but around the diamond !! Winning  alot of games.. It was not until 7th grade. me my best friend were going through the lockers, and taping Kotex up on the lockers.. and smoking in the showers, when the biggest woman I had ever seen, came screaming int the locker room, for us .. I shoved Fay into a locker with a mouth full of smoke..lol, and I blew my smoke up into the window, when I turned around that women had me  a foot off the ground, and her hands were around my neck squishing me against the wall.. asking me what I was up to... I just heard Fay saying she could not get out of the locker, and was stuck, and the gym teacher, let me down to turn to the locker, and try to get her out.. they were pulling on it and it just would not open, well, they called the Janitor, and he had to pry it open!! Well, from that time on, we were being watched. I remember getting off the bus and having half a cigarette, still, and I toke a drag, and I looked up, and a male gym teacher jumped down off the roof !!! Right in front of me, and I dropped my butt, and he startled me,, and said let the smoke out.. like 3 times, so I did, and he dragged me down to the Principals office after making me pick-up my but... I did get suspended 3 days.. that when Fays sister got pregnant.. my famous line.. was your going home to tell your mom your pregnant, at 15 1/2 years old, and I am going home to tell my mom I got caught smoking.. lol.. Well, I thought it was funny,, I did my 3 days of suspension.. and continued cutting classes..but I could pass a test like there was no tomorrow.. making it in to 8th grade..Yes, and Fays sister had her baby... a little boy.. I managed to get out gym for the next few years, because I remember moving to Va. and that was a class I had a choice whether to take it or not!!! I was liking that!!

Vegas Trip....

 The Salon I work at, won  a trip to Vegas,about 3 years ago, we sold the highest in Redken retail, out of some 99 Salons.. We were given $200.00 dollars in cash, Hotel, and of course a free flight. We also won tickets to get us into the Symposium- which was a bunch of classes, and shows from Redken. Well, my one sister lives there and is a Chef at the Venetian Hotel, and my Dad was only 5 hours away,in Los Angeles.. So , I thought it would be great to get together. I had to room with one of the girls I worked with at the Luxor,but she was going to be meeting her boyfriend, and move up the road to a Condo. I decided to tell my Dad  that he and Sandy could stay in my room the night and we would venture to my sisters the next day when I was through with the classes I signed up for. Well, that night the owner of all our Salons had a big Party at the Hard Rock Cafe, and so Free drinks and food. We all went, and my Dad even met the owner, and my bosses.. it went well.. I stayed  , as for him and Sandy they went up to the room. I went to see Fergie who was in concert at one of the Ballrooms, where we drank for free.. Lets just say by 3 am I was tired and ready to head back up to my room.. Ya know how most of us leave lights on in our rooms when on vacation? Well, not my dad.. every light , even the bathroom light was off.. so I stumbled in .. wondering where is everything..and why so dark. and quite, not even the T.V was on...Well, I fell asleep, and when I got up I turned everything on, and my dad was saying turn that off.. and that,, I was like Dad you aren't paying the bill here.. kind-of joking.. he said that's not it Patty, it is conserving for the next generation!!! Oh , well, I found out that w/e he is a  Conservative, both of them.. She in fact took my cute Lil shampoo/conditioners out of the shower, and I said where did they go, my dad said she takes them everywhere she goes and gives them to the homeless... Well, I felt bad.. but I really wanted them.. but I didn't ask.. So, with  that we had breakfast , and headed for North Vegas where my sister lived. I was scared to death, being the passenger in my (any car) and even my Dad's very well built Lexxus... this car talked to you.. I was just watching traffic dodge out of every corner, and I was ready to jump in the back seat.. At one point I toke my seat-belt of to do just that, and my Dad knowing  how bold I (used) to be looked at me, and said now.. I was deathly afraid, and told him I was crazy, he giggled , with agreement, but saw how serious I was, and pulled over.. So, Sandy got up front..and we were on our way.. Well, we finally reached my sisters house, and what a nice house she has.  Now , I found out why my nephew wasn't there, he  was staying at his grandparent home in Staten Island until he was 10 years old. So my sister could get her life together..Well shes going to need more then a life time to get it right.. Because what I went through with her in the next day and  a half,  showed me she needs help!!! I mean medical attention...So, my dad wanted to go driving around and find something to get into, and I was like no more driving, I just wanted to sit still for a while.. Well, they decided to go back to L.A, and Sandy came over to me with these Lil tin-foil wrapped banana breads she baked.. She said here these are in case your sister doesn't feed you... I was like stunned,,, I thought we will go out and get dinner later.. right? wrong.. She went to work and left me there with her German Shepard, who did have food..lol Well there was not much in her fridge, so I went to call a pizza in, and I found out she locked me in the house... I could not unlock a door to pay the guy or get my pizza!!! I did open the garage door just enough to slide it in and the money out,, I  ate  and had a couple of drinks, and waited for her to come home. Well, we sat at the table making plans for the next day.. I was going to get rid of her dyed red hair, and cut it.. ( she looked like Cornelius from the Planet of the apes!!) Well, we would  go and get me some "sneakers", I was like no need , I can hike in flip-flops.. I thought that was the end of that.. well, we go to the food store, and buy a few things.. I spot a 1/2 gallon of Jim Beam for 16.00 dollars.. and she says get it.. I was like I am not broke I can get it, well she paid for it.. Only later , to condemn me for  drinking.. she did not know I had not been drinking , or smoking or anything for 12-13 years.. (I had started a year earlier ,because of the circumstances I had come up against.. I said to myself I know what keeps me company, and with that.. I picked it up again, and full-throttle..)  So , as she is 'stewing' my lousy habits,  and that night, she is fixing a huge bowl of Ice cream, on top of half the box of brownies,she bought, telling me I should not be drinking my drink so close to bed time... blank face..I am watching her, who is the one with High blood pressure pills..lol, just gulp that stuff down, might as well be a Beam and diet.. it had been better for her then what she was eating.. but oh well..she brings up the fact that I will need sneakers.. and then she begins working out.. So, I thought well, to pass some time away,I will too. I see she finishes up, and I am still going, I began to smell, garlic bread.. I thought wow shes making lunch.. she sure was, and for HER!!!! I sat at the table, and seen she had one portion of bread and noodles ..for her, Nothing on the stove.. I was looking.. ..nope nothing.. So I am taping the table.. I said well at least let me read some of the news paper, and she picked up the day befores want ads and gave it to me.. I .. was like ..what a boob!! So, I went and showered and  got ready.. okay so we headed to the pay less, and beauty supplies store, off of this 6 lane hwy, and I said don't worry bout my feet, and buying sneakers, I said, since you bought me the whiskey, and with that she Blew a fuse, and whipped that truck around in the median, and cursing me up and down, saying it was that stuff just wreaking hazard, and blah blah blah, your father ,this and that, and did want to spend the day with you... and only spent 20 minutes with us.. I cut her off and said my father only spent 20 minutes with you, he and Sandy spent the night with me.. and with that down the road and back to her house.. we went, she's screaming and yelling at me.. the whole way. We reach her house, and she bolts in grabbing my luggage, and throwing my things into it.. well, I know I am outta there, and grab my bottle, and stuff it into my luggage. She s asking me where I want o go,, like I live around the corner.. I am like ..uh, I remember seeing a UN-built Costco coming in here.. I said take me to the Costco.. well that stupid blind B---h, drops me off int he desert.. about 10 miles form nothing at 3 in the afternoon.. its started to sink in where the heck I am , and what do I do next...I call my dad, and told him.. and he was like I didn't think you would last this long..He told me to catch a cab .. where I am from yeah 30 minutes max here.. But in the desert? 3 hours.. So I called home, and told them what was up, and my battery was going bad.. oops I left it at her house.. my gosh!! I am at an unbuilt Costco, ..There were a few construction workers.. after about 2 hours out here in90 degree heat and sun.. a big yellow Hummer drove up.. I asked for a ride, and that I would pay  $ 28.00 to get me to the nearest hotel.. He said he could not,  he had kids to pick-up. I said Ty anyway.. Then he came out and said okay.. I was totally out of power on my phone.. and as I hopped up in his hummer.. I was telling him of my ordeal.. and outta no where he asked if I do favors?.. I was like no. I have a boyfriends, back home and I am really not .. that way, and I am upset.. then he said you are going to pay me that $28.00bucks right.?. I was like yeah... so I gave him the money and he dropped me off, asking me my name, and I said Mary.. he's like I will come look you up later in the casino.. I was like oh yeah, sure, do that.. right.. Well, this is where my vacation started.. my Dad, had to go through hell, but he faxed me his credit card, and hooked me up with a room for the next 2 days , and said go have fun.. I did too.. a 34 oz Porterhouse, and the biggest potato, I had ever seen.. it lasted 2 days, in the fridge, I had in my room, I went gambled a bit, but I still needed 60 bucks to get to the airport for a cab.. Which I called the day I got to this hotel.. to schedule.. a for sure trip outta Vegas, and I won't go back.. I hid my self in my room pretty much of the next  day and a half.. and called my dad, and my Lil sister, and home.. 500.00 dollars for these few phone calls, I had no idea.. it had been a while since I needed a phone at a Hotel, or anywhere else.. but my sister had my charger..I should have mailed the bill to her!!! I mailed my dad , money for those calls, but he mailed it back... He is the best Dad, anyone could ever want.. he is the best!!! Always there.. So, I made it back home to my cat.. my best friend!! and I had a voice mail from my sister, but I just unrased it.. I won't talk to her again.. her and my other 2 brothers.. I forgive, but don't mean I have to best friends with any of them..

For all the Redskins and Steelers' Fans....

So, going thru New Mexico, made us delirious, we had driven all night, and began to feel rain drops ,dropping on us.. it was weird. The climate was hot, and dry... So, we decided I would drive, Larry pulled over, and I got into the drivers seat, for about 15 minutes he closed his eyes, and I decided to pull under a bridge, and rest my eyes too.. Well, he woke up and asked me what I was doing, and I said resting.. he was like no-way!!! So, with that he got back in the drivers seat and down the road  we went.. He was real leery of the tip of Texas, because we had Harley stickers on my truck, and he wore a Civil War hat with a Rebel patch on it... so, we zoomed through .We hit a detour in Kanas City at the Arch, and stopped for a drink, and a State trooper said to go up this certain route, and we would end up in Va.. We actually ended up in Pennsylvania..the Appalacian Mtns... freezing Ice cold, and my thermostat went out, so we had no heat.. Well.. we said we should grab a motel room, and get some sleep, food, and a shower.. we had seen signs for like 15.00 dollars a night. but never found them, so in Breezewood, we pulled into the Hardees, and fell asleep in the truck, with my quilts,, but we still felt the cold.. Well we awoke, and bought some coffee, and headed back out.. just as we turned the corner there was a motel, and we, said lets get it.. we paid more for it.... and so we refreshed, and headed back up , down... the mountain roads... When we did get home.. we settled me in, and I was waitressing for the Holiday Inn, at Dulles Airport, 6am till 2pm.. and that's where in the 80;s the Redskins, and Steelers would come in for a large , and I mean large breakfast!!! Keep the milk, and OJ..sausage and bacon coming!! The Steelers were HUGE!!! I mean unbelievably Big Guys..So, I was waitressing till 2 there going to beauty School, and then waitressing from 9 till 1-2 am at the Fairfax Country Club, I had gotten some of my hours when I was kicked out.. This girl asked me to "get' her a perm.. so I did and she ratted me out... it cost me a year and a half time out of school, I had to pay them off, before I could get in another one..down the road.. I was still cutting hair at home too.. I went to the Arlington Beauty Academy..  that toke 10 more months.. I finally waved 500 bucks, in the presidents face.. saying 'Baby needs new shoes??' , and sure enough it got me outta there.. later she was convicted of robbing the bank bag.... So, it was  not just me.. but I was ready to Work!!!I work with a guy, who said to erase ever thing I was taught n follow him, I did and it was like finding the Bible..the truths of life, in the haircutting industry... Oh man, so Larry and I were having troubles.. I saw him flirt with some old lady down at the High; convenient store, and sure enough they were hooking up.. he did not come home for 4 days , and so, I called it desertion , and got him out.. I cleaned the house up on afternoon, because I had plans to got out that night.. with some mutual friend's of ours...hummm, and around midnight, I was fixing the stereo wires,at the place I was at, because they were sparking  so I fixed em with some black tape, , meanwhile my house is burning down!!!!! I partied till around 5 am when I got my ride home, what a mess!!! Empty boxes of gatorade allover the front lawn...and the front door was open, I walked in and looked up, and I thought Larry and Sherri had a party here,,oh no I said my house burned down!!!! Well, the upstairs..(that was later determined it was to scare the tar out of me, and get rid of me.. this town wasn't big enough for the 2 of us.. signed Sherri) Well, I called my boss and told him what happened.. he was willing to help me, but my pride did not let me take anything, plus the community, came to help too!! I moved in with my Lil sister. Reston Va. That was august 24th 1984.. That week the song Burning down the house..came out..!!! So, with that I had all my new clothes and boots, and I was alone..  and so I lived at my sis's house.. and I quit working for my boss, he was  ripping me off.  Well Christmas was coming .I had found another job, at Mane Street Hair , and I would go to the bar next door, which by the way is where John Riggins, Russ Grimm, Joe Jacobi, of the redskins would hang-out.. Well, I was not that into Football to know who they were, and they were like Darling you know who we are? I was like ,no,, well,  they told me, and asked what I did, and I told him and they said they weren't that interested in what I did either, but thought I was good-looking.. So we danced,till 2 am, and drank.. and drank.. Well, that were I also met Coach Charlie Taylor.. and for sometime we would drink their and then go to the next restaurant, and drink Matias's(?) Well, he made a deal with me one time, if I bought him a  My-tie. He would get me an autographed Wilson football.. Well, next time we met He had me a signed and autographed football to  PattyD.  !!! I was so happy!!, I later hocked it for 2 grand... I  bet its worth a lot more today!!! I looked for the guy I sold it to, and said I want it back.. and he said "it was stolen", very made up like... So, I wrote it off.. I later met Coach Allen.. who was going to charge me $40.00bucks, I was like no-way.. Duh, I should have done it..lol.. it too would be worth money.. these signatures were real ink..not stamps.. So, that was my remembrance of hanging with some of the original "HOGS"... Later...Because a whole new chapter in my life opens!!

Los Angeles here I come!!!!

So, I went to visit my Dad in LA. 2 weeks later I convinced my older sister to move with me. We would rent a beach cottage and run the beach, and have a Blast!!! Well, we had a yard sale, and mad some money to hire a truck to move our stuff cross -country!!! We boarded a plane, and we were on our way.... I had money coming to me from that one accident..  so I had a pay check I cashed before leaving Va, to live on the next few weeks. I had been roofing, but 3 weeks into Hot Tar, and 100 degree weather, A guy who had been  a 3rd generation roofer, burned the hell out of himself with the same bucket of tar I used, I began to think , Man what damage I could cause... and I wanted my feet back on solid ground.. We were so high a top of like the DAR Constitution Hall, AN Eatery on Est Washington, DC.. Well, all over the place.. So , my boss gave me a go in his office and I  was a one man show,,, he fired the other 2 ppl working there, and be came Office Manager, Accountant.. for a good 2 years.. I still partied my head off.lol, But I could go in at 8 and sleep on the typewriter.. while typing Contracts, and the go home.. which is where the money for Another accident comes in.. I lent my mom my truck, Jan. 14th(the day the plane hit the 14th street bridge, ) and I used her Mustang.. Well, it began to sleet and Ice up, and my boss said I should go home, take the payroll home and do it.. So, on my way, I cannot see nothing , really, but wind ,snow, sleet.. and I seen a truck w a left turn signal, A tri-axle, so I thought whats he going to do... Well, he begins to turn  right in front of me.. so I go over to the left to go around him and he Stops!!!! So I am starled by this and turn a bit more to the left to miss him but the ice and conditions of the road where horrible.. So Bammm!!! Right into his 3  rear Wheels, and I bruise my spleen,on the steering wheel, bending that up.. and my knee hit the A/C switches on the right, busted that wide open.. and I hit my head really bad, someone , whoever,, laid me on the road till the ambulance got there.. freezing cold.. Then I was taking to Access, in reston Va. Where I was treated, and fixed up.. it took hours , but by that afternoon, I was home on the couch, watching the breaking news about the Plane, and the floundering woman in the Potomac..So, it had been a wild year after, my house burnt down, and I lived with my mom, ,I was going West..So upon our arrival.. we see my Dad is dating a lady, so we hardly see him.. My sister and I were heavy  drinkers..to say the least.. my dad was a bit over whelmed how much liquor I consumed and her thing was foster n lager.. like a big can of oil.. she could polish a 24 pack real quick!! I , on a 1/2 gallon of Jack Daniels even faster... well, I head out to find work, and the landscape crews were -crude!! I knew who I was and what I was capable of but those guys were nasty, and cruel, so, I got a job finding ppl jobs, and I remember being there for a bit, and then I found a better paying job, at a Pick-ur-Parts Salvage yard.. what fun that was.. Then I received that check , sent my mom $2,000.00plus.. for here car and I kept like 6 grand.. It was nearing winter again in LA.. I had made that trip to Arizona, and I was outta of work , because I found a friend named Bill, at the Knottsberry Farm corner.. and my sister and I partied!!! New years Eve, my dad left for the w/e. and I bought her about 2 cases of Lager. and a lot of party material, and we sat there 2 days -and 2 nights.. I wanted to finish up,, the rest of the evening so, began to wrap things up, and she got real snippy, and  called me Greedy!!!! Greedy!!! Do you believe that, I was floored..  I just spent about 1500.00 bucks on us, and you call me that? Well,we got into a bloody all out fist fight, and before I knew it, she threw m through the 14x14 backdoor window, I flew through like superman.. and rolled on the cement landing, and there she was again.. ripping my Harley necklace off and tearing into me.. and then  I was saying man this the way you treat your sister? That hit her, (physcopath tendencies) She like start to repeat that, and saw what she had done, and the window was broke!! and blood allover my dad pretty white kitchen.. well we spent the midnight hours looking for a glass store.. at midnight.. Well, we found one..in Long Beach.. at midnight!! Omg.. so we drove over there and got it, we fixed that , then began to wash, and paint... shew.. Dad , came home and nothing was ever mentioned about 'it'.. I found out later my sister while throwing me through the window, had a gouge in her arm 6 inches long and 1 wide, which protected my temple, and ears.. or something,, I found that out about 4 years ago.. I seen this scar on her arm that was pretty ugly, and she told me.. it protected me.. whatever.. right? Oh, So, I was hunting for a job and that's when my father suggested Hair Styling. its an up and coming career.. So, I got a loan, and  a grant. and I thought when I get finished here I will got to Paramount Studios and work.. Well, things did not go that way, Larry, and me were in touch.. everyday,, and I wanted to get out of this Busy city I lived in.. I went the mountains to by a real nice Pick-up truck.. the one I took to Arizona.. Well, it was white and I had it painted it black.. and flew Larry out to LA.. he was white as a ghost, he never flew before.. so they saw he was so scared.. 6foot 2" and they gave him a few beers, and a deck of cards, and a set of wings...lol.. and let him sit up in the cockpit... Well, by the time he saw Me again, my hair was Orangutan Orange.. what a mess.. a mess up on my teachers part, at the beauty College.. Well, it would grow out... Larry had to go cross country with me looking like that... Well.. it was a move I was so sure about then, but I look back, what a mistake.. in some ways.. (God has me where he wants me for now.. so with that... I was heading back to Va.. What a great trip.. more on that.. trip!!! Later..

Spring 1979..

So, I had been working for my Adult Ed Teachers Father,up on the Farm. When I did come home, I would waitress at the Andy's Pizzeria. I remember it was the busiest restaurant in town.. That is where I met my future boyfriend , and Boss.. I would wait on them everyday, and they would just joke and joke with me and leave these big tips!!! Larry , had these big brown eyes, and a very cool, and calm.. John, asked me several times to come and work for him and Mike,the other owner,,  That wouldn't happen until Larry and me were dating.. which did happen eventually. I did not think I would ever find anyone after, Tony, so dating was off. A Friend of mine at work, said give it a try,he is good looking and nice.. so, with some hesitation I did . We fell hard for each other.. I remember bringing him home , and dressing him up. My Dad would go to work, and I would let him in to shower, and shave.. he was living in his 64' convertible Chevy..So,  to give him some luxuries of home.. I would give him some of the best things I had access to.. I continued to Landscape with these guys, and was told "I was better then 3men on the jobs I did.. We had all the contracts of Reston , Va. Back then.. Week to week, we would work, and then go to the Bar and grill for dinner and lots of drinks!! Eventually, I found an old home for us to rent,125.00 dollars a month. It was actually an old chicken coup!! Our landlord looked like Uncle Fester, and he just added rooms onto this Coup.. I was walking behind John,in the hallway one day, and tickled him, and he fell into one of the walls, and these feathers came flying out, and we look deeper in the whole, and it was chicken coup wire..lol So, there we were setting up home.. we, would cut firewood, and sell it in the winter, and landscape through the summer.  One Thanksgiving Eve, Larry and I decided to pick-up my younger sister in New York, so that My dad, and us could have a holiday together...So, we bought us a couple of six packs, I packed my 2 beautiful  Quilts, I had gotten from Fla. and we headed up 95 N  to get my little sister.. I guess by the sum of the traffic, a lot of ppl. were doing the same... We hit this heavy patch of traffic around a town called Perryville,Md. as we came to a stop, I turned around to see if the ppl. behind us were going to see,and just as I did BOOM>>> BOOM 5x's...we got crunched, and  no time to think,I just got out, and started to throw our beer in the median ditch,, As I was looking at the 9 car pile up behind us.. Man , what a mess..!! I popped my trunk..some how..knowing my quilts where in there.. I had to get them. The ambulances, and police where coming.. Everyone seemed to be okay except the girl in the last car..she hit pretty bad, and hard..Her face and head had gotten really bashed, she was being cut out of her car and put on a stretcher.. While we were getting questioned.. We know we were stopped!! It was a bad place for a Toll Booth ahead!!! Man, no warning,  or sign.. So, we cleaned out our car,of what I could carry, and began walking to the nearest town.. We looked inside this Bar, with the door opened, and a big sign reading  "EAT !!" And some guy was like come on in... So, we did and we sat there as "Whiplash began to settle in.. and drank , that guy and his girlfriend invited us back to there Mobile home for the rest of the evening. We were able to sleep, and the next morning we prepared to hitchhike back to Reston...Hospital.. All we knew was we weren't feeling so good.. It took us most of the day to get rides back  to the Access Hospital, and when we arrived we were in bad shape!! To say the least, Larry a 6'4 , strong as an ox,just fell out on a gurney.. as for me , too. We were so ill.. So, the next few hours we stayed stationed there. Then we had gotten my mom to come and get us, and drop us off at our little home..Shew , what an ordeal. I woke up a day later, and began hammering the Insurance companies.. I would be dealing with the next few weeks. Well, that car , my dad and I had purchased for $950.00 Was worth $2800.00!!!, Plus, all the  Pain, and missed work for each of us.. We made out with about 6,500.00 bucks.. So I took my Dad's advice and put some 1,800.00 dollars in a CD and spent the rest, on  junk.. and a used truck!! Ford PU,  $500.00. That would be my  work PU. She was too.. F350 360 engine, with a Granny gear..lol.. So, back to work we went, and the Holidays came and went. And Spring Sprung again, and back to working Hard ,with John, Mike, and Larry.. Landscaping.. cutting firewood, and Drinking, and partying paycheck to paycheck!! Oh and fighting.. constantly..I remember, being asked to sweep some apt. parking lots.. I was so insulted. I was like  No way... I am a landscaper..,not a street sweeper.. I was making good pay..but just the thought made me cringe..I don't understand why.. but, John was ticked at me.. and his wife and I drove over to the job, and I sat on the curb!!! I refused... It was an on going joke after that,,, So, Karen saved my ass that day. But.. I saved hers the next day!!! We had 3 or 4 Tons of mulch coming in for an apt. complex, there in Reston,Va. It happened to be the hottest day of the year, and she and I were left with wheel barrels, and A mtn. of mulch.... and not soon after a barrel or 2 had gotten spread, she almost fainted and had to sit under a tree, and I-I spread that stuff out the rest of the day.. !!! I had been sweeping the last of it in a pile to throw on a garden, when I seen Johns truck coming up, and Larry and John. heard the story, and everything was done.. and we all left and went to the Bar and grill for a cool  place to eat dinner... I loved the hot weather.. I would acclimate, to the weather, and I would just keep going until it was done. So, I was doing pretty good, when John's company took a split, and Mike left. Then he did not need me anymore.. I went to the next company..Mark Winkler, who ended up buying Gulf Reston, and they managed all the apt. I had been doing with Johns company!!! I lead a crew, and ran a Back-hoe for Pete.. I pulled my weight...I could never be accused of 'not' . doing my and nine others work... lol.. I say , because I had heard a dozen times.. I did end up running a crew, for another Company... 22 guys under me... Only one guy did not like a woman telling him what or how to do something.. I did it in a very non-chu-lant way.. It was just a piece of a puzzle we had to put together.. by the end of the week, or day.. So he was leaning on his shovel  for  a long time.. and I said are you going to work? He mumbled, I ain't taking no orders for a girl.. I said well, if you don;t like it ..you can leave, and wiht that he dropped the shovel , and walked off the job.. I never saw him again..  Well, by the winter.. I was looking for a job.. again.. So, saw an ad for a Roofing Company. I went in for an interview, and got the job.. Larry and I were not getting along, and I was going to move out. I packed up all my stuff that day, and was going to move in with a friend.. Tony's old girlfriend..remember Tony?, well he and this girl(hypercontrac)  I mean everything in her body had some form of pain,and needed surgery... well the night I moved in, I was going to the K-mart, when I saw Larry hanging out  on our corner of the apt complex, in the snow, and cold, with a long object in a box.. I said what are you doing here . We lived on the other side of town.. He found out from our neighbors  where I went.. he was coming to do something.. So I asked him what was in the box, he said a pool cue.. I said show me.. It was a gun, he then said, 'I am going hunting.. well not much was said  after that. When I got him home I tucked him in and said this was for the best.. that I moved out. I thought he was okay with it.. so I went home and as  I was asleep, and at 5am ,Larry called. He said he ' he had been shot...' and to call an ambulance.. very calmly. Well, I knew Jo' my roommate was a frequent visitor to the hospital, and like Drama.. so I asked her to get one over there.. Then we  drove over there, we had gotten there 1st, I seen the car was running, and riddled with bullets.. I looked to see what direction they were going.. and  they were from inside to out... and the gun was on the console.. I then went to the front door, where there was a puddle of blood the keys in the door, and no electric.. I heard him groaning, in our room, to the right, and he said help.. and Tracy did it (his sister's husband) I was like OMG!! I was trying to get him warm.. and a cop came in w a flashlight, and pulled his shirt up, and shined the light on 2 wholes in his back one out the side and the other bullet had no exit sight!!! Shew, well, they worked on him all night.. He lost so much weight...265lb. man widdled away to like 155 lbs. and a back attached to him for the next 3 months.. Well, he ended up admitting he shot himself..out of depression,because I left.. I was stunned.. he was a strong , good looking guy.. he would be fine..well, it did not take long that he was up and running.. living with his sister,, he found some girl there.. I fought over him for a while.. and eventually won.. Then , found an old house on the edge of town. $225.00 a month!!! Well, I moved in a put some finale 'female' touches to it.. and it was home..for a while.I had gone to visit my Dad, in Los Angeles, Calif. and I was a partier.. and so LA might be the place to live... When I caught Larry with my best friend, and another young girl,,, I flipped , and went to live with my mom.. Larry, and me would make up.. but one day I caught that young chick, sneaking out of a spare bedroom. I whipped her but all the way down the steps, and across out front yard to the main road!!! Well, the next day I was arrested for assault,on a minor!!! 14 years old.. needles to say, Larry and his friend where no being hunted... for Carnal knowledge,,of a minor...Well,once I got bounded out.. I came hoe and minutes later..our house was surrounded by police, and dogs, and helicopters.. spotlights.. I was like Holy ----!!!! Well, Larry was in the attic.. and the dogs found him.. and he was saying things ,threatening things, and then asked to talk to me.. so I was let in, and assured him I would bond him out..Well, we went to court, My case went first.. and that lil whore got up on the stand, and was cursing, and  telling the judge she broke the window to get in.. well, that was enough.. the case was dismissed, and she was warned, not to ever come near me or my home again.. Even though I did not live there , I still was on the lease.. Well, the guys were next, and the judge knew she lied about her age to them.. saying she was 28 or something like that, and they got 6 months..with work re-lease.. Times were different back then..huh? Well, times were about to change, I was moving again..to Los Angeles!!!!