Hello on Saturday morning

Dear Friends,

After my morning therapy, and a visit with Dad for a little more than an hour, I cam home to wash some soiled UNICO aprons and towels. Linda only had four people at her breakfast, and my presence was really needed to perk up the small group. Too bad that my therapy session and her breakfast were at the same time. Oh Darn!

While I was doing my thing, Linda went off to the grocery store to get some baking items, and the three ground meats which I am going to use to make meats right after sending this e-mail. Making meatballs is a quiet activity until the good odors start permeating the house and enter the master bedroom. Even if a person is in a state of slumber, you can sleep through the smell of someone cooking meatballs. Oh Darn!

We only have one social engagement today and two on Sunday. The Italian American Club has it members’ luncheon from noon until 3 PM. There will be a huge selection of epicurean delights for sure. I would love to take in a whole bunch of plastic containers and fill them up to the brim. This is frowned upon by the club. This is a no charge event which makes it even better! The club does allow non Italian to join, but you are classified as an honorary member, and as such you can’t become an officer of the club or can’t vote in any elections. You can participate in club activities, and be part of such things as the BOCCE leagues, attend Casino trips, enter baseball pools, and have beverages in the members’ lounge, etc. The dues for membership is $40 per person.

Someone asked if a non Italians can join UNICO, the answer is still “yes”, but the officer and voting restrictions are the same as the Italian American Club. Also if either spouse is Italian heritage, you can be a member of UNICO as a full fledged member. The dues for UNICO membership is $200 per year and $65 for an application fee. The $200 may seem high, but there are 9 meals throughout the year at Membership meeting nights at a cost of $25 per meal. Honorary members don’t pay the $200 per year, but they do have to pay the $25 per meal when they attend the membership meeting. We have a membership meeting at the The Old Forge on Monday night, and it is once of the best meals that we have all year. The largest number of members attend this December meeting because the food is to die for.

Do you see a little problem for the Curley Lad when the doctor told me to lose weight during my physical when all the clubs that we belong to have food related functions?

The ITAM (Sons and Daughters of Italy) charges $50 per year, and they too have honorary memberships for non Italians. The honorary members pay the same $50, and but they can’t run for office and can’t vote in elections. They can participate in all club functions.

The Irish American Club organization charges only $15 per year to become a member, and I think that you do have to have some Irish blood to become a full fledged member.

The Irish Sister City Committee charges $20 per year. At one point I thought that you had to have some Irish Heritage to become a member, but I found out that Irish descent was not a requirement. Even though I didn’t agree with the lack of Irish heritage to become a member, this organization has a restriction on how many people can be members we can have because of liability coverage.

Linda and I belong to all of the above mentioned organizations except Linda has not expressed a desire to join UNICO even though females are allowed to join. She has Italian and Irish blood running through her veins like I do.

I see where Kobe Bryant, the star of the Los Angeles Lakers professional basketball team, and his wife are getting a divorce. Some of you may remember that a few years ago he got himself in trouble trying to get a sexual favor form a hotel worker. He bought a $2 million dollar piece of jewelry to repair the damage he caused to his wife and marriage. Well, he must be back to his old ways because his wife has filed papers for a divorce. Oh Darn!

Well, I have to cut this email short, and get mixing, and start cooking those meat balls after I read the local newspaper.
Have a great weekend!
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad