Building the Mattsterpiece

September 11th

2010-09-11T10:27:00.001-07:00

- Nine years ago today, I woke up early, went to the gym, then off to the voting booth.
- I voted for Mark Green for Mayor of NYC, then went home to shower and get to work.
- I was running late and called my boss as I was running down the stairs of my apartment building to let him know.
- He was late too...in Brooklyn dropping off his daughter for her first day of school.
- When I came outside the weather was beautiful.
- But I couldn't hear my boss anymore as a loud roar of a plane was going over my head.
- If I turned left, the World Trade Center was right there.
- But I told my boss I couldn't hear him cuz of the plane and would see him at work.
- I turned right toward the subway.
- My back was now to the towers.
- A woman facing me and the towers screamed.
- I turned around to see a large ball of fire.
- As the fire dissipated, a huge hole.
- The subway entrances began to bleed hundreds of people.
- The subway was closed.
- I wasn't going to work that day.
- I called my boss to tell him.
- I called work to tell them to turn on the TV.
- I called friends to tell them to turn on the TV.
- I called my mom and we just talked.
- Until we saw another plane we thought was heading south
- Until it veered East, then north.
- Another big ball of flames.
- My cell phone went silent cutting off my mom.
- We knew we were being attacked.
- I ran home.
- From the roof of my building I saw people jumping.
- I heard about the Pentagon.
- I saw two enormous buildings fall
- I was in a fog.
- I went home and cried.
- Would the world end?
- Would I die?
- I didn't die.....I'm here to tell the story......If you're not sick of it already, you will be in 50 years :)

TO ALL THOSE WHO DIED THAT DAY I REMEMBER YOU
TO ALL THOSE WHO USED THAT DAY FOR POLITICAL GAIN,
I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU.

So many bloggers will tell this story today

2009-09-10T22:32:00.000-07:00

Eight years ago today, I woke up early, went to the gym, then off to the voting booth.

I voted for Mark Green for Mayor of NYC, then went home to shower and get to work.
I was running late and called my boss as I was running down the stairs of my apartment building to let him know.
He was late too...in Brooklyn dropping off his daughter for her first day of school.
When I came outside the weather was beautiful.
But I couldn't hear my boss anymore as a loud roar of a plane was going over my head.
If I turned left, the World Trade Center was right there.
But I told my boss I couldn't hear him cuz of the plane and would see him at work.
I turned right toward the subway.
My back was now to the towers.
A woman facing me and the towers screamed.
I turned around to see a large ball of fire.
As the fire dissipated, a huge hole.
The subway entrances began to bleed hundreds of people.
The subway was closed.
I wasn't going to work that day.
I called my boss to tell him.
I called work to tell them to turn on the TV.
I called friends to tell them to turn on the TV.
I called my mom and we just talked.
Until we saw another plane we thought was heading south
Until it veered East, then north.
Another big ball of flames.
My cell phone went silent cutting off my mom.
We knew we were being attacked.
I ran home.
From the roof of my building I saw people jumping.
I heard about the Pentagon.
I saw two enormous buildings fall
I was in a fog.
I went home and cried.
Would the world end?
Would I die?

I didn't die.....I'm here to tell the story......If you're not sick of it already, you will be in 50 years :)

TO ALL THOSE WHO DIED THAT DAY I REMEMBER YOU
TO ALL THOSE WHO USED THAT DAY FOR POLITICAL GAIN,
I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU.

Obama it is....

2008-09-30T19:44:00.001-07:00

I'm on the team....

Obama '08

I'm convinced....

that's it

You are The Boss... which team would you hire?

2008-09-21T10:04:00.001-07:00

With America facing historic debt, multiple war fronts, stumbling health care, a weakened dollar, all-time high prison population, skyrocketing Federal spending, mortgage crises, bank foreclosures, etc. etc., this is an unusually critical election year.

Let's look at the educational background of your two options:

Obama:
Occidental College - Two years.
Columbia University - B.A. political science with a specialization in international relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

& Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in history and B.A. in political science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

vs.

McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 of 899

& Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in journalism

Now, which team are you going to hire ?

I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.....

2008-09-18T13:00:00.001-07:00

(found this pasted on FaceBook)

* If you grow up in Hawaii , raised by your grandparents, you're
"exotic, different."
* Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American
story.

* If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
* Name your kids Willow , Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

* Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.
* Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well
grounded.

* If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become
the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter
registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12
years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State
Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become
chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee,
spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a
state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving
on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's
Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.

* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city
council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000
people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000
people, then you're qualified to become the country's second
highest ranking executive.

* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while
raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches,
you're not a real Christian.

* If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left
your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're
a Christian.

* If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education,
including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the
fiber of society.

* If , while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with
no other option in sex education in your state's school system
while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant , you're very
responsible.

* If your wife is a Harvard graduate laywer who gave up a position
in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner
city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's
values don't represent America 's.

* If you're husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one
DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to
vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated
the secession of Alaska from the USA , your family is extremely
admirable.

OK, much clearer now.

Compare? What?

2008-09-15T21:08:00.001-07:00

Powell still undecided, says Obama win would be 'electrifying'

2008-09-15T20:55:00.000-07:00

Matt Commentary: I have been told by friends that they don't understand why I do not support Barack Obama yet, as I have always been a democrat, and other than Mike Bloomberg, the NYC Mayor, have never voted for a republican. Well, I cam across this story on Colin Powell. I've always admired him. I feel like he feels. I'm not there yet. I just have still not gotten on the Obama bandwagon. I need to hear more from him, that he's not just another unqualified presidential candidate....we've had too much of that...Ok...that's it....MM

Powell, a Republican, has said he may not back the GOP pick this cycle.

(CNN) — Former Bush Secretary of State Colin Powell said Monday that he has not yet decided which candidate to back in this year’s presidential race.

The election of an African-American president “would be electrifying,” Powell told a George Washington University audience, “but at the same time [I have to] make a judgment here on which would be best for America.

“I have been watching both individuals, I know them both extremely well, and I have not decided who I am going to vote for. And I'm interested to see what the debates are going to be like because we have to get off of this ‘lipstick on a pig’ stuff and get into issues,” he said.

Last month, as the retired general’s office denied a report that he had decided to publicly back Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention, several sources told CNN’s John King that Powell was still undecided. “As always, he is holding his cards close and waiting for more information," one adviser close to Powell told CNN’s John King.

Earlier this year, Powell told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that he was weighing an endorsement of a Democrat or independent candidate. “I am keeping my options open at the moment,” said Powell.

So many bloggers will tell this story today

2008-09-10T20:09:00.000-07:00

Seven years ago today, I woke up early, went to the gym, then off to the voting booth.

I voted for Mark Green for Mayor of NYC, then went home to shower and get to work.
I was running late and called my boss as I was running down the stairs of my apartment building to let him know.
He was late too...in Brooklyn dropping off his daughter for her first day of school.
When I came outside the weather was beautiful.
But I couldn't hear my boss anymore as a loud roar of a plane was going over my head.
If I turned left, the World Trade Center was right there.
But I told my boss I couldn't hear him cuz of the plane and would see him at work.
I turned right toward the subway.
My back was now to the towers.
A woman facing me and the towers screamed.
I turned around to see a large ball of fire.
As the fire dissipated, a huge hole.
The subway entrances began to bleed hundreds of people.
The subway was closed.
I wasn't going to work that day.
I called my boss to tell him.
I called work to tell them to turn on the TV.
I called friends to tell them to turn on the TV.
I called my mom and we just talked.
Until we saw another plane we thought was heading south
Until it veered East, then north.
Another big ball of flames.
My cell phone went silent cutting off my mom.
We knew we were being attacked.
I ran home.
From the roof of my building I saw people jumping.
I heard about the Pentagon.
I saw two enormous buildings fall
I was in a fog.
I went home and cried.
Would the world end?
Would I die?

I didn't die.....I'm here to tell the story......If you're not sick of it already, you will be in 50 years :)

TO ALL THOSE WHO DIED THAT DAY I REMEMBER YOU
TO ALL THOSE WHO USED THAT DAY FOR POLITICAL GAIN,
I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU.

Biden: Hillary might have been better VP pick

2008-09-10T19:55:00.001-07:00

From CNN Political Producer Alexander Marquardt

NASHUA, New Hampshire (CNN) — Joe Biden told supporters at a town hall Wednesday afternoon that Barack Obama might have been better off choosing Hillary Clinton as his running mate.

“Make no mistake about this, Hillary Clinton is as qualified or more qualified than I am to be vice president of the United States of America. Let’s get that straight,” Biden said testily when a voter told Biden he was glad the Delaware senator had been chosen and not Clinton.

“She’s a truly close personal friend and she is qualified to be President of the United States of America, she’s easily qualified to be Vice President of the United States of America and quite frankly it might have been a better pick than me,” he continued.

"I mean that sincerely, she’s first rate.”

After dropping out of the presidential race in January, Biden refrained from endorsing either Obama or Clinton — unlike most of the other Democratic contenders who followed. He told donors at a fundraiser in Boston Wednesday morning that after his withdrawal, Obama asked for his support but Biden declined because of his relationship with Clinton.

I lost my grandfather today

2008-09-04T21:32:00.000-07:00

i never tell thIS story...

I had a strong man in my life....a war hero....a man who at 19 was thrown from the warship Arizona during the Pearl Harbor attack...and broke his leg.....A short, VERY goodlooking guy....A man who dealt with demons associated with that day....A man who while living through a streak of anger, emerged as the calm Farmer and roadworker that was Matthew Mroczka Sr.....my namesake....

He died peacefully today. He got quieter. He made his choices. He fell asleep. He passed on.

I was on my way home to say goodbye to him, as I visit so little these years. And an hour into my trip I found out he had died. My Gramma (one of the pillars of my life) cried to me on the phone about how she left him for 2 minutes and "he was gone". "Matthew I didn't know hard this would be, " she said.

My guilt for being so distant welled up....and then I realized that Grampa was the kind of man that existed 70 years ago. He was a quiet guy that had gone so far at such a young life, that he had no need to bitch and complain later in life....like I do. He frowned on guilt in a way. It wasn't like him. He would tell me to let it go.

At 27 he married Katherine Parks, bought a farm house and 60 acres for $3000 and began a life, and raised 4 children.

No life is perfect and I am sure their's had bumps, but on the phone tonight, was a woman in her late 80s crying for the loss of her love of 62 years. Bumps aside, it's who cries for you when you leave life that means the most. And I hope to have someone like her crying for me in so many years.

Right after 9/11 I had a conversation with my grandfather about having seen it, feeling on edge, constantly getting anxiety attacks.....He told me about Pearl Harbor, almost whispering like it was a secret, and how it wouldn't go away soon. "That feeling will be with you forever" he said.

That December of 2001, he gave his first interview to a local paper, talking about Pearl Harbor. It was the 60th anniversary. He had never really talked about it before.

Now he is gone...moved on. But he's left a wide legacy. And I miss him....I miss a man who would always ask about my mom (she and dad divorced quickly...they were young), tell me to say hi from him, and then, knowing we weren't financially sound, tuck a $20 in my pocket every Sunday.

He always took me aside, asked how I was doing, handed me a $20 again, and never made judgments about my choices....even when I was bartending on Cape Cod to make ends meet.

It was hard to hug him.....He always wore sweater vests for some reason.....and I used to blame it on that....that if I hugged him hard enough, the sweater would itch...

But he hugged me lightly....he connected with me.....I know he loved me. I loved him......but he was an old school guy....he would never say the "L" word....and I understand.....TRUST me, I understand....

Goodbye Matty.....We will miss you......

2008-09-03T22:37:00.001-07:00

Batgirl saved the day.....well in a way

2008-09-03T22:30:00.000-07:00

Okay...the Hockey mom did good. I was quite impressed with her. It doesn't mean I'm becoming a Republican, but I was impressed by how this woman with the so-called "limited experience" was able to take the national stage with presence and throw some punches. I don't agree with her policies, but I could see her as a president someday(not that I'd vote for her, unless she was offering a moose in every pot). And I could see her as a president after another term and a half as governor and one in the Senate....NOT NOW...but then again, I don't see Obama as president either.....but I'm trying.

The whole spectacle reminded me of when I was a kid and watched the Batman series on TV (reruns of course) My favorites episodes were when Batgirl would come on and do a WHOP!!!, BAM!!!, SPLAT!!!.....But she never did it alone. She always did it with the guys, but she was an asset. That is how I feel about Palin. It's cool to see her up there, throwing punches, but Wonder Woman and the Bionic Woman never needed Batman and Robin to help them.

God I miss Hillary.....She wasn't Batgirl...she wasn't just the waspy daughter of the police commissioner, who sometimes rode a bike, or shot a moose, she was an Amazon Princess..... a 1000 notches above....she was WONDER WOMAN!!!!

Holy effin' BOREDOM, Batman.....

2008-09-03T19:02:00.000-07:00

Okay..I'm back...welcome me fuckers!

I am sitting here, for what ungodly course I don't know, watching the Republican National Convention. Last week, with a few glasses of wine, MY HILLARY, MY BILL, and that Obama character, I CRIED like a baby over the Democratic National Convention. The speeches were eloquent (My Billary's especially)and the whole show just smacked me in the ass and called me KITTEN!

This week.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Sorry...I fell asleep as Giuliani was spitting his speech.

ANYWHO!

I am confused. If this were a boxing match, I'd be elbowing the guy in the seat next to me saying, "the Litte Irish Scrapper is throwing the fight." SERIOUSLY! Did McCain just give up? I mean I wasn't gonna vote for the scrappy little bastard anyhow, but JESUS....Couldn't he AT LEAST throw a punch? Couldn't he get a tag team partner to be his running mate, instead of one of those chicks that holds up the signs that say ROUND 2?

So in the end, I guess Obama collected enough money through the internet to buy this fight, and give the Little Irish Scrapper enough dough to buy his 8th house...Or to buy governor Palin a city hall for Wasilla, AK that doesn't look like a Louisanna Bait Shop (as James Carville would say)...

Oh shit....the scrapper just hit the floor....ONE, TWO..............please....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNKA!

2008-07-20T09:59:00.000-07:00

Today is the birthday of one of my dearest and closest friends....Chris Willi..aka Unka Swish (Uncle Chris thru the speech impediment of a 3-year-old little girl with a Boston accent)...

I just wanted to shout out:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNKA! ROCK IT OUT! Wish I could celebrate with ya!

love,
Chu

HAVE A GREAT INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

2008-07-03T15:23:00.000-07:00

These pictures have a similarity to me...

Cuz I'm in a....New York State of Mind

2008-07-01T20:30:00.000-07:00

Amazing Find!

2008-06-30T17:42:00.000-07:00

I found this....or maybe it found me :)

Stop All Criticism - Criticism never changes a thing. Refuse to criticize yourself. Accept yourself exactly as you are. Everybody changes. When you criticize yourself, your changes are negative. When you approve of yourself, your changes are positive.

Don't Scare Yourself - Stop terrorizing yourself with your thoughts. It's a dreadful way to live. Find a mental image that gives you pleasure (like an orchestra tuning up or a curtain about to raise), and immediately switch your scary thought to a pleasure thought.

Be Gentle And Kind And Patient - Be gentle with yourself. Be kind to yourself. Be patient with yourself as you learn the new ways of thinking. Treat yourself as you would someone you really loved.

Be Kind To Your Mind - Self hatred is only hating your own thoughts. Don't hate yourself for having the thoughts. Gently change your thoughts.

Praise Yourself - Criticism breaks down the inner spirit. Praise builds it up. Praise yourself as much as you can. Tell yourself how well you are doing with every little thing.

Support Yourself - Find ways to support yourself. Reach out to friends and allow them to help you. It is being strong to ask for help when you need it.

Be Loving To Your Negatives - Acknowledge that you created them to fulfill a need. Now, you are finding new, positive ways to fulfill those needs. So, lovingly release the old negative patterns.

Take Care Of Your Body - Learn about nutrition. What kind of fuel does your body need to have optimum energy and vitality? Learn about exercise. What kind of exercise can you enjoy? Cherish and revere the temple you live in.

Mirror Work - Look into your eyes often. Express this growing sense of love you have for yourself. Forgive yourself looking into the mirror. "I love you, I really love you."

Love Yourself .. Do It Now - Don't wait until you get well, or lose the weight, or get the new job, or the new relationship. Begin now -- and do the best you can.

XOXOXO

More Woodstock Pics

2008-06-22T15:51:00.001-07:00

I LOVE THE MOUNTAINS !

2008-06-22T08:56:00.000-07:00

These are pics taken at Cooper Lake in Woodstock, right near Dean's house...
I have more...might post them too...

Not that ANYONE cares ('cept me)

2008-06-19T07:06:00.001-07:00

MY FURNITURE ARRIVES NEXT WEEK!

No more sleeping on the aero bed. I will finally have my first living room furniture that isn't handed down. About time at my age, huh?

FLOORED!

2008-06-13T17:50:00.000-07:00

What some people know about me, but most don't, is that I have my Bachelors Degree in Journalism. I started off in theater, and when it kept me from hanging out with my dorm-mates on weekends, I gave it up and switched majors. What a mistake! Journalism was SO much harder. At the time, Penn State was a good Journalism school, but now it is a great one. Not like Columbia mind you, but it is respected at least.

The year I graduated, I had a 400-level Journalism class, where most of the assignments were to go to speeches and ask questions of those who were the speakers. It was very much like a press conference. We were told to watch the masters, to learn how they ask questions, and one of those mentioned was Tim Russert. I had no idea who this guy was. But now my brain was tuned and my ears perked whenever I heard the name. We had no internet back then, so it wasn't like I could just look him up on Google.

A few months went by and I graduated. I stayed in State College, PA and got a job, and then I heard that Tim Russert was the new host of Meet the Press. Rarely did I get up early enough to see the show, but when I did, I was FLOORED. It was about the time when Bill Clinton was running for his first term as president, and because of that, I became a political and news junkie, and Tim Russert was part of the drug.

I remember sitting on the edge of my seat during the 2000 elections as Mr. Russert sat at the NBC news desk talking about the vote count in Florida, and at one point he said how it was down to a 150 vote difference. His eyes were wide and his mouth ajar. His enthusiasm only added to the drama. He was amazing to watch.

That doughy face with the kind smile, as he asked questions that would make any professional politician squirm. I respected him. I didn't agree with his questioning of Hillary Clinton during one debate, but I still was FLOORED by his laser-like questions....just as much as I am FLOORED by his sudden death.

Goodbye sir......I wish I knew you....

Where are you Mama?

2008-06-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

I have really been missing you Mrs. Clinton.

I can't believe that you said goodbye less than a week ago and I am already having this much withdrawal. I used to check CNN.com hourly. Now I hardly check it DAILY.

I turned on the news tonight and it was all about THE GUYS -- scarcely nothing about you.

But I sensed that they were ITCHING to talk about you again. Just ask Stephen Colbert.

The media pushed you over the cliff, only to regret what they had done. They know now, as the yawn over "the boys" bickering about one being too OLD and the other being too YOUNG, that you would have been the Goldilocks candidate -- JUST RIGHT.

Just the right amount of experience...just the right amount of scandal...just the right amount of "testicular fortitude" to keep the masses tuning in.

Let's face it: you are the punching bag that lasts 50 years. You get punched and punched, and like that clown I had as a kid, just keep popping back up with a BIG OLE SMILE....

The GUYS hold press conferences and say they are sorry for this association, or have their daughters write books about how great their Daddy is.

You only wanted to talk about how we move forward as a country.

So I'm bored. Enough of the Grand Daddy...enough of the Kid. I want MY MAMA back.

I will watch the news again (like everyone else) when you come back from vacation, and do what YOU want to do, not what THEY want you to do. YOU ROCK HILLARY CLINTON and I WANNA ROCK along with you.

Love, Matt

Even Barry O. is bored without you.....

First Solo Drunken Show Tunes in the New Apartment

2008-06-07T23:36:00.000-07:00

Okay....if you know me, you know that a few glasses of wine, a mirror and some show tunes, is my favorite night IN....Well tonight I did that for the first time in the new apartment. Last night I went out with co-workers and it was all classic rock and RUN-DMC.....So tonight I strapped on the iPod and did Aida, Best Little Whorehouse, Les Miz, etc. etc. etc........It was too hot to go outside...

the best showtune quote of the night (see how it ends) is from Avenue Q:

Only for now!
(For now there's life!)
Only for now!
(For now there's love!)
Only for now!
(For now there's work!)
For now there's happiness!
But only for now!
(For now discomfort!)
Only for now!
(For now there's friendship!)
Only for now (For now!)
Only for now!

Only for now! (Sex!)
Is only for now! (Your hair!)
Is only for now! (George Bush!)
Is only for now!

Hey Lucy! I'm HOME!!!!

2008-06-07T11:47:00.003-07:00

I'm back in the Village BABY!!!!! Look at my apartment right on the water!

Goodbye Hillary (for now)

2008-06-07T11:02:00.000-07:00

I just watched Hillary Clinton give her concession speech, and I thought it was brilliant. She has really made the case that she should have been the nominee, and while she did an amazing job at trying to gather support around Obama, I have to say I feel hollow inside.

I am still not thrilled about his candidacy. I think Hillary could have done more for our country. I hope I am proven wrong. I changed my voter registration to my new neighborhood today, and I really do hope to vote for Barak Obama, but I need to hear him say something more than "hope."

Bobby Kennedy was assassinated 40 years ago this week, and he was a candidate of hope. But he had experience and was ready to take on the mantle that was taken away from his brother. Hillary was my candidate of hope.

So here is to Hillary. And hopefully in 5 months, I will be saying here's to Barack...

2007-07-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

I have a lot to say, but it doesn't always translate well in type. ;)