(Last Saturday's post was scheduled earlier in the week, and I completely forgot to finish writing it. I have fixed it, and now there are words, and a song there now. I am very sorry for the mistake, and now we can push forward in this blog.)

For my sixteenth Memory Monday, I am going to write about an event that shaped the later five years of my life. I am going to write about an event that without a doubt changed my life. I am going to write about playing Gaston, in my eighth grade rendition of Beauty and the Beast. 

I tried out for my school play, wanting to be an actor in the play. Everyone in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades had to participate in the play one way or another, whether perfuming, or doing something behind the scenes. I tried out for the Beast, because I felt that I wanted the lead role. I had a little experience singing and acting, because I was in the play the year prior. I was going to sing The Beatles song 'Yesterday', to use as my solo to try out for the Beast part. I was minutes away from trying out for the Beast, when I changed my mind, and wanted to try out with my friend George, to be Gaston and Lefou, respectively. We both got our desired parts, and our other friend Will, got the part of Belle's father, Maurice.

We rehearsed and rehearsed, and eventually got to opening night. That week was hectic. On Monday the play took five hours to go through entirely, because everyone was rusty. Then Tuesday it was three hours, Wednesday was two, and Thursday we performed it on the desired time, twice! We then performed it for the school on Friday afternoon, and then Friday night was the big night. I loved doing my parts with my friend George so much. The year and play before, we were teamed up as Elliot Abner Martin and Horace Mendez Lopez, in the play, "Don't Say No To The U.S.O.!" We stole the show that play and we stole the show again in this one. 

After the play on Friday, I was told I did an excellent job, and then came Saturday's performance. We knocked it out again, and I felt we did a better job that night than the previous one. I was approached afterwards, by a girl that went and graduated from my old elementary school, Sacred Heart, and she was a star the drama program of Kellenberg Memorial High School, where I was about to attend in the fall of that year. She said that I was a very good singer, and that I should tryout for Kellenberg's chorus. She gave me the contact details of the choral director, Mr. Blanton, (who would later become a very big mentor to me). I tried out for the chorus a few weeks later, using the songs that I sang as Gaston as a Medley that I created on the fly, and got into the chorus.

With that chorus, I became very famous in my high school. I also did solo's in that chorus that led me to get the name of this very blog! I also became very confident in myself, to sing and to speak in front of people, and I think that that has helped me to get into WHRU Radio Hofstra University's Training Program earlier this year. 

Now, almost five years to the day since I stepped out onto the stage as Gaston, it shaped my life so much, and so much so for the better! Now bear with me and follow this plan, but I can say with a certainty, that without me going to Telecare, like I talked about last week, I don't do the I Love Lucy solo, which I don't participate in the other Spring Flings, that I then don't get a good role in Don't Say No To The U.S.O.!, and I don't get a good part and try out for Beauty and the Beast, and I then don't try out for the chorus at Kellenberg, and then I don't try to get into WHRU, and live out my life dream of talking on the radio. See how one thing can lead to another, and why this was so important in my life?

I hope that this was interesting, and showed a great and very proud progression in my life!

Did you ever try out for a play in your school? Do you like Beauty and the Beast? What are your favorite parts of this movie / play?

For my seventh Seasonal Saturday, I am going to write about the first song that I ever heard in Kellenberg Memorial High School, back when I was in seventh grade and going through the open house, and the first holy song I ever was taught in Triple A, (when you're an incoming Freshman in Kellenberg, you have to go to school three days before class begins, to get acquainted with everything and everyone.) That is "Dive", by Steven Curtis Chapman.

The lyrics speak so much to me, as a great message of my faith. The first verse says, "The long awaited rains, have fallen hard upon the thirsty ground. And carved their way to where the wild and rushing river can be found. And like the rain, I have been carried here to where the river flows, yeah." Then the second verse says, "My heart is racing and my knees are weak. As I walk to the edge, I know that there's no turning back. Once my feet have left the ledge, and in the rush I hear a voice, that's telling me it's time to take the leap of faith, so here I go!" 

Then this is what the chorus says, "I'm diving in, Im going deep, in over my head I want to be, caught in the rush, tossed in the flow, in over my head I want to go. The river's deep, the river's wide, the river's water is alive. So sink or swim, I'm diving in. (I'm diving in)"

Then the third verse says, "There is a supernatural power, in this mighty river's flow. It can bring the dead to life, and it can fill an empty soul. And give a heart the only thing worth living, and worth dying for, yeah." Then the fourth verse says, "But we never know the awesome power of the Grace of God. Until we let ourselves get swept away, into this Holy flood. So if you'll take my hand, we'll close our eyes and count to three, and take the leap of faith, come on let's go." Then the chorus repeats again, and then there is a small instrumental break, followed by the chorus twice, and an ending tag. 

This song has such a great message behind it, and that message is that if God's love is like a river, like a pond, whatever body of water you want, you should jump in, and be healed and saved. 

This song was and is so much fun to sing in school. Sometimes I will be humming it on my way from class to class, and I was always singing it, when it came on in homeroom all four years back in Kellenberg.

I am so happy that I got to learn this song all those years ago, and I hope that you all will enjoy this song, as much as I do!

Have you ever heard this song before? Did you like this song like I do? 

Peace and Love,
DGS

Quotes of the Day: "Teach by works, more than by words." - St. Teresa of Avila
"Do whatever he tells you... always!" - Blessed William Joseph Chaminade (I had to throw that one in there. Saw that one around the halls of Kellenberg for four years!)
"You cannot be half a saint. You must be a whole saint or no saint at all!" - St. Therese of Lisieux 

For my thirteenth Film Friday, I am going to write about a film that I love to watch. I am going to write about Martin Scorese's biopic of George Harrison, in the honor of the late Beatle's 73rd birthday.

​The film is a documentary about the life of George Harrison, as told by his closest friends. Some of the people that show up in the film are Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Olivia Harrison, Julian Lennon, Sean Lennon, Yoko Ono Lennon, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, Dhani Harrison, George Martin, Geoff Martin, the late John Lennon, and George Harrison himself.

This film documents his early life in Liverpool, his early friendship with Paul McCartney, his encouragement to join The Quarrymen, (who later turned into The Beatles), then his life throughout Beatlemania, then the 1967 India trip, to life after the Beatles, with the Concert for Bangladesh, the death of John Lennon, the Traveling Wilbury's, his role in Monty Python, The Beatles reunion in 1996, and so many more facets of his life, until his passing in late November of 2001, from brain cancer. 

As a Beatles fan, and as a fan of rock and roll music, this documentary is one that I highly recommend. This is such a great movie, and I hope you all go out and watch it!

Have you seen this movie before? Would you go and see this movie? Why would you go and see it?

(Also since there really aren't any exciting clips to link down below, I am going to link the trailer for the film, and then I am going to link a few of my favorite songs by George, with the reason why below it, in celebration of one of the greatest guitarists in history!)

Do You Want To Know A Secret - First song ever sung by George Harrison on a Beatles record

Taxman - One of my favorite George songs. Off of Revolver in 1966.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps - My second favorite Beatles George song. White Album in 1968.

Something - What can I say that hasn't been said already. Favorite Beatles George song. If you want more, this is the subject of this weeks Tune Tuesday, (XV). Off of Abbey Road in 1969.

Here Comes The Sun - Third favorite Beatles song by George Harrison right here. Off of Abbey Road in 1969.

I Me Mine - Last song he sung as a member of The Beatles. Off of Let It Be in 1970.

My Sweet Lord - Possibly George's biggest solo hit. One of my all-time favorites.

Got My Mind Set On You - Everyone knows this song. Again one of my all-time favorites.

All Those Years Ago - George Harrison's tribute song to John Lennon, in 1981. Also was the first time all three Beatles were on a recorded song since 1970. 

Cloud Nine - One of my favorite solo songs by George Harrison, from his 1987 album of the same name.

When We Was Fab - Also from 1987's Cloud Nine. Tribute song to the Beatles days. Ringo Starr, Jeff Lynne, Elton John, and John Lennon's Imagine Album make appearances. 

Peace and Love,
DGS

Quotes of the Day: "Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower." - Hans Christian Andersen
"He has achieved success who has worked well, laughed often, and loved much." - Elbert Hubbard
"Love is blind" - Geoffrey Chaucer

For my fourteenth Turnstile NYC Thursday, I am going to write about one of the most famous buildings in New York City, and possibly the world. I am going to write about a building that also looks so cool. I am going to write about the Chrysler Building.

The Chrysler Building is located at 405 Lexington Avenue, on the East Side of Manhattan. It is instantly recognizable for its two features, it's silver spire with the large, triangular windows, and the gargoyles on each of the eight points of the base of the spire. It used to be, not just the tallest building in New York City, it used to be the tallest building in the world! It beat out 40 Wall Street, now know as The Trump Building, (If you are from New York, and have been to Lower Manhattan, it is the tall building with the green, pyramid-styled spire), back in 1930. It was the first ever manmade structure to exceed 1,000 feet. It was beaten eleven months later, on May 1st, 1931, by the Empire State Building.

It is however, the tallest brick building in the world, at a height of 1,046 feet. It is currently tied, with the Times Square Building, as the fifth tallest building in New York City, behind One World Trade Center, 432 Park Avenue, the Empire State Building, and the Bank of America Tower.

This building used to have an accessible Observation Deck, in the famous spire, but it closed shortly after World War II. It also has a set of unused hydraulic lifts, that would raise the building's spire a few more floors, to try to maintain its tallest building in the world status, but the Empire State Building beat it soundly, by over 200 feet. 

This building can be seen from almost anywhere in the city, and the surrounding boroughs. It is one of the most famous buildings ever built, and has inspired so many other buildings around the country, like One Liberty Place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is also a 'skymark', as right next to the building, is Grand Central Station, so if you are ever lost, and don't remember the address of the Station, just go towards the Chrysler Building. 

​I hope that you all enjoyed this blog post, about one of the coolest buildings in New York City!

Have you ever seen the Chrysler Building? Do you think that it is a cool skyscraper? Can you believe that this building used to be the tallest in the world?

Peace and Love,
DGS

Quotes of the Day: "I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it." - Audrey Hepburn
​"Happiness is good health, and a bad memory." - Ingrid Bergman
"The love we give away, is the only love we keep." - Elbert Hubbard

(Also, Happy 73rd Birthday, to the late George Harrison!)

For my fourteenth Wisdom Wednesday, I am going to write about something that is so pertinent to everyone's life. I am going to write about how everyone should stay true to themselves.

I know it sounds very easy, and it sounds mundane that we should all stay true to ourselves, but some people don't. Some people get pressured into doing things that they would never want to do. Some people want to be popular, so they do things that are not in their actual character. Some people will just go with the flow of life, and will not stand up for anything in their lives, and become an individual. 

That is what we need to fight as individuals, is the will to not want to be ourselves, and the feeling that we must give up who we really are inside to please people. We need to not worry about what others will think about who we are and what choices we make, and just live our lives the way we want to.

It doesn't matter if you are doing it in a conversation with one person in a hallway at school, or a thousand people in a speech at some event, if you do not speak from the heart, and speak the way you want to, then you are lying to all of the people around you, but most of all, you are lying to yourself and that is not good at all.

So again the basis of this is to just stay true to yourself and what you believe in, and who cares what people think of you. Like take college again as an example. You are never going to see these people again. Are you really going to change who you are inside for one person in one of your classes, like a lot of people today actually do.

A lot of people will say something out loud in class that they believe in, get criticism from one or two people, and then completely change their views. Why?! If what you said is what you honestly, truly believe in, then own up to it, be proud of it and to put your name to it, and keep going on about your day.

Like I seriously believe that college is full of wussies. Full of people that will say one thing, and because one person, in one class, in a college with like 18,000 people in it, didn't like what you said you, you will change your views, and also on the flip side, because one person, in one class, in a college with like 18,000 people in it, said one thing that you didn't like, are you going to seriously let that derail you. This all ties into the main idea of today's blog!

So in closing, don't let other people dictate what you follow, who you follow, and why you follow it. Just live your life, proudly, and just stay true to yourself! 

Down below, for the second time ever, I am going to link a song that has to somewhat deal with the topic of today's Wisdom Wednesday. It is a song, from my all-time favorite play, 'Something Rotten', and that song is "To Thine Own Self ". (And yes, that is where I got the inspiration to write today's blog from.)

Have you ever experienced a time where you didn't stay true to yourself? Would you go back in time and change it? Would you leave it the same?

For my fifteenth Tune Tuesday, I am going to use this week's post, to celebrate George Harrison's 73rd birthday, and write about one of his greatest songs that he ever wrote, and one of the greatest Beatles songs ever written, and that is his 1969 #1 hit song off of Abbey Road, "Something".

I love this song much, and the lyrics speak so much to me. The first verse says, "Something in the way she moves, attracts me like no other lover. Something in the way she woos me. I don't want to leave her now. You know I believe in how." The second verse says, "Something in the way she knows, that I don't need another lover. Something in her style that shows me. I don't want to leave her now. You know I believe in how."

Then the bridge comes in with, "You're asking me will my love grow. I don't know, I don't know. You stick around now, and it may show, that I don't know, I don't know." Then a beautiful guitar solo comes in, followed by the third and final verse, "Something in the way she knows, and all I have to do is think of her. Something in the things she shows me. I don't want to leave her now. You know I believe in how."

I love this song so much, and there is good reason's why. This song is such a great love song, and its message behind the lyrics is so immense. What this song is saying is that something is the way she moves, the way she woos me, the way she knows I don't need anyone else, the way I don't want to leave her, the way I only have to think of her, that all of these things are the unexplained reasons why the person in this song loves his love.

I hope that you all enjoy this song like I do, and can relate it to your lives like I can.

Have you ever heard this song before? Do you like the song? Do you think it is very relatable?

Peace and Love,
DGS

Quotes of the Day: "When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Creativity takes courage." - Henri Matisse 
"I like not only to be loved, but also to be told that I am loved." - George Elliot

I am writing this Fifteenth Memory Monday as a half memory and a half eulogy, to a man that undoubtably changed my life for the better. I am going to write a thank you to a great man that the world just recently lost, Monsignor Thomas J. Hartman. I am going to write about when I went to Telecare, way back in late 2006 when I was in the fourth grade with the Cub Scouts. 

I was a Cub Scout way back a long time ago, and one of the field trips that they were holding was to go and visit Telecare. Now for anyone not from Long Island, Telecare is a Roman Catholic broadcasting company / TV Station, run by the Diocese of Rockville Center, that broadcasts a range of things pertaining to Catholic life, like broadcasting Church on Sundays, but also talk shows, and even a cooking show, with Monsignor Jim, (Who I just met again yesterday!) They broadcast from the parking lot of my former high school, Kellenberg Memorial High School, and their large broadcast tower, can be seen from as far away as Ocean and Loop Parkways, in Long Beach. 

Anyway, we were going to see how everything is done and how everything is broadcasted there. We were very excited, as my 'Cub Pack', had all my friends from my class in school, Joey G., Joe, Will, and Chris. I remember we all met up at my friend Chris's house in East Meadow, right down the road from Kellenberg, and my parents dropped me off, and 'Papa G.", was going to take me to Telecare, and back to my house which was also right down the road. We got there, and while waiting in the lobby, we met Monsignor Hartman. He said to just call him Tom, and so that is what I am going to do here in this post too. 

I had watched the God Squad for years, as he, along with Rabbi Marc Gellman, talked about topics of faith on Long Island. As we walked around, Tom showed us the different sets, and that is where I met Monsignor Jim for the first time too, on the set of Real Food, which still airs to this day. I then was on the set of The God Squad, and Tom showed us all the equipment and the Teleprompter. It was the first time I had ever been on the set of a show, and had ever seen a teleprompter. Tom said to me, read off of it, and give it a shot. I then read a bit of the day before's God Squad, and he said I did an excellent job, and when someone that you have seen for years, and have respected for years, tells you that you did an excellent job on something that you were afraid to do at first... you get a immense feeling of love and support. 

After reading that, I started to say that I wanted to continue to do that. He said that I should chase my dreams, and that If I don't live my life to the best of my abilities, that I will have let myself down. I loved the feeling of reading things to a crowd, and even though it was to a few of my friends, and a priest, when I was nine and a half years old, it made a huge difference in my life. I also loved the words of wisdom that he gave to me that night!

Undoubtedly, I think that without this base, I would never be able to think about, and to want to do things like join WHRU Radio Hofstra University, and join my high school's chorus. Without Tom encouraging me on the TV for years and then in person, I don't think I would have had that courage to do it on my own, and to Monsignor Tom, I thank him immensely.

Now last Tuesday, February 16th, 2016, Monsignor Thomas J. Hartman passed away, after over a decade and a half of valiantly fighting Parkinson's Disease. I never did get the chance to see him again and thank him for his service to me, and giving me the self-confidence to want to do that for the rest of my life. Without Tom, I don't think I would be in the spot that I am today, and again I thank him immensely for that!

So as we have lost a great man, hopefully, his belief in me, that I will be as good of a person that I can be, will live on forever, and that his belief in me that I can capture my dreams, will never die!

Have you ever seen the God Squad? Have ever heard of Monsignor Thomas J. Hartman? Would you have wanted to have met him like I did?

Rest In Peace Monsignor Thomas J. Hartman - 1946 - 2016

Peace and Love
DGS

Quotes of the Day: "Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live." - Norman Cousins
"Either you run the day, or the day runs you." - Jim Rohn
"Genius ain't anything more than elegant common sense" - Josh Billings

(Last Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, and for all Catholics, that means that Lent has started, and as promised in my Blog's 100th Day Milestone, I said that for every Saturday this Lent I was going to pick a holy song that I love to sing, that normally wouldn't get put into Tune Tuesdays, to get us in the Lenten Spirt.)

For my sixth Seasonal Saturday, I am going to choose one of my all-time favorite songs that we play in Mass during the entire year, but especially Lent, and that is "Companions On The Journey"

I have loved this song ever since I was really young at Sacred Heart. It was played at my sisters Baptism, way back in the summer of 2003, and that was when I can remember singing this song the earliest. 

The song starts with the refrain, which says, "We are Companions On The Journey. Breaking bread and sharing life. And in the love we bear and the hope we share, we believe in the love of our God. We believe in the love of our God." The first verse says, "No longer strangers to each other. No longer strangers in God's house. We are fed and we are nourished, by the strength of those who care. By the strength of those who care."

Then the refrain goes on again, and then we hear the second verse, "We have been gifted with each other, and we are called by the Word of the Lord. To at with justice, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with our God. To walk humbly with our God. Then the refrain comes in again, and usually in Mass the songs end, even though there is two more verses to go. Those are usually never sung.

I love this song because it has a nice feel, and its message is so strong! What it is saying is that we are not alone in our journey towards Jesus. We are all on the journey together, and we need to break bread and share life and love together, and in doing all of these things we believe in the love of our God. I love when this song gets played during Lent, and also, since Catholicism is so laid out in black and white, this song is playing tomorrow in my Churches 10 A.M. Mass. Like how cool is that. Totally unplanned, and a total surprise!

But anyway, I hope that you all enjoy this song, and get ready for some excellent 'Jesus Jams' over the next few weeks. Also as we get closer to Easter, the Tune Tuesday's, like Christmas, are going to turn over to Jesus Jams too!

Did you like this song? Have you ever heard this song in Mass before? What is your favorite lyric in this song?

(Also remember, I had to find a recording of this song. This song might sound weak... because this version is. Where there is a full chorus, and an organ and stuff behind it, it is a great song! Always, hope you guys enjoy it!)

Peace and Love,
DGS

Quotes of the Day: "I'd rather laugh with the sinners, then cry with the saints. The sinners are much more, cause Only The Good Die Young!" - Billy Joel
"Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me." - St. Patrick
"Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did." - St. Maximillian Kolbe

For my twelfth Film Friday, I am going to write about a movie that means so much to me as a sports fan. I am going to write about a movie that is very current to the time of the year. It is 2004's 'Miracle'.

The premise of the movie is that Herb Brooks, Head Coach of the Minnesota University Hockey Team, is in a recruiting meeting with the U.S.A. National Team in 1979, for the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. The problem is they are all afraid of facing the powerhouse U.S.S.R. team, that won the gold medal in the past four Olympics in a row, well, everyone but Herb. He thinks that he can get a team together, of young college talent, and beat the Soviet Union. They laugh, but ultimately give him his team, and allow him to pick his talent.

He chooses his team, and works them hard. They go across the seas to play  an exhibition game, and they get embarrassed. After the game they do suicides for four hours after the game. They then continue to practice hard, and get ready for the games. Two weeks before the games, they play the Soviet Union at Madison Square Garden, and they get blown out 10-3. This team earlier that year had also beaten a team comprised of NHL All-Stars and Greats 2 games to 1. They were destined to lose.

They then came from behind all the games to win, and face the Soviet Union in the semi-finals, to see who would face Finland in the finals. They went down 2-0 early, but they come back in the first period to end in a 2-2 tie. Then they fall behind again 3-2, but then tie the game 3-3 near the end of the second period. Then halfway through the third period they grab a 4-3 lead, that they would never give up. They win the game, in what is called the Miracle on Ice. They later beat Finland 4-1, and won the Gold Medal, like he said they would a year earlier. 

This movie is such a great movie, because of the speech that Herb Brooks gives to the team, before they face the Soviet Union. It has been called one of the greatest sports speeches ever given. 

I love this movie so much, and I strongly suggest that everyone watch it soon, as Monday, February 22nd, is the 36th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice game being played. 

Have you ever seen this before? If so, what did you think of it? Would you go and watch this movie?

Peace and Love,
DGS

Quotes of the Day: "Maybe I'm sort of like the players... there is still a lot of little boy in me." - Herb Brooks
"We should be dreaming. We grew up as kids having dreams, but now we're too sophisticated as adults, as a nation. We stopped dreaming. We should always have dreams." - Herb Brooks
​"You know, Willie Wonka said it best: We are the makers of dreams, the dreamers of dreams." - Herb Brooks

For my thirteenth Turnstile NYC Thursday, I am going to write about a spot that I love to go and visit sometimes when we are in the city. I am going to write about a place full of American History. I am going to write about Ellis Island.

Ellis Island was in its heyday from 1892 to 1954. Millions and millions of people came through those gates on boats, to start a new life here in America. My two great-grandmother and great-grandfathers on my dad's side, and my grandmother and grandfather on my mothers side, came through Ellis Island.

Ellis Island means something to everyone here on the Island. I don't care who you are, how much money you do and don't have, what color you are, what religion you are, what anything you are, if you live in the city, Long Island, and most of the eastern states, your family roots can be traced back to this red bricked building.

When you stand in the Great Hall, you can get the feeling of all the people that came through this building over 120 years ago. I strongly suggest going to see this incredible National Monument, and to get on the computer and to see the documents, and the ships, and the pictures associated with the early members of your family. 

So again I strongly suggest that you go and visit Ellis Island, and I hope you enjoyed the post! 

Have you ever been to Ellis Island? If so, did you like it? Would you want to go to Ellis Island?

Peace and Love,
DGS

Quotes of the Day: "Wisdom is knowing, when you can't be wise." - Paul Engle
"Love is like a faucet, it turns off and on." - Billie Holiday
"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you an idiot!" - Leo Durocher