Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy 2009!



Tuesday, December 30, 2008

A few favorites from 2008....



















Monday, December 29, 2008

A Visit From one of my dearest friends in the world...








My mother always told me growing up that you know you have a true friend when, if a lot of time passes and you don't see or speak and then you do, it was as if no time has passed.
27 years ago, I was in the first year photo program at Rochester Institute of Technology. That first week of school, I met another student-Donna Marino- who would become one of my closest friends in the world. The program was so intense and while most people were having fun, enjoying college life, I was always working-I had to work twice as hard as everyone else. It came easy to them, but not to me. There were so many mega talented students and my teacher made sure to let me know VERY often that I was not one of them, telling me many times "you suck, you're never going to make it, find a new career." Little did I know at the time that he told that to a few students-many were very intimidated by this and left the program. Donna and I spent many hours together shooting until she switched majors after her second year. We were studio partners and I remember our teacher telling us to be careful what we plug in-telling us we may blow something up. The first day in the studio, she tells me to plug in the battery pack for the strobes and I said "I'm not going to plug it in, you plug it in" and this went back and forth until reluctantly, I plugged it in. Thankfully, nothing blew up. We were each others "models," or guinea pigs,for many shoots.
I remember it was my 21st birthday, a Friday in February 1983 and another close friend, Barb Siegfried, took me out to dinner with her parents. We came back to the Sorority and were going to go out but there was Joan Gallagher, a photo major a year younger than me, in the lounge. She asked if I could help her, and I remember being a little annoyed because I wanted to go out. I vividly remember saying "NOW? You want me to help you now? It's a Friday, it can't wait?" and she pleaded. So I followed her into the basement and all of a sudden I hear "SURPRISE." One by one, my sisters came over to hug me and each one would say "look over my shoulder." There were my parents-who drove 360 miles to surprise me, there was Brian Adelstein and David Rosen, there was Barb's mother (I have no idea how she beat us back to campus), there was Robin Krassan, and there was Donna. It was one thing that my parents were able to contact my Sorority sisters, but the non Greek friends (Donna, Robin, Brian and David)-I still don't know how they found them. We partied all night, and it was a blast.
Donna moved off campus, I was in a Sorority and active with campus activities and because we were in different majors and she moved off campus, we rarely saw one another.
Graduation day came and I left RIT and basically never looked back. I always wondered where she was and what she was doing but we completely lost touch. Her name is so common that when I googled her, only a million people with her name came up.
Then, in March I signed up on FaceBook. One by one, I found, or was found, by people from college, high school, old newspaper jobs, etc. I searched her name and there were many, all without photos, all over the country. I kept going back and searching and one day-there was her photo. OH MY! I sent her a message and she responded very fast. Last week, she came to town with her 2 gorgeous children and it was as if we were never apart. There was so much to talk about, and not all stuff from the past. She looks exactly as she did the last time I saw her, 24 years ago. This time, we promised, we are never going to lose contact with one another again.
My mother was right (she always is)-you know you have a true friend when, if a lot of time passes and you don't see or speak and then you do, it was as if no time has passed. Donna definitely is a true friend.

Friends...


I remember when I was in my 20’s, people who were in their 40’s seemed so old. Hmm, even when you are in your 30’s, 40 seems old.
I love being in my late 40’s. The career is solid and secure, my home life is happy. My only complaint is seeing my parents, and friend’s parents, age.
And losing some people-and some before their time.
The only way I would want to be young again would be the old saying,”If I knew then what I know now.”
My favorite part is ALL those people from my past life who have re-entered my present life, mostly with the help of the Internet and Facebook.
Last year, one of my college Sorority sisters, Deb M, emailed me after 23 years of no contact. She married a man from our college-RIT, they had a son and he was going to our Alma Mater. Because of this, we planned a reunion and over 60 of us trekked back to Rochester, many for the first time since graduating, and got re-acquainted, after 23 plus years of no contact. Because of this, we are back in each other’s lives, sometimes daily via email, Facebook, and Skype. Sometimes when we are young, we don’t know-or understand, the true meaning of Sisterhood…and FRIENDSHIP. I know I never did but I see it now-I see how we are all there for one another. We will fly across the country-and even over oceans, to be together.
Other college friends that were long out of my daily life for the past 23 plus years, but who had a big place in my heart in college are back, and it is so wonderful and rewarding. Donna M, Dara, Shari, Diane,Robin, Faith, Joan, Ann, Kevin, Becky, Mike. The one constant friend since college, Barb, is really an inspiration. When I went back to Rochester this past October, we went by her mother’s. Her mother Eleanor, was a second mother to me when I was in college. One of my best memories includes her parents. I stayed in Rochester during the summers, and lived in the Sorority. At the end of the summer, we needed to vacate the house for 2 weeks. I had a job I loved and wanted to stay in Rochester, so Barb’s parent’s invited me to stay at their house in one of the nearby suburbs. Barb was away with her then boyfriend (and soon to be husband Jim) but was due back shortly. So, I went off to Fairport to live with Eleanor and Bill and their cats. I stayed for 2 months-I didn’t want to leave and neither did they. I only left because the Rochester winter was approaching and it was going to make it hard to travel back and forth.
My 30th high school reunion is in a few years and one of my high school classmates, Donna M, has started the planning. Domenic D, whom I went to kindergarten with, has been instrumental in getting people connected. Domenic, like many, would probably consider himself an outcast in high school but seeing him now-what a transformation. He lived around the corner from me and I was able to see his house from my front year, but we were never really friends. We started a page on Facebook for our graduating class and have managed to track down so many people.
Reminiscing about our Domestic Exchange trips to Ohio and Texas with Nicole, Steven and Barry has been hysterical.
Seeing Drew after all these years! I met Drew when I was the photographer for the March of the Living, an educational Holocaust trip for teenagers around the world to Poland and Israel when he was 16 years old. He is now married.
Life moves by so fast. Too fast.
I have to remember to slow down and smell the roses more.

Deborah Gibson Handprint Ceremony at Planet Hollywood, December 29, 2008




Deborah "Debbie" Gibson, recording artist and Broadway star-originally from New York, celebrates her career and promotes her elite performing arts camp "Deborah Gibson`s Electric Youth" with a handprint ceremony at Planet Hollywood Times Square.
Very sweet and cordial entertainer.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Happy Hanukah


























Some Celebrities who are also celebrating Hanukah:

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/galleries/stars_of_david_alisters_
do_chanukah/stars_of_david_alisters_do_chanukah.html#ph0

Saturday, December 20, 2008

RIP NYC Photographer Paul Hawthorne, 08/11/1967 - 12/20/2008



Entertainment/Celebrity Photographers in NYC should contact Brian Ach and be part of "The Photographer's Project" in Paul's Memory (double click above to read more)


Paul was battling Amyloidosis and passed away this morning from heart failure. He was definitely one of the good guys, always saying things that made me laugh.
We were even neighbors, although briefly, when we lived on E. 10th Street. I remember the first time I saw him there, we both stopped and looked at one another and in this funny voice, he said "yo, ya stalkin' me?" And I repeated it back to him the same way. When he told me he lived at #35, I was shocked and pointed to where I lived, right next door. At the same time, we said "small world, ain't it" and laughed.

These photos were not taken by me, but shows Paul how he was-a fun, down to earth guy.
My deepest condolences to the entire Hawthorne family.
The entire photo community in NYC is grieving for the loss of this great man.


Paul Andrew Hawthorne of Jersey City, New Jersey

08/11/1967 - 12/20/2008

Paul Andrew Hawthorne, 41, of Jersey City, New Jersey, passed away on December 20, 2008, after a courageous struggle with Primary Amyloidosis, a rare blood disorder. He is survived by his wife of 7 years, Amy Lambo Hawthorne, and his parents, William J. Hawthorne and Sandra Shroades Hawthorne of Chester, West Virginia. He is also survived by two sons, Maxwell James Hawthorne, age 4, and Lucas Alexander Hawthorne, 7 months. Paul was a beloved brother to Lori Hawthorne Pietrandrea and Luigi Pietrandrea of Hopewell, PA, William J. Hawthorne, II and Darla Hawthorne of Ambridge, PA, Philip Bradley Hawthorne and Robin Hawthorne of Fleetville, PA, and Anne Hawthorne Miller and Jason Miller of Industry, PA. Paul was a loving uncle to 10 nieces and nephews: Alyssa Pietrandrea, Anthony Pietrandrea, Noah Hawthorne, Emma Hawthorne, Jacob Miller, Jordan Miller, Kyle Miller, Ann Therese Lambo, Paul Lambo, and Joey Mancz. Paul and his identical twin brother, Philip, were born on August 11, 1967 in
Rochester, PA. During his youth, Paul played many sports. He was a member of the Little League champion Industry Yankees and lettered in high school baseball. He was a 1985 graduate of Western Beaver High School and a 1988 graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Paul proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1989 to 1993. During his military service, Paul served as a still photographer with the prestigious Combat Camera Group Atlantic, photographing NATO forces during Operation Deny Flight over Bosnia. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Paul served as a photographers' mate, supervising a team of six photographers aboard the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy. After the Navy, Paul continued his work as a photojournalist working as a staff photographer for the Norristown Times Herald in Norristown, PA, photo chief for the New Castle News in New Castle, PA, international news photo editor for the Associated Press in New York City, staff photographer for Wireimage in New
York City, and staff photographer for Getty Images in New York City. Paul's recent freelance work included regular photo assignments for the New York Times, New York Post and various corporate and media clients in the greater New York area. In addition to his passion for photography, Paul was an avid golfer, a black belt in Kyokushin karate, a lover of hiking, mountain biking and the outdoors, and a terrific cook of delicious, spicy food. He was most proud of his family, particularly his two young sons. Calling hours will be held Tuesday, December 23, 2008, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the NOLL FUNERAL HOME INC., 333 Third St., Beaver, where a funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 24, 2008, at 11 a.m. Interment with full military rites by the Beaver County Special Unit will follow at the Beaver Cemetery. Members of the special unit are asked to gather at the cemetery chapel at noon. Donations may be directed to the Paul Hawthorne Medical Fund at Citizen's Bank in
Pennsylvania or the Amyloidosis Research Foundation http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://%28www.amyloidosisresearchfoundation.org.) On-line condolences may be shared at http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://nollfuneral.com

Friday, December 19, 2008

Snow! ( too much for me)


Thursday, December 18, 2008

Susan Lucci Handprint Ceremony At Planet Hollywood in Times Square-December 18, 2008






Susan Lucci, Emmy Award Winning Actress and Broadway Star best known for portraying "Erica Kane" on ABC-TV`s soap opera ALL MY CHILDREN celebrates her illustrious career with a handprint ceremony at Planet Hollywood in Times Square. Ms. Lucci's long tenure on the show has made her an iconic presence on daytime tv. She also gained a loyal following competing on Season 7 of "Dancing With The Stars" where she finished in 6th place with dance partner Tony Dovolani.
Her husband, Helmut Huber was there as well.
Susan Lucci is a STAR. This woman is just as wonderful as can be. She is gorgeous, personable, extremely friendly, and just as classy as they come.
Her birthday is next Tuesday...it's hard to believe this beautiful woman is going to be 62.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Fall Out Boy, Day 2-Nokia Theater, December 16, 2008


Andy Hurley, Pete Wentz, Joe Trohman and Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy before their performance at the Nokia Theatre Times Square to promote their new album `Folie ˆ Deux `

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Monday, December 15, 2008

Fall Out Boy-Washington Square Park, December 15, 2008























Fall Out Boy continues their fan blitz with a free concert in Washington Square Park to support the release of the new CD, FOLIE Ë DEUX. However, since the band did not have the proper permit necessary, NYPD threatened to have the band arrested if they pulled out their instruments. So, the band entertained the crowd by singing a few acapela songs and then passed out CD`s to several lucky fans

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Saturday, December 13, 2008

Z100'S ANNUAL JINGLE BALL CONCERT-Madison Square Garden, December 12, 2008




















Rihanna, Chris Brown, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Jesse McCartney. Ne-Yo, Kayne West, Paramore, Nick Lachey, Ashley Tisdale and Brody Jenner
Over 4 hours of music for the sold out crowd