Who's On-Line Now?

Saturday 24 September 2011

Mark Cueto

Mark Cueto has long been my favourite England player, if not overall rugby player. I only follow international matches, so only noticed him when he began playing for the national team around the time of the 2007 World Cup, I think (it seems longer). He hardly ever gets any praise or accolades, but in my opinion, he is the absolute backbone of the England squad. He is always there saving the day, getting back the ball, passing to the right player and generally doing it all at the right time. AND he does it all with a smile on his face.

Yes I am shallow and tend to prefer players that are also easy on the eye, and Mark is certainly that, but I think Cueto is a true star of the game and I wish he got more attention. Or perhaps it is best that he doesn't. Maybe he doesn't want the attention, maybe he avoids headlines on purpose. If so, then keep it up Mark, know that we love you and appreciate your truly impressive play. You didn't need to score today's hat trick to gain this adoration, but it was nice for us, and you, that you got it.


Keep it up gorgeous.

Sunday 11 September 2011

Pamela J Boyce

Pamela J Boyce

1958 - 11th September 2001

Pamela was Assistant Vice-President of Accounting for Carr Futures working on the 92nd Floor of 1 World Trade Center, where she was working when the plane struck.
Known for her direct approach, sometimes thought of as harsh, which came from a sense of practicality. She was a hard worker who had recently graduated with a degree in accounting, for which she studied after work at a local community college.
Outside of work she was known for her love of disco dancing, competing competitively, though she also loved to relax.
Leaving behind her partner Catherine Anello, with whom she shared a home in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, she also left behind a family she loved, evidenced by her serving as Lamaze coach for her sister Desiree, at the birth of her niece Kristina.
Catherine has said that Pamela wasn't afraid to die, saying that she knew she was going to a beautiful place. If only we all had that certainty.

Brandhorst-Gamboa Family

Daniel Brandhorst / Ronald Gamboa / David Gamboa-Brandhorst
On this horrid anniversary the story of the Brandhorst-Gamboa family is both a heart-rending one. Daniel and Ronald met about 13 years prior to 9/11 while living on the US east coast. When Daniel got transferred to a Pricewaterhouse/Cooper office in Los Angeles, the couple moved to facilitate this and with Ronald eventually settling as a manager of The Gap store in Santa Monica. The couple adopted a son, David, through a surrogate mother, looking after her during the pregnancy, birth and afterwards. Initially needing some help as all new parents so, they quickly settled in to become natural parents, Daniel becoming "Papa" and Ronald "Daddy" to the beautiful, bright, energetic and very caring young boy. Daniel was variously described as happy, inspirational, a good friend and generous, but was also the "serious one" in the relationship. Ronald was the joker who could apparently "make a rainy day look happy." Both parents have inspired their co-workers to greater things and are remembered fondly by many of them, some of whom have had their lives changed dramatically by the advice given by the two men. The one thing that can be taken from this terrible day is that in the end the loving family were together.
I would have been honoured to meet the trio who, even though they are gone, stand as examples to show the bigots still out there that a family is what individuals make it and does not need to be formulaic or standardised. Some of the best families are those which are chosen, not moulded. The Brandhorst-Gamboas are fine examples of all that a family can and should be and should be used as role models for gay marriage, gay adoption, happiness and good parenting.


To read an incredibly touching tribute to David Gamboa-Brandhorst please visit here.

Please also visit 2996 Project to read about all the other victims of this terrible day. Every one has a story.

Michele Ann Nelson

Michele Ann Nelson

7th December 1973 – 11th September 2001



Michele Ann Nelson was a benefits specialist, working in the Human Resources department of Cantor Fitzgerald in the World Trade Center. She had been there since 2000.
Michele formerly worked at J & W Seligman and County Seat Stores and lived in Valley Stream, New York.

She left behind a younger sister – Monique, and her mother – Mrs Winsome Nelson, along with a vast network of family and friends.


Some words used frequently to describe Michele were:

Beautiful, intelligent, hilarious, thoughtful, caring, punctual, giving, forgiving, positive, & spiritual.

Once again, for me, it is difficult writing an honest tribute to someone who I never got the chance to meet.

The overwhelming impression I get from the tributes that I have seen and the thoughts that have been written, is that of an incredibly caring person who always thought of others. Whether it was giving good advice to someone considering quitting college, or kind words on the death of a co-worker’s relative, she made a difference just by being her own caring self. She is an example that we should all follow.
Michele seemed to make an impact on the lives of everyone that she met. Even brief acquaintances were influenced by her shining example of how to live life. Even now, 8 years on, her example is being spread via her family and friends, and via tributes on the internet that give a multitude of examples of the kindness, generosity and her incredibly caring nature.
Excelling in her studies at school, graduating from Pennsylvania State University, then Baruch College of the City, Michele was constantly trying to improve her skills, shown also by her attendance of New York Restaurant School, from which she posthumously graduated in December ‘01.


I think that we can all learn from the example that Michele set during her brief life. She had a mantra that she would repeat three times a day:


"This is the day the Lord had made, I will rejoice and be glad in it."

Please take time to read tributes left to Michele and her family at Legacy.com and at the memorial site set up by Cantor Fitzgerald. And don't forget all the other victims of that terrible day, all of whom will be paid tribute to via Project 2996.

Michael John Cahill

Michael John Cahill

I originally honoured Michael John Cahill in 2006 for the Project: 2996 tribute and have been granted the honour once again. As before, I hope this tribute honours him as much he deserves. Grief is such a personal thing it affects us all in different ways. Grief can affect you for people you do not know as well as those you do. I have experienced a fair amount of loss in my life, but you can never truly equate your loss with that of someone else. It is also difficult to pay tribute to someone you didn’t know and never met. All you can do is research and hope you get all the facts straight.
Michael John Cahill was in Tower 1 of the World Trade Centre, based on the 99th floor. This floor was in the upper area of where the first plane hit the tower.
I can’t even begin to imagine what Colleen, his wife, must have been thinking when she first heard the news and saw the pictures.
Michael was 37 years old and, from what I can tell, a REAL family man. He had a wife he loved and two young kids who he loved spending time with and wanted to be a good role model for. To this end he rejoined his high school cross country running team as its captain, as he believed that sports were important in their development.
Michael worked hard, often out of his house for more than 12 hours and regularly taking work home with him, but his family knew that it was all for them. Colleen, his wife said, "We knew we came first. He would always make a point to tell me, 'I know it's hard for you being home with the kids,' so he would always make time to be with them so I could take a break."
Even his sister, Denise Troise, was amazed at her brother’s devotion to his family, saying “I can’t even imagine a more dedicated father and husband.”
He was known for his weekend barbecues which usually brought together his close-knit family, neighbours and friends.


Posthumously, Michael has been awarded a promotion to Managing Director by his firm, Marsh & McLennan. He has also been awarded the Dean Award from St John’s University Law School, from which he graduated in 1991.
But, possibly the most telling award made to this loving family man is the bench and plaque placed in his East Williston village green by his friends and neighbours, and the fact that around 1000 friends attended the memorial mass at St Aidan’s Roman Catholic Church in Williston Park.
Jim & Evelyn be proud of your son, you must have done good raising him.
Colleen be proud of your husband, you picked a good one. One who loved you enough to spend time away from you to provide the things you needed and deserved.
Connor & Fiona, be proud of your daddy. He was a good man. Ask your family about him. Find out all that you can and fix him in your mind, that way, he will always be with you.

You will never forget.
We will never forget.
Michael John Cahill



Please don't forget to check out Project 2996 for all the other tributes that have been made today to honour those who died on that awful day.

Waleska Martinez-Rivera

Waleska Martinez-Rivera


Waleska Martinez-Rivera was born in Puerto Rico. She studied computer science and business at the University of Puerto Rico where she graduated first in her class in 1986 before moving on to teaching computer science at two universities. In 1987 she moved to New York and was hired the following year by the US Census Bureau’s regional office, where she was subsequently promoted to supervisory computer specialist recruiting and training other computer specialists. Highly praised by her boss there, Waleska was in 1997 awarded a bronze medal by the Census Bureau for her dedication.




Her work demeanour has been described as friendly but reserved. Outside of work she, without doubt, knew how to enjoy herself, enjoying movies, music, sport, the theatre and entertaining.



She left behind her “longtime partner” Angela Lopez, whose Madonna “Drowned World” baseball cap she had borrowed on the morning she boarded Flight 93, that fateful morning on her way to a conference in San Francisco.

Tuesday Morning

Saturday 10 September 2011

Bored

Now that the rugby has finished for the day I have become really really bored. I was therefore happy to notice that it was a really nice day outside. So, once I'd had lunch I decided to go out for a little walk. I ironed some clothes, got changed and just as I was locking the last window before heading out it started to rain! How fucking typical. I took my boots back off and started to try and think of something else to do and it then stopped raining. Frustrating.
I decided to go out anyway, as I had to renew my monthly tube ticket before Monday. I took a light jacket, just in case, but always find it frustrating carrying a jacket around, almost as frustrating as having to wear a jacket to keep the rain off, when it is far too warm to actually be wearing the extra layer.
Anyway, I decided, as it still hadn't started raining again yet, that I would have a walk up and down the high street and hope that inspiration struck me for something to do. It didn't, but I did see a porn star who lives locally. Harley Everett is a very striking guy, muscular, handsome, 6' 3" and shaven (or crop) headed. When you see him topless (or sleeveless) you notice a telltale tattoo all down his arm (though I couldn't see it today). I find him incredibly attractive in the flesh, this is the second time I've seen him, but I know that he wouldn't be into me as my tastes are far too vanilla: some of the films that he's done that I've seen involve things that I would not want to do at all. He is also on Grindr and asks for guys who "go to the gym at least 3 times a week and have something to show for it." I like the progress that I've made at the gym and I still get lots of comments about it, but I don't think I am big enough for him. He has however smiled at me both times that I've seen him. Maybe he's being polite and likes being recognised, maybe something else. I guess I will only know if I ask him.
Maybe next time (though knowing me, maybe not!).

Good news about the boredom, Tim has just texted me and asked if I would like to join him and Niall for drinks tonight. I shouldn't, as I went out last night, but I will. I am feeling really horny, but more than that, I need some human company, and I can't turn down the opportunity of a situation where I could possibly meet Mr Right. I really need to find myself a man. I am getting desperate. I WANT A BOYFRIEND!!!

I did go out last night. I didn't arrange to meet anyone but when I got to Rupert Street I saw Craig there. He was with a guy who I had met once before, Tristan. I stayed with them for one drink and they went on to Profile bar. I went to Comptons, as I didn't want to be stuck in Profile for the rest of the night (I know what Craig is like). Comptons was unimpressive so I decided to go to Profile for one before going home. I met them in there and stayed for 2 drinks. Both guys got on my nerves a bit, they both are very insecure guys who like to tell you how good they are and how much everyone loves them, to reinforce their own sense of worth. I find this a very unattractive personality trait and so was getting more and more annoyed with both of them as the evening went on. I did have one reasonably nice guy ask for my number, and I gave it, though it turned out that he had that same trait and also had groping hands (which are never welcomed by me unless preceded by a kiss at least, and we certainly didn't kiss).
I did get an offer from Tristan to get me membership of Fitness First gyms for just £30 a month, which I think I could afford (I've not actually joined the local gym, Soho gym, yet as I can't really afford it), though I'm not sure if he wants something in return or not (I hope "not").
I left at just before midnight and came home, only just finding the strength not to stop off at Chariots on the way home!

Riot Dream

I don't remember much about it, but I had a dream last night. I was living at home with my mum, though it was in a flat that I've never actually seen before. I returned home after a riot (a la the London riots of last month) to find that the flat had been broken into and ransacked, with everything of value having been stolen and my mum sitting on the floor in the middle of the rubble.
I woke up to a sense of foreboding, thinking for a second that my home had been ransacked too. Luckily it hadn't.

I got up, showered and got myself ready to watch the first England match in this year's Rugby World Cup. Unfortunately it wasn't an entertaining one, for the most-part. I had caught the previous match (France v Japan) and that proved to be much more entertaining.

Friday 9 September 2011

Rugby


The Rugby Union World Cup started today. Does it get you excited?