The LuLac Edition #2196, September 14th, 2012

Our “Maybe I’m Amazed” logo. 

MAYBE I’M AMAZED

Federico Castelluccio, aka Furio Giunta at La Festa Italiana with Jason Sabatelle. 

MAYBE I’M AMAZED……………….that fans of the Sopranos thought they were seeing Furio Giunta, at the Italian Festival in Scranton over the Labor Day weekend. Actor Federico Castelluccio stopped by the Sabatelle’s food stand (which is one of the most popular) and chatted with Jason Sabatelle. The celebrity was just one of many who enjoyed the big downtown Italian feeding frenzy. 
MAYBE I’M AMAZED……….that in my older age I’ve come to the conclusion that it might be a good idea to be legally armed if you go out in LuLac land after 11PM. Especially if you go to Plymouth. Unfortunately this is not our grandfather’s Wilkes Barre Scranton. It has become the wild, wild west. And the Valley With the Heart has become a habitat for out of town criminals and in town head cases that are only too willing to solve or end things with a gun. Makes you long for the days when things were settled by a good old fashioned street brawl. I'm not advocating violence, just wanting people to be able to defend themselves if they need to. MAYBE I’M AMAZED….at just how close the two Penn State losses were recently. The last one was a total heart breaker against Virginia. I still think Bill O’Brien is the right guy for the job but it is going to be a struggle. Next stop, Navy. 
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…………that a tiger’s night vision is six times better than a human’s. So if you are facing down a tiger, you better have good 20/20 vision.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..at how wonderful it is to have the Wagon Wheel Restaurant back in business in Shickshinny. Decimated by the Flood of 2011, the eatery is all shined up and new with great looking tables and booths. There was a lot of the old decor there too to make sure you remembered the old days. It is worth a trip down Rt. 11 and try out their daily specials as well as the Friday night Fish Fry from 3 to 8pm. 
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…………..that if Mitt Romney loses this election, an element of the blame has to go to his staff. If you ask me, these people have not been serving him well. From the primaries on to the latest statement on the death of the Libyan Ambassador, Romney needs someone who will look at what is coming out of that press office and weigh the consequences. It is shameful that in his second run for office, Romney has a staff that look and acts green. MAYBE I‘M AMAZED…………that the Phillies are back in the thick of a September pennant race. Left for dead just a few weeks back, the Phillies are winning and making a bid for a wild card entry. That is a true testament to their pride as well as Charlie Manuel’s steady hand. Manuel used to manage the Indians in the late 90s. 
MAYBE I’M AMAZED………….that Hawaii is located further south than Florida. 
MAYBE I’M AMAZED………that no one will even want to talk about the Muslim religion making it virtually an unrecognizable entity in the world. The violence in the Mideast was started when it was thought the prophet Mohammad was being insulted or denigrated. Perhaps no one should and most likely won’t even enter into a debate about the religion, its history (even if it’s good) or its culture for fear it will set off some extremist group. It is best to not even say a word about it or anyone involved in it. 
MAYBE I’M AMAZED……………..that the Wilkes Barre School Board in its crusade to save money starts with the Debate team. A championship wining debate team! I thought it was hysterical that Board Chair Mary Ann Toole couldn’t handle the pressure and sent everyone packing after two hours. Bad enough to face Bob Kadluboski every week but when you have a roomful of debaters and you are just another political survivor, you are bound to get flustered. Maybe if the under worked and overpaid Solicitor for the School Board Ray Wendolski gave up part of his huge retainer the kids would be able to continue to work hard at their skills. But you won’t see that happening. 
MAYBE I’M AMAZED……………..that the New York Yankees have not won two games in a row since the middle of August. The Yanks are very frustrating to their fans and most likely the new Steinbrenner regime. If the Yankees make the playoffs, it will be a small miracle. If they go beyond the first round, it will be an act of God. There, I guaranteed you they’ll be in the Series. Or brace yourself, might even win it!  
MAYBE I’M AMAZED………………….at the number of Facebook posts I am seeing from people who are absolutely gleeful that Fred DeSanto the former head of the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority is being investigated by the Luzerne County DA’s office. Fred must have torqued off a lot of people in his time there.