The LuLac Edition #2617, March 13th, 2014

Our “13 Questions” logo.

13 QUESTIONS

1. If LuLac could have a theme song, what would it be?

We already have one. Here’s the video to go along with it. Have to update it though.

2. In your Feb 18th Maybe I'm Amazed you posted "MAYBE I’M AMAZED…….that as I approach 60, I seem to remember more and more the words of wisdom my late relatives gave me."
What were the first "words of wisdom" you remembered?
What words had the most impact?
Which "words of wisdom" have haunted you most?
To be fair, Mine:
a. "Pay yourself first" - Dad
b."If you can't say something nice don't say anything" -Mom I have often paid a hefty price when I ignored this one!
c. "Don't get old" - Maternal Grandfather.

Okay here’s mine.
a. "Don’t be mean to people but if need be,  get even."-a nun.
b. "There are some women who can and will kill you without batting an eye." My father.
c. "I’ve met many dumb and lazy lawyers. You’re not dumb and lazy. How about law school Dave?" My uncle Andy Diziak.

3. Do you have a favorite game show?

Not really. I’ll listen to “Jeopardy” once in a while but no, not into them.

4. Any news on Yonki the Author?

Yes. I will be at Barnes and Noble on Saturday April 12th at 2pm hawking my wares. You can buy “A Radio Story”, “26 Rules of Life” or “Weather Or Knot”. I’m also working on two things that I hope people will find interesting.

Cover of second book. (LuLac archives).
5. Sports Illustrated had a cover story on Pete Rose, did you read it and do you think he belongs in the Hall of Fame?

I did indeed and was glad to see Pete’s Cooperstown landlord Andrew Vilacky, owner of "Safe At Home" collectibles getting some coverage. Rose should be in the Hall but with a plaque that says he bet on baseball. Even though he committed the cardinal sin of gambling, his record is not tainted by steroids. If you let Mark McGuire back in baseball as a coach, you let Rose back in too. I’m biased because he was my favorite player (Superstar) growing up, was always very generous with his time with me and quite frankly the guy needs a break. No good will be accomplished by having Rose inducted and having his bodacious and curvy third wife accepting in his place. 

Mr. and Mrs. Pete Rose. (Photo: theinterrobang.com)
6. In the past you’ve written about to St. Patrick’s Day events in your life. The night you met Hubert Humphrey and the night you were the designated driver for some of the Killer Bees at the 1984 St. Patty’s Day Dinner at the Sheraton Crossgates. But what is your top St. Patrick’s day memory?

Full disclosure here folks, a cousin e mailed this one for me to knock over the plate and into the stands. On March 17th, 1980, I had my first lunch date with Mrs. LuLac at Eric Lee’s Peking Chef on the Square in Wilkes Barre. I knew she was Polish but I brought a St. Patrick’s Day card anyway. And the rest as they say is history.

7. Green bagels Dave?

The only really good green bagel I ever had was at Terry and Dorthea Best’s Bagel Station in Pittston. Since he’s not in the business anymore, I’ll stick to my Everything bagel with veggie cream cheese and count the scallions as the green.

8. WNEP TV’s Bill Waddel got hit with a purse. When you were in the media did you have any harrowing experiences?

No. my only two problems were at a Hanover Township Commissioners meeting when the late Dick Yurren (yes that was his name) asked who I was and wanted me to show ID. That was odd since I had a Media tag on. This was in the 70s. And one time when I was working for The Metro in Scranton, the publisher Tommy Joseph wanted me to take a photo of a Travel Agency. I did and the people freaked and starred throwing pencil at me. Nope, no purse from a blond in the line of media work.

9. Giving up anything for Lent?

Yeah, the 5:45 Mass at my church. They got rid of it. I am trying to not eat candy. For a sugar rush, I’ll have one of those mini Hershey bars but that’s about it. So I'm avoiding those little bars.

10. Some of your posters have said you are really ranting these days. True or false.

True. I can’t stand the lies on Health Care that are still being told. And maybe I’m too old but the political players on the national scene now are not as classy and bipartisan as the people I admired on both sides of the aisle growing up So yeah, I’ll rant. Nobody else seems to.

11. I see where former interim County Manager Tom Pribula is now working in Hazleton in a somewhat similar capacity. How do you think he’ll do?

Do you remember when that journalist from Iraq Muntazer al-Zaidi started throwing a shoe at George W. Bush toward the end of his term? Tom has that ability to dodge. With his time under the dome I’m sure he has become quite adept at dodging knives. He'll be fine.

12. The FBI is investigating the city of Wilkes Barre. Will this probe go anywhere?

If it doesn’t, I’ll be shocked.

13. I read LuLac and 590 Forever as part of my online reading. Which one is harder to do?

590 Forever. LuLac writes itself with some of the things going on politically. When I do have a writing block, some politico does something stupendously appalling. And then I just go from there. 590 Forever is more difficult because I set the bar too high. I want to do 590 Mighty Memories in countdown order. I think I did 180 of them so far but I have a long way to go. Many people have passed on, memories aren’t that sharp and the glory of WARM is fading fast. So that makes it problematic. I’m digging into a lot of things I have from forty years ago but again that takes more time. The interactions I’ve received from readers of 590 Forever has actually given me more material and ideas so that’s great too. But I enjoy both and am grateful for people who read them.