tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77851672611030128852024-03-14T00:54:51.963-04:00For The Love Of Pete SteeleRatajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.comBlogger199125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-61858820124464886902019-02-12T13:27:00.000-05:002019-02-12T22:29:05.227-05:00New Authorized Merchandise from the Estate of Peter Steele<br />
<br />
Finally ! You asked for more authentic and authorized merchandise for Carnivore and memorial items for the memory of Peter Steele and we got the merchandise to ship from the United States (thanks to Peter's sister Cathy).<br />
<br />
The Estate of Peter Steele is happy to announce merchandise for sale in Peter's honor. Artist Joey James Hernandez lends his extraordinary talent to bring this vision to life on the Tshirts along with artist Lisa O'Brien to recreate Peter's unique signature.<br />
<br />
In Peter's memory, a portion of the proceeds will go to St. Christopher's Inn (a temporary homeless shelter dedicated to the rehabilitation of men in crisis). Thank you for helping to keep Peter's memory and music alive for future generations.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-07SRFX9953I/XGMPeiOcxeI/AAAAAAAAAjc/WlesZUHSHtULg-5rTtZvF2mYpWvQdtv8wCLcBGAs/s1600/Estate%2Bof%2BPeter%2BSteele%2B2018%2B%2526%2B2019%2BMerchandise%2Bphoto%2Bof%2Bbundle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1080" height="376" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-07SRFX9953I/XGMPeiOcxeI/AAAAAAAAAjc/WlesZUHSHtULg-5rTtZvF2mYpWvQdtv8wCLcBGAs/s400/Estate%2Bof%2BPeter%2BSteele%2B2018%2B%2526%2B2019%2BMerchandise%2Bphoto%2Bof%2Bbundle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Here is the catalog of merchandise, which includes bundles and single items of:<br />
<br />
<br />
* Peter Steele Dusk Black T Shirt<br />
<br />
* Thermonuclear Warrior Red T Shirt<br />
<br />
* Carnivore CD<br />
<br />
* Digitally Remastered Retaliation CD<br />
<br />
<br />
Click Here to Purchase:<br />
<a href="https://carnivore.merchnow.com/" target="_blank">https://carnivore.merchnow.com</a><br />
<br />Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-38846759649456646162018-05-30T08:50:00.001-04:002018-06-06T15:52:57.900-04:00Summer of Sam <br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Since Peters death, our family has dealt with some people
who only want to smear his memory with lies, fabrications, delusions &
outright evil about him and family members. This person who was in Peter’s life
for a short time tries to make money on him with raffles, go fund me scams, and
prizes that have contained everything from hair supposedly snipped from his
coffin, to shirts he’s worn to soiled underwear, fake handwritten lyrics, and
even toe nail clippings. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The person who does these raffles does so to continue to
fund her drug habit, but instead she tells you she’s supporting Peter’s
illegitimate child or helping the homeless or paying for the former band
members' dinner. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">What amazes us the most is how some people take her word at
face value. Just because she tells you that Peter told her something does not
mean it is by any means truthful. Just because she writes that Peter told her something about a band mate or a family member or a girlfriend doesn't mean it actually happened - they are the made up delusions to support her habit and story. Why would anyone believe what comes out of
the mouth of a woman who: pimps out her kids to beg for money on YouTube, FB and
who speaks vile lies about a person she claims to love? </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We thought it was time you know a little bit more about this
person. Here are some little known facts about the only person Peter DIDNT
reconnect with — she's the one who stalked him at a concert and begged anyone who would
listen to let her see Peter. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Let’s Go:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Want to know all about her? See “Summer of Sam”
poem written by Peter Ratajczyk Steele below</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Everything this person says about Peter's
distaste for people with special needs, people of color, different religions,
gay/lesbians & abusing animals is not true — nor was he a pedophile or into
bestiality. It’s easy to accuse a dead person these things but why weren’t you
saying this shit when he was alive? When you were showing up at his shows
begging to see him. Hmmmmm? If you don’t believe us, use some common sense
thinking — his band mates, friends, business partners, girlfriends and close
friends who know him for decades will tell differently. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">* Plus no video exists of Peter doing anything to hurt any creature or
was ever shown to his sisters. The only video she has is a “family memories” tape
that she stole from Peter's sister's house and she is trying to sell on ebay or raffle
off. If you bought anything that was Peter’s then you too are an accessory to a
crime of theft. </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The reason why this person talks badly about
Peter’s sisters is because they know the real truth about her — that she’s a
manipulative elder abuser, thief and pathological liar trying desperately to
get money from a dead man. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">And what kind of crazy are you that you believe
a crystal meth head who abandoned her children for several months to follow
Peter, never even telling him that you left your children with neighbors and
never went back for them ? Only when you were caught did you tell him you had
children. And then he told us what a despicable person you were. He told us
everything about you. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">For the last time, that child isn’t Peter’s.
However, he does resemble another band mate from another band that toured with
TON. How do we know this? She tried to shake Peter down for money twice — both
times ending with lawyer calling her bluff and she retreating back to her
fantasy land. End. Of. Story. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">For someone who hates TON music and fans so
much, but claims to have loved Pete, to sell supposed “presents “ he gave her
over & over again to fans - does this make any sense to you?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Want to know what Peter REALLY thought about her
— read this great little poem all about her shenanigans written in Pete’s REAL
handwriting- not the dribble she’s been passing off as his for years. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">What's her claim to fame? What has she ever accomplished in her life? How does she make her money? hmmmm? How do you think? If you still follow her nonsense and send her money and read
her meth ramblings and 10 page diatribes after all these years then clearly you
are as crazy as she is. Enjoy each other. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H9UWKPBLqdk/Ww6Y9izaGTI/AAAAAAAAAis/YCg__Vko5lgGVix5PoycWqvO5_mwPIBawCLcBGAs/s1600/Summer%2Bof%2BSam%2Bpic%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1575" data-original-width="1242" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H9UWKPBLqdk/Ww6Y9izaGTI/AAAAAAAAAis/YCg__Vko5lgGVix5PoycWqvO5_mwPIBawCLcBGAs/s400/Summer%2Bof%2BSam%2Bpic%2B1.jpg" width="315" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HdwHA9xbZTw/Ww6ZH6ioWlI/AAAAAAAAAiw/cqD4hzHW9ZMC1Qrn5siFlxxfLfYAaLBYwCLcBGAs/s1600/Summer%2Bof%2BSam%2Bpic%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1495" data-original-width="1149" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HdwHA9xbZTw/Ww6ZH6ioWlI/AAAAAAAAAiw/cqD4hzHW9ZMC1Qrn5siFlxxfLfYAaLBYwCLcBGAs/s400/Summer%2Bof%2BSam%2Bpic%2B2.jpg" width="306" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Transcription </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>Summer of Sam</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>She said she was 30</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>Same amount as men fucked</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>Though didn’t look dirty </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>Was a professional slut</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>Wasted her religion</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>She stuttered I’m into more men</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>From Pepperpond Town </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>A polygamist then? HippoChristian ? </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>Questioned my name</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>John Smith I denied</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>Do you like my fake tits? </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>I said yes ( but I lied) </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>An angel stole a song </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>and it’s called “Day Tripper”</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>How do you know this tune? </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>Because I’m a stripper </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>Do you have many kids? </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>And too I should have run </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>The answer I got was</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>Will you support my 3 sons ? </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>So where do you live ? </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>Mostly at JFK</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>I changed my flight </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b>Only 6 Times today</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Such a great song that seems appropriate for this post.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mix a little meth in there and you got her: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://youtu.be/eJTi_I_Q_tU">https://youtu.be/eJTi_I_Q_tU</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align: center;">
<b>UPDATE: While we don't know who this person is that runs this blog, we want to thank you for posting the truth: <a href="https://petersteeletruth.wordpress.com/2018/05/28/heres-the-deal-untruths-exposed/">https://petersteeletruth.wordpress.com/2018/05/28/heres-the-deal-untruths-exposed/</a></b></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>UPDATE: Thanks BFree for speaking the truth by exposing the lies: <a href="http://bfreeport.tumblr.com/">http://bfreeport.tumblr.com/</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><b></b><br /></div>
<b>
</b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-22588386113145065222013-04-14T00:30:00.000-04:002018-03-15T13:07:51.629-04:00He Is Not Dead ... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xln8FWcEswE/UWhB0jJqLWI/AAAAAAAAAcU/LDsq5NvYkyo/s1600/PETER+-+JRoseFoggyCemetery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xln8FWcEswE/UWhB0jJqLWI/AAAAAAAAAcU/LDsq5NvYkyo/s640/PETER+-+JRoseFoggyCemetery.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: x-small;">Reprinted with permission from Jennifer Rose Gallery</span></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: x-small;">To purchase this print or learn more about Jennifer Rose's photography, visit:</span></strong></div>
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: x-small;"><strong> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/129226827/fog-in-the-cemetery-goth-5x7-framed?ref=v1_other_2" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://www.etsy.com/listing/129226827/fog-in-the-cemetery-goth-5x7-framed?ref=v1_other_2</span></a></strong></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em><strong>As our family and close friends gather to remember Pete Steele today on the </strong></em><em><strong>anniversary of his passing, we may shed tears, offer prays, hug each other, </strong></em><em><strong>visit the family grave, send good thoughts into the universe, gather at our </strong></em><em><strong>Redhook church at noon, and meet as a group in Prospect Park at </strong></em></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em><strong>Peter's Tree -- we bring with us all the stories and dedication that fans </strong></em><em><strong>have shared with us in the last year.</strong></em><br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zkAVIvT42hE/UWhHsiuAQFI/AAAAAAAAAcs/fFrGXKVttVg/s1600/PETER++TREE+-+Angie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zkAVIvT42hE/UWhHsiuAQFI/AAAAAAAAAcs/fFrGXKVttVg/s320/PETER++TREE+-+Angie.png" width="248" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Reprinted with permission by Angie</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em><strong>Whether you believe it or not, we display your photographs in our homes. </strong></em><em><strong>We share your artwork with friends. We buy pendants and jewelry </strong></em><em><strong>inspired by Peter's likeness and music. We gather to listen to bands </strong></em><strong><em>who reach out to us. We email your heartfelt </em><em>letters to each other so </em></strong><strong><em>we can smile, cry, laugh and enjoy the </em><em>experiences you treasured with Peter.</em></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: cyan;">We support you loving Peter</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: cyan;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: cyan;"></span></strong><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fMnrsYMZ5yg/UWhIRnYpYoI/AAAAAAAAAc0/CulmTrgf1s8/s1600/PETER+-+Tattoo+Eyes+Angie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fMnrsYMZ5yg/UWhIRnYpYoI/AAAAAAAAAc0/CulmTrgf1s8/s320/PETER+-+Tattoo+Eyes+Angie.png" width="289" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Posted with permission by Angie</div>
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: cyan;">We thank you for keeping his genius alive</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: cyan;"> by playing his songs, </span></strong><span style="color: cyan;"><strong>sharing his music and poetry</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><strong> with your friends, kids, students, family.</strong> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The only thing our family wants is to preserve Peter's memory and legacy for future generations of music fans and rock enthusiasts. It is our hope that Peter's legacy could be documented for his fans to learn more about Peter's early years, the highlights in his life, the people he was inspired by, the friends he made along the way, the fans who are forever impacted by his words and music, the amazing musicians who became his life-long friends, bandmates who are his blood brothers and protectors of his legacy, and the internal struggles that he endured as a sensitive and caring man, as noted in his lyrics. We hope that documentation will come in some form in the future.<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pzO3Tr4ZZRA/UWhLaOpBp_I/AAAAAAAAAc8/UwHRmbQ-7GA/s1600/Karla+Collins+-+Peter+Angel+with+Halo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pzO3Tr4ZZRA/UWhLaOpBp_I/AAAAAAAAAc8/UwHRmbQ-7GA/s320/Karla+Collins+-+Peter+Angel+with+Halo.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Artwork posted with permission from Karla Collins</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong><em>The photos in today's post are a few examples of our favorite inspired items from our STEELE family along with some quotes close to my literary & musical heart. I hope you will visit these artists' online stores to support and inquire about their work. xoxo Darcie</em></strong><br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1rP_LqOysDs/UWWFjVI5KLI/AAAAAAAAAbw/EU9Byic_fZ0/s1600/Karla+Collins+-+Peter+in+the+Green+Sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1rP_LqOysDs/UWWFjVI5KLI/AAAAAAAAAbw/EU9Byic_fZ0/s320/Karla+Collins+-+Peter+in+the+Green+Sky.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Artwork posted with permission </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
from Karla Collins</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="quoteText" style="padding: 0px 5px 10px 0px; text-align: left;">
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999;">“He Is Not Dead</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999;">I cannot say, and I will not say</span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999;">That he is dead. He is just away.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #999999;">With a cheery smile, and a wave of the hand,</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">
</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #999999;">He has wandered into an unknown land</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #999999;">And left us dreaming how very fair</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">
<span style="color: #999999;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #999999;">It needs must be, since he lingers there.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">
<span style="color: #999999;">
</span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #999999;">And you—oh you, who the wildest yearn</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">
<span style="color: #999999;">
</span><div>
<span style="color: #999999;">For an old-time step, and the glad return,</span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;">
</span><div>
<span style="color: #999999;">Think of him faring on, as dear</span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;">
</span><div>
<span style="color: #999999;">In the love of There as the love of Here.</span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;">
</span><div>
<span style="color: #999999;">Think of him still as the same. I say,</span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;">
</span><div>
<span style="color: #999999;">He is not dead—he is just away.” </span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;">
</span><div>
<span style="color: #999999;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/82943.James_Whitcomb_Riley" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #999999;">James Whitcomb Riley</span></a></div>
</span></div>
<div class="quoteFooter" style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0-D6R57BW10/UWhDwv-rouI/AAAAAAAAAck/U489FY4-HEI/s1600/PETER+-+Wolf+Moon+Quote+JRosePeterQuoteDSC_5324FinalNEWetsy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0-D6R57BW10/UWhDwv-rouI/AAAAAAAAAck/U489FY4-HEI/s400/PETER+-+Wolf+Moon+Quote+JRosePeterQuoteDSC_5324FinalNEWetsy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Reprinted with permission from Jennifer Rose Gallery</span></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: cyan;">To purchase this print, please visit:</span></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><strong> <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/129230044/tribute-to-peter-steele-wolf-moon-song?ref=pr_shop" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> https://www.etsy.com/listing/129230044/tribute-to-peter-steele-wolf-moon-song?ref=pr_shop</span></a> </strong></span></div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;">"Cybernetic energetic<br />Mutilating fear creating<br />Iconoclastic Polyplastic<br />All mechanic Pro-Satanic<br />Sample my machinery!"</span><br />
<em><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><strong>-- Peter Thomas Ratajczyk, Fallout</strong></span></em></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;">
</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;">
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UaNZW3_X9To/UWl8XTKwhhI/AAAAAAAAAdU/kNEHhpOeeNc/s1600/PETER+-+Angie+Forever+Autumn+with+words.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UaNZW3_X9To/UWl8XTKwhhI/AAAAAAAAAdU/kNEHhpOeeNc/s400/PETER+-+Angie+Forever+Autumn+with+words.png" width="351" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
Posted with permission by Angela</div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="text-align: left;">"They say that a part of you dies when a special Loved One passes away...I disagree...I say a part of you lives with your Loved One on the other side.”</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6859139.Daniel_Yanez" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #999999;">Daniel Yanez</span></a></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Joyt3w2eeKw/UWhMumaTy7I/AAAAAAAAAdE/1tp2BlwUbTI/s1600/Valerie+Ashley+-+Peter's+Leaf+Pendant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Joyt3w2eeKw/UWhMumaTy7I/AAAAAAAAAdE/1tp2BlwUbTI/s320/Valerie+Ashley+-+Peter's+Leaf+Pendant.jpg" width="316" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;">This pendant is available from Valery Ashley</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ElysianFields" target="_blank">http://www.etsy.com/shop/ElysianFields</a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;">
</span>
<div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
"Hate is fear</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
I rip at my face in the mirror</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
death approaching</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
expiration growing nearer</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
I'm rotting inside</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
I'm disgusted with myself</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
I'm in hell"</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<em><strong><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">--Peter Thomas Ratajczyk, Carnivore </span></strong></em></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IYUgkgtlmJY/UWofLV3y5UI/AAAAAAAAAd0/14AfDMgx39M/s1600/Peter+-+Tree+of+Life+-+Amber+The+Crooked+Oak+Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IYUgkgtlmJY/UWofLV3y5UI/AAAAAAAAAd0/14AfDMgx39M/s400/Peter+-+Tree+of+Life+-+Amber+The+Crooked+Oak+Tree.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tree of Life Pendants from The Crooked Oak Tree</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Crooked-Oak-Tree/139345976205194?ref=tn_tnmn" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Crooked-Oak-Tree/139345976205194?ref=tn_tnmn</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="quoteText" style="padding: 0px 5px 10px 0px; text-align: left;">
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #999999;">“The dead are never truly gone. They linger in our minds and hearts and torture us with a malice they were not capable of in life.” </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5778694.Courtney_M_Privett" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Courtney M. Privett</span></a><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">, <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/21385536" style="text-decoration: none;">Shadows of Absolution</a></i></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="quoteFooter">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="quoteFooter">
</div>
<div align="center" class="quoteFooter">
</div>
<div align="center" class="quoteFooter">
</div>
<div class="separator">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kWLlu7IJ8qM/UWWGRRffTKI/AAAAAAAAAcE/mFWkuqeYr_s/s1600/Tab+Bendeich+-+Peter+enhanced+with+Photomania.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kWLlu7IJ8qM/UWWGRRffTKI/AAAAAAAAAcE/mFWkuqeYr_s/s320/Tab+Bendeich+-+Peter+enhanced+with+Photomania.jpg" width="213" /></a>Photo enhanced by Tab Bendeich</div>
<div class="separator">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="quoteFooter">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="quoteFooter">
</div>
<div class="quoteFooter">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="text-align: left;">Life has to end, Love doesn't.”</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="quoteFooter">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2331.Mitch_Albom" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #999999;">Mitch Albom</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">, <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2561472" style="text-decoration: none;">The Five People You Meet in Heaven</a></i></span></span></div>
<div class="quoteFooter">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="quoteFooter">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="quoteFooter">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-047Aip2yVho/UWl_PT8fASI/AAAAAAAAAdk/6REQUaKgh4s/s1600/Angie+-+Fantomess+-+Peter+Eyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-047Aip2yVho/UWl_PT8fASI/AAAAAAAAAdk/6REQUaKgh4s/s320/Angie+-+Fantomess+-+Peter+Eyes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;">Photo enhanced & posted </span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;"></span><br />
<div align="center">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;">with permission from Angie </span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;">
</span>
<div class="quoteFooter">
</div>
<div class="quoteFooter">
</div>
<div class="quoteFooter">
<strong><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;">For the meek shall inherit the earth ... </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: cyan;"></span></strong><br />
</div>
<div class="quoteFooter">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jjiTDFmNyiA/UWhC8MkUCbI/AAAAAAAAAcc/xu19yOI39-s/s1600/PETER+-+JRoseWeepingAngel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jjiTDFmNyiA/UWhC8MkUCbI/AAAAAAAAAcc/xu19yOI39-s/s320/PETER+-+JRoseWeepingAngel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: x-small;">Reprinted with permission from Jennifer Rose Gallery</span></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: x-small;">For more information about Jennifer Rose's work, visit:</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: x-small;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/129229103/angel-statue-cemetery-goth-8x10-photo?ref=v1_other_2" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://www.etsy.com/listing/129229103/angel-statue-cemetery-goth-8x10-photo?ref=v1_other_2</span></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="quoteFooter">
<br />
</div>
<div align="center" class="quoteFooter">
I'm ending this posting with a youtube video that was compiled to illustrate the vocal ranges of Peter Steele. Check it out: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm0QV76dmaU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm0QV76dmaU</a><br />
(nice job: Tarantinomaniac)<br />
<br />
</div>
Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com68tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-38445355805930254062012-04-14T04:00:00.011-04:002012-04-14T04:00:03.921-04:00I Am The Gentle Autumn RainThis is version of Mary Frye's poem, which I believe is untitled. It is fitting of this anniversary that our family shares with music lovers around the world. It usually helps me get through the loss ... <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-meBp3K5eJa4/T4jWd8KJ74I/AAAAAAAAAbg/_ekH10oiplM/s1600/Green+Forest+Angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-meBp3K5eJa4/T4jWd8KJ74I/AAAAAAAAAbg/_ekH10oiplM/s640/Green+Forest+Angel.jpg" width="497" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a forcediv="true" forceinline="true" href="http://alenkopera.com/J32.html" original_target="http://alenkopera.com/j32.html" rel="nofollow nofollow" saprocessedanchor="true" target="_blank" verdict_1d6cebj="UNKNOWN">http://alenkopera.com/J32.html</a></div><div mcballoonconfig="{IsPremium:false,unratedSubmitText:"Submit for testing",resoureBaseUrl:"sacore:",siteReport:{requestArgs:"pip=false&premium=false&client_uid=4145573586&client_ver=3.4.1.195&client_type=IEPlugin&suite=false&aff_id=714-1&locale=en_us&ui=1&os_ver=6.1.1.0",siteReportBaseUrl:"http://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/",linkText:"Read site report"},balloonSetup:{},CCHeader:"Site Content:",features:{highlite:false,showIcons:true},upsellInfo:{display:false},uid:"",HeaderText:""}" mclinkinfo="{linkConfig:{filterLink:false,disableLink:false,icon:"untested.gif",highlightColor:"#FFFFFF",iconWidth:16,iconHeight:16},hackerSafe:false,domain_specifier:"alenkopera.com",popularity:"UNKNOWN",dossierUrl:"http://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/alenkopera.com?pip=false&premium=false&client_uid=4145573586&client_ver=3.4.1.195&client_type=IEPlugin&suite=false&aff_id=714-1&locale=en_us&ui=1&os_ver=6.1.1.0",balloonConfig:{CCUpsell:"",popFunc:"pocpop",adjustLeft:0,adjustTop:0,adjustZ:0,localescale:"1.0"},base_domain:"alenkopera.com",recommendation:"We've tested millions of websites, but we haven't tested this one yet. Be the first one to submit feedback on it!",score:"UNKNOWN",facets:{},linkTitleEncoded:"&#104&#116&#116&#112&#58&#47&#47&#97&#108&#101&#110&#107&#111&#112&#101&#114&#97&#46&#99&#111&#109&#47&#74&#51&#50&#46&#104&#116&#109&#108"}" style="cursor: pointer; display: inline; float: none; height: 16px; margin-left: 2px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 16px;"><a border="0" href="http://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/alenkopera.com?pip=false&premium=false&client_uid=4145573586&client_ver=3.4.1.195&client_type=IEPlugin&suite=false&aff_id=714-1&locale=en_us&ui=1&os_ver=6.1.1.0&ref=safesearch" saprocessedanchor="true" style="display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: auto;" target="_blank"></a></div>(Thank you Isa for finding this artwork!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">@@@</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em>Do not stand at my grave and weep<o:p></o:p></em></span></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em> </em></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em>I am not there; I do not sleep.<o:p></o:p></em></span></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em> </em></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em>I am a thousand winds that blow,<o:p></o:p></em></span></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em> </em></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em>I am the diamond glints on snow,<o:p></o:p></em></span></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em> </em></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em>I am the sun on ripened grain,<o:p></o:p></em></span></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em>I am the gentle autumn rain.<o:p></o:p></em></span></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em> </em></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em>When you awaken in the morning's hush<o:p></o:p></em></span></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em> </em></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em>I am the swift uplifting rush<o:p></o:p></em></span></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em>Of quiet birds in circled flight. <o:p></o:p></em></span></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em> </em></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em>I am the soft stars that shine at night.</em> <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em>Do not stand at my grave and cry, <o:p></o:p></em></span></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em> </em></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em>I am not there; I did not die.</em></span></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
@@@<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Whatever you are doing today to remember </strong><br />
<strong>Peter Steele Ratajczyk,</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>whether it's a meeting at Prospect Park </strong><br />
<strong>in front of a tree planted in his honor</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>or </strong><br />
<br />
<strong>celebrating mass at Visitation Church in Red Hook</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>or </strong><br />
<br />
<strong>playing music really loud in your car in Germany</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>or </strong><br />
<br />
<strong>sending good thoughts into the universe in California</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Our Family Thanks You For Loving</strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Peter Steele</span> </strong><br />
<br />
<strong>For Who He Was:</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Genius</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Friend</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Brother</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Son</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Lover</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Buddy</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Protector</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Jokester</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Monster in the Basement</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Mentor</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Soulmate</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Partner in Crime</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Bandmate</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>OURS</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Missing You For 2 Years Now</strong></em><br />
<br />
<em>xoxoxo</em><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yXS0cpxdB4s/T4jVp9I_OLI/AAAAAAAAAbY/1fxktUupcWA/s1600/You+Weren't+Just+A+Star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yXS0cpxdB4s/T4jVp9I_OLI/AAAAAAAAAbY/1fxktUupcWA/s640/You+Weren't+Just+A+Star.jpg" width="602" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
Please connect with our friends from this Facebook page:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/PeterRatajczykTreePage">http://www.facebook.com/#!/PeterRatajczykTreePage</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"></div>Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-35437561743551750682012-04-13T04:00:00.026-04:002012-04-13T04:00:02.626-04:00It Is A Rare Relationship When ...<div align="center"><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mardie & Peter... </span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">First love & loyal confidantes of over 30 years...</span></span></strong></div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gznVpYk-VbM/T4ej285AJsI/AAAAAAAAAbI/4VlUvg--peM/s1600/Mardie+&+Pete+Lost+In+Each+Other.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gznVpYk-VbM/T4ej285AJsI/AAAAAAAAAbI/4VlUvg--peM/s640/Mardie+&+Pete+Lost+In+Each+Other.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's a rare relationship when two people can just lose themselves within each other .... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sort of takes your breathe away, doesn't it ?</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">For all the takers that surrounded Peter later in his life, there were some people who always cared for him throughout different parts of his life. Some of them were the lovely ladies who the family holds dearly ... some were the real friends who gave when others only took.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dW-t01bl3LE/T4elyEJDqpI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/QRU1fW24GKM/s1600/Donna++Pete+Rennassance+Fair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dW-t01bl3LE/T4elyEJDqpI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/QRU1fW24GKM/s400/Donna++Pete+Rennassance+Fair.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Peter loved nature, we would often take trips to beautiful places in the woods and spend the whole day exploring. He really loved the feeling of disappearing for the day and no one knowing where we were. This pic is from the renaissance fair, he loved to go there and go back in time, he said that this period in time made him feel "homesick". We would dress up and get into it as if we really lived in this time, eating turkey legs with our hands and all. Of course he would make turkey noises while eating, he was such a joker and always made me laugh. This is just one of hundreds of memories. He was not only my husband but my best friend. The most beautiful thing about Peter was he didn't realize how very special he was. – Donna </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">@@@@</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">To the real friends and loves of Peter's life -- </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">a heartfelt thank you for appreciating Peter </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">for the extraordinary soul that he was </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">and loving him despite his faults. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"></div>Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-38359684231718176922012-04-12T10:00:00.002-04:002012-04-12T10:24:57.973-04:00In Shared Grief I Write This About Peter Steele<div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zyoclv4p1Aw/T4blosxBBYI/AAAAAAAAAaY/PJ1q6vw0G_w/s1600/Mary+Wolfe+Peter+Green+Candles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zyoclv4p1Aw/T4blosxBBYI/AAAAAAAAAaY/PJ1q6vw0G_w/s400/Mary+Wolfe+Peter+Green+Candles.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">To the Ratajczyk Family and all those who deeply loved Pete</span></div><br />
<div><span style="font-family: Arial;">I am simply a fan on the other side of the world who was deeply moved by all that Pete and Type O Negative created. Musically and I guess emotionally, TON’s music was there when I needed it most – recovering from lost love, grieving over loss of parents and times when I just needed to blast the ear drums big time! No music has ever moved me so much. I have never come across music so raw, passionate and powerful – like modern day Viking Sagas.</span></div><br />
<div><span style="font-family: Arial;">We all know what a genius Pete was to have assembled such talent as TON. The music that was created goes beyond genius. The world is a much darker place with his passing and I can’t imagine the hurt this loss means to you all. I know his loss must be like a open wound and I apologise if my email upsets you all in any way. I lost my parents to cancer, so have some idea of the grief you feel. As Pete wrote – “you love someone, there will be grief...”. This is the incredible cost we all pay to love someone.</span></div><br />
<div><span style="font-family: Arial;">If this email can bring you any solace at all, it’s in the fact that Pete and TON moved millions of people around the world – even in upside down “Lostralia”! I can only imagine how incredible it must have been to see TON live and I deeply regret I wasn’t able to do this. Your brother is alive in the memories of millions of people and he made a major difference to this world. Because of his genius, Pete has achieved a kind of immortality and like the Viking Sagas, his music will ring out around the world for a very long time to come.</span></div><br />
<div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Yours in sincerity a shared grief -- </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Adam Dormer</span></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PzHBESaA5lk/T4bGtoxDYlI/AAAAAAAAAZg/Be4HfgUkdPo/s1600/Hit+Parader+Pete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PzHBESaA5lk/T4bGtoxDYlI/AAAAAAAAAZg/Be4HfgUkdPo/s320/Hit+Parader+Pete.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am a nature person, and I understand the cycles of life, so I have never really cried for anyone that passed. I spent many years living on top of a mountain in Swaziland, and always my connection with Nature has been like a mother to child bond. So I moved to the big city eventually, and felt the cruelty of humanity for the first time. The real sting of human nature. No more trees, no more forests, no rivers. Just roadside bushes and small trees to make people feel better about their concrete world. I fell so far into manic (&suicidal) depression, and I was in a desperate search for escape, even if it was death. And then I heard Type O Negative. I heard Peters voice, and for the first time there was someone who understood and felt exactly how I felt. Someone who felt what I felt. I remember the exact moment and the feelings that rushed through my being. I can never explain how deeply moved I still am by everything he did and wrote, or how connected I still feel to him. I was driving to work shorlty after his passing and it felt like he was sitting next to me, talking to me. I wept the entire way to work and sat in the car in the parking lot until I could go inside, still welling up. For the first time I feel like I have lost someone, even though I never met him in person. My family and myself have been well known for our gift of second sight, shall we call it. I remember wondering in that moment what made me important enough for him to spare me a moment and say goodbye. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>I have never really liked people, although one must love everyone, I still don't have to like them. Some people are just born beautiful, and completely misunderstood. They have a very strong connection with nature, and an emotional tick that most don't fully understand. I just wanted to meet him once, because he would know that I know. For some reason not everyone shares or even has those feelings, or the connection. Its like people have disconnected from who they really are in an attempt to survive. Nearly every single song he wrote connected with some part of my life, some love lost, romance, darkness, despair, pain, and pleasure. It was almost like living a reflection, which I must admit was weird at times.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>All I'm saying is that I feel the loss of a kindred spirit, and a mentor that needed not even know me. My struggle was made easier, and my load of sorrow lightened because of him. <br />
Though I sometimes weep for my own loss, I smile, for his rewards are greater than we could know.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Thank you for keeping his memories alive. My heart goes out to your family. -- Chris Wolfe<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6hNIEQ-6294/T4bHo4cGVjI/AAAAAAAAAZo/nRLK1bPLHMY/s1600/Saint+Peteer+-+Jimm+Colarusso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6hNIEQ-6294/T4bHo4cGVjI/AAAAAAAAAZo/nRLK1bPLHMY/s400/Saint+Peteer+-+Jimm+Colarusso.jpg" width="147" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> (artwork by Jimm Colorusso )</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On January 19, 1997, my friend Anne took me to see Type O Negative at the Abyss in Norfolk, VA (It may have been VA Beach, but it was at the Abyss). I had heard of Type O Negative before, but I don't know that I'd heard them and I'd definitely never seen them. At the time, I was 26 years old, a year and a half sober, and not doing all that well. Constantly fighting with my girlfriend and struggling with sobriety. The show was phenomenal. When Peter sang, I was truly moved. I knew that he knew how I felt without ever speaking to him. Needless to say, that converted me to a fan right there. I got October Rust and it became one of my favorite albums for awhile; especially several months later when I got dumped. In any case, after the show, Anne knew Josh (she used to work in the music business and had met him that way), so after the show we walked up to them. I thought it was odd that the guys seemed to be taking care of their own instruments after the show. We talked to Josh for awhile, but I distinctly remember Peter coming out to do something with his bass and introducing himself. I shook his hand, and he asked me how I enjoyed the show. I said something along the lines of "Good. Different, but that's definitely good." He replied "Glad you enjoyed it!" and then he went on about his business. That was my entire interaction with him. I remember thinking not only that he was the largest man I had ever seen, but that he seemed genuine, if that makes any sense. Fast forward to 15 years later. Going through another rough time in my life; now I'm 16 1/2 years sober. All along the way, when I hit hard times, Type O has been there, helping me through. It's like my sadness merges with the music and the music takes it away. I know that someone understands. I was saddened to hear of Peter's death, and I was saddened more by the way that people tend to focus on his failings. Having had some of those failings myself, I can tell you with great confidence that at times, I would not be sober if it were not for Peter. I wish I had more of an opportunity to talk with him. I wish I had the chance to tell him how much he's meant to me and my sobriety. How none of my three kids would have a father if it weren't for him. I just wanted to put this up there and to say Pete, if you're listening, thank you! </div><div><br />
Peace -- Bill Griggs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> @@@@@@@</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A good friend of the blog: Jeanne B has done this ice tribute. Enjoy:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150581838812713" rel="nofollow" saprocessedanchor="true" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>photo.php?v=10150581838812713</a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div></div>Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-11863182449583720252012-04-12T04:00:00.003-04:002018-04-02T14:46:11.405-04:00Their Love For Peter Steele Is Reflected In the ArtworkAs I noted yesterday, this year my family has been given the opportunity to see all the beautiful works of art that fans have made honoring Peter. Every day, we are amazed at the creativity that comes from men and women around the world -- all inspired by a humble person -- Peter. <br />
<br />
If you have ever gotten a chance to meet Peter at shows or meet n greets, you'd see that he was honored when someone handed him artwork or music inspired by his own talent. He turned red sometimes. He made jokes. He'd make fun of you or voiced crazy noises . But he always brought his fan's creative talents back home with him, where he shared them with his mother and sisters. When it came to receiving cds or tapes from up and coming bands, he listened to them. He shared the recordings with us. He brought us to concerts to see bands. He supported and gave back to the music community. He was ... amazing and kind to everyone.<br />
<br />
Today's post is about thanking the fun, colorful and zany people who have friended us through this blog and on our facebook pages. From Karla Collins to Mary Wolfe to Veronica De La Rosa Diaz to Joey James Hernandez to Tabitha Buckmen Bendeich -- to name a few -- have created art and shared it with our Steele Family -- you have brightened our lives with your generosity and dazzling creativity. <br />
<br />
Here are a few family favorites ... Enjoy<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9JoggigfAwA/T4Xp4Tdv8qI/AAAAAAAAAZI/OJu8BjKwhwk/s1600/Mary+Wolfe+Peter+Birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9JoggigfAwA/T4Xp4Tdv8qI/AAAAAAAAAZI/OJu8BjKwhwk/s640/Mary+Wolfe+Peter+Birthday.jpg" width="598" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<strong>Posted with permission from Mary Wolfe who created this birthday card for Peter</strong></div>
<div align="center">
<strong>Thank you Mare for sharing</strong></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rEOt7whUASc/T4XqYHbuXvI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/Ib9FvCV1I_w/s1600/Joey+Hernandez+Pete+Drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rEOt7whUASc/T4XqYHbuXvI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/Ib9FvCV1I_w/s400/Joey+Hernandez+Pete+Drawing.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<strong> by Joey James Hernandez</strong></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ymmPcfKPXMo/T4XqpMlK_DI/AAAAAAAAAZY/JJxc4WjWfz8/s1600/Mary+Wolfe+Peter+Butterflies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ymmPcfKPXMo/T4XqpMlK_DI/AAAAAAAAAZY/JJxc4WjWfz8/s320/Mary+Wolfe+Peter+Butterflies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Perfect Piece for Spring</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
by Mary Wolfe</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="left">
For everyone else who has regularly offered words of encouragement or fought the haters on our behalf, a big hug goes out to so many people -- thousands to be exact -- like Isa, Elke, Windy, Dianna, Carrie Ann, Jeanne, Brandy, Deborah, Theresa, Stephanie, Pat, Jessica, Amy, Rose, Sean, Erik, Dunebuggy, Agnes, Marcheline, Sabine ... the list of names goes on and on. <br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
We Are Blessed</div>
Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-20083809648206586432012-04-11T04:00:00.009-04:002012-04-11T10:11:27.593-04:00I Can Still See Peter Steele's Ghost Walking In Brooklyn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p7mf7ZqIN1Q/T4SL8VFA_UI/AAAAAAAAAZA/5ieJkKWJBGc/s1600/Karl+Collins+Peter+Walking+in+Snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p7mf7ZqIN1Q/T4SL8VFA_UI/AAAAAAAAAZA/5ieJkKWJBGc/s640/Karl+Collins+Peter+Walking+in+Snow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Barely a Whisper of Peter Steele Walking in the Snow Near the Verrazano Bridge<br />
PHOTO BY KARLA COLLINS posted with permission<br />
<br />
<br />
Do you feel him nearby? When you are in Prospect park, do you see a green man sitting in the tree? Did you hear him chuckle when you were making Oatmeal cookies on Saturday night? Or feel his presence at the last show you played at ? It's the memories that we have of Peter, through his songs, his jokes, his laughter (at you) that keeps him alive. <br />
<br />
Since I've taken time off from writing on the blog, I've noticed all the beautiful ways that you, his fans have kept him alive in your lives. From fan artwork like Karla Collins' pictures, to poetry and personal rememberances that I've seen on various fan FB sites and personal pages. In the year, the family has been honored with christmas balls made in TON splendor, jewelry too beautiful not to wear, an inspired dream catcher, poetry, songs written about Peter, thoughtful words posted on family pages and of course, the many people who have graciously given money to charities dear to our hearts (Patty Piorkowski: you are too kind ! ). <br />
<br />
From today through Saturday, I hope to add to the celebration of Peter's life by sharing some inspirations with you. This is also a thank you to our extended family who have been through this heartbreak with us ... and kept us smiling when we really didn't want to. <br />
<br />
<br />
To kick us into the spirit of April, here is reminder from Angie who comments on here with the name Scratchnsniff :<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">april is here -<br />
no warmth in that...<br />
it's cold in our hearts,<br />
as the spring-sun laughs<br />
<br />
the green has returned -<br />
fresh, lush, & bright...<br />
but our autumn hearts love,<br />
and miss your gold light<br />
<br />
~~~<br />
<br />
we see you, green man and lady<br />
we see all that you do...<br />
you take what we love,<br />
to nourish anew<br />
<br />
nothing is wasted...<br />
all energy transforms...<br />
everything dies...<br />
except spirit-essence<br />
<br />
thinking of you, ratachickies <span class="emote_text">:'(</span><img class="emote_img" height="1" src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/blank.gif" style="background-position: -160px 0px;" title=":'(" width="1" /><br />
Love and Respect, as always <span class="emote_text">♥</span><img class="emote_img" height="1" src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/blank.gif" style="background-position: -224px 0px;" title="♥" width="1" /></div><br />
Thank you again for playing Peter's music, telling stories about his generosity and inner beauty, and corrupting more people into listening to his music. <br />
<br />
~ Peace... Darcie<br />
<br />
<a class="mrs presenceIndicator" data-hover="tooltip" href="http://www.facebook.com/#" id="udg7qt_7"></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center"></div>Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-26792995583369568952012-01-18T00:09:00.000-05:002012-01-18T00:09:36.497-05:00If You Met Peter Steele, You Forever Had A Connection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SvtvLfIjps8/TxRj3GpFF2I/AAAAAAAAAYY/2Le_mHV1Rfw/s1600/Damian+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SvtvLfIjps8/TxRj3GpFF2I/AAAAAAAAAYY/2Le_mHV1Rfw/s320/Damian+5.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Peter & Me<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">By Damian Korman</span></div><br />
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The death of Peter Steele has affected those who knew him and knew his music in many different ways. He was loved on many levels through his music and through the lives he touched. If you ever met the man, you forever had a connection to him. I don’t think any of us will ever fully process the fact he is gone forever because it’s hard to imagine that the Green Man is gone. On my road to accepting his death, Id like to share my story of Peter and my two different relationships with him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5hvhZR5MYWs/TxRkA3743dI/AAAAAAAAAYg/9ZRs98j2oMI/s1600/Damian+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5hvhZR5MYWs/TxRkA3743dI/AAAAAAAAAYg/9ZRs98j2oMI/s320/Damian+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I became a fan of Peter’s music when I was 18 when a supposed ex girlfriend of his gave me an advanced copy of Bloody Kisses on a mix tape. Type O Negative was like no other music I had ever heard before. I was into rock and metal, but this took music to a whole new level for me. Not only was the music amazing, but Peter was a fellow Brooklyn-ite (He lived on East 18th bet Ave K&L and I lived on Ave N bet East 3rd and 4th). All of his “Brooklyn” references in his music and all the sound effects of everyday local “brooklyn” sounds made me feel l had a true connection to his music. When I found out he was in another band before Type O called Carnivore, I decided to learn and own everything I could that Peter created.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xNYlAuXLRcA/TxRkLT2qBPI/AAAAAAAAAYo/wcyoJAklBBE/s1600/Damian+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xNYlAuXLRcA/TxRkLT2qBPI/AAAAAAAAAYo/wcyoJAklBBE/s320/Damian+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>From time to time, I’d see Peter around Brooklyn on my many travels. I’d see him driving his Pissed Pete mobile on Ocean Pkwy. I’d see him on King’s Highway. I’d even see him in Roll N Roaster eating with his girlfriend. Every time I saw Peter, I’d say hello to him and he would take the time out to speak to me, even if I was driving along side of him on Ocean Pkwy or walking down the street. He had a way of making you feel like you were the most important person to him in that moment you were interacting with him. The day I knew Peter was a gentleman was the time I went to go see a Carnivore reunion in New Jersey. I was front and center during the show and the mosh pit was going absolutely nuts! I was crushed against the stage and Peter noticed I wasn’t having such an easy time in the pit. He reached down for my hand, hoisted me up on the stage and motioned for me to sit on top of his bass speaker off the left of the stage to watch the show from<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>there. I was sitting above him and the crowd! I had the best seat in the house! Just as the last song finished up and Peter was walking back stage, he motioned for me to come follow him back stage where we hung out with a few of his other friends. I was 19 years old and I was hanging out with my idol! He told us stories about the days he worked for the Parks Dept, how he would chase people around the park with an axe and how his co-workers would call him Tarzan because of his long hair! Funny stories! One of the best nights of my life! That was 1994. I continued to follow his music for years after that.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wzfTLQqxvQQ/TxRkUQUUvdI/AAAAAAAAAYw/IzNpGSvxjXs/s1600/Damian+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wzfTLQqxvQQ/TxRkUQUUvdI/AAAAAAAAAYw/IzNpGSvxjXs/s320/Damian+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In 2006, I became friends with Peter Steele. I saw him at an Earl’s Court show (Johnny’s Led Zep Cover Band) and was able to steal a few minutes of his time. He didn't remember me from our interaction 12 years prior but he was still very kind and took interest in our conversation. I told him about a Carnivore fan site I ran on MySpace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He seemed genuinely interested since he just put together a new Carnivore line-up to go tour Europe and he thought it was a good way to promote it. A few months later Peter invited me to go to a Carnivore rehearsal out in the Rockaways where I met Joey Zampella, Paul Bento and Steve Tobin for the first time. They all welcomed me with open arms and treated me like a long lost friend! After sharing with them my love for Peter’s music, the MySpace page, my photography and that I was currently a police officer, Peter instantly hired me to go out on tour as security/photographer/assistant tour manager. I wasn’t just a fan, I was now part of the crew! <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Before we left for Germany, I had an idea. Considering Peter, at that point, had not played a live a show in some time and considering this new line up never played together before a live audience, I thought it would be a great idea for them to have a “practice show” to work out the kinks in front of a very small audience. I had a connection with a bar/club owner in Manhattan called Fontana’s. I thought they could play the downstairs room (which held 50 people) and it would be a very low stress, easy way to get back into the groove. I suggested to Peter we shouldn’t bill it as a Carnivore show, but as the Brooklyn Lesbian Choir because it might limit the amout of people who would show up. After some convincing that security would be tight, he spoke it over with his tour manager Glenn Kaufman, and it was a go! The only thing I didn't realize was how many people would catch on that the Brooklyn Lesbian Choir was Peter Steele! The venue quickly became over sold! We couldn't possibly fit everyone down stairs to watch the show, so we hooked up a live video feed upstairs so everyone could watch the show on the big screen. That was pointless because the mosh pit down stairs was so crazy, they knocked out the video feed (for anyone who was up stairs that night and missed the show, I have it recorded and I will share it). For me it was the best Carnivore show ever! Peter wasn’t so much into the banter with the audience that night. He was very focused on the music and making sure he delivered the best show possible, and he did! We had strippers squirting super soaker water guns filled with blood on the audience, people being carried out due to exhaustion from moshing and Peter drenched in fake blood. I was once a huge Carnivore fan, now I am a huge Carnivore fan who was responsible for one of Carnivore’s best shows! One of my best memories of him and Carnivore!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One of the unfortunate realities of Peter was his alcohol and drug addiction. One of my biggest and most important jobs I was tasked with was to keep cocaine away from him at all costs during the Germany shows. I was basically his side kick and he knew why I was with him. He explained to me that he respected me and my profession and that he would never do any illegal drug in front of me or ask me to ever get any for him. I was almost successful in keeping any drugs away from him until 30 min before he was to take the stage in Germany at the Wacken Festival. We were in the dressing room alone and Peter asked me to go make sure everything with the “finale” was set up (strippers with bloody water guns). When I returned to the dressing room, a woman I never met before was standing in the doorway and when I tried to walk in, she wouldn’t allow me. I tried to push my way in and I peeked my head in to see Peter in mid snort. I yelled into the dressing room to Peter that I would like to see him outside the dressing room when he was done. Peter finally came out after 5 min and came up to me like nothing happened. In the most respectful and stern way I knew, I explained to him that I was responsible for his well being and that I care for him like a brother, but if he decided to continue to use coke while we were on that trip, that I couldn’t be part of this and that he was on his own. He apologized profusely and started to explain why he did it. To my knowledge, he didn’t do anymore coke that trip. Oddly enough, that was the moment Peter and I became friends. He saw how much I cared for him as a friend, I saw how much he respected me and the job I had to do. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the months following the Germany trip, we continued to get closer as friends. He would call me up at random hours for us to get together for dinner at Caravell’s, Sahara’s or Outback. Peter loved to eat and he was very specific to where he wanted to go. Everywhere we went, everyone knew him! The waitress at Sahara’s always knew what he wanted to eat (Chicken Soup, Double Cut Sirloin Steak, French Fries, Roasted Peppers and a bottle of Turkish wine). After dinner, he would take the bones from the steak, hold them in his hand and slide his arms up in his sleeves so the bones took the place of his hands. He would walk around like that making sucking noises and yelling “Piggy!!” and pointing at people with the bones as we left the restaurants. Priceless fun. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Peter one day called me and told me about a limited edition military Harley Davidson Dirt bike he purchased and had serviced. The only problem was that he left it at the bike shop for 2 years and the guy wanted $6000 to release it after only doing $1200 worth of work! Peter wanted me to go to the shop in uniform and arrest the guy. I explained to Peter that I couldn’t do something like that and it was not a criminal matter, it was a civil matter. I had another solution. I had a family “friend” who also owned a bike shop and had a “very persuasive manner” about him. We will call him Joe. Joe was just as big a Peter and he just so happened to know this other bike shop owner. So the three of us took a trip to this guys shop to visit Peter’s bike. After explaining to the shop owner that Peter was out on tour for awhile and was hardly ever home and that’s why it was left there for so long, the guy wouldn’t budge from his price. Joe asked Peter and I to walk outside for a minute. Peter had a shit eating grin on his face because he could only imagine what was going down inside the shop. Three minutes later Joe waves us inside and the shop owner was singing a very different tune! He was more than happy to just take the $1200 dollars for the original price of fixing the bike! The shop owner looked very nervous and couldn’t get us out of the shop quick enough after Peter paid him the money! To this day, we don’t have any idea what happened inside the shop. We can only imagine. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So the next day I pick Peter up at his house to go pick up the bike. Peter comes out of his house wearing a green army jacket, a German war helmet, a scarf wrapped around his neck and over sized mirrored sunglasses. He was ready to ride but Peter had one small dilemma. Peter explained to me that he didn’t have a motorcycle license and that he would need me to follow him in my car so he wouldn’t get pulled over and arrested. I was more than willing to help. So we picked up the bike at the shop on Bath Ave and 18th Ave. As soon as he got on the bike dressed the way he was, he automatically drew the attention of pedestrians and motorists. He looked like the second coming of Benny Hill! I proceeded to follow him in my Jeep Grand Cherokee and no more than 5 minutes into our ride, a woman decided to blow a stop sign on 18th Ave and cut Peter off. Peter decided to dump the bike on the floor and slide on the pavement rather than hit her and get thrown over her car. He hit the ground pretty hard. His helmet went flying off his head and he got road rash on his leg and arm. Thankfully I was right behind him and was able to stop traffic before anyone ran over him! The woman decided to flee the scene. I did get her plate number. So I helped Peter up off the ground and helped him pick his bike up. He turned to me and began to laugh. Peter thought he handled the situation pretty well. He said he thought he was pretty graceful in his fall. I told him “Actually, no Peter, you fell like a ton of bricks and it didn't look pretty at all. It was scary as shit!” That made him laugh even more! So he put his helmet and sunglasses back on and we proceeded to continue our journey to East 18th st. The looks on the people’s faces as he rode by were priceless, especially the Jewish people in Midwood. Some small children even hid behind their mothers not knowing what this militant, scarfed, Nazi look-a-like was up to. I never laughed so hard. In the days after that, Peter admitted to me he hurt his hand but he felt it wouldn't affect his bass playing on the upcoming Type O tour that he was about to go out on. He still laughed at how different our views were of his fall. I couldn’t lie to him, he didn’t look as smooth as he thought he did. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The one thing Peter did for me that completely impressed me, happened in November of 2006. I was moving from Bergen Beach in Brooklyn to Staten Island. I mentioned this to him in a conversation about 3 weeks before my actual move date. He asked me the date I was supposed to move and told me that if I needed any help from him, to let him know and he would assist in the move. I found that to be a very generous offer, but I wasn’t planning on asking him to help me move. I’m the type of guy who doesn't ask for much help from friends because I hate to burden people with my stuff. Three weeks went by and I probably spoke to Peter like 3 times in that span, but never once did I mention the move to him. The night before I was scheduled to move, Peter called me at 10pm. He wanted to know what time he should be ready to help me in the morning. I was in shock! He actually remembered when I was supposed to move from our one brief conversation! I knew how much Peter hated waking up before 2pm. For him to actually remember, offer to help and to wake up at 6am to help me do manual labor was huge! None of my close friends offered to help, but Peter did. I gladly accepted his offer and picked him up at 6am. When I pulled up in front of his house to get him, he was waiting outside on his stoop with a friend of his that he recruited to also help with the move. I was completely impressed! He explained to me that he probably was only able to help me load the truck in Brooklyn and not unload in Staten Island due to a band practice that he had in the early afternoon. I had no problem with that! Here I was moving to Staten Island and my idol, my friend, Peter Steele was helping me move all belongings. How many people can say that ever had that happen to them? To this day, I was forever grateful he showed me such kindness and followed through with his promise. I’ll never forget that.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the months leading into 2007, Peter and I hung out many more times. He went through a lot of emotional times with the sale of his family’s house and the friction he had with his family over it. He would call me at all sort of hours to vent and to express concern with finally moving out of the home he grew up in. We once had a 4 hour conversation about a plan he had to start a new band. He wanted to start a Type O Negative cover band. He wanted to call is “Simply NOT” (It takes a moment to understand the genius behind that) and he wanted to play all the Type O Songs in a major key with happier over tones. Then at one point, “via satellite” he would have the real Type O Negative appear on a big screen and the real Peter Steele would call him out (obviously this would have been previously recorded) for being a phony and they would have a battle of the bands. I couldn’t stop laughing! He was very serious about this! That was a fun conversation. Eventually he moved to Pennsylvania and Peter and I lost contact for the most part. In October of 2009 Peter called to invite me to see Type O in the city and he wanted to put me on the guest list. I felt guilty but I had to decline because I just had hand surgery the day before and I was laid up. That was awesome of him to think of me out of the blue like that! I really wish I was able to go see him perform for the last time. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One of the last times I saw Peter, he asked me to do him a favor. He asked me to drive him to Staten Island to see his eldest sister because he wanted to retrieve a family heirloom. It was his father’s semi automatic handgun his father used in WWII. He was very proud of this gun and everything it stood for. As soon as we left his sisters house, we got in the car and he handed me the gun. He said he wanted me to hold on to it for him for safe keeping because he couldn’t think of anyone else he would trust with it. He said he couldn’t trust himself with it and he knew when he was ready to take it, I would have it kept safe for him. I considered that to be a great honor. I didn’t let him down. A few months after his death, I returned the gun back to his family and upheld by end of the deal. I know Peter appreciated it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The last conversation I had with Peter was in January of 2010. Back in 2006, I had a conversation with Peter about his car. He told me all these stories about the car and that his car was in storage in a friends driveway. I told him when and if he ever decided to part with the car, to give me first crack at it. He didn’t understand why I wanted it but he promised he would. When he called me that day in 2010, he called to give me his car. He didn’t want any money, he just wanted me to have it as a token of his friendship. I was floored by his generosity. We then spoke of some of his adventures in PA since he moved and we just laughed. We just picked up where we left off. He told me he was planning on coming in on Valentine’s Day weekend and wanted to come over to see my new house and meet my fiancé (now my wife) and we would speak of the details about the car. Unfortunately, those plans never happened. February 14th came and went and I never heard from him. That was the last time we spoke. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The last time I saw him was at his wake. All I could think about when I saw him in the casket was that I lost a great friend who inspired me in so many ways. He had his personal demons and his addictions but underneath all of that, he was an amazing person. His generosity, his selflessness, his music and his wit will continue to inspire me and help me be a better person. I admire the fact he was sober and clean in his last days and I wish I was able to get to know the new Peter....or as his family remembers him to be...the old Peter. <span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400; mso-bidi-language: X-NONE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: #0400;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cq2Hfs02HXM/TxRkjlFeYHI/AAAAAAAAAY4/oXjrkGQN33A/s1600/Damian+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cq2Hfs02HXM/TxRkjlFeYHI/AAAAAAAAAY4/oXjrkGQN33A/s320/Damian+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From the Ratajczyk Family: A huge thank you to Damian for coming forward with his remembrance of Peter for the positive things he's done in this lifetime and the inspiration Peter has had on his friends' lives. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">@@@</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">A HUGE Thanks to </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Patty Piorkowski (CT)</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">who has donated a number of times to </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Autism Speaks</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">& </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">The Little Shelter Animal Rescue</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's people like you who understand the importance of giving - </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">thanks for choosing these charities that mean so much to us</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">@@@</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hope you all enjoyed this posting</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-84029913419870355352012-01-04T06:00:00.004-05:002012-01-04T06:00:04.787-05:00It's A Gothic Birthday in Heaven<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">This beautiful artwork is from Mary Wolfe who graciously designed a birthday photo for us to use on the blog:</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WAoemzWfM9k/TwNEGggC7dI/AAAAAAAAAYE/kkF49IMMdLQ/s1600/Peter+50+bday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WAoemzWfM9k/TwNEGggC7dI/AAAAAAAAAYE/kkF49IMMdLQ/s200/Peter+50+bday.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For your Jerky Boy laughing pleasure:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygv0bUw93Tg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygv0bUw93Tg</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FfDDBFnJA4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FfDDBFnJA4</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMYeld2R-cQ&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMYeld2R-cQ&feature=related</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fGfxRo7mdd8/TwNRlPRvzLI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/uz9ASYHIQ_8/s1600/Pete+Candles+MW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fGfxRo7mdd8/TwNRlPRvzLI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/uz9ASYHIQ_8/s320/Pete+Candles+MW.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">BY MARY WOLF</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD5No_JRrZw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD5No_JRrZw</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-37353638391819661092011-12-26T16:22:00.000-05:002011-12-26T16:22:05.880-05:00Dreaming of a Prospect Park Sleigh RideChristmas Eve brought a dream where I could feel the wind on my face, taste the snow flakes on my tongue and hear a familiar voice saying to me to "hold on tight" as I put my arms around his neck and sat on his back. It was night sledding and we were on our favorite hill near the pond. The air was crisp and I felt nervous excitement when I grabbed his neck and we flew down the hill. I could hear the kids from east 15 th street laughing. I could see my cousins at the bottom of the hill. I was safe. I was having fun. I was screaming. I was with Pete. <br />
<br />
Thank you to Patty for the beautiful ornaments that Pete's sister Barbara is getting. You are too kind to us. <br />
<br />
And thank you to all those special people who continue to donate to the organizations we are fond of. <br />
<br />
Sending good wishes for the holidays to you all.Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-55374940882123016942011-11-25T10:24:00.000-05:002011-11-25T10:24:26.349-05:00Good Things Come in Packages<strong>This week, we received a few nice parcels. </strong><br />
<br />
<strong>One giant-sized package was from Eloise Thiery in France. She painted this picture of Peter in June 2004 and was gracious enough to send it to me for the family. I'm wondering if it might be a great idea to have a gallery showing of all the beautiful artwork and photos of Peter's fans. Maybe something to think about for his birthday. There are all these great gallery spaces in Dumbo Brooklyn. Maybe ... we'll see. Eloise, thank you for inspiring me</strong><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dDdbEbQvrNs/Ts-vGI6mPOI/AAAAAAAAAXs/uoor7wBM3qk/s1600/2011+Thanksgiving+263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dDdbEbQvrNs/Ts-vGI6mPOI/AAAAAAAAAXs/uoor7wBM3qk/s400/2011+Thanksgiving+263.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><strong>Also, Peter's sister Pat received letters of thanks from St. Christopher's Inn, Little Shelter Animal Rescue and Autism Speaks for donations made in Peter's name. Thank you to "The Bands," "Theresa Macri," and an "anonymous" donor. Your thoughtfulness will help so many people and animals this year.</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Also, this week, Peter's Tree was planted in Prospect Park:</strong><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1z0iCHwMP-I/Ts-y-uy2qAI/AAAAAAAAAX4/cfEvKdQa7ZE/s1600/2011+Peter%2527s+Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1z0iCHwMP-I/Ts-y-uy2qAI/AAAAAAAAAX4/cfEvKdQa7ZE/s640/2011+Peter%2527s+Tree.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For more information, go to the Facebook page: Peter's Tree</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-56660741216100587162011-11-11T22:23:00.000-05:002011-11-11T22:23:04.851-05:00A Crop Of Pumpkin Love<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2UFWsKEjDFk/Tr3jYkNTG4I/AAAAAAAAAXc/eFkSaknMIYk/s1600/Peter+Purple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2UFWsKEjDFk/Tr3jYkNTG4I/AAAAAAAAAXc/eFkSaknMIYk/s400/Peter+Purple.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">TY Mary Wolfe</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A good friend of the blog,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> Jessica Cassino </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">sent in this blog post</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> she wrote on Halloween. </span></div><br />
Please check it out: Blog: Frock & Roller <br />
Post: Pumpkins, Popcorn Balls, and Peter Steele <br />
Link: <a href="http://www.frockandroller.com/2011/10/pumpkins-popcorn-balls-and-peter-steele.html">http://www.frockandroller.com/2011/10/pumpkins-popcorn-balls-and-peter-steele.html</a> <br />
<br />
<div align="center"><<<<<<<< - >>>>>>>></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Thanks to Another Jessica (Black # 1)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">for this next picture taken at a Virgin store signing:</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GicNjTQCdSQ/Tr3mcZrgw5I/AAAAAAAAAXk/CjMJjYe0pXU/s1600/5.+Whole+Band.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GicNjTQCdSQ/Tr3mcZrgw5I/AAAAAAAAAXk/CjMJjYe0pXU/s400/5.+Whole+Band.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div>Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-7040734575505727532011-10-31T04:00:00.008-04:002011-10-31T04:00:00.619-04:00Mending The Pain<div align="center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P5PEeSsTVck/Tq2hTqDmALI/AAAAAAAAAVc/rvBaCCxbfOg/s1600/Pete+BNo+1+Monster.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P5PEeSsTVck/Tq2hTqDmALI/AAAAAAAAAVc/rvBaCCxbfOg/s320/Pete+BNo+1+Monster.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><strong>With Halloween being synonomous with</strong></em></div><div align="center"><em><strong>Peter Steele & Type O Negative,</strong></em></div><div align="center"><em><strong>We thought this would be a fitting time</strong></em></div><div align="center"><em><strong>To say Thank You to the legion of Peter's fans who</strong></em></div><div align="center"><em><strong>Read this blog</strong></em></div><div align="center"><em><strong>Grieved with us all these months</strong></em></div><div align="center"><em><strong>Shared your own personal pains</strong></em></div><div align="center"><em><strong>Honored Peter with portraits & poetry</strong></em></div><div align="center"><em><strong>And reminded us how much his thoughts and fantasies</strong></em></div><div align="center"><em><strong>Impacted your lives.</strong></em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><em>Our family couldn't have healed without </em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>your support</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>kind words</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>daily messages</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>charming notations</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>countless well-wishes & prayers.</em></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><em>The best decision we made this year was to start this blog.</em></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><em><u>Now, we must end it. </u></em></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><em>Remember, </em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>Peter's legacy lives on through all of you.</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>Everytime you introduce his music to a new person, </em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>you are inspiring someone to mend their pain</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>by listening to some else who wore their emotions</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>on his sleeve and through his music. </em></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><em>While we'll no longer be posting our personal Peter stories,</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>however Darcie will still be posting your</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em> comments, artwork & memories on a weekly basis</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>&</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>we have no intention of taking the site down.</em></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><em>It's here for you to continue to enjoy.</em></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><em>This post is dedicated to the countless friends we made from all over the world</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>YOU ALL ARE AMAZING, TALENTED & BEAUTIFUL</em></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><em>Let's leave this last post with a song fitting for this day:</em></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Black No. 1</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><br />
</strong>I went looking for trouble<br />
And boy<br />
I found her...<br />
<br />
She's in love with herself.<br />
She likes the dark<br />
On her milk white neck.<br />
The Devil's mark.<br />
<br />
It's all Hallows Eve.<br />
The moon is full.<br />
Will she trick or treat?<br />
I bet she will.<br />
<br />
She's got a date at midnight<br />
With Nosferatu.<br />
Oh baby, Lilly Munster.<br />
Ain't got nothing on you.<br />
<br />
Well when I called her evil<br />
She just laughed.<br />
And cast that spell on me.<br />
Boo Bitch Craft.<br />
<br />
Yeah you wanna go out<br />
'cause it's raining and blowing.<br />
You can't go out<br />
'cause your roots are showing.<br />
<br />
Dye 'em black.<br />
Dye 'em black.<br />
<br />
Black black black black No. 1<br />
Black black black black No. 1.<br />
<br />
Little wolf skin boots<br />
And clove cigarettes.<br />
An erotic funeral<br />
For witch she's dressed.<br />
<br />
Her perfume smells like<br />
Burning leaves.<br />
Everyday is Halloween.<br />
<br />
Yeah you wanna go out<br />
'cause it's raining and blowing.<br />
You can't go out<br />
'cause your roots are showing.<br />
<br />
Dye 'em black.<br />
Dye 'em black.<br />
<br />
Black black black black No. 1<br />
She dyes'em black<br />
Black black black black No. 1<br />
Black No. 1.<br />
<br />
Loving you<br />
Loving you,<br />
Love loving you<br />
Was like loving the dead.<br />
<br />
Loving you<br />
Loving you,<br />
Love loving you<br />
Was like loving the dead.<br />
<br />
Loving you<br />
Was like loving the dead,<br />
Loving you<br />
Was like loving the dead.<br />
<br />
Loving you<br />
Was like loving the dead,<br />
Was like loving the dead<br />
Was like loving the dead.<br />
<br />
Was like loving the dead<br />
Was like loving the dead.<br />
<br />
Loving you<br />
Loving you,<br />
Love loving you<br />
Was like loving the dead.<br />
<br />
Was like fucking the dead.<br />
<br />
Loving you<br />
Was like loving the dead,<br />
Loving you<br />
Was like loving the dead.<br />
<br />
Loving<br />
Was<br />
Was<br />
<br />
Loving you<br />
Loving you<br />
Loving you,<br />
Loving you<br />
Loving you<br />
Loving you<br />
Was like loving the dead.<br />
<br />
Was like loving the dead<br />
Was like loving the dead.<br />
<br />
Black black black black No. 1<br />
She dyes'em<br />
Black black black black No. 1<br />
Black No. 1.<br />
<br />
Black black black black No. 1<br />
Black black black black No. 1.</span><br />
<div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFwYJYl5GUQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFwYJYl5GUQ</a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">PLAY IT LOUD</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>With Lots Of Love from Pete's surviving immediate family:</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><em>Barbara, Pat, Pam, Cathy, lil' Nan, Michelle, Darcie, Tara, Marie, Siobhan, Victoria, Antonio, Samantha, Tristan & all his kitties. </em><br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: comic sans ms, sans-serif;">For those of you who asked where to donate money </span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: comic sans ms, sans-serif;">in Peter Steele Ratajczyk's name</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">here are a few organizations that we endorse:</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>MusiCares </strong>(<strong>Musician's Assistance Program</strong>)</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">This organization </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">gave assistance to Pete in times of his addiction challenges.</span></em></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Meant for musicians to have a place to turn, </em></span></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>in times of financial, personal, or medical crisis, </em></span></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>its primary purpose is to focus the resources and </em></span></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>attention of the music industry on human service </em></span></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>issues which directly impact</em></span></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em> the health and welfare of the music community. </em></span></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>The foundation's programs include emergency </em></span></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>financial assistance, addiction recovery, </em></span></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>outreach and leadership activities, and senior housing.</em></span></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><a href="http://www.grammy.org/musicares/who-we-are"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>http://www.grammy.org/musicares/who-we-are</em></span></a></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">………………………………………………………………………………………………………….</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Little Shelter Animal Adoption Center</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pete’s beloved cat died the same day Pete did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Everyone knows of Pete’s love of animals, </span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and this is a no-kill shelter in Long Island.</span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><a href="mhtml:{021803EF-9272-4CDA-BEF2-44D698752838}mid://00000235/!x-usc:http://www.littleshelter.com/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">www.littleshelter.com</span></a></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">33 Warner Road</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Huntington</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">, New York 11743</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">631-368-8770 x 206</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">………………………………………………………………………………………………………….</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Autism Speaks</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peter had a great interest in the autism phenomenon, </span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and had many books on the subject in his vast collection of books.</span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><a href="mhtml:{021803EF-9272-4CDA-BEF2-44D698752838}mid://00000235/!x-usc:http://www.autismspeaks.org/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">www.autismspeaks.org</span></a></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Follow the site tabs: Donating, In Someone’s Honor, “In Honor of” or “In Memory of”, </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">………………………………………………………………………………………………………….</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">St. Christopher’s Inn</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dedicated to men in crisis; the Friars treat chemical dependency, </span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and provide primary health care and temporary housing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Clients help pay for </span></span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">their stay </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">through work for the community.</span></i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, Graymoor</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2011 St Christopher’s Inn, Inc.</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">21 Franciscan Way</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Garrison</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">, New York 10524</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">800-424-0027</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">… …</span></span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KDzKTZ2T3Y8/Tq2nB65gY9I/AAAAAAAAAVk/VmQxi8Jb24s/s1600/Pete+memorial+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KDzKTZ2T3Y8/Tq2nB65gY9I/AAAAAAAAAVk/VmQxi8Jb24s/s400/Pete+memorial+pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div></div>Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com64tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-65091843838263407982011-10-30T16:13:00.000-04:002011-10-30T16:13:46.141-04:00Would You Suffer Eternally?<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">I wanted to thank Patty P </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">for making these adorable </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Peter Steele ornaments & </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">sending them to me to give out the the sisters. </span></strong></div><br />
The six she sent are divided by the colors green and red, and are painted with Peter's name, birth & death dates, and symbols. I am sending one to each of the sisters - Barbara, Patricia, Pam and Cathy (and keeping a set of each color for myself). My cousins will have to fight me for them. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KoQ3Hj3SH5g/Tq2sQa2EXNI/AAAAAAAAAVs/zpg6Tuq0Tjw/s1600/2011-10-30_15-44-50_248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KoQ3Hj3SH5g/Tq2sQa2EXNI/AAAAAAAAAVs/zpg6Tuq0Tjw/s320/2011-10-30_15-44-50_248.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have mine hanging in my window</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><<<<< - >>>>>></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Annie Riordan of California </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sends us the most heartwarming artwork</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thank you for always thinking of the family</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-anMG46qRM2c/Tq2uHhR_ZTI/AAAAAAAAAV0/K5j8nBk2OCw/s1600/Annie+Riordan%252C+california.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-anMG46qRM2c/Tq2uHhR_ZTI/AAAAAAAAAV0/K5j8nBk2OCw/s640/Annie+Riordan%252C+california.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"></div><div align="center">Christian Woman</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Forgive her for she knows not what she does<br />
<br />
A cross upon her bedroom wall - from grace she will fall<br />
an image burning in her mind - and between her thighs<br />
<br />
A dying god-man full of pain - when will you cum again?<br />
before him beg to serve or please - on your back or knees<br />
<br />
No forgiveness for her sins - prefers punishment<br />
would you suffer eternally - or internally - ah<br />
<br />
For her lust - she'll burn in hell - her soul done medium well<br />
all through mass manual stimulation - salvation<br />
<br />
Corpus christi - she needs - corpus christi - corpus christi<br />
<br />
Corpus christi - she needs - corpus christi - corpus christi<br />
body of Christ - she needs - body of Christ - body of christ<br />
<br />
She'd like to know - God - love - God - feel her God - inside of<br />
her - deep inside of her - ah<br />
<br />
She'd like to know - God - love - God - feel feel feel her god -<br />
inside of her - deep inside of her<br />
<br />
Inside of her - deep inside of her<br />
<br />
Jesus christ looks like me - jesus christ - jesus christ looks<br />
like me - jesus christ<br />
<br />
Jesus christ looks like me - jesus christ oh - jesus christ looks<br />
like me - jesus christ - ah</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Which Video Version Do You Like Better? :</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0LSO-dtsxo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0LSO-dtsxo</a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sMALbhJU6M&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sMALbhJU6M&feature=related</a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div>Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-52119589131640494492011-10-30T04:00:00.004-04:002011-10-30T04:00:01.465-04:00UnAuthorized? Not Too Sure Who Stands To Make Money From This<strong></strong><br />
<br />
<center><span style="font-family: inherit;">ROADRUNNER TO RELEASE TYPE O NEGATIVE'S LABEL CATALOG AS VINYL BOX SET;<br />
SOLD EXCLUSIVELY AT INDEPENDENT RETAIL OUTLETS ON BLACK FRIDAY</span></center><center><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></center><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="right" hspace="5" vspace="5"><tbody>
<tr><td><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img height="167" src="http://images.jambase.com/features/newswirephotos/typeonegative.jpg" width="250" /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Roadrunner Records will release a special vinyl box set of <b><a href="http://www.jambase.com/Artists/Artist.aspx?artistID=42997"><span style="color: #295987;">Type O Negative</span></a></b>'s label catalog exclusively via independent retailers on Black Friday, which lands on November 25 this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As the first band to achieve platinum status on the Roadrunner Records roster, Type O Negative didn't rewrite the rules. They simply tore the rule book up, burned what was left of it and did whatever the hell they wanted with the smoldering ash. The result was nothing short of brilliant, as they combined dirge-like doom with head down, gothy grooves, all the while retaining the sort of signature melody that made their songs utterly memorable, infesting your brain like a virus. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Of the box set, Type O's <b>Johnny Kelly</b> said, "This looks great but we're disappointed that Roadrunner couldn't get it together to do the scratch 'n' sniff cover we wanted for The Origin of the Feces." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The vinyl box includes all Roadrunner released Type O Negative material contained within one collector's box. Each album will be issued on double green vinyl, with the album art recreated, including the controversial, rarely seen original cover of <i>The Origin of the Feces</i>. Type O fans know all about that cover and the anatomy which it features. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Each album will also have new, branded liner notes documenting the genesis and completion of each album. An exclusive sticker sheet with six mini bumper stickers will also be included in this must own set for Type O Negative diehards. It's an instant collector's item. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This set includes the following releases: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Slow, Deep and Hard</i> (1991)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The Origin of the Feces</i> (1992)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Bloody Kisses</i> (1993)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>October Rust</i> (1996)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>World Coming Down</i> (1999)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Life Is Killing Me</i> (2003) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div id="ctl00_MainContent_pubDate"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/typeonegative" target="_blank"><span style="color: #295987; font-family: inherit;">http://www.facebook.com/typeonegative</span></a><br />
<br />
<i>[Published on: 10/26/11]</i> </div>Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-4254162945305378712011-10-29T04:00:00.001-04:002011-10-29T04:00:03.541-04:00Those Feelings From When I Was a Teen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XEHpGqhhBzQ/Tqm2sOu2miI/AAAAAAAAAUU/LBJl7Lqni_k/s1600/TON+Bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XEHpGqhhBzQ/Tqm2sOu2miI/AAAAAAAAAUU/LBJl7Lqni_k/s320/TON+Bw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><strong>This memory comes from one of our readers who wishes not to be named. Enjoy:</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was early May 2000, I had just finished high school & was in the throws of heartache and loss. I decided to spend my savings on a plane ticket to Europe. I had to leave my hometown, unable to withstand being close to all my accumulated memories and the lingering pain of a lost love. I contacted a good friend with the news, he put me up in his little room & we were destitute. We saved everything we made, trading things for food, then caught a set of wings to Paris in June of that year. Having so much that I wanted to see I left my friend to seek out ancient places, stir real or imagined past lives and kill the pain. By mid July I had parted with some kids I'd met in Venice, having slept in San Marcos square by day, and running the labyrinth of canals and bridges by night. The train departed early, still drunk on loss and wine I slept, waking briefly to scenes of foggy towns on the Czech border. I awoke amidst glorious mountains, the sun articulating every vista and tree. We stopped briefly at an abandoned train stop, wooden & splintered by time, a single sign there read, Frankenstein as my path ascended hillside then mountain. The beauty of the forest set me to plug in my portable speakers. October Rust, the smell of cedar and clean air rushing into the cabin windows. As the sun began to set silhouettes of ancient forests, steeples and mountains slowly crawled by as the sky became red. As though plunging into icy water I was awake and braced by the unimaginable beauty of the music and scenes rolling by with each passing moment. Taking in the vastness of time my thoughts drifted back, guided by Pete's voice and the soaring wall of sound into cathartic feelings of hope and mystery. </span></span></span><br />
<span><span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I ended up in Chemnitz, formerly Karlmarxstadt met a girl who took me into her flat on the rainy night I planned to sleep in the station. With her boyfriend and we listened to Type O till sunrise, recalling sweet memories, crossing borders from that little room into the great dark forest from which I had come.</span></span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><<<<<<<<< - >>>>>>>>></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">TY Jonny for your contribution:</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></strong><div>Hi, my name is Jonny. I'm from Los Angeles and have been quite a fan of Pete and Type O since 1993, and like every subscriber to your blog, Pete's music touches a part of me that no other music has ever. Back when I was 16 years old in 1993, I was a long haired rocker and played bass in a local Thrash Metal band in Hollywood. We would play various clubs on the Sunset Strip and then they would make us leave immediately after because we were under age. Once in a while we would sneak back in to watch the other bands play their sets. One evening I was at a show and a girl came up to me and said, "You know you look like Peter Steele." (I'm Polish/Russian/Italian and am 6'5" tall). I asked her who this guy was and she told me about Type O Negaive, so I was curious. The next morning I went to Wherehouse Music and bought Bloody Kisses. When I got home and put it on, the music instantly touched me and I listened to the album over and over and over, every time giving me goose bumps. I related perfectly to the deep and dark sensuality of the music and lyrics and I became a fan instantly. The album became my most prized possession. I listened to that music alone in my room, with my girlfriends, at the gym, when I was sad, in the car, at school and I even lost my virginity listening to it, ha! I was a moody bastard, but no matter what mood I was in, I was always in the mood to listen to Type O Negative. Being a 16 year old kid and not having a great relationship with my father at the time, I think Pete kinda became a role model to me. I could relate to him as a bass player who was really left handed but learned how to play right, his outlook on the world as well as to his physicality. I would read every interview about Pete and Type O I could find and even had the Negative symbol tattooed on my calf. I saw them every time they came into town for the Bloody Kisses and October Rust tours. At one show I was at, The House Of Blues in Hollywood for the "World Coming Down" tour in 1999, I pushed my way to the front of the stage, right under Pete. In the middle of a song, after taking a swig of his bottle of wine, he held it out and handed it down to me. I took a few swigs and then security came and took it away. Ha, that made my night. When I would go out to party at one of the local "metal" clubs/bars, people would come up to me throughout the evening and tell me how I look like Peter Steele. My friends and I would always joke around and tell them I'm his little brother. We would always get a good laugh. Between the way Pete's music has touched me and my admiration of him, Type O had quite an influence on my life<br />
<br />
About 13 years have gone by since that show in '99 and I've grow quite a bit. I cut off my hair years ago, have changed my style with the times, been through school, started my own company, lived in different cities around the world, and have been through many relationships etc. I'm now 34, live in Beverly Hills where I built my business and have a nice life. I remember the sadness I felt when I read that Pete had passed. I sat there in front of my computer for hours with a knot in my stomach trying to make sense of it. Why? I felt a mix of sadness and anger to think about all the ideas, feelings and music in his brilliant mind, that he never got a chance to express and record. Having been caught up in the hustle and bustle of life over these years, I've lost touch with most of the music I grew up listening to, including Type O.<br />
<br />
About about a month ago, a client of mine said something to me that sparked a memory of my youth which in turn sparked a memory of Type O which tugged a string inside of me. I went home, put on Type O Negative and sat there in the dark listening for hours. Everything came back to me, all the memories, all those feelings from when I was a teenager that Pete's music gave to me. It was wonderful. There's a side of me that got buried in these last 13 years underneath all the B.S. in life. Listening to Pete's music again has dug it up. I feel re-energized and have this new excitement again for life, like I had in my youth. I can't really put into words how Type O Negative's music makes me feel, but the subscribers of this blog know exactly what I'm talking about. <br />
<br />
I love reading your blog everyday, please keep sharing. Pete lives on in all of us!<br />
<br />
I came across this radio interview with Pete which I got many laughs from. I don't know if you have ever heard it. </div><div><br />
<a href="http://www.wmmr.com/shows/weekends/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10110871" target="_blank">http://www.wmmr.com/shows/weekends/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10110871</a> </div><div> </div><div>Note: This link has been posted before on the blog, but I thank Jonny for offering it again. </div><div> </div><div><br />
<br />
</div></div></span>Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-32712604505994868172011-10-28T04:00:00.002-04:002011-10-28T04:00:11.976-04:00Peter Was Always Genuine & Down To Earth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pXOAEhnAyzA/TqhzgNBDewI/AAAAAAAAAT8/f9Ho2u-Psbg/s1600/Pete1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pXOAEhnAyzA/TqhzgNBDewI/AAAAAAAAAT8/f9Ho2u-Psbg/s400/Pete1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve been a Type O fan for years and have had the pleasure of meeting them at various shows and signings. They are a great bunch of guys and Pete was always genuine and down to earth, just really polite and a good guy to be around. I was lucky enough to have a camera at some of these events, so I wanted to share them with you. The first one was taken at Loony Tunes at a signing in New York in March 2007, the second was taken at The Rams Head Live in Baltimore MD in May 2008 (which was sadly my last Type O show) and the third was taken at the Trocadero in Philadelphia PA on Halloween 2007. They were my favorite shows, when they would come to Philly for Halloween. </span></div><div></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fMsOPiALs6s/TqhzzE9UbmI/AAAAAAAAAUE/eT4r0aMZtZ0/s1600/Type+O+Jeiger+Tour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fMsOPiALs6s/TqhzzE9UbmI/AAAAAAAAAUE/eT4r0aMZtZ0/s400/Type+O+Jeiger+Tour.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VVH8jbkuFW4/Tqhz_dCiYvI/AAAAAAAAAUM/nSasIBp97Dc/s1600/10-31-2007-13D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VVH8jbkuFW4/Tqhz_dCiYvI/AAAAAAAAAUM/nSasIBp97Dc/s320/10-31-2007-13D.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for all you do and share on your blog. I am thankful for the memories and the music-for all Pete shared with so many people. He is missed. Thanks for taking the time to read this email and I hope you like the photos. Take it E (-) </span></div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Natalie </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Philadelphia PA</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> A little disappointed that The Phoenix didn't put TON music <br />
up higher on the list. Your thoughts?<br />
Black No. 1 made #21 on their list of <br />
Top 100 Goth Rock Songs<br />
<br />
<a href="http://supplements.thephoenix.com/supplements/2011/goth/song/?a=4274">http://supplements.thephoenix.com/supplements/2011/goth/song/?a=4274</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-85406094032917106682011-10-27T04:00:00.002-04:002011-10-27T04:00:09.010-04:00As the Clear Crystal Cold Caresses My Soul<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Every Guy's Fantasy Came True In This Video</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sw9flMxQw5c/TqgkQ_RcgeI/AAAAAAAAAT0/eEm8brH5DUc/s1600/Girlfriends+Girlfriend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sw9flMxQw5c/TqgkQ_RcgeI/AAAAAAAAAT0/eEm8brH5DUc/s320/Girlfriends+Girlfriend.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A still from the video</div><br />
<em>It's no secret we're close</em><br />
<em>As sweaty velcro</em><br />
<em>Like latex, fur and feathers</em><br />
<em>Now</em><br />
<br />
<em>In their '62 Vette</em><br />
<em>Sharing one cigarette</em><br />
<em>in a black light trance then</em><br />
<em>Go go dance</em><br />
<em>Then</em><br />
<em>Go go trance</em><br />
<em>Then</em><br />
<br />
<em>They keep me warm on cold nights</em><br />
<em>We must be quite a sight</em><br />
<em>In our meat triangle</em><br />
<em>All tangled </em><br />
<em>Wow</em><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgkBWZXVLyk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgkBWZXVLyk</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><strong>*****</strong></div><strong>TY to Trench for this email & poem sent to the blog:</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">First I want to express my condolences. While the world has lost Peter I<br />
know how hard it can be for a family to deal with such a loss.<br />
<br />
I've been listening to Type O since I was in my mid 20s. I'm 42 now. I<br />
was never the type to follow them from club to club and I only got to<br />
see them once and that was in North Carolina of all places. However I<br />
suffered from depression for the longest time and I when I heard Pete's<br />
lyrics the depression didn't seem as bad as it did knowing that a talent<br />
like him had similar doubts and fears.<br />
<br />
I constantly thought of suicide but instead of taking my own life I<br />
decided to put pen to paper as many people who suffer from depression do<br />
and I banged out a few lyrics or poems, depending what you want to call<br />
them.<br />
<br />
The one I'm going to show you was heavily inspired by Type O Negative. I<br />
had wished that if I ever got the chance to meet Peter that I could get<br />
his critique on it even if he hated it.<br />
<br />
Thank you for your time.<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
“Dark River”<br />
<br />
October leaves fall dead upon the water<br />
Bitter stench of romance in the air<br />
Shadows offer me no refuge<br />
Just my black cross to bear<br />
The great sadness sickens me<br />
Heed the dark river water’s call<br />
Breaking through the glass surface<br />
Off the banks of the river I fall<br />
<br />
Fall backwards into the water<br />
In a frozen crucifix pose<br />
Too late for me to turn the tide<br />
This is the liquid fate I chose<br />
I can no longer fathom my existence<br />
As the clear crystal cold caresses my soul<br />
My eyes close as I lose sight of the surface<br />
Open my mouth and let the water take its toll<br />
<br />
Come to rest as my body reaches the bottom<br />
Sink softly into the rivers sand<br />
Death’s kiss is fresh upon my lips<br />
Then she takes me gently by the hand<br />
My body looks so peaceful as I leave<br />
Crests of the river begin to swell<br />
Death gives me one last embrace<br />
As I begin my descent into hell</span><br />
<br />
999999999999999999999999999999<br />
<br />
<strong>Thanks to Jana for submitting this poem that reminds her of Autumn:</strong> <br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div align="left">ALL HALLOWS EVE</div></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div align="left">The air is warm – it`s the breath of autumn</div><div align="left">Falling leaves is dancing through the streets</div><div align="left">A colourful death – year is dying</div><div align="left">Farewell my God</div><div align="left">I won`t crying</div><div align="left">I visit some graves</div><div align="left">Send a flower-greeting</div><div align="left">And turn on a light (might the way less dark for the night)</div><div align="left">Every year is one more</div><div align="left">So am I get older every hour</div><div align="left">One day to get none is my fear.</div><div align="left">The day is filled with orange</div><div align="left">Nature presents their best dress</div><div align="left">Hear a soft knocking at this days door</div><div align="left">Let the ghosts of the past in my floor</div><div align="left">The evening sun send thoughs of thus what will come</div><div align="left">Burning candles all over and the pumkin grin</div><div align="left">The horrible nightmare will soon begin</div><div align="left">Invite the dead ones – those who were gone</div><div align="left">Like every new year I will run out in grief</div>This is my day- it is </span><b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">All hallows Eve</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">.</span><br />
</b></b>Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-67591639270140378242011-10-26T04:00:00.009-04:002011-10-26T08:23:27.523-04:00A Tribute For Those Who Asked<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 750px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" colspan="2"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Because you asked for more, the Ratajczyk family and </span></em></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Wicked Threads are putting out another short run of </span></em></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Tribute t-shirts. Please see the link below to order shirts.</span></em> </h3><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">WICKED THREADS</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In Collaboration with the Ratajczyk Family</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Presents</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Peter Steele's Official Memorial Shirt</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As gratitude to a legion of dedicated fans who have always</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Loved Peter More Than He Loved Himself</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We are releasing for purchase a limited edition shirt</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In Memory of Pete's Contributions to the Music World</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Once our shirt production costs are recovered from your purchase, <br />
the proceeds are used to keep Pete's legacy alive. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="mailto:PeteSteeleTribute@gmail.com">PeteSteeleTribute@gmail.com</a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" colspan="2"><div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 16.2pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
</div></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" colspan="2"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--xpM5f1C_2g/Tp9ZKVuVuII/AAAAAAAAAS0/IVn93TYnX00/s1600/Steele+Memorial+Shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--xpM5f1C_2g/Tp9ZKVuVuII/AAAAAAAAAS0/IVn93TYnX00/s320/Steele+Memorial+Shirt.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="credit" style="text-align: left;">Special thanks to Photographer Micheal Strider and <br />
Cathy Ratajczyk for permission to use their <br />
photographs of Peter for the shirt. Any and all <br />
photographs of Peter on the internet cannot be <br />
used for printing on apparel unless the photographer <br />
gives signed authorization. All images are subject to copyright laws.</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.thewickedstore.com/steele.php"><strong>http://www.thewickedstore.com/steele.php</strong></a><br />
<br />
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
BLOODY KISSES WILL BE DOING A HALLOWEEN SHOW IN DUBLIN<br />
October 30th 7:30 - 10:30pm<br />
<br />
at <br />
<br />
CRAWDADDY on Harcourt Street.<br />
<br />
If you are in Dublin, please go and support this band<br />
<br />
Thank you<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=147600958667052">http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=147600958667052</a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-56611550034439256402011-10-25T11:57:00.000-04:002011-10-25T11:57:46.796-04:00See Ya In Philly On Friday, October 28th<div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ek1r6epkUyM/TqbbX6ny9-I/AAAAAAAAATs/smFSJg9hE9c/s1600/Pete+Halloween+video.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ek1r6epkUyM/TqbbX6ny9-I/AAAAAAAAATs/smFSJg9hE9c/s400/Pete+Halloween+video.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">We Hope To See You All At</span></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">The Haley Band's</span></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Peter Steele Memorial Halloween Bash</span></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Friday, October 28th </span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">8:00pm - 11:30pm</span></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">@ </span></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">The Legendary Dobbs</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">304 South Street (off S. 3 Street)</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Philadelphia PA</span></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Some of Peter's sisters will be in attendance to support </div><div align="center">The Haley Band's Efforts in the Memorial for</div><div align="center">Peter Steele</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Thanks to Steve Haley for everything </div>Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-59821279330572221472011-10-24T04:00:00.002-04:002011-10-24T14:09:33.105-04:00No One Under 12 yo Allowed in Basement<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">This Halloween memory comes from Peter's niece Marie:</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-opkF578vTvo/TqCJtSYV1_I/AAAAAAAAATE/CVKABqQF6sw/s1600/Halloween+Josh%252C+Billy%252C+Pete+logo.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-opkF578vTvo/TqCJtSYV1_I/AAAAAAAAATE/CVKABqQF6sw/s400/Halloween+Josh%252C+Billy%252C+Pete+logo.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Josh, Billy from East 15th Street, Pete at Halloween party in basement</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">When Peter was about 17yrs old he asked my Grandparents if he could throw a big Halloween party in the basement.. Nettie and Peter said yes, and Peter set up the rules for his Halloween bash: 1) everyone had to have a costume 2) No one was allowed under the age of 12. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Well, I was 10 at the time!!! </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I cried and cried to go to Peter's big bash...But I was told I was under 12...So I wasn't alowed to go. For weeks before the party everyone was getting their costumes ready. Peter was buying decorations. I saw beer, chips, dips, cookies brought in. And All I could do was watch and cry. All my cousins were invited because they were all older than 12 yo -- except me</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I Remember sitting upstairs in my grandparent's house the night of the party. All the cousins were coming in the house with their costumes on. A pirate, a clown, a swordsman... sigh... While everyone was heading to the basement I remember standing there and sobbing because I couldn't go downstairs to the party. I could hear the voices of Peter's friends coming into the house. I could hear laughing. joking, music blasting. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I turned to my Nana Nettie and said that I really wanted to go downstairs and that it wasn't fair that Peter invited everyone else but me. She gently wiped away my tears and said "come on...hang out with Gramps and I...Midget wrestling is coming on tv "( Nana's Favorite).</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">As the night went on...Peter had to come up and downstairs to get ice cubes and stuff...Everytime he came up I would stand there and cry...Begging..." PLEASE...Let me come to your party!!! I'll behave!!! I'll just sit and watch..I Promise Pete...." </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">After about the third time he came up I stopped asking...I just stood there looking pathetic. Then </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> Peter turned to me on his way downstairs, and said "Come on....You can come down to the party" </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I'll never forget that moment. I Looked up at him and said, "What about your friends?? Are they going to be mad that a kid is hanging out with you??" Peter looked at me and said, " Who cares what they think!!! Your the only one out of all my nieces that's not there...I want you to come" </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I remember Jumping up and down and screaming on the top of my Lung's YEAH BABY!!!!! At that moment Peter looked at me and said, " None of that shit downstairs" </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LuD3Os12cQo/TqCKX5UbHOI/AAAAAAAAATU/XylTgO0RfuU/s1600/Caveman+Pete+and+Marie+logo.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LuD3Os12cQo/TqCKX5UbHOI/AAAAAAAAATU/XylTgO0RfuU/s400/Caveman+Pete+and+Marie+logo.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Caveman Pete and Marie sans costume</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">That was one of the best Halloween Parties I have ever been to...I had no costume on...I sat in the corner like I promised and just watched and smiled the whole time Everytime Halloween comes around I think of that night...How Peter let me join his Party...Iam Forever Grateful...</span> </span>Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-9131943088597931132011-10-22T04:00:00.002-04:002011-10-22T04:00:03.375-04:00You Have An Enormous Soul<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The Ratajczyk Family is very thankful to a wonderful lady (and friend) Jeanne (dunebuggy4) who graciously takes our worn out old photos, restores them and sends them back to me. Jeanne - You are amazing ! Thank you for your beautiful friendship and help in making our treasured photos clear again ! Sending some pug love to you: </strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Xsta5DcfyE/TqI_38iwLPI/AAAAAAAAATk/9b7rxBHhEOQ/s1600/Pug+Flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" rda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Xsta5DcfyE/TqI_38iwLPI/AAAAAAAAATk/9b7rxBHhEOQ/s320/Pug+Flowers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>~~~~~~~</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong> House With The Garden Where A Single White Egg Sits</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NWjmDiLQHPs/TqI6_MnuZZI/AAAAAAAAATc/r1IuRaHRVkY/s1600/Nana+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NWjmDiLQHPs/TqI6_MnuZZI/AAAAAAAAATc/r1IuRaHRVkY/s400/Nana+house.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Thank You Christine Batchelder For Sharing Your Peter Story:</strong> </span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello lovely members of the Ratajczyk family,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
I stumbled upon for the love and I thought it incredible and touching and I wanted to share my Pete story.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My dad always supported my shenanigans, if i wanted to dye my hair green and listen to "music with bass lines that cause a sonic massage" he was fine with it, but he'd be damned if his baby girl was going to a rock show un-supervised! So on or around halloween, from age 14-16 my 5'4 father would accompany and watch over his 4'11 daughter, in a shitty dive bar like "club" in Boston (either axis or avalon), even if i would give him a ration of crap for wearing ear plugs that glowed under the black lights. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
My 17th year of existence, we both got jobs working security for their concert crew (mostly so i could afford my friday night concert addiction). So when I got the go to work both nights of TON's scheduled gigs I could've done back flips. During set up for the security crew, which was after TON's sound check had wrapped up I found my 4'11 inch self standing infront of a 6'7 Pete and his red-headed lady friend.<br />
<br />
I craned my neck back to look him in the eye, and the only thing that would come out of my mouth was "God damn I'm short!" and he in kind responded "Well you have an enormous soul." So my father and I talked about the nature of the soul, and how music can affect peoples moods. My dad, true to form, gave Pete shit for the volume of the music at the shows, and apparently (he didn't tell me this till 10yrs later) pulled Pete aside to ask why he was conversing so freely with his 17 year old kid, and Pete shook my father's hand and told him he raised a polite girl with wisdom beyond her years, I don't know if he was buttering him up to avoid "angry dad" or what but it was still nice to hear 10yrs after the fact. <br />
<br />
The next year I didn't work security, but still wrestled my way to the front, and pete handed me a set list at the end of the show.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The next TON show I made it to was in Worcester for the Life is Killing Me tour and the largest venue I'd ever seen them play in, after the show as I was walking to my car I saw Pete as he was heading out the back, he took the time to say hi and chat for a few minuets despite the fact it was freezing out and his ride was waiting.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I feel privileged to have had even those few short conversations with him, I only wish I could have had a chance to talk to him at length. He was articulate, polite, and genuinely nice. He took the time to talk to an awkward girl with hair the color of a safety cone and her crazy over protective dad. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Type O's music offered me refuge, solace, peace, and as odd as it may sound a feeling of kinship. Type O would become my coping mechanism, when shit hit the fan, or I found myself emotionally gutted, Peter's music was always just a button press away, a balm to my tattered mind.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I just wanted to share the brief kindness Pete showed me, even if having written it out it seems trivial and passing, but it's always meant something to me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My deepest condolences for your loss.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">All the best,<br />
Christine</span></span><br />
<div align="center">&&&&&&&&</div><div align="center"></div><br />
<strong>Thanks to Michelle Frost to pointing us to a website about "old Brooklyn." Here is her note to us:</strong><br />
<br />
Dear Ratajczyk Family,<br />
<br />
Thank you for the wonderful website about Peter. It makes me feel that he is still alive--in our hearts--because of all the love and devotion he inspired in so many. Reading your posts helps get me through my dreary workdays. I especially enjoy the old family photos. <br />
<br />
These photos of Old Brooklyn, in particular, Coney Island should prove entertaining: <a href="http://www.screanews.us/NewYork/BrooklynOld.htm">http://www.screanews.us/NewYork/BrooklynOld.htm</a><br />
<br />
Best Regards,<br />
Michele Frost, cat lover<br />
>^o_o^<<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">+++++++++++++++++++++++++++</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Want to know WHOA's best songs to work out to? Jessica Cassino </strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>was gracious enough to recognize TON for her gym playlist</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="post-meta"><span class="post-date">October 11, 2011 </span></div><h1 class="title"><a href="http://whoamagazineonline.com/2011/10/11/a-gym-playlist-for-a-bearable-workout/" rel="bookmark" title=""><span style="color: #488793;">A Gym Playlist For A Bearable Workout</span></a></h1><div align="center" class="entry" style="text-align: left;"><strong>By: Jessica Cassino</strong></div><div class="entry">Working out sucks. I hate it. The cheesy Top 40 hogwash they play at the gym doesn’t help either. It is distracting and makes me want to jump off the treadmill. I made a playlist to get me through my daily sweat sessions.</div><div class="entry"><br />
</div><div class="entry"><ol><li><strong>“Shoot to Thrill” – AC/DC</strong>This song should be playing while I am doing crunches. 3 sets of 15. It will make me forget about the burn that goes with ab tightening.</li>
<li><strong>“Dog Days Are Over” – Florence +The Machine</strong>This song has gotten me through plenty of Spin classes. It makes me forget about my shitty day and helps me focus shrinking my butt. It is also good for running. Florence says it herself, “ The horses are coming/So you better run”.</li>
<li><strong>“Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra)” – The Vaccines</strong><br />
Great song to do pull-ups OR push-ups to. It is catchy and fast.</li>
<li><strong>“The World Is Not Enough” – Garbage</strong>When you are lifting that Olympic bar, put this on and keep going. It is well worth the blood, sweat, and tears.</li>
<li><strong>“Main Offender” – The Hives</strong>This is a great warm-up song. Go get your jump rope.</li>
<li><strong>“Too Fake” – Hockey</strong>Fast enough for the StairMaster or the Elliptical. “I do everything that I’m told to.” Yep, like not eating a jar of Novella.</li>
<li><strong>“Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is” – Jet</strong>I still fit into my gym pants from freshman year of high school. I am 30. While I am doing lunges and squats, this song is blaring.</li>
<li><strong>“A Dustland Fairytale” -The Killers</strong>Another good song for Spin class or lifting my 15 lb. weights.</li>
<li><strong>“Zero” -Yeah Yeah Yeahs</strong><br />
Every gym should play this song. Everyone is there to become a size 0. “Can you climb, climb, climb higher?” Karen O asks. Does going to the gym 6 days a week count?</li>
<li><strong>“Pain” – Type O Negative</strong>While I am pushing myself to the point of almost puking, Pete Steele is screaming macho crap into my dainty, pink Urbanears.</li>
<li><strong>“Fundamentally Loathsome” -</strong> <strong>Marilyn Manson</strong><br />
I wish they would play this in my Pilates class. It would make it so much more bearable. It is one of Manson’s lighter songs, if you ask me.</li>
<li><strong>“No One Sleeps When I’m Awake” -The Sounds</strong><br />
“You know it hurts so bad/Just like I knew that it would/But I’d do it again/Do it again if I could”. That is how your workout is supposed to feel.</li>
<a href="http://whoamagazineonline.com/2011/10/11/a-gym-playlist-for-a-bearable-workout/">http://whoamagazineonline.com/2011/10/11/a-gym-playlist-for-a-bearable-workout/</a></ol></div>Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-25353343419242263232011-10-20T04:00:00.001-04:002011-10-20T04:00:08.988-04:00Bought Me Some Stinky Eggs<strong>The other morning, I drove by Peter's house on East 18th Street. It still looks the same. The new owners are still using the same garbage pails that have been in front of the house since Peter brought them home years ago. I parked the car and just leaned against the light post in front of the garden. I smiled. Oh so many years ago, we'd be watching Peter "plant" his many dozens of eggs in the bushes so that they could get nice and stinky for Halloween. I looked down the street to Josh's childhood house and remembered the dummy hanging from the tree. I walked down the Kippel's driveway and peered into the back yard. There was no pool. The porch was in rotting. Nettie was not seen sitting at the table with her crumbcake in one hand and hot tea in the other. Peter Sr. wasn't a fixture anymore with his filterless ciggy poised in one hand, bare chested showing his "Nettie" tattoo and perched on a bench. No one I know lives there. The neighborhood is completely different. The houses have facelifts. But the memories ... That's all we have right...</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--wW_J6zvf9c/Tp2xDL7iaQI/AAAAAAAAASs/g5z5wbtt1I0/s1600/Darcie+%2526+Peter+Backyard+Halloween+w+imprint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--wW_J6zvf9c/Tp2xDL7iaQI/AAAAAAAAASs/g5z5wbtt1I0/s400/Darcie+%2526+Peter+Backyard+Halloween+w+imprint.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I must be about 4 yo here with Peter in the </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">backyard of Nettie's house. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There is a similar photo of Peter taken the same day, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">that he always had with him wherever he moved.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was taken from his home the day he died. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you see it hanging in someone's house </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(or hidden under their bed) -- swipe it for me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was Nettie's favorite photo of her son. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center">%%%%%%%%</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><em>Unsuccessfully Coping With The Natural Beauty of Infidelity</em></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><em>Trust and you'll be trusted</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>Says the liar to the fool</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>Lust so what if you're busted</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>In love and war there ain't no rules</em></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><em>Do you believe in forever?</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>I don't even believe in tomorrow</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>The only things that last forever </em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>Are memories and sorrow</em></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><em>Out of sight, out of mind</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>The motto, the betrayal</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>The prophets preach to forgive and forget</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>I'm sorry, but I am unable</em></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQAAukQV94">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQAAukQV94</a></div><div align="center">Live from PA</div><br />
<br />
<strong>So, I got back into the car. I drove to the store and bought a dozen eggs. I went back to Nettie's house, pulled one egg out of the package and positioned it in the front garden, behind the bushes. By Halloween it should be nice and stinky. Not sure if I'll come back to retrieve it ... It would be nice to know that it is there... just in case a very tall Brooklyn boy comes home and wants to play a little trick on an unsuspecting treater. </strong><br />
<br />
Nostalgia is a bitch ...Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785167261103012885.post-61464410248263026452011-10-18T07:15:00.000-04:002011-10-18T07:15:08.806-04:00It Is October's Perpetual Agony<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This weekend, Peter's grandniece & I went to a very special engagement party for</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a dear friend of Peter's, whom I first met over ten years ago. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As Siobhan & I drove through Westchester, up into Connecticut, along the water's edge,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the beauty of nature called to us. I know, if Peter was alive, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we would have made this trip together. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thank you Jen & Mike for inviting us to your engagement party. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm sure Peter would have wanted to be there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fXlkcX6EM9g/TpzmmIvNMsI/AAAAAAAAASc/iYAyr3Zgw3o/s1600/Jennifer+Rose+Photography.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fXlkcX6EM9g/TpzmmIvNMsI/AAAAAAAAASc/iYAyr3Zgw3o/s320/Jennifer+Rose+Photography.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love the photos that Jen takes ... they are hauntingly enticing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Check out Jen's Photo Gallery:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a __untrusted="true" href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Fshop%2FJenniferRoseGallery&h=HAQAPvhoN" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: inherit;">http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Fshop%2FJenniferRoseGallery&h=HAQAPvhoN</span></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/JenRoseGallery" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: inherit;">http://www.twitter.com/JenRoseGallery</span></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Suspended in Dusk</em></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>"Damn me Father, for I must sin..."<br />
Four centuries of this damned immortality<br />
Yet, I did not ask to be made. Why?<br />
I will never again feel your sun upon my face<br />
Or the comfort of a grave<br />
I am not alive and I am not dead<br />
This is Hell on earth<br />
How can I possibly explain this eternal youth?<br />
When I can do nothing, but sit by<br />
As my loves grow old and wither<br />
And with each of them, take a fragment of my heart<br />
And prolong this endless winder<br />
It is October's perpetual agony<br />
It is the shadow realm<br />
Father, please forgive him<br />
For he knows not what to do<br />
With every victim I pray for my own death<br />
And as much as I love the night<br />
I curse the moon's eerie glow<br />
Tis bloodlust that drags me to forever<br />
The toxic rays of dawn that condemn me to limbo<br />
I am forced to dwell in grey Autumnal twilight<br />
I am suspended in dusk<br />
Father, please forgive him<br />
For he knows not what to do<br />
Father, please forgive him<br />
For he knows not what to do<br />
</em></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left"><em>Love this vampire themed song ... Sorry, couldn't find it live !</em></div><div align="left"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMI7wAtbvj8">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMI7wAtbvj8</a><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em> </em></span>Live ... Pittsburgh ... Everything Dies<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVS0aYra8U8">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVS0aYra8U8</a></div>Ratajczyk Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13707046685042850783noreply@blogger.com11