One Step Closer to Teresa Giudice!

So far, our Six Degrees approach to contacting Teresa has not worked. However, I might be one step closer. Last night, we were at a dinner party and I met a lovely woman – 70 years young, stunning and accomplished. Of course, we immediately started chatting.

I thought she was fabulous! Truth be told, it didn’t hurt that she seriously thought I’d been a New York model. I graciously accepted the compliment and set the record straight that I hadn’t modeled in New York. She insisted, so I conceded, “perhaps a bit.” Well I did you know – I was no Cindy Crawford, but those UndercoverWear fashion shows are pretty packed!

Anyway, we got on the topic of our children – I proudly talked about my son and his family, while she told me about her son who works at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and her daughter in New York.

Her NY daughter married a Soprano – I didn’t know if she meant vocalist or gangster! Neither – her daughter, a model and actress, is married to James Gandolfini from “The Sopranos.”

Mr. Gandolfini is obviously Italian, born in New Jersey. I have no idea if “Jimmy” knows Teresa or if he’s coming to Hawaii in the near future. I don’t even know if I will meet him. However, I think this is an omen. I WILL be doing an UndercoverWear show for the Housewives of New Jersey. I can feel it.

We’re getting closer.

Stay tuned as we test the validity of the “Six Degrees of Separation…”

There is no success without failure

  

The other night, my husband and I had dinner at a friend’s home. The meal was incredible – we started with Foie Gras, then Pasta with garlic and oil, followed by rack of Lamb, salad and apple pie with ice cream for dessert. We rounded out the night with cheese and balsamic vinegar.  Each course also had a wine pairing.

After dinner, I indulged in a “ladies cigar” with our host.

That night, as I tried to sleep, my lamb was fighting with the duck that was obviously strangled by the pasta as it swam in the wine. As I tossed and turned, I started thinking. And, if “thinking too much” were a real ailment, I would be a victim.

I recently watched “A Cinderella Story” featuring Hillary Duff. My husband and I have criteria about movie themes – they can be fun, romantic, a mystery or even a good solid adventure film. However, we won’t watch a movie that is so darn complicated that it puts my already overloaded brain on Valium watch. (The Academy Award winning Coen Brothers’ “No Country for Old Men” was way too deep and depressing for me – frankly, we BOTH thought it one of the worst movies ever!) On occasion, “A Cinderella Story” is just my speed.

Getting back to Sleepless in Hawaii… I couldn’t stop thinking about “A Cinderella Story.” It’s not a tale of a girl who wants to be a princess. Instead, it’s a modern day version of the tale in which Cinderella’s dad leaves his wisdom for his daughter.

He says to her, “Never let the fear of striking out prevent you from playing the game.” Boy, do I like that – I REALLY like that.

So many people are “afraid to fail.” They walk through life thinking they can’t fail if they don’t try. However, my believe is if I fear failure and don't try, I cannot succeed."

Everyone loves success – the joy of feeling that you’ve achieved your goal. But I think Truman Capote said it best, “Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.”

To fail at something is sad and uncomfortable, but to never try for fear of failure, is simply unacceptable. So, thank you, “A Cinderella Story,” for reminding me to tell everyone…

Come on. Get in the ballgame! Don’t be afraid of striking out! For every strike out, you are one step closer to a home run.

TJ

(I know, why am I even talking about baseball with my Red Sox out of the running? I’m either really committed to my blog, or just stupid. I’ll go with committed.)