Things That You Smile

By: Elizabeth Cassarino

Eric is the godfather of the computer lab. He will be on the first slide, and the last slide because he is the beginning, but not the end. Ha, ha, ha. We will continue to learn long after Fortune Society Computer Lab classes, right Eric?

My kitchen looks like little tiles. So be it, but this is a rug. I do pretty well in here. The stationary bike in the corner is hidden, but I used to blow my hair and ride at the same time. I do my hair and makeup here. You can’t see the refrigerator on the other side or all the makeup on the counter. Just to give you an update, I threw the rug away yesterday and there is white tile. Now I have to wear slippers.

In my dining room, I have a heart on the wall. This is my prettiest thing in my whole house. On Valentine’s Day, it’s really interesting to look at. But everyday I pass it and it gives me a warm feeling.

Sometimes I feel like this photo at Rockefeller Center. I am strong and staying on the road to riches. In less that four months there will be Christmas lights here when you walk down 5th Ave. I hope that they changed the angel statues from last year. The tourists and native New Yorkers can see this all year round.

I am on E. 42nd St. posing for the camera. I am so cool with this new hat leather gloves and white fresh coat. I Dig the scene? I was in my neighborhood and I was very happy. The street was full of cars that day as always.

I am at the beach and having a smashing time. The glasses never came off that day. And the bathing suit was too tight. Other than that, I guess you could say the buzz haircut was in style then. I was all over the beach, dancing, bopping, sunning, swimming, and snacking

This was the day Eric was lending us the camera and Ethel took this picture. I liked taking time to see the statue in the park down the block, how do you like me now? I pass through this park on dates or with family on the way home. It’s really the park that I see every day when the bus passes it. I never get off to go to school on 23rd St.

I like the trees they are good for shelter from the sun or rain, lights at night in this rock garden and statues. I took this picture at 38years old. I’m looking good no? In the background there are picnic tables and chairs.

Low and behold. This was taken off the internet. It is a picture of the M15 bus. I love NYC buses. I will never take a cab, only if your paying, of course. Every morning I blast my Sony FM walkman and boy do I rock the bus ride on the way downtown to 23rd Street.

I’m very fond of this picture. I take the train all the time. Here you caught me dressed to go to a play. You go girl! I like the ugly orange seats on the train just for today. This picture is just a reminder of myself of how I meet strangers all the time on the train.

I see this number of the lobby, everyday and thought that I would take a picture of it. At least I am still young and pretty enough to post up this picture on my slideshow, right?

I like the lobby of the Fortune Society. When I used to take a break from the class, I’d see this lobby like eight times a day.

This is our wonderful new teacher who is leaving us. She is the smartest and most helpful person. She is patient , kind, cheerful and we are all going to miss her very much and wish her the best of luck for her educational degree. PS Tell Katherine thank you for the cookies. Here is a song for her sister, our Kristen… “Sister Kristen oh the time has come and you know that you’re the only one to say OK.”

As you see, I am max and relax when I shop. I feel so comfortable in the 99cent store, don’t you? I buy jewelry, hair bands, sunglasses, make-up, bags, watches, cosmetics, cards, balloons, batteries, cameras, statues, and pens.

This is my therapist, until I can afford one. It’s Barry, alias Barry White. He gives good telephone and E-mails. I think he is like a son to me. Anytime you want to laugh and use your energy just talk to Barry, A major energy vampire.

This building 53 W. 23 St. is the building that I come to every day and I look forward to it. I really LOVE the Fortune Society Computer Lab , all my classmates, and teachers. I used to stay in front of this building to have a break from the class and chat. Oh, how sweet it is. And Pat in the picture keeps me busy.

This is a picture of the WTC. It has a steel beanstalk in the middle of the two new towers. Choose me for mayor picture, I will rebuild the towers, make more room on 10th Ave to get to the Lincoln tunnel, and other things. I am open for anything.

Everyone wants to swipe this picture of me in the swimming pool, on E. 23 street and the FDR drive. Can I help it, if green is my color. Today, I purposely matched my bathing suit to my outside shirt and spandex shorts. I want to welcome people into the pool as a lifeguard. I just have to remember next summer to be ready to sign an application at the W. 59th St. swimming pool. I like this pool a lot. For some reason the water feels like a heated outdoor swimming pool. Ask Reggie, he’ll tell you how warm the water is.

You will always catch me in a library in a different branch, on any different day. Students hang out in the library. I get videos on VCR,videos , books, but I have attempted to use a computer. There is usually a long waiting line to return items on W.23 St. and 7th and 8th Ave. Grin and bear it. Try not to talk on the line or the librarian (who dresses like one, by the way) will tell you where to go.

The other woman that stole my man.

I got this boy dancing off the internet.Too bad I couldn’t make him comealive, just like in Al Pacino’s new movie,“Dot.com” This picture was taken in the 70’s was disco was groovy. And the bus stop,and the hustle was in . I used to go to Ipanema,Studio 54, Danceteria, Chippendales, Crisco Disco, Berlins, Garage, Bonds, Pyramid Club,Robots, Versage, Red Parrot, Carnaby Street, Polly Esters, SOB’s, Charlies and Wetlands.

This currency was given to me at the coin show. It was nice, Reggies and I saw a $100,000 bill in the show case, at the Marriot Hotel on W.45th ST. The show is called the US Treasury. You must go and check it out! But of course, that was this past Saturday.

This is David Rothenberg, the founder of the Fortune Society and MC of WBAI.

I see him all the time at the plays, the radio station, at school, and talk to his fans. This is an awesome dude!!! Try to top that, then triple it. My life has changed dramatically since I started answering telephone and going to plays. He helped me a lot.

The first play that I saw on April 20th was, "The Full Monty". It was about a father who was out of work and needed a job in order to see his son and pay child support. One day while his took his son out, he saw a sign in the window, "Dancers Needed, HIGH PAY." He and his best friend decided to take lessons from their other friend who was a dance teacher. After many attempts they went for try-outs. It was a flop. They needed to perfect their raw talents. The other four unemployed workers who worked with him, joined the act. And what a mostly nude show they put on. At the end they were successful and tore off their clothes (OH!) and revealed the Full Monty.

"The Goat" was a play about a man in love with a goat that he met in the country. He tries to tell his wife that he loves a goat, but she wouldn't believe him. He told his best friend, who convinced the wife of this sick love affair. The truth, I sympathized with him and I really understood. I have a heart too. The wife and son were devastated. She broke plenty of things in the show to show her anger and promised to get back at him. She came back (after storming out of the house while missing for two hours), with a dead goat.

"I'm Not Rapapport" was a play set in Central Park. It shows Ben Vereen and Judd Hirsh as two old men who enjoy sitting on a park bench and let life pass them by. During the show they are approached by a mugger, and Judd was thrown to the ground by him. There was a pimp that was extorting money from a girl and Ben and Judd came to the rescue as two Mafia old men. Only the pimp caught on and Ben was hurt this time. The daughter of Judd after seeing this tried to take her father to a nursing home and he went. Still he met his friend in Central Park.

"Blue Man Group" was about three men who were a comedy act. They filled large waist size base drums with three colored liquids. When they hit the drums and it would splash all over them. To protect the safety of the audience clothes they were given free raincoats. There was a gumball and marsh mellow mouth catching scene. And they spit out colors on a canvas while the other marsh mellow eater created a sculpture after catching like 25 in his mouth. They took a girl and sat her down and did a mime act and gave her flowers, twinkies, and they all vomited out of their vests and so did she , with the vest that was tied on).

Capitol Steps was an excellent play. (Funny thing that the actors reminds the audience that it would update the jokes if you came a second time.) It was a satire of an original play, done in the White House and has been performing ever since. There was music from the 50’s and 60’s. They replaced the words and danced in costumes dressed as our favorite political people in office. Also it has historical importance, including the bad guys (our enemies), terrorists. Not to mention there was a fine blond piano player throughout the whole thing. Cute as hell! There are a lot of cute people. The funniest one yet.

Midwestern Chums focused around a secretary who ran a school through manipulation, being a nosy body, obtaining gossip wherever she can and by listening to the people on the phone. When a school bomb hits, the teacher, has his car blown up, and his apt. robbed. His secretary invited him to her house and they kissed. I really like the feel of this behind the scenes of how a school works from the teachers view, instead of the students for a change. Maybe they should be a “Saved By The Bell” for teachers on TV.

"End Papers" was about a publishing company in midtown Manhattan that was run by an wheelchair bound man, who had a daughter. He had a heart attack on stage and the daughter was left with all his decisions on who would work on what, was to be published, printed at a cost, and what was acceptable material. She made a couple of bad decisions in the beginning by giving the responsibilities to someone she trusted.

"Thunder Knocking on The Door" was a musical with Leslie Uggams. It was about a father who passes away and left two guitars to his twins, who were a boy and a girl. The boy lost his guitar in a bet with a man named Thunder. The sister was then propositioned by Thunder, who was now a paying tenant in her mother's house. Thunder promised to give her back her eyesight, (which she lost in a car accident) as a gift. He did. But, his plan was to have a duel of guitars to see who was the better player and win the other guitar. Twins won.

This is the end, as you can see. By now you must be thirsty. What a good example of Eric and his water bottle. Thank you class. You’re the Best and nobody does it better that the Fortune Society computer class! Eric did ride his bike here today, eager to get this party started right!