Reader Posts
Off to College – HPU Move In
by admin on Sep.06, 2010, under Reader Posts
On August 19, 2010 Joe left Las Vegas to attend High Point University in High Point, North Carolina. After weeks of packing and preparation Lori accompanied him to HPU to assist Joe move in to his dorm room. They spent a day of shopping in Greensboro and then hit the Move In line on Saturday Morning. Two and a half hours later they pulled in front of the dorm and the Move In started. Just a few hours later Joe and his roommate Marc were settled in ready for their first night of College partying! And after Sundays Convocation Ceremony Lori departed HPU for Vegas leaving her only son on his own in North Carolina.Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Dad saying farewell in Vegas
|
BB&B shopping spree
|
Any more room in the trunk?
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Another suitcase please?
|
Are we ready?
|
Follow the signs…
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Did I forget something?
|
Too late now son…
|
HPU campus at last
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Just inside those gates
|
Welcome Home!
|
Is this Starbucks?
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Getting closer…
|
and closer…
|
We’re here! Yay!!!
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Dorm Room Door
|
Marc & his family
|
Lori & Joe
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Let’s unpack…
|
Do I need these books?
|
Yea, I’m a college man now.
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Are you going to help?
|
Bed’s all made
|
Nice shoe stand huh?
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Kitchen & Joe’s side
|
Center section
|
Marc’s side
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
View from University Center
|
Ready for the Convocation
|
I’m a man now!
|
The Meadows School Graduation 2010
by admin on Jun.29, 2010, under Reader Posts
After 13 years of attending school at The Meadows School in Las Vegas, Nevada, Joseph graduated with honors on May 29, 2010.Mrs Carolyn Goodman, the founder of the school was on hand to give out the diplomas to the graduates.
Following the ceremony we took lots of pictures on The Meadows campus of our family and friends who attended the ceremony.
After the photo shoot we went to Marche Bacchus in Desert Shores for a Celebratory Graduation dinner.
The next day brought even more friends and neighbors to the graduation barbeque.
Congratulations Joe Marra!
The Meadows School Class of 2010
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Tony’s Cousins
|
Lori with Tony’s Family
|
Mrs. Carolyn Goodman handing the diploma
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Mike & Ann Terlizzi
|
Barb & Charlie Hommel
|
Janet & Ed Fay
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Ralph & Dee Rendina
|
Joe’s Godparents
|
Joe’s Cousin’s
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
The Proud Parents
|
Joe’s Best Friend Scott
|
Joe’s friend Becca
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Graduation Dinner Party
|
Cousins JoAnne & Janet
|
Sisters LouAnne & Donna
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Barb Hommel
|
Tony, Ann & Mike
|
LouAnn, Donna & Lauren
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Mom & Son
|
Charlie & Barb
|
Tony speaking to his cousins
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Janet, Donna, Kelly, & Michael
|
Lindsie & Joe
|
Cousins
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Ann, LouAnn & Erika
|
Fun in the Sun
|
Erika, Anabelle & Joe
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Way to Go Joe!
|
The Graduate
|
Cutting the cake
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Charlie, Jo, & Barb
|
Melita, Marilyn & Stuart
|
Dee, Ralph, & Mike
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Maryann, Lori & LVCC Ladies
|
LoAnn, Michael & Kelly
|
Tony’s relatives
|
TMS Senior Prom 2010
by admin on May.06, 2010, under Reader Posts
On April 10 of 2010, The Meadows School held it’s Senior Prom. Despite not feeling so well Joe managed to attend the affair starting with a group get together followed by a party bus to the prom. We weren’t allowed any further so our pictures end here.
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Joe on the way there
|
Joe & Kristyna Fong
|
Joe & ??
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Lindsie Kutcher & Kristyna Fong
|
The Entire Group
|
Inside the Party Bus
|
HPU Pre Registration 2010
by admin on Apr.26, 2010, under Reader Posts
In March of 2010, I took Joseph down to High Point, North Carolina, to pre-register for the 2010 fall semester at High Point University. We had a great couple of days visiting the campus while selecting his class schedule. For once he can’t wait till school starts this fall!
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Joe on the International Promemade
|
Slane Student Center
|
Another view of Slane Student Center
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Swimming Pool & Jacuzzi
|
Phillips Hall behind the pool
|
Millis Residence Hall
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
One of many fountains on campus
|
University Center at the top of the hill
|
Outside the Slane Center
|
The Meadows School GR Dance 2010
by admin on Mar.20, 2010, under Reader Posts
February 20, 2010, The Meadows School held it’s GR (Girls Reverse) Dance. Joe was asked by Elissa Lafranconi. Not being one to disappoint he gladly attended. Of course we couldn’t get pictures past this point.
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Joe posing before leaving
|
Giving Elissa the corsage
|
The group before the dance
|
Sweet Charity
by admin on Feb.22, 2010, under Reader Posts
On February 10th and 11th 2010, The Meadows School Theatre presented the musical “Sweet Charity”. Joseph who has been doing behind the scenes tech work for several of the last Meadows School productions stepped into the spotlight for this musical production of Neil Simon’s book. He was cast into several roles both singing and dancing. And despite being an actor in the play he still managed quite a bit of the behind scene work building and painting the set. (You can see part of his handiwork in the Rhythm of Life dance below – he built and painted the stairs in the background. He also built and painted the dance hall rails the girls are leaning on when the dirty old man is making his choice below )
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Charity (Emily Buer) & Charlie (Joe)
|
Charlie being unfaithful
|
The Rich Man’s Frug dance
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
More of Rich Man’s Frug dance
|
Joe Marra & Sierra Stenzel
|
Rhythm of Life dance
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Flirting on the bus
|
The Dirty Old Man (Joe Marra)
|
I Love to Cry at Weddings number
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
The Theatre Seniors being honored
|
The cast and crew of Sweet Charity
|
Sierra Stenzel and Joe Marra
|
College Tour 2009
by admin on Dec.27, 2009, under Reader Posts
In the fall of 2009 we took a family vacation to look at 3 of the 5 colleges Joseph was applying to for the 2010 fall semester. We also decided since he had just turned 18 that we would take him to New York City to see where he was born and grew up. Because we moved out of New York when he was 5 years old he had very limited memories of his childhood there and was curious to see all the places we are always talking about.
The trip started out with 2 days in Chicago, IL taking in the sites of downtown followed by a visit to DePaul University. Next we flew to Greensboro, North Carolina where we quickly drove down to High Point University just in time for the last tour of the day. The next day even before the sun came up we were off to New York City. Here we spent 2 days sightseeing along with watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving day Parade (click here to see the parade pictures).
On Friday the day after Thanksgiving, we drove upstate to Ithaca, NY to see Ithaca University. After looking around the campus for a half hour we had a nice lunch in Ithaca and then headed back to NYC for more sightseeing.
And on Saturday before heading back to Las Vegas, we drove up to Westchester County to show Joseph where he was born and grew up.
It was an amazing trip, one that we will all remember!
The trip started out with 2 days in Chicago, IL taking in the sites of downtown followed by a visit to DePaul University. Next we flew to Greensboro, North Carolina where we quickly drove down to High Point University just in time for the last tour of the day. The next day even before the sun came up we were off to New York City. Here we spent 2 days sightseeing along with watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving day Parade (click here to see the parade pictures).
On Friday the day after Thanksgiving, we drove upstate to Ithaca, NY to see Ithaca University. After looking around the campus for a half hour we had a nice lunch in Ithaca and then headed back to NYC for more sightseeing.
And on Saturday before heading back to Las Vegas, we drove up to Westchester County to show Joseph where he was born and grew up.
It was an amazing trip, one that we will all remember!
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Joe & Lori in Chicago
|
Preparing for tomorrow’s tour
|
DePaul University, Chicago IL
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Chicago’s street view
|
Tony & Lori at dinner
|
Lori & Joe at Chicago River walk
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Welcome to High Point
|
High Point Theatre Building
|
On stage looking out
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Radio City Music Hall
|
Rockefeller Center
|
2009 Ball on Times Square
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Joe & Tony at Rockefeller Plaza
|
Joe & Lori in Battery Park
|
Grand Central Station
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Dorms at Ithaca University
|
View of Ithaca countryside
|
Ithaca, New York
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Where Joe was born
|
Our old house in Pleasantiville
|
The Village of Pleasantville, NY
|
Joe’s 18th Birthday Party
by admin on Nov.01, 2009, under Reader Posts
After a month of preparation and a lot of frantic last minute dashes Lori pulled off a surprise 18th Birthday Party for Joseph. She secretly sent messages to his friends via FaceBook as to date, time and location of the party and with the help of his friend Sierra she was able to coordinate their arrival at the restaurant before he showed up. After gathering the balloons, party favors and cake she decorated the table and returned home for the big deception.
My part was simply to get him to the restaurant without suspecting anything. After emailing all the details to his Godfather Ralph in CA., Ralph simply texted me that he and his wife Dee were coming to town and would love to get together for lunch on Sunday. We texted back and forth as to a possible restaurant close by to their hotel and of course came up with the restaurant the party was at. Despite being sick with the flu, Joe simply could not miss the opportunity to visit with his favorite Uncle Ralph so he was all in for it.
Despite a last minute slip-up of one of his friends coming to our house instead of the restaurant, which was caught just before he was tipped off we proceed to drive to the restaurant to meet Uncle Ralph and Aunt Dee. Just to clinch the deal I telephoned Ralph (still in CA) in route to the restaurant to be sure he could find the place and why he was late!
Arriving at the restaurant he was completely shocked to find all his friends their yelling “Surprise!” He still kept asking where Uncle Ralph was before he figured he had been Punk’ed by his Mom and Dad with a lot of help from his and our friends! We left them at the restaurant only to return a couple hours later and pay the bill and as they say… a fun time was had by all!
My part was simply to get him to the restaurant without suspecting anything. After emailing all the details to his Godfather Ralph in CA., Ralph simply texted me that he and his wife Dee were coming to town and would love to get together for lunch on Sunday. We texted back and forth as to a possible restaurant close by to their hotel and of course came up with the restaurant the party was at. Despite being sick with the flu, Joe simply could not miss the opportunity to visit with his favorite Uncle Ralph so he was all in for it.
Despite a last minute slip-up of one of his friends coming to our house instead of the restaurant, which was caught just before he was tipped off we proceed to drive to the restaurant to meet Uncle Ralph and Aunt Dee. Just to clinch the deal I telephoned Ralph (still in CA) in route to the restaurant to be sure he could find the place and why he was late!
Arriving at the restaurant he was completely shocked to find all his friends their yelling “Surprise!” He still kept asking where Uncle Ralph was before he figured he had been Punk’ed by his Mom and Dad with a lot of help from his and our friends! We left them at the restaurant only to return a couple hours later and pay the bill and as they say… a fun time was had by all!
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Lindsie, Kryistyna, Joe & Scott
|
Sierra, Arianna, Elissa, Bronte, & Michelle
|
Lindsie & Kryistyna
|
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Kryistyna, Joe & Scott
|
Sierra & Arianna
|
Joe & Scott
|
Homecoming Dance 2009
by admin on Nov.01, 2009, under Reader Posts
On Sat. Oct. 24 2009, as Vice-President of the Senior Class of The Meadows School, Joe helped organize and decorate the Commons Room at the Middle School to accommodate the 2009 Homecoming Dance.
As you can see in the pictures, all the seniors had a good time enjoying the music and dancing!
Hats off to Joe and the rest of the Senior Student Council for pulling off such a great evening!
As you can see in the pictures, all the seniors had a good time enjoying the music and dancing!
Hats off to Joe and the rest of the Senior Student Council for pulling off such a great evening!
Click on images for larger view
 |
 |
 |
|
Joe posing
|
Joe at the dance
|
The dance in full swing
|
Homecoming King 2009
by admin on Oct.26, 2009, under Reader Posts
During the halftime events at The Meadows School 2009 Homecoming Game,
Joseph was crowned “Homecoming King”
Joseph was crowned “Homecoming King”
Here are the 2009 Homecoming Prince & Princess and of course the Queen & King
