Well here I am as promised continuing my personal life story.  Returning to New York in 1980 I took the New York Bar and passed it; how I am still not sure some 6/7 years after getting out of law school.  During the year of study, I did a little law with a friend who was admitted but my real pride was going back to the school I started out at - Nassau Community College on Long Island and getting a teaching position. I was slotted between two departments - Speech and Drama and Business.  I had gotten a dual major undergraduate in both Speech & Drama and Political Studies.  It was quite a good feeling to return to the school I started out in as a Professor and in bringing my abilities both in the public speaking area and business to those students.

After being admitted to practice in 1981 I worked in a law firms office in what they call Time for Space. They gave me space and secretarial while I gave them a certain amount of hours of legal work. Today, I would never recommend that to any new attorney.  Not only is it too hard to build a practice that way, but a new lawyer really needs the continuing advice and oversight of more seasoned professionals.

Always having been interested in politics and American History, and having been in "both" major political parties at one time or another; I ran for Congress in 1988 and 1990.  I also attended as a guest the 1988 Republican National Convention.  While the two runs probably cost me my law practice in money and time, the things I learned, the people I met, well were just incredible considering Larry is just a ordinary guy like anyone else.  Yet despite that, pushing my way in so to speak; because I was not politically connected, did not have a lot of money, and all going against me; I like to believe I still made a difference in that the incumbent Congressman HAD to be better than he had been; with me on his tail for 5 years.  I met incredible people.  Considering I was at the time running as a Republican, to be able to speak with Cabinet level people in small groups or personally, and get real answers - not like those canned ones you hear; well for an American history buff and one proud of his Country this was in fact just incredible.

I think the highlight was meeting both President Reagan and VP Bush on more than one occasion; both in the White House and being photographed with them.  When speaking with President Reagan, I asked him what he thought, now 7 1/2 years into his 8 year terms; his biggest accomplishment personally to him.  His response was quick and to the point - he was proudest that he could restore to the American public pride in their country.  He was an incrediblly smart man who often times is not given his due.

I must also tell you, that at the time I was in my late 30s and he in his late 70s. When shaking his hand I had to cover the fact that his grip, was so strong, that he literally hurt.  How could a younger man in pretty good shape at the time admit or show this but I must tell you; that man had a grip, I guess from all the wood chopping on the ranch; that would make most men wince.

My last comment on politics was a flight back from DC to New York.  If you know what to look for, most people can spot the Secret Service a mile away.  This however was on the shuttle and most unusual.  I informed one of them who I was so I would not get trounced approaching someone important but unknown to me.  I found out just two rows in back of me and to the side was the President of Iceland and her Chief of Staff. Not wanting to let a chance like that get buy, I asked the agent to inquire if I might pay my respects.  After a short amount of time I was told once we were in the air.

Now here is Larry, ordinary guy from Long Island New York and was taken to meet the then President of Iceland.  The rows were three across and she was in the window seat, her aid in the end - I would up kneeling on the floor between them, shirt sleeves rolled up.  Our talk lasted more like a half and hour to forty-five minutes.  We talked about the summit in Iceland and other matters that if I had met her at a State Dinner or cocktail reception; would have been polite banter - and not in depth discussions of policy and such.  I was literally thrilled.  To make it even better; she told me she had just left Pres. Reagan in the rose garden. As I said, sometimes I still wonder how just plain Larry came to speak with people like that.  She in fact complimented me on my "courage" which I did not understand and asked her about it.  She indicated she seldom sees anything other than the limos she uses to get from place to place and no one had ever approached her to speak with her about anything, let alone matters of public interest.  As I told her off the cuff, which turned out to be one of my more memorable statements, I said to her, "...Madame President.  If I did not have as you call it the courage to speak to you, one who runs her country, they I have no business running for office to try and help in the running of my own country..."; something I truly believed.  I think I got a lot of my patriotism from my dad, who passed in 1986 but was a disabled veteran from World War II.  He had lost a leg and still had schrapnel in him the day he passed from his second heart attack.  In all the years I had know him, and still to this day miss him dearly EVERY day, he never complained about his lot in life and he gave me, my only sister, and my mom a life better than anything.  We may not have had the money others did, but we lacked for nothing and we had love in our family that only a family could have.  He was and is a very special man.  Maybe on another time I will talk a bit about him and my mom; two very special people.

Getting back to practising law, in 1992 I became disabled from a car accident.  It did not seem like much but true to the many speaches I had given about soft tissue injury, I wound up walking like an 80 year old man for years.  I fought that back and was reasonally ok by the year 2000.  At that time however, my brother-in-law who was one of the nicest people in the world; you know the kind that everyone loves and doesn't have an enemy; was in fact dying from kidney disease and cancer - more so fostered by drugs given to him by the Mayo Clinic which without question hastened his demise - and we lost a very good man. I spent most of those two years helping my sister and her family in his last times.

I did however, if you recall the Presidential race of 2000, was now in Palm Beach County.  I was in fact the only Palm Beach County voter to file his own legal paperwork to have the election certified.  It was quite a time here then and for all you who don't know, even my then late 70's mom had NO problem voting.  The chad thing was so blown out of proportion as voting was not a problem.

Wrapping this up now a bit more quickly, the summer of 2005 brought upon me a double hernia - boy do those hurt.  However the real problem occurred during a regular stress test in November - yep they found something and in the space of a month I was in Miami having a triple bypass surgery.  Now the way I figure it, I probably was in better health in my mid 50s having this than if I had needed it in my 70's or 80s.  There was history in the family and as a trial attorney; well they tell me it is stressful - I just considered it what I did.

The last part here happened on April 26, 2005.  After many many test because I was not feeling well and could just not get quite right, the last test showed I had cancer. It proved to be a farily rare form; less than 1% of all cancers - called Multiple Myeloma.  Well you could have hit me over with a feather; and I still had to tell my sister and her boys; who had lost thier dad not long before.

I was on the internet that night and found a place at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - they had a Myeloma Institute there.  While other hospitals were doing several stem cell transplants; one of the therapies; they were doing over 600 per year.  I had found that very same day the singular best place in the world for the type of cancer I had.

Going to Little Rock, Ark. in June, my mom along with me; and she was with me during my entire ordeal and still is; we arrived @ June 16th.  Now I thought I was going for an evaluation and then they would work in conjunction with the doctors in Florida. Boy was I wrong. At the end of 3 or 4 days of testing, I met with one of the doctors. I told him I was ready to go home and he said to me " You aren't going anywhere.....you are stage 3<the worst> and you start chemo tomorrow.."  So with 5 days of clothes, my mom and I wound up staying there for two and one half months the first time.  I was there most of that year and as you might gather, wiped out any retirement or money I had accumulated.

BUT BUT BUT; and this is the greatest thing of importance, going through two rough chemotherapy treatments; each of which put me in the hospital there; and assorted other drug treatments; by the end of October and the first part of November THAT YEAR; they had me in complete remission.

This type of cancer is not cureable and in reading what was out on the web; after 5 years there was a 32 percent survival rate.  Needless to say I did not think I was going to last the year - but was determined to do all I could to listen to them and get through it - not just for me; my mom and sister; but I had to show if I could my nephews who were in their early 20s that because you get cancer, like their dad did, it DID NOT mean you automatically died.

Well I am not two and a half years into full remission. I am reminded however of two very good people who did not make it this far; and that I met when I went there.  I take toxic medications you would not believe still but all geared to keep the cancer away,  I in fact am returning for a yearly checkup this May.

I cannot tell you how lucky I feel to be treated by the doctors and nurses at UAMS.  My own doctor, Dr. Bart Barlogie is actually a world famous doctor in this area; research, treatment and such.  To be such a brilliant person which he is, and to be as compassionate as he is; well I feel as if I am alive because of him and his work. I will likely talk a bit more about him later on as he is quite a character.

I started this eBay store to help get myself back on the road.  Side effects of medications; boughts with pneumonia because of a low immune system; working from home is my best solution. Although I am not as familiar with computer stores and even eBay as I want to be; that will come in time.

I have collect much over the years so that is where my natural start seemed to be.  I have over 200 signed first edition books in just so many differenct categories from show business, to politics, to novels, to the eclectic. Also I have many political collectibles including Inaugurual Invitations, medals, pictures and things I have even forgotten about.  Wax box cards of sports cards that have been sealed from the 1990's; some different forms of money such as sheets of 16 or specialized low serial number sets; coins; stamp - a ton of those including First Day Covers <including again about 350 Israeli covers>; several dozen sheets of stamps again mostly from the 1980s; plate blocks, strips and some odd ones like duck place blocks; and then more eclectic things like watches, clothing I have never worn, and computers software and/or hardware- I really have trouble throwing things out which never pleased my mom.

In closing, my friends on eBay and wherever, you now know more about me than most; but nothing here to hide. As I said, in a way I feel proud and priviliged that I have had a diverse range of posts. Oh, one I did not mention but gives me just a general "hoot' if you know the term; for three years I was appointed as the Ambassador-at-Large to the rightful heir of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo - commonly called Sabah.  As I said, I am just Larry,  a kid from Long Island who grew up being a bit overweight cause mom loved to feed me. Nothing special but a natural curiosity for the unusual I guess you might call it.

To me, and to my friends though, and I hope to make more here, I am just Larry.  Oh yea, if anyone ever has any ideas how to make this blog and my store better, please don't hesitate to email me.  My regular email address is Congressman@hotmail.com

Later this year; in a month or so, I hope to have up on the web a store selling gift items.  The domain is already obtained and I am in the process of trying to set up email.  Just seeing which is better - their web business setup which comes with email or just setting up the email.  It is now with GODADDY.com for anyone who knows that domain center. If anyone has comments about go daddy or suggestions I would be pleased to hear from you.  And oh  yes....the domain name is    USAGIFTSANDCOLLECTIBLES.COM and USAGIFTSAND COLLECTIBLES.US - not sure which I will use; most likely both in time.

To close, thank you for those who encouraged me; and I hope I have not bored you with my life story.  Some who know me have said I should write a book about my life.  I think I will one day but for now a lot to think about.  Getting my eBay and net store working; I have an idea for a new tv show; a small invention for the home; and my mind keeps working. The only thing that gets in the way happens to be the by product of an overdose by a nurse of one of my chemo drugs a year and a half ago. It still gives me 24/7 pain and swelling in the feet - but that is merely commentary of fact.  I am HERE, ALIVE, and a survivor as they say now 2 1/2 years after I  thought I was not going to be here. 

So please feel free to blog with me here; or if you want to communicate more personally or talk about godaddy or anything else; feel free to reach me as I said at Congressman@hotmail.com.

With my best wishes and a very happy & healthy year for all of us........I am

Just Larry  :>)

Hello All and Welcome; truly Welcome;

I actually forgot my fellow eBayer's that I started this blog.  Pretty pleased that a lot of you saw it and even 7 decided to write to me. What I liked best was that all of you were short; to the point AND positive - Thanks.  I will be keeping this up and checking it or trying to at least twice a week or on the weekend.  I probably should start with my personal life; just so anyone looking in can get to know me; and by understanding my eclectic past; maybe get to know me a bit better.

I have lived a pretty interesting life and not what you might call all that conventional. I will gloss over with highlights but please realize I am not in any way trying to show off or the like; that is not me.  Actually there are many times I wish I could go back in time; but as you get to know me; you will know that is fleeting and really; only when I get a tad morose; my $5 word for the day.  I have found in life I have learned much from my failures; less from my successes; and have way more failures than successes to be blunt and honest about it.  But I LOVE people who try!

I did go to law school way back when Vietnam was just ending and instead of practising law, came to Florida to be an educator - west coast meaning Tampa, and actually wrote a paralegal training program for Hillsboro College; of which I am still very proud today.  Wrote it, taught full time for three years as its Department Chair - I will tell you more about that another time; and enjoyed every moment of it. While in Tampa I played tennis on the USTA circuit as time would allow ranking 112th in the state. Now for those of you who know tennis, this was the tour that guys would play on then would go on to play people like Jimmy Conners; which tells you why I was 112th out of 116.  But it was great fun and I learned a great deal doing that.

I went on to teach at three colleges eventually including two in New York, something I hope to get back to soon; just in Florida where I now live.  During my other "careers" I helped open one of the first Jewish style delis in Reno Nevada in 1980 doing a lot of the primary cooking and we even built the place. 

Coming back to Florida I helped open with an associate a commodites company called Excalibur Enterprises; Ltd. selling odd stuff like Boeing 747s; yes real ones.  Since I had yet to practice law AND my sister had given birth to the first of two nephews I really wanted to return to New York and watch them grow - family is important to me and as you will find out; this man is still single after all these years.

 I called up my folks in New York and asked them if they wanted a guest for a few months - a shock to them! I think having LOVED the heat of the south after cold New York winters, they never thought I would return.  Running out of room here so I will continue my story in the next post.

Just a short hello to all you visiting my blog.

I have never done this before, blogging, so all of you who do visit, let me know what you think I should be writing about, what you would like to see, etc.

Thanks for visiting,

Larry