Tag Archives: Christmas

HOW ORANGE BECAME MY FAVORITE COLOR

Recently I’ve noticed a great deal more anger online. I myself feel angry about many things that are going on in the world, so I decided to share a little something about myself in honor of the holidays and inspired by someone I love and respect.

I had lunch with my sister, wee cute niece, father, aunt and uncle the other day. The same uncle who fought back from the brink of death. Between many great conversations and laughs, my aunt said to me, “your cousin Jack wants to know why you never wear a NY Yankees hat while you are touring.” This question made complete sense to me as a born and raised New Yorker who, like my cousin, has been a Yankees fan since birth. I do wear a ball-cap quite frequently. Rarely on stage because I feel it can block out light on my face and I still have hair…even though it’s grey, it’s still there! On most occasions the second I get off stage the cap goes on, when traveling the cap goes on, and I do have my reasons for the ball-cap I choose.

I wear a few variations of an Orange Syracuse trucker hat. I never went to Syracuse University or lived in Syracuse, NY. All three of my sisters lived there at some point. One of my brother-in-laws got his law degree there and met my sister while she lived there. My other two brother-in-laws grew up there. I have been to countless games, holidays, parades, and festivals in Syracuse. Three of my nieces are being raised there. All four of my nephews, despite being raised in Connecticut, bleed Orange. There is not a member of my family that can get away with a Syracuse-attire-free Christmas. I’ve never shared this part (because I have no judgment for those who drink) but… my very last drink happen to be a pint of Guinness with my brother-in-law and sister after a Syracuse game at Madison Square Garden. We sat in a restaurant eating dinner and having drinks. At one point I looked around at the table and realized I could not be happier. It’s a great realization, to be happy and in the moment. I’m not always. But there was still something I disliked about myself. Then I took a gaze at my pint of Guinness and heard a voice in my head say “this is a fine way to end this part of my life… this will be my last pint.” No announcement, statement, declaration or program. That was 8 or 9 years ago. I don’t think my brother-in-law or sister even know any of this history of my not drinking. But it’s not the city, games, not drinking or school, it’s family. When I see the color orange (Syracuse), I think of my family.

I told my aunt I wear a Syracuse hat because I’m away from my family a great deal. Comedians travel for a living. That’s part of the job and it can get lonely out there. I wear the hat because it makes me feel close to my family when I’m not, think of them from afar, and always keeping them with me. Also orange is the color of optimism. My aunts reply… “Well, that’s actually very nice,” then she laughed.

May your own family provide as much happiness, care, strength and guidance inside of you this holiday season and many more to come.

Much Love, Peej

Gazientip, Turkey

THE GREAT WALSH SIBLING CHRISTMAS PLATE DEBATE:

Please Vote, Sound Off & We’ll Accept A Gallery Showing
EVERY YEAR my family gets together for the holiday and at some point fight like caged animals over who REALLY has the best Christmas plate made in kindergarten. THIS IS SERIOUS BUISNESS! – Is it Colleen the oldest with her *Pissed Off Purple Pilgrim Sweeping Snowman with a Chain-link Tree & Urineballs. Or Tara the 2nd oldest and her *Carrot Rocket-ship House Rained on by Pretzels & Smaller Urineballs. Possibly Patrick the only boy and loved the most by their Mommy and Daddy for considerately including them in his *Dyslexic Werry Chr i Stma s 1978 Pretty Damn AMAZING Christmas Tree. Just maybe the baby Cathy with her *1984 Christmas Present Jenga Tree with Hearts, Blood Splatter, even smaller Unrinballs, a Red Something? and dare I say Witch flying around… Yes… A WITCH. Werry Chr i Stma s Everyone! Peej

Walsh Plates

 The debate always ends when the next generation plate by my niece gets broken out. It’s a game ender with her “2007 Mary Of Nazareth Tossing A Caterpillar Baby Jesus Over The Manger While The Sun Beams Down”. GAME OVER! Winner Briggy! 

Best Plate!

THE RESULTS!1480625_10202105168604023_300549673_n

WELL WELL… after all the votes… turns out the winner is (Drum Roll)…. PATRICK! Patricks plate was so popular in 1978 is spawned “imitations”. Like Rich Scampoli’s valid attempt to capture the awesomeness of his classmate’s tree while sitting next to him in art because his last name ended in a “W” and his own “S”.  Although similar in style Ricky’s tree clearly would not match the sheer size and girth of the young Irishman Patrick’s. It also clearly lacked a couple presents to cradled underneath. You might ask… is this one long Penis & testacies joke 25 years in the making… you betcha! Coming in a very surprising second place is… The baby Cathy! The people embraced Cak, Cak’s Picasso all fall holiday plate! Colleen’s Purple plate held the 3rd place spot. Overconfident like the Russian Ivan Drago is Rocky V it fell from grace. Taking in the last spot is Tara who God bestowed 4 boys in response to creating a carrot house. The people have spoken! They let the world know… they want a Werry Chr i Stma s! WINNER! PATRICK!

Memorial Day 2010 – God Bless All Who Serve.

For love of country they accepted death... ~James A. Garfield

I served from 1990-1995. The 1st Gulf War took place on our watch. That time period defined my life, after having only a slight glimpse into the horrors of war. Since then, I have taken a number of trips back over to bring a little bit of humor to our service members. I feel I have to. I am no longer in, but I still have my duty. I still have my sense of family with those in uniform.

Today I see through the eyes of a thirty-something man, who feels somewhere along the line I got lucky in my youth, like I missed a bullet on my watch. Empathy for our service members past and present is with me constantly. The military is where I became a man. Where I gained the tools to achieve anything I set my mind to. Where I got my very best friends, who remain so to this very day. Individuals who don’t know how to leave you when times seem impossible. Part of me wishes I could stand side by side with our brave service members today, but another part of me would be asking many questions regarding the situation we are currently in. I feel each of those sides has come with age, and my cherished experiences with the type of individuals who would be at my side.

There was a point when I had to take a break from going over. I had seen too much & my mind had to really sort all of it out. I had taken trips every summer to Iraq & Afghanistan starting back in the spring of 2004. Then in August of 2007 I found myself on a ship in the middle of the Persian Gulf – again – this time not a sailor, but a comedian. I was with my great friend and fine comedian Dan Smith, standing on the deck of a Naval LPD Ship, taking in the sunset. I remember he said to me, “This is the same ship you were on when you were here in the Persian Gulf… that is insane! Now you are going to do comedy for these sailors… Do you realize how amazing that is? You must feel so proud Peej.” I replied, ”I’m not, Dan. It’s odd? I feel no pride whatsoever. I feel sad. I was here on a ship just like this one, in this same exact place when I was 19 years old. Young people lost their lives. I am here again at 35 and even more young people are losing their lives? I know I have grown… apparently we haven’t.”

I returned again to entertain our troops and sailors this past Christmas 2009. I know they put the uniform on for all of us faceless, nameless Americans. I know how genuinely special that is. I truly with every fiber of my being thank them and love them! Wherever they go, wherever they are stationed, I will show up with my bag of humor, and, just as important, be here for them when this all hopefully ends. We have to be! God Bless All Who Serve!

The following is a beautiful Memorial Day Poem

When I’m Gone –  by Mrs. Lyman Hancock

When I come to the end of my journey
And I travel my last weary mile,
Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned
And remember only the smile.

Forget unkind words I have spoken;
Remember some good I have done.
Forget that I ever had heartache
And remember I’ve had loads of fun.

Forget that I’ve stumbled and blundered
And sometimes fell by the way.
Remember I have fought some hard battles
And won, ere the close of the day.

Then forget to grieve for my going,
I would not have you sad for a day,
But in summer just gather some flowers
And remember the place where I lay,

And come in the shade of evening
When the sun paints the sky in the west
Stand for a few moments beside me
And remember only my best.