October 2005 Featured User

Carmine Raguzza

Where were you born/raised?
~I was born and raised in Oswego, NY, which is about 30 miles north of Syracuse, on the shore of Lake Ontario. I still live there today. 

Any brothers or sisters?
~I have 1 sister, Debbie, who is 2 years younger than me. She is married and has twin 2 year old boys...we live on the same street as our parents, within 2 blocks of each other.
 
What is your earliest memory?
~Smashing a glass bottle of colored popcorn on the floor of a supermarket with my Grandmother. I was in the kiddie basket of the shopping cart. Reached out for the popcorn and my little hands couldn’t get it, so it fell to the floor and smashed. My gram just pushed us to a different aisle and told me it was ok. LOL
 
What were your favorite toys as a child?
~Star Wars action figures. I was born in 1971, so when Star Wars hit, I was the perfect age.

What are your favorite toys now?
~Women

What musical instruments do you play?
~I never took up an instrument. I played trombone for 3 weeks in grade school though. Does that count?

Yeah, I’d say so. When did you first get into Van Halen?
~I got into VH, I guess right from the get-go. My first listen was the debut album...and the song, Runnin’ With The Devil. My friend, Marty had 2 older brothers and we swiped his brother Bob’s, Van Halen album out of his room one day and the rest is history. I’ve been hooked ever since.

Other than VH, what other music do you enjoy, and what other shows have you seen?
~I like almost everything. From Sinatra, Dino and Glenn Miller to Slayer, S.O.D, and Metallica, to Nelly, Diddy, and Usher. If it sounds good...it is good, says Diamond Dave and he's right! I cannot however, listen to Country music in any way, shape, or form.

What's the most embarrassing CD you own?
~Probably The New Kids on the Block. They were huge when I was in High
School and all the ladies were into ‘em...so....I even saw them live for a girl. Which is more embarrassing? Owning the CD or going to the show? Hahhahaa

Are you married/single? Do you have any kids?
~I was married for 9 years and recently separated with my wife. A divorce is looming. I have 2 wonderful kids, a son, age 9 and a daughter, age 7. My son is a Classic VH freak courtesy of Dad, my little girl knows every word to Van Halen 1, but is partial to Hilary Duff. I took my daughter to see Hilary Duff live a few weeks ago and we had wonderful time.

What did you want to be when you grew up?  What did you actually end up doing?
~I wanted to be David Lee Roth when I was younger. I settled for working as a Labor Relations Specialist for an International Union. I negotiate contracts, settle disputes between our members and their employer. Pretty much all communication between our members and their employer goes through me.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
~Play with my kids. I try and be the most devoted Dad that I can be. Once you have kids...I feel they should be your main focus.

What would people be most surprised to know about you?
~I could have become a Professional Bowler. I was on my way to that when I found out that I was about to become a father. So, I decided to put my bowling career on the shelf except for a few national, state and local tourneys. I've made, I would say, over $100,000 bowling and have competed several times in Las Vegas at the Showboat in a variety of tournaments. I've bowled twenty-two 300 games and am now teaching my kids all of Dad’s tricks on the lanes. At 9, my son, I can see already, will make me look like a schlep someday. He is very good and listens to everything I tell him about the game.
 
What would you say is the biggest difference between your personality online, and your personality offline?
~Not much different really. I like to laugh, have fun and flirt with the ladies on or off the computer.
 
What's the craziest thing you've ever done?
~I organized Senior Skip day when I was in High School. I had t-shirts printed up, got 4 half kegs, catered food…the whole 9 yards. But, of course...the next day at school, all of my classmates had sung like canaries and I spent my final week of high school, at home, suspended, with 2 very pissed off parents. I almost missed graduation because of it. My father had to hire an attorney to get me the rights to walk in the graduation with my class.
 
Imagine with me, if you could go back to one point in your life and change that one thing. What would that be, and how might your life be different today?
~Sure. It was when I broke up with my high school sweetheart. Biggest mistake of my life. I think my entire life would be different had I not done that. I was an 18 year old idiot who had no idea how special she was...until she was gone.

Well, you say you’re getting divorced now...why don’t you give that girl a call?
~She lives in Atlanta now and works as a Flight Attendant for an airline. However, over these last 15 years she remained very close to my sister, who informed her of my recent marital strife AND SHE CALLED ME!!! We plan on hooking up very soon!

Cool, you’ll have to let us all know how that turns out. Now tell me...If you had only one day left to live, how would you want to spend it?
~Laughing with my kids...doing whatever made them smile.
 
Do you have a general philosophy on life?
~Yep...laugh, smile, and have a good time no matter what. Life’s too short and complicated enough. There's humor in everything...ya just need to look for it.
 
Anything else you'd like to mention that I haven't asked you about?
~No...that should do it. Thanks SoCalChelle, very much!! And keep on
Rockin’ TVHfans!