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January 13th, 2008:

Kurt Vonnegut On Suicide

Kurt Vonnegut

The Biome’s Blog posted a piece about “who we lost in 2007.” Vonnegut was the image chosen. I wrote:

Funny you chose Vonnegut [in context with my last posting]. I was a huge fan growing up in the 70’s. Oddly enough, I got to meet him in a very intimate setting, his daughter Lily’s third birthday party. An ex-friend Janet and I were all dressed up for a formal party, so I was wearing a tux and she a gown. Janet used to babysit for Kurt and Jill (Krementz). When we got to the party, everyone got really quiet because Janet and I looked so good. My old friend Lou Miano (Larry Kramer fashioned the character Lou Marino “Anthony Montano” [thanks Larry for the correction!] after him for his biting and bridge-burning novel Faggots) was there and there was that “what are you doing here?” exchange of glances and then comments. Lou worked for a major advertising agency before getting fired, and later sued [and won according to Larry] for age discrimination.

Well, as soon as he could, Kurt came over to introduce himself and because of the way Janet and I were dressed, he assumed we were an engaged item. Kurt was also two-sheets to the wind with a few clothes-pins missing. So he took me outside to give me the fatherly talk. He told me what a good girl Janet was and how I needed to treat her right. Then almost immediately he told me that he was thinking of committing suicide.¹ I turned and without blinking an eye I said – “Well, you’ve been writing about it for years and with your family history, why haven’t you done it already?” He lit up a cigarette and told me sometimes suicide takes time. Then he laughed and said, “I was just trying to see if you read my stuff.” We (Janet and I) left shortly afterwards.

¹ According to Wikipedia: Vonnegut reportedly smoked Pall Mall cigarettes, unfiltered, which he claimed is a “classy way to commit suicide.”

Philip Morris – Fifth Avenue – June 1998

Philip Morris - Fifth Avenue - June 1998
© Frank H. Jump

Vincenzo has not smoked a cigarette for a whole month as of tonight. Congrats!

Four Seasons Hotel – Rosario Dawson Getting Ready for Rent Premiere, NYC – November 17, 2005


© Frank H. Jump

Vincenzo Aiosa Feeding Rosario Dawson Caviar @ the Four Seasons Hotel Before Rent Premiere

Click here for a clip of Vincenzo feeding caviar to Rosa in her hotel room.

Ten years ago [May 1, 1998] we were at the He Got Game premiere watching Rosario on the Wonder Wheel with Coney Island as the backdrop. Hey Ivana! Come take a picture with Rosa, she’s in the film!

Ivana Trump & Rosario Dawson
© Frank H. Jump

Coney Island (Art) & the Wonder Wheel – July 4, 2005

Coney Island - July 4, 2005

Coney Island - July 4, 2005

Coney Island - July 4, 2005

Coney Island - July 4, 2005

Coney Island - July 4, 2005

Coney Island - July 4, 2005

Coney Island - July 4, 2005

Coney Island - July 4, 2005

Coney Island - July 4, 2005

Coney Island - July 4, 2005

Coney Island - July 4, 2005

Coney Island - July 4, 2005

Coney Island - July 4, 2005

Coney Island - July 4, 2005

Coney Island - July 4, 2005

Coney Island - July 4, 2005
© Frank H. Jump

Coney Island- An American Experience