Articles written by Richard Smiraldi

What is Helium

About me - Richard Smiraldi

After having graduated from a small college in Westchester with a degree in English literature, I moved into Manhattan in order to find a life of which to write about. I was young and eager. I wandered around the town with only F. Scott Fitzgerald to guide

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Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Heartbreak: 1 of 30
When it started it was so much fun! There you were at the bar, not even my type. You were talking to some of your friends, and then you noticed me.But I wanted no part of you. I moved my way to the back of the bar, near the band. I ignored you. I didn't want you, I wanted your friend, the Lois Lane type with the big starry ey... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Personal Morals & Values Living with the past: 21 of 204
When my grandfather died, it didn't come as a great surprise to me. He was 91. His lungs had been filling up with fluid. He was fine over the past six years...but his health started to take a turn when the assisted living place he was living at changed hands..there were renovations and although they let him stay in his tiny o... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Self-Awareness & Realization How to reinvent yourself and change your identity: 1 of 7
Everyday and in every way society is constantly giving us new ways to look, act and be. What we thought was hip or cool is now deck. Many of us may say, "what's the purpose to all of this and why bother?"So you feel ugly or unwanted. So you feel like maybe you should give up and just become the slothful slog you've always ima... More..
Entertainment > Celebrity Lifestyles & Trends The secret lives of the very rich: 1 of 4
It has been a few years I must confess, since I donned the old tuxedo and feigned the "part" of a poor boy pretending to be a rich boy pretending to be a poor boy. But I thought it might be of particular interest to the world to know how to appear to be wildly rich while all the time being wildly poor and living on a shoe str... More..
Relationships & Family > Transgender Differences between a drag queen, transsexual and shemale: 1 of 4
Having lived in NYC for most of my life I have had on occasion the experience to know Drag Queens, Transexuals and She-males. There are distinct differences, and after having read the articles online I thought it might be a good idea for me to clarify the differences. A drag queen is a person (these days male or female) who d... More..
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Struggles in life: 96 of 338
It's a Shaky Town. You look into their eyes, but they are vacant...empty inside, robot like, and you wonder if the psychotrops have caused all feeling to cease in these hedgefund wannabees with way too much insurance.I sat there,staring like there were nothing going on, blankly out the gray glass windows of the light rail as ... More..
Entertainment > Celebrity Lifestyles & Trends Does Hollywood have a negative impact on the world?: 8 of 28
This is a ridiculous idea that Hollywood could possibly have a negative impact on the world. Since it began, Hollywood has served but one purpose for mankind, escapism. Goodness, throughout it's history Hollywood has served as a means to take the average ordinary joe away from his/her morbid existence. Let's face it, it's big... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: Neighbors who insist on being friends: 2 of 7
Sometimes we do not search for friends. Sometimes they are thrust upon us against our will. Sometimes we just want to be left alone to live our quiet humble lives and this universe has a way of putting these annoying friends in our paths. Such was the case for me and the cop that would cry.And so this zone, this friendship zo... More..
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Dating someone over fifty: 2 of 7
Half Past FiftyHalf Past FiftyHe is still having a bit of a boyishness in his graying good looks."His trouble is he's caught somewhere between Connec-tih-cuht and the Dali Lama." Some would say. "Found the true source." Would say others.He rustled the newspaper and grimaced at the prospect of rain. "I'd rather the ocean. I'd ... More..
Jobs & Careers > Jobs & Careers (Other) What is the best way of making money?: 7 of 24
Free, fast, easy..Another brilliant idea from yours truly about making money in NYC. I was living up in Spanish Harlem and after awhile I realized that every thursday the streets would be lousy with chairs and tables and dressers and all manner of furniture. I found I could carry some of the smaller pieces, and eventually beg... More..