Working woman wrote:

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Once you step into the public eye, forget about your private life. Joe chose to be in the public spotlight over and over. Hmmm, what's good for the goose isn't good for the gander. OK to run Gatelli's and Fanucci's private life through the mill, and many other 'public' people, but not the main man. He's public property now. Why the silence from Joanne?

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I understand your point, and it's well taken. I agree, my husband voluntarily put himself out there. He's as much public property as anyone else who ventures into change in the public eye, so I offer this insight for you since you asked. He's changed a few things politically speaking through the courts and through free speech. His intentions are to continue to do that.I hope thisinsight helps you to better understand who "he really is" for whatever your reasons are to need to know.

From the day we met, I quickly recognized that he was a very strong willed person. He's a workahaulic, but if you tell him that, he'll say what he does isn't work because he enjoys what he does, whatever he may be doing. He's very physical and domineering, but he knows its time and place. He's an incredible communicator, very spontaneous and very quick. Men his age, close to 59, usually posses a lot of wisdom, but he's at a different level of emotional understanding. He sees things much differently as to why people do the things they do.

He'sa life person, more interested in human function than anything else. He doesn't care if he has $5.00 or $5,000.00 in his pocket.Three years ago he disconnected the cable TV because he said it was too distracting and consuming valuable mental time to do other things more life giving and enjoyable. At the time I was upset with him, but what has happened is that we live a much more interactive life within our home without it.He was right. It was more distracting than I could have realized. We don't miss it. In fact, it's much better without it. I'd recommend it foreveryone.

On a person note, his favorite passtime is writing, types proficiently, and(talking). He's working on several books, all at the same time. His favorite food is lasagna (you can gethim to do anything if lasagna is the carrot). Favorite movies, Seabiscuit and anything where the little guy conquers the favorite. Favorite color is blue, any shade. He's an Aquarian true and true: Headstrong, likes taking charge, has all the answers, independent (too much so), inquisitive, extraordinarily witty and funny, intelligent,embraces loyality, remembers only what he wants to remember, can argue endlessly, gives everything and expects everything in a relationship,wears his heart on his shirtsleeve, gives second chances and has absolutely no respect or patience for plastic people.He can talk a dog off a meat wagon, puts people in their place bluntly and unexpectedly, and most kids can have their way with him all day long (sap). He often buys up to 200 goldfish and releases them into the wild. He was a highly successful youth baseball and basketball coach for 30 years and played semi-pro football for several years and wants to go back for more (of a beating).

I like to refer to him as the lemonademan. There isn't anything he can't fix or build. He's completely renovating our Victorian home and his workmanship is to die for (he goes way overboard, but there's no stopping his creativity).You'd have to see the fireplace he built for me to appreciate what I mean. On the somewhat wild side, he's a biker. He runs with a wild bunch of other bikers who ride quite fast and quite recklessly for my liking. I'm waiting for the day that I get the call tocome scrape him off the pavement or a pole.He's had some very, very close calls and has gone down twice.He has 9 tattoos.

On the nasty side, (I use the term conservatively) very shortfuse with certain people (abusive), long fuse with others and no one knows where they stand until the fuse burns down.Confrontation is not an issue for him.He likes it. It doesn't matter who it is. He'll intervene for othersto helpsolve their problem, but he will not often let others intervene for him. He's very skilled at mental warfare (as time will prove out here).

Domestically, he's very well trained (someone did a good job there). He helps with everything around the house without asking but I did have to draw the line at helping with laundry after he ruined several shirts (women know what I mean). Romantically, he hasmissed an anniversary or two but knows how to make up for it. His poetry is exceptional in terms of reaching the heart and mind. Supportively,he's aRock of Gibralter at all times. He's my best friend and I'm his.He has difficulty saying 'no' (l love that part).

And that's who my husband is in my eyes.