Lincoln isn't the only
'guy' born on the 12th

Mike Strobel
September 12, 2002
Professor Fiore
Comp & Lit 1

All my life there's always been that kid who lives down the street named Ed. We used to be tight friends when I was younger but slowly went our separate ways. It had been years since we talked but about 2 years ago we got talking and now have become best friends. Ed is three years older than I am. I'm 18 and he's 21 and a graduate from Westchester Community College. It was kind of a coincidence that the day after I was assigned to write a paper about "getting their story", I bumped into Ed at college. "I got involved with doing a network for The Viking newspaper" he told me. "So basically we had to buy equipment, come in and install it". I realized then that it could be a great idea to interview him and "get his story!"

I call him Ed Guy. When you ask him his name he'll respond "Edward Guy Capriolo". Guy? "Edward is my grandfather and uncle's name. My other uncle is named Guytano." So there you have it. Edward Guy Capriolo. It's always nice to have a friend who's older than you are. You look to them for advice and they're always willing to tell great stories about bar hopping, a hobby that in a few years I will join. "I'm 21 years old." He answered. I could tell he thought these were stupid questions considering I had known him forever. "I was born on Lincoln's birthday (February 12th). It used to be a holiday (day off from school), but now its just presidents day so I don't get my birthday off anymore." Ed then switched his tone of voice to a humorous cocky tone. "But if I do take control of the country one day, I'll make it a holiday."

Ed's a computer programmer. This kid can talk all day about programming. I've spent many days staring into space wonder what the hell he was talking about for a half-hour straight. "I like doing things with computers and that's my profession so it's a win-win situation." For a second I thought Ed was going to forget his slogan. But I was wrong. He quickly added "But no matter how much you like computers, you sometimes can have too much. And you always need a break." I guess that teaches you not to think too quickly.

Like I said before, Ed Guy has been around for as long as I can remember. Living two houses down from me on good old Davis Avenue in White Plains, NY. "I'm from White Plains." I knew a story was coming "All my life I've lived here. But I was actually born in Bronxville hospital. Also known as the 'boogie down Bronxville!" Well, maybe not too much of a story. But that's Ed Guy for you, a guy who always likes to make the best out of everything.

When I asked him what his hobbies were I could tell that his mood was changing quickly. He had went from a busy mood not really wanting to get interviewed to an excited mood. I could tell he felt a certain importance, like someone actually cared what his story was. "I have a lot of hobbies because a lot of things keep me busy." He started out. "I'm into computers so I spend time learning anything I can about them. Anything that catches my eye I guess." Ed loves to talk so I knew he wouldn't mind telling me about what he likes to do. "I buy a book on it (on computers) or something and just study it. I do some writing too." Ed is a quite an excellent writer to be honest with you. I've seen a lot of the things he writes and I'm always left wanting to read something else out of his collection. "I'm kind of shy about sharing it sometimes." At first I thought to myself: how could that be? I always get to read his things. But then it hit me that not too many other people have. I guess he has a certain trust in me. "I write comedy, sci-fi, and basically that's it. Sometimes some drama stuff. A lot of it goes on my website www.edwardcapriolo.com." Ah, Ed's website. Always worth a look if you need a quick laugh. "Other hobbies? Well I just got into playing guitar." Ed had bought a guitar from me and I could tell he was picking it up pretty good so far. "I do more fitness than I used to. I'm interested in keeping in better shape now. I do some boxing and weight lifting. I've been sneaking into Balley's Fitness for a few months but they finally caught me so I had to pay." Only Ed.

Although I don't understand everything Ed is talking about when he starts rambling on about Visual Basic and Java computer slang, I try to take it all in considering that I too am headed on to the path of becoming a computer science major. Ed has influenced me in a lot of my decisions, career wise, and I am heading on the same path that he bestowed upon 3 years ago. "I went to Westchester Community College." That was his answer when I asked him where he went to school. Once again he had that look of 'you already know this' on his face. "I finished there and now I'm going to Pace. I was a computer science major and I got a degree in that. Now I'm one course away from getting my second degree, networking."

If you were to walk into Ed Guy's room, besides the mess of computer related papers lying all over the floor you'll notice a license plate hanging on his wall next to a variety of job application rejections that he uses for motivation. I asked him what the story was behind the license plate. "[I used to] drive a 99' civic." Here came another classic story. "It was pretty new. Someone surprised me by making a left turn from the middle lane. I swerved to avoid them and I hit a civil war statue in downtown White Plains." Like I said, only Ed. "The car was totaled. It was filled with smoke basically. I get out of the car and no sooner is there already a White Plains police officer there. I was surprised that he wasn't suspicious of the accident because it looked so stupid to see a car drive off Main Street and hit into a statue." I'd heard the story before. But only bits and pieces. This time he went a little more in depth. "As he [the cop] was taking my statement, someone drove by in a car. They looked at my car, totaled and filled with smoke, and screamed "What were you smoking, asshole?!" I couldn't help but laugh hysterically. Ed went on "The car never drove again. I still have the license plate hung on my wall. I miss the car; it was my first car. And I guess that's all I have to say about that."

Asking Ed Guy to describe what it was like for him to grow up is like having a blind person ask you to describe what it is like to see. Where to start first? "At first I thought I was weird. But I grew up to realize it was my family that was weird." Ed does a pretty good job of summing up a complex story into such a simple statement. But I wanted more. He went on "It's a crazy house I've lived in. There is a lot of hypocrisy that floats around. For example: you might hear 'you can't drive your grandmother's car all night!' but then the next night they are out with the car." Obviously driving his grandmother's car was a byproduct of the accident. But in a typical Ed Guy fashion he smoothes the conversation with a quick joke. "We used to argue a lot [him and his parents], but I kind of gave it up for lent. I guess I pick my battles." I knew Ed hadn't had the most stable family growing up but I give him credit for being able to stabilize himself into such a well-adjusted guy. "Its more ironic than it is angering. You know, once you've been through the family breaking apart nothing really fazes you anymore."

Ed's parents had split awhile back. I asked him if he thought it was a dramatic experience. "Not at all." He began. "At that point in my life, I cared so little about them I barely noticed my father was missing. I was about 13 or 14 when that happened." I could tell Ed was uneasy talking about this so he started to sum it up quick so we could move along. "Criticisms that my parents used to make with each other are now directed at me. So as opposed to your mother yelling at your father, now she's gonna yell at me." I personally have witnessed a lot of fights between Ed and his mother and I can tell you it's not a good thing. But Ed is an easy going guy and can always keep a level head in those situations.

Quick switch back to WCC to ease the sudden awkward silence. So what made Ed want to go to Westchester? "Let me start a little before that. My father never thought I was going to graduate high school on time. My grades were pretty bad but I mean, I knew I was going to pass." It's hard to believe that Ed had bad grades at a time, considering that he did so well at WCC. "I did graduate on time. I guess I wasn't ready to work yet, I don't know. I just went right to WCC. I figured that was the next step." Being a first year student at WCC with only a week of knowledge so far I asked Ed what he thought of it. "I had a lot of fun at Westchester. Always, right from the first day, ya' know? It was like another shot. Ya' gotta start over. Gotta find new friends and new things. I handled the transaction well."

Hearing this gave me some confidence that Westchester would turn out to be pretty great. I listened anxiously while Ed Guy went on. "My grades didn't get better instantly, but they came around. A lot of people who were my professors and friends recognized abilities that I had. And with that I was more confident in those abilities and it helped me to further them." This had turned less and less into a casual interview and more into a story that I found rather intriguing as I learned more and more about one of my best friends who I thought I knew everything about. "I just learned to make things happen that I wanted to happen. For example: I wanted to become president of the computer club and eventually I did that. I learned that you have to get stuff done. You can't just sit back and let things come to you. You have to go after what you want." Such wise words. I guess that's a reason I look up to Ed. He's always there to joke around with and have good times, but he's great for giving advice. "[Eventually] all the professors in the classes would send kids to me who needed help in the computer science tutorial center. So people knew my name who I didn't know. And they already had a high opinion of me because I was suggested by professors. People would come to me like I was the 'answer man'." Ed had told me many times before about how people always asked him for help but this time it seemed a lot more interesting. "You meet people and you just think of yourself as you were, but people have given you such high regards that they meet you and they are thinking 'he's the smartest kid' or 'he's the best programmer in the school' or something like that. It's a nice feeling to have, but you don't want to come off like that." Spoken in true Ed Guy form. Modesty, gotta love it.

I knew Ed was still busy with networking the room so I figured this pause in the interview was a pretty good time to pack it up. I asked him just one more question. Any last words? "It's good to make the best out of anything because if you come into something with a negative attitude it's a self fulfilling prophesy. Everything you do is what you make out of it. Especially at WCC."

If you are ever driving into White Plains coming from where the county center is, you'll have to drive under the White Plains Train Station, you know, where they're building that new apartment complex? Anyway, on that under pass you will see a "Welcome to White Plains" sign with pictures of some of the city's monuments. If you look close you will see a civil war statue with a chunk taken out of the base. Ed has made his mark. Literally.