Ten Tasty Tidbits

1. Giancarlo is half Italian, half Mexican, born in Rome, raised in Mazatlan until age 6, then grew up in the Los Angeles area. He speaks fluent Spanish and Italian. He is 43.

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2. He used to live across the street from Liberace. No, really. After Liberace died, there was an estate sale, and Giancarlo's parents bought two of his sofas. These sofas have followed them around over the years, and they could have ended up in our house, but they weren't really to our taste. We affectionately refer to them as "the Liberace couches." They now reside in his parents' home in Mazatlan. Incidentally, when his parents sold the home that was across the street from the flamboyant pianist, it ended up being to the woman who does the voice of twin beauties, Patty and Selma, on The Simpsons.

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3. Giancarlo is a real estate agent. He used to teach elementary school, but when Diego came along, he wanted to have a flexible schedule and spend more time with him. He used to obsess daily about real estate but had no outlet for it, and now he puts all of that obsession to good use.

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4. Giancarlo's dad is a retired Princess Cruises executive. He was instrumental in arranging for the Pacific Princess to be the setting for the series The Love Boat. Consequently, he met many of the stars and guest stars of the show, and brought some of them home for dinner, like John Boy Walton, for example. Giancarlo grew up traveling around the world, courtesy of Princess Cruises. Unfortunately, those perks are long gone!
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5. Giancarlo has very big feet. And you know what they say. . .

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6. Giancarlo gags when he brushes his teeth. Every single time. For eleven years I've listened to him brushing his teeth, and he sticks his toothbrush so far back, apparently to brush it properly, and toward the end of his brushing he'll emit a loud gagging sound, like he just might throw up. But he never has.

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7. Giancarlo religiously eats a peanut butter and jam sandwich every morning for breakfast, dipping it in coffee as he goes along. If he doesn't get it, he doesn't feel full and gets hungry for another breakfast an hour or so later.
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8. From day one, Giancarlo has been 100% committed to being a father to our daughters. The fact that he so willingly took on this role is one of the things that "sealed the deal" with me. Unfortunately, being a step-father has proven to be very tough, some times more than others. No matter who you are and how great the kids are, step parenting is not easy.
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9. Giancarlo is very assured in the fact that his way is the right way. Just ask him, he's very open about it. We've had many heated conversations and light-hearted debates about this, and he always comes back to this fact. He is so sure that his way is the best way--why can't everyone else see this? And I know exactly which parent he gets this trait from!!!

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10. Giancarlo is the most attractive man I've "known." After dating a string of freaks and geeks, Giancarlo was a true breath of fresh air. He's good looking, successful, smart, friendly, and he's got his act together. That's why I love him!