Meet the inhabitants of the Dark City

My Man-Machine

Well, I suppose you would call it a storybook romance for kids like us. We met while camping out for Cure tickets while I was in high school. I don't know how it happened but it seemed as if we were just meant. Marco was from a town about 20 minutes away from me. We exchanged no information, but over a month later we bumped into each other out of thousands of people at the concert. Still we didn't exchange information until later that week when we bumped into each other again after a Skinny Puppy show in Chicago. It is weird how fate works.

My husband Marco is the perfect match for me, with a passion for sports and sci-fi, cartoons and horror, industrial and gothic music.

Ever since high school, we have been together, through thick and thin. Marco has been incredibly sweet and supportive of me and been so good with the family, especially my grandparents throughout their illnesses.

My Old Roommates

I spent a wonderful senior year at Notre Dame living with three awesome roommates who have since moved on to bigger and better things. Here are the daring women that occupied that cool house on Angela:

This is Rachel and Kate, respectively, on the beach in Miami. Kate and Rachel now live in Chicago, the lifestyle befitting two rock-n-roll princesses. Kate and Rachel both live in Chicago.

Here's me and Katy (in forefront) on the beach in San Francisco. I lived with Katy for a few years in the dorm and in our abode with Kate and Rachel. Katy now with her new husband, Mitch, in Colorado where she teaches. She enjoys travel and has spent a few years, on and off, in France.

My Family

Here are my wonderful grandparents, Paul and Dorothy Macak, just after WWII. They probably were the single greatest influence on me. My grandfather was a wise and gentle man who taught me so much about working with my hands and math. My grandmother taught me the values of kindness and concern for others, tenderness and strength. They raised me from 6 weeks of age after my parent's divorced. My grandparents were my best friends and I was incredibly close to them. I just lost my grandpa in May of 1998 after a long battle with Hepatitis C. My grandmother passed away two years later from colon cancer. Here is a memorial dedicated to my grandmother. I wear my grandmother’s wedding ring to this day as a symbol of her love for me and grandpa’s love for her. I miss them both terribly.

This is my mom, Carol Miller (see where I get it from!). The last name is different, because she just got re-married. This is a picture of my mom back in her clubbing days. I guess those would be the go-go days. I think that's where I got my creativity and love of music. I can remember dancing in the living room with my mom all the time when I was little -- Pet Shop Boys and lots of cool 80s music. She single handedly supported me, working by day and being both a mom and dad by night. Though she did have help from our family, I am so grateful to her for her sacrifices.

My Old HS Pals

My best friend and maid of honor, Cynthia Gil, is one of my oldest friends. She and I have been through an awful lot together including our marriages, the death of my grandparents and the birth of her son, Michael. Cindy was one of those people in high school that dared to be different. I suppose this is what drew me toward her. She had the ability to just light up a room with her humor and outgoing nature. We had so many memorable moments. In fact, the Cure concert attended was the means by which I met my husband. If she hadn’t introduced us that night, I don’t know where I’d be now! From HS spirit nights, to concerts, to parties and even prom, Cindy and I were best friends. She is now a role model for me, raising her son Michael and my goddaughter Felicity, while teaching young children through Head Start initiatives. She has had many obstacles to overcome but always pushed forward and never lost that energy I love so much about her. I only wish we lived closer together.

This is my dear friend Sadie, formerly Angie, an old high school chum. She was one of the fist people I had met in high school that really got me into Alternative. I can remember listening to the Cure, the Charlatans UK, and the Soup Dragons with her. We had so much fun hanging out, but our junior year she and Soli moved out West. While Soli later returned, Angie remained out west in Phoenix, where she currently resides, having an awesome career with Long Beach Mortgage. It is funny how we independently evolved in our musical tastes to encompass both goth and industrial while we were apart. But now its like I have an insider on the west coast and she has one in Chicago, so it works out pretty well. I really wish she lived back in Chicago. I miss her and imagine how much fun we could have hitting the clubs together.

Ray (left) was also very much a part of my inner circle. For some time in high school, we were inseparable. If it weren't for him, I may have never discovered much of the music I now hold so dear to my heart. Ray and I drifted apart, as his life in the scene of Chicago took him in one direction and college took me in another, but I still consider him one of my dearest friends. He is one of the most passionate and intelligent people I know. With him is his brother Coco, who is one of the most talented artists I have ever known.

After a wonderful stint in High School with Soli, she moved away to the west coast. She returned home now but we haven't seen much of each other now that I am away at school. Soli had a rough life, supporting herself for as long as I can remember, but in spite of that, she was always one of the most energetic and just plain fun people 've ever known.

The Gatos

When we lived on Angela, we had three cats, but not at the same time. Vespa, who belonged to Katy and Bob and Joe (they're sisters in love!) who we found at a trailer park. They were the most adorable kittens. Joe now resides in Chicago with Kate and Bob has become the princess of our house and hearts.

Bob, although still a bit skiddish, can be the most sensitive and warm cat. She is never violent or moody. She just does a lot of sleeping and playing with her rainbow balls and serves as our daughter until the real thing comes along.

Old College Friends

For spring break our junior year, we took a road trip to NYC with a few of our friends. Here we are on the ferry to Ellis Island. From left to right: Kelly, Me, Laura, Pat, and Marco.

But this doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface. I have made so many awesome friends here at ND while in Grad School, I just haven’t scanned in any pictures of them yet, but I will work on that…I promise.

Back to the Dark City.