July 2008 Archives

A New Beginning

on July 4, 2008 9:38 AM | Permalink

Some notes to myself that I left on my computer yesterday:

9:46 am

I am writing this before I take Dante in to the Animal Rescue League of Boston to be put down.

His final moments with me as his companion:

My final moments with him as my loyal companion:

Will I feel comfortable putting the word loyal in the above?

We'll see how I feel about it later.

The appointment is at 11:30 AM

now: off to the ARL 9:48 AM

mike's b'day:

dante/michael :::::

tony maf's tunes

The notes I left were so I could remember what my state of mind was at the time. Most of the above would make sense to a perfect stranger excepting the last few lines. To start: Dante, is/was my dog.

Mike, is my brother who passed away 6 years ago on April 22, 2002. He was born on July 3, 1956.

Dante's original name when I adopted him was Michael, and right from the start I knew there was no way I was going to call the dog by my brother's name. What to do?

I adopted the 100 lb pup home when he was only about 10 months old. He got the name Dante, from me because I had recently taken out a book about Dante Alighieri and his Divina Commedia which included illustrations by Gustave Doré. It was on the coffee table when I was sitting around trying to think of a new name for what was to become my best pal and most loyal companion for over a decade: Dante.

During the time I had Dante with me and especially when my brother Michael passed away from a second bout with cancer, I reflected on how Michael/Dante was adopted by me when cancer had become an issue for my brother. I am not a superstitious person nor am I one who puts much stock in any supernatural phenomenon or beliefs including religion, but I must confess to being awestruck by the coincidences that appear in one's life, especially my own. It is as close to feeling spiritual as I get these days. Awe, is awesome.

During the last few years I have been in touch with some old childhood friends of both Mike and me, and one of them is Tony Maffei. Tony wanted a few tunes put on a disc for his car stereo disc player. I planned on coming home and keeping busy by making tunes for Tony. Also, seeing Tony reminds me of the good old days when we were all young and innocent and had the audacity to think we would all live forever,

Do I feel I can put loyal into the 4th line of my notes after having put Dante down?

Yes and no---definitely maybe.

---

Today starts off a new chapter in my life. I am calling this chapter "A New Beginning" for more reasons than are obvious here.

Don

ps, Tony never got his tunes. I stopped by a place to have a beer on the way home from the ARL and I bumped into two acquaintances from years ago. It was just what I needed at the time. There was no way of knowing anyone I knew would be at this place as it was in downtown Boston and I hadn't hung around there in ages.

Small world full of coincidences.

go figure

Images and more

Little Donnie Dark

on July 4, 2008 10:43 AM | Permalink

I'll add some images and stuff later.

I love you more than you'll ever know ::: Donny Hathaway

I've been loving you too long (to stop now ) - words: Jerry Bultler/voice: Otis Redding

Misty - Donny Hathaway

Dante and his pal Bo.

Little Donnie Dark

on July 5, 2008 7:13 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (1)

dandb3.html

dandb4.html

Here are a few picts of D&B.

Look at these woofers..

lol

Looking at these I know I'm going to build up an image gallery of some of the pup photos. I'm trying to figure out how to configure the settings to allow users to comment freely. More on that later.

New Beginnings/First Chapter/Second Day.

Little Donnie Dark

on July 5, 2008 8:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Ahh, yesterday was so bitter sweet. No more worries about Dante. But that is the past---history.

Im going to visit my mom and hopefully my brother (if he is at home) today and speak with them about my decision to move on from here. I've mentioned it to them for a few years now, and each time I was ready to leave I was held back and I guess they just figured it was all just a dream with talk. I don't know, but that is my conclusion. Family dynamics are what they are and that is all I have to say on that matter in this context.

I am tired of New England Winters, and I am especially bored with Boston area living. I grew up here and have always come back here after travels, but it is no longer the Boston of my youth, it is no longer the Boston of my memories, and it is no longer my Boston. It is a new Boston and for good or bad that is what it is. I have no desire to fit in or remake myself to fit. My desire to move out west has come to a head and the reality is I am going no matter what happens. My lease is up and I have terminated any renewal. I'm going. No more health scares involving family, no more pup health scares and no more obligations to get in the way.

Last night on the 4th, of July, Independence Day, I met up with a few people over at a house on Brewster Ave,..
View Larger Map ... at Yirrell Beach, in Winthrop Massachusetts.

The house is owned by one of the guys from the old neighborhood, Freddie, who used to hang out in Maverick Square. Nice place with some pretty decent folks and family. Good neighbors too.

Some of us ended up watching the Winthrop fireworks display from Coughlin Park. Pretty cool. Small scale without the mobs. I went home right after and had a sound sleep for the first time in a while. I woke up and missed the pup's company, but at the same time I was appreciative to have the worry about the what to do and the when of it all lifted off of my shoulders. The acceptance of the finality of it all...sigh...no pain, no gain/no growth.

btw,

The best Fireworks display I ever saw were a few years ago (7/8?) on a rain-out day July 6(?), at the Washington Hotel in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

View Larger Map

Dark as hell up there. In my mind you could light a match there and it would illuminate the sky. So the fireworks there were something I'd never experienced before.

Sunday July 7th, 2008___4th weekend update.

Little Donnie Dark

on July 6, 2008 7:56 AM | Permalink

I'm getting used to the Movable Type (MT), system. I've changed a few settings and have viewed a few emails I got in reply to a notice I sent out about this site and the recent events in my life. People have been really sweet and supportive. Thanks all.

The comments settings/permissions are what I am working on right now. I am trying to figure out how this will work when I go on the road.

Yesterday I never got to see the family. I'll do so today.

Yesterday, I got a call from some of the guys and we went to the cemeteries to visit a few graves. Afterwards we went to Joey L.'s house and had a few beers, some pizza and many laughs. Joey, Franko, Billy M. and I visited the graves and we found among others the grave sites of with Timmy Bibbo (1982) and the younger Gerolomo brother (1980). 25 yrs old and 20 yrs old, so young for these two to have passed away. This was after visiting Mike's grave and Pat Lunetta's. But I like visiting the cemetery...go figure.

Anyway, the other night on the 4th, the guys and I posed for a group photo at Freddie's house on Brewster st. I can't wait to see how badly we all look. If it's really bad I will have to put it up here...so if you see a scary photo soon, don't worry it's a family affair.

I miss the pup

4 hours ago...

Little Donnie Dark

on July 7, 2008 10:49 AM | Permalink

Four hours ago (now six) I wanted to post an entry, but things have gotten in the way. I am in danger of falling behind in my plans. I have papers and mementos saved from throughout the years that need sorting. Most likely things need to be thrown away. It should be easier considering I had the pup put down.

Change isn't always all it's cracked up to be. The road ahead is littered with my crap before I've even got there. I will be bringing some baggage with me on my travels...myself. I need to lighten the load. I still haven't decided when I will be leaving and how I will be traveling. I want to hitchhike across the country, but is it wise? I've followed one guy's stories about doing it.

back to business

donald everett dot com will need to be put together.

A New Beginning...day 4/first walk on the beach.

Little Donnie Dark

on July 8, 2008 6:11 AM | Permalink

Today I woke up at 3:00AM and decided to get the ball rolling. At 5:00 AM, this morning I had my first walk along the beach, sans my constant companion---Dante the pup. I had gone out there the other night but felt such a loss and lost that I just turned around and came back home.

There I was at 5:15 AM walking alone on the beach, watching the sunrise between the massive stone breakers, alone. It was as expected--beautiful and very lonely. What an odd feeling it is to be without the pup. It is strange knowing that he will never be by my side again except in memories.

When I left Dante behind (with visiting rights and in the old apartment with the yard) a few years back it was more difficult, as there was no finality to it and my concern for the welfare of Dante gnawed at me on a daily basis. When I'd take him for a few days he'd be so delighted to just be with me it was hilarious. He would look at me and I'd fall right back into doing whatever he wanted me to do. When I was forced to take him back without preparation I was in danger of losing my apt, but decided if that was to come, so be it. Dante and me would stick together for better or worse. That will have been two years ago this september. Little did I know how short a time we had left.

I am at peace with my decision(s) and myself. My only regret (besides having to put Dante down) is that he like everyone, or anything put down, had to suffer those last few seconds. Humane death is anything but humane in the sense most people think of it. The body struggles (Dante did) for a few seconds and I suspect the mind does too, no matter how many dissociative drugs are given beforehand. But it is as humane as we can be within the limitations we have.

Was it a betrayal to put my loved companion down? I don't think so, but then why the conflict in my mind, no matter how small? In the sense that I live on without him and did not walk out of the clinic with him, I do feel I somehow betrayed his trust. When we walked into the place together I did everything I could to make it as normal an experience as possible (to the point of shutting down as much emotion as possible), but let's face it---for him it was the end.

I do not feel I betrayed the trust I earned from the pup I took out of a shelter 12 or so years ago. That pup was a 100 lbs with little chance of being adopted and given a loving home. He had his issues and I was too green too know the problems we would face together in those initial weeks/months. What a match we were. It was like Scooby Doo and Goofy. Gawd, I miss him.

Am I projecting things onto the pup? Most likely, but I can't help believing that I made his personality and existence with me into an image of my own mind's making and that is why I feel so great a loss. I have lost a part of myself. On entering into the process to put Dante down I knew these feelings were going to be with me. Starting on the day I really, truly bonded with the pup (which was a few years into it all), I dreaded the inevitability of what I knew was to come. But knowledge is a poor substitute for experience.

It was almost a year ago that Dante first started exhibiting symptoms which devastated me. That first time as I ran for help it was to Gina and Tim (Gina has a framing place and a gift specialty store around the corner). They took one look at my face and me holding my chest from having sprinted over there like a greyhound at Suffolk Downs, they thought I was having a heart attack when I burst into their store. (* lol ) Sorry, but I can't help laughing (thanks G&T). I laugh at what some people think are inappropriate times. My older brother always hated that about me. He is sooo serious about certain emotional subjects. Hey brother, if you read this... lol .. I love you.

One day a few weeks ago (knowing since last year that it was all downhill for Dante and me), and after realizing that I was becoming an emotional mess by putting things off---prolonging the inevitable, I decided I would use my deceased brother's birthday as the day to end Dante's life and to start a new chapter in this...my journey through life.

For me I guess it is always going to be about the level of acceptance I am willing to swallow at any given time. Life is truly unfair, but would I have it any other way? No, and if I did then I've learned nothing...nothing.

note: I am getting a few nibbles from California regarding the housing search.

here's a test: open another browser tab (by right clicking on the link and re-opening this window/tab) and play this in the background: 01 What Becomes of the Brokenhearted.m4p

does it affect the bandwidth very much after a few 'views'?

Wednesday, July 9, 2008...anxiety and doubts are healthy and normal.

Little Donnie Dark

on July 9, 2008 12:55 PM | Permalink

This morning I realized I'm experiencing some anxiety with slight feelings of doubt, and discomfort surrounding my choices in dealing with moving on..."go west young man"

I've got the 'go west' part down, but the 'young man' part is playing with my head.

As the eventuality of my departure (end of august/beginning sept when my lease here is up) gets closer I am haunted by the idea that it's not as easy as it once was to pick up and move. I guess age plays a part in it. Maturity has given me the gift or the curse (however one wants to look at it) of not being so cocksure about every little thing I decide to do. I now question things in ways that I never would have dreamed of doing. These days I end up using people I respect as sounding boards and taking what they have to say into serious consideration.

I have a sneaking suspicion that with all the preparation that went into deciding the move out west is what I want, I've neglected to consider how much real and potential loss would affect me. I've always known that loss was a powerful thing, but I never was one to feel possessive of or connected in materialistic ways to people, places and things (I guess that is why I mostly stayed single all these years). I could not care less if I tried about moving out of Boston, but the coming loss of close physical contact with family and friends, and of course the recent loss of the pup weighs heavy on my mind. I always thought Dante would be coming with me.

I remember when I'd moved away years ago, the grieving process over the loss of things was delayed a bit if not put completely out of mind. I may have seemed cold in some ways but I think it was mostly my outlook on life, that nothing was insurmountable even physical distance with the connections I had with people.

Now? Sentimentality? Most definitely maybe. It sucks, but at the same time it is comforting in a weird way. These are healthy and normal feelings and in no way signal the kind of doubts that would cause me to change plans on moving out west as I had to do the past few years.

I gotta run. I just got a call from the dentist and I am hoping to have all work done before I leave. Going to one of the dental schools may have been a mistake. The bureaucracy at medical schools are what they are.

In My Life: There are people and places I remember.

Little Donnie Dark

on July 9, 2008 1:44 PM | Permalink

In My Life

(right click on the ^ link underlined in red) (if a new window opens it's okay. maybe I should try to make things open in a new tab)

Monkia and me doing the plantings at Boston Symphony Hall Properties for Ricky's Flower Market. I loved working with Monika. She is from eastern Europe. Either Hungary* or Czechoslovakia. I always got confused. 93% sure it is *Hungary.

update: The lovely Monika emailed me saying my 93% remembering was 100% accurate. Her and Fabricio are living the lives of Southern Gentry in N.C. They have a wonderful business and if anyone knows anyone down there who needs work around the property and garden let them know they could do no better than hiring these two kids. They really do pay attention to detail and what's more they enjoy what they are doing...and they are my friends.

--- --- ---

below:

Dan (top photo) and Me from the DNC Convention in Boston's Copley Square. Here we are as we're waiting to be assigned...ends up we were assigned to Max Clelland. I turned down driving the Kerry kids. Best choice I made, and not because there was anything wrong with Kerry's daughters. Max is a great guy and it was fun as all hell and we became fast friends. This extended along with the whole team. We were known as 'Team Max' Dan is this US Marine who is involved in Veterans Affairs on local state and I think, national levels.

We ended up driving another few cars: the SUV and later on the Cadillac in which I got my own private police escort after having gotten into the wrong line was my favorite. The security was very tight and some blowhard local political junkie and his girl screwed things up. It was the night of the fireworks at the JFK museum and library. Poor Max I think I scared the hell out of him with my Boston driving. Some woman in South Boston cut in between me and our police escort and she kept screaming and giving me the finger as I honked at her. She thought I was following a police car as a way of getting nowhere fast. lol

--- --- ---

I have to figure out what gallery I will use to host photos on separate pages. More work.

sigh

I'd like to make my own FLASH Gallery and just may. Then host it off the www.donaldeverett.com home page with a link.

Blogging Blues

Little Donnie Dark

on July 10, 2008 1:44 PM | Permalink

I am forcing myself to write an entry because the time is fast approaching where I will be without regular access to Al Gore's greatest invention---Bush's internets. Today I opened up my email and my phone messages and I got some iffy news from the dental school, some great news from Monika and Fabrizio in Raleigh, some bad news concerning an old pal with trouble in paradise (marriage/relationships), and some leads for my apartment search. All in all a good day. Par for the course.

Why haven't I mentioned my obsession with politics and my views on everything from voter registration to McCain and Obama's battle for the pancake recipe? I want this blog for now to be about me and what I am calling a 'New Chapter' in my life's journey. I am busy building a template for the main domain name: www.donaldeverett.com and this blog and a few other things will be linked from it or to it. My design capabilities are being tested by this and so is my decision to give myself a concrete deadline...before I move. My deadline is set in stone: definitely maybe, before I move on. Does anyone wonder where I got the phrase: definitely maybe?

Jeff Beck Group___

Definitely Maybe___tune

JeffBeck.com

Jeff Beck___Wikipedia___

<<<right click ^ the link(s) above>>>

Hooray! jay/day makes me relevant.

Little Donnie Dark

on July 10, 2008 3:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Or more precisely, Stevan Alburty did on July 7th, 2008.

Stevan was part of one of the groups I met in New York through Paul Stabile. I met Stevan through Paul Stabile at chiat/day advertising. This particular group within chiat/day included Stevan Alburty, Steve Klosterman, and Rodney 'Rod' Rhodes, and later on John Dunlap whom I already knew from Boston.

While living and struggling in NYC all of us were in some way connected through Rod and Paul and I think we all had Stevan to thank for somehow introducing the rest of us into the support culture of c/d. Even back then Stevan was always reaching out to others.

Little Donnie Dark

on July 11, 2008 10:16 AM | Permalink

Who is Little Donnie Dark?

He's a blind kid from an old seventies movie/play and I know about him because of Larry Nadeau, who was a guy I met through Gene Bellabona, way back in 1971-72(?). Larry used to call me Little Donnie Dark. Anyway, here is a link to Little Donnie Dark and I like picking up on the script on page 23.

Did I forget to mention Butterflies are Free: A Comedy in Two Acts___?

Did I forget to mention: Butterflies Are Free the movie___?

___ ___ ___

Good news (updated from: iffy news on Wednesday July 9th,..) from Tony, my dental student at the dental school. It looks like we may after all be able to have the work that I want done, done in time before I move on.

cool!

Always_Look_On_the_Bright_Side_of_Life

Apple's mobileme and boosheet

Dante

on July 14, 2008 5:12 PM | Permalink

I got locked out of my apple and dotmac and itunes accounts all at once. I may have configured something wrong but Apple really screwed up with the launch of mobileme--as far as old time (.)mac/dotmac users are concerned.

I got email in all accounts since last week. I just couldn't send any emails.

How stupid is that? A simple explanation for existing dot mac users with os x 10.4.11 would've bee nice.

a simple tutorial on what and how to manage the accounts on the os x system would've been sweet.

now I must wait for tech support to prove who I am from am account not linked to anything Apple. I sent a plea the other day----nothing!

I sent two today.

They have my personal info locked somewhere.

angry? frustrated? bitter? am I becoming an Obama voter?

ltr

---

there is one note I'd like to add: the apple phone/call center staff was a helpful as could be. They just don't have access to the resetting the passwords and stuff for the dot mac and other accounts.

This post is about as negative as I want on here. I think negativity can poison a site as well as the mind.

Thank You Apple

Little Donnie Dark

on July 15, 2008 1:36 PM | Permalink

I've heard nothing yet and cannot wait. I am going to attempt a new erase of disk and reinstall of OS X (version whatever I last purchased...tiger/panther?) that is long overdue anyways.

I am sure there will be a ton of upgrades of other software after the install. I am not a praying man/woman, but if you are...

here goes...

Still no word from Apple Computers on my account lockout.

Little Donnie Dark

on July 15, 2008 9:13 PM | Permalink

Thanks Apple. I keep checking my other email address that I sent you along with a contact phone number---and nada, zilch, nothing.

Apple says on their contact form that a reply is forthcoming within 48 hours. It's been over 48 hours. I've sent different messages over a couple of days. I just found out by attempting to access my itunes account that I (my accounts) have now been suspended/shut down/disabled or some such nonsense for security reasons.

I guess I am being protected from myself.

again

thanks Apple

Donald

---

btw, the reinstall is still going on. I have an upgrade disc for the OS X system and there are loads of upgrades for Apple related software.

Apple Computers has dropped the ball.

Little Donnie Dark

on July 16, 2008 10:15 AM | Permalink

I am getting nowhere with the Apple people. Why? I am an existing customer with years of loyalty. All they have to do is check with me and reset my password. I sent them my original account information along with some receipt information that proves I am me. Will they respond? I have this sinking feeling that they will not reply anytime soon.

They screwed up badly. It is starting to affect my life. My medical appointments and all my contacts to my planned move are stored on Apple's servers, which I am locked out of. I have always relied on them and it has served me well. But now that Apple is seeking new customers and bigger profits I have become irrelevant to them. This is a situation I will never fall into again. My trust in Apple is down there with my like of microsoft. My trash bin is full; I didn't know Apple was so full of it.

recap:

Apple rolls out mobilme as a replacement for .mac which I own.
Apple says the roll out of mobileme will not adversely affect me as a .mac customer.
My dotmac (.mac) email accounts are working and I receive emails with both the @mac.com and @me.com addresses, but I soon realize I cannot send any emails at all from any account---this for a few days running.
I use the Apple ID page to reset account info while researching the issue.
I get locked out of my .mac accounts and itunes and all Apple discussion sites because I cannot input a valid password.
The Apple site tells me they will send an email for me to reset my info, but I cannot get to those emails---because I am locked out of my account.
I send numerous emails through an Apple site form: .Mac Feedback
what a crock of crap! I get NO replies. None-nada!

Catch22

Naw, a screw up. Apple appears to have pulled all support from places in order to mollify the world that is po-ed over the fiasco that is the roll out of the much ballyhooed mobileme.

File mobileme under: New Coke

I have a plan to get their attention.

Apple will become familiar with chalkings!

Blogging from the Apple Store in Boston.

Little Donnie Dark

on July 16, 2008 4:54 PM | Permalink

Yes I am!

I am at the Apple Store Boston and the people at the Genius Bar (Brad?) are trying to help me.

Will this work? Will I get a definitive answer that leads to a solution?

We'll see.

Donald

look here: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=521723

---

Brad did it. We got into a chat with Joshua. I think Apple had taken down the chat link before.

I'll explain later.

Apple Employee Brad Comes Through

Little Donnie Dark

on July 17, 2008 8:39 AM | Permalink

There is one thing I'll say for the employees at Apple Store Boston: If they are anything like Bradley was with me (and so far they have been), they will not rest until an issue is resolved with a definitive solution. Give credit were it is due.

I say "a definitive solution," because Brad had premised his session with me with something like "I'll do my best" and we went on from there. I would've been content although still upset with Apple if Brad had done his best and ended our session with "it is beyond my pay grade" "it is beyond my knowledge base" or even "you need to call this number" because that would've closed a few leads to follow, but Brad did better---he went beyond what I expected him to do. He spent time and looked at my problem as a personal challenge. Brad sought counsel from other staff and when Joshua at the chat center took my call(?) Brad ran interference for me as I was in need of a rational mind after all the headaches I'd been through.

This is the way to keep valued customers both loyal and delighted to interact with a company. The average shopping experience is almost always delightful, but when things go askew, as they are wont to do, most company's employees are ill equipped by training and by design, to view the post customer as valuable as they view the pre/potential customer.

It's almost like employees work on a commission basis where demerits are handed out for spending time with people who have already dropped a few $$$$$$ as opposed to people who are looking to spend $$$$$.

Unlike the macrumors.com forums admin/moderator who was obnoxiously officious while posing as an expert on all things Apple, the real Apple employee listened to me before assuming I was a total idiot. It was only later on that I confirmed my idiocies.

Why mention the macrumors.com forums admin/moderator? Because (an edit: I think the fool at the site in question has banned me. --- go figure. lol ) before I walked into the Apple Store in Boston I had sought out online advice on different mac forums. I figured Apple's site was being overrun and they had either taken down the chat link or I'd overlooked it somehow (it was later found on the page for: cancel). The forum at macrumors.com was almost totally useless. I say "almost" because it did lead to something of value. The validation of the idea that many of the mac addicts in the world are just a bunch of officious nit wits.

---

here is where anyone can find the chat page link:

go to here...http://www.apple.com/support/mobileme/ ...

Now I know logic would dictate if you wanted to CHAT about a password issue you might assume you could select any of the links, but nope...yesterday I had to select Cancel. Today the CHAT link is on all pages. Just click on any of the dynamic links on gthis page (Member name & Password | MobileMe Mail ... etc.). Yesterday I think the CHAT link came and went as if you needed a roll of the dice to come up 7 or 11..

The past week or so the internet was full of people asking both valid and amazingly simple questions about issues involving Apple's roll-out of mobileme. I still say Apple dropped the ball on this one. (I blame the programming folks who's lives in plastic bubbles/cubicles must be the real world equivalent to Dante's Ninth circle).

Why some people accept the crap that happens when programmers delusions meet the real world, is beyond me. Through the years I have had more issues than I care to remember with programming snits who just can't grasp the fact that the world of designer plans and logic formula will not always work because people are not data.

---

Did I forget about chalkings?

Nope. lol

I mentioned it to Brad afterwards but I don't think he payed much attention to my ramblings. As it were, another customer was being helped by Brad while I waited for the longest minute in history. The CHAT form connection replied that somebody would be happy to assist me and that I would be served in a minute. This minute was enough time for Brad to help another customer with a problem iphone. The iphone was tested, a new phone was given under his almost expired warranty, and more. Then Joshua appeared. And the world became brighter...I got access to Apple's servers and my product.

Now for a huge backup off of Apple's severs.

I'm not complaining about history's longest minute, just making light of it. I know how busy they must've been at the Apple Chat with all the customers screaming that the mobile me push had become a ruuuuuuuun.

---

ps, Brad, if you're out there (apostrophe correct) don't be shy. You can sign up and comment---anonymously or by name.

this one's for you and the lovely young lady who was walking around the store with the laptop in hand and who came over as we were mentioning apostrophes.

What's This All About?
The Typo Eradication Advancement League (TEAL) is dedicated to a more perfectly spelling union.
This March through May, we, sworn members of TEAL, will be taking a road trip around the country to stamp out as many typos as we can find, in public signage and other venues where innocent eyes may be befouled by vile stains on the delicate fabric of our language. We do not blame, nor chastise, the authors of these typos. It is natural for mistakes to occur; everybody will slip now and again. But slowly the once-unassailable foundations of spelling are crumbling, and the time has come for the crisis to be addressed. We believe that only through working together with vigilance and a love of correctness can we achieve the beauty of a typo-free society.

The itinerary is as follows:
Whole of March: From Boston to San Diego, via the steamy South
Much of April: Up the West Coast
Late April - Mid-May: From Seattle, through the Northern plains and mighty lakes, to New England once again

A Parkinson's Disease Scam in Boston's Park Square Area

Little Donnie Dark

on July 18, 2008 5:19 PM | Permalink

Here we are with a short video I've posted on youtube. The video shows a woman dragging around an even older woman by the hand. The younger of the two women has a container in her hands that has some text written on it about helping people with Parkinson's. The older woman who is being dragged around looks like she either has Parkinson's or something similar.

I walked right on by them the first time. We passed each other by directly in front of the Four Seasons Hotel on Boylston Street. I had on my sunglasses and was a bit surprised at how sweet these women looked. I had said "no thank you" to an offer to tip the can.

Then it hit me. WTF? Who are these folks? They had walked by me with a couple of other folks and I had assumed for a few seconds that they were all together. Then I took off my sunglasses and watched these women continue on around Boston's Park Square area scamming people out of money claiming it is for Parkinson's Disease research or something.

I tried to follow and snap a few photos. I did this after speaking with a few other people who after meeting the two lovely old ladies and giving them money, had realized they'd been taken for suckers.

And this by a smiling older woman with even another older looking woman in tow who is obviously living with some medical condition. Were they acting or playing up some things? I think so.

Shame has no value in our society anymore..

---

Anyone know either of these two women?

West Coast Housing Search

Little Donnie Dark

on July 18, 2008 10:58 PM | Permalink

My housing search for the big move out west is getting a bit interesting. I started to hear from property owners with substandard housing in Santa Barbara. Property rich and lint in the pockets?

go figure

I mean come on...a hot plate? No stove? Bathroom in the main house? One spanish accented agent was even saying things to me that were clearly illegal as far as prejudices go. Craigslist may need some house cleaning. that takes the cake!

I have faith that there are some really good property owners out there looking for a stable and mature tenant who is as maintenance free as they come. I have yet to be asked for personal references. One rental agency actually thought I'd pay a fee to submit an application. lol

Are they nuts? One could make a handy side income by asking for fees and renting out nada.

The saga continues.

An apology

Little Donnie Dark

on July 19, 2008 8:03 AM | Permalink

I apologized to the moderator at the mac forum. I was not banned. I was locked out --- lol --- because of maintenance or somethings.

TED...Inspiration and great videos.

Little Donnie Dark

on July 19, 2008 8:04 AM | Permalink

I was at jay/day the other day and Stevan had posted a link to a site I had almost forgotten about:

You can click on the link above and it will take you to TED.com. Enjoy the site. Take a tour around there and maybe think of joining and commenting on things. Then maybe you will go there again and experience the same wonderful things I do when I go there.

thanks Stevan

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Now I am off to start a new regimen of trying to get back into a physically fit state that will see me through hitch hiking across the country. I am researching things and it looks like if the dental plan gets done in time and I tie up some more loose ends I can take my time getting across the nation. We'll see.

Italia Unita's 14th Annual Italian Festival In East Boston's Central Square

Little Donnie Dark

on July 20, 2008 9:07 AM | Permalink

I went to the feast with Joey and Franco (actually I was dragged there and glad for it). The feast is/was...

Italia Unita's 14th Annual Italian Festival In East Boston's Central Square.

The festival is billed as A Summer Food Festival

Italia Unita's Annual Italian Festival

East Boston, MA
United States

A Summer Food Festival

This is our signature event is the Italian Festival. It has quickly become one of the most anticipated events in New England. This three-day Italian Festival is held every third week in July an is a celebration of the Italian culture. Central Square transforms itself into a Italian \"piazza\" style setting where people capture the essence of community and a feeling of unity. Thousands flock to East Boston to enjoy it. During the festival people can sample authentic Italian cooking from various food carts, while enjoying the free entertainment and cultural attractions. It\'s here that they can greet family and see friends they haven\'t seen in years or meet new people just the same! While second and third generation Italian-Americans can come and appreciate the richness of their culture, people of all other different cultures can enjoy the festival and gain an education in Italian traditions. The festival has something for everyone from kiddies to seniors.

More Info: http://italiaunita.org/festivals/agenda.html

...and it is worth a trip over there today or even next year around this time at the 15th annual event.

Anyway...

We saw a few people from the past; a few people we grew up with; people we went to school with, hung around with, fought with, are related to.., but not as many as any of us had expected. Was it the heat?

We did however see Deechee (Dichiaro?) and Mario (Harpo - Franco's brother) and a few others who hung around together with my older brother way back when. They were some pretty tough guys and if you and messed with them you'd remember the end result. Yet they were some of the greatest guys around the Square. One thing I remember was that you got what you asked for when you hung around the Square. Some of the older guys haven't changed much. Every face brought back some fond memories of my Maverick days.

*sigh

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One good surprise was seeing Michele Mays who had Paul Mays and his wife in tow. A few people gathered around after seeing Paul, who had moved to the western part of the state years ago and we did the usual 'hey wtf?" "great to see you" routine, but just seeing Paul was a treat. He was one of the nicest guys growing up. I remember...(edited out to protect the innocent and the guilty).

We all grew up together and hung around together in the Maverick Housing Projects or around Maverick Square. Some days it seems like it all happened yesterday.

Here are cousins Paul, his wife, Pat C., Joey, Michele..,

Paul listens to Michele.

Paul and his wife talking to Pat Clark.

Cousin Joey, with Michele who says I always crack her up.

(Does she look cracked up?)

I love Michele.

lol

Just Another Day

Little Donnie Dark

on July 22, 2008 9:23 AM | Permalink

I saw Jeanne the other day where her and her boys were picking up trash along the beach. They were in back of the house along with John Munson my neighbor and good friend. John is a pretty good photographer who shoots around the Boston metro area. Check him out here. Jeanne didn't know that Dante had went on a trip to Valhalla. She knew us as a team way back when. Those were the days. <<<youtube video of mary hopkin>>>

It's just another day today and I was going to blog about Jeanne Ciampa...

...who I met at Ricky's Flower Market, but that will have to wait. BTW, Ricky's is the place I worked at with Monica and Fabricio. I remember when we all went to Johhny D's one night a few years back in order to cheer Jeanne on as she reentered the music scene after a long hiatus of child rearing. It was really great seeing and hearing Jeanne on stage.

So I woke up today and thought about Dante-the-pup not being by my side. Maybe it is because last night as I took a walk around the neighborhood I suddenly felt like a Stranger in a Strange Land. Nothing looked the same without D., by my side. Change.

<<<Note to Obama: Beware because Change, can really, really suck.>>>

So today is just another day and thinking about that has me humming the Sam Cooke tune: JUST ANOTHER DAY. Unfortunately I cannot put up that song as Apple now encodes songs in ways that disallow me to share the music I've paid for. I don't know the ethics and legalities about it all and I've never downloaded tunes from any site other than itunes, but it stinks. There are tunes in my back up files that were previously encoded in earlier Apple formats and that I assume can be played. I'll have to look into that.

If I am on another computer somewhere can I play my own music? Will I have to keep authorizing and dis-authorizing public computers I may be using? Progress is often painful. I play fair/by the rules by not going to free music sites (peer to peer) for downloads and I get punished for the actions of others?

sigh

There is a site however that shares music listening legally and that is playlist.com where the music player above is streaming from (try using the pop-out player feature). But not all the tunes I want are available there (Sorta like Apple's itunes and the Beatles and other artists portfolios.). Sample my playlist, but the ones I'm thinking about are the two Sam Cooke tunes. And Leon Russell was most definitely on my mind last night.

The West Coast Apartment Search

Little Donnie Dark

on July 23, 2008 8:30 PM | Permalink

I have been jumping around between the choice of a few communities for my great adventure---a move out to the west coast. I have narrowed it down to three.

The latest addition is Long Beach, California. Long Beach appears to have a pretty good school or two which is necessary as I intend to go back to school and take some classes after i settle in which will take about a year.

I saw Bobby Marshall again---twice in one week---and this is the second time he said I should try and hook up with people from Eastie who are already established out there. I don't know. I find people who visit and decide to stay can become dependent or needy and I do not want to do that to anyone---in reality or in their mind. I will make a go of it on my own while seeking out those who do what I've always done--help out those looking to better themselves. I still have faith in my ability to attract people of good quality into my sphere.

I know a lot of people who are out there in the movie business but at this point that interests me the least. Who knows what will interest me when I get out there, but I suspect the creative juices will get flowing again.

On the home front I think I've had my last appointment with my primary care doctor Booker Bush. I will miss him greatly. The man has been a great primary care doctor and a good advisor on many things. My nurse practitioner already left the practice---Joan Lederman---I missed seeing her before she left. Wendy Stead is another doctor I will miss. She is always laughing when I see her. Something about my great personality or something. I saw her last month. I am seeing the eye doctor one more time tomorrow. The dental stuff is moving along and I think I'll get everything settled before I move on from here. One thing that does spook me is the quality of medical care I may get after moving out there. Even in Boston I've been loathe to switch from what I have.

My blood pressure is fine except the lower number can get a bit high. I wonder what the west coast will do for my weary bones and blood pressure? And the gout has not returned for a while. hooray!

nothing great is happening as far as the apartment search is going, but I have faith.

---

Spoke to Mark who's living in Mexico for the last few years or so. He's coming up soon for a week or a few days. I really want to see him when he's here. We've been friends for ages.

I am slowly selling and throwing away things I've saved since childhood.

Moving on --- following my bliss. West Coast or Bust!

Little Donnie Dark

on July 24, 2008 8:45 AM | Permalink

For me right now, moving to the west coast is far more than any geographical cure though a geographical cure is part of IT...IT involves a state of mind.

California is not the destination...it is a part of my life's journey. Moving on for me is more than just a physical event. Moving on to the west coast is another chapter in following my bliss. To follow my bliss, I first needed to find IT. Finding my bliss was not so much the issue for me all these years as following IT has been. Deciding how, when, and where to follow my bliss has taken more time than I care to dwell on, but what is time really? Time is what dying people would give anything for. Time is life.

sigh

---

This chapter in my journey has been a long time in the coming. It is difficult on one level because I planned for a few years on taking it with Dante the pup at my side, and now that is not to be. I know some people think I am too attached to the memory of a pup, but there is a great story (as usual) where Dante is concerned. I adopted Dante at a time when I thought my journey through life was soon to be over. But as the circumstances surrounding my health improved, and as the circumstances surrounding the health of loved ones I had planned on leaving changed for the worse, I went through the surprises life threw at me with Dante at my side. As a loyal companion there could have been no better and Dante got to share my life. He went everywhere with me---he went everywhere with me including to the wake and funeral of my deceased younger brother.

IT, has been a long time coming because I like detours, and believe me I have taken many detours in my life. Some planned, many not. Some pleasant, others not so. In the end the detours in this, my life's journey, have taken me to places where I've met the people that have helped to shape and form my inner growth. My detours have shaped me. So I do not regret any of the detours. Together they have made me who I am, and I am comfortable with who I am. I am comfortable in my own skin. But being comfortable in one's own skin is not a guarantee that living will be easy. This was a hard and difficult lesson to learn. There are always circumstances and nature to contend with in life. go figure

note: I accidently came across this link while using Google to see who else out there feels the way I do.

What at first appears to be a failure of my earlier, but ignored urges (since the seventies?) to merge my inner life with my outer life---to follow my bliss, has been anything but that. When following one's bliss there is no such thing as failure. Expectations are not always fulfilled. But so what? I had started out with a lot of baggage and as I journeyed through life I'd shed some baggage along the way only to acquire more of IT. I have been a pack rat in more ways than one.

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My struggle to merge my inner and outer lives had sometimes seemed like a waste of precious time---of life.., but deep down I've always known that that feeling was only the lonely, conservative, inner voices inside my head expressing negativity because of fear and loathing. But for better or for worse those voices were and are a part of me, and their grip on me has grown or lessened at various point in my life. Acceptance of them is a sign of growth.

Those lonely voices express the fears and doubts about life and where I should fit in; those voices are the warning systems, input by societal norms; those voices come out of the psycho-social environment I was exposed to growing up---growing up like Little Donnie Dark (I'm not physically blind.). They are a defense mechanism, but I ask myself "for a defense of, or from whom and/or what?"

note: I have been merging my inner life with my outer life for some time now and I use the word 'with' over the word into because I do not want to leave the misrepresentation out there that one life is being absorbed into another. Absorption implies one entity taking over another. This would give one life superiority or primacy over the other. In my mind as well as reality this is nonsense.

Both lives, both worlds are becoming one. They were never equal and they weren't always separate. They have been becoming one. I like the 3rd definition of merge @ Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary:

transitive verb1archaic : to plunge or engulf in something : immerse2: to cause to combine, unite, or coalesce3: to blend gradually by stages that blur distinctions

The negative part my mind, the conservative part of my brain, is always telling me that I am not following the rules and will eventually pay a heavy price for IT. The conservative part of my brain says nothing good will ever come from acting on liberal thoughts.

I have news for the conservative part of my mind/brain: IT will be okay. The liberal part has always been there for it to exist.

---

Duality, paradoxes, transfiguration. These are part of my reality.

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I've always valued my life's hectic journey. Following my bliss is more valuable to me than any static destination or set way of living could ever be. I loved my ten years in the 'ville...

View Larger Map

...they allowed me to heal, and to experience Dante. But three years ago it was time for me to move on. I planned on moving ion with Dante, but now that Dante has taken a detour, I'm moving on alone. For a variety of reasons I've now spent three years detouring around this move. No more detours.

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West Coast or Bust!