Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show...(the opening lines of David Copperfield as written by Charles Dickens;inspired by MTM). Or at least this ACCOUNT will, perhaps, have a reflection on whether I'm going to be the hero in my own life.
...And all these words you were meant to say
Held in silence day after day
Words of kindness that our poor hearts crave
Please, don't keep them hidden away~~~Hidden Away; Josh Groban
As the year 2010 comes to a close, and in its wake we make preparations to enthusiastically usher in 2011, I want to pass along this reflection. 2010 had some amazing highs. And by the same token, had some sobering lows. But through it all, Family, and some damned Good Friends, made this ride more meaningful~~~because it was shared. It is my fervent prayer that that same kind of collective spirit will continue to exist thereby giving us the resiliency to handle 2011---like the little engines, that could.
Some of the high points included:
- the AmeriCorps Buffalo/The Belle Center, promised stipend increase.
- effecting the 13 May 2010, Vocational Trade Fair, at The Belle Center.
- the AMTRAK excursion to the George Eastman House Museum in Rochester was special.
- the bus excursion tour of the Southern Tier Wineries.
- my two sisters helping me with the photo extravaganza at The Annunciation Lofts.
- 29 September 2010; CONSTRUCTION CAREER DAYS, with the Operating Engineers,
in Lakeview, NY.
- 6 October, 2010 @ THE CAZ.
- the Bishop Fallon High School HALL of FAME Dinner; with inductees
teacher/coach Carl Albert, and Class of 1969 graduate, James Scime.
- 13 December 2010, started a new endeavor; ironically located adjacent to Lipsitz,
Green, Scime & Cambria LLP.
- a great Birthday Party, at home, for our 26 year-old USMC veteran son, Philip.
Low Points~~~not going to enumerate, other than to say that I had some Angels that
appeared from nowhere, to lend a hand.
It is my sincerest prayer that we all continue to be blessed with The Lord's Bounty, and that the hopes, prayers, and the truths we hold dear in our hearts, be granted~~~in His Name, Amen.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
Friday, December 31, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Merry Christmas To ALL MY DEAR DEAR FAMILY & FRIENDS~~~and Bishop Fulton J. Sheen Angels that just seem to come out of nowhere!!
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show...(the opening lines of David Copperfield as written by Charles Dickens;inspired by MTM). Or at least this ACCOUNT will, perhaps, have a reflection on whether I'm going to be the hero in my own life.
...A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night, O holy night, O night divine! ~~~O Holy Night: the Christmas Carol that I'm partial to. Written by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure in 1847.
This is my effort to express to all of my Family and Friends a warmest, joyful, and fulfilling Merry Christmas. This last year has been so amazing~~~on so many levels. And I am grateful that through these many experiences I have had Family, Friends, and Our Lord to share these with.
You may recall in my "Santo" Web Log, that I included this material:
Thank you for your response to our WNYJOBS ad for a Part-Time Transportation Coordinator. We have been collecting and reviewing the candidate responses and are now reaching out to a group of individuals whose background seems suited for the position. As usual, we heard from a very diverse group and had a lot of work to do in narrowing the field. I would like to touch on a couple issues and make a couple requests before we move on to set up interviews.
1.The position is a Part-Time administrative position for the foreseeable future. And because of the part-time nature of the position, only statutory benefits are currently available. Although we are getting busier and I would love to see this change, I am asking each candidate to confirm that they understand this. As you can imagine, we are concerned about filling the position only to have someone leave us when they find full-time work.
2.Please provide us with your salary requirements and a list of references.
3.Finally, I’d like to try a little different approach to the initial interviews by asking each candidate to respond to a couple questions.
a.Please pick a specific job duty that you’ve had to perform in the past that you weren’t particularly fond of and explain why you feel that way about it.
b.Describe to us a work-related event that you were involved in where you had a great deal of fun, and explain why.
c.If you had the opportunity to work a flexible schedule, what would your preferred work schedule be, and why?
Thank you for your interest in our transportation position. We are interested in beginning interviews in the very near future so we look forward to your response and we wish you luck in the process.
Sincerely,
"Marcus" Regoord
Vice President - Finance & Administration
Marcus;
1. Yes I fully understand this to be a PART-TIME position. At this juncture in my life, this is the most suitable type of employment I am seeking. Your offer is consistent with my expectations. Salary expectations would be consistent with payroll structures already in place with your Payroll; Human Resources Departments.
2a. When Airborne/D H L Express chose, in 2007, to get away from loading the very transportable and movable COCHRANE CONTAINERS, and started loading the industry-norm; "A" CONTAINERS. That decision left me to completely fend for myself. I received absolutely no support from local management to make sure that the work that, in effect, was still available for me to undertake, was done so in a humane manner. In being left to my own resources, I was reduced to the resident freak-show. With the COCHRANE(C) Containers, I could 'cheat' mother nature and take advantage of structures and apparatus around me, to get the work done. With the larger "A" Containers, where it was like going in to, and out, of a house, there were no structures or apparatus to 'lean' against, or hold onto. So I was reduced to crawling on my hands-and-knees, and doing the 'letter-sort'.
2b. The AM sort!!!!! I was in my 'element'!!!!!! I ruled!!! I was so good, the industrial-engineers that came in and 'clocked' me~~~to everybody's chagrin~~~ended up basing the Northeast Region productivity standards, on my performances. 18 parcels a minute; one every three seconds, had to be pulled from a pallet, or "C" Container, and placed on conveyor belt for driver review and extraction. Whether the parcel was 5#, 15#, 35#, or 75#~~~that was the standard that was set.
2c. My preferred flex-time schedule would be full-time days; a few days a week. That would be, as if to say, 8AM-5PM kind of thing; possibly Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Or Monday, Wednesday, Thursday.
Marcus~~~you have asked some 'loaded' questions. I assume I would be given a face-to-face opportunity to amplify any points and concerns you may still have.
Lou Marconi 716.578.8568 cell phone
As fate would have it, I come home Friday 17 December 2010, from endeavors, and my daughter gives my a note to advise me that Marcus Regoord called!! And normally I would have been upset that she didn't call me on my cell to get me up to speed on this, on a current basis!!!
It is like Joe Sullivan of the Buffalo Employment Training Center says~~~all you have to do---is make ONE SALE.
On Monday, 20 Dec. 2010, I'm going to return Marcus' call and thank him for follow-up interview efforts, and in effect, decline the possible offer!! You see, this one project that I have been working on throughout this year, has finally come to fruition!! My Merry Christmas!!! There have been some bumps along the way, but I started, on 13 December 2010. I walked(boy is that wishful thinking!!) in, and the Office Manager already had my punch-card in her hand~~and punching me in!!! And later in the AM, as she is trying to 'settle' me in, Charlie, from an independent organization, is calling me on my cell-phone for a 'phone-interview'. I didn't have to explain myself because Cheryl gave me the courtesy to 'take' the call.
For those whom wish to know more detail, I will discuss in email format, whom this employer is. In these "Julian Assange" days, discretion begs to be observed.
I do need to ask for some prayers from Family and Good Friends. I suspect some of this has to do with the bitterly cold weather. But 'something' is going on with me, health-wise; with my legs. I had some serious problems attempting to effect some actions~~~that had been 'routines'.
They have put a little scare in me because I have always tried to conduct myself, like the little engine, that could.
Merry Christmas; Happy New Year, and may all that has been the fulfilling moments and energies that have kept you moving forward through this year, continue to be bestowed upon you in this Blessed New Year.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
...A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night, O holy night, O night divine! ~~~O Holy Night: the Christmas Carol that I'm partial to. Written by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure in 1847.
This is my effort to express to all of my Family and Friends a warmest, joyful, and fulfilling Merry Christmas. This last year has been so amazing~~~on so many levels. And I am grateful that through these many experiences I have had Family, Friends, and Our Lord to share these with.
You may recall in my "Santo" Web Log, that I included this material:
Thank you for your response to our WNYJOBS ad for a Part-Time Transportation Coordinator. We have been collecting and reviewing the candidate responses and are now reaching out to a group of individuals whose background seems suited for the position. As usual, we heard from a very diverse group and had a lot of work to do in narrowing the field. I would like to touch on a couple issues and make a couple requests before we move on to set up interviews.
1.The position is a Part-Time administrative position for the foreseeable future. And because of the part-time nature of the position, only statutory benefits are currently available. Although we are getting busier and I would love to see this change, I am asking each candidate to confirm that they understand this. As you can imagine, we are concerned about filling the position only to have someone leave us when they find full-time work.
2.Please provide us with your salary requirements and a list of references.
3.Finally, I’d like to try a little different approach to the initial interviews by asking each candidate to respond to a couple questions.
a.Please pick a specific job duty that you’ve had to perform in the past that you weren’t particularly fond of and explain why you feel that way about it.
b.Describe to us a work-related event that you were involved in where you had a great deal of fun, and explain why.
c.If you had the opportunity to work a flexible schedule, what would your preferred work schedule be, and why?
Thank you for your interest in our transportation position. We are interested in beginning interviews in the very near future so we look forward to your response and we wish you luck in the process.
Sincerely,
"Marcus" Regoord
Vice President - Finance & Administration
Marcus;
1. Yes I fully understand this to be a PART-TIME position. At this juncture in my life, this is the most suitable type of employment I am seeking. Your offer is consistent with my expectations. Salary expectations would be consistent with payroll structures already in place with your Payroll; Human Resources Departments.
2a. When Airborne/D H L Express chose, in 2007, to get away from loading the very transportable and movable COCHRANE CONTAINERS, and started loading the industry-norm; "A" CONTAINERS. That decision left me to completely fend for myself. I received absolutely no support from local management to make sure that the work that, in effect, was still available for me to undertake, was done so in a humane manner. In being left to my own resources, I was reduced to the resident freak-show. With the COCHRANE(C) Containers, I could 'cheat' mother nature and take advantage of structures and apparatus around me, to get the work done. With the larger "A" Containers, where it was like going in to, and out, of a house, there were no structures or apparatus to 'lean' against, or hold onto. So I was reduced to crawling on my hands-and-knees, and doing the 'letter-sort'.
2b. The AM sort!!!!! I was in my 'element'!!!!!! I ruled!!! I was so good, the industrial-engineers that came in and 'clocked' me~~~to everybody's chagrin~~~ended up basing the Northeast Region productivity standards, on my performances. 18 parcels a minute; one every three seconds, had to be pulled from a pallet, or "C" Container, and placed on conveyor belt for driver review and extraction. Whether the parcel was 5#, 15#, 35#, or 75#~~~that was the standard that was set.
2c. My preferred flex-time schedule would be full-time days; a few days a week. That would be, as if to say, 8AM-5PM kind of thing; possibly Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Or Monday, Wednesday, Thursday.
Marcus~~~you have asked some 'loaded' questions. I assume I would be given a face-to-face opportunity to amplify any points and concerns you may still have.
Lou Marconi 716.578.8568 cell phone
As fate would have it, I come home Friday 17 December 2010, from endeavors, and my daughter gives my a note to advise me that Marcus Regoord called!! And normally I would have been upset that she didn't call me on my cell to get me up to speed on this, on a current basis!!!
It is like Joe Sullivan of the Buffalo Employment Training Center says~~~all you have to do---is make ONE SALE.
On Monday, 20 Dec. 2010, I'm going to return Marcus' call and thank him for follow-up interview efforts, and in effect, decline the possible offer!! You see, this one project that I have been working on throughout this year, has finally come to fruition!! My Merry Christmas!!! There have been some bumps along the way, but I started, on 13 December 2010. I walked(boy is that wishful thinking!!) in, and the Office Manager already had my punch-card in her hand~~and punching me in!!! And later in the AM, as she is trying to 'settle' me in, Charlie, from an independent organization, is calling me on my cell-phone for a 'phone-interview'. I didn't have to explain myself because Cheryl gave me the courtesy to 'take' the call.
For those whom wish to know more detail, I will discuss in email format, whom this employer is. In these "Julian Assange" days, discretion begs to be observed.
I do need to ask for some prayers from Family and Good Friends. I suspect some of this has to do with the bitterly cold weather. But 'something' is going on with me, health-wise; with my legs. I had some serious problems attempting to effect some actions~~~that had been 'routines'.
They have put a little scare in me because I have always tried to conduct myself, like the little engine, that could.
Merry Christmas; Happy New Year, and may all that has been the fulfilling moments and energies that have kept you moving forward through this year, continue to be bestowed upon you in this Blessed New Year.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Was I, In Heaven?!?!
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show...(the opening lines of David Copperfield as written by Charles Dickens;inspired by MTM). Or at least this ACCOUNT will, perhaps, have a reflection on whether I'm going to be the hero in my own life.
...I never dreamed we'd meet again this way
You're looking well
I'm not afraid
You have a lovely home
Just like a picture.
No, I live alone
I found it easier~~~In The Winter; Janis Ian(1975)
While I'm running around, with my Dodge Caravan, in a snowfall on Monday, trying to cover some errands,in due course of time, I come to realize that I am no longer in possession of a personal item that I have become very very attached to. Of course, even while I am trying to concentrate on the driving because it is treacherous, the realization of the loss---is a distraction. In realizing the loss, the first thing I do is pull into a lot, and start 'combing' the vehicle interior-area that is within my reach. In my feverish effort to correct the situation, I'm nonetheless, coming up empty-handed.
I decide that I have to retrace my steps. Now here is the thing. There wasn't that many 'steps' to trace, because the weather was drive-prohibitive. I started off my errands, by going to Valvo-Line, to get my wipers replaced. The two-year-old wipers; were shot. The one working the passenger-side of the windshield had actually become a spaghetti-looking noodle, having separated away from the rest of the blade element. The thing with this Valvo-Line transaction is that~~~I never got out of the Van. So in the moving and shuffling for the wallet, and receipts, if I lost the item, while doing this, it still had to be---in the van. The only real place where I might have lost the item HAD TO BE by my RR TRAX Retreat location. I went there, in the early afternoon with the intention of doing a thorough job of sweeping off, with my broom, all of the large amounts of snow that was still sitting on the top of my van. I went there for two reasons. The first is that the van would rest on an incline so the snow will sweep off easier for me. And the second reason is that the dropped snow doesn't have to be removed from a driveway, by shovel!! And while I did this with my gloves on, I am thinking that when I stepped out of the van to commence the work, maybe the item had dropped into the four inches of snow on the ground. What did I do?? What could I do!! I dropped to my knees and starting combing the snow in the areas around where my footprints previously were. The effort proved fruitless.
I was crestfallen. I went home, and just acquiesced to the sense that this item, was lost, forever.
In the light of a new day, Tuesday, I decided I was going to tear through as much of the front part of my van as possible. I still sensed that perhaps there was an iota
of territory of my van that I had overlooked. While still in the driveway, I start cutting through this, that, and the other thing; still nothing.
So I decide that I'm going to go to that TRAX Retreat area of mine, and cut again, through the snow. I go there, do some more 'combing', and still---nothing.
While I'm doing this, the AMTRAK Maple Leaf Ltd; N/B, goes flying by. And the rooster-tail of drawn-up-snow left in its wake, puts a smile on my face. I guess it was the smile that put a renewed sensed of determination in finding this sentimental
item of value. Having now settled back into the van, I am now groping and feeling my way along the framing-upright that keeps the passenger seat attached to the floor of the van. As I'm making my way around the back and the under-side of this support-frame, my fingers begin to feel this washer-type artifact. As I get a grip on it to draw it toward me, I'm thinking; this seems to have some substance to it!! As I bring it up into the light of day, I see that it is shining. With this instant sense of redemption, I have come to realize; I found it!!! I found It!!! I was so happy!! I felt I had reclaimed my soul!! I was whole, again.
So later in the afternoon of Tuesday, I went to the Buffalo State College Library and did a little research work to place on FACEBOOK subject matter having to do with Dec. 7, 1941. And later in the day posted some additional
information having to do with our USMC son Philip. December 7, 2008, our son, Corporal Philip Marconi, was recognized by the Erie County Legislature, for his service to Our Country. The result of which is the Erie County Legislature proclaiming that every Dec 7th, as Philip Marconi Day!! As a father, I must add~~~I'm proud!!
A brief intervention; perspective:
I caught the SPECIAL REPORT News Conference with President Obama, Tuesday afternoon.
This is the Special Report that had to do with the package he worked out with the Republican leadership to extend the Bush-Era Tax Cuts, and as well, getting an extension on the unemployment insurance benefits that were to run out at the end of this year. After the speech announcing this development, he had conducted a press conference. And during this question & answer session, he was pretty much posturing himself as a realistic; a well-intended pragmatist, instead of an ideologue. He was, of course doing this because he was getting challenged from his own party, as well as the Republicans and Independents. Obama's position to extending the tax-cuts was that it was more money in the take-home pay of average Americans. The Republicans contend that extending the tax-breaks will encourage more investments, and will foster more job growth through investment, capital expenditure, and confidence for small businesses to expand and hire.
He missed a golden-opportunity to sell his point, to the disillusioned Democratic Party. He had gotten this question from Ms. Goldman, from the Bloomburg News Service.
As she was working her way through her question, she wanted the President to answer why the unemployment rate was still around 9.8%. If I were Obama, I'd have hinged my presidential success on the REPUBLICAN perspective. According to the Republicans the extension of the tax breaks will mean investment, business growth, increase demand because of more disposable income, which in turn will bring about job growth. In other words, instead of the wealthy hording~~~they will be hiring.
If I were Obama, I'd have said this to Goldman; in effect saying this to the Republicans, the Democrats, and America. According to everything I've been hearing from the Republicans, because of growth and hiring---not hording---I'm going to venture that by the end of the first quarter of 2011, the unemployment insurance rate will be down to 6.5%. If it isn't~~~I'm holding the Republicans accountable. Two things would result. The Democrats would develop a united-front supporting Obama. And the Republicans would bear the responsibility of having to get the gilded class~~~to HIRE, instead of hording.
Thursday evening, I am invited to a Christmas Party of sorts at this new restaurant on Delaware Ave, in the Village of Kenmore. Now called the Delaware Restaurant, it was once-upon-a-time the area, Carvel ice Cream Store location!! While most of the very important persons in this extravaganza are affiliated with operations in the Town of Tonawanda, and the Village of Kenmore, there are some very very high ranking personalities from the City of Buffalo, and Erie County. Hand-shakes were aplenty.
New names and acquaintances were made. Some old friendships were further cultivated,
and some rough-edges were tapered and smoothed-over~~~and some assurances were made--- with the firmness of the hand-shake. Still a work in progress; some fruit may be appearing soon, on the vine.
My sister Rose is traveling up to Buffalo, with our University of Mississippi daughter Erica, just having completed the fall semester and returning home for the Christmas break. Rose is coming to Buffalo for an additional reason. She has put together a four-day-week-end at the Holiday Valley Ski Resort, for the family. I respectfully decline participating. The reason is that, for some time now, I had made a commitment to help with the Boxes of Love Christmas Outreach Program at their distribution location at the Frederick/Douglass Community Center on Friday, and the distribution
extravaganza that takes place on Saturday, at The Belle Center on Buffalo's Lower West Side. It is a program, and a disposition, that I feel a strong belief in, and have developed a very strong attachment to. You don't know, or really understand, until you sit, and are looking in the eyes of these men, and women. These are human beings, whom along with their children, would not otherwise have a Christmas. And yes, this can all be spun into a million different what-ifs, what-nots, and why-did-you-do-this, or why-didn't-you-do-that. It is Christmas. It is time to get the hands that were in the pockets, reaching out, and contributing, for a good cause. It is time to rejoice, proclaim, and have everybody share in the Good News of this Moment; the birth of Our Savior.
Time to digress, back to Tuesday. I had this dream that I can so vividly remember the detail of. I can even recount some of my thinking that was taking place in my head.
I'm in this office building, and there are at least two floors. I am on the second floor. Check this out!! I am walking around, on the second floor. And in walking around, I am light, fluid, and easy on my feet. At one point I'm even thinking...gee, I'm able to do this[walking], again. There is even this movement that I am undertaking near some elevators where I start to 'feel' like I actually skating backwards(dreams; they don't always stay with the grain!!!). Those that can skate backwards will understand this; those that can't will have to try to realize what I am trying to visualize!! When skating backwards, what you are doing, in rapid succession, while leading and digging in the back part of your blades, is a series of to-the-right cross-overs, and then---to-the-left cross-overs, with each skate. My brother Dominic developed this skill-set to where he was the starting defenseman for the 1974-1975 McKinley High School Screaming Eagles Varsity Hockey Championship team. While I was marginally capable with the skill-set, I was able to envision doing this very well~~~in my dream. There came this point in my dream, where I realized I was going to have to take the elevator to go to the first floor. And as I'm about to migrate over to the elevator, the following thought comes to me, "I better grab my two canes, I may need them. when I get downstairs."
Was I, in Heaven?!?!
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
...I never dreamed we'd meet again this way
You're looking well
I'm not afraid
You have a lovely home
Just like a picture.
No, I live alone
I found it easier~~~In The Winter; Janis Ian(1975)
While I'm running around, with my Dodge Caravan, in a snowfall on Monday, trying to cover some errands,in due course of time, I come to realize that I am no longer in possession of a personal item that I have become very very attached to. Of course, even while I am trying to concentrate on the driving because it is treacherous, the realization of the loss---is a distraction. In realizing the loss, the first thing I do is pull into a lot, and start 'combing' the vehicle interior-area that is within my reach. In my feverish effort to correct the situation, I'm nonetheless, coming up empty-handed.
I decide that I have to retrace my steps. Now here is the thing. There wasn't that many 'steps' to trace, because the weather was drive-prohibitive. I started off my errands, by going to Valvo-Line, to get my wipers replaced. The two-year-old wipers; were shot. The one working the passenger-side of the windshield had actually become a spaghetti-looking noodle, having separated away from the rest of the blade element. The thing with this Valvo-Line transaction is that~~~I never got out of the Van. So in the moving and shuffling for the wallet, and receipts, if I lost the item, while doing this, it still had to be---in the van. The only real place where I might have lost the item HAD TO BE by my RR TRAX Retreat location. I went there, in the early afternoon with the intention of doing a thorough job of sweeping off, with my broom, all of the large amounts of snow that was still sitting on the top of my van. I went there for two reasons. The first is that the van would rest on an incline so the snow will sweep off easier for me. And the second reason is that the dropped snow doesn't have to be removed from a driveway, by shovel!! And while I did this with my gloves on, I am thinking that when I stepped out of the van to commence the work, maybe the item had dropped into the four inches of snow on the ground. What did I do?? What could I do!! I dropped to my knees and starting combing the snow in the areas around where my footprints previously were. The effort proved fruitless.
I was crestfallen. I went home, and just acquiesced to the sense that this item, was lost, forever.
In the light of a new day, Tuesday, I decided I was going to tear through as much of the front part of my van as possible. I still sensed that perhaps there was an iota
of territory of my van that I had overlooked. While still in the driveway, I start cutting through this, that, and the other thing; still nothing.
So I decide that I'm going to go to that TRAX Retreat area of mine, and cut again, through the snow. I go there, do some more 'combing', and still---nothing.
While I'm doing this, the AMTRAK Maple Leaf Ltd; N/B, goes flying by. And the rooster-tail of drawn-up-snow left in its wake, puts a smile on my face. I guess it was the smile that put a renewed sensed of determination in finding this sentimental
item of value. Having now settled back into the van, I am now groping and feeling my way along the framing-upright that keeps the passenger seat attached to the floor of the van. As I'm making my way around the back and the under-side of this support-frame, my fingers begin to feel this washer-type artifact. As I get a grip on it to draw it toward me, I'm thinking; this seems to have some substance to it!! As I bring it up into the light of day, I see that it is shining. With this instant sense of redemption, I have come to realize; I found it!!! I found It!!! I was so happy!! I felt I had reclaimed my soul!! I was whole, again.
So later in the afternoon of Tuesday, I went to the Buffalo State College Library and did a little research work to place on FACEBOOK subject matter having to do with Dec. 7, 1941. And later in the day posted some additional
information having to do with our USMC son Philip. December 7, 2008, our son, Corporal Philip Marconi, was recognized by the Erie County Legislature, for his service to Our Country. The result of which is the Erie County Legislature proclaiming that every Dec 7th, as Philip Marconi Day!! As a father, I must add~~~I'm proud!!
A brief intervention; perspective:
I caught the SPECIAL REPORT News Conference with President Obama, Tuesday afternoon.
This is the Special Report that had to do with the package he worked out with the Republican leadership to extend the Bush-Era Tax Cuts, and as well, getting an extension on the unemployment insurance benefits that were to run out at the end of this year. After the speech announcing this development, he had conducted a press conference. And during this question & answer session, he was pretty much posturing himself as a realistic; a well-intended pragmatist, instead of an ideologue. He was, of course doing this because he was getting challenged from his own party, as well as the Republicans and Independents. Obama's position to extending the tax-cuts was that it was more money in the take-home pay of average Americans. The Republicans contend that extending the tax-breaks will encourage more investments, and will foster more job growth through investment, capital expenditure, and confidence for small businesses to expand and hire.
He missed a golden-opportunity to sell his point, to the disillusioned Democratic Party. He had gotten this question from Ms. Goldman, from the Bloomburg News Service.
As she was working her way through her question, she wanted the President to answer why the unemployment rate was still around 9.8%. If I were Obama, I'd have hinged my presidential success on the REPUBLICAN perspective. According to the Republicans the extension of the tax breaks will mean investment, business growth, increase demand because of more disposable income, which in turn will bring about job growth. In other words, instead of the wealthy hording~~~they will be hiring.
If I were Obama, I'd have said this to Goldman; in effect saying this to the Republicans, the Democrats, and America. According to everything I've been hearing from the Republicans, because of growth and hiring---not hording---I'm going to venture that by the end of the first quarter of 2011, the unemployment insurance rate will be down to 6.5%. If it isn't~~~I'm holding the Republicans accountable. Two things would result. The Democrats would develop a united-front supporting Obama. And the Republicans would bear the responsibility of having to get the gilded class~~~to HIRE, instead of hording.
Thursday evening, I am invited to a Christmas Party of sorts at this new restaurant on Delaware Ave, in the Village of Kenmore. Now called the Delaware Restaurant, it was once-upon-a-time the area, Carvel ice Cream Store location!! While most of the very important persons in this extravaganza are affiliated with operations in the Town of Tonawanda, and the Village of Kenmore, there are some very very high ranking personalities from the City of Buffalo, and Erie County. Hand-shakes were aplenty.
New names and acquaintances were made. Some old friendships were further cultivated,
and some rough-edges were tapered and smoothed-over~~~and some assurances were made--- with the firmness of the hand-shake. Still a work in progress; some fruit may be appearing soon, on the vine.
My sister Rose is traveling up to Buffalo, with our University of Mississippi daughter Erica, just having completed the fall semester and returning home for the Christmas break. Rose is coming to Buffalo for an additional reason. She has put together a four-day-week-end at the Holiday Valley Ski Resort, for the family. I respectfully decline participating. The reason is that, for some time now, I had made a commitment to help with the Boxes of Love Christmas Outreach Program at their distribution location at the Frederick/Douglass Community Center on Friday, and the distribution
extravaganza that takes place on Saturday, at The Belle Center on Buffalo's Lower West Side. It is a program, and a disposition, that I feel a strong belief in, and have developed a very strong attachment to. You don't know, or really understand, until you sit, and are looking in the eyes of these men, and women. These are human beings, whom along with their children, would not otherwise have a Christmas. And yes, this can all be spun into a million different what-ifs, what-nots, and why-did-you-do-this, or why-didn't-you-do-that. It is Christmas. It is time to get the hands that were in the pockets, reaching out, and contributing, for a good cause. It is time to rejoice, proclaim, and have everybody share in the Good News of this Moment; the birth of Our Savior.
Time to digress, back to Tuesday. I had this dream that I can so vividly remember the detail of. I can even recount some of my thinking that was taking place in my head.
I'm in this office building, and there are at least two floors. I am on the second floor. Check this out!! I am walking around, on the second floor. And in walking around, I am light, fluid, and easy on my feet. At one point I'm even thinking...gee, I'm able to do this[walking], again. There is even this movement that I am undertaking near some elevators where I start to 'feel' like I actually skating backwards(dreams; they don't always stay with the grain!!!). Those that can skate backwards will understand this; those that can't will have to try to realize what I am trying to visualize!! When skating backwards, what you are doing, in rapid succession, while leading and digging in the back part of your blades, is a series of to-the-right cross-overs, and then---to-the-left cross-overs, with each skate. My brother Dominic developed this skill-set to where he was the starting defenseman for the 1974-1975 McKinley High School Screaming Eagles Varsity Hockey Championship team. While I was marginally capable with the skill-set, I was able to envision doing this very well~~~in my dream. There came this point in my dream, where I realized I was going to have to take the elevator to go to the first floor. And as I'm about to migrate over to the elevator, the following thought comes to me, "I better grab my two canes, I may need them. when I get downstairs."
Was I, in Heaven?!?!
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Ronald Edward Santo
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show...(the opening lines of David Copperfield as written by Charles Dickens;inspired by MTM). Or at least this ACCOUNT will, perhaps, have a reflection on whether I'm going to be the hero in my own life.
Sky gettin dark above me
Baby I need your lovin
Got to have all of your lovin
Baby I want your lovin~~~My Pledge of Love; Joe Jeffery Group, 1969
After my RailBarons.org experience on Tuesday AM, I found myself
doing some bops-and-weaves, and some musical-chairs with some
errands. These include Mang Rd/Park, Mickey-D's and the location with all the
crazy renovation now going on, at Sheridan Dr. & Delaware Ave.,
and Niagara Hobby~~~where, in taking my valued 2-8-8-2 articulated-mallet
locomotive to be serviced, as I'm scootering in, I am greeted by former
ABX/DHL casual employee, Anthony Aquisto. What does he do!?!? In front of
a number of customers and co-workers, he drops to his knees, and does
one-of-those, chanting---I'm-not-worthy; I'm-not-worthy!! We laughed; under my breath though, I'm pleading and gesturing to stop it already, and get up!!
I have never mentioned much of Anthony before because he was just a "casual"; would only get spotty work consideration. But when he would be on board, he always wanted to work in my area. We worked well together, and he always respected me because he saw
first-hand, the insanity of what I was up against, what I had to do to effect
my energies to complete my responsibilities, and some of the punks that would
conspire to make things more difficult for me than what already had existed.
That again, is Niagara Hobby & Crafts, Union Rd. Cheektowaga, NY.
Wednesday, there was nothing of real significance~~~in NORTHTOWNS!!!
But a cylinder-shaped 'band' of cloud-cover was creating a lake-effect
snow fall across South Buffalo, South-towns, Cheektowaga, Depew, and
the Western portion of THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY that created such
depth~~~and resulting chaos, that Buffalo/West Seneca ended up on
Thursday evening's, NBC & CBS NATIONAL NEWS!!! For all I know, we were probably
on ABC, too; I just couldn't get to that channel in time.
Thursday; since this is a journal I'm just going to post the attached this way,
and we'll see where this goes:
Thank you for your response to our WNYJOBS ad for a Part-Time Transportation Coordinator. We have been collecting and reviewing the candidate responses and are now reaching out to a group of individuals whose background seems suited for the position. As usual, we heard from a very diverse group and had a lot of work to do in narrowing the field. I would like to touch on a couple issues and make a couple requests before we move on to set up interviews.
1.The position is a Part-Time administrative position for the foreseeable future. And because of the part-time nature of the position, only statutory benefits are currently available. Although we are getting busier and I would love to see this change, I am asking each candidate to confirm that they understand this. As you can imagine, we are concerned about filling the position only to have someone leave us when they find full-time work.
2.Please provide us with your salary requirements and a list of references.
3.Finally, I’d like to try a little different approach to the initial interviews by asking each candidate to respond to a couple questions.
a.Please pick a specific job duty that you’ve had to perform in the past that you weren’t particularly fond of and explain why you feel that way about it.
b.Describe to us a work-related event that you were involved in where you had a great deal of fun, and explain why.
c.If you had the opportunity to work a flexible schedule, what would your preferred work schedule be, and why?
Thank you for your interest in our transportation position. We are interested in beginning interviews in the very near future so we look forward to your response and we wish you luck in the process.
Sincerely,
"Marcus" Regoord
Vice President - Finance & Administration
Marcus;
1. Yes I fully understand this to be a PART-TIME position. At this juncture in my life, this is the most suitable type of employment I am seeking. Your offer is consistent with my expectations. Salary expectations would be consistent with payroll structures already in place with your Payroll; Human Resources Departments.
2a. When Airborne/D H L Express chose, in 2007, to get away from loading the very transportable and movable COCHRANE CONTAINERS, and started loading the industry-norm; "A" CONTAINERS. That decision left me to completely fend for myself. I received absolutely no support from local management to make sure that the work that, in effect, was still available for me to undertake, was done so in a humane manner. In being left to my own resources, I was reduced to the resident freak-show. With the COCHRANE(C) Containers, I could 'cheat' mother nature and take advantage of structures and apparatus around me, to get the work done. With the larger "A" Containers, where it was like going in to, and out, of a house, there were no structures or apparatus to 'lean' against, or hold onto. So I was reduced to crawling on my hands-and-knees, and doing the 'letter-sort'.
2b. The AM sort!!!!! I was in my 'element'!!!!!! I ruled!!! I was so good, the industrial-engineers that came in and 'clocked' me~~~to everybody's chagrin~~~ended up basing the Northeast Region productivity standards, on my performances. 18 parcels a minute; one every three seconds, had to be pulled from a pallet, or "C" Container, and placed on conveyor belt for driver review and extraction. Whether the parcel was 5#, 15#, 35#, or 75#~~~that was the standard that was set.
2c. My preferred flex-time schedule would be full-time days; a few days a week. That would be, as if to say, 8AM-5PM kind of thing; possibly Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Or Monday, Wednesday, Thursday.
Marcus~~~you have asked some 'loaded' questions. I assume I would be given a face-to-face opportunity to amplify any points and concerns you may still have.
Lou Marconi 716.578.8568 cell phone
Friday; always interesting, often good, but this Friday would end up having
me, possess a heavy heart.
There are those of you in this viewing audience who know me well enough to know that a part of my persona; a part of my very essence, includes a metaphysical attachment with The Chicago Cubs. To begin with, one must understand that this attraction was incubated in an era when Major League Baseball(MLB), was still THE NATIONAL PAST-TIME. As kids, we longed for the lazy-crazy-hazy days of summer~~~to play sand-lot baseball!! In playing at our level, we, as well, wanted to know about mythical athletes playing in these mystical, Parthenon-type-shrines called, Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field, The Polo Grounds, Municipal Stadium, and Forbes Field, etc. So in 1961, because of this topical irregularity with Crosley Field, my initial draw was to the Cincinnati Reds. You see, the left-field-warning-track rested against an inclined area because a part of Cincinnati's drainage system, ran along that area of the stadium outfield. So when the left-fielder was retrieving a fly hit deep-to-left, he would have to run up an incline as he was about to encounter the field-field Fence!! Those kinds of nuances just left a lasting impression on me. But then something happened in 1963, that would have a profound effect on me. Kenneth Douglass Hubbs (December 23, 1941 - February 13, 1964) was an American second-baseman who played from 1961 to 1963 for the Chicago Cubs in the National League. He was killed in a plane crash near Provo, Utah prior to the 1964 season.
In his short big-league career, Hubbs was considered to be an excellent fielder but a poor hitter. In 1962, he became the first rookie to win a Gold Glove Award, and set several fielding records. Those achievements helped him win the MLB Rookie of the Year Award that season. At the time of his death, Hubbs was considered to be one of the best second basemen in the game.
When I learned of this plane crash, I became an instant Chicago Cubs, fan. In Hubbs, Chicago had a new-found sense of enthusiasm. There was this sense of a rebirth, a rejuvenation; an aspiration of attaining the National League Pennant for the first time since 1945. I got sucked into this same kind of excitement and enthusiasm. And why not?!?! In Ken's passing, his legacy, combined with one hell of a line-up, at least on paper, still suggested success was imminent.
Hell, the Cubs outfield already had hall-of-Famer, Billy Williams. As well, in the outfield, was this promising rookie, named Lou Brock~~~yeah, that Lou Brock.
The Lou Brock saga would be the start of the "crying of a million tears" that Ronald Edward Santo would often philosophically impart, when trying to come to terms with a set-back in Ron's professional and personal life.
In 1964, a promising young outfielder named Lou Brock was traded from the Chicago Cubs to the St. Louis Cardinals for Ernie Broglio. The trade became known as one of the most lopsided deals in baseball history, although few people could have predicted that outcome. At the time of the trade, Brock's best season at the plate had been an ordinary .263 and he was having trouble defensively, while Broglio had won 18 games twice in his career. Following the trade, Broglio would go on to win only seven more games and retire from baseball after three years, while Brock would lead the Cardinals to two world championships, become baseball's all-time stolen base leader, and be elected to the Hall of Fame.
The infield consisted of the now-famous double-play-combination of Kessinger-to-Beckert-to-Banks(...it is a great day to play baseball, let's play two!!!). The infield of The Chicago Cubs was anchored at third base by Ron Santo. Feisty, competitive, and yet down-to-earth, A rookie in 1960, Ron Santo was maturing as an athlete, a professional, and as a human being to where, by the late 1960's, he had become the iconic image of Wrigley Field, and the Chicago Cubs.
Then came 1969!! In Ron Santo's life-experiences, many of those million tears had to have occurred during the late summer of 1969. Throughout Spring and continuing well into the lazy-hazy-crazy days of Summer, by all accounts, The Chicago Cubs, behind the offensive and defensive play of Ron Santo, were destined for an appearance in the world Series!! But a Leo Durocher ill-timed vacation, a black-cat appearing in front of their visitors dugout during a NY Mets game, and Fate, would decide otherwise. And what should have been an uplifting baseball story focusing on the Cubs first pennant appearance since 1945 with Detroit, ended up becoming the Epic Saga of The Miracle Mets. 1969 would be the meteoric apex of Ron Santo's career.
A nine-time National League All-Star and five-time Gold Glove Award winner, Santo hit .277 with 365 doubles, 67 triples, 342 home runs, 1,331 RBI and 1,138 runs in 2,243 games covering 15 major league seasons with the Cubs (1960-73) and White Sox (1974).
In his 15-year career, Santo finished in the league top-10 in batting average three times, slugging percentage five times, on-base percentage seven times, base on balls nine times, games played eight times, home runs seven times, RBI eight times, runs scored three times and total bases five times.
He holds or shares many defensive records for third basemen, including most consecutive National League games at third base (364), most years leading the N.L. in putouts (seven), most years leading the N.L. in assists (seven straight), most years leading either league in total chances (nine) and most years leading either league in double plays (six).
Santo was a member of the Chicago Cubs radio team as an analyst since 1990 and was a pioneer in raising funds for juvenile diabetes research. For 32 years he hosted the Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes, which raised more than $40 million to support diabetes research, progress and continued hope for a cure.
Beloved Cubs iconic 3rd Baseman, Ron Santo died early Friday morning, at age 70. Ron Santo, a Nine-time All-Star, and longtime broadcaster, was truly a Chicago legend. The iconic third-baseman was referred to, by ESPN, and many other sports commentators, as the greatest player NEVER elected into the Hall of Fame. He wasn't Mr. Cub; that was Ernie Banks -- but Ron Santo was the next best thing. So it was with great sorrow that Cubs fans around the world reacted Friday when they learned Ronald Edward Santo had died from complications of bladder cancer.
That sadness is, as well, shared by myself. This essay is dedicated to you,
Ronald Edward Santo; February 25, 1940 – December 2, 2010.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
Sky gettin dark above me
Baby I need your lovin
Got to have all of your lovin
Baby I want your lovin~~~My Pledge of Love; Joe Jeffery Group, 1969
After my RailBarons.org experience on Tuesday AM, I found myself
doing some bops-and-weaves, and some musical-chairs with some
errands. These include Mang Rd/Park, Mickey-D's and the location with all the
crazy renovation now going on, at Sheridan Dr. & Delaware Ave.,
and Niagara Hobby~~~where, in taking my valued 2-8-8-2 articulated-mallet
locomotive to be serviced, as I'm scootering in, I am greeted by former
ABX/DHL casual employee, Anthony Aquisto. What does he do!?!? In front of
a number of customers and co-workers, he drops to his knees, and does
one-of-those, chanting---I'm-not-worthy; I'm-not-worthy!! We laughed; under my breath though, I'm pleading and gesturing to stop it already, and get up!!
I have never mentioned much of Anthony before because he was just a "casual"; would only get spotty work consideration. But when he would be on board, he always wanted to work in my area. We worked well together, and he always respected me because he saw
first-hand, the insanity of what I was up against, what I had to do to effect
my energies to complete my responsibilities, and some of the punks that would
conspire to make things more difficult for me than what already had existed.
That again, is Niagara Hobby & Crafts, Union Rd. Cheektowaga, NY.
Wednesday, there was nothing of real significance~~~in NORTHTOWNS!!!
But a cylinder-shaped 'band' of cloud-cover was creating a lake-effect
snow fall across South Buffalo, South-towns, Cheektowaga, Depew, and
the Western portion of THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY that created such
depth~~~and resulting chaos, that Buffalo/West Seneca ended up on
Thursday evening's, NBC & CBS NATIONAL NEWS!!! For all I know, we were probably
on ABC, too; I just couldn't get to that channel in time.
Thursday; since this is a journal I'm just going to post the attached this way,
and we'll see where this goes:
Thank you for your response to our WNYJOBS ad for a Part-Time Transportation Coordinator. We have been collecting and reviewing the candidate responses and are now reaching out to a group of individuals whose background seems suited for the position. As usual, we heard from a very diverse group and had a lot of work to do in narrowing the field. I would like to touch on a couple issues and make a couple requests before we move on to set up interviews.
1.The position is a Part-Time administrative position for the foreseeable future. And because of the part-time nature of the position, only statutory benefits are currently available. Although we are getting busier and I would love to see this change, I am asking each candidate to confirm that they understand this. As you can imagine, we are concerned about filling the position only to have someone leave us when they find full-time work.
2.Please provide us with your salary requirements and a list of references.
3.Finally, I’d like to try a little different approach to the initial interviews by asking each candidate to respond to a couple questions.
a.Please pick a specific job duty that you’ve had to perform in the past that you weren’t particularly fond of and explain why you feel that way about it.
b.Describe to us a work-related event that you were involved in where you had a great deal of fun, and explain why.
c.If you had the opportunity to work a flexible schedule, what would your preferred work schedule be, and why?
Thank you for your interest in our transportation position. We are interested in beginning interviews in the very near future so we look forward to your response and we wish you luck in the process.
Sincerely,
"Marcus" Regoord
Vice President - Finance & Administration
Marcus;
1. Yes I fully understand this to be a PART-TIME position. At this juncture in my life, this is the most suitable type of employment I am seeking. Your offer is consistent with my expectations. Salary expectations would be consistent with payroll structures already in place with your Payroll; Human Resources Departments.
2a. When Airborne/D H L Express chose, in 2007, to get away from loading the very transportable and movable COCHRANE CONTAINERS, and started loading the industry-norm; "A" CONTAINERS. That decision left me to completely fend for myself. I received absolutely no support from local management to make sure that the work that, in effect, was still available for me to undertake, was done so in a humane manner. In being left to my own resources, I was reduced to the resident freak-show. With the COCHRANE(C) Containers, I could 'cheat' mother nature and take advantage of structures and apparatus around me, to get the work done. With the larger "A" Containers, where it was like going in to, and out, of a house, there were no structures or apparatus to 'lean' against, or hold onto. So I was reduced to crawling on my hands-and-knees, and doing the 'letter-sort'.
2b. The AM sort!!!!! I was in my 'element'!!!!!! I ruled!!! I was so good, the industrial-engineers that came in and 'clocked' me~~~to everybody's chagrin~~~ended up basing the Northeast Region productivity standards, on my performances. 18 parcels a minute; one every three seconds, had to be pulled from a pallet, or "C" Container, and placed on conveyor belt for driver review and extraction. Whether the parcel was 5#, 15#, 35#, or 75#~~~that was the standard that was set.
2c. My preferred flex-time schedule would be full-time days; a few days a week. That would be, as if to say, 8AM-5PM kind of thing; possibly Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Or Monday, Wednesday, Thursday.
Marcus~~~you have asked some 'loaded' questions. I assume I would be given a face-to-face opportunity to amplify any points and concerns you may still have.
Lou Marconi 716.578.8568 cell phone
Friday; always interesting, often good, but this Friday would end up having
me, possess a heavy heart.
There are those of you in this viewing audience who know me well enough to know that a part of my persona; a part of my very essence, includes a metaphysical attachment with The Chicago Cubs. To begin with, one must understand that this attraction was incubated in an era when Major League Baseball(MLB), was still THE NATIONAL PAST-TIME. As kids, we longed for the lazy-crazy-hazy days of summer~~~to play sand-lot baseball!! In playing at our level, we, as well, wanted to know about mythical athletes playing in these mystical, Parthenon-type-shrines called, Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field, The Polo Grounds, Municipal Stadium, and Forbes Field, etc. So in 1961, because of this topical irregularity with Crosley Field, my initial draw was to the Cincinnati Reds. You see, the left-field-warning-track rested against an inclined area because a part of Cincinnati's drainage system, ran along that area of the stadium outfield. So when the left-fielder was retrieving a fly hit deep-to-left, he would have to run up an incline as he was about to encounter the field-field Fence!! Those kinds of nuances just left a lasting impression on me. But then something happened in 1963, that would have a profound effect on me. Kenneth Douglass Hubbs (December 23, 1941 - February 13, 1964) was an American second-baseman who played from 1961 to 1963 for the Chicago Cubs in the National League. He was killed in a plane crash near Provo, Utah prior to the 1964 season.
In his short big-league career, Hubbs was considered to be an excellent fielder but a poor hitter. In 1962, he became the first rookie to win a Gold Glove Award, and set several fielding records. Those achievements helped him win the MLB Rookie of the Year Award that season. At the time of his death, Hubbs was considered to be one of the best second basemen in the game.
When I learned of this plane crash, I became an instant Chicago Cubs, fan. In Hubbs, Chicago had a new-found sense of enthusiasm. There was this sense of a rebirth, a rejuvenation; an aspiration of attaining the National League Pennant for the first time since 1945. I got sucked into this same kind of excitement and enthusiasm. And why not?!?! In Ken's passing, his legacy, combined with one hell of a line-up, at least on paper, still suggested success was imminent.
Hell, the Cubs outfield already had hall-of-Famer, Billy Williams. As well, in the outfield, was this promising rookie, named Lou Brock~~~yeah, that Lou Brock.
The Lou Brock saga would be the start of the "crying of a million tears" that Ronald Edward Santo would often philosophically impart, when trying to come to terms with a set-back in Ron's professional and personal life.
In 1964, a promising young outfielder named Lou Brock was traded from the Chicago Cubs to the St. Louis Cardinals for Ernie Broglio. The trade became known as one of the most lopsided deals in baseball history, although few people could have predicted that outcome. At the time of the trade, Brock's best season at the plate had been an ordinary .263 and he was having trouble defensively, while Broglio had won 18 games twice in his career. Following the trade, Broglio would go on to win only seven more games and retire from baseball after three years, while Brock would lead the Cardinals to two world championships, become baseball's all-time stolen base leader, and be elected to the Hall of Fame.
The infield consisted of the now-famous double-play-combination of Kessinger-to-Beckert-to-Banks(...it is a great day to play baseball, let's play two!!!). The infield of The Chicago Cubs was anchored at third base by Ron Santo. Feisty, competitive, and yet down-to-earth, A rookie in 1960, Ron Santo was maturing as an athlete, a professional, and as a human being to where, by the late 1960's, he had become the iconic image of Wrigley Field, and the Chicago Cubs.
Then came 1969!! In Ron Santo's life-experiences, many of those million tears had to have occurred during the late summer of 1969. Throughout Spring and continuing well into the lazy-hazy-crazy days of Summer, by all accounts, The Chicago Cubs, behind the offensive and defensive play of Ron Santo, were destined for an appearance in the world Series!! But a Leo Durocher ill-timed vacation, a black-cat appearing in front of their visitors dugout during a NY Mets game, and Fate, would decide otherwise. And what should have been an uplifting baseball story focusing on the Cubs first pennant appearance since 1945 with Detroit, ended up becoming the Epic Saga of The Miracle Mets. 1969 would be the meteoric apex of Ron Santo's career.
A nine-time National League All-Star and five-time Gold Glove Award winner, Santo hit .277 with 365 doubles, 67 triples, 342 home runs, 1,331 RBI and 1,138 runs in 2,243 games covering 15 major league seasons with the Cubs (1960-73) and White Sox (1974).
In his 15-year career, Santo finished in the league top-10 in batting average three times, slugging percentage five times, on-base percentage seven times, base on balls nine times, games played eight times, home runs seven times, RBI eight times, runs scored three times and total bases five times.
He holds or shares many defensive records for third basemen, including most consecutive National League games at third base (364), most years leading the N.L. in putouts (seven), most years leading the N.L. in assists (seven straight), most years leading either league in total chances (nine) and most years leading either league in double plays (six).
Santo was a member of the Chicago Cubs radio team as an analyst since 1990 and was a pioneer in raising funds for juvenile diabetes research. For 32 years he hosted the Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes, which raised more than $40 million to support diabetes research, progress and continued hope for a cure.
Beloved Cubs iconic 3rd Baseman, Ron Santo died early Friday morning, at age 70. Ron Santo, a Nine-time All-Star, and longtime broadcaster, was truly a Chicago legend. The iconic third-baseman was referred to, by ESPN, and many other sports commentators, as the greatest player NEVER elected into the Hall of Fame. He wasn't Mr. Cub; that was Ernie Banks -- but Ron Santo was the next best thing. So it was with great sorrow that Cubs fans around the world reacted Friday when they learned Ronald Edward Santo had died from complications of bladder cancer.
That sadness is, as well, shared by myself. This essay is dedicated to you,
Ronald Edward Santo; February 25, 1940 – December 2, 2010.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Sheathe Your Swords
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show...(the opening lines of David Copperfield as written by Charles Dickens;inspired by MTM). Or at least this ACCOUNT will, perhaps, have a reflection on whether I'm going to be the hero in my own life.
A little death
Without mourning
No call
And no warning
Baby...a dangerous idea
That almost makes sense~~~U-2; Love is Blindness
I received a call from the Buffalo News, Tuesday; late morning. I'm at the Buffalo Historical Society, watching my 2-8-8-2 articulated-mallet locomotive perfectly navigating the RAILBARONS.ORG, H.O. track, in a clockwise manner, when I get this phone call. It is like birds-of-a-feather-flocking-together. I'm doing something I thoroughly enjoy, and I get this exciting phone call, as well. Damned it!!! I should have been a train engineer!! The Buffalo News called to inform me that they will print, the editorial comments I had emailed over the week-end, to them. And they will be printing this sometime, over the next seven days. The below is the advanced copy.
If they do not edit, and do print "...Sheathe your swords," this will be a truly memorable moment. The expression just fit, so I had to use it. And I have to give Norb Warnes credit for this material!!! We were the early part of a get-together at Malone's in Kenmore, NY in the middle of November. Those whom know me, know I like to keep things lively. Hey!! Come on~~~why not!! If you want to do that in a lounge, bring up politics. I did!!! Of course, most of the readership is thinking~~~why am I not surprised!?!? The conversation that ensues is getting animated, spontaneous, and intense, when out of the clear-blue, Norb exclaims~~~'Sheathe your swords'!!!!
We all laughed, interjected some points about The Gladiator movie, and for the rest of the evening, just to throw a curve into the mix, sheathe-your-swords would be called out.
The BELOW is the editorial that will appear in The Buffalo News:
Dear Editors;
For a president, who predicated his election campaign on hope, change, and original thinking, I am dumbfounded at what appears to be his old-school reaction to answer N. Korea's unprovoked use of deadly force against their neighbors to the south.
The first reaction by Obama was to pull out-of-the-deck, the old Cold-War-tactic 'card' of demonstrating a very visible military show-of-force; in effect, doing some sabre-rattling.
Sheathe your swords!!
The Walton Family may have gotten miffed, but this is the first thing I would have done to get China's attention to put immediate pressure on North Korea to cease and desist. I would have put an immediate halt to any off-loading of container ships currently docked in U.S. ports, and any container-ships enroute; to return to China.
An economic leveraged response to such a military threat that China can influence, will get China's attention immediately. The success of China's economy is hinged on the American market, its exports cater to.
Lou Marconi
This portion of the essay represents some additional perspective on this topical subject matter. North Korea as a nation, is what it is, because of China. Yes, it has its million-man army, and they are motivated because they are getting 3-square-meals a day, while the rest of North Korea is literally starving to death. But it is because of China that North Korea is able to give off the military machismo, that it does. I had heard earlier in this week how a pundit on N P R's On-POINT, hosted by Tom Ashbrook, tried to frame North Korea as only able to survive in the twenty-first century by sustaining the impregnable image of the military-behemoth; that anything less would reduce them to a level of mediocrity that would be unacceptable; in effect cultural suicide. Let us look for a minute, at CHINA. Once upon a time, their image was Mao Tse-tung, The Cultural Revolution, and a hard-core communism that had Stalin blushing. Where is China today??? Changed; in that economically, they are trying to model themselves after many of the capitalist, trade, and investment, strategies of the western world. And in doing so China has become a curious hybrid, that has become one the rising powers of the global economy(and I'm sure our Dan Panzica can share volumes on this point).
Here is what China ought to do. Tell North Korea to stop being a bully. Tell North Korea to change their attitude, and give them a public spanking. Then encourage them to go back to the sand-box, and play nice with their South Korean kindergarten classmates.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
A little death
Without mourning
No call
And no warning
Baby...a dangerous idea
That almost makes sense~~~U-2; Love is Blindness
I received a call from the Buffalo News, Tuesday; late morning. I'm at the Buffalo Historical Society, watching my 2-8-8-2 articulated-mallet locomotive perfectly navigating the RAILBARONS.ORG, H.O. track, in a clockwise manner, when I get this phone call. It is like birds-of-a-feather-flocking-together. I'm doing something I thoroughly enjoy, and I get this exciting phone call, as well. Damned it!!! I should have been a train engineer!! The Buffalo News called to inform me that they will print, the editorial comments I had emailed over the week-end, to them. And they will be printing this sometime, over the next seven days. The below is the advanced copy.
If they do not edit, and do print "...Sheathe your swords," this will be a truly memorable moment. The expression just fit, so I had to use it. And I have to give Norb Warnes credit for this material!!! We were the early part of a get-together at Malone's in Kenmore, NY in the middle of November. Those whom know me, know I like to keep things lively. Hey!! Come on~~~why not!! If you want to do that in a lounge, bring up politics. I did!!! Of course, most of the readership is thinking~~~why am I not surprised!?!? The conversation that ensues is getting animated, spontaneous, and intense, when out of the clear-blue, Norb exclaims~~~'Sheathe your swords'!!!!
We all laughed, interjected some points about The Gladiator movie, and for the rest of the evening, just to throw a curve into the mix, sheathe-your-swords would be called out.
The BELOW is the editorial that will appear in The Buffalo News:
Dear Editors;
For a president, who predicated his election campaign on hope, change, and original thinking, I am dumbfounded at what appears to be his old-school reaction to answer N. Korea's unprovoked use of deadly force against their neighbors to the south.
The first reaction by Obama was to pull out-of-the-deck, the old Cold-War-tactic 'card' of demonstrating a very visible military show-of-force; in effect, doing some sabre-rattling.
Sheathe your swords!!
The Walton Family may have gotten miffed, but this is the first thing I would have done to get China's attention to put immediate pressure on North Korea to cease and desist. I would have put an immediate halt to any off-loading of container ships currently docked in U.S. ports, and any container-ships enroute; to return to China.
An economic leveraged response to such a military threat that China can influence, will get China's attention immediately. The success of China's economy is hinged on the American market, its exports cater to.
Lou Marconi
This portion of the essay represents some additional perspective on this topical subject matter. North Korea as a nation, is what it is, because of China. Yes, it has its million-man army, and they are motivated because they are getting 3-square-meals a day, while the rest of North Korea is literally starving to death. But it is because of China that North Korea is able to give off the military machismo, that it does. I had heard earlier in this week how a pundit on N P R's On-POINT, hosted by Tom Ashbrook, tried to frame North Korea as only able to survive in the twenty-first century by sustaining the impregnable image of the military-behemoth; that anything less would reduce them to a level of mediocrity that would be unacceptable; in effect cultural suicide. Let us look for a minute, at CHINA. Once upon a time, their image was Mao Tse-tung, The Cultural Revolution, and a hard-core communism that had Stalin blushing. Where is China today??? Changed; in that economically, they are trying to model themselves after many of the capitalist, trade, and investment, strategies of the western world. And in doing so China has become a curious hybrid, that has become one the rising powers of the global economy(and I'm sure our Dan Panzica can share volumes on this point).
Here is what China ought to do. Tell North Korea to stop being a bully. Tell North Korea to change their attitude, and give them a public spanking. Then encourage them to go back to the sand-box, and play nice with their South Korean kindergarten classmates.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Dark Fridays
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show...(the opening lines of David Copperfield as written by Charles Dickens;inspired by MTM). Or at least this ACCOUNT will, perhaps, have a reflection on whether I'm going to be the hero in my own life.
Gentle now A tender breeze Blows/
Whispers through The Gran Torino/
Whistling another Tired song/
Engines humm And better dreams Grow/
Heart locked In a Gran Torino/
It beats A lonely rhythm All night long/
It beats A lonely rhythm All night long/
It beats A lonely rhythm All night long~~~Jamie Cullum - Gran Torino Lyrics
Over the previous week-end of 20 November, I get in the mail this solicitation from one of these 501(c) non-profits, looking for a donation. It is a non-profit, it is local, and as I'm reading the solicitation that is gushing all over, about these great and wondrous projects that they are undertaking, the proverbial 150-watt-light-bulb goes off in my head!! Wait a minute, I'm thinking, they want my money. Instead, I'll give them something better~~~ME!!! So on Monday, I devote time to put together a cover-letter and resume, and I send it to the President of VOICE-BUFFALO, Ava White. I trimmed the sails of the cover-letter right along the lines of the one I sent to The Catholic Charities, the week previous.
Given enough time to have this seed take root, I'll follow-up on this with Ava White. Certainly with the disruptive element of Thanksgiving, and Black Friday, I'll earmark into the middle of next-week, for the follow-up letter.
On Tuesday, I visited my friends Greg Stein, and Charlie, at the Buffalo Historical Society's WWW.RAILBARONS.ORG meeting. I had with me, my flagship locomotive to be allowed to have operating on their layout. This time, I was ready to take all of this, to the next-level. I had, in-tow, and was allowed to place on the layout, a compliment of my coal-car rolling-stock. Everything, for the most part, went to plan. I am going to try something different though, the next time I attend. Up until now, when putting the train onto the layout, I do so, having the train run counter-clockwise. In running counter-clockwise, the front single-axle truck of the articulated-mallet becomes vulnerable to this one straight-away turn-out(switch). The front truck will sometimes develop a mind-of-its-own and will try to navigate the not-thrown, turn-out. A derailment ensues; gggrrr!! At the H-O gauge level, re-railing~~~is truly, TOILING!!!
What physically helps the lead-truck to 'take-on-a-mind-of-its-own' is that just before the turnout there exists an oh-so-subtle 'bump'. By going clockwise, the turn-out will now have been cleared by the lead-truck, and in navigating the soft bump, the lead-truck will only have the straight-away to navigate across. I'm expecting the lead-truck to stay true, and stay on its rails.
Wednesday, I had this one PRETTY COOL experience!! The sun was out and my van was recently cleaned. I was in a plaza setting, covering a couple of 'ERRANDS' and in going across this one storefront window section, the image I observed was pretty cool.
I had gotten to see my van, all bright and shiny, with the brand-new USMC vehicle-flags all-aflutter!!! The reflection, AND IMAGE, that CAME BACK to me~~~glowed!!
Thursday: THANKSGIVING; the celebration of blessings and bounty!! And I did send out a greeting~~~To all whom I consider my dearest family & friends, and to your families, I sincerely pray for a most bountiful and memorable Thanksgiving!!! And, that the bounty bestowed on all of you, this THANKSGIVING DAY, continues to be provided to you, throughout your life.
And of course, like so many Thanksgiving gatherings, ours had all the attributes of lots of people, a cornucopia of edibles, and pomp & ceremony. But our Thanksgiving had this side-bar, that is, in effect, putting together a string of these~~~whereby I'm redefining---the subsequent Friday.
The Friday after Thanksgiving, 2008, my 1997 Dodge Caravan, with 190,000 miles already under its hood, blows its transmission. With me just losing my Airborne/D H L job, and the tranny replacement coming in at almost $2000.00, I am hugely deflated. This just takes the Thanksgiving spirit right out of me.
The early Friday morning after Thanksgiving, 2009, we wake up to our hot-water($$$$$$$) plumbing line ruptured, and spewing water for, God-only-knows, hours in our basement. After shutting off the cut-off valve, and then scrambling to find, and then paying, a plumber on the Holiday, I again had this sunken feeling.
What am I getting at????
Yeap!!!
Check this out!!!
5:00AM, our time, The Friday morning after Thanksgiving 2010, my night-stand phone is ringing. Of course, the first thought is---well, I can't say it here. I pick the phone up, and it is our daughter Erica calling, from Oxford, MS; 1100 miles away. Having had Supper with her Aunt, my Sister, at their Oxford, MS residence, Erica is now at her residence, sicker than a dog. She has already brought up her supper, five times, and is desperate for some help. We of course go into scramble-alert to try to make 'something' happen. My sister, Rose, is a trained critical-care nurse, and we are able to successfully contact her, and have her go over to Erica's residence to help and provide corrective-action. It wasn't an issue with the food, because nobody else was sick. Erica must have developed some degree of the flu-bug, and it was enough to get the better of her. The fall-out!?!? She is still bed-ridden Saturday. What breaks Erica's heart is that Saturday is Game-Day for Ole Miss. And being a loyal collegian, she would want to be a very visible part of the extravaganza!! Go Rebels!!!
Black Fridays; try DARK FRIDAYS.
NB: Hi, Lou!
This is Barry's wife, Kathy. Barry is unable to read anything on the computer right now as he is having problems with his eyes. He has diabetic retinopathy and has had laser on both eyes as well as a vitrectomy on one eye. This surgery, while stopping the bleeding, caused a small cataract to become a large cataract. In the meantime, the other eye is bleeding again from the retinopathy. He will have cataract surgery on Dec. 6 and will probably end up having a vitrectomy on the other eye. We will see the retina doctor again on Tues.
Aren't you glad you asked! In spite of all this, he is hanging in there. Our phone number is 702 633-5785. We are planning on being in Buffalo for a month this summer. When we came last summer our original plans fell through ( a house exchange with a friend) and we ended up staying with friends and relatives - half of the time in Canada. That's why getting together never materialized. I need to contact Susie McKnight for Barry and explain all of this to her too. Thanks for keeping in touch!
Kathy Goodwin
I sent this out as a NewsLetter, on Friday, and I will include this in my Web Log~~~to once again implore prayers for one-of-our-own. As the many battles that our Barry Goodwin has already had to contend with, cancer being the most serious, he is now in the midst of another health-related battle. Continue to include him, and his very very SUPPORTIVE wife Kathy, in your prayers.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
Roosters
Gentle now A tender breeze Blows/
Whispers through The Gran Torino/
Whistling another Tired song/
Engines humm And better dreams Grow/
Heart locked In a Gran Torino/
It beats A lonely rhythm All night long/
It beats A lonely rhythm All night long/
It beats A lonely rhythm All night long~~~Jamie Cullum - Gran Torino Lyrics
Over the previous week-end of 20 November, I get in the mail this solicitation from one of these 501(c) non-profits, looking for a donation. It is a non-profit, it is local, and as I'm reading the solicitation that is gushing all over, about these great and wondrous projects that they are undertaking, the proverbial 150-watt-light-bulb goes off in my head!! Wait a minute, I'm thinking, they want my money. Instead, I'll give them something better~~~ME!!! So on Monday, I devote time to put together a cover-letter and resume, and I send it to the President of VOICE-BUFFALO, Ava White. I trimmed the sails of the cover-letter right along the lines of the one I sent to The Catholic Charities, the week previous.
Given enough time to have this seed take root, I'll follow-up on this with Ava White. Certainly with the disruptive element of Thanksgiving, and Black Friday, I'll earmark into the middle of next-week, for the follow-up letter.
On Tuesday, I visited my friends Greg Stein, and Charlie, at the Buffalo Historical Society's WWW.RAILBARONS.ORG meeting. I had with me, my flagship locomotive to be allowed to have operating on their layout. This time, I was ready to take all of this, to the next-level. I had, in-tow, and was allowed to place on the layout, a compliment of my coal-car rolling-stock. Everything, for the most part, went to plan. I am going to try something different though, the next time I attend. Up until now, when putting the train onto the layout, I do so, having the train run counter-clockwise. In running counter-clockwise, the front single-axle truck of the articulated-mallet becomes vulnerable to this one straight-away turn-out(switch). The front truck will sometimes develop a mind-of-its-own and will try to navigate the not-thrown, turn-out. A derailment ensues; gggrrr!! At the H-O gauge level, re-railing~~~is truly, TOILING!!!
What physically helps the lead-truck to 'take-on-a-mind-of-its-own' is that just before the turnout there exists an oh-so-subtle 'bump'. By going clockwise, the turn-out will now have been cleared by the lead-truck, and in navigating the soft bump, the lead-truck will only have the straight-away to navigate across. I'm expecting the lead-truck to stay true, and stay on its rails.
Wednesday, I had this one PRETTY COOL experience!! The sun was out and my van was recently cleaned. I was in a plaza setting, covering a couple of 'ERRANDS' and in going across this one storefront window section, the image I observed was pretty cool.
I had gotten to see my van, all bright and shiny, with the brand-new USMC vehicle-flags all-aflutter!!! The reflection, AND IMAGE, that CAME BACK to me~~~glowed!!
Thursday: THANKSGIVING; the celebration of blessings and bounty!! And I did send out a greeting~~~To all whom I consider my dearest family & friends, and to your families, I sincerely pray for a most bountiful and memorable Thanksgiving!!! And, that the bounty bestowed on all of you, this THANKSGIVING DAY, continues to be provided to you, throughout your life.
And of course, like so many Thanksgiving gatherings, ours had all the attributes of lots of people, a cornucopia of edibles, and pomp & ceremony. But our Thanksgiving had this side-bar, that is, in effect, putting together a string of these~~~whereby I'm redefining---the subsequent Friday.
The Friday after Thanksgiving, 2008, my 1997 Dodge Caravan, with 190,000 miles already under its hood, blows its transmission. With me just losing my Airborne/D H L job, and the tranny replacement coming in at almost $2000.00, I am hugely deflated. This just takes the Thanksgiving spirit right out of me.
The early Friday morning after Thanksgiving, 2009, we wake up to our hot-water($$$$$$$) plumbing line ruptured, and spewing water for, God-only-knows, hours in our basement. After shutting off the cut-off valve, and then scrambling to find, and then paying, a plumber on the Holiday, I again had this sunken feeling.
What am I getting at????
Yeap!!!
Check this out!!!
5:00AM, our time, The Friday morning after Thanksgiving 2010, my night-stand phone is ringing. Of course, the first thought is---well, I can't say it here. I pick the phone up, and it is our daughter Erica calling, from Oxford, MS; 1100 miles away. Having had Supper with her Aunt, my Sister, at their Oxford, MS residence, Erica is now at her residence, sicker than a dog. She has already brought up her supper, five times, and is desperate for some help. We of course go into scramble-alert to try to make 'something' happen. My sister, Rose, is a trained critical-care nurse, and we are able to successfully contact her, and have her go over to Erica's residence to help and provide corrective-action. It wasn't an issue with the food, because nobody else was sick. Erica must have developed some degree of the flu-bug, and it was enough to get the better of her. The fall-out!?!? She is still bed-ridden Saturday. What breaks Erica's heart is that Saturday is Game-Day for Ole Miss. And being a loyal collegian, she would want to be a very visible part of the extravaganza!! Go Rebels!!!
Black Fridays; try DARK FRIDAYS.
NB: Hi, Lou!
This is Barry's wife, Kathy. Barry is unable to read anything on the computer right now as he is having problems with his eyes. He has diabetic retinopathy and has had laser on both eyes as well as a vitrectomy on one eye. This surgery, while stopping the bleeding, caused a small cataract to become a large cataract. In the meantime, the other eye is bleeding again from the retinopathy. He will have cataract surgery on Dec. 6 and will probably end up having a vitrectomy on the other eye. We will see the retina doctor again on Tues.
Aren't you glad you asked! In spite of all this, he is hanging in there. Our phone number is 702 633-5785. We are planning on being in Buffalo for a month this summer. When we came last summer our original plans fell through ( a house exchange with a friend) and we ended up staying with friends and relatives - half of the time in Canada. That's why getting together never materialized. I need to contact Susie McKnight for Barry and explain all of this to her too. Thanks for keeping in touch!
Kathy Goodwin
I sent this out as a NewsLetter, on Friday, and I will include this in my Web Log~~~to once again implore prayers for one-of-our-own. As the many battles that our Barry Goodwin has already had to contend with, cancer being the most serious, he is now in the midst of another health-related battle. Continue to include him, and his very very SUPPORTIVE wife Kathy, in your prayers.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
Roosters
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Internet Service Is No Longer Responding; GGGRRR
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show...(the opening lines of David Copperfield as written by Charles Dickens;inspired by MTM). Or at least this ACCOUNT will, perhaps, have a reflection on whether I'm going to be the hero in my own life.
Like the twilight in the road up ahead,
they don't see just where we're goin'.
And all the secrets in the Universe,
whisper in our ears
And all the years
will come and go,
take us up,
always up~~~~~Seals & Crofts - We May Never Pass This Way Again
Here is to you, John.
22 November, 2010, will remind us, once again, of one of the darkest days in American history. That, of course, is the day in 1963, when our President was assassinated. He was hardly past his first thousand days in office when John Fitzgerald Kennedy was killed by an assassin's bullets as his motorcade wound through Dallas, Texas. Kennedy was the youngest man elected President; he was the youngest to die.
In my age-group, we were 11, 12, 13 year-old children, at the time. And even at that age one could sense a freshness, a promise, a future, in the lives we were all looking forward to grow up in. Hell, in the previous October of 1962, this Man demonstrated leadership skills that had nuclear annihilation, narrowly avoided. Around this accomplishment, we sensed an almost deity level of influence that would bestow peace, harmony, and prosperity.
I still remember that Friday afternoon of 22 November 1963, in Sister Rachel's 7th Grade class at Annunciation when Sister Augustine got on the PA system to announce Our President John Fitzgerald Kennedy had been shot. And that he would soon die of those mortal wounds. That truly was...THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL.
"...Anybody here, seen my old friends Abraham, Martin, and John!?!?"
Between the dawning of the decade and the halfway mark, we saw a man reach near invincible stature as he defused a dispute that had global conflagration written all over it. We distinctly remember what we were doing on that infamous day, approximately one year later when this same man was reduced to mortal frailty by way of an assassin’s bullet. "A Chronicle"
God, I love Fridays. This Friday was no exception. I had an interesting experience while I was really trying to 'pour-it-on' at the Buffalo Employment Training Center, on 77 Goodell Street in downtown Buffalo NY.
I had encountered earlier in the week, a very very interesting employment opportunity, to respond to. And the response cut-off date wasn't till the end of the November, so I had some time to put some doodles together on it; to put a different 'angle' on me, so-to-speak, as an attention-getter. Friday, I decide, that on my NOTE-TO-SELF, I'm going to go-to-town, on it!!
With the proliferation of the INTER-NET, writing and corresponding, now has universal application; everybody is writing something; somewhere.
Now, more than ever, if you want to get somebody's attention, creative writing has to be taken to new levels.
So check this out!!! I want to get the cover letter just right. I want the cover letter to sing in four-part-harmony, how my work-world experiences blend right in and, as a result, will take The Company, and myself, to new attainment and recognition levels.
I am given two options for submittal; email, and snail mail. I decide, I'm going to do
BOTH.
In doing both, that means for the internet version I will have to set up an email message, with a couple of attachments(resume' & cover-letter). Regarding the email, my mind starts to think~~~OK, do I just send the per-your-instructions; blah, blah, blah email, or do I take this to the next level, too. Here is where it gets maddening!!
I must explain firstly that I have two email accounts. Among my family, friends, lovers, associates, and curiosity-seekers, I'm known on the internet as CrazieLou. And most everybody knows why, or has a somewhat-understanding, of why I still use that as my user-name.
But~~~in the work-a-day world, I must step into the phone-booth, and take on the appearance of LouMarconi@gmail.com. So I crank up the gmail account, and start my flowing soliloquy of creativity, explaining why my 'attached' is all The Company needs to be looking at, as their primary candidate for the position. As I'm moving along; as the words are coming in as gazillion-dollar value-markers, this DAMNED dialogue box appears telling me the internet carrier is NO LONGER RESPONDING; and asking if I WANT TO SEND A REPORT~~~OR NOT. In haste, I clicked the NOT box, and everything DISAPPEARED. I'm in the computer-commons area of the BETC. I said a bad word. Lots of people looked at me!! I, of course, humbly and sheepishly said, sorry. Many thoughts were going through my head. Most of them centered around trying, on a rough-draft basis, to come up with some assemblance of the words, expressions, and flow of the email that I was near complete on. I mean, this email was gone!! Both the AOL tab, and the GMAIL tab~~~were no longer on the status bar. GGGRRR!!!
So I crank the GMAIL email account back up, and try to RECREATE, what I was trying to say, earlier.
Ok!! So check this out!!
As I'm starting anew with this recreation, the corner of my one eye, is noticing something!! As I'm typing, and then exercising pregnant-pauses to try to find the next million-dollar word, my minds-eye starts to think, in OVERDRIVE!! What I'm noticing, is something that raises my eyebrow, and puts a glee-smile on my face. I'm thinking OMG; OK, how do navigate this complicated GMAIL format to FIND IT!!
What I'm getting at is that I have come to see, realize, and translate as to what THIS might possibly mean. What GMAIL has~~~that the others don't have, is AUTODRAFT SAVE!!!!!!
So I'm thinking, this has got to be SAVED somewhere; but where??? There isn't a SAVED icon, like there is on the AOL account. But lo-and-behold, I found it!!! I found my original GMAIL, with the attachments, and the essay material still there!!!
So I tidied it up; put the finishing touches on the gmail, and sent it off!!
Even the little triumphs, can provide the fuel~~~for the little engine, that could!!
And incidentally~~~Sheathe Your Sword!!!!
Great Wednesday Evening get-together at Malone's!!! Annunciation, Fallon, and McMahon high school friends in attendance. As usual, it was lively!!! At one point, I was told...
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
Like the twilight in the road up ahead,
they don't see just where we're goin'.
And all the secrets in the Universe,
whisper in our ears
And all the years
will come and go,
take us up,
always up~~~~~Seals & Crofts - We May Never Pass This Way Again
Here is to you, John.
22 November, 2010, will remind us, once again, of one of the darkest days in American history. That, of course, is the day in 1963, when our President was assassinated. He was hardly past his first thousand days in office when John Fitzgerald Kennedy was killed by an assassin's bullets as his motorcade wound through Dallas, Texas. Kennedy was the youngest man elected President; he was the youngest to die.
In my age-group, we were 11, 12, 13 year-old children, at the time. And even at that age one could sense a freshness, a promise, a future, in the lives we were all looking forward to grow up in. Hell, in the previous October of 1962, this Man demonstrated leadership skills that had nuclear annihilation, narrowly avoided. Around this accomplishment, we sensed an almost deity level of influence that would bestow peace, harmony, and prosperity.
I still remember that Friday afternoon of 22 November 1963, in Sister Rachel's 7th Grade class at Annunciation when Sister Augustine got on the PA system to announce Our President John Fitzgerald Kennedy had been shot. And that he would soon die of those mortal wounds. That truly was...THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL.
"...Anybody here, seen my old friends Abraham, Martin, and John!?!?"
Between the dawning of the decade and the halfway mark, we saw a man reach near invincible stature as he defused a dispute that had global conflagration written all over it. We distinctly remember what we were doing on that infamous day, approximately one year later when this same man was reduced to mortal frailty by way of an assassin’s bullet. "A Chronicle"
God, I love Fridays. This Friday was no exception. I had an interesting experience while I was really trying to 'pour-it-on' at the Buffalo Employment Training Center, on 77 Goodell Street in downtown Buffalo NY.
I had encountered earlier in the week, a very very interesting employment opportunity, to respond to. And the response cut-off date wasn't till the end of the November, so I had some time to put some doodles together on it; to put a different 'angle' on me, so-to-speak, as an attention-getter. Friday, I decide, that on my NOTE-TO-SELF, I'm going to go-to-town, on it!!
With the proliferation of the INTER-NET, writing and corresponding, now has universal application; everybody is writing something; somewhere.
Now, more than ever, if you want to get somebody's attention, creative writing has to be taken to new levels.
So check this out!!! I want to get the cover letter just right. I want the cover letter to sing in four-part-harmony, how my work-world experiences blend right in and, as a result, will take The Company, and myself, to new attainment and recognition levels.
I am given two options for submittal; email, and snail mail. I decide, I'm going to do
BOTH.
In doing both, that means for the internet version I will have to set up an email message, with a couple of attachments(resume' & cover-letter). Regarding the email, my mind starts to think~~~OK, do I just send the per-your-instructions; blah, blah, blah email, or do I take this to the next level, too. Here is where it gets maddening!!
I must explain firstly that I have two email accounts. Among my family, friends, lovers, associates, and curiosity-seekers, I'm known on the internet as CrazieLou. And most everybody knows why, or has a somewhat-understanding, of why I still use that as my user-name.
But~~~in the work-a-day world, I must step into the phone-booth, and take on the appearance of LouMarconi@gmail.com. So I crank up the gmail account, and start my flowing soliloquy of creativity, explaining why my 'attached' is all The Company needs to be looking at, as their primary candidate for the position. As I'm moving along; as the words are coming in as gazillion-dollar value-markers, this DAMNED dialogue box appears telling me the internet carrier is NO LONGER RESPONDING; and asking if I WANT TO SEND A REPORT~~~OR NOT. In haste, I clicked the NOT box, and everything DISAPPEARED. I'm in the computer-commons area of the BETC. I said a bad word. Lots of people looked at me!! I, of course, humbly and sheepishly said, sorry. Many thoughts were going through my head. Most of them centered around trying, on a rough-draft basis, to come up with some assemblance of the words, expressions, and flow of the email that I was near complete on. I mean, this email was gone!! Both the AOL tab, and the GMAIL tab~~~were no longer on the status bar. GGGRRR!!!
So I crank the GMAIL email account back up, and try to RECREATE, what I was trying to say, earlier.
Ok!! So check this out!!
As I'm starting anew with this recreation, the corner of my one eye, is noticing something!! As I'm typing, and then exercising pregnant-pauses to try to find the next million-dollar word, my minds-eye starts to think, in OVERDRIVE!! What I'm noticing, is something that raises my eyebrow, and puts a glee-smile on my face. I'm thinking OMG; OK, how do navigate this complicated GMAIL format to FIND IT!!
What I'm getting at is that I have come to see, realize, and translate as to what THIS might possibly mean. What GMAIL has~~~that the others don't have, is AUTODRAFT SAVE!!!!!!
So I'm thinking, this has got to be SAVED somewhere; but where??? There isn't a SAVED icon, like there is on the AOL account. But lo-and-behold, I found it!!! I found my original GMAIL, with the attachments, and the essay material still there!!!
So I tidied it up; put the finishing touches on the gmail, and sent it off!!
Even the little triumphs, can provide the fuel~~~for the little engine, that could!!
And incidentally~~~Sheathe Your Sword!!!!
Great Wednesday Evening get-together at Malone's!!! Annunciation, Fallon, and McMahon high school friends in attendance. As usual, it was lively!!! At one point, I was told...
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Week with the Frankie Valli Concert as the Capstone
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show...(the opening lines of David Copperfield as written by Charles Dickens;inspired by MTM). Or at least this ACCOUNT will, perhaps, have a reflection on whether I'm going to be the hero in my own life.
My eyes adored you
Though I never held a hand with you,
My eyes adored you
Like a million miles away from me you couldn't see
How I adored you:
So close, so close and yet so far away~~~somebody; doodling
I find myself, and the content of my journal for this week, in a bit of a quandary. I want this Web Log to act as a journal of my experiences; as an essay accounting for the aspects of my life, and to whom, therein, the hero might be determined. But damn it, I had a couple of experiences this week that, at least for now, must be kept sealed within my heart.
One of them took place on Monday, where, among other things, a set of 11/11's, came into play.
I see numbers as having an interplay with Fate, and life's experiences. Monday was Nov 8, 2010. November is one of the 11's in the first set, and~~~8 +2+0+1+0=11, which makes for the second 11, in the first set. And the time that I was involved in particular experience was at 11:11AM. For now, we will just put it as a beautiful day, with a beautiful landscape vista; with a
railroad track nearby, that just added to the aesthetics.
And Mikey J. called me in the afternoon. We are both checking notes and doing a 'little' follow-up on a project that I am working closely with him on. Here again, because I don't like to put a jinx on a bubble, to where it bursts, we will just say that
the 'project' seems to be, at least, in motion.
Tuesday AM, I went to the Buffalo Historical Society, and attended, as a guest, The RailBarons.Org meeting in the building-basement. As a 'guest' of the club, they allow me to operate my Appalachian 2-8-8-2 Rivarossi articulated-mallet locomotive on their layout. And that was a pretty cool experience for the two hours that I was there. I was pleased that everybody was
remarking how well the locomotive ran. There is a reason for that!!! Keep in mind that this locomotive was originally purchased, in 1967, from Sears, 1901 Main St. Buffalo, NY, in a post-Christmas sale, for $19.95. The locomotive is 44 years old!!! Why was it running so well?? Because, in effect, I almost bit off~~~more than I could chew!! About 4 weeks ago, on a Saturday, I set out to do a 'little' maintenance on the 'power' unit. Keep in mind that this locomotive is 44 years old. Included in that is the fact that the parts and assembly schematic, were lost~~~years ago. So as I'm disassembling, without my proper set of 'hobby' screwdrivers no less, from scratch, to properly grease the moving parts, and the screw-and-gear mechanisms, I'm beginning to panic. I'm looking at all of these little nuts, bolts, widgets, rods, and strange looking tongue-and-groove interlocking armatures, and I'm beginning to think~~~oh, oh---I'm in way over my head!!!! I stayed with it. Greased all of the moving parts, and did the reassembling. In the process, there was a couple of moments where I thought I was going to have to wrap everything up, and take the 'mess' to Niagara Hobby, and let them 'fix' it. As it turned out, I got it all lubed to run like greased-lightning, and run as quiet as if I had just pulled it out of its box. I have learned some short-cuts along the way, so the maintenance experience in the future should not be as hair-raising.
I may have to go back and edit this part, later. Something did develop in the PM, and for the life of me, I can't recall it right
now for my journal entry.
Wednesday had me down at The Belle Center, in the AM. I was there ostensibly, to pick up a box of peanut-butter-centered GIRL SCOUT Cookies. I had ordered them from one of the clients that uses one of the services of The Belle Center. I had actually kind of forgotten about the order, to be honest. But a phone call, from the client, brought it to mind, again. So along the way of picking up the box of cookies, I spend the morning making my rounds; trying to keep my networking contacts at The Belle Center still primed and ready to 'think' Lou Marconi, if YOUTH BUILD, or another similar project should materialize.
Thursday, I was all-day, at The Buffalo State College Butler Library. I was putting together material for a help=wanted ad that I had seen in WNYJOBS.COM. And on so many levels~~~but one, it was ME!!! Along with what I thought was a well-written cover letter, and resume, they were looking for a few examples of this one critical skill-set, as well. Electronically, I have these examples 'saved' all over the damned place!! So I'm going into all these different files to assess which will drive the point home, that I am the suitable candidate. Here is the one 'kicker'. I mean, like, whom are they looking for~~~Steve Jobs?!?!? Above and beyond everything else that this employer is looking for, they want somebody with WEB PAGE designer skills. So I put together 2 envelopes of a cover letter, resume, and examples~~~to pour it on!!! And I found some examples that had a 'Catholic' slant to them. It is said that when you write something, walk away from it for awhile to see if the effect you were trying to convey, did get conveyed. In this one example, when I originally wrote it over a year ago, now, it got me choked-up. I reread it Thursday, and I got choked-up, again!! So hopefully, they will see my assets, and realize they may have to hire an IT guy, as well.
And of course, Thursday: the 11th hour of the 11th day, of the 11th Month; November 1918, was Armistice/Veterans Day. So some time and effort was put into recognizing all those Veterans whom have served in our Armed Forces, and especially those whom have made The Ultimate Sacrifice, in the process.
Friday was a good day; a day with much on my mind, that at one point put me in such an anxiety-attack, that my spastic susceptible legs, went into spasticity-overdrive. I didn't want to take this one medicine that I have, because this medicine will make me drossy. Because of that, I normally take the medicine just before bed=time. Even though I had a Frankie Valli Concert at The Shea's Theatre that I was going to attend, and was going to have to drive, to get there, I took the medicine, anyways. I had to; I was in trouble, otherwise.
The Frankie Valli Concert was, in a word, incredible. As I posted on my FACEBOOK WALL: My Frank Sinatra; Frankie Valli!! Great Show!! Joe Rizzo, and his family are three rows in front of us!! Even as a kid, Joey already had a vinyl collection~~~to die for!!
The Buffalo News article below, pretty much covers every wonderful detail about the experience.
Hit-filled Valli performance combines history, artistry
By Garaud MacTaggart
CONTRIBUTING REVIEWER
Frankie Valli and his old cohorts in the Four Seasons are bona fide members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and “Jersey Boys,” the Broadway musical based on the early days of the Four Seasons, is a massive, globe-trotting hit.
Valli has one of the great falsetto voices in pop music and, by virtue of half a century of touring, knows how to work with an audience. All of this — the history and the artistry — came to Shea’s Performing Arts Center Friday night for what seemed like a reunion of a singer and his audience, with both sides drifting on the waves of remembrance.
Somewhere around the halfway point of the concert, Valli stopped for a bit to get cozy with his audience members and remind them that the Four Seasons used to hit Buffalo twice a year—playing Kleinhans in the winter, Melody Fair in the summer, and spending post-gig nights at places like the 747 Club. With each recitation of familiar names from the past, the crowd (and Shea’s was filled to the rafters) roared in appreciation.
As for the actual concert, it was a solid, well-performed, carefully crafted set that focused on the songs at the heart of Valli’s career.
At 74 years old, Valli was not moving around the stage with the same rhythmic grace of his youth, but that was part of the reason four young bucks were on stage with him, providing background harmonies and choreography. What Valli did have in abundance was a stage presence.
It wasn’t just that there was a historical figure up on the stage singing songs from the past; it was a legend commanding respect with succinct gestures that brought the audience along with him, reliving the lyrics and melodies that many of them grew up with.
Hit songs like “Dawn (Go Away),” “Working My Way Back to You” and “Who Loves You” from Valli’s days with the Four Seasons blended seamlessly with classics from his solo career like “My Eyes Adored You,” “December 1963 (Oh What a Night)” and “Grease.” He even did a mini-set of songs from the 1960s that were hits for other artists, including Ben E. King’s “Spanish Harlem” and a clever mash-up of the Temptations’ “My Girl,” with the Rascals “Groovin’.”
Toward the end of the show, Valli introduced the 10 members of his band (along with the five-piece, Buffalo-based horn section) and talked to the audience about music and life.
By the time he began the closing moments of his show by singing the very first hit song he had as a solo artist (“I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”), the fans in the house were in audible rapture.
It was a good gig.
One last reflection on the Concert. At one point, from the stage, he interludes his performance by way of having a conversation with the audience. He does this little routine where he spoofs hip-hop; then deadpans~~~how do you make love, to that?!?!? Everybody broke into laughter and applause!!
I wasn't going to put this in originally, but then decided to edit my Web Log to show this in my journal. Post-concert; and he showed me his VA Membership card with the VA symbol in the upper left-hand part of the vinyl card to validate his identity claim. A homeless Vet; a Marine from 1979, needed money so he could sleep for the night~~~in a warm bed, instead of out on the street. He needed 10 bucks to register into a hostel for a shower and a bed. I gave it to him~~~with my gruff voice; use it on the hostel~~~not on booz. He was so overwhelmed, that he gave me the can of Diet Coke he had stowed in his pocket, as a way of saying thanks. Moments; man!!! Moments!!! This is what Life is; moments. I can't even see what I am typing right now!!! My eyes are so blurry!!!!
Saturday, I went in for an oil change & an inspection~~~on a 2008 vehicle. I came out with an invoice a bit higher than I excepted!!! I have been trying to stay with the one dealership, and the one person in particular, that I have gotten to know.
May have to reassess a couple of factors, here.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
My eyes adored you
Though I never held a hand with you,
My eyes adored you
Like a million miles away from me you couldn't see
How I adored you:
So close, so close and yet so far away~~~somebody; doodling
I find myself, and the content of my journal for this week, in a bit of a quandary. I want this Web Log to act as a journal of my experiences; as an essay accounting for the aspects of my life, and to whom, therein, the hero might be determined. But damn it, I had a couple of experiences this week that, at least for now, must be kept sealed within my heart.
One of them took place on Monday, where, among other things, a set of 11/11's, came into play.
I see numbers as having an interplay with Fate, and life's experiences. Monday was Nov 8, 2010. November is one of the 11's in the first set, and~~~8 +2+0+1+0=11, which makes for the second 11, in the first set. And the time that I was involved in particular experience was at 11:11AM. For now, we will just put it as a beautiful day, with a beautiful landscape vista; with a
railroad track nearby, that just added to the aesthetics.
And Mikey J. called me in the afternoon. We are both checking notes and doing a 'little' follow-up on a project that I am working closely with him on. Here again, because I don't like to put a jinx on a bubble, to where it bursts, we will just say that
the 'project' seems to be, at least, in motion.
Tuesday AM, I went to the Buffalo Historical Society, and attended, as a guest, The RailBarons.Org meeting in the building-basement. As a 'guest' of the club, they allow me to operate my Appalachian 2-8-8-2 Rivarossi articulated-mallet locomotive on their layout. And that was a pretty cool experience for the two hours that I was there. I was pleased that everybody was
remarking how well the locomotive ran. There is a reason for that!!! Keep in mind that this locomotive was originally purchased, in 1967, from Sears, 1901 Main St. Buffalo, NY, in a post-Christmas sale, for $19.95. The locomotive is 44 years old!!! Why was it running so well?? Because, in effect, I almost bit off~~~more than I could chew!! About 4 weeks ago, on a Saturday, I set out to do a 'little' maintenance on the 'power' unit. Keep in mind that this locomotive is 44 years old. Included in that is the fact that the parts and assembly schematic, were lost~~~years ago. So as I'm disassembling, without my proper set of 'hobby' screwdrivers no less, from scratch, to properly grease the moving parts, and the screw-and-gear mechanisms, I'm beginning to panic. I'm looking at all of these little nuts, bolts, widgets, rods, and strange looking tongue-and-groove interlocking armatures, and I'm beginning to think~~~oh, oh---I'm in way over my head!!!! I stayed with it. Greased all of the moving parts, and did the reassembling. In the process, there was a couple of moments where I thought I was going to have to wrap everything up, and take the 'mess' to Niagara Hobby, and let them 'fix' it. As it turned out, I got it all lubed to run like greased-lightning, and run as quiet as if I had just pulled it out of its box. I have learned some short-cuts along the way, so the maintenance experience in the future should not be as hair-raising.
I may have to go back and edit this part, later. Something did develop in the PM, and for the life of me, I can't recall it right
now for my journal entry.
Wednesday had me down at The Belle Center, in the AM. I was there ostensibly, to pick up a box of peanut-butter-centered GIRL SCOUT Cookies. I had ordered them from one of the clients that uses one of the services of The Belle Center. I had actually kind of forgotten about the order, to be honest. But a phone call, from the client, brought it to mind, again. So along the way of picking up the box of cookies, I spend the morning making my rounds; trying to keep my networking contacts at The Belle Center still primed and ready to 'think' Lou Marconi, if YOUTH BUILD, or another similar project should materialize.
Thursday, I was all-day, at The Buffalo State College Butler Library. I was putting together material for a help=wanted ad that I had seen in WNYJOBS.COM. And on so many levels~~~but one, it was ME!!! Along with what I thought was a well-written cover letter, and resume, they were looking for a few examples of this one critical skill-set, as well. Electronically, I have these examples 'saved' all over the damned place!! So I'm going into all these different files to assess which will drive the point home, that I am the suitable candidate. Here is the one 'kicker'. I mean, like, whom are they looking for~~~Steve Jobs?!?!? Above and beyond everything else that this employer is looking for, they want somebody with WEB PAGE designer skills. So I put together 2 envelopes of a cover letter, resume, and examples~~~to pour it on!!! And I found some examples that had a 'Catholic' slant to them. It is said that when you write something, walk away from it for awhile to see if the effect you were trying to convey, did get conveyed. In this one example, when I originally wrote it over a year ago, now, it got me choked-up. I reread it Thursday, and I got choked-up, again!! So hopefully, they will see my assets, and realize they may have to hire an IT guy, as well.
And of course, Thursday: the 11th hour of the 11th day, of the 11th Month; November 1918, was Armistice/Veterans Day. So some time and effort was put into recognizing all those Veterans whom have served in our Armed Forces, and especially those whom have made The Ultimate Sacrifice, in the process.
Friday was a good day; a day with much on my mind, that at one point put me in such an anxiety-attack, that my spastic susceptible legs, went into spasticity-overdrive. I didn't want to take this one medicine that I have, because this medicine will make me drossy. Because of that, I normally take the medicine just before bed=time. Even though I had a Frankie Valli Concert at The Shea's Theatre that I was going to attend, and was going to have to drive, to get there, I took the medicine, anyways. I had to; I was in trouble, otherwise.
The Frankie Valli Concert was, in a word, incredible. As I posted on my FACEBOOK WALL: My Frank Sinatra; Frankie Valli!! Great Show!! Joe Rizzo, and his family are three rows in front of us!! Even as a kid, Joey already had a vinyl collection~~~to die for!!
The Buffalo News article below, pretty much covers every wonderful detail about the experience.
Hit-filled Valli performance combines history, artistry
By Garaud MacTaggart
CONTRIBUTING REVIEWER
Frankie Valli and his old cohorts in the Four Seasons are bona fide members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and “Jersey Boys,” the Broadway musical based on the early days of the Four Seasons, is a massive, globe-trotting hit.
Valli has one of the great falsetto voices in pop music and, by virtue of half a century of touring, knows how to work with an audience. All of this — the history and the artistry — came to Shea’s Performing Arts Center Friday night for what seemed like a reunion of a singer and his audience, with both sides drifting on the waves of remembrance.
Somewhere around the halfway point of the concert, Valli stopped for a bit to get cozy with his audience members and remind them that the Four Seasons used to hit Buffalo twice a year—playing Kleinhans in the winter, Melody Fair in the summer, and spending post-gig nights at places like the 747 Club. With each recitation of familiar names from the past, the crowd (and Shea’s was filled to the rafters) roared in appreciation.
As for the actual concert, it was a solid, well-performed, carefully crafted set that focused on the songs at the heart of Valli’s career.
At 74 years old, Valli was not moving around the stage with the same rhythmic grace of his youth, but that was part of the reason four young bucks were on stage with him, providing background harmonies and choreography. What Valli did have in abundance was a stage presence.
It wasn’t just that there was a historical figure up on the stage singing songs from the past; it was a legend commanding respect with succinct gestures that brought the audience along with him, reliving the lyrics and melodies that many of them grew up with.
Hit songs like “Dawn (Go Away),” “Working My Way Back to You” and “Who Loves You” from Valli’s days with the Four Seasons blended seamlessly with classics from his solo career like “My Eyes Adored You,” “December 1963 (Oh What a Night)” and “Grease.” He even did a mini-set of songs from the 1960s that were hits for other artists, including Ben E. King’s “Spanish Harlem” and a clever mash-up of the Temptations’ “My Girl,” with the Rascals “Groovin’.”
Toward the end of the show, Valli introduced the 10 members of his band (along with the five-piece, Buffalo-based horn section) and talked to the audience about music and life.
By the time he began the closing moments of his show by singing the very first hit song he had as a solo artist (“I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”), the fans in the house were in audible rapture.
It was a good gig.
One last reflection on the Concert. At one point, from the stage, he interludes his performance by way of having a conversation with the audience. He does this little routine where he spoofs hip-hop; then deadpans~~~how do you make love, to that?!?!? Everybody broke into laughter and applause!!
I wasn't going to put this in originally, but then decided to edit my Web Log to show this in my journal. Post-concert; and he showed me his VA Membership card with the VA symbol in the upper left-hand part of the vinyl card to validate his identity claim. A homeless Vet; a Marine from 1979, needed money so he could sleep for the night~~~in a warm bed, instead of out on the street. He needed 10 bucks to register into a hostel for a shower and a bed. I gave it to him~~~with my gruff voice; use it on the hostel~~~not on booz. He was so overwhelmed, that he gave me the can of Diet Coke he had stowed in his pocket, as a way of saying thanks. Moments; man!!! Moments!!! This is what Life is; moments. I can't even see what I am typing right now!!! My eyes are so blurry!!!!
Saturday, I went in for an oil change & an inspection~~~on a 2008 vehicle. I came out with an invoice a bit higher than I excepted!!! I have been trying to stay with the one dealership, and the one person in particular, that I have gotten to know.
May have to reassess a couple of factors, here.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
Saturday, November 6, 2010
November starts-up; Ebbs & Flows, But a Good Friday!
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show...(the opening lines of David Copperfield as written by Charles Dickens;inspired by MTM). Or at least this ACCOUNT will, perhaps, have a reflection on whether I'm going to be the hero in my own life.
Life is a beautiful thing
as long as I hold the string.
I'd be a silly so and so,
if I should ever let go---I've Got The World On A String~~~Frank Sinatra
The BELOW is inspired from a closing-out segment of a radio program I was listening to this Saturday morning. Weekend-Edition-Saturday, hosted by Scott Simon. where James Kaplan, author of the Book--- 'Frank: THE VOICE', was discussing in riveting detail of the early, and sometimes not-so-pleasant, years of Frank Sinatra's life. I found it, a gripping 'read'!!
It's 1941. Robert E. Lee Prewitt has requested Army transfer and has ended up at Schofield in Hawaii. His new captain, Dana Holmes, has heard of his boxing prowess and is keen to get him to represent the company. However, 'Prew' is adamant that he doesn't box anymore, so Captain Holmes gets his subordinates to make his life a living hell. Meanwhile Sergeant Warden starts seeing the captain's wife, who has a history of seeking external relief from a troubled marriage. Prew's friend Maggio has a few altercations with the sadistic stockade Sergeant 'Fatso' Judson, and Prew begins falling in love with social club employee Lorene. Unbeknownst to anyone, the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor looms in the distance. Written by Ed Sutton
The above is the STORYLINE for the blockbuster movie, FROM HERE, TO ETERNITY.
This is the movie with the famous, and jaw-dropping, movie-trailer scene. The trailer
has leading-role actor, Burt Lancaster, and leading-role actress Deborah Kerr, in the
throes of enraptured kissing on the beach while the waves that are settling in, wash
the two passionate lovers in a glistening glow.
For his performance, as Angelo Maggio, in a supporting-role, Frank Sinatra is awarded an OSCAR.
By way of listening to Public Radio International; NPR, Saturday AM, I was privileged to learn
some fascinating material regarding Frank Sinatra~~~at least, up through the early 50s.
Apparently, by 1952, he was at~~~wit's end. His career was tail-spinning, fast. The MGM Studio
had dropped him, and his original record-label had dropped him. And there was a scene in NYC having to do with Eddie Fisher, where all the young bobby-soxers were enthralled with Eddie Fisher,
and this just tore Sinatra to pieces. According to this biographer on WEEKEND EDITION, Sinatra was so down on himself, that he was exhibiting suicidal tendencies.
A selection from the book discloses:
"...Though Sinatra was a major hit with women, his own relationships were often fraught with conflict, as was the case with Ava Gardner.
"Despair was built into the DNA of that relationship," Kaplan says. "I think that Ava had the dream that they would settle down, but deep down she never wanted to have children. And Frank was a born wanderer."
It was rumored that Sinatra had tried to take his own life over the dissolution of his relationship with Gardner.
"Let me put it this way: There were about three occasions, possibly four, when he made suicide attempts. One of the suicide attempts, and this was after Ava had left him in 1953, was extremely grave. He slit his wrist and bled a great deal, and could have died."
Sinatra would end up staging one of the greatest show-business comebacks of all time, playing the role of Angelo Maggio in, From Here to Eternity.
Columbia Pictures was involved in a project where they wanted to tell a story about military life, and the days leading up to Pearl Harbor and December 7, 1941. The name of the motion picture is: FROM HERE TO ETERNITY.
The response to the OSCAR success is captivating. He hooks up with a new record-label, and develops an instant rapport with musical arranger Nelson Riddle. In the process, he 'cuts'
"I've Got The World On A String"---and Sinatra begins doing it~~~his way!!!!!!!
So while Monday is by-and-large uneventful, Tuesday has some footnotes to it.
I take a phone call from Ursula Davis who is the Director of Operations, at VIVE la Casa. And of course, she is calling me---so I respect her willingness to disclose the information to me, rather than me having to seek it out. And I respectfully and appreciatively engage her in conversation throughout the interactivity. As discussed in earlier entries, the conversation
centers around the possible AmeriCorps Buffalo second term placement at VIVE. I'm not sure what to make of the explanation, as if to say; was it a facade, or was she being straight-up with me? As previously mentioned, VIVE has only ONE clear and present objective. It is to provide haven for the persecuted refugees that are short-term in America, until they can get the right paper-work to establish permanent residence in Canada.
Ursula explains to me that while I have 'assets', and because of that, they therefore are going to hold on to my application paperwork, they are not going to accept me at this time. I would not be a good fit because I am seeking a full-time type of term, and what VIVE is undertaking right now is more short-term, in nature.
Frankly, I have no idea, what type of program they are trying to undertake, that would be---short-term. Short-term!?!? Not likely. While I accept the reply at face-value, I'm also thinking there may be an underlying reason for the non-implicating explanation. VIVE, is the old turn-of-the-twentieth-century St. Matthew's three-floor school house. According to Ursula, the building is grand-fathered from ADA regulations. And while there is ramping to navigate a scooter to the administrative floor from the outside, they have not invested in an elevator to get a scooter to the different floors, once inside. I'm more inclined to think that the inability to 'work' the other floors, is more the 'concern' about me, than the 'new' project being 'short-term'.
I nonetheless, thanked her, and she did pass along that I could additionally use her as a reference.
And, like the little-engine-that-could, I went on to follow-up-emails, and networking-enhancements at the B E T C @
77 Goodell St. Buffalo NY!!!
After the VIVE experience, I went to vote. I'm able to park at one of the two curb-side Handicap parking slots just outside of the voting door entrance to Kenmore-West High School. One of the candidates, in suit and tie, was at the 100' mark, handing out his literature. As I'm disembarking my van, I call out to him; "You want my vote~~~help me!!!" He comes over to me and says, "sure, what do I have to do?" I tell him that once I get my scooter out of my van, he is going to have to get the 130# scooter up the eight-inch curb, so that I can operate it on the sidewalk. I added that when he gets elected he is going to have to contact the Town of Tonawanda Supervisor and do appropriate CUT-AWAYS.
Here is how mindless regular people are with the needs of those handicapped. Keep in mind~~~the universal symbol for HANDICAP, is the wheelchair. And as I'm off-loading my scooter, I'm enlightening the candidate to this irregularity. There are these parking slots, with an eight-inch-high-curb, to negotiate. Without an AID, the person in a wheel-chair or scooter, because there is no accompanying cut-away to provide ascending, must drive in the street, one-quarter-mile down the road, on Highland Parkway, to the intersection, to have access to a cut-away. I told the candidate~~~bombastic!!! While the candidate did, sadly, lose, he did give me his home phone number. He is well-known in the 'Town' and after the protocol grieving time, I will call and remind him of the issue.
And while Wednesday was by-and-large uneventful~~~
Thursday was an anniversary, that had to be recognized, if you will.
4 November 2010, is the Second Anniversary of Our USMC Corporal
Philip Marconi being home, safe & sound. A veteran of 5 years of service, and
three combat-zone deployments, we humbly thank God for His Blessings in the return. The combat zone deployments included Fallujah, Ramadi, and Helmand Province Afghanistan. Those whom were attentive, know these to be some pretty hell-hole places to be in, when having to cover each-others backs.
And Fridays; Fridays are always Good!!!!
I had a great supper with my son Andrew, Friday evening. We don't spend much time together, and when it blossoms to the level of quality-time that was realized, I relished it as a gift; a Present Moment forever treasured. I was so moved by the whole EXPERIENCE, and I hi-lighted the aforementioned, because I felt it an incredible experience, that I commented on it as a FACEBOOK wall posting. A special 'shout-out' goes out to my son Andrew, for treating the Old-Man to supper Friday Evening~~~at the STAR OF INDIA Restaurant, Delaware Ave Kenmore NY. Great food, and very spontaneous, and engaging conversations. A Father couldn't have it, any better!!!! Thank you, Andrew!
The cap-stone though, was our Daughter Erica. On Friday, she was celebrating a mile-post. She was no longer a teen-ager.
On Friday, she turned 20 Years Old. And here, as well, I had to be the good and insightful Father, that all Fathers try to be, and put something, of substance, for her to hold onto. And certainly I did, in her Birthday Card. I did not want to be remiss, so I also placed a greeting on her FACEBOOK WALL.
Erica!!! On this profound mile-marker; no longer a teen-ager, I wish you a most Blessed and Happy 20th Birthday!! It is my sincerest prayer that the bounty and blessings that are bestowed on you, continue to embrace you throughout your life. Your very essence cultivates hospitality and fellowship. Love, Dad
While I, in-effect, observed Erica's Birthday, in-absencia, her Mother was able to attend the festivities in the University of Mississippi community of Oxford, MS, in person. My sister Rose was very accommodating and opened her house and heart up to all the extravaganzas.
And Saturday!?!? Spent more time with Andrew!! This could be interesting; regular-buds!! Did the: Five-Points-Bakery, Lexington CO-OP, Wegmans; 621 Amherst St., and Home Depot---shopping circuit..
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
Life is a beautiful thing
as long as I hold the string.
I'd be a silly so and so,
if I should ever let go---I've Got The World On A String~~~Frank Sinatra
The BELOW is inspired from a closing-out segment of a radio program I was listening to this Saturday morning. Weekend-Edition-Saturday, hosted by Scott Simon. where James Kaplan, author of the Book--- 'Frank: THE VOICE', was discussing in riveting detail of the early, and sometimes not-so-pleasant, years of Frank Sinatra's life. I found it, a gripping 'read'!!
It's 1941. Robert E. Lee Prewitt has requested Army transfer and has ended up at Schofield in Hawaii. His new captain, Dana Holmes, has heard of his boxing prowess and is keen to get him to represent the company. However, 'Prew' is adamant that he doesn't box anymore, so Captain Holmes gets his subordinates to make his life a living hell. Meanwhile Sergeant Warden starts seeing the captain's wife, who has a history of seeking external relief from a troubled marriage. Prew's friend Maggio has a few altercations with the sadistic stockade Sergeant 'Fatso' Judson, and Prew begins falling in love with social club employee Lorene. Unbeknownst to anyone, the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor looms in the distance. Written by Ed Sutton
The above is the STORYLINE for the blockbuster movie, FROM HERE, TO ETERNITY.
This is the movie with the famous, and jaw-dropping, movie-trailer scene. The trailer
has leading-role actor, Burt Lancaster, and leading-role actress Deborah Kerr, in the
throes of enraptured kissing on the beach while the waves that are settling in, wash
the two passionate lovers in a glistening glow.
For his performance, as Angelo Maggio, in a supporting-role, Frank Sinatra is awarded an OSCAR.
By way of listening to Public Radio International; NPR, Saturday AM, I was privileged to learn
some fascinating material regarding Frank Sinatra~~~at least, up through the early 50s.
Apparently, by 1952, he was at~~~wit's end. His career was tail-spinning, fast. The MGM Studio
had dropped him, and his original record-label had dropped him. And there was a scene in NYC having to do with Eddie Fisher, where all the young bobby-soxers were enthralled with Eddie Fisher,
and this just tore Sinatra to pieces. According to this biographer on WEEKEND EDITION, Sinatra was so down on himself, that he was exhibiting suicidal tendencies.
A selection from the book discloses:
"...Though Sinatra was a major hit with women, his own relationships were often fraught with conflict, as was the case with Ava Gardner.
"Despair was built into the DNA of that relationship," Kaplan says. "I think that Ava had the dream that they would settle down, but deep down she never wanted to have children. And Frank was a born wanderer."
It was rumored that Sinatra had tried to take his own life over the dissolution of his relationship with Gardner.
"Let me put it this way: There were about three occasions, possibly four, when he made suicide attempts. One of the suicide attempts, and this was after Ava had left him in 1953, was extremely grave. He slit his wrist and bled a great deal, and could have died."
Sinatra would end up staging one of the greatest show-business comebacks of all time, playing the role of Angelo Maggio in, From Here to Eternity.
Columbia Pictures was involved in a project where they wanted to tell a story about military life, and the days leading up to Pearl Harbor and December 7, 1941. The name of the motion picture is: FROM HERE TO ETERNITY.
The response to the OSCAR success is captivating. He hooks up with a new record-label, and develops an instant rapport with musical arranger Nelson Riddle. In the process, he 'cuts'
"I've Got The World On A String"---and Sinatra begins doing it~~~his way!!!!!!!
So while Monday is by-and-large uneventful, Tuesday has some footnotes to it.
I take a phone call from Ursula Davis who is the Director of Operations, at VIVE la Casa. And of course, she is calling me---so I respect her willingness to disclose the information to me, rather than me having to seek it out. And I respectfully and appreciatively engage her in conversation throughout the interactivity. As discussed in earlier entries, the conversation
centers around the possible AmeriCorps Buffalo second term placement at VIVE. I'm not sure what to make of the explanation, as if to say; was it a facade, or was she being straight-up with me? As previously mentioned, VIVE has only ONE clear and present objective. It is to provide haven for the persecuted refugees that are short-term in America, until they can get the right paper-work to establish permanent residence in Canada.
Ursula explains to me that while I have 'assets', and because of that, they therefore are going to hold on to my application paperwork, they are not going to accept me at this time. I would not be a good fit because I am seeking a full-time type of term, and what VIVE is undertaking right now is more short-term, in nature.
Frankly, I have no idea, what type of program they are trying to undertake, that would be---short-term. Short-term!?!? Not likely. While I accept the reply at face-value, I'm also thinking there may be an underlying reason for the non-implicating explanation. VIVE, is the old turn-of-the-twentieth-century St. Matthew's three-floor school house. According to Ursula, the building is grand-fathered from ADA regulations. And while there is ramping to navigate a scooter to the administrative floor from the outside, they have not invested in an elevator to get a scooter to the different floors, once inside. I'm more inclined to think that the inability to 'work' the other floors, is more the 'concern' about me, than the 'new' project being 'short-term'.
I nonetheless, thanked her, and she did pass along that I could additionally use her as a reference.
And, like the little-engine-that-could, I went on to follow-up-emails, and networking-enhancements at the B E T C @
77 Goodell St. Buffalo NY!!!
After the VIVE experience, I went to vote. I'm able to park at one of the two curb-side Handicap parking slots just outside of the voting door entrance to Kenmore-West High School. One of the candidates, in suit and tie, was at the 100' mark, handing out his literature. As I'm disembarking my van, I call out to him; "You want my vote~~~help me!!!" He comes over to me and says, "sure, what do I have to do?" I tell him that once I get my scooter out of my van, he is going to have to get the 130# scooter up the eight-inch curb, so that I can operate it on the sidewalk. I added that when he gets elected he is going to have to contact the Town of Tonawanda Supervisor and do appropriate CUT-AWAYS.
Here is how mindless regular people are with the needs of those handicapped. Keep in mind~~~the universal symbol for HANDICAP, is the wheelchair. And as I'm off-loading my scooter, I'm enlightening the candidate to this irregularity. There are these parking slots, with an eight-inch-high-curb, to negotiate. Without an AID, the person in a wheel-chair or scooter, because there is no accompanying cut-away to provide ascending, must drive in the street, one-quarter-mile down the road, on Highland Parkway, to the intersection, to have access to a cut-away. I told the candidate~~~bombastic!!! While the candidate did, sadly, lose, he did give me his home phone number. He is well-known in the 'Town' and after the protocol grieving time, I will call and remind him of the issue.
And while Wednesday was by-and-large uneventful~~~
Thursday was an anniversary, that had to be recognized, if you will.
4 November 2010, is the Second Anniversary of Our USMC Corporal
Philip Marconi being home, safe & sound. A veteran of 5 years of service, and
three combat-zone deployments, we humbly thank God for His Blessings in the return. The combat zone deployments included Fallujah, Ramadi, and Helmand Province Afghanistan. Those whom were attentive, know these to be some pretty hell-hole places to be in, when having to cover each-others backs.
And Fridays; Fridays are always Good!!!!
I had a great supper with my son Andrew, Friday evening. We don't spend much time together, and when it blossoms to the level of quality-time that was realized, I relished it as a gift; a Present Moment forever treasured. I was so moved by the whole EXPERIENCE, and I hi-lighted the aforementioned, because I felt it an incredible experience, that I commented on it as a FACEBOOK wall posting. A special 'shout-out' goes out to my son Andrew, for treating the Old-Man to supper Friday Evening~~~at the STAR OF INDIA Restaurant, Delaware Ave Kenmore NY. Great food, and very spontaneous, and engaging conversations. A Father couldn't have it, any better!!!! Thank you, Andrew!
The cap-stone though, was our Daughter Erica. On Friday, she was celebrating a mile-post. She was no longer a teen-ager.
On Friday, she turned 20 Years Old. And here, as well, I had to be the good and insightful Father, that all Fathers try to be, and put something, of substance, for her to hold onto. And certainly I did, in her Birthday Card. I did not want to be remiss, so I also placed a greeting on her FACEBOOK WALL.
Erica!!! On this profound mile-marker; no longer a teen-ager, I wish you a most Blessed and Happy 20th Birthday!! It is my sincerest prayer that the bounty and blessings that are bestowed on you, continue to embrace you throughout your life. Your very essence cultivates hospitality and fellowship. Love, Dad
While I, in-effect, observed Erica's Birthday, in-absencia, her Mother was able to attend the festivities in the University of Mississippi community of Oxford, MS, in person. My sister Rose was very accommodating and opened her house and heart up to all the extravaganzas.
And Saturday!?!? Spent more time with Andrew!! This could be interesting; regular-buds!! Did the: Five-Points-Bakery, Lexington CO-OP, Wegmans; 621 Amherst St., and Home Depot---shopping circuit..
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
Sunday, October 31, 2010
The Good, The Sad, and The Ugly~~~Sorry Hugh!!!
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show...(the opening lines of David Copperfield as written by Charles Dickens;inspired by MTM). Or at least this ACCOUNT will, perhaps, have a reflection on whether I'm going to be the hero in my own life.
Somewhere
We'll find a
new way of
living
We'll find a way
of forgiving
Somewhere
There's a place for us
A time and
place for us
Hold my hand
And we're
halfway there
Hold my hand
And I'll take
you there~~~~Somehow~~~~Someday~~~~Somewhere; WEST SIDE STORY: Somewhere
I start this essay with the experience that just knocked my lights out, drained me,
knocked me for a loop this week-end. Actually there were two experiences~~~but we
are only going to discuss one of them!!! This experience drained me so much that I'm still catching my breath to where I'm just now finding the energy to put some thoughts
into essay-form.
I'm referring to my Saturday 30 October 2010 effort with a LABOR REPRESENTATIVE TRAINEE; NYS CIVIL SERVICE TEST. Keep in mind, this is for a 'trainee' position, not second-tier management. In a word, I "bombed" it. C-4 explosives would not have done a kinder; more gentle job of destroying it. Except of the civil service test that I took on 15 May 2010, where I did exemplary in, I have a terrible track-record with these. And the ugly truth on this experience is that this trend is apparently going to continue!!
It was a grueling 135 question; 6 hour test. And there really wasn't any "gimme" section. Nothing more needs to be really said here other than I continue to hinge
the possibilities of a civil service position on the results of that 15 May test. I have had two canvasses already so hopefully, enough of the topside has been whittled away, and I may find a niche, soon.
I'm going to communion this Sunday 31 October at Mass, and am making my way up the center-aisle, in my scooter. As I'm nearing the communion area, the front few pews on the left and right of the center-aisle have Family Names reserved for baptisms, and the like. The Family Name on the left gets my attention immediately. And as soon as I disclose the name, there will be those of you reading this,
whom will KNOW where this tailwind will be taking this account. The pew was reserved for the Rittling Family.
Most of us remember, as kids, the Rittling Bottling Company that used to deliver chocolate milk and white milk~~~in bottles~~~to the Catholic grade schools in the Diocese of Buffalo. It was the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo's early and modest way of trying to infuse nutrition into the diets of children. Keep in mind that this is in an era where domestic matters~~~were private matters. There were no watchdog agencies and organizations, keeping a watchful eye on household matters, as there are now. The Rittling Family, as I was growing up, had nine sons, I'm to understand. I know that at least a couple~~~went to Cardinal Dougherty High School. John Rittling was of the Class of 1966. John Rittling, whom was related to these family members at the Mass, would not see graduation in 1966. And what would happen to John, would forever redefine how high school football practices would be conducted in Erie County. Before the Rittling guidelines, practices were usually conducted in an any-goes approach. Many coaches were doing CONTACT-SCRIMMAGES on the first days of practice. John was in one of those early-on contact-practice-scrimmages. He was carrying the ball on a running play, and while tackled, had his neck broken, and was killed. I felt it appropriate, all these years later, to pay-my-respects.
Now, some good correspondence. Friday night, 29 October 2010, at Salvatore's Italian Gardens, Bishop Fallon High School had its 9th Annual Hall of Fame Dinner. What was so special this year was that two-of-our-own were to be inducted!!! Classmates that were in attendance included: Dan Privitera, Norb Warnes. Mike Padalino, Sal Scibetta, Jimmy Cousins, Donny Haefner, Dave Bauer, Peter Mathias. Blaine Wegrzynowski, Robert Grunthaner, Jim Taggart, and Joe Barrile.
Carl Albert, the high school's physics teacher, was also the Varsity Tennis Coach. He was being recognized for taking the 1968 Varsity Tennis team to the WNY All-Catholic Championships. Carl was very affable, gracious, and reminiscent in his acceptance speech. He even disclosed some of the foibles he would use to try to engage and motivate his players with!! Several of the team-mates were in attendance, and a team photo was taken by Mike Padalino~~~who came equipped with a camera.
Then who was recognized was Jimmy Scime, a Class-of-1969 graduate. His accomplishments in baseball were prolific; at the high school, the university, and the local amateur MUNY baseball levels. He holds records at all those levels. But his most recognized accomplishment is at the professional level. He is the senior managing partner of one of the most prestigious law firms in Western New York; Lipsitz, Green, Scime, and Cambria, LLP. Jimmy's remarks were so personable, friendly, and engaging to the extent you thought he was sitting right next to you at the table and carrying on a conversation this you. At one point he is imparting this reflection about his father, with his father in attendance to be able to bear witness. And I was very touched by Scime's seasoned perspective on this one recount he would share. He was trying to explain how he ended up 'choosing' Bishop Fallon High School. We all have our story, and of course, Jimmy has his. Jimmy apparently lived in the TURNER High School area and, through his Father's encouragement, it made more sense to go all the way downtown via a bus and transfer, to go to Bishop Fallon, then to walk down the street to Turner!! I have to believe~~~at 14, his thoughts about his Father, and the Turner/Fallon thing probably had a different slant! And then the Scime Family moved to the Amherst area; the Willow Ridge area of Amherst when its development was just being undertaken. Now that had to be a hike by bus, to Bishop Fallon. But this is the recount that I really enjoyed. The family aspiration of getting into Canisius High School, by way of a school-sponsored scholarship-awarding spelling-bee contest. First prize; a full-scholarship. Second prize; a partial-scholarship.
Jimmy was doing well. He was down to being one of the finalist.
The word that became Jimmy's Achilles-heel~~~therapeutic(I didn't get spell-check!!!).
Jimmy spelled it: therapotic...
The winning word he knew how the spell:
M A Y O N N A I S E.
By the way; hold the mayonnaise!!!
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
Somewhere
We'll find a
new way of
living
We'll find a way
of forgiving
Somewhere
There's a place for us
A time and
place for us
Hold my hand
And we're
halfway there
Hold my hand
And I'll take
you there~~~~Somehow~~~~Someday~~~~Somewhere; WEST SIDE STORY: Somewhere
I start this essay with the experience that just knocked my lights out, drained me,
knocked me for a loop this week-end. Actually there were two experiences~~~but we
are only going to discuss one of them!!! This experience drained me so much that I'm still catching my breath to where I'm just now finding the energy to put some thoughts
into essay-form.
I'm referring to my Saturday 30 October 2010 effort with a LABOR REPRESENTATIVE TRAINEE; NYS CIVIL SERVICE TEST. Keep in mind, this is for a 'trainee' position, not second-tier management. In a word, I "bombed" it. C-4 explosives would not have done a kinder; more gentle job of destroying it. Except of the civil service test that I took on 15 May 2010, where I did exemplary in, I have a terrible track-record with these. And the ugly truth on this experience is that this trend is apparently going to continue!!
It was a grueling 135 question; 6 hour test. And there really wasn't any "gimme" section. Nothing more needs to be really said here other than I continue to hinge
the possibilities of a civil service position on the results of that 15 May test. I have had two canvasses already so hopefully, enough of the topside has been whittled away, and I may find a niche, soon.
I'm going to communion this Sunday 31 October at Mass, and am making my way up the center-aisle, in my scooter. As I'm nearing the communion area, the front few pews on the left and right of the center-aisle have Family Names reserved for baptisms, and the like. The Family Name on the left gets my attention immediately. And as soon as I disclose the name, there will be those of you reading this,
whom will KNOW where this tailwind will be taking this account. The pew was reserved for the Rittling Family.
Most of us remember, as kids, the Rittling Bottling Company that used to deliver chocolate milk and white milk~~~in bottles~~~to the Catholic grade schools in the Diocese of Buffalo. It was the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo's early and modest way of trying to infuse nutrition into the diets of children. Keep in mind that this is in an era where domestic matters~~~were private matters. There were no watchdog agencies and organizations, keeping a watchful eye on household matters, as there are now. The Rittling Family, as I was growing up, had nine sons, I'm to understand. I know that at least a couple~~~went to Cardinal Dougherty High School. John Rittling was of the Class of 1966. John Rittling, whom was related to these family members at the Mass, would not see graduation in 1966. And what would happen to John, would forever redefine how high school football practices would be conducted in Erie County. Before the Rittling guidelines, practices were usually conducted in an any-goes approach. Many coaches were doing CONTACT-SCRIMMAGES on the first days of practice. John was in one of those early-on contact-practice-scrimmages. He was carrying the ball on a running play, and while tackled, had his neck broken, and was killed. I felt it appropriate, all these years later, to pay-my-respects.
Now, some good correspondence. Friday night, 29 October 2010, at Salvatore's Italian Gardens, Bishop Fallon High School had its 9th Annual Hall of Fame Dinner. What was so special this year was that two-of-our-own were to be inducted!!! Classmates that were in attendance included: Dan Privitera, Norb Warnes. Mike Padalino, Sal Scibetta, Jimmy Cousins, Donny Haefner, Dave Bauer, Peter Mathias. Blaine Wegrzynowski, Robert Grunthaner, Jim Taggart, and Joe Barrile.
Carl Albert, the high school's physics teacher, was also the Varsity Tennis Coach. He was being recognized for taking the 1968 Varsity Tennis team to the WNY All-Catholic Championships. Carl was very affable, gracious, and reminiscent in his acceptance speech. He even disclosed some of the foibles he would use to try to engage and motivate his players with!! Several of the team-mates were in attendance, and a team photo was taken by Mike Padalino~~~who came equipped with a camera.
Then who was recognized was Jimmy Scime, a Class-of-1969 graduate. His accomplishments in baseball were prolific; at the high school, the university, and the local amateur MUNY baseball levels. He holds records at all those levels. But his most recognized accomplishment is at the professional level. He is the senior managing partner of one of the most prestigious law firms in Western New York; Lipsitz, Green, Scime, and Cambria, LLP. Jimmy's remarks were so personable, friendly, and engaging to the extent you thought he was sitting right next to you at the table and carrying on a conversation this you. At one point he is imparting this reflection about his father, with his father in attendance to be able to bear witness. And I was very touched by Scime's seasoned perspective on this one recount he would share. He was trying to explain how he ended up 'choosing' Bishop Fallon High School. We all have our story, and of course, Jimmy has his. Jimmy apparently lived in the TURNER High School area and, through his Father's encouragement, it made more sense to go all the way downtown via a bus and transfer, to go to Bishop Fallon, then to walk down the street to Turner!! I have to believe~~~at 14, his thoughts about his Father, and the Turner/Fallon thing probably had a different slant! And then the Scime Family moved to the Amherst area; the Willow Ridge area of Amherst when its development was just being undertaken. Now that had to be a hike by bus, to Bishop Fallon. But this is the recount that I really enjoyed. The family aspiration of getting into Canisius High School, by way of a school-sponsored scholarship-awarding spelling-bee contest. First prize; a full-scholarship. Second prize; a partial-scholarship.
Jimmy was doing well. He was down to being one of the finalist.
The word that became Jimmy's Achilles-heel~~~therapeutic(I didn't get spell-check!!!).
Jimmy spelled it: therapotic...
The winning word he knew how the spell:
M A Y O N N A I S E.
By the way; hold the mayonnaise!!!
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Journey for Week ending 23 October 2010
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show...(the opening lines of David Copperfield as written by Charles Dickens;inspired by MTM). Or at least this ACCOUNT will, perhaps, have a reflection on whether I'm going to be the hero in my own life.
...The story of our love,
Is an endless story never to be lost,
I don’t know if I will ever see him again,
But I always keep my fingers crossed.*******Knight in Shining Armor***Margery Wang
First full week that I was not doing anything hands-on related to my AmeriCorps Buffalo
volunteer activity at the belle Center and the Portal Program. I certainly felt a sense of emptiness. The emptiness inspired me to write a short essay about my feelings to Michael Rivera , who is a director for career development at the University of Buffalo, and is also the President of the Board of Directors at The Belle Center. My thoughts were as follows:
Dear Mr. Michael Rivera;
In coming together with AmeriCorps Buffalo, and getting assigned to The Belle Center, I felt I had found a real CALLING, working with the underprivileged, disadvantaged, and marginalized Hispanic community of the Lower West Side. I was asked specifically to help fulfill The Portal Program's objective of getting 17-24 year-old young adults, ready for the "work world." At anytime, such a task is daunting. But in light of the current socioeconomic circumstances that our culture and society finds itself in, the challenge to fulfill the program objectives, is escalated. The idea is to develop soft skills; life skills exposure, and set-up participation-structures that can manifest hard-and-fast work-world skill-sets. The results would be getting the necessary tools-in-the-tool-belt, so-to-speak, to get these young adults groomed for work-world-readiness, and life-style self-sustainability. I felt driven to undertake the objectives of this program~~~and run with it. There certainly was a real need for this; to encourage the Trades and the Vocations as a viable career opportunity. And then, to get the young adult ushered into such a program and having them getting their feet wet through the hands-on exposure.
Through the contacts; through the public relations work, which I worked diligently to establish, avenues were getting paved to facilitate the Portal Program objectives. Additional endeavors such as The Vocational Trade Fair, and the TRAVELING-ROAD-SHOW, where the Portal Program Director Michael Szymanski, and myself, visited entry-level apprenticeship building-trades training facilities, helped these partnerships become more congenial. These visitations took place in Rochester, NY, Ithaca, NY, and a state-of-the-art facility in Richfield, Ohio.
Mr. Rivera, in cutting this path, this AmeriCorps Buffalo volunteer at The Belle Center Portal Program, put his heart, soul, mind, inspiration, and very being into every single aspect of THIS CALLING. I found that I had always conducted myself with a conviction that this is Substantive, this is Righteous, and this had developed a momentum where the Program was actually starting to bear some fruit!!!
I felt this Portal Program was more than just filling 'time' as an AmeriCorps term obligation.
While the first term has ended, the Need is still~~~very evident.
I as well, recognize the importance of protocol. So I made it a point first thing Monday AM, to get a THANK YOU card to Ursula Davis, the Director of Operations at
VIVE la Casa. VIVE, as you may recall, is the community out-reach facility that the
powers-to-be, are trying to arrange a second AmeriCorps Buffalo volunteer at.
And what put some misled optimism in this was an article in the BUFFALO NEWS that
gave the 'impression' of AmeriCorps Buffalo getting some 'new' financial life-blood.
I emailed an associate that I trust with his directness and transparency~~~and he replied, explaining the REALITY:
Subject: Buffalo News
Updated: October 18, 2010, 6:40 AM
Buffalo AmeriCorps and staff at the Belle Center will receive funding for the 2010-11 fiscal year after the decision not to fund the program was overturned.
Buffalo AmeriCorps recently got a $283,277 State Commission on National and Community Service grant.
The Buffalo AmeriCorps program, based in the Belle Center, provides resources towards socioeconomic advancement in the community through service. In the past three years, $206,000 in education awards have been given to members who successfully completed their term of service.
...and Dr Jack's reply:
The Buffalo News took a month to put this in. There is no change from what you have previously been told, that we are reduced to 25 Corps Members and that puts us under a fiscal strain that does not completely support Buffalo AmeriCorps. Because of that the match is paramount, without a match from others, we cannot support the program. I can’t give you any more specifics about your placement, that is in the hands of Daytuan and Pam. Otherwise I want to be transparent with you. Essentially the News piece was old news to you. Pat, the security guy had a similar perception, so we will have to deal with such.
When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced; live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.
Cherokee Saying
During such a transition, the idea of trying to CREATE an opportunity, takes hold. I had recently developed a rapport with an operative from GERARD PLACE who had just started exploring the idea of an in-house young-adult work-world-readiness Program of their own. Well wait-a-minute, I thought. Why re-invent the wheel, when GERARD PLACE can just park me in a chair. Of course like anything else, the seed is planted and we will see if, and how well, it takes root.
With some free time, I thought I was going to go to the Buffalo Historical Society Tuesday AM, to the Railroad Barons Club, to have my 2-8-8-2 articulated mallet run as a guest-locomotive, but that got pushed aside by another 'matter' that I had to attend to at the Buffalo State College Kangaroo Court. It related to an alleged handicap parking-infraction.
Ticked-off; Over-the-Top!!! C-4!?!? Buffalo State College, and the surrounding community, would have been~~~done-like-dinner!
Having gotten that off my chest, I decided for Wednesday AM, I was going to go to 'my-trax' and watch some real trains!! So I watched a STACKABLES rolling-stock freight-train, with three diesels and 117 rail-cars, go by. And after that, there was this AMTRAK!! Damned, that Angel~~~was flying!! Those engineers don't waste time opening the diesel engines, up!!
Alright; fun-time over, so it was back to the program at hand. Had to get my networking element up to 'grade', at the BUFFALO EMPLOYMENT TRAINING CENTER(BETC). So I made my 'rounds' there, both face-to-face, and by way of email.
I must submit this.
Keep in mind. the BETC has; now check this out, 11 dedicated handicap parking slots. ALL are occupied. With the universal symbol for handicap being the wheelchair, I'm thinking, I'm going to go in there, and we are going to have a wheelchair/scooter basketball game in progress!!
Then we wonder why New York State, and Social Security is 'broke'. In all of the BETC, besides myself, there was only one other person that was 'handicapped'; using a cane. While I had to park at the other end of the lot, because we have thousands of people out of work in the Buffalo area, I at least had my scooter with me to cover the distance. I was so happy, too. While it was pricey, I now have a brand-new battery, and charger to keep my scooter "juiced."
Through Wednesday, it was appearing that there might be a couple of us that were feeling like the kid leaning up against the fence in the school-yard, waiting as the team-captains were making their choices~~~and never getting picked.
But Thursday was interesting~~~on a couple of different levels.
In the AM, Michael Szymanski of The Belle Center, actually initiated a cell phone
call to me. While it wasn't going to happen overnight, apparently there is some
conversation about a youth-development project that may come to fruition sometime
after the First-of-the Year. The one critical element is the data-entry; registration process. Dr Jack Norton would like the process to be the NYSDOL; AOSOS procedure. At The Belle Center, I was the only one that KNOWS that procedure. So another
seed is planted. We'll see what happens with this one.
I get a 'break' on some scooter-charger pricing at Sheridan Surgical and the Buffalo State College Butler Library usage, through emails, makes for a very very PRODUCTIVE afternoon.
On Friday I wanted to follow through with protocol, again. I called Ursula Davis, of VIVE la Casa, to ask for a progress-report, if you will, on the AmeriCorps Buffalo volunteer-placement there. The conversation was upbeat, and gave me every impression that the placement had me ear-marked, as soon as 'matching-funds' were approved. Assuming that was straight-up, and not double-talk, I'm being given the understanding that once we are into November, a decision should be made. She initiated a thank-you to me, for the THANK-YOU-CARD that I sent to her, and an engaging conversation developed around that!! Talking-points such as smiling faces while interacting with clients, and positive energy to make the client feel at-home, seemed to resonate well with her.
By late Friday evening, I'm spending five hours just reflecting, going over notes, thinking happy thoughts, finding out The Rangers dumped the Yankees~~~and feeling that I too, would be~~~the little engine, that could.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
NB: So I finish this Web log at 5:02PM of Saturday~~~and at 5:10PM,
I receive this email from Dr. Jack Norton of The Belle Center;
-----Original Message-----
From: Jack Norton
To: crazielou@aol.com
Cc: Mike Szymanski; Otu Obot II
Sent: Sat, Oct 23, 2010 5:10 pm
Subject: OSOS
Lou, I have a question. Does the OSOS keep any or all of the following numbers in its system? Foster care and justice system are two of the things that I am not sure we have data on. The rest are a bit easier.
Does OSOS allow you to build a report which we can access? I need to actually include reports in the proposal I am working on. Let me know what you think.
2.7
Specify the number of youth, ages 9-24, your organization serves who fall within one or more of the following categories. Please provide actual figures for last year and projections for the current year:
· Youth in and/or transitioning out of the criminal justice system
Last year:Current year:
· Youth who have dropped out or are at high risk of dropping out of school
Last year:Current year:
· Youth who are both out of school and out of work
Last year:Current year:
· Youth in or transitioning out of foster care
Last year:Current year:
· Youth involved in or in danger of engaging in high-risk behaviors such as criminal activity and/or teen pregnancy
Last year:Current year:
· Youth from low-income households as defined by federal guidelines (households earning at or below 200% of the federal poverty level) or from a geographic area defined as a low-income community
Last year:Current year:
When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced; live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.
Cherokee Saying
Jack Norton, EdD
Program Development
The Belle Center
Home of Buffalo AmeriCorps
104 Maryland Street
Buffalo, NY 14201
716-845-0485, Ext. 28
Fax: 716-845-0486
http://www.thebellecenter.org/
Of course, I replied~~~immediately:
In all instances, the items below can be documented in the Comments TAB.
In some of the SPECIFICS below, there is actual PROVIDER tabs, and EMPLOYER tabs that
allow details to be disseminated.
And in each these TABS there are sub-tabs that allow for entries to detail more specific information.
A long-form 'report' on a client(I'm assuming this is what you mean, when you 'say' report), could be
copy & pasted into the COMMENT tab. I'm not sure of character-count in COMMENTS as my comments
on Portal Program clients tended to be short and to the point. Like many things~~~even COMMENTS
can be 'worked' to fit the need.
One would just copy & paste a series of COMMENTS, until the 'report' was~~~completely filed.
Lou Marconi
716.578.8568
...and the beat goes on!!!!!!!
...The story of our love,
Is an endless story never to be lost,
I don’t know if I will ever see him again,
But I always keep my fingers crossed.*******Knight in Shining Armor***Margery Wang
First full week that I was not doing anything hands-on related to my AmeriCorps Buffalo
volunteer activity at the belle Center and the Portal Program. I certainly felt a sense of emptiness. The emptiness inspired me to write a short essay about my feelings to Michael Rivera , who is a director for career development at the University of Buffalo, and is also the President of the Board of Directors at The Belle Center. My thoughts were as follows:
Dear Mr. Michael Rivera;
In coming together with AmeriCorps Buffalo, and getting assigned to The Belle Center, I felt I had found a real CALLING, working with the underprivileged, disadvantaged, and marginalized Hispanic community of the Lower West Side. I was asked specifically to help fulfill The Portal Program's objective of getting 17-24 year-old young adults, ready for the "work world." At anytime, such a task is daunting. But in light of the current socioeconomic circumstances that our culture and society finds itself in, the challenge to fulfill the program objectives, is escalated. The idea is to develop soft skills; life skills exposure, and set-up participation-structures that can manifest hard-and-fast work-world skill-sets. The results would be getting the necessary tools-in-the-tool-belt, so-to-speak, to get these young adults groomed for work-world-readiness, and life-style self-sustainability. I felt driven to undertake the objectives of this program~~~and run with it. There certainly was a real need for this; to encourage the Trades and the Vocations as a viable career opportunity. And then, to get the young adult ushered into such a program and having them getting their feet wet through the hands-on exposure.
Through the contacts; through the public relations work, which I worked diligently to establish, avenues were getting paved to facilitate the Portal Program objectives. Additional endeavors such as The Vocational Trade Fair, and the TRAVELING-ROAD-SHOW, where the Portal Program Director Michael Szymanski, and myself, visited entry-level apprenticeship building-trades training facilities, helped these partnerships become more congenial. These visitations took place in Rochester, NY, Ithaca, NY, and a state-of-the-art facility in Richfield, Ohio.
Mr. Rivera, in cutting this path, this AmeriCorps Buffalo volunteer at The Belle Center Portal Program, put his heart, soul, mind, inspiration, and very being into every single aspect of THIS CALLING. I found that I had always conducted myself with a conviction that this is Substantive, this is Righteous, and this had developed a momentum where the Program was actually starting to bear some fruit!!!
I felt this Portal Program was more than just filling 'time' as an AmeriCorps term obligation.
While the first term has ended, the Need is still~~~very evident.
I as well, recognize the importance of protocol. So I made it a point first thing Monday AM, to get a THANK YOU card to Ursula Davis, the Director of Operations at
VIVE la Casa. VIVE, as you may recall, is the community out-reach facility that the
powers-to-be, are trying to arrange a second AmeriCorps Buffalo volunteer at.
And what put some misled optimism in this was an article in the BUFFALO NEWS that
gave the 'impression' of AmeriCorps Buffalo getting some 'new' financial life-blood.
I emailed an associate that I trust with his directness and transparency~~~and he replied, explaining the REALITY:
Subject: Buffalo News
Updated: October 18, 2010, 6:40 AM
Buffalo AmeriCorps and staff at the Belle Center will receive funding for the 2010-11 fiscal year after the decision not to fund the program was overturned.
Buffalo AmeriCorps recently got a $283,277 State Commission on National and Community Service grant.
The Buffalo AmeriCorps program, based in the Belle Center, provides resources towards socioeconomic advancement in the community through service. In the past three years, $206,000 in education awards have been given to members who successfully completed their term of service.
...and Dr Jack's reply:
The Buffalo News took a month to put this in. There is no change from what you have previously been told, that we are reduced to 25 Corps Members and that puts us under a fiscal strain that does not completely support Buffalo AmeriCorps. Because of that the match is paramount, without a match from others, we cannot support the program. I can’t give you any more specifics about your placement, that is in the hands of Daytuan and Pam. Otherwise I want to be transparent with you. Essentially the News piece was old news to you. Pat, the security guy had a similar perception, so we will have to deal with such.
When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced; live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.
Cherokee Saying
During such a transition, the idea of trying to CREATE an opportunity, takes hold. I had recently developed a rapport with an operative from GERARD PLACE who had just started exploring the idea of an in-house young-adult work-world-readiness Program of their own. Well wait-a-minute, I thought. Why re-invent the wheel, when GERARD PLACE can just park me in a chair. Of course like anything else, the seed is planted and we will see if, and how well, it takes root.
With some free time, I thought I was going to go to the Buffalo Historical Society Tuesday AM, to the Railroad Barons Club, to have my 2-8-8-2 articulated mallet run as a guest-locomotive, but that got pushed aside by another 'matter' that I had to attend to at the Buffalo State College Kangaroo Court. It related to an alleged handicap parking-infraction.
Ticked-off; Over-the-Top!!! C-4!?!? Buffalo State College, and the surrounding community, would have been~~~done-like-dinner!
Having gotten that off my chest, I decided for Wednesday AM, I was going to go to 'my-trax' and watch some real trains!! So I watched a STACKABLES rolling-stock freight-train, with three diesels and 117 rail-cars, go by. And after that, there was this AMTRAK!! Damned, that Angel~~~was flying!! Those engineers don't waste time opening the diesel engines, up!!
Alright; fun-time over, so it was back to the program at hand. Had to get my networking element up to 'grade', at the BUFFALO EMPLOYMENT TRAINING CENTER(BETC). So I made my 'rounds' there, both face-to-face, and by way of email.
I must submit this.
Keep in mind. the BETC has; now check this out, 11 dedicated handicap parking slots. ALL are occupied. With the universal symbol for handicap being the wheelchair, I'm thinking, I'm going to go in there, and we are going to have a wheelchair/scooter basketball game in progress!!
Then we wonder why New York State, and Social Security is 'broke'. In all of the BETC, besides myself, there was only one other person that was 'handicapped'; using a cane. While I had to park at the other end of the lot, because we have thousands of people out of work in the Buffalo area, I at least had my scooter with me to cover the distance. I was so happy, too. While it was pricey, I now have a brand-new battery, and charger to keep my scooter "juiced."
Through Wednesday, it was appearing that there might be a couple of us that were feeling like the kid leaning up against the fence in the school-yard, waiting as the team-captains were making their choices~~~and never getting picked.
But Thursday was interesting~~~on a couple of different levels.
In the AM, Michael Szymanski of The Belle Center, actually initiated a cell phone
call to me. While it wasn't going to happen overnight, apparently there is some
conversation about a youth-development project that may come to fruition sometime
after the First-of-the Year. The one critical element is the data-entry; registration process. Dr Jack Norton would like the process to be the NYSDOL; AOSOS procedure. At The Belle Center, I was the only one that KNOWS that procedure. So another
seed is planted. We'll see what happens with this one.
I get a 'break' on some scooter-charger pricing at Sheridan Surgical and the Buffalo State College Butler Library usage, through emails, makes for a very very PRODUCTIVE afternoon.
On Friday I wanted to follow through with protocol, again. I called Ursula Davis, of VIVE la Casa, to ask for a progress-report, if you will, on the AmeriCorps Buffalo volunteer-placement there. The conversation was upbeat, and gave me every impression that the placement had me ear-marked, as soon as 'matching-funds' were approved. Assuming that was straight-up, and not double-talk, I'm being given the understanding that once we are into November, a decision should be made. She initiated a thank-you to me, for the THANK-YOU-CARD that I sent to her, and an engaging conversation developed around that!! Talking-points such as smiling faces while interacting with clients, and positive energy to make the client feel at-home, seemed to resonate well with her.
By late Friday evening, I'm spending five hours just reflecting, going over notes, thinking happy thoughts, finding out The Rangers dumped the Yankees~~~and feeling that I too, would be~~~the little engine, that could.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
NB: So I finish this Web log at 5:02PM of Saturday~~~and at 5:10PM,
I receive this email from Dr. Jack Norton of The Belle Center;
-----Original Message-----
From: Jack Norton
To: crazielou@aol.com
Cc: Mike Szymanski
Sent: Sat, Oct 23, 2010 5:10 pm
Subject: OSOS
Lou, I have a question. Does the OSOS keep any or all of the following numbers in its system? Foster care and justice system are two of the things that I am not sure we have data on. The rest are a bit easier.
Does OSOS allow you to build a report which we can access? I need to actually include reports in the proposal I am working on. Let me know what you think.
2.7
Specify the number of youth, ages 9-24, your organization serves who fall within one or more of the following categories. Please provide actual figures for last year and projections for the current year:
· Youth in and/or transitioning out of the criminal justice system
Last year:Current year:
· Youth who have dropped out or are at high risk of dropping out of school
Last year:Current year:
· Youth who are both out of school and out of work
Last year:Current year:
· Youth in or transitioning out of foster care
Last year:Current year:
· Youth involved in or in danger of engaging in high-risk behaviors such as criminal activity and/or teen pregnancy
Last year:Current year:
· Youth from low-income households as defined by federal guidelines (households earning at or below 200% of the federal poverty level) or from a geographic area defined as a low-income community
Last year:Current year:
When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced; live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.
Cherokee Saying
Jack Norton, EdD
Program Development
The Belle Center
Home of Buffalo AmeriCorps
104 Maryland Street
Buffalo, NY 14201
716-845-0485, Ext. 28
Fax: 716-845-0486
http://www.thebellecenter.org/
Of course, I replied~~~immediately:
In all instances, the items below can be documented in the Comments TAB.
In some of the SPECIFICS below, there is actual PROVIDER tabs, and EMPLOYER tabs that
allow details to be disseminated.
And in each these TABS there are sub-tabs that allow for entries to detail more specific information.
A long-form 'report' on a client(I'm assuming this is what you mean, when you 'say' report), could be
copy & pasted into the COMMENT tab. I'm not sure of character-count in COMMENTS as my comments
on Portal Program clients tended to be short and to the point. Like many things~~~even COMMENTS
can be 'worked' to fit the need.
One would just copy & paste a series of COMMENTS, until the 'report' was~~~completely filed.
Lou Marconi
716.578.8568
...and the beat goes on!!!!!!!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
A Not-so-Happy Friday
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show...(the opening lines of David Copperfield as written by Charles Dickens;inspired by MTM). Or at least this ACCOUNT will, perhaps, have a reflection on whether I'm going to be the hero in my own life.
...And I don't want to live without you anymore.
Can't you see I'm in misery?
And you know for sure
I would live and die for you
And I'd know just what to do when you call you, Baby
Ted Nugent; Damned Yankees~~~High Enough
As an addendum~~~a special thank you is extended to some very special, close, and sincere friends whom have been very supportive of me, over these last couple of weeks.
So I find myself, at this point in my adult life, doing something that I had never ever undertaken before, in my wildest dreams! I had always worked in the private-sector of the economy, and I would always be doing something that had to do with the minutae and genre of company business. In the process, I had never done anything having to do with out-reach and community service.
So in coming together with AmeriCorps Buffalo, and getting assigned to the non-governmental organization(NGO) of The Belle Center, I had found myself right in the middle of the underprivileged, disadvantaged, and marginalized Hispanic community of the Lower West Side. Through a series of in-house meetings and discussions, I find myself placed in an operation called the Portal Program. It is a program that is in its infancy stages, at the The Belle Center. I'm brought into the picture, to give it some legs, so-to-speak(and there is certainly a 'play' on those words).
The Portal Program's objective is to get 17-24 year-old young adults, ready for the "work world." Am I in over-my-head?? Maybe. But like EVERYTHING else I step into,
I find the energy to overcome, and win~~~everyday. At anytime, such a task is daunting. But in light of the current socio-economic circumstances that our culture and society finds itself in, the challenge to fulfill the program objectives, is escalated. The idea is to impart soft skills; life skills exposure, and set-up participation structures that can develop hard-and-fast work-world skill-sets. The results would be getting the necessary tools-in-the-tool-belt, so-to-speak, to get these young adults groomed for work-world-readiness, and life-style self-sustainability.
Where do I start???
To begin with, something inside of ME, was going through a metamorphosis. I saw myself as the knight in shining-armor, on that trusted Steed; the Flag-ship of this Mission, if you will. I felt driven to undertake the objectives of this program~~~and run with it. There certainly was a real need for this; to encourage the Trades and the Vocations as a viable career opportunity. And then, how to get the young adult ushered into such a program and having them getting their feet wet through the hands-on exposure.
Through the contacts, through the public relations work, through The Vocational Trade Fair, and through the TRAVELING-ROAD-SHOW where the Portal Program Director and myself visited building-trades entry-level apprenticeship training facilities, partnerships were FORGED. These visitations took place in Rochester, NY, Ithaca, NY, and a state-of-the-art facility in Richfield, Ohio.
In cutting this path, this AmeriCorps Buffalo volunteer at The Belle Center Portal Program, put his heart, soul, mind, inspiration, and very being into every single aspect of THIS CALLING. I found that I had always conducted myself with a conviction that this is Substantive, this is Righteous, and this had developed a momentum where the Program was actually starting to bear some fruit!!!
And then I walk into the Portal Program this week of October 16, and find out I'm getting my last volunteer stipend. I'm informed that due to funds-depletion and politics, a program that has become so integrated into the community it serves~~~is now discontinued. In effect Lou Marconi, you, and all those in the community you have been reaching out to, are no longer important; no longer relevant.
That hurts.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
...And I don't want to live without you anymore.
Can't you see I'm in misery?
And you know for sure
I would live and die for you
And I'd know just what to do when you call you, Baby
Ted Nugent; Damned Yankees~~~High Enough
As an addendum~~~a special thank you is extended to some very special, close, and sincere friends whom have been very supportive of me, over these last couple of weeks.
So I find myself, at this point in my adult life, doing something that I had never ever undertaken before, in my wildest dreams! I had always worked in the private-sector of the economy, and I would always be doing something that had to do with the minutae and genre of company business. In the process, I had never done anything having to do with out-reach and community service.
So in coming together with AmeriCorps Buffalo, and getting assigned to the non-governmental organization(NGO) of The Belle Center, I had found myself right in the middle of the underprivileged, disadvantaged, and marginalized Hispanic community of the Lower West Side. Through a series of in-house meetings and discussions, I find myself placed in an operation called the Portal Program. It is a program that is in its infancy stages, at the The Belle Center. I'm brought into the picture, to give it some legs, so-to-speak(and there is certainly a 'play' on those words).
The Portal Program's objective is to get 17-24 year-old young adults, ready for the "work world." Am I in over-my-head?? Maybe. But like EVERYTHING else I step into,
I find the energy to overcome, and win~~~everyday. At anytime, such a task is daunting. But in light of the current socio-economic circumstances that our culture and society finds itself in, the challenge to fulfill the program objectives, is escalated. The idea is to impart soft skills; life skills exposure, and set-up participation structures that can develop hard-and-fast work-world skill-sets. The results would be getting the necessary tools-in-the-tool-belt, so-to-speak, to get these young adults groomed for work-world-readiness, and life-style self-sustainability.
Where do I start???
To begin with, something inside of ME, was going through a metamorphosis. I saw myself as the knight in shining-armor, on that trusted Steed; the Flag-ship of this Mission, if you will. I felt driven to undertake the objectives of this program~~~and run with it. There certainly was a real need for this; to encourage the Trades and the Vocations as a viable career opportunity. And then, how to get the young adult ushered into such a program and having them getting their feet wet through the hands-on exposure.
Through the contacts, through the public relations work, through The Vocational Trade Fair, and through the TRAVELING-ROAD-SHOW where the Portal Program Director and myself visited building-trades entry-level apprenticeship training facilities, partnerships were FORGED. These visitations took place in Rochester, NY, Ithaca, NY, and a state-of-the-art facility in Richfield, Ohio.
In cutting this path, this AmeriCorps Buffalo volunteer at The Belle Center Portal Program, put his heart, soul, mind, inspiration, and very being into every single aspect of THIS CALLING. I found that I had always conducted myself with a conviction that this is Substantive, this is Righteous, and this had developed a momentum where the Program was actually starting to bear some fruit!!!
And then I walk into the Portal Program this week of October 16, and find out I'm getting my last volunteer stipend. I'm informed that due to funds-depletion and politics, a program that has become so integrated into the community it serves~~~is now discontinued. In effect Lou Marconi, you, and all those in the community you have been reaching out to, are no longer important; no longer relevant.
That hurts.
--{-=@
Hickok
The Promise
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