A nice, steady rain in the morning.
Kings may rise and kings may fall, but eating and talking goes on and on.
The Blizzard River ride opened at Riverside today. I drove out after 10:30am and it was no longer raining much. I made copies at Breckwood and picked up the new Valley Advocate, which has several articles by Maureen Turner. They are keeping Mo busy while underutilizing Stephanie Kraft. I'd like to find out more about the personal politics of that.
From there I drove into the city and parked on Edwards. They were putting up lettering on the front of Westfield Bank. Paid the waterbill and swiped some posters off the City Hall boards. Nardi has moved out of his office in by the Springfield Parking Commission and Stage West, sandwiched between them. Cutting over to Just Friends, I encountered Joe Carvalho and his jovial, tall, lawyer friend in a tan suit, coming around the corner. I said, "Good day, gentlemen!" However, Carvalho and his friend said nothing and just kept going. Got a baloney sandwich at Subway and the playful black lady whispered the kind of sandwich I always order to the tall, thin fellow who was actually making them.
On the way back, there was bumper to bumper traffic on Wilbraham Road. I paused at ARISE and talked with Michaelann, who is starting to show her age. She thanked me for mentioning her in my Valley Advocate article and I told her I have a little more free time since Mother died so I'll be able to participate in more of the events she and her crazies cook up. She said ARISE is currently focusing on voter registration and I said I would have no problem supporting that. Michaelann opined that politics in Springfield isn't about Republicans or Democrats, but "reformers versus entrenched politicians."
Swung by Goodwill, where Patty is limping due to a painful problem with the bottom of her foot. She is going to avoid walking when she goes on vacation because the doctor told her that her foot will never get better as long as she keeps walking on it. The woman who owns Pam's Books in Wilbraham was there and she told me the price of books at Goodwill is too high. I bought one book and as I was chatting with Patty at the cash register a young girl customer asked about my collar, "Do you ever take it off?" I said, "I can't, it's part of my uniform." When I got home, I found that Mrs. Staniski had returned my book along with some stuff from Ann and a one pound box of Goldenrod Kisses from York Beach. They are still like Mother remembered and loved.
Someone called and asked, "Is this Custom Photo?" I asked who was calling and they said no more. Mrs. Ehnrenberg called about returning my book. At one point she said, "You must be smart, you talk so well." I called Karen Powell and she sounds optimistic that the stadium scam will be stopped. She mentioned that she has been communicating frequently with Maureen Turner. I also learned that only Karen is Jewish, Bob is Catholic.
Called Eamon, we chatted about Nader the Hatter and Eamon said my books must be valuable because the annotations I make are so systematic. We then discussed the stories on NPR and in the paper that Mass Mutual is willing to put up one million dollars toward a baseball stadium and Peter Picknelly has offered $4 million. He also told me that Kevin Claffey spends all his time at the courthouse these days and is "out of the loop" as to what is going on at the paper these days.
Eamon then recalled how when he went to school the nuns always made him sit in front where they could keep an eye on him. One day he went to school with a jack knife hidden in his high-top sneakers and was caught by a nun. She brought him to detention but he walked right back out the door saying he had to go to his newspaper job and wasn't about to lose money sitting in detention. The next day Sister said, "Master Sullivan, you are the most bold and brazen young man I have ever encountered." She then made him stand in the hallway for an hour as punishment.
If it isn't different, it isn't art. Charles V. Ryan is with Crevier and Ryan at 1500 Main Street. WFCR has met its fund raising goal. It costs $250 to rent the George Murray Barney Conference Room at the Forest Park Carriage House.
I was up early, and as I picked berries, Mrs. Lynch was heading out to go to work. I hailed her, wished her a Happy 4th and told her she can pick some berries for herself if she wants. I also put the Arizona calendar Mrs. Staniski gave me on Kelly's doorknob. Then I took some stuff up to the attic and came down with my flag. I cooked up the wax beans I got the other day and put them in the refrigerator.
I mailed my letter to Zimbalist at Breckwood, then headed downtown and parked on Edwards. Then to Monarch Palace and up in the elevator. This time the security people didn't trail me. I wonder if Peter Picknelly has seen my memo yet? Mrs. Ehrenberg is a tiny woman who graciously returned my stuff. She thanked me "from the bottom of my heart." The material was returned in good condition but contained no thank you note. She also introduced me to her son. As I was leaving I noticed a lot of old office machines in the hallway. I told her I have a collection of old office machines and Mr. Catuogno came out and said he'd like to see what I have so he could offer to buy them. As I left the building I wished the security guard a Happy 4th and he cheerfully wished me the same.
Next I drove out to Bank of Western Mass, where Mrs. Maggi said she's having a picnic with neighbors on the 4th but otherwise staying home for the weekend saying, "It's foolish to drive all around." Got pastry at Freihoffer's, bought the specials at Stop&Shop and also went to the Acres Big Y for fish and chips. I got an unusually large portion, perhaps they wanted to unload some fish that was due to be dumped. When I got back I listened to music on WFCR and heard Ives Sonata No. 4 for Piano and Violin. He takes fragile, simple tunes and works them into a larger sonic fabric. Never heard any of his work before, but good stuff.
Tom Bevacqua says to check the frail and elderly in this heat, so I called Aunt Maria. She picked up on the first ring and I asked her if she needed anything. "Why would I need anything?" she snapped. I replied that I don't know, but if she needs anything feel free to call. Then I wished her a Happy 4th of July and hung up. Eamon called and said he is going to join the Irish Caidre group at Elms and see how they treat him. I told him about being snubbed by Carvalho and his lawyer friend yesterday and Eamon said he has seen them hanging out at the bar T.J. Hourihan. He told me Hourihan was an attorney and a friend of his.
Heavily overcast, torrential downpour at 8:24am.
I agree with the Protestants that the IRA could at least state a date when they promise to start handing over weapons. Richie Neal was talking on the news about it.
First thing yesterday, I drove out and had a free Spanish omelet at McDonald's, then got milk and cheese and specials at Food Mart. The copy machine at Pride was not working and the black lady couldn't get it to work. Paul Caron was there, he has gained a lot of weight and is now built like a football player. He thanked me for my postcard. Got fruit at Angelo's.
When I got home I found Nader the Hatter's car in my driveway and found the Hatter and his father picking black raspberries. I helped and they ended up with about two quarts. I took their picture. The old man has gotten quite humped over. Nader said he stopped by the Goodwill on his way over but saw nothing worth buying. He also said that Nardi has moved in with some general contractor in West Springfield. Count that another small business that has left Springfield. Nader and his dad left about 2:05pm.
It was hot reading at home today. I dined on scrambled eggs and toast, black raspberries with milk and boiled sweet, native corn from Angelo's. For supper I had hot dogs and beans with Jello for desert. Put up the flag around noon when the rain let up, took it down at 6pm. Wrote some letters and prepared checks for deposit. One letter was to Customer Relations at Star Snacks asking, "Is this a human hair I found in my mouth from your can of roasted peanuts?" Wrong number called, "Hello, is Danny there?"
I heard fireworks down the street. There were also the usual fireworks downtown, which were broadcast at 11:30pm. I watched.
Hazy and hot, thunder and lightning at 9:15pm.
It is an unfortunate fact of this diary that I type it at such a speed, sometimes when exhausted, that things get left out.
Drove out at 9am and deposited checks, then put out the mail at Forest Park. At the Sumner Avenue Goodwill, I found workers putting the finishing touches on the new parking lot there. It looks super. Told a lady in the book department that a little folding metal footstool they were using was too flimsy and a danger to the public. She agreed and took the stool away. I bought nothing.
Then to Palmer-Goodell on Roosevelt Avenue and left a letter for Robert Carnavale. His beautiful, young black assistant Yvette gave me an impeccable receipt and I thanked her warmly. I swung by Redbrick Books and they had lots of different issues of Hungry Hill magazine, but none for May. Clerk said that issue must have had something special in it as they went quickly.
On the way back I stopped at Louis & Clark and got the paper out of the trash can. It had the form for their Business Excellence Awards. From there I drove out to the Acres Burger King and got two cheeseburgers for 95 cents each. The woman who waited on me asked about Mother so I told her she had died. She expressed condolences and I told her that Mother really liked Burger King food.
The mail brought from Southpaw Books Andrew Kreig's 1987 book on the ill consequences of the Time-Mirror takeover of the Hartford Courant. I left a polite but firm message for Hungry Hill magazine, but never heard back. Therefore I called Melinda Phelps at her office and spoke with her receptionist Linda Livingstone. She said that Frank runs the magazine and that Melinda may never have seen my letter.
Linda told me Phelps is on vacation but that "she will get the message" when she gets back. Nader the Hatter called, saying he was cooking a steak in his apartment, and told me he is unable to come over tomorrow as hoped. I then left a message for Maureen Turner saying that I haven't been in touch much lately because I am in one of my quiet periods.
Up early reading newspapers before the trashman came. Then the Punderson oilman came and filled a total of 218 gallons for $167.65. Drove out at 9am, where my first stop was the Boston Road Walmart where I got some photos, mostly from last fall of art, flowers and the Northgate demonstration. One of them is of Mrs. Staniski standing by the yellow rose bush that Mother gave her.
From Walmart I proceeded directly to Riverside Park, where I arrived at 9:41am. The place was mobbed and the season pass line moved slowly. The turnstile showed I was the 68th person through. As I was entering I was told to take off my scarf, which they described as "that Arab hat thing" so I stuffed it into my pocket. I walked around and then decided to try the Blizzard River ride. Overall, it is a pretty tame ride, not very blizzardy, not very wet. Anyway, I've been on it.
I left at 11:30am, drove downtown and parked across from the old Tech High. Walked downtown and had lunch with a coupon at Pizzeria Uno. At a nearby table I noticed the Quadrangle lawyer having pizza and drinks with an employee of Hampden Bank. Went to drop off something for Herrala and ran into Jim McClean at the Chamber. I asked for his address and he fumbled with papers and then wrote down his address for me on the current issue of Chamber Channels. He lives in Enfield, Connecticut. McClean was as warm and cordial as ever, even asking me how I was doing.
I ended up buying an oval marbletop table at the Boland Way annex. It was marked $350, but I talked them down to $300. I once saw a similar one selling for $295 so I think the price I paid was about right. Kyle waited on me and said he was the one who refurbished it. It looks nice and I put it in the living room.
When I got home, I called Karen Powell, who was pleased when I told her I have the pictures of the Northgate demonstration and would leave them in her front door tomorrow. Spent the afternoon reading Jack Fritscher on R. Mapplethorpe. It is a key book that is having a confirming and even transforming impact on my sexual views. I knew that Mapplethorpe the photographer was into the leather scene, but I didn't know that he wore leather all the time like a uniform.
I was reading this on the back lawn by the picnic table, when out of the corner of my eye I perceived something - a mother skunk with a couple of babies! They paraded toward the back fence. I hope they are not living under my picnic table! Cutest thing I have seen for some time, with the little skunks following behind their mother like a goose and a parade of gooselings. They went under the fence and towards the corner of Lynch.
I went directly over and told Benjy through the front window. He told me he has never met nor talked with Kelly and clan. Then over to Kelly's, where I told her and Michael and their friend David. Kelly said she would keep a lookout for the skunk family. I then went back and phoned Allard, telling him to keep his skunks at home.
Nice and cool out.
Philanthropist Albert E. Ferst, who is already investing more than five million dollars in an ice skating rink facility near the Westfield Middle School, has offered up another $50,000 to create a state of the art skateboard park in the same general area.
Over to Mrs. Staniski with a bag and the yellow roses picture. She had her old lawn mower standing by the back door so I mowed her lawn over mild protests. She said she sometimes pays a neighbor $10 but I told her to tell him an old friend happened by so he doesn't have to do it this time. It took half an hour, and as I was leaving she returned Vanishing Cornwall, which she very much enjoyed. From there I went and shoved the pictures into the Powell's front door, although the car was in the driveway. I then went and got a ham and cheese bagel at McDonald's.
When I got home, I did the lawn here at 5 Birchland, finishing at 11:30am. I saw the Caldwell's walking down Wilbraham Road, both are getting old but she especially. I made a point of shouting to them and they waved but kept on moving. After the mowing, I went to Louis & Clark for the new Valley Advocate, which has a Tom Vannah article politely panning Fran Gagnon. I then took some mags down to Mr. Cohn and left them on his lawn chair with a note saying I hope he wasn't offended by any criticisms I've made of David Starr. Chatted briefly with Mrs. Penniman, who said somebody stole her flower pots.
The mail came at 2:15pm, including a letter from Dr. Negroni thanking me for sending him the article on Eamon, but without ever mentioning Eamon by name. I had also included a copy of Devine's Heroes and Villains of 1998, but he made no mention of that either. Karen called and thanked me for the photos. The meeting to vote on taking Northgate is scheduled for July 11th. Karen claims that Albano is using phony figures to support the stadium scam.
I took a bath and then headed out at 6:45pm to Trinity for what was the most lovely carillon concert event. Their lawn looks lovely. Most people brought lawn chairs and the sky was clear. I sat on the exposed root of the beech tree as I usually do. The sun was at an angle that made the whole scene look like an impressionist painting. The temperature was mild and there was a gentle breeze. The last one I went to it was miserably hot. Over in the corner by Asbury Hall they were serving ice cream in bowls with toppings. I was in my purple uniform and twice people asked if I wanted ice cream, but I didn't try any.
The church was open so people could go in if they wanted. I was told that Mrs. Goad was there but in the parish house. Later she appeared in a flowing sky blue dress with a light brown leather shoulder bag with matching sandals. Three little girls were doing somersaults and then held hands and danced around in a circle. Someone should have got it on film. During the last song by Freddie Mercury some couples danced. The guest carillonneur was Marcel Siebers and the carillon itself dates back to 1928. During the applause at the end Siebers came to the window of the performance room and waved to the crowd.
Overcast, sometimes sprinkling, getting more humid.
We see bad English in the press, hear it on television and the Internet is a cesspool. Talk is cheaper than ever. Just where is the market for excellence in English and how much longer are the taxpayers going to put up with fancy English departments?
I can hear the crickets singing through the window. Father spoke of his deafness as a dulling of sound and it is the same with me, except my hearing isn't as bad as Father's.
Had a bagel for breakfast. Out at 9am and went to Fleet in the Acres and got out stock certificates, Mother's Will and the Deed to Birchland Avenue. As I was going into the bank Police Officer Ray Phaneuf and his wife were heading towards their tan car. He said he's been trying to reach me, but I've seen no indication on my phone ID that he has called. I told him he can drop off my book anytime this weekend.
At Boston Road Big Y I got some fruit drinks, cold cuts and macaroni salad. Then to Freihofer's for their three for $5 sale and to Angelo's for fruits and veggies. I stopped by Mrs. Staniski's, and Ann was there and thanked me for mowing her mother's lawn. Ann has always been the sweetest thing and still is.
Next I went downtown to get the usual at Subway on Main, where the black lady gave me a generous serving. Grabbed a Municipal Credit Union poster on a quick run through City Hall. Not much in the downtown windows now, although the Third National building has a nice, colorful piece. Johnson's is bare. Westfield Savings is coming along, I hope they open soon.
Had a big bowl of freshly picked berries in milk when I got home. Mail here at 11:45am. Got the Wisconsin Academy Review, just about the worst issue ever with ugly pictures of modern art. Recently I noticed that the floral urn at the Pine and Maple triangle that got busted several years ago has never been replaced. Other Neal era urns are still around and in good shape, including in the Wilbraham/Roosevelt triangles.
Still reading Fritscher on Mapplethorpe. I also skimmed John Briggs' Fractals: The Patterns of Chaos. The book has wonderful graphics, but I'd like to see more math in it so I could see better how this works. If I were younger, this field would interest me. Karen Powell called and she liked my account of the meeting at Springfield College. Karen said the Monday speak-out on Northgate Plaza has been cancelled. She suspects it is because the Mayor is having trouble putting together a credible presentation.
Nader the Hatter called and he was amazed that I admire Osama bin Ladin. I told him about taking the Blizzard Ride at Riverside and he said he is abandoning AT&T for long distance because of their prices. We also discussed the Jewish portion of my Unpleasant Memories of Downtown Springfield essay.
Lovely, mild out.
I really hunkered down today to finish the Vietnam book. I also perfected the marginalia in Winston Groom's Better Times Than These. Together with the T.E. Ricks book on the Marines Making the Corps these two books are my military education, something my parents deprived me of.
It would have been good for me to have joined the Marines. I loved the details in Ricks on exactly what goes on in boot camp and I'd like to have endured it all. It also shows what a senseless fiasco the Vietnam war was, something to be avoided by all means and teaching college English was mine. But I'll use "Honor, Courage and Commitment" the rest of my days as a corrective to the sissy-pansy Caspar Milquetoast approach of my parents and Methodist Sunday school.
Now to finish the Mapplethorpe book, which has queer theory sprinkled throughout. At one point it says almost word for word what I told Paul Caron about overpopulation, that people who are not breeders should be rewarded. Spent half an hour going over estate papers.
About 9am I drove out and got the Sunday Republican out of the trash in front of Louis & Clark. Harriet Michaels was there and I pointed out to her the article on Fran Gagnon in the paper. She is an old Gagnon supporter, and she recalled how when they knocked down Bowles' house she tied herself to the Magnolia tree. Even I had to agree that was indeed commendable.
I then headed downtown and parked on Salem. Men are now restoring the Grace Church windows. Looks like they're doing a good job. I walked down the hill and found workers putting up ceiling tiles at Westfield Bank. A truck with a carpenter's union sticker in the window had a Marines bumpersticker reading, "When it absolutely, positively has to be destroyed overnight." Very cute. I asked one of the workers when the place opens and he said about the first of August.
Over to the courthouse, I had no trouble walking in as a lawyer with my chains on. I left off Mother's will and was given short form probate papers. The courthouse was bustling with a lot of people around. Probate has a new service desk opened up out back. The girl who waited on me, Anna, was very professional. Came through the law library and the leaking water in the ceiling is still a problem in some places. Chubby, white haired man at the desk, Flynn's office was dark. When I got home Lynch was out doing his lawn.
Called T. Vannah and thanked him for his "positively classy" blow off of Gagnon. I also left word with Mo Turner that the Jewish Federation lady in charge of defamation complaints gets back from her vacation today. I said I will keep her informed of developments.
Called Karen Powell and she said there will be a forum at StageWest on the 26th, a panel discussion with both sides and Zimbalist thinks he can make it. She also said the Sunday paper says MassMutual is loaning the city one million towards the stadium, not giving it to them as Mayor Albano has been saying. I told her that members of ARISE have become interested in entering the Northgate debate on our side. Karen said she has heard of Michaelann Bewsee but has never met her. I gave her the name and number of Larry Libow. I spoke briefly with Eamon, who said Paul Caron's office has been calling his phone editorial almost daily.
Beverly Blake Sullivan is Executive Assistant to the President of Harvard University. Community Savings Bank was located in Holyoke in 1985. Heritage Bank for Savings was located in Holyoke in 1991. Thomas P. Moriarty Jr. is Registrar of Probate. Gus & Paul's is located at 1209 Sumner Avenue.
Father was 57, my age, when I graduated from Colby. Worked two more hours on the estate, then drove and got the paper out of the middle trashcan at the Breckwood Shops. Then drove into the city and filed papers at Probate. On the way out of the courthouse, I paused in the Bar Association lounge to chat with retired Judge Robert Moran. I was wearing my juvenile delinquent outfit and when I addressed him he grumbled at me something about how I was improperly dressed, but gradually softened. He told me he was in the navy in World War II and got his law degree from Boston University. He has a brother with a Harvard degree. Moran answered all my questions politely.
I talked to the manager at Factory Outlet and he complained that the foot traffic through Baystate West is "just not very brisk" I told him that the problem is Eastfield Mall, which is really buzzing. There is plenty of business being conducted in Springfield, just not downtown. It is all out to Eastfield Mall, Five Town and Liberty Plaza.
Came through SIS and Denver was coming out the door. He waved and I saluted in return. There was someone standing in the doorway of the old Johnson's holding a Valley Advocate coffee mug in her hand. I asked if she had any ties to the Advocate and she said she worked in their Advertising Department. I then got a baloney deli grinder at Subway, where I found out that the black lady that always greets me so cheerfully is named Shkenna.
The mail brought a wrongly delivered letter for Dianne McKenney at 111 Jeffrey. When I closed up the garage this evening I found the book I lent to Ray Phaneuf in my newspaper box. There was no thank you note in the book. The paper today has a big article about how Hartford is considering a ballpark bigger than anything Springfield can afford. Called Karen Powell and told her about it and she was amazed, but had to hang up because she had a call from Councilor Bill Foley coming in on another line.
Eamon called and I read him the key paragraphs from the Courant baseball article. Eamon says his friend Landers, who has a brick house in the Atwater section, is trying to sell his house but can't get the price he wants. He would like to move out of Springfield as quickly as possible, but won't take a loss on his house. Eamon spent some time recalling how Charlie Ryan ran against Ed Boland in 1968. Charlie tried to use the closing of the Springfield Armory against Boland but was unsuccessful. Finally, Eamon complained that the newspaper prints the salaries of all the bigshots in the Valley, but why don't they tell us the salary of David Starr?
Lovely, mild day.
The peace process in Ireland is declared to have collapsed. The 14th Annual William Cullen Bryant Homestead Crafts Festival will be held July 17 and 18 in Cummington, Massachusetts, just a short drive from Northampton and Pittsfield. Belle-Rita Novak was President of the Forest Park Civic Association for three years. Reading onward in Mapplethorpe.
Cooked broccoli and beets in the same pot. Also had peaches with tuna fish sandwiches today and finished off the the potato salad from Big Y. First thing I drove down to Copy Cat and made Legal Laughs flyers on their new machine, which makes super copies for 50 cents. Got stuff at Angelo's, then out to Goodwill where I bought an orange Japanese elephant - most unusual. When I got back the new guy was mowing the lawn over to Kelly's.
Received a card and Wisconsin State Journal from Merton Sealts today - says he is stable. Fran at Fenway Golf called looking for Storrowtown. She apologized. I called Donald Holland and told his receptionist about the United Electric light bulb stickpin.
Called Tom Devine and thanked him for the information on Hurwitz and Berman, whom Tom described as being "in the pocket of David Starr." Tom said he hasn't seen much of the Twig Painter but says Twiggy is grateful for the V-Mags I've been sending him. Tom described himself as currently having "a torrid affair with a waiter from the Colony Club."
Eamon called and thinks the paper's coverage of the Northgate meeting was very favorable. Karen Powell couldn't make it because she wasn't feeling well, but her husband Bob was there. He told Eamon that about 80 people were in attendance, almost all opposed. Mike Graney spoke and made a terrible presentation with no charts, figures or anything. He said at one point that Hispanics like baseball, an ethnic stereotype of course.
Eamon also informed me that the speak out at City Hall has been cancelled because Graney could not make it - or perhaps he doesn't want to face the pressure of more questioning after last night. Eamon described Nick Fyntrilakis as having been "used by Albano for all these years" and now that Nick is no longer useful "it's all over for him."
A man does what a man has to do, they say, but every man looks out for himself and nurtures and protects that which is near and dear to him.
Frigos is located at 90 William Street in Springfield. There are Goodwill shops in Springfield, Chicopee, Palmer, Ware, Northampton and Hartford. Todd Roland is the store manager at the CopyCat print shop at Breckwood.
John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife and her sister have been killed in a plane crash. Some wreckage has washed up but no bodies, they continue to search (would they search so hard for me?) These Kennedy people have always behaved as if they were gods or royalty but they are not and are constantly reminded of it. No PT-109 for this kid. Tom Brokaw was interviewing Doris Kearns from London, who is really aging, her face is getting lean and there are crows feet by her eyes. She said it was very murky where Kennedy was flying, and that he probably couldn't see anything. My condolences are minimal, more for the wife's family since they lost two and their hopes of being in-laws to big shots - the paths of glory lead only to the grave.
Very uncomfortable overnight, but I haven't used the air conditioner at all so far this summer. Today I had berries in milk, peaches, plums, a banana, a large helping of toast, scrambled eggs, potato salad, a cucumber and a can of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup and a salad. That's all. I drove out at 9am and left some magazines with Mrs. Staniski. Then to Angelo's, to Boston Road Big Y, Price Rite and then home as the mailman was coming down the street. Nothing from Hopgood. It was hot so I sat in the basement reading Brotherhood of Fear (1998). It is a popular book, not a work of scholarship. It lacks precision, missed key details and has too soft a focus in too many places. I wrote a letter of complaint to the publisher, see if I get a reply.
Holed up here in the basement rapidly skimming Reader's Digest's Treasures of America. For supper last night I had a Marie Callender Chicken and Broccoli Pot Pie. It's big, with carrots and mushrooms and a crust that was flaky. It was full of food, not just some gravy with a couple of little chunks of something and was everything a pot pie should be and more, almost too big. However, the regular price is $3.49, which is preposterous. I bought two for $4 at Big Y, which is about all it's worth. I'll probably not buy them again.
After a nap in the evening I finished reading in Fritscher. It is one of the best books I ever read on gay theory. He maintains that homosexuality is a virtue because queers don't breed and cause the social problems associated with overpopulation, precisely the point I made in my letter to Rep. Caron. I also read Making of an American Warrior in the August Reader's Digest. Well written, but lacks the rawly descriptive and theoretical underpinnings of the Ricks book which I so love.
Eamon called and said he was impressed by Ricks' Making the Corps, saying that experiences on Paris Island leave "a deep-rooted, indelible mark on its members." Eamon feels there are a lot of funny women working for Clinton. He wondered whether Donna Shalala is a lesbian. Is Hillary? Reno? Eamon told me that Tim Ryan's uncle Paul Sears owns one-sixth of the Northgate complex, but Ryan would vote against the stadium anyway even if that were not the case. Ryan asked the Ethics Commission if there was a conflict and got permission to vote on the issue. Eamon also said he got an invitation from Albano to a fundraiser on the 24th. I didn't get one yet but it may be along.
Ray Herschel on TV40 said the U.S. Census Bureau thinks the 6 billionth person was born last night. Kennedy corpses not yet found, just pieces of wreckage. Also in the news: Viagra adds to the life of a flower in water, a 50mg pill will sustain a vase of roses for a week. This could be a source of humor for some comedian, men want sex but woman would rather have roses, stealing their husband's pills and so on. The Society of Mayflower Descendants will have their Summer Meeting on August 7 at the Sheepscott Inn (formerly the Muddy Rudder) in Edgecomb.
People are getting the impression that every time Peter Picknelly makes a charitable gift he expects his name to be chiseled in stone. Well, there are more donor asses to be licked than Mr. Picknelly's.
This was a hot day and I did a lot. I ate modestly, fruit for breakfast, two burgers, a piece of pie for supper and that's it. No red Bronco next door anymore, Ken is gone and the new guy looks more businesslike, clean cut and younger than Ken. I drove out to Breckwood where I made copies and got the paper out of the trash. Then downtown, where I parked on Salem Street. Talked with bankers Paul Ennis at Hampden and Kammy Niccum at Fleet. The Advocate lady with her cup of coffee was standing in the entrance way of Johnson's again.
In U.S. Factory Outlet I got two pairs of summer slacks, one purple, one black, for $2 each. In the SIS building I asked about the Census office and was taken upstairs. It just opened and they were friendly as I told them how somebody in my family has worked on the census each decade of this century and I'd like to continue the tradition into the new century. I said I would be back soon to apply. I was in my collar and jacket but with my jeans over my laced boots.
Then up to Walmart on Boston Road to drop off some film to be developed. The film has pictures of Northgate, Nader and his dad and Patty at the Goodwill opening. From there to the Eastfield Mall, where many parking spaces were empty. The mall continues to go downhill, with more empty stores than ever before. Cherry & Webb is now gone, although the cinema complex is coming along nicely.
I sat on a bench and was approached by Jennifer of Freedman Marketing, asking if I would agree to be in a survey. I agreed even though she said there would be no compensation. She showed me some credit card designs with diamonds on them. I told her they were all pretty mediocre. After she left, I went to the game room and played one game of Terminator for 25 cents. I then went to the food court and got a couple of cheeseburgers at McDonald's. It started raining as I was headed back.
Despite the rain, in Pine Point I stopped by the gallery of Doyle the Twig Painter. Sampson from the music store next door was there and an old fat man named Tom who talked a lot. I looked at the paintings hanging on the walls and they were all very good, especially his Vietnam painting For Nothin'. I told Doyle he should start putting copyright notices on all his stuff and asked where he got his supplies from. He said the Hobby Shop in East Longmeadow. As I departed, I told Doyle to call me anytime. Certainly I was dressed temptingly.
Kimball Farms called while I was out. Eamon called and said his mother thought most of the Kennedy's were stupid. He told me that the Twig Painter is a millionaire and has made a lot of money over the years selling pictures to MassMutual to decorate their executive's offices. He claimed that years ago he used to visit Doyle regularly when Eamon had an office in the area.
Cooler.
No Kennedy bodies yet. There was a lot in the paper today about the ballpark; a lot of banks have been dragged by the hair to make some puny contributions. David Valinho and Richard Fish worked for Vanguard Bank in 1991. WFCR is playing the Pastoral Symphony right now, I do love it.
I have to disagree with the advertisement for "big" art for the downtown windows during "Young Artist Month." Young Artist Month is a great idea. But I dislike "the bigger the better" as a general principle. We've all also heard of "big and dumb." We have to communicate the right values to young artists, and the seminal value for artists is that it's quality, not quantity, substance, not form.
Airing the house out. Today I went to the bsseball stadium presentation at City Stage. I left here at 6:15pm and parked by Tower Square at 6:35. I cut through Tower Square and headed toward City Stage. The outdoor tables at Pizzeria Uno were practically full, as a two man band played on a little stage. I spotted Hurwitz and went over to say hi. He politely asked me about the "anti-semitic stuff" at the end of my latest memo.
I told him I think the person secretly circulating the slanderous Dark Side of J. Wesley Miller essay is Jewish. He was sympathetic and said that shows how the person who wrote it lacks the courage to confront me personally and identify themselves. Hurwitz then asked me point blank, "Are you anti-semitic?" I answered just as directly, "Of course not." Our encounter ended on a friendly note.
From Uno I entered the small theater and it was well filled. I counted 137 people present. Dave Madsen was there from TV, I tried talking to him but he rudely ignored me. Timothy Rooke greeted me, as did Councilor Foley and Barbara Garvey. Tom Devine was there and offered me a copy of his latest publication, but I declined, telling him I had already picked one up at Louis & Clark.
Mayor Albano gave me a gigantic smile and said he loves my outfits. I chatted with Professor Zimbalist and Todd Crosett. Maureen Turner arrived late and marveled at my leather outfit. I told her I was revealing "my dark side." I gave her a bag of reading material and asked her if she would like to go out for a pizza sometime. She said she would think about it.
There was no PA system. Albano gave a very self-serving speech. Graney was inaudible. Mr. Crossett has polished his presentation wonderfully from the job he did earlier at Springfield College. When Dr. Mark Mullan (my personal physician) came on I shouted "Louder!" to no avail. I again complained when Angelo Puppolo was asking a question that couldn't be heard. No public event should be held where there is no sound system.
At the end they didn't take questions, but asked people to submit their inquiries on little pieces of paper. Dave Madsen read only a couple of them. Madsen (like Beth Carroll) grew up around here and may be a flunky for the establishment. The meeting ended at 8:45pm.
It's clear that the lack of promotion of this and similar events is a form of social control. Their attitude is that the fewer people that know what's going on the better. Therefore they delay providing information and tell the timid that their inquiries are impertinent. If all else fails, they hold the forum in a place with poor acoustics so listeners cannot be sure whether they heard correctly and therefore cannot write down every stupid syllable that was uttered.
The mail brought a fundraising letter from Albano, which said in part, "Asking for political donations is never an easy task. Unfortunately, the cost of running for Mayor has become astronomical - over $300,000 is now required to run a credible campaign. However, ineffective leadership can be even more costly."
Called Freedman Marketing and got Joan, who said they do surveys at 45 shopping centers besides the Eastfield Mall, and sometimes they give something to interviewees, sometimes not. We chatted about the mall and she agreed that the refurbished cinema will improve traffic flow to Eastfield as a whole.
Eamon's phone editorial now says that due to a lack of air conditioning, the Daylight News is out of service. Listeners are invited to send information about incompetency, corruption and mismanagement to "suburban scribe David Starr" and then gave Starr's private home number.
Eamon called tonight and claimed he is getting more calls to his editorials every day. Today he said he got two calls from Tom Devine, three from county offices and four from the Hall of Fame, as well as ten spread across various departments in City Hall. He also got three from the downtown post office and four from the Union-News. Those are interesting statistics.
Lovely, cool air.
Today, Barry Kriger and Brenda Garton informed us that the Kennedy bodies were found inside the plane, which was broken in pieces with the engine separate from the rest. Kennedy Jr. will be buried at sea, but what about his wife?
Atty. Alan Goodman has a new ad running on TV40 about nursing home mistreatment cases. Team Albano will hold a signature drive on the 24th from 10am until noon. Afterwards a lunch of hotdogs, hamburgs, beer and soda will be served to campaign workers at An Elegant Affair on Main Street. The Carriage House at Barney Estates does not allow alcoholic beverages beyond certain designated areas.
Springfield teenagers can neither read nor write so they should file a class action suit against the teachers, superintendents and politicians for academic malpractice, seeking damages for pain and suffering, emotional cruelty and lifetime lost wages.
Blackberries are ripening rapidly. Trash was picked up promptly at 7:28am. I decided to drive up to the Ingleside Mall, where I went to Barnes & Noble and looked over the military books. I bought three, and the young cashier thoughtfully informed me that the books were on sale and gave me a 10% discount on my entire purchase. However, I will always hate Barnes & Noble for their role in driving Johnson's Bookstore out of business. Came through Bed & Bath and they said they don't sell unbreakable chinaware. As I was leaving, there was a bomb scare at Target. I hurriedly departed before I could be detained as a suspect.
I dined today on a Banquet Turkey Dinner, fruit and pie. Mail today was disappointing. All I got was a small 10oz container of Star Peanuts. I wrote them a consumer complaint about finding a hair in their container of nuts, informing them that since I am a skinhead it could not have come from me. However, I feel cheated because the can with the hair in it was a 16oz can I got at the Ocean State Job Lot, and they only sent me a 10oz one.
Eamon called and said he thought the media did "a nice job" covering last night's stadium meeting. Eamon then recalled how he met James Murray Hilman, a nephew of Sen. Abe Rubicoff, in the service. Hillman washed out of the naval academy in less than six months, but today Hilman is a big lawyer in Hartford and has been a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. A few years ago Dan Kelly, then an assistant to Matty Ryan, informed Eamon "you've got a great friend in Hartford, Jim Hilman thinks the world of you."
Called Tom Devine at 10:30pm and he was at the WNEC law library. I called back and got him at 11:30pm. I quizzed Tom about Mo Turner but he didn't spill much info. He thinks Mo is about 30 years old and said she is not married and probably not a lesbian. He sat with Mo at the meeting in the same row as Larry McDermott, who got up and left as soon as the pro-stadium people finished their presentation. Devine agreed that they should have had a PA system. I told Tom that Zimbalist's books have been published by Princeton University Press, but Tom isn't sophisticated enough academically to appreciate the significance of that.
Getting warmer, overcast.
Mother has been dead for six months.
When Mother was in the Ring Nursing Home, an attendant clearing the sheets off her bed accidentally put Mother's teeth down the laundry chute. It all happened fast and Mother had no control over anything. The nursing home was made aware of this within a couple hours of it happening. Ring should have made arrangements to replace Mother's teeth before she left the nursing home in June of last year.
Mother, at 92, was very much immobile when she was at Ring recovering from Dr. Grant's operation on her broken hip. Mother died without the dignity of all her dentures, and Mother being the kind of woman she was, she was reluctant to make waves and too weak to be anything other than humiliated by it all.
Before I was a lawyer, I was a college English teacher, and I can tell you that once upon a time there were classes in speech. Among the topics taught were projection (Cicero and John Wesley spoke to enormous audiences and were heard) and annunciation (pronouncing words so that they can be understood). Speaking nice and loud and enunciating clearly are responsibilities of the speaker, and a speaker who can't make himself heard by his audience is in fact a speaker who cannot speak.
Channel 40 ran a story where a woman said she thought there had been too much Kennedy coverage. Tipper Gore was in town this afternoon, having come up from Hartford. The 30th anniversary of Woodstock celebration is this weekend. Edward D. Friedman is a lawyer who was on the School Committee and got into trouble.
My watch mysteriously beeped twenty times at 3:30am. Blackberry bushes are loaded, some ripe. Checked the fluids in the car, then out to Pride in the Acres to make copies. First I left three magazines in Cohn's chair, I haven't spoken to him in a while. The Pride's Subway sandwich unit was open. Their baloney deli sandwiches are only 99 cents, so I got one and consumed it on the premises.
Next I left my arts memo on Tom Devine's back porch, then on to the Forest Park Post Office to mail Mother's death certificate. The triangle where the Avalon Block was has been transformed into a pretty neighborhood park with marigolds and other flowers around. Looks good. At the corner of White and Allen right behind the gas station I bought some pipe hangers at Manny's Plumbing. Then over to the McDonald's on Allen and had a steak and egg bagel.
I went to Longmeadow and was told by Longmeadow Florist across from Brightwood Hardware, that their Tiffany lamps sell from $150 to $300. There are merchants around that have stuff, just not in Springfield. When I got back I saw that Birchland Avenue had been visited by the street sweeper. Dined on Hormel Chili from Food Mart with Kraft Stove Top Stuffing.
A letter from Election Commissioner J. Sullivan came in the mail about poll training sessions. It was mailed on the 13th but didn't arrive until today - suspicious. Eamon called and said Casio is a good brand of sports watch, he's surprised I found one in the trash. Eamon claims that Nader the Hatter is trying to get the state police to revoke his father's driver's license. The doctor agrees he should not be driving. Eamon then recommended a car dealer he knows, Edward Borlen of Hilltop Motors up on Worthington Street.
I left a message for Maureen Turner telling her I would send a critique of her current article. Spoke to Mr. Whitney, who said he has been in the hospital for a chronic stomach condition but is better now. He told me that he was briefed on the Stadium meeting by Tommy Devine. Whitney claimed there were many local Republicans at that meeting, but I saw only Devine, who oftens helps the local GOP, but whom I believe is actually registered as an independent.
Hot, very uncomfortable last night.
I am wearing one of the pipe hangers as a collar. Read Japanese Art of War, leafed through Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella (long sentences, section on gardens is in poetry). Just a little left to read in Sun Tsu' treatise on war. American life has been militarized since 1914 and especially since Vietnam. Military thinking now permeates everything.
The Valley Advocate has a letter in it this week by former City Councilor Mitchell Ogulewicz in which he does a nice job explaining "why Francis Gagnon doesn't understand her critics and why they regard her with such reservation." He says, "She comes across with an elitist and condescending attitude - as if she and she alone knows what is best for the boards on which she serves."
I love the cartoonist Pat Oliphant. WFCR had something this morning about Jesse Ventura running for President. I'd certainly consider supporting him. Wrote some letters this morning. Out first thing and made copies at Pride and bought newspapers at Newsstand. The Troop 239 book sale was a dud with the cops preventing parking out front.
Dined on a can of Campbell's beans, for main dinner had Weight Watcher's Smart Ones Chicken Chow Mein Dinner. I should have bought more of them when they were on sale. Nader the Hatter called wanting help with a letter he is writing to get his father, Abraham C. Nader, a medical competency test to stop him from driving. We went over it and got rid of several passive voice constructions. Nader thought his original draft was awkward, but now he is delighted with the results of my edits. Nader said he may come by for some of my berries if he finds the time.
I was surprised this evening to get a phone call from my old classmate Archie Strong. He was calling to see whether I had heard anything about a class reunion this year, but I said I had heard nothing. Back at Classical, Archie spent all his time reading books on Physics, along with Billy White, Jim Coyle and Mike Spencer. Archie was short, somewhat gabby with a sense of humor. I recall he was in the chess club and had a sister named Shirley. Archie got his bachelor's in Math from UMass and now works with computers in Pennsylvania. He is down to Earth and always has been, a little guy who gets things done. He recalled of me, "You were always a hard worker." I told him about my life now and what I know of some of our classmates and we exchanged addresses. I'll send him some stuff.
Hot and humid, thunderstorm at 7pm.
Salads & Such closed last weekend. The Springfield Newspapers are looking for people to deliver the Union-News Extra in Northampton and Springfield. The Farmer's Market at the X kicks off its first Multicultural Entertainment Series in the Goodwill parking lot on July 27. It will feature acts such as Tony Vacca, Gene Bassili, The Floyd Patterson Band and the The Healys.
Drove out first thing, made copies and put out the mail at Breckwood, then into the city and parked on Salem. Walked down the hill and saw that the Westfield Savings Bank was having its Grand Opening at 10am, so I had time to attend the service for JFK Jr. at St. Michael's.
There was a man playing bagpipes out front and the cathedral was about two-thirds full, with Bishop Maguire presiding. Fran Gagnon, in a light blue dress, was one of the liturgists. When Richie Neal and Albano walked in, the Mayor smiled and waved to me. I nodded back from where I was sitting in the corner back seat on the left-hand side. No collection was taken.
When it was over, I walked back down the hill, pausing to ask a few questions at Labor Ready. The manager Steve Benoit told me you have to come at 5am and maybe they will have work, maybe not. They usually have lots of jobs doing housekeeping in local hotels for $6 per hour. You get paid that day or next, although he said there was not much work today. Then over to Subway and Shkena served me well. I saw a half dozen minority teenagers in navy blue t-shirts that said New England Farm Worker's Council on the front. I would love to buy one of those shirts but they never come on the market. The kids were scraping stickers and dirt off of electric light poles on Main Street.
Next I headed to the Westfield Bank Grand Opening at 1341 Main Street. They passed out little folders with a quarter in them reading, "Two bits of advice: Switch to Westfield Bank!" I chatted with Rick Zabielski, who told me that their special Grand Opening CD rates would be available for about a month.
Next I came through the porn shop on Apremont. What was formerly a whole stall of gay magazines was only half full, but they said they will have a new shipment on Thursday. Then out to Wilbraham to pay my taxes, on the way back I stopped at the Goodwill and bought a lovely cloisonne bowl with lid for $3. Got home around 11:45am.
Eamon called and said he thinks Nader the Hatter will definitely move to Florida. Colleen Walker from New England Dermotology called looking for Storrowtown, wanting to know if we do retirement parties for 50 to 60 people. I replied that they are so much work and the guests are often unruly, so we no longer handle that sort of thing.
Called Tom Devine and he liked that I included his website in my biographical note. He told me that Bax & O'Brien on WAQY mentioned me in their report on the stadium presentation, referring to me as "Mr. Purple Pants." Devine said they also had Tom Vannah on recently.
We are now in a prolonged heatwave, in the 90's every day. No rain. Blackberries ripening slowly rather than suddenly. Gas is $1.15 per gallon on the corner of Alden, it has gone up quite a bit. "Home again, home again, jiggity-jig" was an expression which Mother used to say when we got home from a drive in the 1950's.
I loved the Bank of Boston art collection, but not the Heritage Bank
collection because it looks like something cheap they just bought off
the shelf.
Dined today on Smart Ones Angel Hair Pasta with chicken and stuffing. Today's first event was delivering a package of stuff to WAQY in East Longmeadow. On the way there I honked at Belle-Rita N. as she was getting into her car on Belmont. WAQY is located at the end of Fisher Street, out behind the Stop&Shop shopping center. They have a neat little building with a tower and a large parking lot. I rang the doorbell and a guy wearing shorts and a t-shirt came to the door and thanked me for dropping off my envelope and that was it.
Arriving downtown, I parked on Pearl and picked up a poster I saw on a pole in the traffic island between Harrison Place and SIS. Then to City Hall to pay my taxes and attend the poll worker's meeting. The tall, clean cut black man who is Vice-Chair of the Election Commission greeted me and we chatted a bit before he disappeared into the Municipal Personnel Office. At the meeting there were 98 poll workers present, virtually all of them old ladies, two of them with walkers. Seventeen were men, six blacks and two Latinos. I was one of the youngest people present, and I am 57.
Desir Sullivan arrived promptly and passed out forms about voting regulations, which he went over with us. No discussion or chance to ask questions. I spoke to Sullivan briefly afterwards, and he said it has been hard with all the pressure he's been under to retire so that Albano can replace him. He agreed with me that we certainly need younger and a greater number of minorities as poll workers. Ended at 10:29am.
When I got home I called Tom Devine to tell him about the poll worker's meeting. He told me he is thinking about quitting working at the polls. I told him to keep his options open until closer to the primary. Craig then called for the Springfield Police asking donations to keep kids "doing sports instead of doing drugs." I said I'm not fully employed and can do nothing for them.
Eamon called and said he just got off the phone with Officer Spellacy, who told him that Stassi Hieropolis is no longer with Yankee Candle. Eamon at one point described himself as a great admirer of Fulton J. Sheehan and thought he should have been chosen for Cardinal. Eamon then talked about Father Lynch, whom he worked with in the navy. Eamon helped him to get a fancy apartment and they had fun drinking together.
Eamon recalled how Bax & O'Brien at WAQY used to record his phone editorials and play them on the air, although they haven't done so recently. Eamon says he disagrees with United Co-Op lending money for the stadium scam. He has written to Bank President Labbe telling him he has several accounts with them and disagrees with their use of bank funds for what amounts to a public relations stunt. He doesn't think much of Jack Briggs either.
I slept on the sofa last night. We've had 20 days over 90 this year. Peter Hart was on NBC this evening telling about the economy. I haven't seen him for ages. Councilor Foley is taking a job at the West Springfield office of the lottery at $55,000 per year.
Because of the Springfield Armory, there was once lots of local machinery companies around here. I have a number of their catalogs in my collection. Charles K. Treiber and I brought up the idea of a museum of local machinery to the Quadrangle, but it went nowhere.
I drove out at 9am and left several magazines at the Cohn's. Then I left off an envelope for Caprio at WNEC with the usual receptionist. Next I made copies at CopyCat and mailed out some letters at Louis & Clark. Got the new Valley Advocate, which has an article about the North End Community Council approving the stadium project with only three members voting against. Next stop was dropping off books and magazines with Mrs. Staniski. She told me that the 88 Dodge she bought in 1989 has a broken air conditioner, so she brought it to Hampden Dodge. They said they needed $1,800 to repair it. Sounds fishy, but difficult to prove any wrong-doing.
I drove up to the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside, where I arrived at 10:57am. Stopped at Wilson's, where the number of biker jackets in stock is way down. At Ambercrombie and Fitch for $6 I bought their Back to School catalog. Then I visited Target and Best Buy, both of which seem too large. Neither sold chinaware. After looking at the cameras in Best Buy I departed Holyoke Mall around 12:30pm.
Paper says Walter Jackson Bates has died on July 26th. The mail brought a refund from Baystate Ambulance for $56 for double billing on Mother's ambulance service. Dined on a Swanson Fish & Chips Dinner. Called Melinda McIntosh and told her she ought to get the Ambercrombie & Fitch catalog because it has a royalist theme. Karen Powell called and said the North End Community Council is funded by the Mayor and he probably twisted some arms. She also said she thinks Jesse Jackson might run for president again.
Eamon O'Sullivan called and said that Dan Gordon is re-paving his driveway for $800. Eamon has also bought a new car, a polo green 1998 Cadillac that was Tom Donahue's. Tom's wife didn't like it so he sold it to Eamon with only 3200 miles on it. Eamon likes the Mapplethorpe book and is looking over the Reader's Digest sightseeing book.
Eamon thinks I will hear nothing from the Anti-Defamation League. He can't believe he will be 65 next year. Eamon talked a bit about Jack Sweeney who used to work at Commerce as a history teacher and was "an out and out homosexual" who used to perform with Tom Dowd's brother at the Liberty Theater. He was involved with a lot of kid athletics at Van Horn Park and eventually ended up as a guidance councilor at the jail. Eamon also told me that Sam Abrams, who Eamon says actually runs the Registrar of Deeds, is a good friend of his. Eamon is friends with everybody.
Gas is $1.15 at the cheap places.
It is a principle of life that one hole in the dyke is all it takes. It is principle of wide application.
Report says pilot error, not mechanical malfunction was the cause of the JFK Jr. crash. Of course. This is Peter Jennings 61st birthday, said NPR. Lately Eamon has been quoting me things he hears from MS-NBC. Belle-Rita Novak has a Letter to the Editor in which she urges everyone to "fight against the rising tide of litter" in the city. Rosanna Zingales is the Site Manager for Morgan Square Apartments. Nose ring piercings are $45 at Viper's Nest Piercing on Worthington Street.
Up at 5:30am. WFCR at 7:15am had a guy on talking about how our War on Drugs in Columbia is creating a downward spiral in that country. This is why we should dump the War on Drugs. Aired the house out, cleaned up the kitchen and did two loads of wash. There was a motorcycle parked next door while I was hanging the wash. Soon a fellow came along wearing an upside-down flag on his t-shirt who got on the bike and drove away.
Drove out a bit late and made copies at CopyCat. When I left there were a lot of cars parked around WNEC Law. Eamon says they are giving bar exams for the first time due to Judge J.M.Greaney, who teaches there. From Breckwood I headed for downtown and dined on a coupon at Pizzeria Uno. Hurtwitz was there entertaining two young men, perhaps job candidates. From there I went to Friends, where a woman was tending bar and there was not a single customer.
Came through the State Tax Office and asked for some forms, but the lady took forever to find them, so I told her, "Madam, my request is so simple that the forms should be at your fingertips." A man came up and asked politely if he could be of assistance. I told him what I wanted and he went over to a filing cabinet and gave me the forms. I thanked them politely and left. In my full skinhead leather jacket and boots I arrived at the Jewish Community Center. The regular, chubby receptionist was not there, but Dianne in the corner office told me that Kathy Shwartz was in a meeting. She took my phone number.
The mail brought another brochure from Sampson Family Chapels. I called and spoke to John Sampson, who tried to play dumb, but then got angry and said he was taking out a restraining order against me. I told him I found his constant mailings to be a form of harassment and told him once again to stop contacting me. This evening Tom Bevacqua was wearing a light orange polo shirt.
Oppressively warm, air is heavy and stinky.
Scott Harshbarger has been named President of Common Cause, probably a better job than governor. WFCR says Vermont is launching an anti-smoking crusade by calling the habit "a gross-out." Some clever person on the radio said, "Basketball is a contact sport. Football is a collision sport." August 14th is the 50th Anniversary of Stanley Park.
I'm watering my plants, but they are still wilting, my artichokes are half their normal height. I was up early and cooked beans and broccoli. I mailed Maureen Turner a birthday card, some stuff to Archie Strong and an envelope for Tom Hopgood at Breckwood. Louis & Clark has removed the bulletin board they had in their entrance way, thus eliminating a posting place that had been growing in popularity and had become useful. They have replaced it with a poster promoting the services of their store. People just don't understand the importance of bulletin boards. Similarly, I noticed recently that the business card bulletin board just inside the doorway of the Newsstand in 16 Acres is also gone. The Big Y in the Acres also used to have a bulletin board, but they removed it about a year ago.
After putting out the mail at Breckwood, I proceeded to the Goodwill in the Acres to use a half-off coupon on any single item which was expiring today. They have some nice furniture there, but I have no desire for furniture, so I settled for half off the book A Century of Progress: The General Electric Story. It is a really good picture book which at half-price I got for $6. The grey ironwork is up at the 16 Acres Library addition and there is a flag on a pole hanging from the front peak. Then over to Big Y for groceries, to my good fortune Smart Ones Dinners were on special again, two for three dollars. I bought eight.
Mail has been thin lately. Downtown yesterday I parked on Fairbanks and saw a Classical Reunion sign on the Hurley Plumbing building, which is adjacent to the Cabrini. It read, "Where in the World is the Classical High School Class of 1959?" It then listed a number 781-2984, which I called today and left the address of Archie Strong so they can contact him. I never said who I was. Called Aunt Maria and it rang ten times before she picked up. She was polite, said she isn't too hot and doesn't need anything. Arthur A. Parent called from 737-1326 and apologized for calling the wrong number. The heat gave me a headache this afternoon. I'm glad Mother isn't here for this heat.
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