March 1999

 March 1, 1999

Sunny, nice day. 46 degrees at 1:40pm. 

ABC News says a survey shows that 20% of Americans want nothing to do with computers or the internet. Elmcrest Country Club is having their Third Annual Center School Golf Classic on April 26th. 

A busy day, but I got a lot done. Drove out just before 9am and got the paper out of the trash in front of Louis & Clark. I had a bag of paperbacks and some odds and ends for Patty. Then I dropped off a bag of stuff at Whitney's back door. 

Next down Alden and over to Donald Holland's on Dwight Road and looked into the units of the Longmeadow Professional Park. The DeWolfe Real Estate Agency is on the first floor of the back building. Lesley College has an adjacent suite of rooms, mostly empty for their School of Management program. Holland's office is on the third floor of the middle building, with a very Victorian looking bookcase in one of the rooms. 

Then I drove over to Bliss Road and visited the shops there. Brightwood Hardware cut me a small piece of glass for the frame of my picture of William Blackstone. They are an old hardware store but they have everything including stuff that looks like it is exclusively for the Longmeadow crowd. 

I took my cut glass and left it in the car and walked through the strip mall. Longmeadow Flowers has an extensive line of upscale figurines of many sorts. One cloisonne lamp like mine was priced at $350. They had fancy painted birdhouses and bronze sundials. 

There is a post office at the end which had a community bulletin board covered with posters I've never seen in Springfield, such as a Channel 57 wine tasting, the Junior League and a talk by Fran Gagnon on the History of Women in Longmeadow. I then came thru their Big Y, which had two community bulletin boards. However, I was aghast at some of the prices of things, grapefruit 79 cents per pound, artichokes two for $3. It was crowded but sort of old fashioned like the one in 16 Acres.

I stopped at Pizzeria Uno for a large bowl of chili for $3.50. I had to send the spoon back because it had spots on it so I only left a $1.25 tip. The chili was splendid and I had a large glass of ice water with it. The chili came with taco chips and two slices of okra of top. I added grated cheese and hot peppers. The place is nicely decorated with a full bar. Framed memorabilia from Chicago, but also a framed print of the Springfield skyline and a litho of the Fire and Marine building. Then into Staples and bought small clasp envelopes, 25 to a package, but when I got home I found there were only 24.    

It was sprinkling as I drove back. Heard a chickadee when I got out of the car. The mail came at 1:10pm and included The Cheater's Bible from Hamilton, which I plan to read tomorrow, as well as clearing off the shelves in Mother's closet. Also got a charming letter from Viola Dutton Huff offering condolences for the death of Mother. 

March 2, 1999 

Sunny and in the high 30's.

TV57 had a special on the number of people who are incarcerated for marijuana. I've sent copies of Aunt Jennie's Poems to all the people who sent me condolences over Mother. Read over half of Corbett's book on cheating today. 

Went out to mail some letters, then to the 30% off sale at Caldor's. By the time I got there most of the shelves were bare. From there to Subway, where the woman put about twice the amount of meat on it than usual. She was a sweet girl who told me she's a nursing student at Holyoke Community College. Then into Food Mart where I swiped a poster off their bulletin board.

Called Baystate Medical about Mother's unpaid bill and got Jinnene Douglas, who was a surly individual. I told her about the problem and she said, "Tell her to call us, I'm not supposed to be talking to you about it" and then hung up in my ear!

I called right back and told her Mother is dead and she replied, "You should have said that before." I replied that I'm not running an information service and stressed that Mother had received no services from Baystate on January 15th and if they want to me to pay the bill they will have to sue me. "Okay, that's what we'll do," she sneered and hung up on me again! I've had trouble with Baystate twice this year.  

Fred Whitney called and said he had just heard that Mother died and gave oral condolences. Eamon called and said I should get a motorcycle. He liked Aunt Jennie's Poems, especially the pictures. Eamon says Dr. Silber's enemies are trying to get him to resign, but Eamon has sent a letter to Governor Cellucci in his defense. I promised I would do the same.

 Eamon said he spoke with Gary Mescher and Bob Stanley in the public finance department at Moody's who who told him the Albano press conference on the city's fiscal status was "full of lies." Gary urged Eamon to keep him updated regularly because "we need a watchdog in Springfield" to keep them informed of what the local politicians are doing and saying. Eamon said he only wishes his old Moody's contact Carl Jacob was still around.

Eamon told me he passed on the same info to Tom Vannah at the the Advocate, who wants to do an article on Springfield's bonding issues. Eamon has also written a letter to the Chicopee Herald critical of Hillary Clinton. According to Eamon Fred Whitney calls his phone editorial about once a week.

Allegra from Modern Language called wanting to sell me something, but I told her to call back another time because I was busy. She asked whom she should ask for when she called and I told her "Queerboy Fag Sissypansy." Nobody  called back.

March 3, 1999

Sunny, 52 degrees at Westover at noon. 

Tourists killed by terrorists in Africa - if you want the thrills you have to take the spills. Monica Lewinsky was interviewed by Barbara Walters on ABC. She said Clinton told her, "I might be alone in a few years," and Monica replied, "I think we'd make a good team." 

TV40 conducted a dial-in poll (cost 60 cents so you bet I didn't participate) in which 55% replied that the Senate made the wrong decision in not removing Clinton from office. The main issue is that of an older man using his power and position to abuse a younger woman.

United Co-operative Bank has an ad on TV that has a close up shot of the Miles Morgan statue. On TV57 Carol Ross Joynt said, "The basic principle of journalism is persistence, persistence, persistence." Big Y donuts are now 50 cents each. Not that long ago they were three for a dollar. I went out and completed the spring pruning. Started clouding up at 2:45pm, rain started at 4:12.

Finished Corbett on cheating, a remarkable book. Mail came at 1:45pm and brought a badly ripped copy of Newsweek, a note from Eamon about Albano's press release on bonding and pink sheets from Northeast Utilities Action Network. 

Clearing out Mother's closet, I spent two hours sifting through the contents of a box marked 1973. It was Mother's custom each year to put selected memorabilia and documents from that year in a box and stick it somewhere. I expect to find many more of these boxes. 

Wrong number Kathy called looking for David at Storrowtown. Didn't apologize. Called the Union-News and Dotty said the last paid day of my subscription is March 9th. I asked her to cancel after that and she said, "Okay, will do." Called Aunt Maria but as soon as she recognized my voice she hung up. Eamon called and said that when he went to Boston Road Walmart recently the place looked awful dirty. 

Dined on a small can of Dinty Moore's Beef Stew with an Arizona iced tea. While eating the stew a small chip came off my right wisdom tooth.

March 4, 1999

Thursday, yes, Thursday. 

Very windy today. The dumpster got blown over, but fortunately nothing was inside. A pine branch fell into the street. TV40 had technical difficulties and was off the air between 6:45 and 8am.

Finished Mother's closet and moved all the books that were under the old kitchen table into my bedroom. The biggest treasure to surface today was a letter from Wesley Church sent by Minister Edgar J. Helms as a fundraising plea in 1968. There was also a 1973 house insurance letter from Palmer, Goodell and Keeney Insurance, located in the Valley Bank Tower.

I came upon a silver box from Steiger's. Inside was a piece of Chinese pottery from Hall Gallery. In the old days, Hall Gallery had many little alcoves with different lines of expensive items. I found the last bottle of Lucien Leleng's Whisper, the final bottle of the perfume she was able to buy after they went out of business thirty years ago. I recall she once loved a little bottle of scent she got from Stanley Home Products but could never find another. In the closet I also found three boxes of unused greeting cards and Father's favorite shoes from his last years. 

Sun finally came out at 2:45pm. Mail here at 1:45. I drove out and got the Valley Advocate, came through Angelo's and found a Chicopee Herald in their trash. I bought two Peter Max Iced Teas for 99cents, then headed over to the Marketplace/Job Lots, where I got some juices and Lynda the checkout girl said, "I like your jacket."

Ads say prices at Caldor's are now down 50% but there can't be much left. Dined on Swanson's Fish and Chips Dinner today. Called Aunt Maria and got her to talk. Ruth and Edith were over and Edith's brother is doing much better. I told her I would be over in a few days to rake, but she shouted, "I don't want you to rake my lawn," and hung up in my ear.

Wrong number Connie called from Boston. Eamon called and we talked about the splendid article in the Advocate by Tom Vannah on the city's bonding issues. However, the article never mentioned Eamon, who provided a lot of the information. Eamon told me he didn't care, "I'm just delighted that the facts finally got out." Eamon says his activism is focused on "results, not self-promotion." 

March 6, 1999

27 degrees at 9am.

The Dow closed at 9736. Unemployment is up a full percentage from last Fall. The light bill for last month was under $20 and the thermometer is set at 50. Skipped the Bishop's Prayer Breakfast this morning and had hotcakes and sausages at home instead. I'll attend his St. Patrick's Day Mass. 

Did some general picking up, pockets of order are emerging. I watched The Today Show and then decided to tune into Dan Yorke's radio show, where he was hosting an open forum on abortion. I prefer his TV show. Yorke is a Dayton alumnus. I wonder how his ratings are? One of his advertisers is The Student Prince/Fort which is described in the ad as "a historic landmark that's still here!"

The mail arrived shortly after 1:30. Got a thank you note from Mrs. Cressotti for Aunt Jennie's Poems. I later replied to condolences from Penniman, Waite and Mulhausen. I sent a friendly letter to Colleen informing her of Mother's demise and apologized for not sending a Christmas card.  

Aunt Maria hung up on me again. I called Friendly Ice Cream and they told me their new President is John Cutter, replacing Donald Smith. I then wrote to Mr. Cutter, informing him of the date errors on their receipts. I told him I own a whopping 25 shares in his corporation, and I expect his employees to know the date. 

Anybody can make a mistake, but our country is going to hell on mistakes. I also told Cutter that I have gone to Boston Chicken twice, but never bought anything because I can do better buying a chicken from the supermarket and cooking it at home.

Called downtown and Mary in the Registrar of Deeds said their fee is $25, while Doris in Ashe's office said I have to contact City Hall to discuss tax matters. Maria in Probate said it costs $90 to file a will. 

About 2pm I drove out to Mrs. Staniski's and dropped off some magazines. Then I headed to Cat's Paw, where the Robillard's sold me a lovely birdbath for only $40, half the price charged anywhere else. I also bought an antique book of nursery rhymes for $5. I swung by Stop&Shop for some chicken and peanuts. Flurries started at 2:21pm and snow was coming down heavy by the time I got back at 3 o'clock.

A contrite sounding Mayor Albano was on TV tonight with Bob McCollum and Dom Sarno announcing a settlement in the Schoolfield death for an undisclosed sum. There have been several undisclosed settlements by the city in recent years and it would be interesting to know how much they add up to. 

March 7, 1999

Overcast, 36 degrees at 1:16pm. 

Life at all levels is intensely competitive and the issue is always where the best minds are at. 

Found some newspaper clippings of Mother's about how  author Jim Ballard addressed the Springfield Area Council for Excellence at the SIS Center in 1995, how Mrs. John B. McGahan of Wilbraham Road had a girl in 1973 plus a 1975 flyer for John Sheedy, who serviced Father's hearing aide for some time.

Got about three inches of snow yesterday, so I was out shoveling at 8:30am. By the time I finished the driveway the sun was brightly shining. Nobody home at Colleen's.

TV57 pledge drive today featured Barney's Big Surprise. Had Shredded Wheat this morning, it was Mother's favorite cereal. Wrote some letters. I went to the concert at First Church and parked in front of City Hall. I went in at 3:30pm just as it was starting. The concert wasn't wonderful but consistently fine. When I left it seemed very raw and cold out.

Called Mrs. Staniski and told her about the memorial service, the concert and cautioned her against doing anything dangerous. Called Aunt Maria and she silently paused for a couple of seconds before hanging up on me.

Eamon T. O'Sullivan changes his taped editorials on his answering machine three or four times a week, although he has been known to change a tape twice in a day when some some special news breaks. 

Eamon called and I told him about the half price birdbaths at Cat's Paw. Eamon described the Jahn Foundry as "a hellhole poorly served by OSHA." Eamon then recalled how O'Brien's Corner used to have an upstairs room where St. Mary's Church celebrated Mass before their church was built. Eamon says that someday he might write a historical essay about O'Brien's Corner and its colorful past.

Eamon then described this Jewish guy named Myron Miller, who was extremely talented in making marquetry and who did some work for Ruppert Scherff at The Fort. Eamon said that Miller had mirrors on the wall of a basement room that was designed to make it look like a casino in Las Vegas' old days. He called it The Alibi Room.  A young Tommy O'Connor used to hang around there with his girlfriend, and Myron Miller was one of O'Connor's earliest backers for mayor.

Eamon then told me about how he helped Socco Catjakis run his early campaigns by writing 90% of his press releases and campaign literature. Eamon said he tried to get Catjakis to endorse Charlie Ryan for mayor in 1995, but he refused because Socco was close to Tommy O'Connor, and O'Connor hated Ryan as his chief political rival. 

Despite the fact that Eamon himself had once been fired from his city position by Ryan, Eamon supported Charlie because he considered him a man of integrity who would pursue sound policies.  After Ryan lost, Eamon and Socco were walking in Van Horn Park when Catjakis asked if Eamon wanted him to put in a word to get Eamon a position in the Albano Administration. Eamon told me he emphatically replied, "Absolutely not!"

I told Eamon about how I was trying to get in touch with the editor at Hungry Hill magazine. Eamon said that Faulkner can be flighty and unpredictable "like so many who have been scarred by the Irish experience." 

March 9, 1999

Cold, 23 degrees at 8:30am.

The Union-News and the Reminder were both here before 9am. Today is the last day of my Union-News subscription. The first thing I went down to Breckwood and made copies. I bought a copy of the Boston Globe which I notice has a Coupon of the Day just as the Springfield papers do. I wonder who came up with the idea first?

Next I swung by Whitney's and dropped off the poetry book and a copy of my latest letter to Governor Cellucci. I could see Fred through the window walking with a cane, but I left quietly without him realizing I was there. I also stopped at Friendly's and left off a letter for their new president. Then to Cat's Paw where I bought an antique Springfield Beer metal tray at a big discount.

At noon, John Quill said the high today would be 41 but it only got up to 27 degrees. Barry Krieger on TV22 showed the sketches of the new Basketball Hall of Fame, with some commentary from City Economic Development Director Tom McColgan. The mail came at 1:45pm and included a thank you note from Mrs. Allard, plus the Beau Ties catalog and an already opened envelope advertising porn. The mailman must have had a good time. 

I dined on baked potatoes and the rest of the hamburg and spaghetti. News said the State Police Map website gets 100,000 hits per month. Tom Devine says he gets only a tenth of that amount. Called Aunt Maria and when I said my name she replied, "Wesley, who?" then hung up. 

Lynn at Punderson called and said my furnace inspection will be Wednesday. Eamon called and talked quite a while. He told me how for a time he dated the youngest daughter of Michael Ferris, who had two sons and two daughters and lived in a fancy English Tudor house. The old man ran a store in Chicopee and was always vacationing in Florida.

Once when Eamon was sitting with the daughter in the parlor she asked, "Eddie, would you mind if father checked your credit rating?" Another time they were swimming in the pool of Leo Babian and she asked, "Eddie, do you think you'll ever be able to afford a place like this?" Eamon said he is glad they never married because he now realizes she was a goldbricker.

Eamon called Wayne Phaneuf at the paper and asked about the bond rating discrepancies between Albano and the state, but Phaneuf  claimed to be unaware of the issues.  Phaneuf did say the paper is determined to uncover the amounts paid in the Schoolfield, Danielle and other city settlements. Eamon told me he has heard rumors that Danielle got $700,000 and the Benjamin Schoolfield settlement was almost one million.  

March 10, 1999

Overcast and 28 degrees at 8am. 

Sheryl McLean worked at Business Digest on Southwick Street in Feeding Hills in 1994. Took the early bus into the city at 7am and attended the Springfield Area Council for Excellence business learning session featuring local inspirational speaker James Ballard giving a lecture entitled What's the Rush?

I was dressed full queer with my freshly shaved head, pink triangle earring in my right lobe, biker jacket with black and blue hankies in my back pockets identifying me as a masochistic cocksucker. I topped it all off with my white Valley Advocate 25th Anniversary t-shirt. The question is, how many people understand the nuances of my uniform? Anyone who knows queer uniforms would get the message, but most people probably just think I look queer. 

I arrived a little early so I walked around the Baystate West food court. They have added potted trees that look real nice. It appears that Salads and Such are closing. In the tourist information rack I got a glitzy postcard for the new American glass exhibit at the Quadrangle.

As soon as I arrived at the learning session I introduced myself to Tom Herrala. He is an insurance man who I found to be jovial, articulate and competent.  He stood throughout the entire program, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. They served hot coffee and muffins.

Janet Edwards, the bookstore lady was there and so was Burton from Hampden Bank, but I politely avoided him. Speaker Jim Ballard came up to me at the end and said, "I've seen you around, but I don't know you." I replied that he had probably seen me collecting posters in the Amherst area. I gave him my card and he said, "Thanks, Wesley." I suspect the real reason he approached me is he saw my Valley Advocate t-shirt and wondered if I was with the media. I also spoke with a woman who told me she felt that Ballard's philosophy was too much "the gospel of going with the flow" and she believed that more emphasis should have been put on individualism.

Afterwards I went to the Main Street Subway, where the woman working there told me she used to manage Bruno's Pizza. Then I walked around downtown a bit, paid $10 at the Judge's Chambers and was given a red membership card and a key marked No. 173. In time I shall visit all the Springfield gay bars to see how they differ. 

Stopped by the fur shop on Bridge Street which has been in business since 1910. It's a warm, intimate type shop. The manager was a friendly little Jew who told me they had just lost their lease and are going out of business. He told me he is 76 but never intended to retire. A thin, elderly woman was in the office, perhaps his wife. I wished him well and gave him my card. 

The mail today brought a nice letter from John Silber at Boston University, thanking me for the copy I sent him of my letter to Governor Cellucci. He said "it is heartening to know of your continued efforts to improve the educational standards in the public schools." He also thanked me for the copy I sent him of Mother's obituary, stating that Mother "was clearly a remarkable woman whose absence in your home must be keenly felt." 

I also got a letter from the Morgan Library politely telling me they are not interested in the material on Miles Morgan I wanted to donate to them. It's clear they have no real interest in adding to their collection. Friday's Wall Street Journal had an article on Pierpont Morgan entitled, "Object Lessons: A Stroll Through the House of Morgan" by Eric Gibson.

Unknown called while I was out. Called Aunt Maria and although she didn't speak, before she had the chance to hang up I was able to blurt out that I would come to see her soon.

March 12, 1999

Chilly, breezy, 31 degrees at 9:30am. 

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. - Johann Goethe

14 weeks of the Union-News costs $28. Dow up to 9882 at noon. The Dow hit 1000 in 1972 and 5000 in 1995 and is projected to hit 10,000 any day now. The stock market is over-valued and overdue for a correction.

Development Director McColgan was on TV again talking about the Hall of Fame project. A pledge break on TV57 during the Louis Rukeyser Show suggested people call the station at 781-5757 and tell them whether your financial situation has improved or declined. I called and told them I lost half a million dollars in the fall of Monarch and am now virtually penniless. I didn't say who I was.

I listened to the Dan Yorke radio show for a little bit. A woman called in saying she is connected to the Ludlow Library and wanted to know why Yorke never responded to a letter she sent him weeks ago detailing problems they were having. Dan said he must have misplaced her letter, which sounded like a BS excuse.  

I drove out around 9am and bought the specials at Stop&Shop using triple coupons, then came through Bradlees. I headed downtown, parking on Salem and then walked down the hill. I ran into Jim Contavich, who told me the library is having a book sale in June. 

No activity at the Westfield Bank site. This month's BusinessWest says they are the fourth largest bank in the Valley, after SIS, Fleet and Bank of Boston. The McDonald's is now gone from the SIS building, meaning there is now no McDonald's in the heart of downtown, although there are still McDonald's in the North and South End. 

Wandered into the Sheraton where they were offering their $5.95 luncheon special which today was featuring baked scrod. I'll have to try it some day when they are serving something better. Got a newspaper out of their trashcan. 

Then to the Quad for the glass exhibit in the Wheeler Gallery. I like it, but it is too bad that each artist was permitted to show several pieces, because many of them were very similar and do doubt there were some runner-up artists who would have better deserved a slot. On the way home I swung by the Eastfield Mall where I got a free pair of plastic salad tongs with my Eastfield Mall Frequent Shopper card. They never give away anything of real value.

Eamon called to make sure I saw the statement in the paper where they announced their intention to uncover the sums paid in the settlements over Schoolfield, Danielle and others over the past several years. A grieving Nader the Hatter called to say his mother had further complications and has died.

Edith Michaud called and said Aunt Maria has lost her lower dentures and is always hiding money around the house. I hate when she calls me telling me things Aunt Maria does that I can do nothing about. Called Aunt Maria myself and told her the IBM check should be coming soon before she hung up. I called back and told her I am only trying to help her and to call me anytime. She shouted, "I wouldn't call you! You've always treated me like shit," and then hung up the phone on me again. 

March 13, 1999

A nice, sunny day. 33 degrees at 7:30am. 

I found one crocus behind the house in full bloom. I drove out at 7:35am and bought the paper for the obituary of Nader the Hatter's mother. She was born in Fall River and is described as having been "a commercial artist at the Albert Steiger Department Store."

Then over to the Foster Memorial Annual Rummage Sale at the corner of Wibraham Road and Parker Street. The line outside was slow in forming, probably because Cathedral High was having their fundraising sale at the same time. 

Ms. Morin was there and said she might be interested in buying some of Mother's clothing if I was selling any.  She told me she went to the new flea market in Chicopee, located in the former Big Y, where she bought some excellent jars for cookies. She hasn't been to the place in Northampton yet, but she was told it featured expensive antiques and things by local craftspeople. I told her that sounds like just the sort of thing that Mayor Albano would like to have in Springfield but never will. She agreed.

The couple who run the Cumberland Farms in the Acres were there and told me they were broken into a few nights ago. I also spoke with the man behind me, who told me Foster Memorial is having trouble continuing the sale because the old people who organize it are dying off and the younger church members aren't interested. I looked around and sure enough most of the people there were older than me. 

A lady from the church came out to put up the directional signs, so I asked her why they have never installed the antique stained glass window from the original church in the wall of the new one. She said at the time the present building was erected it was decided the window didn't match with the rest of the architecture. 

For a long time it sat deteriorating in a closet, until it was finally restored and placed in a stand up frame. Once a year it is put out front with a light shining behind it. She told me originally it was hoped it could be installed in the wall of an addition once planned for the church, but declining membership means it will probably never be built.  

She then informed me that just recently the heirs to the family that donated the window to the church presented them with the program from the dedication ceremony for the original church, where the window had hung in the church tower. That was wonderful because previously there were no known copies in existence. The whole time she told me these things she was totally unfazed by how I was dressed in my full uniform, complete with black and blue hankies. 

Another lady told me she is opening a collectible shop right next to the clock shop in Forest Park. She said she feels that is a good location with the Forest Park Post Office nearby. The Foster sale was a good one. I got a 1969 Webster's Dictionary for $10, a rare edition worth much more than I paid for it. 

Next I drove over to the Cathedral fundraiser, but everything was pretty much picked over. Koziel was there with his son, and I asked him what he thought of the Clinton scandals. He said he didn't care because he liked Clinton's policies. 

Books were only 75 cents so I bought six, five on the philosophy of religion and a comedy book by Jerry Seinfeld. And of all things, they had two antique Cathedral football helmets with CHS on them in silver and with leather straps. They cost $10 apiece so I bought both of them, one for my own collection and the other to sell for a pretty profit to the football collectible dealers. You can make money on the tag sale circuit if you know what to buy and where to sell it.

As I left the nun at the register said I could take for free a little woven basket I wanted to buy along with the helmets. I threw her a dollar anyway, to which she exclaimed, "We love you!" I replied, "Ditto to you." 

Finally, I swung by Susan T's Antiques on Sumner Avenue, where I bought an artsy silver tray with "Springfield, Ma. 1939" stamped on the back of it for only $12. I could get a nice price reselling this as well, but I want it for my own collection.

The comic Nancy had a cartoon today where Sluggo has a dream that his bald head is replaced by shoulder length hair and a beard. Cartoonists can't resist drawing hippies. Mail was late, not here until 12:30pm. Dined today on asparagus on toast and finished the corn chowder. Spoke briefly with Aunt Maria. She was polite and told me she had received nothing from IBM. 

March 14, 1999

A little snow last night, 34 degrees at 8am. 

Ronald Reagan was charging $50,000 per speech in 1989. Military fatigues are the ultimate juvenile delinquent jock outfit. When you're dressed like that it's a license to have a sexed up good old time maiming and killing.

The news said the USA sends 210 new prisoners to jail every day. We are second only to the Russians. A quarter of all our prisoners are drug offenders. News at noon said that Fleet is purchasing Bank of Boston with an immense amount of stock. That is bad because Fleet is a stingy bank and I can get better interest elsewhere.

Dined this morning on two sugar donuts. The Lynch's have a new, little black car. Reached Aunt Maria at 12:45pm. She went to church and is cooking her corned beef and cabbage, as am I.  

I drove out about 3pm and mailed sympathy cards to the Nader family at Breckwood.  Swiped an unusual poster for the Walker Hall Ballroom Dance, the first I've seen for dancing in a Baptist Church. Then over to the Five Town Mall and into Caldor's. The shelves were picked bare so I left. From there I got bread and cheese from Food Mart. As I was leaving, a woman getting into a car wearing a black biker jacket waved at me. 

When I got home I dined on my corned beef and cabbage with boiled onions, carrots and potatoes. The first big dinner I've cooked for myself in a while and there was enough left over for another meal. The mail came at 2pm, which included a sample copy of Yankee magazine.

Former UMass coach J. Calipari has been fired in New Jersey after winning only three games this season. They said his in your face approach to coaching was not popular with the players. Maybe they lost on purpose.   

March 16, 1999

Sunny, 37 degrees at 10:30am. 

Dow momentarily hit 10,000 before falling 28. My principal achievement today was putting out an order for 1000 postcards of the Bethel Methodist Church. 

Gas is going up. Read my free Yankee magazine, I always find something in Yankee that makes reading it worthwhile. Drove out this morning and stopped at the Goodwill, where Patty  sold me a lamp for $15.75. Then I drove into the city and parked near the Marshall Center and walked down the hill. 

On my way I found some cards promoting Club Kaos, which is in where Enterprise was and before that the Unemployment Office. It is a lovely structure with a resin floor and art deco railings on the stairs. A sign by the door said that no liquor is allowed on the premises. 

Then through Tower Square to Antiques on Boland way, but it had more retro than antique stuff. Left a letter for Herrala at the Chamber of Commerce. Nothing has changed at the old Johnson's or Westfield Savings. Stopped in at the Periodicals Room at the library and looked at several papers. The desk attendant gave me a dirty look as I left. Got home mid-afternoon.

Around 6:30pm I went and listened to the Mayor speak at the 16 Acres Civic Association meeting. The Association was first formed in the early 1960's and was originally called the Sixteen Acres Civic Council. Its meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at the Church of the Acres on Wilbraham Road. 

Albano arrived early and was friendly to all, including me. There were about fifty people at the meeting, all white and only a few young people. City Councilors Brian Santaniello and William Boyle were there, as was Dom Sarno. Roger Dumais was back from his by-pass surgery.  Two cops were present, I approached one and asked about the cards they were passing out with their picture on them, sort of like bubble gum cards. He was satisfactorily polite (I was in full uniform) and told me they are part of a public relations effort that began about a year ago. 

I sat down in the front row and so did Albano, but we spoke only briefly to acknowledge the St. Patrick's Day decorations that adorned Walker Hall. President Marshall Moriarty called the meeting to order, then introduced Albano by praising him for "single-handedly changing the financial landscape of the City of Springfield."  First thing Albano said after walking to the podium was that he had just gotten back from two days in Philadelphia and was tired but "glad to be here with you." 

Albano thanked Moriarty for his introduction and declared that he had indeed "stabilized the fiscal situation in Springfield." He talked about public safety, building new schools and the new sidewalks he had installed throughout the neighborhood. He also claimed that property values were rising in the Acres. 

Albano then listed the "sixteen advantages to building a baseball stadium" downtown, which he claimed would make Springfield "a destination city." He then described the Basketball Hall of Fame as a "successful private/public partnership."

One woman stood up and said she lives by Veterans Golf Course and complained that her house gets bombarded with golf balls. She said she told the city about it three years ago and nothing has been done. Albano told her he would ask the Park Department whether it was possible for the course to be changed to avoid her house. Then I stood up and asked Albano about the city's debt and he dodged the question by telling me that Dan Kelly or Kevin Kennedy would get in touch with me. 

Afterwards, a woman came up to me and accused me of having asked the Mayor a "hostile question." I told her my question was completely legitimate and accused her of having an attitude. Then I spoke with Mrs. Boyle, who is on the New Library Committee, and she said that with seven entrances the new library will be the safest library in the city. I have been sparring with Mrs. Boyle for years but didn't mean to put her down when I told her that what's important is the books in the library, not the number of entrances. As I left Moriarty told me he was delighted by the turnout and thanked me for coming. 

I was back home at 8:30pm. Unknown called while I was gone. 

March 17, 1999

Sunny and 37 degrees at 7:30am.

Maine is considering a bill that would prohibit discrimination against motorcyclists. Peter Max is designing cans for Arizona brand. Called Eamon O'Sullivan and Charlie Ryan and left St. Patrick's Day good wishes.

Lawn still substantially covered with snow. Our roof is one of the last to melt, especially now that I have turned the heat down. It was mild, so I loaded the trunk of my car with all the pieces of wood from my spring trimming of a few days back. I embarked for my Fernbank property at 11:01am. Arrived in Wilbraham at 11:12. 

Nobody home next door. No tracks around, no sign of anybody. The tarp is still on the garage. Dumped the trimmings and left at 11:16 to head to Palmer. A lot of tacky urban sprawl up in the Palmer area. Parked on Main Street where there are no parking meters. There is a little depot park in the middle of town, with numerous people walking around. 

George Washington Plaza still has a K-Mart, Asylum Health and Racquet and several empty storefronts. Western Auto was having a retirement sale, the old man inside said there are still Western Autos in Greenfield and Southampton. 

Palmer has a Jane Alden. They used to have a fancy shop across from the entrance to Forest Park, where Mother's drug addicted Dr. Raczicki had his office. It is interesting to find fossil chains like Jane Alden and Western Auto hanging on in Palmer when they have disappeared elsewhere in the valley. Found not a single poster in Palmer, not even on the bulletin board at the library. 

Left Palmer at 12:14 and went to the Eastfield Mall Subway, where I got a ham and cheese grinder for $2.97 with a dollar off coupon. The guy seemed a bit skimpy in putting things on the grinder so I will not be returning to that location. On the way home I saw the carpenter's union was picketing renovations being made by non-union labor at the Boston Road Walmart.

Home at 1:19pm. The mail was already here, including a thank you letter from Elder Robert Booth of the local Jehovah's Witnesses. Called my aunt. Edith answered and said Aunt Maria was out with Ruth. TV57 had Irish dancers on and Paige Thayer was begging for donations when she said "People like you and I..." I called 781-5757 and pointed out her error.

 March 18, 1999

Very windy.  

Busy day (aren't they all?). Had asparagus on toast and grapefruit for breakfast. Raked behind the house, especially around the foundation to uncover the flowers, then cut up the remaining twigs and piled them on the tree belt. Mrs. Penniman drove by and waved. When later cleaning out a drawer in Mother's room, I came upon a receipt from Steiger's dated June 26, 1976. 

TV40 had a story about how in Versailles Palace there is a Pascal Clock made in the 1700's that will have no problem with the year 2000, having been made to adapt to every year up to 9999. That's what you call 18th century high tech! The news also showed the stock market cheering today as the Dow went over 10,000 again, although it fell to 9998 by the closing bell. 

Another news story told how marijuana should be eaten, not smoked, because of lung cancer concerns. Governor Cellucci was talking on TV22 about economic development and made numerous grammar errors. I have always considered Cellucci to be a bit soft-headed.

Mail here at 1pm with a letter from Blanche Allen Prichard and a notice from Mother's doctor Thomas F. Race announcing his retirement. Drove out around 1:30 and went to Angelo's where I bought yellow beans. Next I swung by Tibby's Harley-Davidson on Berkshire and got all the free booklets and brochures they had.  Finally to Stop&Shop, where I bought the week's specials. 

Fred Shapiro of Yale Law Library called and thanked me for the postcards I sent him. He said he's read my books and found them "helpful." He invited me to visit Yale Law Library sometime and offered to give me a tour, "just let me know in advance when you are coming." It was a nice chat. 

Called Aunt Maria to ask if she is interested in getting Meals on Wheels. She replied, "Why would I? I can cook my own." She then hung up on me after adding, "I don't want you coming over here!" Flora Bacon called and thanked me for my letter on Mother's death. She praised Mother's sense of humor and promised to buy my new book. Flora said she didn't send out Christmas cards this year as she was recovering from colon cancer. Her doctor is still Mullan.

Eamon called and I told him about Albano's appearance at the Sixteen Acres Civic Association. He urged me to call Tom Vannah and tell him about it. 

March 19, 1999

Cloudy and 43 degrees at 7:30am. 

Gregory L. Moore, Managing Editor of the Boston Globe, appears in advertising material praising the Sheraton at Monarch Place. Had shredded wheat for breakfast. Took the coats off the closet door handles and put them in the empty section of Mother's closet. Mother always left coats hanging on the doors, I have removed them.

The mail came at 12:30pm and included a box from American Greetings of Christmas cards in response to a complaint I made way back. I also got a David Tobin poster and a flyer from Springfield Senior Services. The Union-News Extra came in a lilac colored bag and had grocery store circulars inside. Printed on the bag was "Valuable Coupons Inside" but that was simply untrue as there were none to be found.

I drove out about 3pm after cooking beans and potatoes, only to find Boston Road blocked by an accident in front of the Pine Point Library. I turned around and drove up to the Eastfield Mall, where I was given four free tokens to the Dream Machine. 

Vibrations had a fine line of hippie clothes and irreverent t-shirts, but not the marijuana leaf style that I was looking for. When I left I drove to the Boston Road McDonald's and had a 99-cent fish sandwich. Cindy the Breckwood cashier and her husband were there with their little girl. Her husband seemed like a very straight, normal fellow. 

When I got back Julie from the Union-News called and offered me a subscription at half-price. I told her I am going without the paper from now on, thanked her for calling and that was that. Called Vannah at the Advocate and told him about Albano's 16 Acres speech. 

Then I called the newspaper and asked to speak to Wayne Phaneuf. His secretary answered and transferred me to the City Desk where Phaneuf himself answered. I told him I enjoy his historical essays and hope to read more of them. I then explained that my Union-News Extra had nothing but the same old stuff in it and none of the valuable coupons advertised on the bag. Phaneuf explained that the bags were printed a long time ago and admitted there are no longer coupons inside on a regular basis. 

He then noted that we are both friends of Eamon O'Sullivan and Phaneuf claimed he had recently received a letter from him with two Irish blessings in it. I told him that Eamon is a fine Irish-Catholic gentleman who has had the benefit of a Protestant education. I said that Eamon is almost always right and never takes a position on any issue without first doing a lot of research. I was also critical of "the old dogs" like Francis Gagnon who have taken control of the crown jewels of Springfield and sent the city down the tubes. I then thanked him for his time and hung up. 

March 21, 1999 

50 degrees at 3pm. Gas is 95 cents per gallon at the corner of Alden. 

 Art should be joy-giving and life enhancing.

Had a Great Start Swanson Breakfast and watched the St. Patrick's Day Mass at 7:09am featuring a memorable James O'Leary solo. The Bishop talked about the importance of opposing abortion, euthanasia and capital punishment. 

Drove over to Aunt Maria's where I raked her front lawn real nice. Soon Aunt Maria arrived from church in a Toyota driven by Thelma Kerr. Aunt Maria had a plant given her by the church for her birthday tomorrow. 

We went inside and I gave her a cat joke book and a card, as well as the latest Xerox statement. She then accused me of trying to steal her IBM stock and called me "a snake in the grass." At that I quietly closed the door and left. 

From there I went to the big flea market in Northampton. It is in a building that was once a mall and the parking lot was full. There were many booths and a great variety of antiques, gemstones, crafts, few books but lots of toys, clothing and furniture. 

An old man was selling copper kettles, very nice looking but copper kettles eventually crack. I asked him how much he paid for his space and he said the person in charge is Ed Zaganiacz of Sunderland and he charges 50 cents per square foot. A guy was selling Garland's Arthurian Encyclopedia for $60 dollars and I talked him down to $40. That alone was worth the trip.

There was a snack bar where I bought a piece of Greek pastry for $1.25. Young and old, all sorts of merchandise, everybody having a good time. Though the market was diverse in many ways, I saw no minorities. A tag sale for the beautiful people. 

I left at 11:44am and was driving through Mason Square by 12:20 on my way to Eastfield Mall. I ended up buying some wild orange cargo pants  at Vibrations. They are wonderful and now I can dress totally in orange in solidarity with all the people in prison on drug charges. Home at 1:15pm. 

Turned on the St. Patrick's Day parade with Jack O'Neil and Brenda Garton. Pittsfield participated for the first time and the local carpenter's union won first prize for their float featuring an Irish castle. Jack O'Neill was very diplomatic about saying only nice things about the politicians in the parade.

Cooked corn beef and cabbage with yellow beans. Then I called Edith and told her about my trip to the Northampton tag sale. I also thanked her for all she has done for my aunt. She said she spent two hours cleaning the oven and then the next day Aunt Maria cooked macaroni and cheese in it and got it all dirty again. Edith also told me not to worry about Aunt Maria keeping up with the property tax as she saw Aunt Maria's checkbook and it has over $85,000 in it. 

March 23, 1999

Soaking wet this morning. 48 degrees at 7:25am.

Why is it when you and I have a "collector's item" nobody ever tries to collect it? - Liz Smith Daily News. 

The Montague Book Mill is housed in a 1842 grist mill along the beds of the Sawmill River. Mail here by 12:30pm with a sympathy card from Jordan Luttrell. Mother has been dead for two months now. Not many more condolences will be coming in. Mother's chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution never got in touch and no word from Aunt Annie's family.  

The oil tank is just a sliver over one-quarter. Mark Wahlberg and Chow Yun-Fat are shown wearing leather jackets in promotions for the new film The Corrupter. The Bushnell in Hartford is staging The Who's Tommy. Dined on a Swanson Salisbury Steak Dinner tonight. 

Dan Elias on TV22 said, "Sixty percent of intellectual capacity is developed during the first three years of life. Read to your child." That's what my parents did with me. They were serious people and they talked seriously to me. People should not goo-goo ga-ga with their kids. Role modeling begins instantly and missing in my life was a virile male role model. Father was a wonderful man, a good and fine man, but not a virile role model. Too bad I ruled out going into the military, but not too bad that I missed out on the Vietnam War. 

State Rep. Dennis Murphy has resigned to take a position with the people planning a power plant in Agawam. I listened to Dan Yorke and a little of G. Gordon Liddy while completing a puzzle of a waterfall Mother had begun before she died. Yorke was mercilessly critical of Rep. Murphy, accusing him of "a conflict of interest" and saying he should donate all his campaign contributions to charity. I called in using the name Frank Wilson intending to talk about the general corruption of charities, but his producer wouldn't let me on the air because he said it was off topic. 

Drove out at 7:45am and got the newspaper and Devine's newsletter at Louis & Clark. Today I wore my orange overalls and the purple and white t-shirt I got at Savers. With my biker jacket and cap it forms a fabulous outfit. The Boston Sunday Herald for March 21st had a picture of Elton John wearing an orange suit. Wearing orange is becoming popular and I am doing everything to support it.

Called Peter Picknelly at 746-4100 and told his secretary Barbara about the Northampton flea market. Called Hungry Hill magazine but only got their answering machine. I called down to The Fort and told Barbara that their commercial on WNNZ would be better grammatically if they used the term "historic treasure" to describe themselves instead of "historiCAL treasure." I then called to wish Aunt Maria a happy birthday but she said nothing and just hung up.

TV22 did a story tonight about the tremendous economic spinoff from the St. Patrick's Day parade and showed Rep. Murphy getting an award for being an outstanding legislator.  Eamon called and I told him about Yorke's attack on Murphy, which Eamon said he regretted missing. Eamon said that in his opinion Murphy was an unimpressive legislator. I mentioned Picknelly and Eamon told me Jack O'Neil is no longer with him but Chris Johnson of Agawam may replace him. Tony Cignoli is still Picknelly's political consultant. Eamon also described Wayne Phaneuf as one of the few people at the paper he finds easy to talk with. 

March 24, 1999

38 degrees at 7:25am. Gas is 97 cents at Breckwood Sunoco. 

I am a highly visible member of Springfield's queer community, and last year the WNEC campus police detained me on their Wilbraham Road sidewalk one day for half an hour. I told them that if it happens again they may find themselves in a lawsuit because stereotyping me by my dress is not appropriate. 

United Cooperative Bank is running commercials that briefly show the statue of my ancestor Miles Morgan. Friendly's stock is down. Richie Neal is stirring up the local Irish.

Since it was a rainy day, I decided to go up to the Ingleside Mall because I figured it wouldn't be too crowded. Drove out at 8:15am and left a bag of magazines on Mrs. Staniski's back doorknob. On the way there I paused at the Pine Point Library and found a sign saying it is being renovated and will reopen on the 24th. The janitor came along, a friendly handyman sort, who said it's supposed to open at noon today, but maybe it won't and then he chuckled. 

When I got up to Holyoke the parking lot was virtually empty so I parked by J.C. Penny and went inside. Only a couple of women were in the store with me as I wandered around looking at furniture. I went past Pizzeria Uno to the Christmas Card Shop, where workers were restocking the shelves. 

Delores from Quick Test Inc. approached me and asked if I would take a ten minute test for which I would receive $3 and a roll of Kodak film. I agreed, so we stepped into a little office where she showed me prospective commercials for Amtrack, Kodak and some kind of iced tea. Basically, I told them the colors in all the commercials were of lousy quality. The Kodak ad was clever, but the others were dull. I also informed them that I am queer and was disappointed they showed only heterosexual couples in the ads. Delores said I did a good job, gave me my money and film and sent me on my way. 

Next I stopped at People's Pottery, which has very nice contemporary crafts ware. I looked in vain for combat boots at Footastics, while Ambercrombie  & Fitch had no orange clothing for sale. I told the cashier that their prices were too high and they should start selling orange clothing because that is the coming fashion trend. 

I headed for the food court, but it was so crowded I bought nothing. The only place where I did buy something was at T-shirt Alley where I bought a shirt reading, Raising Hell is My Business - and Business is Good! for $16.99. I paid exactly $17 and had to ask for my penny back.

At Art Express I saw a yard wide panorama of the Springfield skyline, framed at $49.95. Skyline photos of Springfield were popular in the 1910's, I recall Ben Jones had a dingy but comprehensive one. When I left at 12:48 the parking spaces around my car were full. Ingleside is a middle class mall with much more to offer than Eastfield Mall. Eat your heart out, Springfield. 

I drove back to the city and parked by the Marshall Center. Bishop Maguire was walking by in a black top hat and winter coat with a smile on his face. I cried out, "Hi there, Bishop Maguire!" He uttered a soft hello. 

I walked down the hill and took lunch at the Monarch Place buffet. I asked for a seat by the window, but I had a lousy view showing only the top of a tree with Christmas lights still on it and cars going towards the Memorial Bridge. Banker Tom Burton was there seated with another man.

I had chicken breast in some kind of goo, pasta in red sauce, a baked potato with sour cream and a thin slice of chocolate cake. It was well worth the price of $5.95 plus tax. I left behind a tip of 75 cents. It was a nice dinner but Old Country Buffet in West Springfield is better. On my way back to the car I got a copy of today's paper out of a trash can. 

I then drove back to the Pine Point Library, which was open. It has nice new carpeting, but I noticed the old photo of the former schoolhouse turned library that was hanging there was missing. It was a two story wooden structure with tan asbestos shingles all over it, a portico with stairs running on each side and a cupola on top. A tacky, ugly old building but it would have been worth preserving as part of the heritage of the Point. No known postcards were ever made of it.

Called Aunt Maria and wished her a happy day after your birthday. Upon recognizing my voice she chirped "toodle-loo" and hung up. Eamon called and told me how he joined the Naval Reserves while in his junior year of high school. They had meetings every Monday evening at the Naval Reserve station on Cass Street. Eamon said he and Nader the Hatter went to the Monarch buffet and liked it. Eamon even got a discount as a senior citizen. Eamon told me he was up to the vet's hospital in Northampton and they said he could use the store at Westover. 

March 25, 1999

42 degrees on the breezeway at 8:37am.

If March comes in like a lion and goes out like lamb, does December come in like a lamb and go out like a lion?

Going through some of Mother's stuff I came upon a prescription form from May 29, 1937 from Professional Pharmacy, which was in a building on Maple Street in Springfield that no longer exists. Tuned into Dan Yorke but listened only briefly as he was collecting for charity. Yorke did say that there are rumors that Chief Meara is seeking a police chief job in New Jersey.  

TV22 had AIC Professor Mark Magopian on discussing world affairs. Secretary of State Galvin was also on saying that the special election to replace Representative Murphy will cost $20,000. The primary will be on the 25th of May and the election June 22nd.

Left about 9am and put out the mail at Louis & Clark. Bought $10 worth of gas at the corner of Alden for 96 cents per gallon.  Then over to Agawam where there is a medium sized billboard promoting The Dan Yorke Show, similar to the ads that have been appearing in the paper. 

I stopped at Country Squire Furniture, which is in a fancy old house with a cupola on top. They have a nice but expensive assortment of the most tasteful furniture and some imitation antiques. They had a cherry high-boy with twelve drawers for $1225, but the cherry looked more like mahogany. Then I went to Ames looking for combat boots, but they had none. It seems nobody has them.

From there I went to Aunt Maria's to finish raking. Soon after I started a blue Oldsmobile pulled up and it was Ruth. I thanked her for all she has done for my aunt. Ruth said she could use somebody to rake her lawn, but when I told her my fee of $50 per hour the subject was dropped. 

Aunt Maria herself emerged from the house and accused me of trying to set up a post office box to divert her mail. I said that is obviously not true and showed her the mail that was sitting in her box. Ruth smiled and said that "sometimes Maria gets things confused." They drove off and I continued raking the front and left shortly before 1pm. 

When I got back Benjy Lynch was walking by wearing shorts. The mail included a thank you note from Mrs. Staniski for the postcard I sent her.  Dined on a Swanson Fish and Chips Dinner plus day old donuts I bought at the Feeding Hills Stop&Shop. 

Called Tom Devine to alert him about the upcoming trade fair and to impishly suggest he run for Murphy's seat. However, his mother said he was not home so I told her where to get extra telephone books should she ever need one. 

I then called ARISE and spoke with Dorothy about my crusade to encourage people to wear orange as a way of showing solidarity with those in jail for drugs. She said she liked the idea. Next I called Mr. Whitney and told him I will drop stuff off at his house. He said he appreciates how "you've given me a lot of useful information." He then told me his wife liked Aunt Jennie's Poems but he hadn't read it himself. 

Whitney informed me that he called the Dan Yorke Show yesterday and told him that "Dennis Murphy is a turkey" as a state legislator. He said he doesn't usually listen to Yorke because he is on too early, but he regularly tunes into G. Gordon Liddy. I then complained about how the well-connected in Springfield get good paying city jobs despite a lack of qualifications. Fred replied, "I've felt that way for years."

March 26, 1999

Sunny and 35 degrees at 6:30am. 

Religion causes more wars than perhaps anything else. 

This morning I applied some Thompson's Water Seal to the birdbath out by the hatchway. Left at 9:45am and headed for Chicopee. I parked between the entrance to Fairfield Mall and Ocean State Jobs Lot. I asked in a sporting goods store about rollerblades and the wear on the wheels. Turns out they have to be replaced at a cost of about $40 (yes) every three months if you skate daily. 

Passed through the First Edition Bookstore. Caldors is cleared out and closed, but the lights are still on. Fairfield has always been a cheaper, lower-end mall with no high-end stuff, but with a few unusual vendors such as a slot car racing place and a discount hardware store. 

I then drove up the road to Ames Plaza and found the Chinese restaurant open under new management. I went into Aubuchon Hardware next door and bought a can of blue paint for touching up my bedroom. A tall, thin fellow waited on me, he said he never went to college, but still seemed a fine fellow. He told me the flea market is in the former Big Y where Railroad Salvage was. 

I headed over that way, but took a wrong turn someplace and ended up in Aldenville. I came back by the Methodist Church and swung by Eamon's. I gave him a copy of the Boston Herald and returned his anti-Clinton material. Eamon loaned me a big pile of books including The Complete Henry Root Letters (1996). He complimented me on the hankies in my back pockets.

Eamon told me his friend was told by the court he had to get out of Pearl Street but didn't have to pay back rent. We recalled how Pearl Street used to be be covered with lovely yellow bricks. Sometimes where patches of blacktop get worn down you can see them again. Pearl Street used to be Springfield's yellow brick road. 

Then I drove over to STCC and walked around. I grabbed a poster for their Spring Fling. I also took a few pictures of the entrance to the college and several photos of the former Springfield Conservatory of Music. 

Next I drove down to Salem and parked, then walked into the city and bought a Subway grinder, got the newspaper out of a trash can and looked into the window of Westfield Savings to confirm that construction is going on. Home at 1:10pm.

The Union-News Extra in the purple bag came today. The mail brought a letter from Cornelius Mahoney, President of Woronoco Savings Bank, thanking me for my stock purchases and a thank you note from Sharon Helms Gray for the pictures I sent. 

On the news there was a story about Obsessive-Compulsion Hoarding Disorder and a woman in Holyoke who had waist high piles of stuff throughout her house with only narrow spaces for walking. The city wants a court order to clean the place out. I wonder if Aunt Maria has the same disorder, only not as severe. Jenette Mandel did the story. 

Called Aunt Maria and got no answer. 

March 27, 1999

Sunny.

Listened to 57 last night. We are pounding the shit out of Serbia and that is a very sick development indeed. Clinton wanted to be a great man and this is a last, desperate attempt at it and everybody's paying for it but Clinton. This is a quagmire and we are in trouble.

I feel my hearing is continuing to deteriorate. This evening around 9pm I heard a foghorn type sounds in my left ear. I shall go without a hearing aide for as long as possible. 

Raked along the back fence. I drove out at 8:15am to the tag, rummage and bake sale at Wachogue Congregational Church on Roosevelt. While in line I had a good chat with a high school teacher from Chicopee, a woman with red hair. She said she doesn't mind testing teachers as long as they tell them what they are going to test in advance. She teaches algebra, geometry and trig, and feels students should be restricted as to how many hours they can work at their after school jobs.

In her opinion, the parents are to blame if their child fails and the children themselves have no love of learning. She claims a lot of students don't even know their multiplication tables. I made her laugh when I told her about how I correct the English errors in official School Department publications and send them to Negroni. 

I also spoke with Melinda McIntosh, who thinks Northampton's King Street market is lousy because they have the same stuff week after week. I bought four books, including a hymnal with St. James Methodist Church stamped inside in mint condition. At the checkout was Mrs. Robert Gray. She told me her maiden name was Helms and she went to St. James as a child before it was demolished in the 1950's to make room for a gas station. I gave her my card and said I would like to interview her sometime. 

Next I drove up to the flea market at St. Mary's and got a Kiwanis bell for $3.50. Then I attempted to go to the flea market in Chicopee, but it is only open on Sunday, so I drove back to the city. I parked on Main for free and got the newspaper out of a trashcan. Business Improvement District or not, I don't believe they collect the trash downtown more than once a week. The two Angela Davis posters on the side back door facing Bliss Street of Chapin Furniture on the corner of Bliss and Main are still visible but badly worn. They were so well pasted to that metal door that they have remained all these years.

I left downtown and then parked in Mason Square on Massachusetts Avenue and walked around. The Mason Square Development Corp. office is closed, as is the office of Representative Swan. I was amazed to find a Korean made orange jumpsuit in one of the black clothing stores and I bought it. Lately I have been finding orange meter seals. I found two down at the Quadrangle recently and found more today in front of the Mason Square Library.

For a time I looked at copies of the Chronicle of Higher Education in the Shea Library at AIC. I asked the guy at the desk whether there are any local libraries that still carry Linguafranca. He checked and it was unavailable at any library, including UMass. Nobody gets Linguafranca? That's pretty sad.

I drove out to the Acres and took pictures from the traffic island in front of the library. The Acres center is a very unbeautiful place. I noticed that the house between 175 and 183 Wilbraham Road has been demolished. Finally, I stopped at a tag sale on Jeffrey that had a lot of cheap collectibles. I paid $5 for an Avon endangered species stein with a panda on it.

When I got back Kelly was getting home and waved. She always backs her tan Cadillac into the garage. Nothing special in the mail, just the excise tax bill for the car and an ad for Secure Horizons. Had some baked beans for supper.

Wrong number Saul Small called, a very polite person who apologized. Phyllis Granger, Aunt Maria's friend, died in a fatal car accident in March of 1985. Called Aunt Maria and managed to wish her a nice weekend before she hung up.  

March 28, 1999

Overcast, gas at Alden Street Citgo is 99 cents. 

The 1999 Inter-tribal Pow Wow will be held in Charlemont, Ma. on May 29th. I recently got at a tag sale a French biography of Ferdinand Gagnon (1940) so I called Fran's number and got a recorded message that they are "tied up now." I disguised my voice and cited the book and remarked, "If it's something you'd like I'm sure you can have it. Otherwise, don't bother me." I gave my number but no name. 

Up at 6:45am and since it wasn't raining I quickly got dressed and headed to the Pioneer Valley Flea Market up in Chicopee. When I was a child Memorial Drive was just mile after mile of scrub pine. Now there are only a few splotches of the scrub pine left, and overall it is a sickening extravaganza of urban sprawl, the kind you would expect to find around an Air Force base like Westover. However, they still have a Ponderosa Steak House up there where the others in the valley have disappeared. 

There was virtually no traffic on the road and I arrived at 7:40 to find there was already a good bunch of cars in the parking lot. It turns out the market is run by my friends Richard and Darlene Burns of The Orchard Antiques. They told me the booths cost $35. Anything goes at a tag sale, one booth was selling apples beside another booth selling hardware.

A Donald Snow had a booth featuring remarkable watercolors and prints. He said he lives in 16 Acres. Along with the booths, there was an enormous table where everything on it was a dollar, but most of the customers weren't interested. I asked a cop where the men's room was and he smiled and said he didn't know as he hadn't had to find it yet. So much for helpfulness. I left at 9:20. It's a better flea market than the one in Northampton, but also pretty much the same, with a wide variety but a lot of junk. 

I took the expressway back to Springfield and arrived around quarter to ten to attend the service at Trinity Church. I was in full uniform with my orange bandana headdress and the black and navy blue hankies hanging out of my right hip pocket with the dog leash around my neck. Everybody was polite, but of course they really had no choice.

Home at 11:50 and made hamburg and spaghetti casserole while listening to WFCR. Around 2pm I put on my new orange jumpsuit (cargo pants style) with chain belt and biker jacket and set out for the concert at South Church. I had no trouble parking behind Classical and walked over to the City Library. Guy McLain was at the reference desk in Rice Hall, a soft job perhaps because not many people come on Sunday. 

Then at 3:30 I mozied over next door to South Church and sat a third of the way down the center aisle. I noticed Mrs. Staniski sitting on the far left side, but never got a chance to speak to her. It was a splendid concert with about 150 attendees. After the Mozart piece Peter Hermmichs immediately stood up so I did too. Alas, no one else did, so there was no standing ovation. The audience was not in a ovation mood. 

Home at 5:01. Called Aunt Maria and wished her a happy Palm Sunday.  I asked if she is okay and she replied, "No, I'm not okay but I'll live." Then she banged down the phone. 

March 29, 1999

A mild, pleasant day. 45 degrees at 7:15am. 

The U.S. is discussing ground troops in Bosnia. Dow closed at 10,007. There is an article in this morning's paper about Dr. Negroni's outrageous salary. There is also the obituary of Leonard Collamore's father, who has died at the age of 90. I put another coat of water seal on the birdbath. 

Wrote Easter cards to Aunt Maria, Mrs. Staniski and Morton Sealts. Drove out at 9:20am and put out the mail. No newsletters by Tom Devine at Breckwood. Swung by WNEC and left my memo for President Caprio with his secretary Suzanne. No freebie brochures but I did take one of her Hershey Kisses candy wrapped in pretty blue foil. Paused at the Mason Square Library and realized that Ben Swan's office isn't closed, he has simply moved one door over. 

Then to Springfield College to collect posters, after leaving some good stuff for ex-rep Whitney on his back doorknob. Fred's new car is a Saturn, and his neighbor on the corner of Roosevelt is a tall, thin black man who was picking up branches on his lot. There was a box of Springfield College phone books in their library entryway so I took a couple. 

The old Crest Street neighborhood is looking up in interesting ways. Some of the houses that were tacky looking are being fixed up. Crest Street especially looks good with several houses painted or with new siding. However, the Maher house, or "castle" as it was called, has a muddy lot with four cars parked on it. The Corchoran place is boarded up and the former Brent lot is badly deteriorated.

The April issue of V-Mag has a story about Kitchen Sink Press. I will send a copy to Timothy Hawley. The latest Reminder features Paul Caron's Easter parade at the Eastfield Mall. Rep. Caron gets the credit, but I'll bet the mall paid for the freebies. The 22 news at 11 had a sad story about the hit and run murder of a 17 year old boy in Brimfield. A woman from Triple A was on claiming that gas prices are going down in this area. Who is she kidding?

Mail came after 2pm with a mealy-mouthed letter from Hein. Cooked up more corned beef, cabbage, carrots, onions and potatoes for dinner. I called and left word with Hungry Hill Press to contact me. Is Faulkner going to snub me like Bibbers Dalton did?

Ruth called and said Aunt Maria's income taxes showed up. I told her I'd be over tomorrow to rake the yard and then look them over. Left word with Eamon to call me but he did not. His latest tape humorously states that our local politicians are inferior to his dogs. 

March 31, 1999

A lovely spring day. 

Springfield College is staging A Lie of the Mind by Sam Shepard, featuring live music by Chris Hayes and Dianne Sanabria. Came across an old prescription for calamine lotion from A.E. Sunter Drug on Wilbraham Road dated August 10, 1949. The newspaper says that Service Merchandise is pulling out of the Holyoke Mall. So even Ingleside is soft.

With the thermostat set at 50, the furnace doesn't have much reason to turn on. I set the thermostat at 70 when it's really cold, 60 in the winter otherwise, and 50 the rest of the year. Mother always had it at 80 or more. 

I got up at 6:30am and left here at 7:05. I drove over to Aunt Maria's, where I must have arrived around 7:30. Very windy, but I manged to complete the spring cleaning, raking the back of the house, the driveway and the rhubarb patch over by Daignault. At 8 I heard the church bells ring. 

About 8:15 I headed into the house and found Aunt Maria standing in the doorway in a purple coat and bright blue hat, telling me that I could not enter the house. I said I had come for the tax papers and pushed my way past her. However, the drawer where the papers were supposed to be was empty. That means I either got a bum steer from Ruth or Aunt Maria snitched the tax papers and hid them. 

I told Aunt Maria that I couldn't find the papers and she ordered me to get off her property. I said the least she could do is thank me for raking her lawn. I finished up outside and then left around 9:20. From there I stopped at Food Mart for some orange juice on special. On the way out I saw a Springfield police cruiser (#70) leaving the parking lot. What was it doing in this town? 

I then swung through the Springfield North End, picking up some interesting posters. There was lots of litter in the streets. I inquired at the barber shop in Northgate Plaza about who the owner of the plaza is and he told me it is Andrew Cohen. 

Dined at the Sheraton again, it was slightly better fare than last time. They seated me against the far wall, maybe to keep me out of sight in my orange uniform, although the minorities and bums I encountered while walking down Main towards the Sheraton smiled at me with approval.  I had the beef stew, with lots of beef in it, and for desert had a bowl of melons (no grapes) and a brownie with whipped cream on top. Okay, but I don't think I will be returning anytime soon. 

Eamon called and told me that Andrew Cohen also owns the strip mall next to Sears in West Springfield. Eamon claims he once visited Cohen's father's lavish home in Longmeadow. Eamon's latest tape says the Daylight News Service is on hiatus but urges callers with complaints about the Springfield School System to call 734-8064. Although Eamon's tape doesn't say so, that is the home phone number of Dr. Peter J. Negroni.