Saturday, April 30, 2016

The key is hope

It's been a week of near total anxiety, panic attacks and general stress. Been worried a lot about doing the right thing, making sure people are looked after, making sure myself and son are looked after. Closer to being on the same page with someone that took a lot of that fear away. Add a couple of glasses of red wine and a Mets win in which they scored a 12 run third inning and yes, I felt better.

Next week should solve and create a few more issues, but situations will be closer to working out.

It's a process, there are steps. Forms sometimes get filled out wrong, a reminder of a scene from seven years ago when I ticked the wrong box. In the end though, it turned out ok. We're all here, intact, and will be for the time being.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Why I am an Asshole

The scene: A red light at North 4th St. and Long Street.

[Our driver is stopped at the light. He is in the far right lane Out of the corner of his eye, he sees someone waving at him from the car to his left. He rolls down his window.]

"Do you know how I can get to [an address on Town Street, but it sounds a bit garbled]

"Did you say Town Street? It's back that way [waves in a southerly direction] get to High Street and turn left."

"Ok thanks."

[The light turns green, as there are cars parked in the lane in front of him, our driver needs to get one lane over to his left, he turns his signal on...

and the driver who he just gave directions to refuses to allow him to merge into traffic, and leaves our driver stranded as he waits for a long line of traffic to pass before he can proceed north, muttering many obscenities at the world around him]

- scene -

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Tuesday earworm



It's a catchy chorus that been in my head. Could be worse. Could be all the heavy crap in my head right now. Crap that's not about cats, or Hamilton or Hamilton performed by cats. Or just going outside and shout Alexander Hamilton at the top of my lungs until I get a Pulitzer, or sectioned.

No, I don't get it.

Who am I, though, to deny people happiness? Or obsessions? Or happy obsession?

Monday, April 18, 2016

Summertime and the weather is queasy

Spring has arrived in Central Ohio. The leaves are forming, the grass is growing, the back gate has finally been reinstalled. Had to inform the lawn crew to not bulldoze their way through there because I was the one that did the work and my company may be called Shoddy.

It's getting warm out, and some people hate the warm weather and are going to be sad because we did not get shit for snow this winter. At least there was only one snow day. Tested the a/c in the car and the house. Both functioned after their time off.

It's the time of year when you send your kid to school in a black hoodie and he comes home with just a blue fleece jacket in his bag.

It's the time of year you should have already had a commitment for a summer caregiver for your son but that has not happened yet. Our previous one priced herself out of our budgets and we have not had any luck finding another. Spoke to one earlier, she was a great lead but we could not mesh on schedules. There is a nuclear option his Mother has come up with, but it puts it all on her, and that's not fair. But you have to do what you have to do.

For future reference, Susan Senator has written a great book about forming a plan for your soon to be adult with autism. Really, it's a great read with blueprints and strategies. They're not going to be easy, but she explains it all very straight forward.

In other news I've made an appointment for a test drive on a new car on Saturday. Not buying, but research with the possible future intent to buy continues.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

A bit of acceptance.

Very happy to announce that my poem "The Onramp from I-70 East to 315 North" has been published by Red Fez in their latest issue.

It's good to be playing the publishing game this year. I know one more may be coming out soon, but I err on the side of caution and let it be known when the work is actually out there. Plus, a few more are in the hopper.

There have been rejections with the acceptances, but that's how it all works.

Now, about these form poems I'm writing in a 30 poems in 30 days of April group this year.

Monday, April 11, 2016

Will these products be laundered before or after I process them?

Good day,

R&B Holdings Corp,Canadian Clothing Recyclers (CCR) specializes in the purchasing, processing and recycling
of commodity used and vintage clothing. We service a wide variety of industries: from domestic department stores,
vintage clothing boutiques in Canada and abroad, export markets throughout the world, designers seeking inspiration,
and costume departments in the film industry. We exclusively source our products bulk buying programs and based on
demand and overall quality. We hold a specific in the market in that we process the inventory of most industry
grade rag mills, yet we operate in such a manner that includes many characteristics of smaller specialized used clothing dealers.

R&B Holdings Corp have customers in Americas,Asia,Caribbean, and our customers mostly made out payments in cheque.
We hereby want your services of being our payments officer in United States,Your duty is to receive check payments
from our customers and have it cashed and your salary will be 8% of every payments received and cashed.
If interested,kindly get back to us via email below to fill out Emplyment form and resume work immediately.

Email: pearcephilliprichardca@gmail.com


Yours Sincerely,
Phillip Pearce Richard.

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Weekend getaway

We got out of town for the day yesterday. I had a poetry reading in Portsmouth and we stayed overnight because driving up route 23 late at night is not my idea of a good time anymore. As it was we drove down in sun snow and heavy flurries, which was not pleasant. I think my car knows a replacement is coming, it got over 35 MPG this trip.

The reading went well. It was good to help Zach Hannah and Hastings House try and establish a poetry night in an area that is lacking in a lot of things. Driving through there was sobering. A lot of empty storefronts in downtown, some of them were even gutted out.

We stayed about 15 miles from town in a state park lodge in the middle of nowhere. Shawnee Lodge is a fine place to get away from it all, and there is not much to get to that is in the area around it. My Wife was my nature spotter the whole time, shouting out "Cow", "Pig", or "Turkeys" as necessary.



If we had more time and if the weather was warmer we definitely would have taken a walk. Very scenic area. The Lodge itself was decent. Clean if not a little run down. The whole place could use a bit of a refresh, especially in food amenities. There was a bar/lounge that did not seem to be open our entire stay. Maybe it's only open seasonally? Wifi was spotty, which is not good if you're calling the place a conference center. The walls were paper thin. I do not want to hear anyone else's business, and I'm sure no one wants to hear mine. The staff were very friendly. It was our first time in a state park lodge and probably not out last.

Friday, April 8, 2016

An April Road Trip.

National Poetry Month is in full gear and I'm proceeding at my own pace. There is writing being done, in a group even! We're working on form poems, some of them very challenging and unfamiliar to me. Writing them helps, and I'm seeing some good work by others, which is inspiring.

Been sending out poems too, trying to find them homes. They will be news about them soon, but not until the thing happens.

I'll be reading in Portsmouth, Ohio on Saturday April 9th with some of my fellow poets as part of a National Poetry Month Series that Zach Hannah has assembled with the generosity of Haskins House. If you're in the area it starts at 6:30.

Sunday, April 3, 2016

The title defense begins in one hour



On the last game of the 2014 season, I said the Mets would be in the World Series next year. At the beginning of this season, I make no such claim. Despite changes in the middle infield and a solid outfield along with what may be the best starting pitching in the league, baseball is a funny old game and anything can happen. It's hard to repeat, and I salute the Royals for coming back to the series after being so close to winning it all in 2014.

Shortly, the Mets and Royals will play in Kansas City. The 162 game spring/summer/fall race begins. I am so looking forward to the ups and downs a season of baseball contains.

Lets Go Mets!