The Ups, the Downs, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

What a wild and crazy summer it has been. From the dark depths of the Ash Street Jail to the sunny shores of Horseneck Beach to the 500-plus miles I've walked through our fair city to minor league  basketball teams and all points in between, it has been an eventful summer - to say the least. The following is a few thoughts, a few tidbits, and a few ramblings on the many things going on in my life that I've seen throughout my travels.

First thing's first: The Internet radio deal has been an amazing experience. From putting the business plan together in the solitary cell in the oldest active jail in the US to the practice session we just had 20 minutes ago, putting the deal together has been a whirlwind experience. I knew that I could handle the talent end of it; I knew that I could sell, and I knew that I could market and organize. However, there has been just so much more that I don't think anybody could have foreseen. From dealing with ASCAP to the technical troubles and difficulties of getting the phone lines hooked up over the Internet, the strange meeting at the Chamber of Commerce, the financials, and all of the tedious issues that go along with forming an LLC, it has been a difficult and rewarding process that uniquely beats you up and brings you up every day.

Today, for example, I had just got out of the shower, having a late start to my day with a million things that I had to do. I found myself questioning why I had decided to take on an endeavor this big and this abstract with limited finances and lots of pressure, the size of this deal could overwhelm the strongest among us.

I had a little case of the blues and a little bit of the woe-is-me attitude. But then, suddenly, the blues that were creeping in got a serious stiff-arm. And it dawned on me that what we were doing has never been done not only in this area, but also in New England - a commercially viable talk radio, Internet, and music station. And I felt a chill go through me and the realization that I was involved in something so innovative and groundbreaking and something that people all around to talk about for years and years to come. I thought about my daughter and how proud she would be of her father if this thing becomes as successful as I believe it can be. The treasure of this endeavor is in the journey: the ups, the downs, the affirmations, the rejections - all of it. I wouldn't change any of it for anything in the world. This is the road less traveled, but it is the road to the future. And to be doing this in the middle of the Arts Overlay District in my city that is over 200 years old put a huge smile on my face as I hopped into my recently purchased $300 car and began the daily duties of Hurricaneradio.net.

Now, I'm going to give you the good, the bad, and the ugly of my weekend.

The good: Again, it was my privilege to be invited to an unbelievable party at the house of Mario Lucciola. It is done with an Italian flavor and fare that hasn't been seen in this city since the old Festa Italiana at the old Holy Rosary Church. The party originally started as old friends and family from the Holy Rosary Parish and has morphed into the culinary and social event of the summer. It's heartwarming being around so many of my old friends and neighbors, and to see the generations of people mingling gave me a great feeling. From the Italian pizza on the grill to the white spaghetti and little necks, the fresh steaks, the delectable Italian desserts - all of it was truly unique. Fall River used to be a place that had strong ethnic neighborhoods centered around their churches and their social clubs. For one weekend a summer, that happens for the Italians and their friends at Mario Lucciola's house. It's simply Fall River at its finest, and I was honored to be invited and have a wonderful time with great friends.

The bad: This weekend, I walked probably over 10 miles through the city. One thing that is the most defeating and sickening is the graffiti in the city - mindless, tasteless trash. Recently, walking by one of Fall River's most iconic buildings, the flat-iron building at the top of Plymouth Avenue, I had admired the hard work that the owners of the building did in fixing up the first level - they painted and manicured the first level and made a significant commitment to make the building more aesthetically pleasing. Shortly after admiring their hard work, I was shocked and apalled at seeing the mindless, idiotic graffiti that was scrawled on the side of the building. I couldn't help thinking what a kick in the gut to the owners, who had made a serious financial commitment to making their building look better. After that, I continued to see graffiti sprawled over business after business from the top of Plymouth Ave. to my downtown studio location. It is defeating to see it. It is a quality of life issue that must be paid attention to. It is everywhere, and it has to stop if we are going to be the progressive city that we often talk about.

The ugly: There are way too many grown folks in this city walking around in this city at all time of the day in their pajamas. These people wear pajamas to the doctor's office, the supermarket, the bank, the corner store. They walk around in the middle of the day without any sense of decorum or any sense of self-respect. Now I'm not saying that people should go about their daily chores in their Sunday best. However, the amount of people whom I see dressed as if they just rolled out of bed makes you think we're in zombie land or at a perpetual pajama party. Adults with young children going about their affairs dressed like they just rolled about of bed - the sad part of this is it's how their going to stay dressed for the entire day. It blows my mind that people think it's ok to carry themselves this way. "Pajama Mamas" are on patrol: check them out daily on a city street near you.