It's strange to be in the capitol city of our nation when there's not much that your nation has done in recent years makes you proud of being American.
Still, I love a good museum, and it was easy to stay away from that idiot's white home. The Holocaust Museum was really well laid out, but emotionally overwhelming. Nice Botanical Garden with lots of unusual plant examples to crib for my garden, and I could look at stuff from the National Archives or Library of Congress for hours.
And always good to get to spend some time with the family, especially my two brothers, when I don't think the three of us have had a drink and chat together in about.....forever.
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Monday, May 19, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Hometown Reviews
SL and I road tripped to Ohio this past week for the time-honored event known as "meeting the family." Comments included: "Once you get past the hair and tattoos, he's very nice" (Mom) and "He's great. We emphatically approve. You should marry him." (PatnJames) Well, okay then.
All in all, a fun trip. We even got to see the Reds actually WIN a game.
All in all, a fun trip. We even got to see the Reds actually WIN a game.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Benefit for Scott Sunday
There's no NCAA games on, so get over to Black Betty for some fine music from Big Lazy, Tandy and the always amazing Malcolm Holcombe. $20 with all proceeds going to The Scotty Hard Trust. Malcolm's from Tennessee - I've always thought of him as the country Tom Waits. Check some of his music out on his myspace page. Not sure who else is playing in Tandy, besides the talented Mike Ferrio since the loss of Drew in January but very glad to see Mike playing on.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Scott's Benefit Show
I received a play-by-play of the benefit show for Scott last night at the Highline Ballroom via text from Smitty (THANK YOU!). Sold out, with most people playing 2-3 songs, and a recorded message from Scott was played to the crowd. Very cool that people turned out in full force and raised some cash to help a brother out.
From jambands.com (may I never reference that site again):
Antibalas, Scofield, Medeski, Martin, Krasno, Evans, Laswell, The Duo and Friends Salute Scotty Hard
Last night, a number of musicians with ties to New York’s downtown music scene participated in a benefit for veteran producer Scott Harding, who was partially paralyzed after being sideswiped in a hit and run accident in February. Throughout the night, DJs Olive and Logic entertained the sold out crowd between performances, the latter DJ sporting one of Ropeadope’s new charitable “Hard Ware” t-shirts. Vernon Reid opened the evening’s festivities with a few words about his longtime friend, before joining Logic for a performance that drew in John Medeski and John Scofield for their final number. Their set segued into a short, spirited set reminiscent of MSMW tour that featured Scofield, Medeski, Club d’elf bassist Mike Rivard and Bill Martin. Immediately after, legendary dub producer/bassist Bill Laswell took the stage with a band that featured his Praxis collaborator Bernie Worrell, with whom he recently completed a series of new studio recordings.
Perhaps the evening’s most emotional moment followed, as Brian Harding led Medeski, Michael Blake and others through his brothers arrangement of Duke Ellington’s “Utopia” and offered some words on behalf of his family. Soon after, jazz keyboardist Vijay Iyer won over more than a few new ears, while Sex Mob invited out a number of musicians for its segment, including Blake, Medeski and Logic.
For many, the evening’s highlight was a powerful set featuring members of the extended Soulive and Duo families. First up, Soulive’s Eric Krasno and Neil Evans played a trio set with Krasno’s longtime musical partner Adam Deitch, before handing things over to Joe Russo, Tom Hamilton and Marco Benevento for a take on The Duo’s new song, “Hey Hey Hey.” All six musicians then took the stage together for energetic instrumental Led Zeppelin medley highlighted by “The Ocean.” Finally, an ad hoc version of Antibalas closed things out with the evening’s longest set, with omnipresent saxophonist Cochemea "Cheme" Gastelum, Medeski, Casey Benjamin, John Ellis and others sitting in before the benefit came to a close around 2 AM with a charged version of “Incitement.”
The night also featured some short interludes from the more rock-centric realm: two songs from Kevin Kendrick’s “A Big Yes…and a small no,” which features Kendrick’s former Fat Mama bandmates Joe Russo, Jonathan Goldberger and Jonti Siman and a horn section featuring Gastelum, and a stripped down version of American Babies that found both Russo and Hamilton playing acoustic guitar and Goldberger played pedal steel. Though unable to attend in person, Harding was there in spirit, offering both video and audio messages that confidently declared, “I’m going to beat this thing, so don’t be surprised if you find me standing by the way at a show in the next few months.” In total, the evening raised over $30,000. Please visit www.scottyhardtrust.com for more information on how to donate.
Donations can still be sent to:
The Scotty Hard Trust
c/o Heesok Chang
970 Kent Ave #401
Brooklyn NY 11205
Nice link here to a blog by a guy named hyphen, who put together his own downloadable mix of Scott's work as a tribute.
From jambands.com (may I never reference that site again):
Antibalas, Scofield, Medeski, Martin, Krasno, Evans, Laswell, The Duo and Friends Salute Scotty Hard
Last night, a number of musicians with ties to New York’s downtown music scene participated in a benefit for veteran producer Scott Harding, who was partially paralyzed after being sideswiped in a hit and run accident in February. Throughout the night, DJs Olive and Logic entertained the sold out crowd between performances, the latter DJ sporting one of Ropeadope’s new charitable “Hard Ware” t-shirts. Vernon Reid opened the evening’s festivities with a few words about his longtime friend, before joining Logic for a performance that drew in John Medeski and John Scofield for their final number. Their set segued into a short, spirited set reminiscent of MSMW tour that featured Scofield, Medeski, Club d’elf bassist Mike Rivard and Bill Martin. Immediately after, legendary dub producer/bassist Bill Laswell took the stage with a band that featured his Praxis collaborator Bernie Worrell, with whom he recently completed a series of new studio recordings.
Perhaps the evening’s most emotional moment followed, as Brian Harding led Medeski, Michael Blake and others through his brothers arrangement of Duke Ellington’s “Utopia” and offered some words on behalf of his family. Soon after, jazz keyboardist Vijay Iyer won over more than a few new ears, while Sex Mob invited out a number of musicians for its segment, including Blake, Medeski and Logic.
For many, the evening’s highlight was a powerful set featuring members of the extended Soulive and Duo families. First up, Soulive’s Eric Krasno and Neil Evans played a trio set with Krasno’s longtime musical partner Adam Deitch, before handing things over to Joe Russo, Tom Hamilton and Marco Benevento for a take on The Duo’s new song, “Hey Hey Hey.” All six musicians then took the stage together for energetic instrumental Led Zeppelin medley highlighted by “The Ocean.” Finally, an ad hoc version of Antibalas closed things out with the evening’s longest set, with omnipresent saxophonist Cochemea "Cheme" Gastelum, Medeski, Casey Benjamin, John Ellis and others sitting in before the benefit came to a close around 2 AM with a charged version of “Incitement.”
The night also featured some short interludes from the more rock-centric realm: two songs from Kevin Kendrick’s “A Big Yes…and a small no,” which features Kendrick’s former Fat Mama bandmates Joe Russo, Jonathan Goldberger and Jonti Siman and a horn section featuring Gastelum, and a stripped down version of American Babies that found both Russo and Hamilton playing acoustic guitar and Goldberger played pedal steel. Though unable to attend in person, Harding was there in spirit, offering both video and audio messages that confidently declared, “I’m going to beat this thing, so don’t be surprised if you find me standing by the way at a show in the next few months.” In total, the evening raised over $30,000. Please visit www.scottyhardtrust.com for more information on how to donate.
Donations can still be sent to:
The Scotty Hard Trust
c/o Heesok Chang
970 Kent Ave #401
Brooklyn NY 11205
Nice link here to a blog by a guy named hyphen, who put together his own downloadable mix of Scott's work as a tribute.
Unable to attend the benefit show for Scott Harding a.k.a. Scotty Hard in New York tonight, I decided to run a tribute show here myself. I admire the Crooklyn man a lot and love his contributions – as a musician and a producer - to dub, hip hop, drum & bass and New York Jazz. Here is a collection of music and productions he did, compiled in a fast, uncritical way. All the best Scotty. (Read the post below.)
1 Scotty Hard: Holy Dub
2 Scotty Hard: Pockets Fat (ft. Sensational)
3 Leon Lamont: Humanoid
4 Medeski, Martin & Wood : Shacklyn Knights
5 Scotty Hard: Lurking In The Shadows
6 Medeski, Martin & Wood: Start/Stop
7 Scotty Hard: Bubble In The Haze (ft. High Priest & Sayyid)
8 Scotty Hard: Scarab Medley Remix
9 Scotty Hard: Dark Blocks (ft. Sayyid)
10 Leon Lamont: Mockery
11 Medeski, Martin & Wood: In Case The World Changes Its Mind
12 Medeski, Martin & Wood: No Ke Ano Ahiahi
13 Scotty Hard: Who Said What (ft. King Cobra, Watah Mokk, Horus)
14 Scotty Hard: Sensi For Sale (interlude)
15 Scotty Hard: Raw Nerves
Monday, March 17, 2008
10 Years On
Until last year on Retotted's 40th, I hadn't acknowledged St Patrick's Day for 9 years in any way, shape or form. It was in 1998 that one of my very best friends, Craig Falbe, was killed in a car accident on the night of March 17th on his way to SXSW after a show in Dallas, Texas. Serving as tour manager for Pat's band, another still very close friend (I actually introduced them), they were hit by a third-time DUI offender who blasted through a red light, smashed into their van and killed Craig on impact. While Pat, the driver, emerged physically unscathed, he was dealt a hand of emotional trauma I can't even imagine shouldering. It's taken a long, long time to get beyond the horror and shock of that single life-changing moment.
Ten years on, I still miss Craig, his wisdom, his humor, and wonder where he would be in his life now.
I realize I've been blogging all about pain, injuries and death as of late, but such is the fabric of life. And I will always be melancholy on St Patrick's Day.
Ten years on, I still miss Craig, his wisdom, his humor, and wonder where he would be in his life now.
I realize I've been blogging all about pain, injuries and death as of late, but such is the fabric of life. And I will always be melancholy on St Patrick's Day.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Scotty: Post Surgery
Scott's healing nicely from his surgery a couple Mondays back. The bones are fusing to the metal cage placed in his back around the crushed vertebrae, and he's been moved out of the ICU into rehab to begin the next phase of recovery. He's able to sit up more and more, still with a brace but hopefully soon to go. Six or seven hours of physical therapy each day will attempt get him out of Bellevue and into his own place within a month or so, with the goal being to have him perform basic functions for himself (in and out of wheelchair, powering himself around, etc.) Positive progress continues onward!
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Scott's Surgery
From Scott's friend Leif:
After a long delay in ICU since the car crash to allow Scott to regain enough strength, Scott underwent key reconstructive spine surgery on Monday, March 3rd. We've all been anxiously anticipating and hoping for completion of this essential operation as soon as possible, nobody more so than Scott, and he was greatly relieved it was finally at hand.
The operation started at 11 am, and ended at 7 pm. The operation was long, complicated, and performed by a team of 3 neurosurgeons. In conversations with the doctors immediately following the operation, we were told that the operation to rebuild went well, with no unexpected complications. They were able to rebuild the T5 vertebrae position using a metal cage system into which they packed remaining bone fragments, and fuse this "new vertebrae" to 2 remaining vertebrae above and below with a system of metal rods and screws. This will take time for the bones to "accept and take hold" of the metal. Once Scott heals from this surgery, this will allow him to be able to sit upright in a chair with greater stability to begin the next phase of his recovery. He will remain in the ICU for approximately "5 to 10 days or more" depending on his progress.
Visting is allowed in Scott's new room, but please be advised that fitful sleep remains the number 1 challenge affecting Scott's comfort, so keep visits short and low decible (5 minutes or so, unless otherwise asked).
After a long delay in ICU since the car crash to allow Scott to regain enough strength, Scott underwent key reconstructive spine surgery on Monday, March 3rd. We've all been anxiously anticipating and hoping for completion of this essential operation as soon as possible, nobody more so than Scott, and he was greatly relieved it was finally at hand.
The operation started at 11 am, and ended at 7 pm. The operation was long, complicated, and performed by a team of 3 neurosurgeons. In conversations with the doctors immediately following the operation, we were told that the operation to rebuild went well, with no unexpected complications. They were able to rebuild the T5 vertebrae position using a metal cage system into which they packed remaining bone fragments, and fuse this "new vertebrae" to 2 remaining vertebrae above and below with a system of metal rods and screws. This will take time for the bones to "accept and take hold" of the metal. Once Scott heals from this surgery, this will allow him to be able to sit upright in a chair with greater stability to begin the next phase of his recovery. He will remain in the ICU for approximately "5 to 10 days or more" depending on his progress.
Visting is allowed in Scott's new room, but please be advised that fitful sleep remains the number 1 challenge affecting Scott's comfort, so keep visits short and low decible (5 minutes or so, unless otherwise asked).
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
The Leapling, P2
Turns out Finn Glaser was not a Leapling after all. He was born at 10:30 pm on Thursday. For those of you who know (of) Signe (aka The Reluctant Mother, as I've titled her pregnancy book sure to come) I'll let her explain it:
It was fucking crazy. I took a bath on Thurs where my water broke (and I didn’t notice) and then I had some mild contractions and pretty soon I was howling like a banshee. Josh drove through all the lights on the way to the hospital and when we got there I was dilated to 8. We were basically waiting for my doc to get there (also speeding through traffic on his motorcycle) so he could tell me to push. 45 min later and no drugs, Finn! I burst the blood vessels in my eyes, face, and shoulders. Nice.
God forbid anyone should induce HIM. Guess mom and son like to do things our way. He’s off to a fine start.
Ah, motherhood!
It was fucking crazy. I took a bath on Thurs where my water broke (and I didn’t notice) and then I had some mild contractions and pretty soon I was howling like a banshee. Josh drove through all the lights on the way to the hospital and when we got there I was dilated to 8. We were basically waiting for my doc to get there (also speeding through traffic on his motorcycle) so he could tell me to push. 45 min later and no drugs, Finn! I burst the blood vessels in my eyes, face, and shoulders. Nice.
God forbid anyone should induce HIM. Guess mom and son like to do things our way. He’s off to a fine start.
Ah, motherhood!
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Benefit for the Scotty Hard Trust
A huge benefit has been set up for Scott at the Highline Ballroom on March 19th. Quite an impressive roster of friends and performers can be found below. You can purchase tickets here.
$35 GA / $50 VIP Balcony / $65 VIP Floor
VIP tickets include reserved seating and an after show meet & greet with many of the musicians.
Concert starts @ 9PM, Doors open @ 8 PM
100% of proceeds will be going to the Scotty Hard Trust.
Featuring:
John Scofield
John Medeski
Billy Martin
Bill Laswell
Eric Krasno
Neal Evans
Marco Benevento
Joe Russo
Antibalas
Sex Mob
DJ Logic
John Ellis
Michael Blake
Vijay Iyer
Tommy Hamilton
Kevin Kendrick
Bio from the press release:
Vancouver native and longtime New Yorker Scotty Hard has a long and varied list of production credits, including New Kingdom, Positive Black Soul, Charlie Hunter, Barney Bentall & the Legendary Hearts, Tricky, Crooklyn Dub, Dubadelic, Bailter Space, DJ Logic, Badar Ali Khan, Sex Mob, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Material, Soul Crib, Michael Blake, Chris Brown/Kate Fenner, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Metabolics, and Organ-ized. He also engineered and mixed pioneering music by Wu-Tang Clan, Gravediggaz, Jungle Brothers, Vernon Reid, Chris Rock, Ultrmagnetic MC's, Salif Keita, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, PM Dawn, De La Soul, Boogie Down Productions, Brand New Heavies, Prince Paul, Biz Markie, Chubb Rock, Teo Macero, and others.
$35 GA / $50 VIP Balcony / $65 VIP Floor
VIP tickets include reserved seating and an after show meet & greet with many of the musicians.
Concert starts @ 9PM, Doors open @ 8 PM
100% of proceeds will be going to the Scotty Hard Trust.
Featuring:
John Scofield
John Medeski
Billy Martin
Bill Laswell
Eric Krasno
Neal Evans
Marco Benevento
Joe Russo
Antibalas
Sex Mob
DJ Logic
John Ellis
Michael Blake
Vijay Iyer
Tommy Hamilton
Kevin Kendrick
Bio from the press release:
Vancouver native and longtime New Yorker Scotty Hard has a long and varied list of production credits, including New Kingdom, Positive Black Soul, Charlie Hunter, Barney Bentall & the Legendary Hearts, Tricky, Crooklyn Dub, Dubadelic, Bailter Space, DJ Logic, Badar Ali Khan, Sex Mob, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Material, Soul Crib, Michael Blake, Chris Brown/Kate Fenner, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Metabolics, and Organ-ized. He also engineered and mixed pioneering music by Wu-Tang Clan, Gravediggaz, Jungle Brothers, Vernon Reid, Chris Rock, Ultrmagnetic MC's, Salif Keita, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, PM Dawn, De La Soul, Boogie Down Productions, Brand New Heavies, Prince Paul, Biz Markie, Chubb Rock, Teo Macero, and others.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Finn the Leapling
The birth of my friends Josh and Signe's first child is being induced tomorrow at 7 am at LICH. I knew their Finn would be as unique as his parents are, but nothing like starting it right by giving him a birthday that comes only once every 4 years. I'm told that babies born on Feb 29th are called "leaplings." He's two days late, much to Signe's chagrin and best attempts at scheduling. She's a freelance writer on many deadlines, and only 2 weeks sans work were allotted for his birth and her initiation into motherhood. (HAHAHAHA)
Signe wrote me this week to give an update on her progress, wondering what she should do with the couple days she had left before her son arrives. I suggested that if she felt up for it, she do whatever she WON'T be able to do for the next, oh, ten years or so -- watch movies in silence, disappear for a couple hours without telling anyone where she was, etc. She responded with "OK, I'm off to the bar and strip club then!" I think she was kidding.
Sure must be odd to try to sleep knowing you'll give birth tomorrow. Am actually looking forward to a joyous hospital visit on Saturday.
Signe wrote me this week to give an update on her progress, wondering what she should do with the couple days she had left before her son arrives. I suggested that if she felt up for it, she do whatever she WON'T be able to do for the next, oh, ten years or so -- watch movies in silence, disappear for a couple hours without telling anyone where she was, etc. She responded with "OK, I'm off to the bar and strip club then!" I think she was kidding.
Sure must be odd to try to sleep knowing you'll give birth tomorrow. Am actually looking forward to a joyous hospital visit on Saturday.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Another Day, Another Update
Scott's surgery has been postponed until next Thursday the 6th due to a low-grade, not serious infection he is fighting off. The doctors feel it is best to wait until that is under control in a couple days before attempting to put a hunk of metal in his back. Seems like a good idea. Unfortunately, THE hot-shot back repair doctor is only available at Bellevue on Thursdays.
Scott will be in fighting shape by that time, as he's slooowly moving back to solid food, and his body should be overall stronger with a little more recuperation time from the serious trauma it was put through. A bit disappointing for sure, but one day at a time is the theme here....It's gonna be a long road.
If anyone would like to send him mail, it can go to:
Scott Harding
c/o Bellevue Hospital Center
462 1st Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Visitors will continue to be restricted for about the next 10 days so he can get the rest he needs during this next phase of his recovery. For some positivity and reminiscing from Scott's best friend Dennis in Vancouver, check his blog here.
Scott will be in fighting shape by that time, as he's slooowly moving back to solid food, and his body should be overall stronger with a little more recuperation time from the serious trauma it was put through. A bit disappointing for sure, but one day at a time is the theme here....It's gonna be a long road.
If anyone would like to send him mail, it can go to:
Scott Harding
c/o Bellevue Hospital Center
462 1st Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Visitors will continue to be restricted for about the next 10 days so he can get the rest he needs during this next phase of his recovery. For some positivity and reminiscing from Scott's best friend Dennis in Vancouver, check his blog here.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The Scotty Hard Fund
A special needs trust has been created in Scott's name, and it's called "The Scotty Hard Fund". Any donations should be sent payable in the trust's name, to the following address:
"The Scotty Hard Trust"
c/o Heesok Chang
970 Kent Ave #401
brooklyn ny 11205
For those that wish to wire transfer funds, the trust bank account information will be sent out in a later email.
From Tom Camuso, Scott's partner: On Thursday Scott will go in for surgery to repair his spine. To prepare for this, and in the best interests of Scott's health, it's best to not receive any visits until a few days after this operation. Thank you for all your concern, cards, emails, and hockey updates, Scott greatly appreciates all the concern on his behalf, news about his many friends, and it's all made a big difference to maintaining his spirit.
"The Scotty Hard Trust"
c/o Heesok Chang
970 Kent Ave #401
brooklyn ny 11205
For those that wish to wire transfer funds, the trust bank account information will be sent out in a later email.
From Tom Camuso, Scott's partner: On Thursday Scott will go in for surgery to repair his spine. To prepare for this, and in the best interests of Scott's health, it's best to not receive any visits until a few days after this operation. Thank you for all your concern, cards, emails, and hockey updates, Scott greatly appreciates all the concern on his behalf, news about his many friends, and it's all made a big difference to maintaining his spirit.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
More on Scott
Mr. Harding is doing better. He's become more lucid, is off painkillers, and is able to sit up in a tilted bed more often, now that a week has passed since the accident. His spirits are amazingly good, and he is determined to meet the new challenges presented to him with his usual tenacity. He's refusing to let this beat him, period. As he said today, a new chapter has begun. Although it may not be the scenario for change he might have envisioned, we simply have to believe that unforeseen good and powerful things will come from such drastic change in his life.
Musician friends are meeting tomorrow at Tony Maimone's studio to brainstorm benefits, auctions, and other fund raising ideas. Thankfully, the donations have been flowing in, for costs are going to mount rapidly once he moves out of the hospital (maybe late April?) and into a rehab facility to begin the really hard work.
The kids who caused the accident have not yet been apprehended, but investigators have quite a few leads they are pursuing (Tom taking the role of Magnum/Rockford). There are several eyewitnesses, and videotapes of the entire accident are currently being compiled. (Seriously, two or three tapes exist from constantly running video cameras mounted on the outside of crazy Greenpointers' houses on that very corner)
First big move forward: surgery on Thursday.
Musician friends are meeting tomorrow at Tony Maimone's studio to brainstorm benefits, auctions, and other fund raising ideas. Thankfully, the donations have been flowing in, for costs are going to mount rapidly once he moves out of the hospital (maybe late April?) and into a rehab facility to begin the really hard work.
The kids who caused the accident have not yet been apprehended, but investigators have quite a few leads they are pursuing (Tom taking the role of Magnum/Rockford). There are several eyewitnesses, and videotapes of the entire accident are currently being compiled. (Seriously, two or three tapes exist from constantly running video cameras mounted on the outside of crazy Greenpointers' houses on that very corner)
First big move forward: surgery on Thursday.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Scott.
I received the terrible news Sunday morning that my dear friend and ex-bf Scott Harding aka Scotty Hard was in a bad car accident late Friday night. About a block after leaving his studio in Greenpoint, three kids ran a stop sign at a high rate of speed and slammed into the car service vehicle Scott was riding in.
Among other serious injuries such as a broken collar bone, some stitches, bad bruising and several broken vertebrae, Scott's spinal cord was damaged. The doctors at Bellevue have told him that the paralysis from his sternum down is likely permanent, although the full extent of his recovery is not yet certain. The first step at this early stage is stabilizing surgery on his back that will take place next Thursday.
I've been spending some days at the hospital with him, and he's doing okay, all things considered. He's fully alert, talking, remarkably good humored, cracking inappropriate jokes -- although sleeping a lot, on painkillers, and unable to eat much. The care he is receiving is excellent, as the trauma teams at Bellevue are purported to be some of the best in the nation. For now, there's a core group of us staying with him 24-7 to support his healing while keeping his many visitors to a dull roar as he starts a long road of recuperation.
Three of his closest friends (Leif, Heesok and his partner, Tom) have organized to attend to his most immediate financial, legal and health needs, with the help of Scott's many friends and family. There is a legal investigator hired by Scott's friends on the case, and there are several eyewitnesses, but as of yesterday they had not yet found the kids that ran from the car after hitting them on Meserole@Newell Street.
If there is any good news, it is that he DOES have the use of his arms and even more importantly, his ears. He can continue making mixing and producing records, making music with his incredible talent. And if anyone can find the bright side of this, I know Scott will. His genuinely good spirit and positive attitude are going to be huge assets. Just maybe, there is a new treatment or study out there that can change his diagnosis, but for now, it'll be taking things as they arise each day. He's got an amazing support system, with so many people who love him and want to help. I hope he'll be able to draw on all this strength as his life suddenly changes so very much.
That said, it is unbelievably sad, random and unfair. It's difficult to comprehend how easily everything can change in a brief instant, simply based on crap timing, with 5 seconds one way or the other making the entire difference.
Like so many today, he has no health insurance. Some of the initial costs (once there's a settlement, MONTHS away) will be born by the insurance of the car service, with details of the shows and benefits sure to come from his many musician friends and co-creators to follow as they emerge. A trust for Scott is being set up; if anyone wants to contribute donations to help with Scott's immediate financial needs including rent, mixing board payments and creditors, please send checks to:
"The Scotty Hard Trust"
c/o Heesok Chang
970 Kent Ave #401
brooklyn ny 11205
Among other serious injuries such as a broken collar bone, some stitches, bad bruising and several broken vertebrae, Scott's spinal cord was damaged. The doctors at Bellevue have told him that the paralysis from his sternum down is likely permanent, although the full extent of his recovery is not yet certain. The first step at this early stage is stabilizing surgery on his back that will take place next Thursday.
I've been spending some days at the hospital with him, and he's doing okay, all things considered. He's fully alert, talking, remarkably good humored, cracking inappropriate jokes -- although sleeping a lot, on painkillers, and unable to eat much. The care he is receiving is excellent, as the trauma teams at Bellevue are purported to be some of the best in the nation. For now, there's a core group of us staying with him 24-7 to support his healing while keeping his many visitors to a dull roar as he starts a long road of recuperation.
Three of his closest friends (Leif, Heesok and his partner, Tom) have organized to attend to his most immediate financial, legal and health needs, with the help of Scott's many friends and family. There is a legal investigator hired by Scott's friends on the case, and there are several eyewitnesses, but as of yesterday they had not yet found the kids that ran from the car after hitting them on Meserole@Newell Street.
If there is any good news, it is that he DOES have the use of his arms and even more importantly, his ears. He can continue making mixing and producing records, making music with his incredible talent. And if anyone can find the bright side of this, I know Scott will. His genuinely good spirit and positive attitude are going to be huge assets. Just maybe, there is a new treatment or study out there that can change his diagnosis, but for now, it'll be taking things as they arise each day. He's got an amazing support system, with so many people who love him and want to help. I hope he'll be able to draw on all this strength as his life suddenly changes so very much.
That said, it is unbelievably sad, random and unfair. It's difficult to comprehend how easily everything can change in a brief instant, simply based on crap timing, with 5 seconds one way or the other making the entire difference.
Like so many today, he has no health insurance. Some of the initial costs (once there's a settlement, MONTHS away) will be born by the insurance of the car service, with details of the shows and benefits sure to come from his many musician friends and co-creators to follow as they emerge. A trust for Scott is being set up; if anyone wants to contribute donations to help with Scott's immediate financial needs including rent, mixing board payments and creditors, please send checks to:
"The Scotty Hard Trust"
c/o Heesok Chang
970 Kent Ave #401
brooklyn ny 11205
Friday, December 21, 2007
Changes
Today's the last day of full-time work for me.
Its OUT with the two challenging magazines that caused all kind of stress I wasn't fully aware of until it was gone.
And IN with production consulting work (Visionaire issues continuing as my first 'client') and the formation of my company, Derby Print. (spiffy logo below by Strath Shepard)
In the midst of two weeks of holiday fun, with visitors coming to NYC this year from Dallas and SF. Steve and I are off to Thailand for the month of January, split between Bangkok and quiet weeks on the beach.
NOW: a deep breath and an attempt to finally....reeeeeeelaaaaaxxx.
Its OUT with the two challenging magazines that caused all kind of stress I wasn't fully aware of until it was gone.
And IN with production consulting work (Visionaire issues continuing as my first 'client') and the formation of my company, Derby Print. (spiffy logo below by Strath Shepard)
In the midst of two weeks of holiday fun, with visitors coming to NYC this year from Dallas and SF. Steve and I are off to Thailand for the month of January, split between Bangkok and quiet weeks on the beach.
NOW: a deep breath and an attempt to finally....reeeeeeelaaaaaxxx.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Maybe
One day I'll resume posting again, when I have head space.
The job reconfigurations of recent weeks are still causing anxiety -- not sure if I am going to go freelance starting in mid-Jan and only work on the Visionaire publication + other print projects for other clients (most likely) / get fired / find a new full-time job / quit in a huff during the next two weeks so I can run away to Thailand with my man friend for a couple months (most appealing).
I had a semi-relaxing trip to SF last week for my old roommate Mikey's wedding, Ann and Derek's 10th Anniversary dinner and the baptism of Denise's 8-month old Sonny. Loads of friends around - the vast majority from Ohio - and amazing weather for the 7th Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, where I saw Buddy Miller, Del McCoury, an Atlantic City-covering Jason Isbell, Dave Alvin, Doc Watson, Jim Lauderdale and the ubiquitous Emmylou. The 3-day Festival is a terrific free, yet not too crowded with dirty hippies, event in Golden Gate Park. Going out simply for the music would have been a good trip in itself.
Said man friend came along, and was an unsurprising hit. And I didn't even have to put on my mature and meet his ex-girlfriend, also in town all weekend.
The job reconfigurations of recent weeks are still causing anxiety -- not sure if I am going to go freelance starting in mid-Jan and only work on the Visionaire publication + other print projects for other clients (most likely) / get fired / find a new full-time job / quit in a huff during the next two weeks so I can run away to Thailand with my man friend for a couple months (most appealing).
I had a semi-relaxing trip to SF last week for my old roommate Mikey's wedding, Ann and Derek's 10th Anniversary dinner and the baptism of Denise's 8-month old Sonny. Loads of friends around - the vast majority from Ohio - and amazing weather for the 7th Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, where I saw Buddy Miller, Del McCoury, an Atlantic City-covering Jason Isbell, Dave Alvin, Doc Watson, Jim Lauderdale and the ubiquitous Emmylou. The 3-day Festival is a terrific free, yet not too crowded with dirty hippies, event in Golden Gate Park. Going out simply for the music would have been a good trip in itself.
Said man friend came along, and was an unsurprising hit. And I didn't even have to put on my mature and meet his ex-girlfriend, also in town all weekend.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
That's It.
It's basically over for two members of my softball team, who have hit the pinnacle of success, at least in my small world, by having their names on the lead page of today's NY Times Dining section.
Well played, Cindy and Keller!
(It's A/T day in the Times, as our shortstop Jordan is mentioned on Pg 2 of the same section.)
Well played, Cindy and Keller!
(It's A/T day in the Times, as our shortstop Jordan is mentioned on Pg 2 of the same section.)
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Schedules and Dates
Boring work rant that I try not to do but am indulging myself with today: The past two weeks at work have been hellacious, with an increased need to boss people into keeping planned-months-in-advance dates to meet release schedules, with every single project quickly going south due to the ridiculous demands of big deal fashion photographers. No names, but my god, it's like pulling teeth to get final retouched images from people. We all want the publication to look gorgeous and beautiful, and it will, believe me. But I need something to work with in a time frame that's reasonable. All of it driving me nuts and making it impossible to plan the rest of my life/summer, I've had to lay down the law with pretty much everyone from editorial, printers, retouchers, the publisher and my bosses, getting into draining conflict every single day just for asking people to do their jobs. I can't make magic with no time, dammit. And don't make me keep repeating myself.
That said, I've finally (almost) sorted out the next trip to print and finish the next just-in- under-the-wire Vis 52 titled PRIVATE. Two weeks in Verona in mid-July, and visiting Spain, Madrid + Helen prior to work for 6 days. I'm looking forward to it, for it will be warm, relatively mellow, full of reading, great food and one of the hotels I will be in has a pool. And I'll get to be in Verona for the first time during opera season at the Arena. I suppose should find something real to complain about.
Another date: today's my 38th birthday. Another year, another number, another tick, another marker, another measure. You wonder if this is where you thought you'd be. And then you also don't care, although it's hard not to have a twinge of excitement, or a sense of expectation (always a bad idea, that concept), like you did when you were a kid. I always knew it was my birthday when I woke up on the morning of, for a parent had hung the flag up in honor of Flag Day, and my birthday. My lovely assistant gave me a BAG O' CHEESE as a gift today. Five kinds sitting on my desk at 9:30 am. He knows me well.
That said, I've finally (almost) sorted out the next trip to print and finish the next just-in- under-the-wire Vis 52 titled PRIVATE. Two weeks in Verona in mid-July, and visiting Spain, Madrid + Helen prior to work for 6 days. I'm looking forward to it, for it will be warm, relatively mellow, full of reading, great food and one of the hotels I will be in has a pool. And I'll get to be in Verona for the first time during opera season at the Arena. I suppose should find something real to complain about.
Another date: today's my 38th birthday. Another year, another number, another tick, another marker, another measure. You wonder if this is where you thought you'd be. And then you also don't care, although it's hard not to have a twinge of excitement, or a sense of expectation (always a bad idea, that concept), like you did when you were a kid. I always knew it was my birthday when I woke up on the morning of, for a parent had hung the flag up in honor of Flag Day, and my birthday. My lovely assistant gave me a BAG O' CHEESE as a gift today. Five kinds sitting on my desk at 9:30 am. He knows me well.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Guest Blogger
Best paragraph I got in an blog-esque email today from my brother Chris in Dayton:
Baseball
Its baseball season, the Reds and the Alter JV team suck. The Dragons [Dayton Single A Reds farm team] and Jake's [my 11-yr old nephew] team are great. Went to the Dragons game last week and they get it. They are well organized, know how to entertain, put on an event and oh by the way the team is decent. The Reds should take note.
Jake's playing baseball for the first time since he was about 6 and like the Dragons he gets it. Strong arm but needs to use better mechanics, good field sense, good glove, and can hit the hell out of the ball. The catcher got hurt so Jake moved to catcher and does a decent job especially never having played before. He is also very proud of his cup but that's no big surprise, all boys are.
Baseball
Its baseball season, the Reds and the Alter JV team suck. The Dragons [Dayton Single A Reds farm team] and Jake's [my 11-yr old nephew] team are great. Went to the Dragons game last week and they get it. They are well organized, know how to entertain, put on an event and oh by the way the team is decent. The Reds should take note.
Jake's playing baseball for the first time since he was about 6 and like the Dragons he gets it. Strong arm but needs to use better mechanics, good field sense, good glove, and can hit the hell out of the ball. The catcher got hurt so Jake moved to catcher and does a decent job especially never having played before. He is also very proud of his cup but that's no big surprise, all boys are.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Selective Memory
Had a most animated conversation last night with my old Ohio chum Texas Liberal, after we had barely spoken over the past 20 years for some asinine reasons that he remembered much more of than I did. I had not a clue, but certainly knew I had been mad. And that it was probably his fault.
Memories are interesting stuff: He did not remember calling me at home in SF in about 1996, or contacting me again right after 9/11 when I was quoted in his now-hometown Houston Chronicle, but clearly remembered me spurning a mutual friend of ours at age 19; I forgot he went to Xavier for 7 years, only hanging out in UC's student center for socializing reasons, and why I stopped speaking to him. Yet I vividly remembered his job running the lottery machine, and his predilection for curly-headed women with large breasts. He married one, in fact.
The NYC streets do this to me on a regular basis. Recently, I've been walking through Washington Square Park regularly for the first time in a couple years after my class twice a week at NYU. My Irish ex-boyfriend used to live on Thompson and Bleeker, and I still associate that area of the West Village with him. With the smell and feel of NYC's almost-summer air, I'm recalling the times we pulled ourselves out of our mutual self-destruction to sit in the park in the late evenings and people watch. I haven't forgotten that that there was a lot of heartache then due to the recent loss of my dad and nearly 2-yrs of back-and-forth with said bf, but the light in the park this May only makes me remember the good, and how crazy we once were about each other.
At any rate, I am told that I am officially back on TL's A-List. Ah yes, the internets, bringing people together.
Memories are interesting stuff: He did not remember calling me at home in SF in about 1996, or contacting me again right after 9/11 when I was quoted in his now-hometown Houston Chronicle, but clearly remembered me spurning a mutual friend of ours at age 19; I forgot he went to Xavier for 7 years, only hanging out in UC's student center for socializing reasons, and why I stopped speaking to him. Yet I vividly remembered his job running the lottery machine, and his predilection for curly-headed women with large breasts. He married one, in fact.
The NYC streets do this to me on a regular basis. Recently, I've been walking through Washington Square Park regularly for the first time in a couple years after my class twice a week at NYU. My Irish ex-boyfriend used to live on Thompson and Bleeker, and I still associate that area of the West Village with him. With the smell and feel of NYC's almost-summer air, I'm recalling the times we pulled ourselves out of our mutual self-destruction to sit in the park in the late evenings and people watch. I haven't forgotten that that there was a lot of heartache then due to the recent loss of my dad and nearly 2-yrs of back-and-forth with said bf, but the light in the park this May only makes me remember the good, and how crazy we once were about each other.
At any rate, I am told that I am officially back on TL's A-List. Ah yes, the internets, bringing people together.
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