Up Coming Attractions...The Return of...The Private iTeam: "Cop Killer"

"Up until that night Victor Santiago was only known as a petty thief and low level member of a west side drug gang.  Ironically, Santiago had written numerous complainants against the New York City police department for harassment. Now he was the number one suspect in murder of a police officer....That was the match that lit the fuse that lit the powder keg for the NYPD and placed my little private investigation agency on a collision course with three powerful forces in all of New York City..."  Gio Ferrari, The Private iTeam.

Blue Skies Ahead...As I Get Closer...

Nothing but "nerves" all weekend long for me.  I made it through the blizzard over the weekend.  I filled out the form to get my own startup going.  Now I need a sit down with two attorney friends.  I've continued to plug away at my website building skills.  What a pain it is with my Web Expressions software.  Hush hush all of you web building experts out there.  I know I could have used different software, but Expressions happens to be what I evolved from when I was working with MS Publishing essentially the past ten years.  I've heard all I can possibly hear on Adobe Dreamweaver.  Perhaps...when I get to the next level?

Not only that, but I have friends and some family working on some additional picture donations (speed it up will ya folks? <laughing>) to add some imagery to my story posts.  Let's see...I have 5 blogs, building 2 websites and an overall startup company - yeah that can keep a person busy.  But it has been one heck of an enjoyable 7 months to share my creative skills to entertain old friends, new friends, family and even some folks that I've never met - from across the planet.  My blogs have gotten hits from just about every continent.  That's kind of cool.  I hope it translates well?

Anyway, my eyeballs were rolling out of my head about an hour ago after I was re-reading New York state laws on filing for a business.  Then I doodled on Expressions for another hour.  I have to do all the creative writing first before the "business" part otherwise I'd never be able to creatively write a thing.

I do welcome inquiries from a couple other writers who might like to try their hand in this.  That might help me from averaging going to bed at 4am down the road.  You can use the email address or respond directly to this link, if you so choose.

Yep, as I get ready to turn lights out here at 4:37am New York time, I'm know I'm going to bed nervous, but smiling.  I see some blue skies ahead these next few months as I plan on sharing some more smiles and positive thoughts with all of you.

The Blizzard of Winter 2013...It's A Matter of Perspective...

So here it is...the blizzard of 2013.  It has hit the entire Northeast of the United States.  Here on the Western half of Long Island, everything was good until about 4pm this afternoon.  It was just a mix of rain, snow and painful little bits of hail.  Last night and most of today, many Long Islanders...so painfully wounded from Hurricane Sandy - have now over reacted and inundated the gas pumps.  When I drove around late this afternoon most of the local gas stations were now empty.  Empty?  Yes, that's right. Empty by the time Rush Hour started.

I remember an older friend of mine taking me out on his boat into Hampton Bay for fishing told me to look at the shore and piers as we were riding out.  As I did that he asked me what did I see?  I told him that I could see about 30 to 40 people casting their fishing lines out into the bay to catch fish.  He told me to keep that thought.  He then stopped the engine and we drifted back towards the shore with the tide, and as we did...we started catching some fluke.  That's when he laid a little knowledge on me.

"We are catching these fish as the come in with the tide.  So are the guys standing on the shore.  So here we are all looking for the same thing - to catch fish.  One guy casting his rod out into the bay and another guy drifting back from the bay to the shore towards the shore to catch fish coming in with the tide.  It's all a matter of perspective on who's going to be the most successful."

So right he was back in 1996.  It is a matter of perspective.  New York, New Jersey and just about all of the New England states are in a state of emergency to deal with this wallop of a blizzard.  Most of us are dreading this situation.  Well, that is outside of the guys who will be driving the snow plows and sanding trucks.  They will definitely be making some overtime money - guaranteed.  I'm also quite sure that all ski resorts and ski fans are just singing joy for this weather.  It was starting to look pretty bleak for the snow bunnies in our area.  Now they will definitely have some of the good white stuff to lay their skis on.

Earlier this night, I actually walked out to my front stoop and snapped off the picture of the street. I kept telling myself "This isn't so bad.  If it tapers down overnight, I should have plenty of time to shovel myself out in time to get to work."  Yeah, I kept telling myself that joke as if the snow was going to disappear overnight.  Something tells me I'll be getting up an hour early for work no matter what.

Then I came into the house and watched my 10 year old daughter look out the back door into the backyard and start making a silent cheer gestures.  She didn't know I had walked back into the house and was watching her.  So I asked her why she was so happy.

She looked at me...smiled...and said "I'm so happy because we have snow!"

Oh how foolish I felt.  There I was loathing and belly aching about the snow and tomorrow morning's dig out.  And here my kid was cheering and just as ecstatic as can be.  We both just had two different outlooks on what the outside conditions represented.  She reminded me of when I was her age, how happy I was to see the snow and couldn't wait to find some friends to go play in it.  I will never again have a negative mind about  this or any other blizzard.  Nor will I let the Sandy disaster get me to over react to bad weather.  I have enough fuel, food and can get to work a multitude of ways.

I guess that's what the end of last year, and the beginning of this year has been all about.  We definitely need to be prepared for emergencies.  But we also must look on the bright side to some of our tragedies.  Since the Sandy disaster, I've seen more masons, electricians, carpenters and tree removal guys working pretty steady these past two months.  God bless them.  The economy around here could use a boost.  In fact, two friends of mine who live by the water and have lost their homes - have began rebuilding and are doing what they can to make their homes a little more efficient and more protected than they were before, in case of a future weather disaster.

I am working steady on the website.  Oye.  I'm also trying to get back to the building blocks of ESpeakeasy.  That blog will have elements that will be connected to many of my present and future works here and on my website.  Putting  that blog together is turning into a Cecil B. Demille production, but it must go on.  It will be a key link to many things in the future.

I wish all my friends and readers who might be facing these blizzard conditions and safe and happy weekend.  Peace and love to all.

"Why Tell The Truth?" by John S LES ©

This post is dedicated to you know who
I made these rhymes just for you
You're always so right and can't be wrong
Just telling yourself lies - but the truth lives on

You wake up in the morning, just brush those teeth
You have to wash off the lies you told in your sleep
You're always so right, and can't be wrong
You have to start fresh, cause you lie all day long

You drove to work and ran the stop sign
I guess you  missed the cop who was watching your behind
Tried to cry and blame other car
But you got a ticket, so your lie didn't get far

You opened your mouth again and again
You retold a lie to all your friends
Said the other car was speeding, and came around a curb
No matter what story you tell, you want the last word

When you got to work, it was between me and you
You forgot to do something that you were supposed to do
But you went on offense to protect yourself
Went to the boss and blamed someone else
Now that guy is suspended, might lose his job
You're still lying faster than eating corn on the cob

Just the other day, I saw you at the mall,
I wondered why you were walking so big and tall
then I spoke to a friend a few days later
Some poor sale clerk got bit by you - the alligator

You did your shopping, bought the the last four shoes
But your lying ass only paid for two
When you try them on, I hope they squeeze your toes
Cause that's how lying usually goes

You think you're cute and got away with it
Living your life on BS cheese and grits
But you never can sleep, because your lie might slip
So sit your ass down let me give you a tip

You may fool a few now, but you can't fool them all
And when that day comes you're going to take a fall
So you won today but that lie won't last
At the end of the week, the Truth will have your ass.

So all of you out there, take it from me
It's not about truth setting you free
Telling the truth doesn't make it all right
But telling the truth will let you sleep at night.
 

A Super Bowl For Real Everyday Heroes

Yesterday millions, if not billions of people across the world sat down and watched the premeire American sporting event now known as the Super Bowl.  For the days and the hours leading up to the game there was the usual relentless media coverage of the individual stories within the overall story.  Stories of how players and coaches went through various personal and career struggles to get to this point of their lives.  We all follow it because in some way we are vicariously experiencing their struggles along with our own daily life struggles and challenges.  It's both cathoric and inspiring to release the tention to our own struggles by watching or learning about somone overcoming their own.  In this case it's professional athletes.  It helps us find meaning and identify that we are not alone in our struggles and challenges.

I don't think we should depend or always cater to the challenges of professional athletes showcased at sporting events to inspire us, or provide a beacon to us.  I think we should look at those around us, those close us - our mother's and father's, our teachers, police officers, firemen and emergency service workers to inspire us everyday.  I think we should have a Super Bowl spectacular honoring those among us who put their lives on the line everyday like our soldiers and our coast guard recue personel.  A mother of 4 children holding down one or two jobs.  A father who goes out there and works two jobs to care for his children.  A coast guard swimmer who rescues someone from a sinking boat, in high seas and gets them safely on board the helicopter.

Let me repeat - we need to have a day (if not daily) celebration, honor and observation of our mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, cousins, aunts and uncles who wake up everyday and go out and do their jobs that helps our town, our state, our nation - running.  Everyday they are out there working to save or protect our lives.  They do this with no worries about their own lives.  They do this to help us all live our lives.

How many of us have been to a hospital with great doctors and great nurses?  Most of us have been to a bad hospital visit or two, but how many of us remember the really great ones that we've been to?  A doctor or nurse who spent and gave that extra bit of themselves that made all of the positive difference in our visit.  We need to honor those people.  Give out some form of trophy for recognition.  Perhaps inspire that other docotor or nurse that we went, who wasn't very good - to do better?!

Maybe we can have moms lined up on the one side and fathers on the other side.  Have them square off in a wrestling match with laundry, dishes, event planning for the kids (with their smartphones and tablets of course) and still maintaining a night with each other and with their friends.  I'd like to see a high definition, multiangle camera view of coast guard rescuers giving each other some high fives, or jumping up and bumping each other with their backs after they just saved some crewmen from a sinking cargo ship.

Better yet, I'd love to see a digital instant replay of some nurses and doctors doing an "end zone dance" after saving some car accident victims from certain death in the operating room.

Everyday life is tough.  We all have our own struggles.  As I sit here, a working father of four who must deal with his own struggles, I will be the first to salute all fathers and mothers who are out there getting it done everyday.  I salute our soldiers, recue workers, teachers, firemen and community leaders.  You are all out there working, fighting, struggling to get it done right everyday.  We all owe each other that respect and salute.  We all deserve our own Super Bowl for Service.

That's just my humble opinion.  Have a great week everyone.  More to come this week as my path towards my own website continues.

"The Two Tests That Most Men Fear"

Well, it's 2013 another day into the life.  This winter's flu season has been pretty bad nation wide.  I haven't been stricken yet, but so many people at work and neighbors have been catching it.  Even the governor of New York declared the state of New York a health emergency and pushed to have more people voluntarily take flu vaccines just a couple of weeks ago.

Yet in mentioning all that, I can honestly say that even in this state of health emergency there are still two health care tests that will clear a room full of men, faster than any influenza virus carrying sneeze.  Those two tests are...colon cancer and prostate cancer.  In fact, I'd say that men probably fear or dislike the tests for those two health issues way more than they are afraid of this 2013's winter flu epidemic.

We men probably FEAR taking the tests for these diseases greater than we fear actually contracting the disease itself.

I remember a time period in my 20's where a full health exam was needed to get a general idea of my overall physical health.  So in order to get me on the road and acclimated to prostrate exams my general physician recommended that I see a proctologist.  My father had passed from colon cancer when I was in college and my doctor felt that it would be helpful that I started getting used to such thorough exams.  So off to the proctologist I went.

Now I had no idea what an ass doctor "should look like", but as I entered the office expecting to see a man of average height, I instead walk into the office of the Jolly Green Giant.  At that time, I stood a solid 5'10, 195lbs, muscular and less than 10% body fat.  This doctor stood about a good 6'5 and had a rather wide framed body.  He looked like a bear.  He was all smiles as I entered.  He even reached out to shake my hand.  As it turned out his hand was far bigger than mine, and I can palm a basketball.

So while we were standing there having a nice casual conversation, I did observe the doctor starting to place a pair of latex gloves on, that were nearly the size of a small tent.  As he was doing this and we are talking - my subconscious mind (as well as my orifice) was telling me "I hope he doesn't think I'm going to allow him to do what I think he thinks he's getting ready to do?  No way he's sticking one of those soda can size digits up my caboose?  I only agreed to this visit for a preliminary conversation about future exams for prostrate and colon cancer.  No way I came here to get my backside re-sized by this giant sized Winnie The Pooh."

Onward we conversed and then he began to look for lubricant for his one gloved hand (a la Michael Jackson).  That's when I drew the line.  I stood up and said to him, "Um, Doc - no way.  I just came here for a cursory conversation and plan on keeping my pants belt secured around my waist."

He smiled and casually tried to convince me that this would be a routine and quick examination.  I indicated to him that I would wait a few more years before I started any "routine" prostate exams.  Out the door I went.  I then called my general physician and gave him an earful for sending me to Dr. Asser-stein, who could hold a basketball as if it were a peach.

I remember telling this story to my mother, sister and a mix of male and female friends.  Always the reception of the story was divided along gender lines.  The women had no sympathy towards me as they would explain that they've been going through such similar invasive exams since they were in their teens with their gynecologists.  So they did not share a single tear of sympathy.  Okay.  I get it.  Sorry ladies.  My apologies if I somehow seemed unsympathetic to your "routine" health exams.  I didn't take everything into account. 

In contrast, the reaction of my male friends was much more different.  The male friends I would tell this story to would just sit back and make  guttural sounds like:  "Ooooooh"  "Oh Nooooo" "Not me!"  Then they would laugh and make macho comments about how they would have slammed the door in Winnie the Pooh's face.  Yeah.  Right fellas.

Fast forward the clock about 10 years, I'm in my mid 30's and now some colon issues have emerged that calls for me to have a colonoscopy to erase any questions.  There was no way around it.  My new primary care physician was (and still is) a genius and referred me to a great protologist.  I went to this new specialist's office and we had a very normal, casual conversation.  He wasn't slapping on the gloves as soon as I entered his office.  And MOST importantly, he was a man of less than average height.  In fact, he kind of reminded me of Yoda from Star Wars or The Hobbit.  Nice guy, who mumbled mostly, but was very careful to show you a chart and explain everything in "mumblese".  I'm a fairly intelligent person who has been guilty of mumbling too, so I followed along pretty good.

Those of you who have had a colonoscopy already know what it's like as you near the date of the exam.  You change your diet a little.  You begin to eat more fibrous foods and drink more water to help clear your body.  Then like one or two days before, they have you take this medicine which is basically acts like Drano for the human body.  Anything inside your entire gastrointestinal tract, from your mouth to your anus that hasn't cleared out of your body - most certainly will clear out of your body once it comes into contact with this medication.  By the morning of the exam, I could drink a glass of water and literally feel it traverse my gastrointestinal tract in mere seconds.  You feel like one of those bubble gum machines where you turn the coin thingy and just watch the gumball slowly roll downward in a long circular motion until it reaches the exit door.

The day of the exam, I walked into the room, changed into a gown and hopped up on a normal looking bed.  The anesthesiologist came in, hooked me up and began talking about the New York Yankees.  Within minutes I was out.  I awakened towards the end of the exam and could see the video display of my colon, I looked down and saw my legs spread and my Dr. holding the periscope right up my hiney.  My behind was getting a tan from the Hollywood production lights he had shining up there.  I immediately decided it was a better idea to drift back to sleep until this big budget movie production of my colon was over with.

At the end of the day, all tests and biopsies proved negative results and back to the normal world I went.  As I advance in age closer to 50, I know that such exams will be necessary.  But thankfully I had a doctor with a less embarrassing and painless approach with me in my 30's than I did with the other Dr. in my 20's.  I can honestly say to all men reading this blog that I wrote this post to provide some humor and insight in hopes that you will not fear these tests to these particular two diseases which can affect us.  The earlier you catch these diseases, the cure rate goes up astronomically.  Within the last five years, I had an older, former co-worker, in his late 60's who waited too late to check himself for prostate cancer.  He had treatment, surgery and some temporary remission.  But it returned a short while later and he committed suicide rather than face all of that again.

"I Now Empower You to Slap That Fool!" (humor)

Don't you just love hearing a really a stupid question?  A question that makes you just want to shake your head, or slap someone up on the backside of their head for asking?  Here's a few real life stories that will empower those of us with better sense in our heads to just walk up and slap someone in the back of the head for asking you that stupid question in the first place?

1. I know of a personal story where a guy who stood about 6'3 stands on the second floor of a two story apartment and leans over the railing to act goofy towards a girl he likes who is walking up from the first floor towards him on the second floor.  The fool forgets that he suffers from extreme vertigo.  Upon his leaning over the railing to goof off at the girl, he immediately loses his balance and over the railing he goes...on top of the girl!  Yep, he made an impression on that girl alright.  Every time she sees that Frankenstein scar on the side of her forehead, she will definitely think of him. To me he asked "I guess I probably shouldn't have leaned over huh?"  Yeah, buddy.  <slap!>

2. Here's another one.  A young woman wearing about one to two rings, per all four fingers on both of her hands...decides to open up a packet of knives, placed in hard plastic casing, using, guess what - another knife.  Instead of slicing away from her hand which is holding the knives (or using a pair of scissors), she instead cuts towards her hand.  She manages to succeed in deep slashing all four fingers of her off hand, just belong her finger rings and needs immediate medical attention.  With all four fingers swelling up and losing color, she asks, "Do you think that they will have to cut my rings to treat my fingers?"
Yes, hun, they probably will. <slap!>

3. Even better, a guy is in his souped up SUV, with cheap bumper grills front and back - is blasting music while parked in a circular driveway.  After impressing his female friend and buddies with his sound system, he now wants to speed off in a blur of smoke, except for one thing, he has another car parked in front of him.  Hot Shot doesn't realize that he doesn't have enough clearance to pull out of the sidewalk without backing up first and slams into the car parked in front of him on an angle.  The car in front of him suffers very minor damage.  However, his car suffers a sideways bent front grill.  This cheap grill is bent so bad, that he can't drive straight or make left turns without causing severe friction of the grill on his front left tire.  I advise him that he should probably park it and just have it towed to a local shop.  He tells me that he is confident that he can get it home.  His last words to me before he aimed his travel towards the parkway was: "Do you think I can drive this home?"

Let's see...you can't drive left or straight without causing friction on your front tire...and you're driving 25 minutes to get back home?  <slap!>  Yep.  He didn't make it more than a quarter mile before his car started smoking.  <double slap!>

4. Customer Service phone calls.  Ohhh yeah.  The good ones are really, really nice.  Sometimes they are just too too nice!  They are always apologetic actually manage to find a way to help you with your problem.  For me it's usually a billing issue or error that I catch and they act shocked and disbelieving.  Meanwhile, it's happened in the past and I've caught it before and I'll catch it again, because I check.  So after resolving this sometimes repeated issue, they always have to ask at the end "So Sir, have I resolved all of your problems for today?"

Here's what I want to say to them, "Nope, I still have heat, electric, car payment bills as well as mortgage to get to.  Any chance you can help me there too?  Now please hang up before I add flatulence and indigestion to that list."  Anyway, you get the picture.  They didn't need to add the extra inquiry for assistance.  I was good at "we've reimbursed you, Sir".

What?  You think I was being too mean there?  <slap!>  Okay.  Maybe you're right.