Sometimes you have to wear the stretchy pants...

Mexican wrestler bobblehead has the shakes
like Parkinsons for toys
Collect them all:
Cancer Boy Bobblehead
Heart Attack Dense Bobblehead
Transgendered Barbie Bobblehead
The possibilities abound, and shake a bit too
For a good shake, read Stanley Elkin's The Magic Kingdom.

"Abandoned by his wife and devastated by the death of his twelve-year old son, Eddy Bale becomes obsessed with the plight of terminally ill children and develops a plan to provide a "last hurrah" dream vacation for seven children who will never grow-up. Eddy and his four dysfunctional chaperones journey to the entertainment capital of America—Disney World. Once they arrive, a series of absurdities characteristic of an Elkin novel—including a freak snowstorm and a run-in with a vengeful Mickey Mouse—transform Eddy's idealistic wish into a fantastic nightmare." http://www.centerforbookculture.org/dalkey/backlist/elkin.html#magickingdom

Since the blurb above does no justice for the novel, we present the NY Times hyphenated dictum:

"As always, Mr. Elkin plays the crazy music of his prose—takes off at the hint of a theme on his soaring funky riffs and jazzy blue notes. Not only among Elkin's best works of fiction, but a comedy that cuts so many ways that it leaves us bleeding with laughter."—Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, New York Times

It is Sunday, and I'm in a weird Sunday kind of mood. Drove the family to the airport for their Sun vacation get-away at 4:30 (OUCH) took the dogs with me to minimize the noise for the rest of the sleeping household, returned about 5:30 and we all went back to bed. Thought it was 11:00 so I woke feeling refreshed, only to discover it was really 9:00. Now I feel the lack of sleep. Read the newspaper, scanning for jobs, and the inevitable collapse of our local hockey nightmare. Still waiting for the call from unnamed rock group to "seal' the deal for the first of two big benefits for Mr. Hard.

Some people give without asking. Right away. No questions asked. Special shout out to the Pointed Sticks, Frank Frink, Swank, Dark Blue World, Sandy Scofield, John Korsrud, Clare Love, etc. Others, you call and immediately its What can I do, of course, I'm in.

And still others...what are they thinking...I don't know because they aren't talking. I'm getting the Silent treatment. Doctor, there's a radius clause in my contract (that sounds like something you should get checked out). I hear its bad for him but did I tell you about my aunt who had a dog with wheels for legs.....the list goes on.

Hey Les, it's all just bizness, don't cha know. Well, excuse me, but there is a prince of guy who would give any one of you Schmohawks the button down shirt off his back. And he is lying on his back in a hospital in Bellevue with a parade of friends bringing him a picnic because he deserves a parade. So do something.

I'm talking one night....a few hours....and we have the opportunity of raising what some of us earn in a year for a guy that has no health insurance, the SOB's responsible have no insurance, and ....and.....Calm down, Les. It's only Chinatown.

It's all going to work out. We'll have the shows. We'll have the picnic. We'll even have a parade, for chrissakes. I'll be the one out in front. You'll know its me because I'm the one giving my head a shake.

Put your feet(s) up

This weekend we are hosting a housefull of relatives, combined with the usual dogs, which is why I am recommending putting your feet up and reading a good book.

I am reading Our Ecstatic Days by Steve Erickson at the moment. Normally I have a few books on the go. Other books in the rotation include Your Brain on Music, and the new Eckhart Tolle.

I am waiting on the confirmation (fingers crossed) of a major rock act to headline the first of two benefits for Scotty Hard I am trying to organize.

Hopefully we will hear soon, but no sense worrying. I have a backup plan in mind, as well. And a backup to that. Once again, no sense in worrying. Like the girl says, "And how's that working for you?"

I've found through my own personal research, and the countless advice of countless experts, that worrying doesn't accomplish much more than adding stress. It doesn't solve the issue, or further along the progress. It is not strategic thinking; it is non-strategic thinking. So put your feet(s) up. Relax. Read a good book, (or blog!) Take a walk. Pray for Scotty's recovery. Pray for your own recovery if applicable. Enjoy a glass of Pepperwood old vine Zinfandel -very nice.

Listen to NPR. Write a poem. Learn French. Go for a workout. Eat lunch. Just don't worry.

There are much better ways to use time wisely or unwisely.

The Devils in my Heart

"The Only Devils in this World are those running around inside our own hearts, and that is where all our battles should be fought." -Mahatma Ghandi

Three weeks after having my heart attack, I was waiting in a small closet sized room in St. Paul's hospital wearing one of those hospital gowns that leave you feeling cold and vulnerable from the draft coming in the back of the gown. I was waiting for someone to tell me what happened next.

Just before seven in the morning I arrived and had been given an injection of a radioactive dye. This is so they could determine the extent of damage to my heart from the heart attack. I was told to go out to eat a small meal, and come back in about an hour or so.

After my return, I lay down on a table, while a great white machine hovered over my head. My body was transported back and forth under the machine, while it performed its medical magic like a shaman holding his hands over my body chanting and waving a smoking brush.

My next stop was waiting in a closet sized room prior to undergoing the actual stress test, which involves being hooked up with tiny electrodes and many wires attached on your chest. You are then asked to run on a treadmill, until your heartrate reaches what the technicians deem to be a satisfactory result.

Two nurses, a male nurse from South Asia, and a female nurse from Germany, bartered over who would do the honors of shaving my chest hairs to attach the electrodes. The female nurse won the bet. She entered the curtained room and asked me to drop my robe, so that she may shave parts of my chest.

Using a disposable Bic, she dry shaved a few patches and attached the sticky pads of the monitors. I told her that I was a bit nervous about taking the test since I had my heart attack only about three weeks prior.

She said, "You should not worry. This is why you had the heart attack. You have to learn to let go, and go with the flow. I can see you are too young to have had this heart attack. What you have had is a little temper tantrum in your heart. Now you must learn to not worry, to relax, and just go with the flow."

It is amazing how messages are sent to us, and surely, I was receiving one at that moment.

There were devils running round my heart, jumping up and down, having little life threatening temper tantrums, acting like the nihilistic spoiled inner child they were. Anything just to get a little attention. Except this time, the teenage wasteland, the punkrock deathwish had gone too far.

She ushered me out of the closet into the exercise room, and I began the treadmill test for another cardiac nurse. About 5 minutes into the exercise, I started to feel faint.

When asked if I wanted to stop the test, I said yes. What happened next I would not wish on my worst enemy.

Because I had not been able to physically finish the test, I was injected with a drug to artificially induce my heart to reach certain rates. Who doesn't love being injected with unknown drugs?

I'm joking, but at that moment, I did not have much of a choice. The thought that I could say no did not enter my lexicon.

What happened next was worse than having a heart attack, at least for me. I felt tightness in my chest,and the sensation of someone kicking me hard again and again in the stomach. At the same time, my head felt like it was about to explode. It was a Jack Bauer moment, and all I had in the way of relief was the ticking clock. Just three minutes and we will give you the antidote.

I was groaning and swearing and there was no going with the flow here. Just one minute and we will give you antidote. AAAAAAAH! JUST TWENTY SECONDS AND WE WILL GIVE YOU THE ANTIDOTE. IT WILL REACT VERY FAST, AND YOU WILL BE BACK TO NORMAL.

Except after the 20 seconds, I didn't feel normal. So then she said, you can take a break now. Go and have yourself a coffee, and I guarantee you will feel better.

Well, I had that coffee, and I followed it with a decidedly non-cardiac breakfast of chorizo sausage and eggs. I definitely went with that flow.

Ten days later I was given the good news by my cardiologist that I was lucky, as the tests showed that my heart had good flow, and I had suffered no significant damage from the acute myocardial infarction I had experienced in Atlanta.

The devils in my heart were not running my world that day. And the way to keep them from running, was to follow the advice of that small Germanic nurse, who told me to let go, and go with the flow.

Originally posted Sept 25 2007.

In the six months since I wrote this, I made a few changes. To the post, and in my life. My body has never been in such good shape and fitness in all my life. I do push ups and sit ups and work out 3-4 times a week. I am back working, and most importantly though, I am back playing. Not music yet. But soon. My love of writing has returned, and beauty of family and friends has helped to remind me daily of the possibilities.

If the Globe is warming, why am I freezing my ass?

Out for a spring walk in the frozen north, a buggy full of boy. The sky is heroic, the shadows intrigue. What is the shelf life on a boy these days?

After my recall scare last year, I can fully attest to my products integrity. Made for comfort and speed.

I have five blogs on the go at present, three dogs and wife and child and a brother in law to boot.

But I'm learning to relax and go with the flow. Flipping the channels the other night my daughter and I came across that doctor show with Billy Ray Cyrus and some lady was continually interrupting, talking over the action with a blow by blow description of what it was that was going on. Turns out it was the Vision channel. Now both my daughter and I though the Vision Channel was an end of the dial Christian end of the world channel; turns out that its a channel for the blind.

The voice over tells them what they are watching, as the dialogues reveal the story. Just that day I had lunch with an old friend who teaches music to the deaf. Did you hear me? Music for the deaf. It is a transformative world we live in. There have been many changes in the past years; while the media feeds us a steady diet of fear and frolic, with a dash of toxic Brittany, life slowly changes before our eyes. Only there is no voiceover telling us what is going on.

So stop for a moment. Breathe. Clear your throat, cough up the hairball, and step right up. Its the greatest show on earth, or the only show we got. So love the one you're with MORE or learn to love a stranger until they are no longer a stranger, but a friend. Transform and you can extend your shelf life.

A Message of Love from NYC

To Friends Of Scotty Hard

Scott continues his journey through the different floors and care units of the Bellevue Hospital system. New teams of doctors and care givers come and go as Scott moves through different phases of recovery. The Trauma Center sawbone guys are gone now for the most part. As you all know two weeks ago Scott was on his way to the rehab phase on the 6th floor. With the spinal reconstructive surgery begginning to heal, therapists even got Scott sitting up twice in a chair for brief periods. Although an enormous effort, Scott was excited and heartened to finally get out of the sack for the first time since the crash of February 16. Unfortunately, with new surroundings and new exposure to increased floor traffic, Scott contracted a nasty case of pneumonia by weeks end. This setback caused the doctors to bring Scott back up to the Trauma Center ward on the 10th floor last Friday afternoon where he could be closely monitored during treatment. After a rough 5 days of antibiotics and other medicines, by Tuesday this week Scott had regained enough lost ground and strength to leave the Trauma Center once more, this time to the 16th floor rehab center, where he continues his recovery for the time being.

As always, his spirit and good humor abound no matter what. He has a good appetite, but with the injury having so many challenges, he's also trying to abide as closely as he can by the doctors wishes to be careful with his intake. The staff in general has become much more strict in monitoring all his intake, even down to the mil of water. To this end he had to take the unusually harsh measure of instructing his friends to stop bringing too much fruit and other foods since the Jamaican nurse told him "You cannaht have de place lookin' like a mahketplayce mon". Scotty does what he's told!

In the meantime, the incredible and bewildering swell of support for Scott's situation continues. The Concert For Scotty Hard at the Highline Ballroom on Wednesday night was an unprecedented success. Organized by Liz Penta and Peter Costello, there is and will be no end to the gratitude I feel towards their effort and skill. They built some house, and the people came. Amazing. Sold out, jammed, full of love and powerful music, with a 2 hour lineup around the block waiting for people to exit so more could come in. In 20 years of living in New York City, I've never witnessed a more exciting phenomenon then the coming together of the musicians community and their friends, family, industry colleagues, and the ever-essential fans to help a fellow music maker in trouble, the kind of trouble every one of us risks everyday by living and operating without a safety net of affordable health care. The jazz avante garde community especially. One of the strangely beautiful things is that, like a deepest musical wish come true, it's all somehow happening completely outside the box, commercial free, no front page pictures of bitter tears of pain, frustration and despair. Pain breeding beauty. Musician or not, each in his or her own way seems to be finding the inspiration to make a difference by re-connecting with their passion for their own work. The question begs "why isn't life more like this all the time?" The answer is, because of this concert, the reasons behind it, I think it is.

For those of you unable to be at this concert, don't worry, everyone there knew that the place was jammed full of love way beyond what the walls could hold. This event was well documented both audio and visual, and will be shared with everyone when the work is done.

There's a long way to go, but it's a good road.

Leif.

Happy Birthday Mom

Happy Birthday Mom

I know a gentleman should never reveal a ladies age, but you should kick up your heels at turning 87, and raising 7 children.

I love you and hope you grow to love your new home.

Pretty nice gams, eh?

And my older brothers look pretty good in this pic too.

Watch the fingers

Looking for Good Help

Early photo of the Jazzmanian Devils at the long gone Montgomery Cafe with Kay the waitress. Joe Average used to work there and made the best hamburgers. I would stop there in the middle of the day just to get one.

Friends are volunteering for the first of what will probably be many Scotty Hard benefits. When I have confirmation of the bands, the room, and the dates, I will let you know.

I am asking all friends and readers of this blog to send me your stories of Scotty Hard, how you met or why he is so important in your life. I will put them up. If you have pictures of you and him, send those as well. email is whiterockstar@shaw.ca

To Friends of Scotty Hard

To Friends of Scotty Hard
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, plus attending staff at Bellevue Hospital. In conversations with the doctors immediately following the operation, we were told that the operation to rebuild Scott's fractured T4 and T6 vertebrae, and shattered T5 vertebrae 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.
We were able to be with Scott in the OR recovery room at different times for very short periods, and although heavily sedated he's doing ok. The nurses on that floor have been echoing the comments of the folks on the Trauma floor "Scott's so nice to us!" No big surprise there. In spite of all this, Scott is still...absolutely Scott.
Now he's been moved back down to the IU unit on the 10th floor, and is resettling into his new room. He continues to be carefully monitored by the nursing staff, as well as round the clock watching by his pals and Scott's brother Mike. Scott's other brother Brian arrives today to be the 5th musketeer.
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). Food, bulky items, or any flowers are strictly forbidden on this floor. As the rooms have extremely limited shelf and drawer space, pictures, cards and drawings to post on the walls seem to be the most cheering things to bring.
In the meantime, the Highline Concert is rollin' along on sched, ETA for March 19th...get your tickets now, because it is selling out fast. http://www.highlineballroom.com/.
Thanks for your support
Leif Arntzen

If any of you are not familiar with Leif, check out his website, as he is an extremely talented singer/songwriter and jazz trumpet player. Scott worked with him on some recent recordings. I'm not sure if they are available yet, but they are fantastic when you have the chance to hear them.

http://www.leifarntzen.com/home.html

Who Loves Ya Baby?

Scotty loves ya. Guess who called me tonight? Mike Hard from the hospital. Scotty wanted to talk to me.

He wanted to thank me for the love and energy coming his way, and tell all his friends just how much he appreciated it.

Imagine this. A guy flat on his back, a day after a 6 hour surgery calls me, to ask me how I'm doing, to tell me how much he appreciates my love and friendship. Words cannot express. Webster's dictionary definition: Best Friend: Scotty Hard.

Keep Rockin' in the Free World

My munchkin many moons ago.....Love this one. I know I'm Mr. Posty tonight. I can't express the emotion I feel for the Metropolitan slugger.

Maybe the Schmoozer could say it better.

Maybe we should all buy a round of drinks for the band, and not forget to buy one for ourselves while we're at it.

Scotty Hard 1991 on top of the world

Here stands the Boy from Brooklyn on the observation deck of the World Trade Center ( remember that?) looking down on the beauty that is NYC. He is young and full of promise and wearing a Mets cap (of course).

Special kudos for the shirt, which is a Scotty Hard trademark- the shirts, that is.

Thanks to the incredibly talented Mr. Craig Northey for this breathtaking shot, and for being in the same band as Steven Drake for so many years. Kidding. Mr. Drake is also very talented. As is Mr. Elliot. One day they will tell the world about Warren Zevon and the Odds. Until then, we are left with this reminder of our Boy in Brooklyn. Way to go Scotty, you had a rough day with the surgery, but you got through it. Friends all over the world are pulling for you. Be strong.

King Blood

King Blood

King Blood and protocol
Says everything’s political
And everyone will be affected
But it’s nothing personal

The way we live our life
We are affected
The way we live our life
We are infected

You can feel it in the artery
Or hung up in the gallery
If you want immortality
Save your skin and sanity
In time, you’ll lose your loyalty
To Church and God and Royalty
Become obsessed with purity
A false sense of security
King Blood, it lives inside of me


And tracks and trains
And blood in veins
And tracks and trains
And blood in veins

King Blood is King
King Blood is King for all to see
King Blood is King
King Blood is King
King Blood it lives inside of me.

There is a man who rides the train
Who doesn’t claim to know it all
There is a man who rides the train
Who doesn’t claim to know it all

But tracks and trains
And blood in veins
And tracks and trains
And blood in veins

King Blood is King
King Blood is King for all to see
King Blood is King
King Blood is King
King Blood it lives inside of me.

dense milt 1987 Rhythm Mission
Available on Zulu records

Twenty one years ago I wrote this with The Artist Formerly known as Scott Harding, Warren Hunter and Ross Hales. Mark Douglas played keyboards in this particular edition of Rhythm Mission. We recorded this song at Barney Bentall's Bazile Studios. The song was never given a proper release by Rhythm Mission, but Zulu Records put it out on their compilation double cd of Vancouver music Last Call.
What does or did it mean? At the time, the devastation of AIDS was becoming more prevalent. My aunt was one of the first victims, having had a blood transfusion during open heart surgery in San Francisco. She did not fit the stereotype of the day, which still colors the treatment and politics of the disease. In the end, blood is blood, and bones are bones. And we can blithely read the morning tabloid or giveaway on the train and watch the world go by and never get involved.
Or one day, usually due to some personal tragedy, we are pulled into confronting the life and death questions like what does it all really mean.

"And everyone will be affected. But it's nothing personal".

Well, this time, it is personal.

I'm not afraid to say, I love the Maggot of Bellevue, the guitar hero, my regards to Broadway Sol Goodman, Scotty Hard. Hell, I guess, I'm Scotty's little softie. But I'm standing by and like a good Anglican, getting down on my knees, then up, then sitting, then cue the goddamm folk liturgy. Serious, all my best on Miracle Monday. My prayers and the many prayers of far too many to recount once again are with you. Be Strong, Be Hard, Be the best Scotty Hard you can be.

That is not enough

From the brilliant Maira Kalman's book "The Principles of Uncertainty". "We eat pizza at Totonno's. Hot dogs at Nathan's. That is not enough."

BSG and I ate this in reverse; the hot dogs that pop and cheese fries at Nathan's, then a walk on the Boardwalk of Coney Island, Shoot The Geek, Brighton Beach, Jersey across the water, the original pizza at Totonno's. But that was not enough.

We had some kind of watered down overpriced cocktail on the boardwalk and met up with two more friends (one old, one new) of Scott's. Always more friends. Flirted with who we thought were the daughters of the owners at Totonno's, but whom we discovered later, were just gals working there with flour on their arms, in their hair. Grabbed the train back to Brooklyn, kept trying to get in touch with Bud for the hookup at Luger's that night.

Lugers, of the famous attitude, and bacon "appetizer". They later discovered this in my right coronary artery along with the steak for 2, which really is a dinner for a village in Africa. We get to the joint about 9 thinking all the rush was gone, only to be told by the polite doorman smoking that there was a "beef shortage" and we would not be able to get a seat. Scott did not take no for an answer, but said Hey is Tommy working tonight? So Tommy comes out, and he tells us in his suit obviously interrupted from his sports or CNN that indeed there is a "beef shortage", so we would not be able to get table tonight. Scott then pulls some other name out of his mental rolodex, and Tommy goes off in a huff, coming back to say, ok, we can seat you. BINGO!

BSG in the house. We get seated and immediately this waiter from eastern Europe comes up to our table and says "Scotty Hard!!!!" Mr. Scotty Hard!! I JUST LOVE YOUR NEW RECORD- RADICAL RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY!!!!"

Then he proceeds to spell out why in jazz geek splendour just why Scott is the jazz God he is.

He brings us special treats all night, including a special drink at the end.
Now you would think that was the end of a very good day. No wait. BSG has another bar that just happens to be across the street, where we need to get a cocktail. Nice waitress. Finish that and Scott says lets move down the street. We go down two more and walk into another bar and run into (guess what) two more friends of Scotty Hard. Bud's friend Chris from No Mas, and his lovely girlfriend, who I say to him, don't wait....marry her right now. I riff on the subject of Bud's upcoming wedding with an elaborate charade of Bud being carried down the aisle in a casket then arising ala Screamin' Jay Hawkins to be reborn as Bud Feldman ( the name of his betrothed). Did we stop there? No, I do believe Blackbetty had to figure in there somewhere again. Whoooah. Keeping up with BSG requires the strong of heart and additional livers on standby. We were once the hardest drinking band in show business, or so we joked, but the legend was history.

Not So Hard After All

BSG here with Bud (Schmelling) Feldman (Goodman) .....don't ask.

The Boys from Brooklyn obviously excited here about the news that Carlos Santana will be playing for the Mets this coming season.

Miracle Monday is tomorrow. All prayers, good thoughts, vibes, positive energy is being sent on the healing frequency to Bellevue Hospital room 10W45, where the unflappable Mr. Hard is feeling a bit soft these days. And who can blame him- you can cut through all the love coming his way like a Statue of Liberty Wedding cake in the Hamptons.

Check out the color coordination in the photo above. These guys will clean your carpets for a fee.

www.scottyhard.com is up and running. Major huzzahs to wee Sue MacGillivray, web designer extraordinaire, plus Mum doing 8 loads of laundry. What we don't do to keep this Boy in Brooklyn living in the style he is accustomed to.

Speaking of which, have you donated yet? I must confess I haven't, so today is the day. If you don't have an extra 5 large sitting around, think about sending $25 a month. Consider it a round of drinks for the band. While you're at it, don't forget to buy one for yourself.

Send checks ("cheques" for True North Strong and Free) to

Scotty Hard Trust

c/o Heesok Chang

970 Kent Ave. #401

Brooklyn, NY 11205

It's easy. You fill in the date at the top. Write Scotty Hard Trust in the payable to slot. Then fill in the space with the $. Now write that number out in words. Last, you sign the MF and put it in a envelope care of the Professor. Don't forget to put the correct postage on the envelope. Now drop it off in one of those blue or red boxes on the corners, depending on which country you live. See, that wasn't so hard after all.

Love ya, babes.

Shout Outs to the many Friends of Scotty Hard

This post is all about links. It is by no means a complete listing of all the friends and links and supporters of the incredible Scotty Hard. Enjoy the links but read the whole post: Friend Susan Fiedler has called her friend Ann Powers of the LA Times and Ann has written an article on her blog called " A Friend In A Hard Place" about our friend Scotty Hard.
See the link below:

Her link to my blog is currently faulty, but we hope to fix that soon.
Friend Sue MacGillvary (What is it about Scott and women named Sue?) has set up a website www.scottyhard.com which is now up and will be running, just like our boy in Brooklyn.
Coming up soon is Miracle Monday, when the doctors will do their medical magic. Pictured here is the Brooklyn friends of the Friendmeister, Bud Feldman (we have given him a Goodman name too), and Sebastian, from New Kingdom. I had the utmost pleasure and honour of hanging out with this trio at the Subway Series (Mets vs Yankees) at Shea on my first day in NY. When you spend any time with Scott you constantly hear the maggot on the phone and running into someone somewheres that he knows. He knows a thing or two about a thing or two.....Friend Clare Love contacted me last night and offered her services in any way to help Scott. Clare happens to be an incredible singer/songwriter who you all should check out. Friend Elizabeth Fischer, an incredible singer and songwriter herself, offered much valued info yesterday about paypal. Friend Allen Moy called and talked my ear off the other day ( kidding!!!) and he and other high powered friends in the Vancouver Music Scene are discussing how we can best focus talent and energy to create maximum benefit for the Maggot we all know and love.
Note to new friends, Scott and I have called each other Maggot with love and affection for many years so don't be shy here. Now is not the time for the weak of heart.
Friend Heesok Chang and his lovely Mrs. Carrie Goldberg are heading up the Scotty Hard Trust fund which offers more fun that other funds- fun because that is Scotty Hard's middle name.
Friend Leif Arntzen, his Mrs Kathy (am I getting this right?) give and give offering up the thousands needed to get the trust fund going, getting Scott lawyers etc etc. Friend Mike Harding who is Scott's brother, is by his side. Here is a guy who rarely leaves his neighborhood but gets a passport and is in the air and by his side, strongarming friends to get the hell out of his brother's room so that the ever charming Mr. Hard can get some needed rest. Keep up the hard work, Mike because brother Brian Harding is on the way. Speaking of on the way, Manny Goodman is off to NY soon, and Sammy Goodman is already there. There is where musical genius's like John Medeski, and others are creating a benefit at the Highline Ballroom features John Scofield, John Medeski, Billy Martin, Bill Laswell, Antibalas, Vijay Iyer, and a host of other Hard lovers for March 19.
Friends of Scott become friends for life including just about every ex-girlfriend- you just cannot stop loving this guy. Ex Girlfriend/Nurse Susan has a blog herself at http://theknow-all.blogspot.com/ , wee Sue who set up the website, www.scottyhard.com
DTLK (her lovely sister Michele - what is it with me and girls named Michelle?) , Tanus......our boy in Brooklyn got busy wid da bizness-sizzle. Hot and Hard. How can you lose?
Friend Christina Campanella sent me a shout out, (my email is whiterockstar@shaw.ca)

Friend Juliana Raeburn is offering Haircuts for scotty, and Friend Garnet Harry is offering lawns cut for Scotty, Friend Susan Fiedler (two mentions in one post) will be offering Scotty Hard pinkie rings ( I want one!!!!) Friends Colin Nairne have sent money $$$, Friend Jay Scott threw down $100 on the spot no arm twisting, Friends Naomi and Jason and others are organizing a benefit in Toronto.
Major shout out (drumroll........) for Tom Camuso and his wife Kim, Scott's business partner, who has been detective, advocate, organizer, Mr. scottyupdates@gmail.com
All the JD's including Max, Sammy, Manny, Moishe, Miss V Queen of Jazzmania, Madeleine in Vietnam ( Complete aside: Have you heard Dengue Fever yet....they are not to be believed....)
http://theguide.latimes.com/blogs/soundboard/2008/02/29/a-friend-in-a-hard-place
Can't forget the best friends anybody can have and that is your Mom and Dad- Shirl the Whirl and Russ. Went downtown the other day to pray with them at a healing circle. Does that mean all the healing is done, all the praying is done....not on my watch baby.