Trying To Make A Difference

I am on a course in my life whereas I am not blogging much here at Living with MS. For those who have been reading my blog over the years, you know I have always been involved in my community volunteering with different non-profits, but lately this non-profit is where I have been devoting a lot of my time and I have been busy researching and writing grants for other non-profits. It is also no secret that I am an activist in my community trying to make a difference in the small southern suburban area outside, but in the same county of the city of Memphis.

I have been spending my time at my new blog called Living in Millington that I started November 19, 2010. For a new blog my stat numbers and response from residents are impressive and encouraging. I am still around, however in 2012 we will be electing a New Mayor and my goal is to make sure a good ole boy or one of their descendants DO NOT SIT IN THAT CHAIR. That is why I will be blogging more at Living in Millington than I will here.

I have been stopping by and reading your blogs, I just have not been leaving a comment. That will change soon, I will drop a comment now and then even it is just stay say HI... my way in letting you all know I am have not forgotten you.

Davide Arneodo

Without any doubt I'm lucky to have an opportunity to interview people who are doing all kind of fascinating things for living. The more busy or famous they are, the more approachable they are.

Davide Arneodo, super talented Italian musician, playing in two bands and currently touring, was nice enough to find time in his busy schedule for an interview.  About music, of course!



Davide Arneodo, photo by Nicola Garzetti

Davide: Music is a part of my life. I've been always fond of music since I was a child. My mother told me that when I was in her belly, every time there was music in the air, I danced in there... My father used to play violin and guitar at home and listened to a lot of LPs like: Bob Dylan, U2, Brian Eno, Lou Reed and many other great artists.

My musical taste has gone through many different phases. Firstly, ten years ago, I loved rock music and I used to dress in a little studded jacket, but I changed radically when I joined the Academy of Music. After that I only loved classical music.

I like learning and playing various instruments. I was studying violin as well as piano, percussions, guitar and all other instruments that came to my hands.

Julie: Are you playing all these instruments now?

Davide: I'm playing violin, keyboards, guitars, mandolin and drums on stage right now.

I'm very lucky to be an endorser for "Gibson" and "Moog", I love the "Moog Little Phatty" and "Mandobird" from "Gibson".

They are incredible instruments. Like children: so little but with a great voice!

Julie: So when exactly you started touring and playing on stages?

Davide: My musical life is very complex...I started playing live 13 years ago. When I was 18 I joined my first international tour. After that New Trolls, one of the most important Italian band, called me and asked me to tour with them when I was 20.

But the big step up came with L'Aura, an Italian singer who records with Sony Music. She asked me to record her album "Demian", she loved my sound...

Julie: Let's talk about your bands. I know you play now in VOV and Marlene Kuntz.

Davide: Yes, my musical energy is divided between VOV and Marlene Kuntz at the moment, but my heart is in VOV.

Julie: You play in VOV together with Marta Mattalia.

When did you start this band? Was it your idea?

Davide: I met Marta a long time ago, we were really young, but VOV was actually born only three years ago after many attempts. We've always been attracted to art in general and music was our last focal point.

For us it was the perfect conjunction of our expressions.



VOV band, photo by Nicola Garzetti

Julie: What does the title VOV mean?

Davide: VOV is cool, is very short and easy to remember!

Every time Marta and I went to any club and saw a drink named VOV we were so facinated by this logo...

After that we discovered that the letter V represents the female and the letter O - the male.

It was perfect!

Julie: Do you tour through Europe with Marta?

Davide: No, we actually do tour in Italy so far, but I think more and more that VOV should start touring Europe or USA.

I see more curiosity and freshness outside Italy, more mental ability to understand a new project and to let it grow.

VOV music:

http://www.vimeo.com/19060992

Julie: Have you already recorded any albums?

Davide: We have not recorded any albums yet. We have released VOV, an Ep in 500 signed copies and it is only available in our store:

http://www.lastanzaviola.bigcartel.com/

We are working now on a new stuff that we have recorded in London with Steve Forrest from Placebo.

I really hope that we will get a chance to release a great album!

Julie: Could you tell more about this project?

Davide: We recorded some songs with Dario Dendi, an Italian producer that works in London and, as he had recorded the last single of Placebo, we asked him if Steve Forrest would like to play with us on some tracks.

Steve was enthusiastic about the idea so we met in London on his birthday - the day after we were in the studio working with him.

I think he has captured the true spirit of these songs. He's a great musician.

The project is called "Amarsi a Gomorra" and is made of three songs about "Gomorra" by Roberto Saviano.

VOV together with Dario Dendi and Steve Forrest in the studio. Check it out:

http://www.vimeo.com/18754489

Julie: And now some questions about Marlene Kuntz. I noticed, this band was created in 1987 - quite a long time ago. When did you join them and why?

Davide: Marlene Kuntz was born 20 years ago and, as well as Afterhours, is the most important rock band in Italy.

I joined them in 2007 because I played with the drummer of the band and worked with their producer on another musical project. They were looking for someone who could arrange and play live all the instruments they were using in their recording at that time. Now I know that they have studied me for one year before making a decision and telling me that I was in the band.

Julie: What instruments do you play in this band? Do you sing?

Davide: Now on stage I'm playing violin, mandobird, keyboards, percussion and I sing a lot. It looks difficult but I have a lot of fun!

Davide, photo by Nicola Garzetti

Julie: How long you'll be touring with Marlene Kuntz?

Davide: I will be touring all year with MK for the last album "Ricoveri virtuali e sexy solitudini" produced by Howie B.

It was a great experience to work with him! He has a crazy and non conventional way to work that helped me to keep my mind open...

Julie: And the last question! To which band are you more partial?

Davide: Music is my life so when I play I feel alive, but VOV is my real artistic expression so I will do everything to realize it!

Davide, I wish you good luck doing your best and thank you for the sincere interview!

G: Good Intentions, Government, Groceries

G:  Good Intentions, Government, Groceries

Good Intentions. Like everyday saying "Oh yeah I should update my blog" Then the day goes by and suddenly I'm too tired, so I say "Oh guess I'll do that tomorrow" and tomorrow and tomorrow. Yes, good intentions and MS.  That's a road not only leading to Hell, but a bumpy one, filled with all kinds of things to stumble over. I must learn not to make commitments if I'm uncertain I can keep them. 

Government. The problem with any comments about government, is that  they end up becoming political. I make the occasional comment about politics here, but try to avoid it. Too much hassle and seems so pointless.  All I can say is, I don't understand how people can have such a rigid ideology.That they identify with the "right" or "left" and there doesn't seem to be any inbetween. I have been described as a small l Liberal. I took a test that said I was a left leaning libertarian! Is that even possible?

 I describe myself  as a social  liberal  and a fiscal conservative. For example: I think all drugs should be made legal. Well I guess they are already, but we are such hypocrites about it.  I also think there is too much waste in government and over spending. I get really tired of people always with their hand out, including rich folks, who should know better. I'm not going to go into details beause that would be pages and pages. It's simply to show that my ideals are all over the place.

Over the Christmas holidays I got into a  heated discussion with a friend about their politics.  I commented to them "You're a Conservative, that's cool, but seriously, you swallow whole every single thing  that "right wingers" believe? "I mean , you really  think it's possible  that humans and dinosaurs co exsisted ?" "AND, you are an educated person with a Phd and an agnostic? "

That doesn't mean I let the "left wingers" off the hook (gee I hate the terms left and right wingers) I commented to another friend that  it is immossible to think that we can all love one another. Everybody has prejudices and biases. The only way to avoid those being imposed on others is through legislation. You can pass a law to prevent a bigot from discriminating, but you sure can't stop them from having their beliefs.

I can recall a time when the line between right and left was a blurry one. Not, anymore and I think that is why we are in such a mess. 

Groceries . Is it just me or have  grocery prices  gone totally crazy? How can they possibly say that inflation is low? It seems that every time I do a grocery order, it costs me more for the same thing.  Ok, it's true, I'm fussy about what I eat. I make almost everything from scratch because I hate the taste of packaged foods.
I really don't know how much I can cut back and anyway, it seems pointless, because EVERYTHING is expensive.  And what's up with all these individual serving sizes of food? Last time I  did my grocery order they had on special, a plastic container filled with one serving of soup . You heat it up and eat it right out of the package. It cost $2.89!!  Not only a rip off, but Bleck!! How can you eat hot soup from a plastic container? That can't be good for you.

Dave Molland

Do you know where combination of talent, hard work, passion, determination and little bit of luck can take you to? Dave Molland, the latest addition to Expatriate band, talented bass guitarist was catapulted into the stardom after he opened the door…How did he fuse his lifelong connection to the music? This musician puts it in his own words. Check it yourself.

Julie: If you don't mind, let's begin with introduction. Could you say some words about yourself?

Dave: Ok… Hi! My name is Dave and I come from Sydney, Australia. I now live in Berlin, Germany with my band Expatriate. I've been playing music for most of my life, this is both my passion and work.

Julie: When you became interested in music? What music do you prefer to listen to?

Dave: I was interested in music as far back as I can remember… One memory is when I was 11, I bought a cassette of Michael Jackson's "Dangerous". There was so much power, it really affected me. I was so intrigued, all I wanted to do was to harness that musical power.

These days I listen to anything and everything. I guess it's because i'm so in love with music, but my tastes are quite wide… it's hard not to feel something if it's a good piece of music, no matter the genre. A current style I'm into is electro/dream pop, but I'll just as easily listen to a bit of classical or blues, even a bit of salsa. There's something special in every style.

Julie: How long you've been working into music industry? What was your start? Also I‘d like to know if it is hard or easy to be a musician?

Dave: Well I guess that would be since I was 18, that's when I started getting paid! I started playing in a lot of cover bands. It's not the most reputable thing you can do as a musician, but back then I didn't really care what I was doing, so long as it was something to do with music. I'd learn the songs in the car on the way to a gig just by listening to them. I'd show up at a club with a band i'd never met before and walk out with a pocket full of cash. For me it wasn't really work!

To me, being a musician is hard. It's a hard life striving to earn a living, and the industry is tough. It's also hard in that you really have to fully commit yourself to it, and believe that you deserve a seat at the table, so to speak. But despite that it can also be a truly rich, exciting and fulfilling lifestyle.

Dave Molland

Julie: We are all curious to know some details about your band. When did you join Expatriate and why? How did it happen?

Dave: One morning in August 2005 I got a call from a band, asking if i'd audition for a 2 week tour around Australia. That band just happened to be Expatriate. I didn't really expect anything, but when I showed up to audition something clicked. They were really cool guys and we totally hit it off. I got the job and after only a few shows I knew I wanted to be in Expatriate. Fortunately the feeling from the band was mutual! I'd always fantasised about being in a great band, but I don't think I ever expected it to really happen for me. I got really lucky.

For the reader I’d like to remind that Expatriate is an indie rock band, based in Sydney, Australia in 2005. They picked this name because all came from different countries with their unique backgrounds, childhood experiences.  But they are all united by the passion to good music.

Expatriate

Julie: Do you create songs for Expatriate? What are your songs about? What can you say about your public? Is it mostly young people?

Dave: We have a really great way of improvising together in a room and coming up with new songs simply by what is commonly know as "jamming". Sometimes we record for a straight hour, and listen back later to find the good bits. Other times we'll individually present an idea or half finished song to the room and throw it around for a while. Ben (the singer) writes the lyrics. A lot of the time he writes about love and experiences with falling in or out of love… also the issues you face in life that break you down but somehow build you up at the same time.

As for our public, i'd have to say it's generally quite a broad demographic. I've seen fans at our shows from age 16 to 60! I like to think that our songs reach out to lovers of music and life.. we seem to transcend being limited to one particular audience group.

Julie: Which country has the wildest fans of yours?

Dave: Hmmm, I think the best reactions we've had were during the French leg of the Placebo "Battle for the Sun" tour in 2009. We made a lot of fans in France from these shows.

In addition to this, Placebo and Expatriate played an exclusive show in October 2009 in France at SFR Studio. It was different from other shows, because it was accoustic which created a unique atmosphere.

Julie: Any funny happenings while touring?

Dave: Always! Tours are funny, you need a good sense of humour to get through the monotony. One time when we were in Brussels for a festival, we were hanging out at a hotel bar. Liam Gallagher from Oasis burst through the door at 5am wearing a big green coat and leopard print moccasins. Ben and I decided to ask him if he wanted something from the bar, to which he replied, "Yeah, can I have 5 beers." It was at this point the barman shouted, "The bar is closed!"

In 2009 the band was touring Europe participating in Europe’s largest rock festivals including Sziget, Nova Rock, Werchter and Rockwave. Also it appeared in such amzing German mega festivals Rock am Ring and Rock im Park. Rock am Park and Rock am Ring are the largest music festivals in Germany and one of the largest in the world with a combined attendance of just over 150,000 people in 2007! I bet it’s a huge deal to play for such a big crowd!

Julie: So, do you like playing in festivals or you prefer the smaller audiences?

Dave: Nothing compares to the energy and thrill of playing a festival, but I really enjoy smaller shows too. They can be quite a challenge to win the audience, but the intimacy is special.

Expatriate was supporting band for Placebo on their winter tour in 2009. I have no doubt it was a great event for Expats!

Julie: How do you find this experience? Was it more a hard work or a labour of love? What do you think, why have they chosen Expatriate to be their special guests? What countries have you visited during this tour? Which concert was the most memorable?

Dave: We're actually managed by the same london- based company, Riverman. After playing a couple of festivals alongside them, the band visited our dressing room one night and said they really liked our band, and asked if we would like to support them on their tour.

Touring with Placebo was amazing. It was a great feeling to be part of such a large production, and their audiences were really gracious to us. We toured France, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Poland and Scandinavia. The most memorable concert for me was in Warsaw, Poland. There was a great crowd and we played really well… the good vibes were flowing.

Julie: Dave, who inspires you?

Dave: I'm inspired by my band mates, my family, friends and by my own gifts which I use to try and inspire others.

Julie: And the last question, what are your plans for the future in this music world?

Dave: I'm not really sure of the future, but i've chosen a door, walked through it, and I can say for sure that I'll be a part of it in some form or another.

I‘m sure this musician has opened the right door at the right time and the fortune will always smile upon him. Good luck doing your best, Dave, and a big thank you for the interview!

F: Food

Ok this is sort of cheating because I'm going to talk about my diet, which is sort of food related.

 First, here's an  interesting article  about obesity. There's no escaping the fact that a low fat diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, and complex carbs, is best and that modern life makes us fat.

Then there's my modified  protien diet. Modified, in that along with my protien, I can have 100 grams of carbs everyday. That's enough to be able to have some fruits and vegetables, a bit of rice or other starch, and the occasional treat.  No limit on fat either, which maybe is bad, but I like the idea that I can eat bacon and fried eggs cooked in butter in the morning with no guilt. AND, that breakfast lasts me all day until dinner time.  I munch on an apple or orange during the day. Keeping in mind that I do eat dinner very early.  Unlike other diets I have tried,  I don't get cravings and don't think about food all the tim.e In fact I can go an entire evening and not get the munchies; not even after having my THC vapour!!

The results? I can't say exactly how much weight I have lost, since I never weigh myself. My ex  husband use to joke that it was against my religion to own a weigh scale. I always found that weighing myself just got me discouraged and I would give up on dieting. As an alternative, I have certain clothes that are my guide to how much slimming down I have done and still  need to do.   The ultimate test, is a pair of jean shorts that are over 30 years old. If I can get into them I know I'm really slim. Haven't had  the nerve to try those yet.

    Now, I'm not dieting because I want to look like a model.It's mainly for health reasons. Last summer while I was at an outdoor fair, I received a measuring tape from the Heart and Stroke Foundation.  What a shock to measure my waist and find out I was in the danger zone !! The more weight you carry around your waist, the greater your risk for heart disease and stroke. There is also a risk for type 2 diabetes, which leads to so many health problems, including Alzheimer's!! Having MS is enough of a burden without adding any of that scary stuff.

Yeah I know I will most likely gain it all back and more; and all that bacon must be wrapping itself around my heart, but at least for now I feel pretty good. It is the easiest, least stressful diet I have ever tried.

Casey Chandler

I have no doubt you all miss articles about inspiring people. I continue interviewing young and talented americans. A huge thank you to Casey Chandler, a great musician who was very nice talking to me.

This guy is living in Austin, Texas, but he was born in the little hippie town of Woodstock, NY. An hour from where the original Woodstock '69 festival was held!

He started being interested in music probably before he even had memories. Anyway Casey remembers when his oldest brother (who now is a member of the band Midlake) would play music on the piano and he and his toddler friends would dance around in circles. Also Casey‘s older brother is  basically a piano prodigy. So he suggested Casey to take piano lessons. He started when he was 5 and was doing pretty well, but stopped taking lessons at age 9 because he hated practicing and just wanted to run around outside with his friends and dig up worms. Casey‘s brother told him that he was making a big mistake and of course he was right, but what 9 year old really knows what's best for him?

Now Casey plays six instruments, although he'd say technically five because he stopped playing saxophone a long time ago. He also sings as well, so you could say six if you consider that to be an instrument.

Casey Chandler

Music holds a lot of meaning in his life. „It shows the purest, rawest emotions of human beings in a very intimate way. As someone who has a hard time expressing all of those feelings in everyday life, sometimes music is the only way for me to express those feeling. It's the only thing in the world that I know that I'm good at and the only thing that never feels like work to me. Ever. It's just the part after the music is made that feels like work to me. Hard work. Trying to be original when almost every great riff, style, and chord progression has been taken makes it very difficult to get noticed if you don't have many connections like myself. It'll be something that I'll always love, but if someday the music dies, it'll be a sad day, but I'll live. Music isn't everything in the world to me, but just one a few true passions in my life“, admits Casey.

The only big name artist that Casey has worked with so far in his short life is John Grant, whom gave him the opportunity of a lifetime when John asked Casey to tour with him last June. The only other artist that you might know that Casey has worked with would be the guy Grasshopper from Mercury Rev.

Casey  played at a couple festivals this summer with John Grant, both in the UK. One was main stage at Latitude and the other was Green Man Festival in Wales, which was the best show of Casey‘s life! The most beautiful festival he has ever been to first off and they played right as the sun was setting, which was amazing. They played to around 10,000 people for each of these festivals and previous to this tour, the most people he‘d ever played for was 200! It was a great experience. Casey met a ton of amazing people and grew up a lot over the past 6 months of on and off touring.

Casey doesn‘t hide that he likes playing in Europe MUCH better because it seems that they support music and musicians way more than in the states. People in the US for the most part don't give a shit about you unless you're on a big indie label or a major label. Hes thinks people in the states just want instant gratification and are only willing to give a band a minute of their time and if they're not impressed in that minute of listening, then they're through with you. He doesn‘t say that as a typical jaded and bitter musician because he‘s honestly not one at all, but that's just the way it is. Or at least the way it is in New York. It's the reason why all of these American bands go overseas and make it big because they know that people will at least give them a shot because they don't obnoxiously high standards like how we do in the states.

E: Energy

 E: Energy

Before I comment on that I first want to thank everyone for the great comments on my last post. Now I have some good ideas to design an MS bracelet or some other type of jewellery.  A friend of mine, who is very talented, will be making the items. Hope to have something soon and will post pictures of course!

Energy. I never have enough and run out  of it so quickly. I know I'm repeating myself when I say how frustrated I am, at not being able to do all the things I want and need to do.  The days of multi tasking are long over. Heck! I can barely single task! AND there isn't a single drug out there that helps; at least not for me.

So everyday I do the balancing act and every day, fall off the wire.

I can't explain this fatigue You have to experience it to understand. It isn't a sleepy feeling. It's a feeling of  physical weakness, of brain drain, and well, being  what I call a "space cadet". I never know when it's going to hit, although I know if I do to much  it will. Too much isn't a whole lot anymore. The worst part is having to put up a front when "busy bodies" are around. I can't handle their unhelpful comments ( I'm tired too, Why don't you take X drug?  I know a person with MS and they run marathons,You need more sleep, Get over yourself, Quit feeling sorry for yourself and go do something etc. etc.)

Oh! how I hate the feeling of total uselessness. Sitting on the couch, even trying to use the t.v. remote is a chore. Thank goodness for the old movie channel. It gets me through many a weary bout of fatigue.

GONE, BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN

Mrs. Anna Lois Dean Ward was the second senior friend of mine to die in a week. Mother Seals and Mrs. Ward were both special to me. I enjoyed their company and I will truly miss them. However, I want to share the follow about Mrs. Ward.


In December 2010, I was given an assignment to write a Christmas story. I suggested writing what Christmas means to a person who was told around Christmastime they have cancer after surving cancer thirty years ago. My editor liked the idea and gave me the green light to take that approach for a Christmas story instead of writing the norm. I chose my senior friend for my Christmas article because of her faith and strength while she battled the rare cancer, multiple myeloma. I wished I could have written about everything we talked about that day, but I am limited to 300 words on an article. During our interview, December 10, 2010, she confided, that her doctor said her labs were not looking good and she needed to schedule an appointment. With a somber look on her face, she said, "I believe my cancer is back." We talked a little longer before I said my goodbyes to her and her husband.

I was devastated when I had to call Mrs. Ward and tell her my editor scrapped the article because I knew she was excited and looking forward to reading it on the published day. I could not bring myself to tell her why. I lied and said they decided to run various pictures of Christmas decorated homes. However, according to my editor, it was opinionated and not joyful. As far as I am concerned, what Mrs. Ward said about Christmas is the truth! Newspapers and magazines are in trouble today because they want to sugar coat, white wash, and pretend commercialism has not taken over every holiday including Christmas.

Mrs. Ward was an ANGEL on earth and I feel blessed to have known her.

Below is the article the newspaper decided not to run because it was too opinionated and not joyful enough.

In the 42 years Anna L and Joel T Ward were married, they celebrated many Christmases together. Their Christmas in 2005 was a sad one because Anna was diagnosed with cancer, multiple myeloma. Christmas is a blessing in Mrs. Ward's eyes. Christmas in 2007 was very hard for her. She was in the hospital for 29 days feeling very low at one point and felt as if she was not going to make it. Hope left her for a while, it was then she felt herself in the hands of the Lord and began believing, without a doubt it was possible for her to be healed. "I have learned if you do not believe you can be healed your battle is going to be harder." said Ward.

Ward received news her cancer was in remission in 2008. Ward said, "For a short while, I did have that little doubt, that this is it, I am going to die. People are inclined to accept the word cancer as their fate. I did that to; when I was told, I had multiple myeloma because I survived breast cancer 30 years ago. I am thankful to have been able to participate at my age to harvest my stem cells to treat my cancer. No matter what medical science has to offer, I truly believe that I am here because of God's Mercy." Ward continued, "I would tell anyone that you have to believe that God is real and that he can do what he says he can do. My savior was born Christmas Day; Christmas means to me that he came here to forgive us for our sins. I believe that if my Savior had not come into this world to save mankind, I would not be here today. Therefore, Christmas is a time to celebrate God's gift to us, the day his son was born. Christmas has a higher meaning to it. The world has taken the focus of Christ out of Christmas and has put a commercial focus on Christmas. That is very tragic." Anna and Joel Ward plans to spread the Joy of Christmas Day visiting people in the hospital wherever they can.

My friend did not get a chance to spread the joy on Christmas Day in 2010 because she was sick by the cancer that aggressively invaded her body again. She was admitted into the hospital until the day she died January 21, 2011.

Do you think her story was opinionated without joy? I do not. To me it is a testament worth reading, how faith and hope gives you joy to believe and know in your darkest moment it will be all right.