tag:richardantonelli.com,2005:/blogs/rocker-dadRocker Dad2018-01-14T09:45:27-05:00Rich Antonellifalsetag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/39051932015-10-27T17:52:33-04:002020-01-21T07:07:11-05:00Apple Watch - My 2 centsSo yeah, I got an <strong>Apple Watch</strong> a few weeks ago. To make a long story short, my pc laptop was doing weird things like shutting down on its own, playing <strong>YouTube</strong> videos like crap, etc. so I decided to buy a <strong>mac</strong>. I ended up purchasing a 2012 refurbished <strong>MacBook Pro</strong> from the <strong>Apple store</strong>. It worked fine but within 2 weeks, after re-installing <strong>Windows 10</strong> on my pc, the laptop started behaving properly. I then began to think..."do I really need this <strong>mac</strong> right now?" The answer was no. I decided to return it as I was within the 14 days that <strong>Apple</strong> gives you and figured that down the road, I'd get another but a newer, more powerful model. (not to mention saving a ton of money)<br><br>Now, how did this lead to me getting the<strong> Apple Watch</strong>? I'd been checking it out since it was introduced but never really looked into it fully. I knew a few things like you need to have your <strong>iPhone</strong> with you for it to work. That actually turned me off in the beginning. Then I started really reading a lot about it. And reading...and reading. Before I go any further, I should say I love watches...for whatever reason. I feel naked when I don't wear one. OK, so back to the reading....after reading countless reviews, articles, <strong>Apple</strong>'s own write-ups on the watch, I became more interested. I ordered the sport model through the <strong>Apple</strong> site and decided to pick it up at the local <strong>Apple Store</strong> the next day. I chose the white band even though I wanted the black band. The reason for this was because I preferred the silver outer band on the case of the watch. The black band (or space gray) had a space gray color on the outer edge of the case. Anyway, I figured I could just pick up a black band to swap out before I realized that <strong>Apple </strong>sells the silicone bands for $49!!! Back to that in a bit...<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/52575/a94c0f8202bda9025dad465cae4ca690d2bc5186/original/applewatch1.jpg?1445981908" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br><br>The watch (well, the sport model) comes in a very long box. Not sure why. Here's a pic!<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/52575/d415516c877e54d28125a5616c53defe94c7a7bc/large/applewatchbox.jpg?1445981180" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>I've worn the watch the past couple of weeks and the more I wear it and use it, the more I like it. My favorite features so far:<ul> <li>The ability to easily change the band. It takes all of 10 seconds to go from a white silicone band to a harder, metal band. Couldn't be easier.</li> <li>I get a ton of notifications throughout the day. From phone calls, to texts, to app alerts...you name it. I'd always been taking my phone out of my pocket every few minutes. I don't do that anymore. I just look at my watch. If it's something important, I can just respond from the watch or take my phone out if it's more involved. I love that.</li> <li>Using Maps! Being able to drive somewhere or even walk and have the watch "tap" you when it's almost time to make a turn and display the directions on the watch is just plain cool. No more looking down at my phone that's on the console between the front seats.</li> <li>Activity - It's not the greatest thing to stay fit but it does what it's supposed to: keep me moving if I've been stationery too long. A nice tap on the wrist to tell me to stand up at least once an hour is great. It also integrates with <strong>MapMyFitness/Ride</strong> for my cycling jaunts.</li> <li>Watch faces! There aren't a ton yet but I'm sure the more the watch is out, the more <strong>Apple</strong> and 3rd parties will start releasing more. Customizing the color of the hands or the layout is great...it's like having a new watch every day.</li> <li>Glances - this is a subtle function. You can get quick looks at your battery, scores from your fave teams, weather, even how much your checking account has in it. Convenient for me...it saves me a lot of time over the course of a day.</li>
</ul>The main thing about the <strong>Apple Watch</strong> is that it keeps me more productive without even realizing it. I've probably saved an hour a day because I'm not constantly having to look at my phone for alerts. An hour may not sound like much but it really is. It frees me up to get more done. The watch definitely isn't for everyone. Some may think it's ugly or serves them no purpose. That's fine! It works for me so far. The one thing I have to say is a downer though is the price that <strong>Apple</strong> charges for the bands. $49 for a plain silicone/rubbery band is much too high. Thankfully I've found some alternatives on <strong>Amazon</strong> that are MUCH cheaper and you really can't tell the difference that it isn't an <strong>Apple</strong> product. I've gotten black and blue silicone bands for around $15 each and also a silver milanese loop type band for around $20. (<strong>Apple</strong> sells those for $149!) I'm sure they're a little better quality but c'mon <strong>Apple</strong>...give us a break once in awhile!<br><br>I'll continue to wear the watch for the forseeable future and am really excited to see what the next <strong>Watch OS</strong> update brings (after 2.0). If you have any questions about the watch, I'd be happy to answer! Use the contact form on this site to get in touch...peace!Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/36842742015-04-30T19:02:59-04:002015-04-30T19:02:59-04:00Props to a stand up companyI recently had shoulder surgery (December 2014) and during that time I basically had to do nothing. My arm was in a sling for 6 weeks and I'm still going to physical therapy. But this isn't about my shoulder....<br><br>I started being able to jog/run about a month ago and also started DDPYOGA (if you don't know what that is, <a contents="click here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.ddpyoga.com" target="_blank">click here</a>). In order to really accomplish the workouts and get the most out of them, I needed a heart rate monitor. I also needed a watch! I wasn't too thrilled about wearing a chest strap which to many, is the way to go. After doing my usual web search, I came upon a company called Mio Global. (<a contents="www.mioglobal.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.mioglobal.com" target="_blank">www.mioglobal.com</a>) They make heart rate monitors without the need for a chest strap. I did endless research, watched tons of youtube reviews, etc and decided this was what I wanted. I found a company online called Moosejaw and they were offering 20% on your first order so I placed the order for the Mio Alpha 2 and waited. The watch arrived in a week's time and I immediately set it up, entered my stats and was ready to go. After a couple of hours, I noticed the backlight wasn't working on the watch. I contacted Mio customer support and didn't receive an answer quickly so I called their support line. The woman I spoke to wasn't sure why it wasn't working and advised me to send it back to Moosejaw for an exchange. I called Moosejaw's customer support and told them of the problem and they were very helpful. They wanted me to send the watch back first and then they would send another out. I had just waited a week and didn't want to put my workouts off any longer so I asked if they could send the replacement first. They agreed to send it once they saw the return tracking in FedEx's system...fair enough.<br><br>About a week later, the replacement arrives, I set it up and check the light right away. It works!! Great...now I can start my workouts. I spoke too soon though as not even 3 hours later, the backlight started coming on EVERY minute. I thought maybe it would eventually turn off but it didn't stop. On the phone again with Mio, they told me to let it drain completely and then recharge it to see if that would help. The manual doesn't state how to do a factory reset which is a downfall. I decided to let it discharge but knew that this would take another day. I called Moosejaw, spoke to the same person I originally spoke to on the first return and she told me to call back in 24 hours to let her know if the discharge/recharge worked. 24 hours later, I was on the phone with her again and this watch was being returned. I didn't want an exchange, just my money back.<br><br>Now I still needed a heart rate monitor after 2 weeks of having 2 that didn't work correctly. I decided to go to a local store, REI, to try one there as of all the reviews I've read, not one mentioned this issue. They were out of the Alpha 2. Damn! I broke down and bought a Polar FT7 with chest strap. It was worth a try after waiting this long.<br><br>As soon as I returned home, I opened the box and took out the watch. It felt and looked like a toy. Remember those kids watches back in the day? They had them for Superman, Batman, Cabbage Patch Kids...whatever you wanted. They were mounted on a card and cost about $1.99. That's what this watch looked like and it looked ridiculously small on my wrist. I looked past that and tried on the chest strap. I followed the instructions but I could tell right away that this wasn't going to work. It kept moving no matter what I did and in order for it to stay where it needed to be, I had to tighten it A LOT. So much that it became somewhat painful. I boxed it back up and returned it the next day. I went to Mio's site and ordered the Alpha 2 direct from them this time. I figured I'd get a good one straight from the company that makes it!<br><br>While this was all going on, I had been in a constant state of frustration over the whole heart rate monitor ordeal. Going on 3 weeks and still nothing. I finally figured out how to do a factory reset after manually searching the web and finding the answer on Mio's Amazon store page. I still don't know why it isn't in the manual but at least I know how to do it now. The NEW Alpha 2 arrives in a week (Mio doesn't offer any shipping options...it's free but it took forever). I set it up (again), test the light...it works. I go for a run, come back, and guess what. I notice that the backlight IS TURNING ON EVERY MINUTE! At this point I'm ready to blow my lid. This is the 3rd Alpha 2 I've had in 3 weeks time and this can't be happening again. I try emailing Mio support but since it's a friday afternoon, they don't respond as they are closed for the weekend. I post a question on their Facebook page and Amazon page looking for answers. Finally, someone that runs the Amazon store says they found a glitch in the firmware that affects some watches' backlights. I just happened to get 2 of them! They offer to send me the upgraded firmware as the fix will be in a future app update but not for another 6 weeks. Rather than risk waiting and having that not work and being stuck with the watch, I ask for the upgrade. I'm thinking they are going to have me update the app.<br><br>On monday afternoon I finally get a call from Mio. The person I spoke to was very apologetic and concerned and couldn't believe that this was my 3rd watch. She offers to send me a replacement watch that has already been upgraded to the new, unreleased firmware. I gladly accept and after a bit of back and forth, I'm told her product manager will get a hold of me when it's ready to ship. I'm emailed a return label to send back the Alpha 2 that I have.<br><br>On tuesday, I hear from the product manager, who is also very nice, and she sends me a FedEx tracking number and that the new watch will be at my house by 8:30am the very next morning. It was sent International First Class apparently! I box up the watch I have and get it ready to drop off at the post office on wednesday. Not even 2 hours later, the product manager emails me again and tells me that if I didn't send the watch back yet, to just keep it as a backup as they can't resell it. I replied "Are you sure???" It's not a cheap watch. She tells me yes, for all the troubles I had, it'll be good to have a backup for myself. Wow. The new watch arrives on wednesday morning and as I'm typing this on thursday evening, it seems to be working great with no issues.<br><br>This is what I call going above and beyond for a customer. I was having some doubt about the product and Mio Global but I can assure anyone out there that I'm happy with the experience and can recommend Mio for your fitness needs when it comes to tracking, whether it be heart rate, steps, calories and more. Thank you once again for showing a consumer that not all companies are out to get the customer. There are some good ones left!Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/32083722014-09-29T07:39:11-04:002014-09-29T07:39:11-04:00Watch your cell data usage! (AT&T)<strong>File this under HUH?</strong><br><br>I have <strong>AT&T</strong> for my cell service...have been with them for years. Never really had an issue until this past weekend. I was grandfathered in on an old plan that gave me unlimited data. On September 12th, I went to the <strong>AT&T</strong> local store to see if I could save some money per month on my plan. We looked at my data usage and saw that I rarely ever go over 2GB/month. Reluctantly, I made the switch to the 2GB plan to save around $15/month. I was hesitant and my instincts were telling me not to do it but saving money is saving money. If I go over the limit, there's a $15 charge for the next GB. I'd still be ok.<br><br>Fast forward to the weekend. I've been checking my data usage daily, sometimes a few times a day, to make sure I'm not getting close to my limit. As of saturday night, I was only at 20% of my data usage and only had a couple days left in the cycle until it restarts. Great! When I'm home, I use Wifi and always turn my Cellular data on my phone <strong>OFF</strong> to make sure nothing goes through the AT&T network...been doing that for years. I also had been <strong>POWERING OFF</strong> my phone overnight out of habit. Keep that in mind.<br><br>I wake up sunday morning, turn on my phone and immediately have 2 texts. Both are from AT&T. <strong>The first is an alert that I'm at 65% of my data limit...HUH? The 2nd is also an alert from AT&T...I'm at 90%!!! </strong>This all happened in the span of a few hours...WHILE MY CELL DATA WAS OFF AND MY PHONE WAS COMPLETELY POWERED DOWN. Of course I call <strong>AT&T</strong> customer care and speak to a woman first. This 15 minute conversation went nowhere because it was like talking to a programmed robot. She kept saying that maybe I had apps open and running and they were downloading data without me knowing. I told her time and time again, that NO, I close out all my apps because I know about that stuff, I have cell data OFF on the phone and most importantly, <strong>MY PHONE WAS OFF ALL NIGHT</strong>! Even with this info, she couldn't comprehend. I ask to go back to my old plan and she tells me that's not possible. I ask to speak to someone else with a little knowledge. I then am speaking to a gentleman who seemed to know a little more but has no idea why this happened. He said not to worry, my cycle is over in a day and the data limit will start over for next month. He will also keep an eye on my account that day to credit me if I do go over. I tell him not to worry because I'll have cell data off all day. I also ask about going back to my old plan and am given the same answer...can't do it. I say ok, thank you. This is all done by 8am.<br><br>Fast forward to 11am. I still have cell data turned off and I receive another text. It's AT&T again telling me I've gone over my 2GB data limit on their network and I will be charged $15. I immediately get in the car and head to the local store where I basically wasted my time. The person there didn't really care about my issue. I wish I could remember his name because he didn't even TRY to do anything to fix the problem. I asked about going back to my old plan and he said they don't do that. He basically said I'm SOL and when I asked how T-Mobile's service was he didn't care either that AT&T might lose a loyal customer.<br><br>Next step was to call customer care back. Thankfully I got someone right off the bat who actually cared about what was happening. She listened to everything I had to say and offered a couple of solutions. The first was to go back to my <strong>ORIGINAL PLAN</strong>! What an idea! The 2nd was to credit me the $15, keep a close eye on the account and take my phone to an Apple store to make sure it's working correctly (which I know it is). Of course I chose the first option. I'd rather pay a little extra and not have to worry about this stupid crap happening. I told her that 3<strong> AT&T</strong> employees told me this wasn't possible. <strong>She said customers have 60 days to switch back.</strong> She texted me a case ID # and said that within the next 2 days, I'd have my unlimited data back. In the meantime she was adding an extra GB to my account to make sure I don't go over until the switch happens. <strong>There's a novel idea AT&T! Offer 3 GB plans!!!!</strong> That would mean not making extra money off people that go over.<br><br>I thank her for everything and feel relieved that this nonsense is going to end. At this point cell data is <strong>STILL OFF</strong>. My new data cycle also begins during the day and wouldn't you know it? About 3 hours later, I'm already up to half a gig of data streamed from around noon time until 2pm. I urge whoever is reading this to really keep a close eye on your account and your data usage because I can't be the only person this is happening to. <strong>AT&T</strong> really had no answers as to why this is happening. I could see maybe something was streaming in the background, apps open, etc. It should not happen when only using Wifi or even when the phone is powered down. I'm glad I'm the type of person that will push and push until I get some sort of resolution to problems. Maybe more people should be like this? We wouldn't have these stupid issues all the time. Companies are starting to take advantage of customers that don't pay attention more and more. It's only going to get worseRich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/30812632014-07-16T19:50:21-04:002014-10-07T07:44:55-04:00Coming Full Circle with GearAfter almost 2 years of playing live with my <strong>Kemper Profiling Amp</strong> and using<strong> IEMs</strong> (in ear monitors), I recently made the switch back to my trusty <strong>Marshall DSL100</strong> and a new pedalboard. Before this becomes a war about modellers, the <strong>Kemper</strong> is one of the <strong>BEST</strong> pieces of gear I've ever purchased. For recording, I can't find anything that will beat it. I used it on about 40% of my CD, <strong><a contents="Voiceless" data-link-label="Store" data-link-type="page" href="/store" target="_blank">Voiceless</a></strong>. It sounds great live as well. I ran it through a guitar cab and through an <strong>Alto 112</strong> at various times...hell I even put it through a <strong>Marshall Haze</strong> combo when I didn't have a choice. I think my issue was more the <strong>IEMs</strong> than the <strong>Kemper</strong> though. The feeling of being boxed in and not hearing or feeling the amp breath was getting to me so much that my playing took a huge step backwards. My vocals got better but my playing really suffered.<br><br>I have decent custom <strong>IEMs</strong> from <strong>Alien Ears</strong> but I just could not get used to hearing a guitar tone pressed against my ear drum. That space that we all love (the space between you and the guitar amp/cab) was missing and it really became uninspiring to me. I made more fumbles/mistakes in the last year on my guitar than I probably did the previous 5 years. I found myself trying to compensate for what I thought I was or wasn't hearing in my ears. For example, when I would sustain notes sometimes, the sound would fade in my <strong>IEMs</strong> which caused me to think that's what everyone else was hearing...that wasn't the case. I ran a test and found that the note was usually still ringing through the FOH or speaker...the <strong>IEMs</strong> were just playing tricks on me. I tried a few different brands and also a couple of different systems. They all did the same thing to me. I used my amp for my last 3 shows and got back to really enjoying being on stage and hearing what I was actually playing. Adding 2 <strong>Eventide H9</strong>s to my board just elevated my tone like never before.<br><br>For the time being, I'm hanging on to my <strong>Kemper</strong> with the hopes I may do more recording, even though I don't have time to breathe these days. I have toyed with the idea of selling it though, paying down some bills and possible picking up another axe, knowing if I get serious about recording again, I can always grab another.<br><br>In years past, when I had a couple of <strong>Axe-Fx</strong>'s, I had sold my amp/rig to fund them. I'm so glad that this time, I kept most of my old rig when I bought my <strong>Kemper</strong>...even if it really hit me hard in the wallet. I keep going back to the <strong>Marshall DSL</strong> each time...I guess you could say that it's my sound. I read so many articles/posts/threads online about some of the things I just mentioned and I don't blame anyone for doing what I did. Sometimes you gotta try all different angles (especially being a guitar player with all this awesome gear that's available) to realize what's best for you and your situation. Excuse me now while I go shake my house with my rig.Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/27652692014-03-18T09:20:29-04:002014-03-18T10:27:09-04:00When is it time? Playing out vs. staying home The title says it all. I've started asking myself this question a lot more frequently in the last year or so. When <strong>IS</strong> it time to sort of retire from gigging life, spend more time with the family, sell off some gear and play for my own pleasure at home when I feel the need? I'm mostly thinking out loud here but I know that time is coming sooner than later.<br><br> I've always said that the real reason I perform is because of the people I perform in front of. It's not so much the band I'm playing with or the money I make. If it were, I'd be playing out much more than I do. I still enjoy it but I also enjoy spending time with my family. My kids are getting older now and even though I'm very lucky to be able to be around them much more than most dads, I still feel like I'm missing out on some things from time to time. Add in the usual music business drama and stupid stuff that seems to never go away, common sense sometimes tells me the headaches and aggravation aren't really worth it in the end.<br><br> In the past 11+ years (since my oldest daughter was born), I've bought and sold so much gear that I could have opened my own music store if I had kept everything. It leads to the question: why? The answer seems simple....because in order to perform at the level I'm comfortable with, I need these certain tools like a carpenter needs his hammer or a doctor needs a stethoscope. That may sound funny, but other musicians reading this know what I mean. If I were to sell some of this stuff, I'd probably have a decent down payment for a new house.<br><br> That also leads me to the recording side of my life. As some of you reading this know, I released my first ever solo instrumental album last year, Voiceless, which proceeds are being donated to Hasbro Children's Hospital to help fight Crohn's disease. It was a great experience and I have a ton of people to thank for helping me out with it. I'm currently writing with a couple of friends of mine to hopefully release a new full band album. While I enjoy this, it's also time consuming and comes with many of the same downfalls as performing live does. With everything I do, I can't go at it half-assed or take my time, I need to go at it full steam and with everything I've got. I can't sit and relax until I'm satisfied that things get done. And as with performing/booking/practicing/tone chasing, not everyone is wired the way I am. Sometimes I have to step back and assess things to reel things back in. I guess what I'm saying is that it's not easy for me. To be honest, it does cause me stress that I really don't want or need anymore.<br><br> What I've written about in this blog is something I'm fighting more and more, every day, every time I load my gear into my car to head to a show or sit down to lay down a guitar track. The end for me is not close but I'm much closer to the end than some of you reading this may think. It's becoming a constant minor struggle of "is it really worth all the time and money I put into it? Or would I be happier just picking up my guitar, in my home, and playing what and when I feel like playing?" I've been blessed with a great family, friends, opportunities to perform and record and I'm thankful for all of that. There just comes a time when it <strong>IS</strong> time. A time to just decompress from this whole business and try to relax and enjoy life. If there are any other musicians out there reading this that have had these same type of thoughts, I'd love to hear from you. After all, music will always drive me in life, but it may be getting to the time when I need to get behind the wheel and steer my path.Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/15663952013-09-07T13:05:42-04:002022-03-16T07:46:51-04:00Stay away from Citizens Bank<em>Disclaimer: If this writing gets a little confusing at times, please forgive me. You'll see why in a few minutes.</em><br><br>My family has been living in our home since 2004. We have been paying our mortgage through <strong>Citizens Bank</strong> since around 2006 or so. Up until this year, we never paid much attention to our bank...it was life as usual. Back in late March we decided to try to take advantage of the lower mortgage rates and refinance our house. We weren't asking for extra money, just what we owe so we can pay a little less per month and try to save...like any family would like to do.<br><br>First contact with a <strong>Citizens Bank</strong> representative was on April 3rd. It is now September and I'm sitting here writing this blog. Why? Because <strong>Citizens Bank</strong> has some serious communication problems going on for starters. We had locked in a rate about almost 2 points lower than our current rate to save us a small amount of money per month. We were happy with that. We weren't going to break the bank but it would definitely help our situation. From April 3rd, we still do not have this resolved. There have been numerous delays, mainly on <strong>Citizens Bank's</strong> part (but they're doing everything to not admit that).<br><br>I just have never seen or experienced anything like this in my 42 years on this planet (yeah I'm old). For something that should have been <strong>SO SIMPLE</strong>, this just keeps dragging on at the time of this writing. From asking our accountants for the <strong>SAME FORM</strong> 4 times (and being sent those requested forms <strong>4 TIMES</strong>), to our 2nd bank denying their initial request to subordinate (because terms weren't made clear to them), to telling me that they have everything they need now and this would be pushed through, then 3 days later requesting more info that they already received (see accountants), then finally saying "we are all set, we have everything we need" only to have someone else call us later in the week to tell us that the deadline passed on our locked in rate and would we like to "start the process over", I'm getting angry just typing this.<br><br>About a month ago I requested a manager's contact info, received it, called and left a voicemail and still have not received a call back. It took me going on <strong>Citizens Bank's</strong> Facebook page to complain that someone from the office of the chairman finally called me. That's where we are right now...sitting and waiting, like we've been doing since April 3rd.<br><br><strong>Update: 8/27/13</strong><br><br>I've been talking to a woman from the office of the chairman at <strong>Citizens Bank</strong> for over a week now and there has been no progress made. Basically this is what happens...<br>She calls me and I tell her my timeline of events and what actually happened. I have dated emails and dates from my 2nd bank and my accountants on their correspondance with <strong>Citizens</strong>. She takes that and relays it to the loans/processing departments (or as I like to call them "the lack of communication" departments). I will then get a call back from her in a day or 2 telling me what they told her from their timeline. Obviously most of it doesn't match up with what I have. This just keeps going over and over like a broken record. Finally today, she mentioned that she was going to get her manager involved so we will see what happens next.<br><br>Here's a quick breakdown: we started on April 3rd, 2013. On July 23rd, our application was apparently closed because our 2nd bank declined the subordination. However, we were away on vacation (which we told them) and did not receive notice of this. When we returned on July 25/26, we contacted them to see what the status was. We weren't told of the rejection or closure. Instead, on August 9th, I spoke with a woman in processing who told me about the rejection. I called the 2nd bank, got it straightened out and got the approval. I was then told that it looked like the application was withdrawn on August 2nd but it hadn't processed yet and we were good and moving forward. If anything, it would need to be a new application but all the info that <strong>Citizens</strong> needed was there and they would just copy everything over. <strong>NOT ONCE DID SHE TELL ME THAT OUR LOCKED IN RATE WOULD CHANG</strong>E. So obviously thinking that we would still save the same amount, if we had to redo the application, that was ok as long as it got done. All we lost was a little time (months).<br><br>Fast forward to August 16th, I receive a call from the gentleman who started the whole process with us back in April. He tells me that the subordination was approved (which I had known a week earlier) but unfortunately the application had already withdrawn (on August 2nd?) and now the rate was different. It went up almost 2 points since April. Are you getting angry reading this? Think about how I feel and multiply that by infinity. I had it out on the phone with this guy and he became more smug and arrogant as the conversation got heated. He finally left it at "let us know if you want to redo it at the new rate." Another thing that really has me livid with this guy is him telling me that he's called and left numerous messages with us, both on cell and home, and we never get back to him. First of all, we have iPhones. Know what that means? I can go back into call logs and also message logs to see all calls and messages. Guess what? No messages from anyone at <strong>Citizens Bank</strong>! I also work from home so I know for a fact that he didn't leave messages there either. Want to know how I know this? Because on August 16th when I finally spoke to him, I only picked up the phone because he started leaving a voicemail. When I don't recognize a phone number on caller ID, I don't answer because it's usually a telemarketer. I always figure that if it is someone or something important, they will leave a message. Now...the number he called from when he finally left a message had called the previous week 2 times but I didn't answer and he didn't bother to leave any messages either. But it's my fault for not getting back to an imaginary message? As a business, if you really need to hear back from a client/customer, shouldn't you keep trying if you don't? If he had done that, we may have eventually picked up a call from this unknown number at some point because of the aggravation.<br><br>Does any of this make any sense to anyone that doesn't work for <strong>Citizens Bank</strong>? Are they that clueless and arrogant that they feel they can treat their customers this way? Customers that have been paying a mortgage to them since around 2006 without ever missing a payment? Everyone I have told about this cannot believe what we are going through and my goal now is to make as many people aware of what <strong>Citizens</strong> is capable of as I can. There's a reason so many people deal with credit unions nowadays. I'm providing exhibit A for you in this blog.<br><br><strong>Update: 8/28/13</strong><br><br>This morning I learned that my 2nd bank didn't receive the subordination papers from <strong>Citizens Bank </strong>until July 15th...more than 4 months after we started the process!! To make matters worse, it was only a week before our locked in rate would expire. I'm starting to see what is happening here. <strong>Citizens</strong> likely wanted this to fail, what other reason could there be? Why wait until a week before the expiration to send this important make it or break it document when if one thing goes wrong (and it did), the chance of recovery is slim at best?<br><br>I also was asked to forward all email correspondance between us and the <strong>Citizens Bank</strong> loan department to the office of the chairman. After sifting through the emails I re-confirmed what I knew all along. The people working there don't communicate, have a penchant for losing or "not receiving" info and are very disorganized.<br><br>I also learned that the person we had been dealing with along the way took a vacation when our accountants first sent over the requested forms from earlier in this writing. The girl who took her place, couldn't find them. The original girl comes back from vacation and guess what? Can't find them either! Our accountants keep track of this stuff...that's what they do with financial documents. It even says it in their title...they <strong>ACCOUNT</strong> for things!<br><br><strong>Update: 8/30/13</strong><br><br>Received a call from the office of the chairman with what seems to be a little progress. All of the emails I sent over the other day were forwarded to the Loan department manager. After going through everything, this person said it seems like there was some "misunderstanding". Understatement! Right now, as far as I know, the Loan manager is taking the case to a higher level person (how many are there??) to find out about honoring the original agreement we had back in April.<br><br><strong>Update: 9/5/13</strong><br><br>Well, it looks like <strong>Citizens Bank </strong>is denying any blame in this mess and denying us the original rate/terms of the agreement. They are blaming the denied subordination from our 2nd bank (even though it took them 4 months to send that paperwork). Loyalty doesn't go very far with this company but I guess I shouldn't be surprised. The option I was given was to reapply at the current rate, which happens to be about 1.2 points higher than what we thought we were getting. I'm still waiting to hear back as to whether or not they are going to want another $450 for the new application. If they do, then you know what they can kiss?<br><br><strong>Update: 9/12/13</strong><br><br>At this point, I've contacted the Attorney General's office about the situation and they've led me to a government consumer finance website where I've sent in my complaint. I know the complaint was then sent to <strong>Citizens</strong> so we will see if anything happens from that. I also called the office of the chairman on monday, September 9th because I hadn't heard anything else. At this point, we want to know if Citizens Bank is going to require we pay <strong>ANOTHER $450</strong> to re-apply. I also want it known that we <strong>DO NOT</strong> want to deal with the same people/agents that we've dealt with through this whole debacle if we decided to re-apply. I was told there was no news yet but they were "meeting" about it that day. Tuesday goes by with no news or phone call. Finally on wednesday the 11th, I call again and am told no news yet but the woman that might have news is going away tomorrow (thursday) so I should hear something later in the day. Guess what? It's the end of thursday the 12th now and no phone call with an update again. This company, <strong>Citizens Bank</strong>, just keeps proving my point over and over and over again. <strong>THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS</strong>.<br><br><strong>Update: 9/13/13</strong><br><br>Friday the 13th. I heard back from <strong>Citizens</strong>. They have agreed to refund me the $450 non-refundable application fee. I guess I'm happy about that but it also tells me they don't want us to re-apply and most certainly not offering us the original terms they screwed up on. This seems to be the easy way out for them. At this point, I'll be watching for the refund but also waiting to hear back from the consumer finance filing.<br><br><strong>Update: 9/23/13</strong><br>I heard back from the consumer finance company today in regards to <strong>Citizens Bank</strong>. <strong>Citizens</strong> responded by basically saying "thank you for contacting us. We will look into the matter and respond in 60 days." So I guess almost 6 months isn't enough time to drag us around they need another 60 days. Totally makes sense knowing what I know about this company now. Am I giving up? What do you think?<br><br><strong>Update: 10/16/13</strong><br><br>So it was much less than 60 days but I received the answer I figured I would receive. <strong>Citizens</strong> basically said they take these matters seriously, blah, blah, blah and they will have someone from the "<strong>OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN</strong>" contact me. No, I'm not kidding. The same person I had been speaking to for, oh, 2 months even signed the reply. It's really hysterical at this point. The best part is I receive a letter in the mail from <strong>Citizens</strong> stating the timeline we just went over for months and if I would like to refinance at the current rate (even though it's much higher now), I should feel free to contact them. I've never seen a bigger joke of a "reputable" company than <strong>Citizens Bank</strong>. I'm glad I made someone have to take time out of their work day to respond to this. It's like a small victory for me but not what I think is deserved on this end. My goal now is to post this blog to as many websites as possible to help warn others what a mess this bank really is.<br><br>Stay tuned....Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/2385682012-10-23T05:38:31-04:002012-10-23T05:38:31-04:00Rocker Dad - The MusicianI realized I run this site called “Rocker Dad“ but I haven’t really written about my musical history yet. Let’s start at the beginning. I began taking drum lessons when I was 12 years old. I started tinkering around on piano when I was 17 and by the time I was 18, I lost interest in drums and keys because I heard Eddie Van Halen. Enter the guitar. The first song I ever learned to play was Alone Again by Dokken on an old beat up Cort electric guitar.<br><br>
Other guitarists from the 1980s such as Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme, Steve Brown of Trixter, and Steve Vai, who toured with David Lee Roth and as a solo artist, heavily influenced my playing style (although I was never in the same league as those guys). Taking these various styles under my belt, I started playing in local rock bands with friends until eventually forming $kyhigh, a four-piece band that wrote and performed original music.<br><br>
Through $kyhigh, I opened for bands like Warrant, Slaughter, Cinderella, Quiet Riot, and Sebastian Bach. The band released a successful debut album, Tales From The Crib, which sold close to 5,000 copies internationally through our own label and also through Perris Records. You can preview and purchase songs from this CD on my music page here on this site.<br><br>
While I was happy to be playing original material with a great group of musicians, I got to a point where I realized I preferred being on stage performing more than being in the studio recording music. It wasn’t long before I parted ways with $kyhigh and started gigging with other bands, including tribute acts.<br><br>
For the last five years, I have been playing lead guitar for Bon Jersey, the Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute Band, formerly known as Jovi. Bon Jersey tours throughout the northeast and has a large, faithful following in the Northern Massachusetts area. We have performed at notable venues like the Hard Rock Café in Boston, BB King Blues Club and the Canal Room in New York City, casinos such as Mohegan Sun and the Lighthouse Bar at Twin River as well as larger music festivals. Check out the band’s website sometime at <a href="http://www.bon-jersey.com" target="_new">www.bon-jersey.com</a><br>Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/2385572012-10-23T05:29:50-04:002022-05-18T01:45:18-04:00Gear Review: Peavey/Agile Ampkit LinkI recently picked up a refurbished iPad from Apple mainly to use it to play my guitar through and use GarageBand to just record simple things and new riffs and song ideas at home or on the go.<br>
I also owned an iPhone and have previously tried using the Amplitube iRig. The iRig went in through the headphone jack on the iPhone and all I would get was major feedback and major noise. It seemed to be a cheaply made plastic device but I was hoping the AmpKit Link from Peavey and Agile Partners would take from that technology and be improved upon. I watched a few YouTube videos of the AmpKit and was pretty impressed from what I heard so I decided to give it a shot. At $29.99, the price was right so why not.<br><br>
The AmpKit Link is a device that you plug into the headphone jack on your iPad or iPhone. You then plug your 1/4″ guitar cable into one input on the link. Finally there’s also an input for either headphones or other monitoring system like stereo speakers or computer speakers (or even a PA). The difference between the iRig and Ampkit was supposed to be the fact that Peavey/Agile has batteries in this unit which is supposed to help cut down on noise and feedback. This wasn’t the case at all in my testing. Now, granted I used the free application version of the software and I didn’t pay for any extra amps,effects or any other kind of speaker cabinets but I didn’t think you really would have to pay extra to try to attain some sort of decent tone. Why would a company put out a free app that most people, probably 80% of the people who try it, would try the free version to see if they liked it enough to purchase more add-ons? That was my thinking. The amount of noise and feedback that I received was incredible. I tested it with two different guitars, a custom Fender Strat that has very low noise pick ups (Dimarzios) and also an Epiphone Les Paul copy that has the standard Epiphone Les Paul pickups.<br><br>
I didn’t stop there. I tested the Link with GarageBand, Amplitube’s app for the iRig and another app called iShred. The apps don’t seem to be the problem. I contacted Agile’s tech support with the issues I was having. The support I received was excellent. I can’t say enough good things about the service. Unfortunately, we were unable to come up with a solution. My take on this type of setup is that the problem lies in where these devices are being plugged into….the headphone jack. This, in my opinion, is what causes the hissing and noise. Trying to use any kind of high gain amp setup in the apps was unbearable. Using the built-in noise gates helped with noise but it also completely killed any sustain you had while also leaving an artificial feedback on top of the sound. To be fair, Agile’s tech support informed me that in the next couple of months, their app is over going a major upgrade. I didn’t want to wait around that long so I returned the Link.<br><br>
I’m very interested in testing out a couple of new products: the Apogee Jam and the Alesis IO Dock. Neither of these products seem to be in stock anywhere. I’ve tried contacting both companies about possibly testing these units with no luck so far. There is no plugging in through the headphone jack on these. They both plug in through the dock, which is where I believe better results will come from. If I am able to obtain either of these pieces of gear, I will post a review at some point.<br><br>
In closing, my advice would be to stay away from the AmpKit Link and iRig…especially if you play a lot of high gain amps. For those that play lighter styles of music and acoustic style, it may work better for you and at the price, it may be worth it to try it out.<br>Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/2385562012-10-23T05:25:00-04:002017-02-01T19:16:29-05:00Gear Review: Apogee JamWhat a relief! After testing the Peavey Ampkit Link and IK Multimedia iRig guitar interfaces for the iPad and iPhone to less than stellar results, along comes the Apogee Jam. My suspicions as to why the previous 2 products wouldn’t work correctly (for me) came true…the key is in the dock!<br><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/52575/ec067f8815f2cb97e42d368efb470aa2525f9110/medium/apogeejam-300x244.jpg?1375826343" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="244" width="300" /></div>
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For those that have tried the iRig and Ampkit Link, you know that the unit utilizes the headphone jack on the iPad/iPhone as an input. Before I even tested them out, I had a feeling there was going to be a chance of feedback or noise. Plugging a metal tip into a metal headphone jack that normally pushes sound OUT should cause a problem…and it did in my case. I could not play any amp model software that had any kind of gain or distortion. It was unbearable because of the squealing, noise and just bad sounds.<br><br>
The Jam fixes all these issues for me. For starters, it plugs into the DOCK! Who would have thought? Oh yeah, I did! It makes total sense since we already know that the camera connection kit can help you use USB products with the iPad/iPhone. How simple is it to get up and running? How about trying this…plug your guitar cable into the Jam, plug the included dock cable into the other end of the Jam and then into your iPad or iPhone. Open up Garageband or other music recording/guitar app and…that’s it. You should see a green light on the Jam which signals that you’re ready to rip.<br><br>
Best feature of the Jam besides the clear sound? The gain control knob located on its side. Signal too hot? The light turns orange to red. Just turn the gain down and it goes back to the green. So simple, so easy. I’m not going to get into what the specs of the unit are. For that, visit <a href="http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/jam.php" target="_new">Apogee website</a>. I’m telling you how easy it is to get a good, clean, clear, noise-free guitar tone to record or “jam” with.<br><br>
To hear a couple of samples I recorded, click here:<br><a href="http://www.soundcloud.com/richantonelli/tracks" target="_new">My Jam Testing Tunes</a> (you may need a soundcloud free account to listen)<br><br>
(Yes, these are Def Leppard tunes…I joined a Def Lep tribute recently)<br>
These samples were recorded entirely with my strat, Line 6 Spider III 15 watt amp, the Jam and an iPad 1 using Garageband.<br><br>
On a side note, the Jam works with Garageband, PRS Jam Amp app and the Peavey Ampkit app. It doesn’t seem to work with Amplitube as of yet…hopefully that changes.<br>Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/2385552012-10-23T05:25:00-04:002017-02-01T19:16:29-05:00Gear Review: DigiTech iPB-10 iPad PedalboardIf you play guitar AND own an iPad, it’s time you check out the iPB-10 pedalboard from Digitech. I’ve been using the iPB-10 for about 2 months now. My favorite feature about it, besides the sounds, is its ease of use. The biggest drawback on all other modellers I’ve used in the past has been the interface. That problem has been solved for me with the iPB-10. The iPB Nexus app, which is a free download for your iPad, is stunning and gives you complete control of all of its features. No more toggling or scrolling through settings to find what you’re looking for. Everything is laid out like you are looking at an actual analog pedalboard. You can see real looking stomp pedals, not just numbers, words or names. The visual part of this setup is what really separates it from competitors.<br><br>
Another big plus is that you <b>DO NOT</b> need to have your iPad in the iPB-10 in order to use the board. Playing a seedy bar and worried about some drunk spilling his beer onto your iPad? Set your sounds during sound check, adjust your tone for the stage, and then take the iPad out before the show starts. If you’re like me then you also don’t like fiddling with tone while the show is happening. Set your sounds and play! There are 20 banks with 5 preset slots in each bank. If you need to tweak, there is plenty of room to do it ahead of time.<br><br>
The amp models in the iPB-10 are your typical amp models. They won’t make you want to sell your real amps but they are definetely usable in a pinch or for recording direct. The effects, on the other hand, sound very good to my ears. I usually cringe at modelled overdrive pedals but Digitech changed my mind this time. One of my favorite overdrive pedals is the Boss SD-1. It is a popular OD to use with Marshall amps. (I play through a DSL100) I’ve always kept an SD-1 on my board, especially when using modelling gear. Since I started using the iPB-10, I have not turned it on once. Side by side, the iPB’s “Supreme” OD is as close to the SD-1 as any other attempt I’ve heard. It even looks like the pedal it is emulating.<br><br>
I could go on and on about what I like about the iPB-10. To keep this blog review from getting more boring than it already is, I’ve listed a few pros and cons for the unit. Bottom line for me is that it gets the job done in a much simpler fashion than most others in its field. At the end of the day, that’s all that really matters to me. Check out the iPB-10 at a music store near you….just make sure you own an iPad first. ;)<br><br>
Pros:<br>
Ease of use, FREE Nexus iPad app, # of inputs/outputs, Ability to use the 4 cable method, # of effects, # of amp models, Digitech customer support, can be run as a standalone modeller or only as an effects board, use as a backup amp in a pinch<br><br>
Cons:<br>
No amp channel switch to control your analog amp, no website to share presets with other users, no tap tempo (Digitech has alerted me that tap tempo IS coming in an update), no way to backup user presets to disk off of the iPB.<br><br><br><center><iframe width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o3zHpzYWnGQ?feature=player_embedded"></iframe></center>Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/2385542012-10-23T05:25:00-04:002017-02-01T19:16:29-05:00Gear Review: Digitech iStompDigitech was kind enough to send me their new iStomp pedal and I received it late yesterday. For those unfamiliar with it, it’s basically a do it all type pedal…meaning, if you have an iphone or ipad, you can download different effects into the pedal. For example, need a delay for a show? Download it and you’re ready to go. Need an overdrive? Same thing. The Digitech app store has a good number of choices to choose from…od, reverbs, compressors, delays, chorus, etc….they range in price from $.99 to $9.99.<br><br>
As with most of my gear reviews, I review things for how I would use it for my own purposes. There are literally hundreds of reviews on the iStomp, as well as videos, that show you how it works, what each knob does, what color it is, etc. I review gear for the ease of use for my live rig, nothing more. The same can be said for any videos I may upload to youtube showcasing a product. Hopefully, my take on some of these products will help some fellow musicians out there decide whether or not to try or buy.<br><br>
I’ve only gotten to mess with it for a few minutes at a time but it’s pretty cool and sounds good, like most Digitech products. When I first heard of this pedal, I was a little underwhelmed. I didn’t think I would have any use for something like this but once I decided to build a travel board, this pedal makes things MUCH easier than having to buy a few separate pedals. I think it’d be great for guys who are in more than 1 band and need a certain effect for the night or even for someone looking to grab a quick pedal to jam/rehearse.<br><br>
One of the best features, and I wish all of the apps in Apple’s app store did this, is that you can TRY the pedals before you commit to buying. It puts a 5 minute timer on and you can use it like you own it. I can’t tell you how many apps I’ve bought for my iphone or ipad thinking it looked cool only to come find out that it really sucks big time and I can’t get my money back. Props to Digitech for including this feature. They also send you a bunch of stickers to use on the pedal if you wish. This might be better for those that have a couple of iStomps. I may have to grab another to complete my board…I like the flexibility and the thing seems to be built like a tank as well. Loading a new effect into the pedal from your iphone or ipad takes about 30 seconds.<br><br>
It’s definitely not for everyone. I know there are guys complaining that it doesn’t make sense to spend $150 on one pedal and only be able to use one effect at a time, which is a valid point. To me, this pedal is the perfect board finisher….you know when you have 1 spot left on your board but you need a variety of effects that you need to swap out for certain gigs? This will do the job. Again, it’s the size of a regular stompbox. I guess you could use a Line 6 M5 and be able to have a couple of effects at a time but if you’re like me and space on your pedalboard is at a premium, this may work for you. Check one out at your local music gear dealer or visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.digitech.com/">Official Digitech Site</a>.<br><div style="text-align: center;"> </div>
<center><iframe width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f8BQE0P85Zs?feature=player_embedded"></iframe></center>Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/2346802012-10-17T10:50:10-04:002012-10-17T10:50:10-04:00Crohn's Part VThis feels like deja vu…and not the good kind.<br><br>
If you’ve followed this Crohn’s series, you know the back story. My daughter was diagnosed back in March of 2010. Since then, she’s done well for the most part (except for that episode where she stopped taking her medication last summer). That all changed this past week. She had not been feeling as well for the last few weeks so her doctor ordered an upper and lower GI be performed to check things out. She had this procedure done the day she was diagnosed. I wrote I never wanted to see her like that again in my life. I saw her like that again last Wednesday and it wasn’t any easier.<br><br>
Once the procedure was done, I could tell by the look on the doctor’s face that it was news I didn’t want to hear but probably knew was coming. She was most definitely having a flare up of Crohn’s. The other thing I never wanted to see again was her having to be on steroids for a 2nd time. Guess what? I batted 2 for 2 on this day of things I didn’t want to see. She would have to begin being treated with steroids right away and require another stay in the hospital. I really worry about how she is going to feel once her appearance starts changing while on these medications.<br><br>
There was a little bit of good news that came out of this. She only had to stay one night instead of the 3 or 4 that was originally planned. She responded very well to the medications and treatment right off the bat. At this point, I’m realizing this is going to be an ongoing battle through her life…it’s sinking in more and more. I’ve recently had some severe back pain and I have a bad cold as I’m writing this but I would gladly take feeling this way every day for the rest of my life if it meant she would be ok. All I ask is that she be able to live and enjoy her life without too many more complications. For someone who is only 9 years old, she has gone through more than most people in their seventies. I may have mentioned this before but she is the bravest person I’ve ever met and I really hope she stays as strong as she is moving forward. Thank you for reading this and expressing your support. Hopefully, I won’t be writing too many blogs on this subject.<br>Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/2346852012-10-17T10:50:00-04:002021-05-17T05:02:08-04:00Debut Album in the worksIt’s been awhile!<br><br>
I’ve been so busy the last few months with my band, my kids, school starting and life. My pledge campaign ended without reaching my goal but I have decided to go ahead and record my album on my own anyway. <b>“Voiceless”</b> is slated to be released sometime in early 2013. I’m doing the entire record at home with virtually no budget. I am still taking donations that will be donated to <b>Hasbro Childrens Hospital</b> in my daughter’s name to help the fight against Crohn’s disease. If you would like to contribute, please contact me through this site.<br><br><b>“Voiceless”</b> is going to be…you guessed it…an instrumental album. Right now the plan is for 10 tracks. I am looking for any graphic designers who may want to help with the CD artwork layout. If interested, hit me up! I can use all the help I can get on this project. As always, thank you for your support!<br>Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/2346732012-10-17T10:49:34-04:002012-10-17T10:49:34-04:00Crohn's Part IVSince I last wrote about my daughter’s fight against Crohn’s disease, there have been a few things that have happened. After some smooth sailing, it was learned that my daughter had stopped taking her medication. My wife happened to notice some pill capsules in the trash in the bathroom. This wasn’t out of the ordinary because since my daughter got her braces and palette expander, she had been unable to swallow her pills. We would open the capsules, pour the contents into orange juice or water, and she would drink it. She would then put the empty capsule ends back together and throw them away. My daughter is 8 but sometimes we give her a little too much leeway. That’s what happened with the medication. We would set her pills out in the morning and before bed and then rely on her to take them. We should have been watching her. We are partly to blame for not watching her more closely. I’m not sure what made my wife check the pills in the garbage but the first one she picked up was still full.<br><br>
We started looking through the garbage. Pill after pill were full and unopened. My wife had to leave for work so I needed to sift through the entire basket, which was full, to try to figure out how long she had been doing this. After about 45 minutes of pulling pills out and guesstimating (pills at the bottom of the basket were really corroded), the time-frame seemed to be about 6 weeks worth of meds that she had been skipping. We had a long talk with her about the importance of taking her medicine, why she has to take it, what could have happened to her because of this, but most importantly….we couldn’t trust her right now because she lied to us.<br><br>
Having said all that, this may have been a blessing in disguise. Her health had not deteriorated at all. In fact, she had gained a pound or 2 and her energy level was up. While on the medication, it was hard for her to gain much weight.<br><br>
The next thing was to inform her doctor. We knew she would order some blood work to make sure my daughter’s blood levels weren’t spiking or rising from being off the medication. We also decided to not put her back on the meds if her blood work came back ok. There was no sense in doing that. Something was telling us that the probiotics and plain yogurt were actually helping.<br><br>
Her blood work came back as normal as her last test. We decided to keep her off one of the meds and to lessen the dosage of the other for the time being. Our next visit to the doctor isn’t until mid October. We are hoping things stay as is until then. What started as a big scare could actually have been a breakthrough for us. Even with the good news, we are watching her again when it’s time to take her medicine. This will be the last post about Crohn’s for awhile as we seem to have settled into a rhythm of keeping it in check. (fingers crossed)<br>Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/2346722012-10-17T10:49:02-04:002012-10-17T10:49:02-04:00Father's Day - My MeaningI’ve been a dad for 8 and a half years now. I have 2 little girls…ages 8 and 5. I also have 2 dogs but I’m not going to write about those 2 knuckleheads. I’m really not going to write much about my girls either. This one is more about me and maybe other dads that read this will realize that it is true for them also. I will make this short and simple but it should make perfect sense.<br><br>
For 8 years I’ve tried to figure out what it means to be a dad and answer the question, “WHY am I a dad?”<br><br>
I know the answer. The reason I’m a father is because I’m supposed to be one. MY KIDS ARE THE REASON I WAS BORN. I don’t think I need to explain that and I hope all the other dads out there feel the same way.<br><br>
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads that are kind enough to read my blogs and check out this site. Enjoy your day.<br><br>
P.S. – Put on your guitars, grab your drumsticks, turn up your mics….and ROCK LOUD!<br>Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/2346712012-10-17T10:48:26-04:002012-10-17T10:48:26-04:00Crohn's Part IIIWorry about what really matters to you…nothing else. It’s been over a year now since my daughter’s diagnosis and every day I try to remind myself of that first line. I’m not the type of person to sit back and let things happen. I’ve always had to go out and get things done. That applies to work, sports and the bands that I’ve been in. Sitting around will get you nowhere fast. My wife came across a book titled “Reaching For Answers To Crohn’s Disease“ by Martha Kalichman. It was one of 4 or 5 books she picked up on the subject of Crohn’s disease but it was the one book that was a little different from the others. It’s a story about a girl who was diagnosed with Crohn’s but decided to take the advice of a doctor and treat her condition differently than the norm.<br><br>
With Crohn’s, most doctors prescribe what my daughter has gone through. Attack it with steroids to get it to manageable levels, then maintain it with other prescribed meds. This book takes another approach…a more natural approach. We decided that it couldn’t hurt to give this a try. It basically involves taking probiotics and lessening your sugar intake. The thought is that sugar feeds off your intestinal bacteria, which in Crohn’s patients, are already really week. The probiotics (we buy Culterelle) replace that “bad” bacteria with “good” bacteria. You should also eat plain (no sugar) yogurt once a day. I’m not a doctor so I won’t get into it any further…check out the book if this interests you.<br><br>
My daughter had a flare up in January of this year…almost to the day we started this new approach. She was hospitalized for a few days because of it. Her blood levels were very elevated and it seems that when she had caught the nasty stomach virus that was going around, it kind of jump started this flare up. Her weight had dropped at least 5 or 6 pounds during the past month or so. While in the hospital, we started her on the probiotics and hoped for the best.<br><br>
Over the next few weeks, we started to notice a change in her. She had much more energy than in the entire past year. She was going to the bathroom less frequently and her weight was coming up little by little. When she had her next blood work done, we were told that her blood levels were just about normal…the best since she was diagnosed. My wife and I didn’t think it was a coincidence. We are lucky this book is out there and I’ve thanked the author through email personally. Whatever else is going on in my life that used to make me upset or angry, I think of that first line now. Nothing else really matters. <br>Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/2346702012-10-17T10:47:46-04:002012-10-17T10:47:46-04:00Crohn's Part II“If I could be your pain, I’d run from you so far away…”<br>
If (Jeannie’s song), Butch Walker<br><br>
That lyric makes me think of my daughter. As much as I don’t want to miss anything in her life, I would die if it meant she would be cured of Crohn’s disease. Spending 4 days at Hasbro after her diagnosis started us on learning everything we can about the disease. It’s hard to make a 7-year-old understand what is going on and why she can’t eat popcorn or potato chips anymore but as always, she didn’t make a fuss about it. The toughest part of the whole recuperating process was the fact she needed to start taking Prednisone…a steroid. Over the next few months, she gained a lot of weight and looked “puffy”. It was hard not to notice it. I’m sure her classmates noticed this change when she returned to school and it couldn’t have been easy for her. For the most part, her friends have been great, as has the school. You just never know what’s really going on in her head.<br><br>
When I look back at some photos that were taken during this period, the same thoughts come back. Her in the hospital bed, the pain…everything. I know there are kids with different ailments that are suffering much worse than she is. But they are not my kids…she is. I have to look at the photos though. This is who she is now and we’re here for her no matter what.<br><br>
Learning to swallow a pill is not easy for a little kid. Learning to swallow multiple, giant pills every day is even hard for some adults. Back in March, 2010, my daughter had to start taking up to 8 pills per day. It probably took her a couple of weeks before she was able to take them with no problems. It’s something she will most likely have to do for the rest of her life. Eventually, she was able to stop taking the Prednisone and her body started to shift back to what we were all used to. Her road to feeling better was beginning…<br>Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/2346692012-10-17T10:47:10-04:002012-10-17T10:47:10-04:00Crohn's DiseaseMarch 3, 2010 was the worst day of my life. I had never really heard of Crohn’s Disease until that day. My then 7-year-old daughter had been having stomach and bowel problems for close to a year. We thought it may have been she was allergic to dairy, then maybe she was allergic to flour and needed to go gluten-free. We spent that year trying to figure out what was wrong and made her eat all kinds of food that we know didn’t taste good. It got to the point where she was having a lot of stomach pain and was going to the bathroom 5-7 times a day. We made an appointment at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence to have her checked out by a GI specialist. The doctor ordered a colonoscopy and endoscopy to get a clearer picture of what was going on inside her. March 3rd was that date.<br><br>
My daughter is the type of girl who really never complains about anything, even if she is really hurting. I’ve never met anyone sweeter than her (besides my other daughter). She knew she was going to have to undergo a procedure but she didn’t let on that she was nervous, until it was time to go in. We had noticed that her weight had been dropping over the past year as she was now 48 lbs and a pretty tall girl for her age. She went in and they started the procedure while my wife and I waited in the waiting room. At that point, I wasn’t thinking something was terribly wrong. I didn’t know what was wrong but I didn’t think that. I don’t know why. Maybe because my daughter never really let on how much she was hurting so how could anything be really wrong?<br><br>
When the doctor came out and gave us the news that this little girl has a disease that usually affects people much older, I still couldn’t comprehend exactly what was going on. We were taken to her recovery room and that’s when it hit me. When I saw her lying in the bed, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with in my life. Just thinking about it while writing this is bringing back bad memories. It got worse when she woke up and started crying and vomiting. I felt like putting my head through a wall so maybe I would hurt and somehow it would take her pain away. We would spend the next 4 days in the hospital with her, unplanned, so she could begin receiving the proper medications and steroids to help boost her system.<br><br>
I think I’m going to stop this story right here. Consider this part 1 of our Crohn’s journey. That image of my daughter waking up in the recovery room is something I NEVER want to see again. March 3, 2010 was the worst day of my life.<br>Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/2346682012-10-17T10:46:36-04:002012-10-17T10:46:36-04:00The Answers to a Better WorldI understand where road rage comes from.<br><br>
For me, it comes from people who live in this world that really only care about themselves and are oblivious to the world around them and the people around them. Not sure what I mean? Here’s a few ideas for you…<br><br>
1. You are trying to make a turn, either left or right, and there’s traffic coming. Up ahead of this traffic is a RED LIGHT. Does anyone stop or even use their brain to say “hmmm…this person is trying to get across in all this traffic…maybe I should stop short of the intersection so they can get out…especially since I have a red light up ahead and can’t really go anywhere.” Does this happen? Maybe once in 100 cars. The other 99 people are lost in their own worlds and don’t really care about you.<br><br>
2. You’re driving on a 2 lane road, highway, street, etc. The speed limit is 55. There’s a car right in front of you and one to the left of you. BOTH cars are driving about 40 mph. This is my version of “Boxed In“. Again, both drivers are oblivious to you.<br><br>
3. How about those people who were never taught that every vehicle comes with something called a TURN SIGNAL? They’re there for a reason…use them!<br><br>
4. Then you have the people who are smoking a cigarette, talking on their phone while trying to put makeup on…while navigating a car. That makes plenty of sense.<br><br>
I could go on and on but I really don’t feel like it. I’d rather not get worked up. It’s worse when you have your kids in your car and you have to TRY to remain calm. What are these people thinking in their heads? Are they even thinking at all or are they all dreaming of lollipops and lemon drops without a care in the world? It really doesn’t take that much brainpower to realize there are other people driving alongside you. Take a minute sometime and look around…realize you are part of a society and not living on this planet alone. WAKE UP. People wonder what is wrong with this world all the time. I can give you a guess as to where it all starts. Can we try to help each other out a little bit once in a while?<br>Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/2346672012-10-17T10:46:07-04:002012-10-17T10:46:07-04:00Newport Creamery - Ice Cream Only!A family dinner at Newport Creamery in Smithfield, RI turned into losing 2 hours of my life that I will never get back. We had just finished at my daughter’s orthodontist appointment and wanted to have a quick, easy meal since there wasn’t much time to really cook anything and the kids were pretty hungry. We arrived around 4pm and weren’t greeted by anyone so we just went and found a booth to sit in.<br><br>
Fast forward about 20-25 minutes and we had yet to have anyone even come by the booth to say hi or let us know they would be right with us. Finally around 4:30, the waitress comes over and says she’s the only one waiting tables right now and it’s unusually busy for a Wednesday night. I’m thinking “ok…that’s no problem”. We order our food and drinks and start the wait again.<br><br>
Another 5-10 minutes go by and our appetizer is brought out. We start eating and just about finish when we realize our drinks haven’t been brought out yet. At this point we’re all pretty thirsty. You may be asking why we didn’t ask for anything…we would have if the waitress was anywhere to be found. I look at my phone and notice it’s already 5pm. Finally our dinners come and things are going ok while we eat. The place is getting busier and I notice 2 new waitresses walking around that must have gotten called in.<br><br>
We decide we want dessert so when our waitress comes over, we place the order…the kids are having sundaes and I’m having a shake. She informs us that she will bring our check over in a minute too. Another 10 minutes go by and here’s our check but no desserts. I take my VISA out and place it with the check and leave it on the end of the table. One of the new waitresses comes over and grabs the check and my card. Next up, our waitress brings the 2 sundaes but nothing else. I guess they’re still making mine is what I’m thinking.<br><br>
Next up, a young guy, probably about 17 and dressed like he’s important, brings the check and card over…but the card isn’t mine. It belongs to someone else. He mixed up our table and the table next to us. No big deal…we make the switch. I’m still waiting for my shake. Not even 2 minutes later, our waitress comes over and takes my check and said her manager mixed them up and tries to switch it with the next table. I’m looking at the other table and the lady there has the same expression on her face that I probably do. We say there was no mixup, everything’s fine. I’m still waiting for my shake. The waitress walks away and I look at the check. It didn’t have anything about a shake on it anywhere and I’m not being charged for one either. The waitress comes over again, takes it out of my hand and says “Can you just sign this at the bottom? My boss screwed it up. He hasn’t been helping me all day. I already ran it through the credit card processor and put in the tip.”<br><br>
HUH? Come again? You put your own tip in? That’s what it sounded like she meant but she said that no tip was entered because she rang it up before I could sign it. I took my phone out and logged into my bank account to make sure she didn’t pull a screwjob and charge more than she was supposed to. Nothing was showing up yet. It was time to leave and I was still waiting for my shake. I came to terms that I wasn’t getting my shake on this night. I just wanted to get the hell out of the there as my patience was knocked out in the first round. I put $3 on the table and we took off.<br><br>
Next time, we go to Pho Evergreen again, which is right next door. If you read one of my earlier blogs, you’d see why. No more Newport Creamery unless it’s just for ice cream. MO PHO FO ME!<br>Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/2346662012-10-17T10:45:04-04:002012-10-17T10:45:04-04:00Vietnamese anyone?One of the toughest things to do as a parent is to get your kids to try new foods. If it doesn’t involve chocolate, pizza, hot dogs or candy, then they usually don’t want any part of it. We’re pretty lucky that our kids are not ultra picky when it comes to eating but we still try to introduce them to as many different types of food as we can.<br><br>
There’s this restaurant within walking distance from our house called Pho Evergreen. They serve mainly vietnamese food there. My sister-in-law and her family know the family that owns the place so we decided to try it out about 6-8 months ago.<br><br>
Pho has quickly become one of our favorite restaurants. The wait staff is as nice as can be and make sure you’re taken care of. The kids love eating there, especially the soup and crispy spring rolls. My 8-year-old usually shares a flat noodle vegetable medley with me.<br><br>
The best part of going to Pho, though, is finishing off your meal with one of their Evergreen shakes. We usually order the mango and have them add some coconut to it. We can’t get enough of it and being that it’s a fruit shake/smoothie, it’s much better for the kids than having an ice cream shake. If you’re in the Rhode Island area, I dare you to try one of them and not want to go back for more. And while you’re at it, order me one too.<br>Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/2346642012-10-17T10:44:27-04:002012-10-17T10:44:27-04:00"Is it hot???"“Is it hot???”<br><br>
Those are 3 words I’ve heard at least a few times a week for the last 5+ years. Another form of those 3 words is the phrase “Are we there yet?”. They even made a movie about that one. I think you see my point. As simple as that question sounds and as simple as the answer is, those 3 words never seem to surprise me.<br><br>
“Is it hot???”<br><br>
Yes, we cooked it in the oven, not in the refrigerator. Remember the stove that you touched when you were 2? That means hot. It doesn’t matter how many times I can say “yes, it’s hot”, I get the question a couple more times before it settles into my daughter’s head that yes, indeed, it IS hot. I understand little kids are nervous about food being too hot. That’s not the point of this article. It’s those 3 words that I’ve come to expect and never really thought about it before. They’re always there…waiting to enter my ears.<br><br>
“Is it hot???”<br><br>
It’s funny how 3 words can make you realize that you really are a parent.<br>Rich Antonellitag:richardantonelli.com,2005:Post/2346632012-10-17T10:40:00-04:002012-10-17T10:40:00-04:00So you have a degree...Blogging. This is it? How did I get here? Why am I here? I really don’t know the answers to these questions. I hear people talk about guys that stay home with their kids during the day while the mom is out working and always got the sense that they really don’t know what it’s like. Or maybe they have a pre-conceived idea of what it’s like. I’m guessing there are more than a few guys out there that may end up in this line of work that I’m in right now.<br><br>
I’m a guitar player and have been since I was 18 years old. I’ve played in various bands in my region and currently I’m in a Bon Jovi tribute band called Bon Jersey. I get paid to perform music in front of live audiences. It’s a good job to have as a side job but it’s not my main occupation.<br><br>
I have a degree in multimedia from New England Institute of Technology, which is located in Warwick, RI. That basically means that I do stuff with computers. Think websites, video editing, graphics…all that fun stuff. It was fun for a while, got a job working for a company that sells pro wrestling merchandise and basically ran their website. I did that for a few years before deciding to start my own web design business. I figured I would be better off without a boss as I work much better without being bothered or watched constantly. This is when I started working from home….back in 2001 or so. Another reason, an important one, is that my first daughter was due to be born in November of 2002. My wife had a better paying job than I did so the decision was an easy one. I would be the one staying at home.<br><br>
I’ve been the CEO of this job as a stay at home dad for almost 9 years now. I’ve made a ton of mistakes but I’m still in this top position. I’ve learned what to do and what not to do. I’ve figured out how to spread my time out each day in order to get things done. It’s not always perfect but neither is anything else in this world. I still manage to work on some websites and play in the band. I actually run the band’s website, as well as the website of the business my wife and I own together. We now have 2 little girls and 2 dogs so the corporation has grown since I started this stay at home stuff.<br><br>
Blogging is just something that came up out of the blue. My wife came up with the idea that there are many men out there that do what I do but maybe aren’t sure of it, or are ashamed of it, or need help or a nudge with certain things. That’s what this blog is about…the best job in the world.Rich Antonelli