Running on Fumes: My Decision to Attempt to Run for elected office in Sullivan County

I'm thinking 2015 will be the year that I prepare to run for public office. Whether I get elected or not is another story, no less get on the ballot. I have the immense will. I just need a way to go about it. On his blog/news site, Sullivan County resident Bill Liblick said it best last year:

Those who are fortunate enough to be chosen members of the
“Old Boys Club” have been successful in their mission in convincing and leading several legislators some old and new down a continual destructive path in order to protect their self serving beneficial interests.
The residents of Sullivan County have had enough. We cannot simply rely on casinos to be our savior. We need a plan of action. We need leadership.
Samuelson needs to act like a leader. He needs to stop being the yes man for the “Old Boys Club.” These people are so good and slick at what they do in protecting their personal interests that they did an Academy Award winning performance in conning Samuelson. Samuelson, who is an actor by trade, could never deliver such a feat even if he wanted to.
It is time Samuelson wakes up and realizes why he was elected. All these charades must stop! If Samuelson feels he cannot do the job – Then he should step aside and let someone else take the helm.
A summit between county, town and village governments discussing our financial problems can go a long way towards finding some meaningful solutions. We all have to be on the same page.
- See more at: http://www.sullivancountypost.com/2013/08/01/we-are-a-county-in-crises/#sthash.NOUDmKvZ.dpuf

Those who are fortunate enough to be chosen members of the “Old Boys Club” have been successful in their mission in convincing and leading several legislators some old and new down a continual destructive path in order to protect their self serving beneficial interests.

The residents of Sullivan County have had enough. We cannot simply rely on casinos to be our savior. We need a plan of action. We need leadership.

[Sullivan County Legislative Chairman Scott] Samuelson needs to act like a leader. He needs to stop being the yes man for the “Old Boys Club.” These people are so good and slick at what they do in protecting their personal interests that they did an Academy Award winning performance in conning Samuelson. Samuelson, who is an actor by trade, could never deliver such a feat even if he wanted to.

It is time Samuelson wakes up and realizes why he was elected. All these charades must stop! If Samuelson feels he cannot do the job – Then he should step aside and let someone else take the helm.

A summit between county, town and village governments discussing our financial problems can go a long way towards finding some meaningful solutions. We all have to be on the same page.

By the way, I bolded the "Then he should step aside" part. I'm emphasizing that point. The fact is this: I would be more than willing to be the one to take that helm. My platform would be not just straightforward, but simple: allow Sullivan County to compete with other counties in the region. My information on all this is both second hand and not first eye. I know that a recent scandal, for lack of a better word has brought the confidence in the County government to a low point. I've argued this in the past and will spend much of this year doing so in public: Sullivan needs a county executive.

Because 2015 is so challenging for me with career and a life in the city, running for office in Sullivan is simply not possible. I hope that in two years it will be, or at worst, four. I have so much that I want to accomplish: turn the downtowns in Monticello and Liberty into bustling commercial centers and tourist hubs, additional reopened resorts to allow the County to be a convention and conference hub and even manufacturing. Sullivan is a diamond in the rough: if you polish and cut that diamond, you'll find that it shines pretty bright.

Those who are fortunate enough to be chosen members of the
“Old Boys Club” have been successful in their mission in convincing and leading several legislators some old and new down a continual destructive path in order to protect their self serving beneficial interests.
The residents of Sullivan County have had enough. We cannot simply rely on casinos to be our savior. We need a plan of action. We need leadership.
Samuelson needs to act like a leader. He needs to stop being the yes man for the “Old Boys Club.” These people are so good and slick at what they do in protecting their personal interests that they did an Academy Award winning performance in conning Samuelson. Samuelson, who is an actor by trade, could never deliver such a feat even if he wanted to.
It is time Samuelson wakes up and realizes why he was elected. All these charades must stop! If Samuelson feels he cannot do the job – Then he should step aside and let someone else take the helm.
A summit between county, town and village governments discussing our financial problems can go a long way towards finding some meaningful solutions. We all have to be on the same page.
- See more at: http://www.sullivancountypost.com/2013/08/01/we-are-a-county-in-crises/#sthash.NOUDmKvZ.dpuf

Why I'm Not a Fan of Being Called "Alex"

Let's get this straight folks. While I am technically Alexander, I prefer to go by Sasha. I have always gone by Sasha, and I always will. My father's name was Alex. I wasn't named after him. I was named after both the son of a friend of my mother's and my paternal uncle's ex-father in law. No, I'm not kidding.

Almost eleven years after his passing, there is a void in my heart. Sure, I had serious issues with him growing up and he went to his grave probably knowing that I had resentment towards him. But regardless, he was my dad, my biological father, the man who instilled a love of learning into me, a man who was proud to have me as a son. A sense of intellectual curiosity that has near limitless potential. At the same time, this is a man who in trying to do his best made some poor choices in trying to get me help for my issues growing up. Why my parents didn't seek additional help for me after all the school psychologists noted my issues is beyond me. I'm seriously disappointed that it took until the sixth grade for me to receive help in any form. But my father did his best, and I hope that I can be the parent that he never had the chance to be. I hope to one day have children of my own, to be able to care for and to bring to museums, soccer practice, well you all get the point. While I might have inherited my father's emotional genetics, I hope to overcome those natural flaws.

A tweet I can never send: @Eminem "When I hear your song "Headlights" it reminds me of the strained relationship I had with my late father. While you have issues with your mother, at least she is still alive and you can try to make amends. I have to go to my grave knowing I could never do that."

Maybe if I had the chance this year I'll lay some flowers on your grave Dad. Everyone misses you, even yours truly. You've missed so much in these last eleven years: play practices, proms, graduations, your two sons learning to drive, your sons girlfriends, one of them embracing your love for rock and blues, seeing them get a glimpse into your childhood and a bunch of other events/happenings/et cetera.

Observation from a drunk thirty-something

...of course I'm not the thirty-something, but the person being observed!

To make a long story no shorter: I board the NJ Transit route 123 (New York/Union City-Congress Station/Jersey City-Christ Hospital), the usual bus I take to get home. I sit down. That was my first mistake. I should have just stood, like I usually do. But today I've been unusually tired. A girl takes a seat next to me. The bus pulls out of the terminal and I get on my phone.

But my seatmate has other plans. She introduces herself.
"You're familiar. I see you on the bus all the time."
I lie. She looks vaguely familiar. "Yeah, I've seen you before too."
She introduces herself. "Hi, I'm Mary. Where are you originally from?"
I reply "I'm originally from Upstate, but don't say I said that." I'm creeped out about that question. Mary has bad breath, the pungent smell of cheap liquor. Apparently, happy hour begins at noon now, not 4pm. I must have not gotten that memo. She's 5'2'' and wearing slip-on dress shoes with no socks. I'm wearing a bulky coat.
"I always notice that you're always so angry and tense." Way to dampen the mood Mary. But in all honesty, she's right. For much of the year I have been tense and angry for no rational reason.
To make matters worse, Mary asks if I need a hug. No, I think to myself, you've creeped me out enough.
She mutters to herself loudly "You're a piece of shit."
I'm trying to stay calm and collected, but I decided to stand up for the rest of the ride.

I get off the bus feeling relieved, almost as if I had just used the bathroom after holding it in for six hours. I have a feeling for the next few weeks that I will be taking a different bus home, even if it means I need to walk a little more. I could use the exercise after all!

I learned a few things today. First, I have a personal bubble and you have to get into it play your cards right. Second, I really do have an anger and tensity problem. One of my resolutions for this coming month is to go back to doing yoga. It's a great way to meet people, and that's something that I don't have an interest in arguing.