The road to recovery, Days 2-5.

Well, I'm very happy to tell you that I am writing this post not from my hospital bed at Mish Memorial, but from my offices at City Hall in Pierce Plaza downtown, and that tonight I'll finally be going back home to Wihinapa to get back to work!

My assistant Marisha thought it might be better to get me off of the laptop for a few days this weekend while I recovered. That's too bad -- while I was convalescing, I wrote some very interesting reviews of the new October Revolutionists album (it's excellent! It reminded me of U2 with fluegelhorns!), some reviews of the different jello flavors they had here (the green was the best, but the nurse didn't know if it was lime, cantaloupe or kiwi flavored. All those fruits are green, according to Wikipedia. My favorite all week was snapped for me by my nurse Carolyn, which I've posted above -- doesn't it look delicious? I'm not sure why some more of our great restaurants on Stanton Avenue aren't doing more with jello), a review of a 1970s-era action film I saw on cable television one night called The Man That Killed Tomorrow (I thought it was pretty exciting, especially the final scene where the cop, played by Armin Braganza, has a shoot-out with the corrupt bureaucrat, played by Walter Kerry, who is attempting to kill the Secretary of State, played by James Caan, on top of the Essex House, plus it was directed by Hanley native Robert Donald Salloway! Here's a shot of that scene I found on a fan website). I also outlined a new proposal for the infamous east metro rail transit plan, which I hope will help unite our core urban constituency here in the 3rd with our suburban friends in the 8th Ward (I'll reveal it soon, but here's a hint: "luxury box seats" a la the I-Line -- suburban luxury meets urban convenience!). I suppose all these things will be published at some point, but perhaps it's time to get back to work.

Thank again to everyone who wrote to wish me a speedy recovery -- I certainly appreciate it. I also wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the high volume of email I've received regarding the fate of Councilman Stephen Massey Keller. I want to say that though I am certainly not happy about being assaulted, I acknowledge that Councilman Keller is dealing with some very serious issues involving both alcohol and mass transit. It's no coincidence that he bopped me over the head with a model subway car, and it's no coincidence he was drunk while he did it. I want Stephen to find the help that he needs. What exactly that might entail we will see. I would be willing to drop the charges, of course, if he would seek treatment for his alcoholism and support my east metro rail transit authority plan to finally link up the 3rd Ward with points east.

I'll be at my desk, hard at work, in the meantime.

The road to recovery, Day 1.

Well, the doctors are telling me to take it easy. I'm trying, but I've had my assistant Marisha bring me some paperwork to do here. The City Council is meeting next week, and some important votes are coming up -- the East Hanley school voucher proposal, and of course my proposal to make the October Revolutionists' "Esmerelda Sing Me Sweetly the Song of Our City" the official Armitage Heigts neighborhood anthem! I want to be sure I'm on top of it for those votes.

I've gotten a lot of wonderful support from the community. Marisha sent me the photo above, at the Exxon at 37th and Stanton! Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to write or send cards! I'd even like to give a begrudging thanks to the Kaos Krew, whose illegal shenanigans I've often written about. They sent me a very sweet, very misguided "video letter" from London (an MP3) hanging out on a yacht with a band called "Kaiser Chiefs," sharing their favorite "Sherman stories" and wishing me a speedy recovery. Li'l Warsaw frankly looked as if he was going to cry.

I also received a nice note from my Republican opponent in the November election, Barry G. Johannsen, wishing me a speedy recovery, and reminding me that if I'd had a handgun, this attack might never have happened.

Also, I should apologize for my last post. I winced a bit when they removed some of the bandages, and they gave me some morphine, so I was feeling a bit woozy when I wrote it. I'll have Marisha remove it first thing tomorrow.

I've seen a lot of cable television, as well, between the jello snacks. It made me consider how much we can learn about the troubles facing our communities from television programs. The world is full of drug dealers, Mafiosi, ex-Soviet mercenaries, terrorists, emotionally distant husbands, psychotic "gold-diggers," unsavory rock musicians, and many others. It makes me wonder if there's not more creative methods for dealing with these problems. I'll be thinking on it, since I won't be going anywhere for a few days.

Imasn dstill in the hiopdita;.

Wowm so naywy they potuy ,me on morhpone and it shrwgreat.l it's resllyt late and theres nothing on the tv. i wish i had more fo that jello. its spod eilcious. willw write ore a;retr.

Thanks for your concern.

Good afternoon, everyone -- quite the afternoon, eh? I'm writing to you from a bed in the fine, wi-fi enabled environs of the Mishipeshu Memorial Medical Center downtown. As nice as it'd be to be in one of the hopsitals in my own ward -- St. Amor of Aquitane Hopsital, or Pierce County/Wihinapa Medical -- I can't complain about the way I've been treated her. If you ever get wacked over the head with a model train, Mish Memorial is the place to go!

Thanks to Marisha for keeping everyone updated! It looks like I'll be in here for awhile, just to be safe. I may have fractured an elbow or something, according to my doctor.

Marisha lent me her camera, so maybe I'll do a kind of "photo blog" of my stay in the hospital for awhile! Above is the lunch I just had -- crackers and jello. The jello was delicious!

I'll keep you updated!

UPDATE: Sherman is OK.

This is Marisha again. I'm writing this from the lobby of Mish Memorial. Sherman is doing just fine. He suffered some abrasions and lacerations on his head and around his neck, but he is conscious, lucid and cracking jokes with the hospital staff. The doctors want to keep him around for at least overnight, but he's not doing badly. He lost consciousness in the attack, but revived on the ambulance ride over apparently.

Thanks to everyone that has written and called. I'll keep you updated. We've already gotten a few flowers, which I took a picture of and posted above. Sherman will probably write something later, depending on how he feels.

PLEASE READ! Sherman assaulted, hospitalized!

This is Sherman's assistant Marisha -- I have some awful news, and I want to get out there to people as soon as I can.

Just about a half-an-hour ago, a dangerously drunken, disheveled-looking and belligerent Stephen Massey Keller forced his way into our office downtown at Pierce Plaza, yelled something about losing the primary election and The Clarion and the East Metro transit plans. Sherman attempted to reason with him, when Keller suddenly lunged forward and attacked Sherman with a large object, what actually looked like a model train. Sherman was able to fend off most the blows, and yelled for help. City Hall security officers were able to run into the office and subdue Keller before he could harm Sherman any further. I called 911 right away, and they had an ambulance there in minutes to take Sherman to Mishipeshu Memorial Medical Center. Keller was taken into police custody after struggling for a few minutes and continuing to yell. I took all these pictures with my digital camera -- above is the ambulance taking Sherman away, and to the right is Keller being taken into the police cruiser and I presume off to the police precinct down at 3rd Street and Stanton Avenue.

This has been a terrifying morning. I called the hospital a moment ago, and Sherman's just been admitted. He is in stable condition, but we don't know anything else right now, as far as whether or not he is conscious, or how badly he is injured. I'll keep you updated as soon as I know more.

The police took the weapon away with them, of course, but from what I saw, it looked very much like one of the toys I've posted a picture of to the left. Sherman looked pretty banged up. If you're the praying type, say a prayer for Councilman Larson.

I'll post more very soon. Hopefully we'll know more about his condition soon.

-Marisha

Election news from all over!

Wow, what a whirlwind week! As I'm sure you know, half of the city council primaries were held last Tuesday, and what a lot of excitement there has been! Of course, you all well know I don't like to spend much time here talking partisan politics -- I prefer to think of this blog as an enjoyable resource to keep everyone in the neighborhood up-to-date on all the facets of life in Armitage Heights, not just the political aspects. But Tuesday night was exciting enough to warrant some mention.

Of course, I ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for this seat, but there was a vigorous contest for the Republican seat. Much to everyone's surprise, Wihinapa building contractor Barry G. Johannsen, the youngest son of the late Marla Manda Johannsen, defeated his opponent, Armitage Hill businessman Feltzer Carlson Messing, Sr., by just three percentage points. It was a tightly-contested race all the way to the end, and Mr. Johnnsen certainly takes after his mother in his "take no prisoners" approach to campaigning. So it looks as if I'll be up against Mr. Johannsen in the fall, and I'm looking forward to an invigorating, exciting campaign!

Despite the fact that this is outside our neighborhood, I should also mention that Stephen Massey Keller (R-8th Ward) was defeated in Tuesday's Republican primary. Too bad, Stephen -- I enjoyed working with you! He is a talented man that will definitely find exciting new opportunities outside public service to advance his fascinating ideas about mass transit.

Our crosstown neighbors, part two.

The Mount Gresham Shopping Village on Fairchild Parkway-US 56 -- another jewel in the 8th Ward's crown!

Well, if you've been keeping up with Councilman Stephen Massey Keller's (R-8th Ward) blog lately, you'll probably have noticed he had some rather colorful things to say about our neighborhood this morning in response to my entry from yesterday (he seems to have taken issue with my thoughts on the east metro Rail Authority issue). I'm not sure why any elected official would be writing on his blog at eight AM on a Saturday morning when he or she could be out buying fresh vegetables at the Armitage Square Farmer's Market, taking a walk on the shores of the Lake, or eating out at one of the great outdoor breakfast places on Stanton or in the Garden District. Perhaps the 8th Ward just isn't really set up for Saturday morning activities like that, though. I suppose the Ann Taylor Loft and Bed, Bath and Beyond at Ostwegan Towne Centre Shoppes don't open until 10 AM.

Regardless, Councilman Keller should think before he calls our neighborhood a "fiscally vampiric East German-style welfare state within our own city's borders" or a "grim Stalinist borscht of crime, urban decay and faux-bohemianism that sucks up our community's property tax dollars." These are the confused words of a desperate extremist, appealing to the basest instincts of his community in a bid to stay politically viable -- let's not forget, after all, that Councilman Keller is the closing stages of a tough Republican primary for his seat in this fall's general election, and is actually a few points behind his opponent in the latest Herald-Leader poll.

So Councilman Keller shouldn't be so quick to judge our community. We have our problems, but at least you can get real Thai food here.

Our crosstown neighbors.

The Kadner Mansion in Mount Gresham -- the pride of the 8th Ward!

My goodness -- it always surprises me how quickly the time passes. I've been so busy lately that I've neglected my blog, for which I do apologize! I gave my assistant Marisha the week off to finish up her thesis paper, which I can't wait to read -- come this summer, Marisha will finally be have her M.A.! I'll post it here on the blog so you can all read what she's been up to (here's an enticing hint: it involves the social history of Mason jars, early color photography, the creation of the Mishipeshu Bypass Highway in 1961, anorexia in second-generation immigrant families and jazz)!

I've noticed that Councilman Stephen Massey Keller (R.-8th Ward) across town (he represents the Croxton, Mount Gresham, Seabridge, Ostegwan and East Pond District neighborhoods) has a really entertaining blog called the High Atop the Hills of Ostwegan, which he manages to update almost every day! Maybe I should take some tips from Steve, although his focus in his daily posts is quite a bit different than mine. The 8th Ward has a very different set of challenges than we do here in the 3rd, which Steve tackles like a pro in the City Council. Certainly we've had our differences in the City Council -- Stephen wasn't a big fan of the expansion of the Mishipeshu Rail Authority eastern lines, the Kaplan-O'Hara 'Right To Work' bill, the South Hanley public school improvement initiatives, or the creation of Fletcher O. Casady Day -- but we've always enjoyed working together. Check his blog out, and take a day trip across town to see some of the lovely attractions in the 8th Ward, like the private Seabridge Arboreum, the Alfred F. Kadner Mansion and Kadner Museum of Commerce and Enterprise in Mount Gresham, or the new Hummer dealership in Ostwegan. You'll have to drive out there on the Mish Bypass of course, or transfer from the 13 bus to the 82C, since the funding for the Rail Authority lines out to the east metro are being held up in the City Council. But tell them Sherman sent you!