Rock Into Recovery

Rock Into Recovery
Music & Fun Helping Others

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Where It Began

Summer 2009 - February 2010
Ron & Foodmaster:
My friend Ron at Foodmaster works in the deli department and he’s always moving to help keep the Colonel (his boss Franny) happy. Like Franny in the past, Ron approached me about throwing a concert for Octoberfest. The guys have come to know and be cool with me that I had been a rock ‘n roll guitar player around Boston for years and that I needed a job. My friend Franny whom I met in the scene told me about the position in the Bakery department that I got in May of 2007. Ron had been there, too, and we’ve grown to become friends.

I work downstairs in the prep area and when Ron would come down on a quick errand he and I would talk about rock stars like Ace Frehley and and Eric Clapton. All this rock talk helped keep us going and we then began talking about a the possibility of organizing a show to be hosted in local Arlington, MA, like maybe at the Nights of Columbus.

This is how later when I approached people for support about a show in Arlington, I had already done much of the groundwork. Like many, my friend Ron benefited with some encouragement and feedback when I suggested that the show might be for Rock into Recovery, and we’ve since laid back and and are looking forward to the event as a dream.

February 18th, 2010
Myth Into Story:
My Mom and I were collaborating on what the title of her Web site should be over the phone. We do talk frequently because she lives in New Mexico, so all we have when she’s not visiting is the phone and email. I challenged her on the philosophy of her vision and she came out with “Myth Into Story”. I said “you like this because it’s an action statement (a recovery phrase) and she said yes. I then understood what she was talking about. Taking control of the situation and moving from myth or rumor into what the actual story of what one’s life really is. It’s an identity formation process. I thought that this could blend well with my approach to recovery.

Saturday February 19th, 2010
Rock Into Recovery:
I was moved by the title of my Mom’s site, so moved that I decided to create a new side project for myself. The goal would be to help others, too. I called my mom to tell her about the idea of putting on a benefit show for people in recovery and with disabilities.

She said that NAMI had a day in October. My Mom was more involved with NAMI New Mexico back in the 1990’s and early 2000’s because my younger brother Jeremy had taken Ill. She flew me to the NAMI national convention in DC back in 2001 and I met Moe Armstrong. Later that year I would go with Moe and my roommate at the time, Jason, to a rock show at the Worcester Palladium to see Joe Strummer of the Clash. It was a fun road trip.


After I talked with Mom, I did a search on Google for national mental health day, and I found The World Health Organization and found on their calender “World Mental Health Day” October 10, 2010. I then called the NAMI Massachusetts office and explained how I wanted to do a benefit show. They said that NAMI has a whole week in October recognizing Mental Illness Awareness Week and that I should check their Web site.

The idea came to me to gather many birds with this one benefit... To organize locally, and Nationally and then reach for the WHO at the top. I then brainstormed ideas for the title of the Web site. I checked the domain availability for “rockforrecovery.com” and it was taken. I checked for “rockandrebound.com” and it was taken.

Then I remembered my Mom’s Web site with "mythinto...", and that's when I tried “rockintorevery.com” and it was available. So I purchased the domain for a year and three months of hosting. I live on a minimal budget so that was the least expensive alternative available. I then got some artwork that I’d done for my old band and re-labeled the main picture with the title Rock Into Recovery. I then copied the Edinburg logo to place in a horizontal table across the page. I got a few photos of me playing at the NAMI walk in 2005 from my archives and then the BU Rugby photo that I digitized in 2008 when I did an Alumni site for all my rugby friends.

Not too long after, I sent a couple emails to my supports at the Edinburg Center. The Director of my team liked the idea, as did my advocate Scott Bezzini who visits once a week, but they left it to me to do the work. Not much more excitement happened until I began speaking Michael Kerins, the Director of Peer Services. By this time I found Chuck Weinstein on the Web and left a voicemail at his number. Howard Trachtman from NAMI Boston got back with me, too, but it was Chuck who really took an interest and for this I’m grateful.

Carrie Endicott from Elm Brook Place in Bedford has been helpful and said she would be willing to collaborate with meetings and requested a Mission Letter.

Then today, Sunday, it was daylight savings time and raining buckets outside, but I made it to Fusion Taste in Arlington Center to meet with Chuck for our first official lunch. It was a good meeting and I had some delicious egg rolls. We got done and Chuck dropped me off at the Foodmaster for my shift. Tonight after work, I enjoyed some downtime with my girlfriend Christine and talked with my Mom. My Mom suggested that I get to journaling right away. So here I am, and this is the first segment of Todd’s journal for Rock Into Recovery.

First Post • Greetings

This is Todd reaching out to everyone today on Tuesday May 18, 2010. We've got some exciting plans for a huge celebration on Saturday October 9th in greater Boston. See us on the Web at www.rockintorecovery.org. Catch up with you soon!