What Kept Me Going in 2023: The Work

I'm still under the weather, depressed, frustrated, and behind on all my projects. 

What keeps me going? The work.

This is my last "In Review" post for the year. Whether I put it up on my blog before midnight, the year will end with work. The year will begin with work.

There's too much going on to stop now.

Thank you if you've read or supported my work this year. 

I'll be back in 2024.

People I'm Proud of in 2023: Girlfriend

 

 

Girlfriend worked hard this year. She came back from a knee injury two summers ago and is taking to the streets to Boston tonight!

 

People I'm Proud of in 2023: Molly

Had to go through illness, wisdom teeth removal and lord knows what else to come out the other end of this year with straight A's. Such a champion.

People I'm Proud of in 2023: Geoffrey Fallon

Geoffrey's comic "The Secrets of Skinny People" took leaps and bounds this year. On top of that, he was part of my favorite podcast. He's overcome a lot to be with us in 2024. I always rooting for him.

 

Things That I Could Have Done Without in 2023: COVID

The year started with COVID. My girlfriend got it in January. It ended in COVID, with both of us getting it in January.

I think 2024 will start with COVID again. If not for me, then someone close to me.

And that death will be normalized. Even if it's my Mom.

 

Friendships I'm Grateful for in 2023: Timothy Gager

 

 

Read in three different places. Would have been four if medical issues didn't interfere with one of them. This photo was taken last night by Gloria Monaghan. Look for our buddy cop movie in 2024.

People Who Wouldn't Leave Me Alone in 2023: Jason Wright

 

 

This is another friendship appreciation post in disguise, but I want to really point out that 2023 was when Jason Wright, Publisher of Oddball Magazine and President of The Oddball Foundation, kicked everything into overtime. The Oddball Festival, The Week That Was, the Gobble Wobble! He just hasn't stopped, and he insists on taking me along every step of the way. I'm grateful. Mostly. Though I'm glad we all got to rest in December.

Best Online Stone Soup Features of 2023: Sarah Oktay and Len Germinara

This double feature should have happened a long time ago. Another poetry power couple I want to hang with more next year. 

 

 

Friendships I'm Grateful in 2023: Mike and Karen

My Birthday party for me and my Girlfriend (mostly her) got me to connect with people I haven't seen in so long. This included Karen and Mike, two people who were inseparable from my life in my twenties and thirties. Hopefully I get to see them much more in 2024.

Best Online Stone Soup Features of 2023: Dexter Roberts

Always grateful for Dexter's feature, but I'm even more grateful I got to record a feature of his this year.

 

 

Friendships I'm Grateful for in 2023: Toni Bee

I enjoyed all my times at Toni Bee's events this year. Here she is from this year's Halloween party dressed as Catwoman. Let's hope 2024 is kinder to our schedules.

Things I'm Grateful for in 2023: Haircuts

Every haircut feels like I'm removing weeks (sometimes months) of emotional baggage. So glad I could get my final haircut of 2023 yesterday.

Publications I'm Proud of In 2023: Unlikely Stories Mark V

"Dispatches From Florida" and "Florida Conceal" appeared in the "F--k Florida" issue of Unlikely Stories.  I've had a beef with Florida for a while, so I'm glad I became part of a concerted effort. 

Biggest "D'oh!" Moment of 2023: My Name in the Dissent Anthology

In case your wondering, I am that fellow known as "Chad Parteneau" in the Dissent anthology. It will be fixed in future reprintings. will be a fun Easter egg for people to solve half a century from now when people wonder just who is this...Parteneau? Then they'll realize it's just plain old annoying Chad Parenteau and toss the book back.

Publications I'm Proudest of in 2023: Dissent

 

 

This just came out with my poem "Cold Hard Rapture," and I'm thrilled. This is my second anthology credit with Vagabond and Mark Lipman. I hope I can make it happen a third time in the future.

Publications I'm Proudest of in 2023: The Arts Fuse

 

 

"Two Lane" was a poem documenting a hard time in my life. It took me seven years to find a home. I had a high opinion of it thanks to Ron Goba, who headed the workshop I was still going at the time. The fact that it was accepted by John Mulrooney at The Arts Fuse was high praise indeed. I hope I have another semi-regular home for work I'm really attached to.

Mixed Moments of 2023

 

 

The weekend after the Boston Poetry Marathon was the weekend of the Oddball Festival. Not my best laid plans. 

The Saturday before the festival, I was so out of it, I ended up putting diesel fuel in my girlfriend's car.

I had to go to the festival, then home, then back to my Mom's to pick up my car. 

I enjoyed the festival, enjoyed everyone there. The Garage Poets, Ryk McIntyre, Tim Gager, so many other.

On some days, I would trade those good times for my lost sanity and last frayed nerve.

I'll do it again, but I'm definitely taking a Friday off.

New Highlight of 2023: Open Doors at Weymouth, Last Night

Thanks so much to Gloria Monaghan for hosting a wonderful night of poetry with co-features Timothy Gager and Barbara Siegel.

My Best Photo of 2023: From the Boston Poetry Marathon

 

 

Much gratitude to Bridget Eileen for taking this photo after I read. You could say this is where I peaked for the year.

Things I'm Proud of in 2023: Hosting the 2023 Boston Poetry Marathon.

I was asked to help organized this year's Boston Poetry Marathon. That means I helped host, recorded portions and helped keep everything clean and everyone fed. I also had to organized the Gofundme, which was enormously successful and helped pay for our space next year. There are few things I'm proud of this year. In fact, this may be this only thing.