Post date: Jul 5, 2011 5:00:25 PM
Running a bit behind this week. Had a problem with fraud and IDENTITY THEFT. Some of my outgoing mail was stolen and included a credit card payment. They wasted no time in charging things. It is a real mind bender in dealing with all the various agencies and departments. They make you feel like the criminal, not the person who was violated. Tried to put a little bit of humor into my answers when they questioned me. I don't think they appreciated it. I said things like, "No, I didn't purchase the anti-virus. I am on Medicare and get my flu shots for free", " No, I didn't order all those pizzas. Do I look like I am capable of eating $185 worth?", and "No, I didn't order those Disney movies, but I would like to have a couple of Hanna Montana wigs to go incognito into some of the posh clubs here in Vegas".
Got me to thinking which one of my many IDENTITIES they wanted the most. Seems like I have been so many different persons over the years. When young, I was Johnny, Ivan, Janko and Mutana (Croatian for dummy). Later I was John, J.M., J.M.D., Dodig and for a while, Wiley Fox. They say if the shoe fits, wear it. I guess the same applies to hats. Someone stole a hat from the Teepee Room restaurant, it fit me, and before you knew it, I was now Ralph Vera, the owner's name in the hat. During my bartender days, I was mostly Ralph, but also Slick, Wildman, Rockoo and my favorite, Jesus Christ In A Little Red Sports Car. Finally got a little respect in college as a graduate assistant by being called Professor Dodig or Mr. Dodig. That had a good ring to it. The name Ralph stuck with me for a pretty long time in one way or the other. My college diplomas, architectural licenses, business cards and even a drivers license all had John M. "Ralph" Dodig on them. It sometimes confused business clients that the the person they knew as Ralph, was really John M. Dodig. When I got out of architecture and decided to be an artists, I became John Michael and JOHN MICHAEL dodig. Snobbish art patrons called me Jean Michel. In my days in Mexico I was Mr. Mike or Juan Miguel. An ex-partner in the gallery business, who didn't drive, allowed me to use his name, James Turcotte, for a second drivers license, while mine was temporary suspended. In Croatia, there were 4 Ivans at the reunion, so I became Miko, to avoid confusion. My Armenian mechanic calls me Mr. John and the Hispanics that have worked for me call me Senor Juan. There are other names I've been called over the years, that I will not repeat here. I am a bit of a loner these days. People often ask me if I have people over or go out with people. I tell them that there always someone else here and I never know who from my past may stop by. I like to mess with people sometimes when they say "hey, man" or "hey, you". I simply respond, "which one of us are you talking to?".
This week's art piece is titled "What Did I Do Wrong?". It is 22" long x 4" wide x 26" high. On the bottom are the following words. " I always tried to___?___, but they always ran away from home or hid from me, They still run away or hide, saying they don't understand me or what/ how I turned out to be." It's a statemnt about the breakdown of the family structure and parenting over the past few generations. Kids use to run away from home, but for the past few decades the parents seem to be doing all the running and hiding. The kids are left with "sitters" or "nannies" or are left to fend for themselves. Meanwhile the "me(s) and I(s)" continually expand their social, business, travel and "adults only" agendas. When things go bad or wrong for the kids, they never saw this coming, had no idea such things were going on or can't deal with it at that time. Most solutions are to get them to a shrink, get them on medication or send them to a tough love boot camp. Maybe this economic downturn can be a minor blessing in disguise. Would be nice to see families sit down at a table together for a meal, parents personally teaching basic life skills and not sending text messages from the next room. It's funny how when you talk to most kids, they would really love to have REAL PERSONAL TIME, not just things. A friend and client once told me his 16 year old son wanted to know how much much he made an hour at his day job and also at the club he owned and ran at night. He asked his son why he wanted to know. His son responded by saying he had saved some money and would be willing to pay the going rate for a little of his time.
Do all have a good week and hopefully many smiles. Myself I am totally elated that Obama extended the date to the 18th, to get his paws on our tax money. Caio!
John Michael
P.S. Have heard that some of you abroad have had trouble sending replies. Here is my correct email address and my webite:
(To see photos of the above art piece "What Did I Do Wrong?", go to https://sites.google.com/site/jmdodigartphotos )