Saturday, August 29, 2020

PPE for Kentucky Women!

Hi Friends! Raising funds for PPE for the Kentucky Prison for Women in Shelby County along with a great group of writers and musicians. These human beings behind bars are getting ill due to lack-of-funds-and-political-will and it's time to give them a hand! Reading from BENT BUT NOT BROKEN, Sunday, August 30 at 8PM EDT. (5PM PDT). Join us and watch and donate, please.  

The article: 

https://www.kentucky.com/news/coronavirus/article244047592.html


The FB Live Event: 

https://www.facebook.com/events/748565225690979/


Watch it on Zoom:

https://www.diejimcrow.com/zoom


The GoFundMe site: 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/ppe-for-incarcerated-individuals


My Site:

https://www.doncummings.net/

I know we're all doing our best in these insane times. And here I am asking for more help. Do what you can! Hope Springs Eternal? Or is it Hope Lang's Eternal? Either way, LOVE YOU ALL! Stay Healthy! Vote like you mean it! And let's all celebrate the mystery of life--with all its troubles, there's always chocolate and the possibility of survival during a multi-crisis of health, economy, climate and centuries of baked-in racism!

Hugs, from me to you, with the crazy divine energy of whatever kinda damn Jesus you're hanging onto! 


--Nom Us Day, Don








Wednesday, August 26, 2020

And The Scenies Go To...

 


Congratulations to Hannah Prichard and Christopher Reiling for their work in The Water Tribe!


They each garnered a SCENIE for outstanding performances, the award given by Stage Scene LA under the intelligent and discerning eye of one of Los Angeles' great reviewers: Steven Stanley.

As soon as I worked with Hannah and Christopher in a workshop production of my play, I knew they were the ones who had to go all the way with it.

Just a few weeks shy of Covid-19 (heard of it?), we finished our extended run at VS. Theatre Company, coproduced by Ensemble Studio Theatre/Los Angeles. 

The rest of the cast was equally divine: Jayne Taini, Jon Joseph Gentry and Alexandra Daniels. 

Under the incredible guidance of Tricia Small, our director, with producers Adam James Glover (also wearing the hat of scenic designer), Liz Ross and Crystal Jackson, and lighting designer Shara Abvabi, costumes formed by the endlessly incredible Michael Mullen, tons of work forged into the late hours by man-of-many-abilities Tyler Burk, all stage managed by Maya Braunwarth, with Ken Werther as our PR king, well, I mean, it was such a great team.  We got it done! I am so grateful, proud, humble and glad. 

It would be so nice to be with our friends again, right? Making things? We shall do it!

Until then, here are the Scenies. There's a lovely full list below. I am so honored to have Hannah Prichard and Christopher Reiling on the list for their amazing work in The Water Tribe! Congratulations to the Tribe.






THE 2019 - 2020 Scenies List



Hannah Prichard and Christopher Reiling

The Water Tribe






Alexandra Daniels, Jayne Taini, Hannah Prichard, Christopher Reiling, Jon Joseph Gentry


Photos by Adam James Glover





Tuesday, June 09, 2020

Bent But Not Broken Audio Book Sample

Hello Friends,

If you would like to enjoy an audiobook sample of Bent But Not Broken, here's Chapter 1!





The book has been helping men, one penis at a time, and everyone else, just because, well, you know how universal this theme is: Life Can Be Difficult.

The audiobook can be purchased on Amazon and wherever else audiobooks are sold. Of course, you can read the book, too.

As Kirkus Reviews recently wrote:

“Cummings’ skills as a writer are apparent from the beginning. His prose is effortlessly clever, finding the entertaining medium between lyricism and sass. The frankness with which he discusses his problem, the treatment, and his sex life makes for an oddly shocking book—one rarely reads quite so much about penises, as central as they often are to literature. He manages to demystify and destigmatize Peyronie’s, which though obscure is not completely uncommon. More than that, he makes the most of an undignified opportunity to examine his own masculinity.”

You can get to all you ever wanted to hear or read about Peyronie's disease, and so much more, at

Stay healthy, wear your masks please, keep your social distance, and remember--things often do get better!

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

APPENDIX to BENT BUT NOT BROKEN


APPENDIX to Bent But Not Broken


THE TREATMENT SCHEDULE

Don Goes to Town

YEAR 1
February/March          Noticed a penis problem
July 26                        First visit to Dr. Hellman. (Not real name.) Prescription for AndroPenis.
July 30                        Curvature Assessment
August 1                     AndroPenis (Penis stretcher with tension rods): 
Measurement taken:
Full size of stretched, non-erect penis:  5.25 in, or 13.3 cm
Started with a .5 cm metal screw added onto the AndroPenis Base. The Base of the AndroPenis is 8.4 cm.
Using the AndroPenis directions for measurement, I began with the 8.4 cm Base plus .5 cm for a beginning total of 8.9 cm which was  
 the AndroPenis beginning calculation:
Initial Personal Measurement, fully stretched non-erect penis was 5.25 in, 13.3 cm (but I used a measurement of 5 in, 12.7 cm to be conservative) less 4 cm (subtracted according to Andropenis instructions) which is 8.7 cm. I rounded up to 8.9 cm
August 2                     2 hours with Base plus .5 cm  = 8.9 cm          
August 3                     2 hours with .5                        
August 4                     4 hours with .5                        
August 5                     4 hours with .5                        
August 6                     4 hours with .5                        
August 7                     4 hours with Base (8.4 cm) plus 1 cm            
August 8                     4 hours with 1                         
August 9                     First Verapamil Treatment (Verapamil/saline solution needles)
August 10                   4 hours with 1             
August 11                   4 hours with 1             
August 12                   4 hours with 1                         
August 13                   4 hours with 1             
August 14                   2 hours with 1             
August 15                   None
August 16                   5.25 hours with 1        
August 17                   6 hours with 1             
August 18                   4 hours with Base (8.4 cm) with 1.5
August 19                   4 hours with 1.5
August 20                   4 hours with 1.5
August 21                   4 hours with 1.5
August 22                   4 hours with 1.5
August 23                   5 hours with 1.5
August 24                   Second Verapamil Treatment, and 2 hours with 1.5
August 25                   2 hours with 1.5
August 26                   4 hours with 1.5
August 27                   4 hours with 1.5          
August 28                   2 hours with 1.5
August 29                   2 hours with 1.5
August 30                   4 hours with 1.5
August 31                   4 hours with 1.5
September 1                4 hours with Base (8.4 cm) with 2                  
September 2                4 hours with 2
September 3                Third Verapamil Treatment
September 4                4 hours with 2
September 5                4 hours with 2
September 6                4 hours with 2
September 7                2 hours with 2
September 8                2 hours with 2
September 9                2 hours with 2
September 10              2 hours with 2
September 11              2 hours with 2
September 12              2 hours with 2
September 13              4 hours with 2
September 14              4 hours with 2
September 15              4 hours with 2
September 16              2 hours with 2, 2 hours with Base (Always 8.4 cm) with 2.5
September 17              4 hours with 2.5
September 18              4 hours with 2.5
September 19              4.75 hours with 2.5
September 20              4 hours with 2.5
September 21              Fourth Verapamil Treatment and 2 hours with 2.5 
September 22              2 hours with 2.5
September 23              4 hours with 2.5
September 24              2 hours with 2.5
September 25              4 hours with 2.5
September 26              2 hours with 2.5
September 27              Decided to Stop AndroPenis because of Wobbly Head
October 4                    Fifth Verapamil Treatment
Doctor said my wobbly head was all in my head. 
October 5                    AndroPenis Base plus 2 cm for 1 hour every Monday, Wednesday and Friday except when I travel.
October 14                  Changed to one hour plus per day at Base with 2 cm.  Keeps it loose.  
This turned out to be not enough. My penis started to shrink. Increased hours.
October 18                  Sixth Verapamil Treatment. Final treatment of first round.
Oct 25 – Nov 30         Travel: Los Angeles, Paris, Baltimore. Not much with AndroPenis.
December 2                 Committed to AndroPenis, Base plus 2 cm, 4 hours per day.
December 6                 AndroPenis Base plus 2.5 cm 4 hours per day. 
December 21               Andropenis Base plus 3 cm 4 hours per day. 

L-Arginine supplements taken before bed each night to increase the formation of Nitric oxide (NO). This dilates arteries for increased blood flow. I took only one 1000 mg tablet. I am very sensitive to drugs. Increased exercise. Stretched, daily, the crotch flexors to increase blood flow. 

YEAR 2
January 5                     AndroPenis Base plus 3.5 cm. Bottleneck is quite severe.
January 7                     Curvature Assessment. Appointment with Dr. Hellman. He said to stop using AndroPenis and change to a VED (Vacuum Erection Device). 
January 20                   VED one time per day. 10 Minutes. Penis Head tilting upward.
                                    Peyronie’s pain is much less.
March 1                       Added AndroPenis, Base plus 3 cm, two hours per day when possible.
March 4                       Felt AndroPenis was making my penis too crazed-stretched. Decided to use the AndroPenis Base plus 3 cm only when feeling tight and shortened.
March 21                     Stopped Drinking.
March 22                     AndroPenis Base plus 3 cm 2 hours per evening. 
VED for ten minutes in the morning. Fighting the upward candy cane shape.
April 11                       Stopped all VED and stretching. Went to Dr. Hellman for a check-up because my penis was bending upward.
April 27                       Curvature Assessment
May 2                          Second Round, First Verapamil Treatment
May 10                        Dr. Hellman advice: AndroPenis, Base plus 3 cm, 2 hours morning, 2 hours evening. Up to six months.
May 16                        Second Round, Second Verapamil Treatment
May 23                        AndroPenis, Base plus 3.5 cm 2 hours morning, 2 hours evening, daily.
June 3                          Second Round, Third Verapamil Treatment
June 7                          AndroPenis Base plus 4 cm 2 hours morning, 2 hours evening, daily.
June 13                        Second Round, Fourth Verapamil Treatment
June 24                        AndroPenis, Base plus 4.5 cm 2 hours morning, 2 hours evening, daily.
June 27                        Second Round, Fifth Verapamil Treatment
July 12                        Second Round, Sixth and Final Verapamil Treatment
August 1                     Andropenis, Base plus 5 cm, 2 hours morning, 2 hours evening, daily.
August 22                   AndroPenis, Base plus 5.5 cm, 2 hours morning 2 hours evening, daily.
September 27              AndroPenis, Base plus 6 cm, 2 hours morning, 2 hours evening, daily.
October 14                  Final appointment with Dr. Hellman
October 19                  VED restarted, 10 minutes per day.
October 28                  AndroPenis, Base plus 6 cm, 2 hours in the morning, and VED 10 minutes each night.
November 19              AndroPenis, Base plus 6.5 cm. Same schedule of AndroPenis and VED, Continues into year Three.

1 tablet of L-Arginine, 1000 mg, taken before bed each night.
  
YEAR 3
February 28                 Last Phonecall with Dr. Hellman. “Do two hours per day of traction with the AndroPenis and two (or one) fifteen-minute vacuum pump per day. Do not go up and down. Bring it up and leave it up for fifteen minutes. If in three months you see improvement with the hourglass ring, continue. If not, then stop. Repeat the reassessment every three months.” 
March 20                     AndroPenis up to Base plus 7 cm.
June 29                        AndroPenis up to  Base plus 7.5 cm.
October 11                  AndroPenis up to Base plus 8 cm.
November 3                Ejaculate is now able to fully exit. Urethra must be following a much straighter path. Penis is almost completely straight. Hourglass shape still one-third of the way up from the base.

YEAR 4
April 1                         Almost back to original shape. Just a very tiny bit of hourglass, some upward tilt
April 6                         AndroPenis is up to Base plus 8.5 cm. Note: Added 8.5 cm total to initial 8.4. A total of 16.9 cm which is 6.5 inches.  Added .5 cm to AndroPenis up to 8.5 cm (added on 8.5 total to initial 8.4—so 16.9 cm total) The whole device, including Base, is at 16.9 cm, which is 6.5 inches. 
April 27                       Started drinking again. (Blame France.)
December 6                 Xiaflex is approved by the F.D.A. for treatment of Peyronie’s disease.

YEAR 5
April 3                         AndroPenis, Base plus 9 cm. TOTAL: 17.4 cm = 6.85 inches. VED a few times each week. Penis still a bit curved. Not awful. Some constriction. Stretches of the crotch. This regimen is getting me past it.
December 31               Continued with the AndroPenis 17.4 cm length and occasional VED from April 3 until December 31 upon which I stopped because my penis was almost fully straight and my urethra had experienced enough strain.  No more treatment of any kind. I go through periods where I still use the AndroPenis if I am feeling any tightening.

YEARS 6 – 9
                                    On and off with penis stretcher. Usually one hour each morning. Wrote the final drafts of Bent But Not Broken. 

YEAR 10
March 15                     Bent But Not Broken is released.

July 2                          Consultation with U.C.L.A. urologist, leading to Xiaflex treatment.
July 31                        Curvature Assessment

September 16              Xiaflex treatment 1A
September 19              Xiaflex treatment 1B

October 28                  Xiaflex treatment 2A
November 4                Xiaflex treatment 2B

December 16               Xiaflex treatment 3A
December 19               Xiaflex treatment 3B

YEAR 11
January 27                   Xiaflex treatment 4A
January 30                   Xiaflex treatment 4B

Everything is basically back to normal, just a bit different from the original version. Xiaflex took care of most of the final constriction. E.D. pills (Sildenafil) are necessary for important occasions but not always. I have moved onto other writing and projects. But I am always here to help.

                                                                                    
Bent But Not Broken is available in print, e-book and audiobook formats where all books 
are sold. Links for purchase can be found at Doncummings.net or simply Google Bent But Not Broken.



No one ever died from Peyronie’s disease. Keep moving forward. Your penis is worth it.   



Published by Heliotrope Books

Cover Design by Chip Kidd

“Cummings’ skills as a writer are apparent from the beginning. His prose is effortlessly clever, finding the entertaining medium between lyricism and sass. The frankness with which he discusses his problem, the treatment, and his sex life makes for an oddly shocking book—one rarely reads quite so much about penises, as central as they often are to literature. He manages to demystify and destigmatize Peyronie’s, which though obscure is not completely uncommon. More than that, he makes the most of an undignified opportunity to examine his own masculinity.”
        KIRKUS REVIEWS
                                                                                                                                                           

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

The Water Tribe Extended through February 16

Hello Friends,

Just three more performances of The Water Tribe. Get your TIX soon on the night/day of your choice. Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th @ 8 and Sunday the 16th @ 2. It runs 90 minutes. There's a discount code, so send me a message if you'd like that.

The actors are out-of-control brave and I'm so proud of them, our director, Tricia Small, and the entire creative team.

We are certainly closing this Sunday, so last chance to come down to VS. on Pico. Love to see you there.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Love is all there is ... Yes?

Don

 
--

The Water Tribe is one of the strangest plays I've ever seen, a study in insanity, but it'll be a long time before I forget it.
--Willard Manus, TotalTheater


Alexandra Daniels, Jon Joseph Gentry, and Jayne Taini all give striking performances.
--Matthew Robinson, LATheatrebites


You simply can't take your eyes away from its hot mess of a female protagonist or Hannah Prichard's tornado of a lead performance. For those willing to put up with a whole lot of crazy, The Water Tribe makes for one wild ride.
--Steven Stanley, StageSceneLA


Performed with stellar attention by Hannah Prichard and performed by the equally compelling Christopher Reiling...it's a wild ride, and much like a roller coaster, you feel both a mix of relief and nostalgia the moment it's over. I highly recommend this play.
--Matthew Robinson, LATheatrebites


Cummings tills the writer’s soil exposing an unearthed field, the barren aridity of lost souls, and the underbelly of civilization is on full display, which at times makes the audience writhe in their seats.  Sometimes it is hard to watch as this part of humanity collapses into ruin. The original work of art is certainly theatrical and something to ponder long after you leave the theatre. Run! And take someone you think is living on the edge. You'll both be enlightened.
--Joe Straw #9
 

Claudia is young, parentless, minimally employed, and almost without family or friends but she remains upbeat about her future and confident in her quest to form a personal tribe for herself and her boyfriend Johnny. But Johnny has problems of his own. He has launched into adulthood but still struggles to cut the cord from his concerned mother while searching for a connection to his long-absent father. As the few people Claudia has in her life begin to fall away and the problems in her relationship are laid bare, she teeters on the brink of catastrophe in this searing, darkly funny tragicomedy about the critical importance of community, identity, and home.