in todays dcs
30 September, 2008
29 September, 2008
My Bloody Valentine
Although it seemed this whole weekend was dedicated to listening to the Sox on my transistor, I actually did an artistic outing - the My Bloody valentine show @ the Aragon. So - how loud was it?Veddy loud. I used the earprotectors they passed out for free, and that cut into the clatter. And crowded. Lots of people. And hot. Comon, it's the Aragon in what still can be considered summer. And - it was very dansable.
So, they played the hits. Sometimes it took a second to cut through all of the sound waves to actually hear what song it was - but, w/ special movements that allowed me to hear better, it was an outstanding concert - despite maybe 30m of pure torture @ the end. The end sucked. And it lasted 30m. It reslly sucked, make no doubt about it. If I wanted to see something that sucked as bad as the last 30m of the MBV show, I'd go see some guy taking a shit on stage.
but the earlier part made that last 30m fine. And, yes, though it smelled like shit on stage - the last 30m I will defend as well - hey, it's art.
My tenique was thus. I wore the earplugs for the first 20m or so. I used a cuping method on my ears, and the effest was to run the clutter out of my ghearing areas so that the rumble and echos actually sounded crisp and clear. then eventually I took off the earplugs - but @ times of uninteresting sections or SUPERLOUD spots - I would hold my hands to my ears to protect them.
I got a real good earful, and what I heard- I dansed to. yes, it was THAT good. And THAT dansable. I mita been the omly one, but there were rythms, grooves, beats, all laid down and followed. The music moved me, and I was in such a good mood (and crazy mood - @ times I was on the bridge of Bismarck it's last lonely nite, or Steve McQueen near the end of "Sand Pebbles" - not good, I say, and scarey things are actually happening...i think...but nothing on that later), that it all just moved.
"Soon", of course, was the hit of the nite.
$50. Worth it. Just for "Soon"
the book of Q
Finished a book on the book Q a few weeks ago, and forgot to tell y'all. like y were waiting. But a book on Q was the next bit of my religious education, and it went down ok. I guess. Of all that I have been reading these past few ... many months, this book was the least impressive. learned a bit, though. It'll help me fite the good fite.
So - what's Q? Backdrop: scholars took a long time - well, it took them 1800 years -to actually look closely @ the New Testament and conduct literature studies on them to try to figure much stuff out. Until then, most thought that the Gospels were written by followers of Christ (we think only John was, now, and sorta...) But 1800 years later... Quickly, modern bible theory has it that earliest writings still with us were St. Paul's letters, written in the late 40's through the 50's. The earliest gospel is - surely- Mark , and it was written sometime in the 60's - 65 is thought of as a best date. So, Mark doesn't have stuff on the Destruction of the Temple (where God lived, according to the ancient Jews), but both Matthew and Luke do. Matthew and Luke also comment on things in Mark, but mark doesn't comment on them. We believe that Matthew and Luke were written about 15-20 years later, and John later than that.
And by written down - these Gospels were @ first Oral tradition- then written down. of course, there are many many many different versions of these books - there is not one UR copy of Mark or Matthew etc etc etc or of any of Paul's letters. In fact, there are many differences. Bart Erhman, a specialist in this area (such a favourite author of mine - his is a real interesting story of a strict biblical upbringing, until he actually read the stuff carefully..... I do not know about you, but I feel finding out that it wasn't God who snapped her fingers and took over some old Palestinian's writing arm but rather human work - sure, divinely inspired, but isn't everything human--and surely these would be - to me, it makes these books and the wisdon i then even more holy) , writes that computers have yet to count the differences in the versions of old New Testaments. Because the different and separated early christian communities had their separate congregations and separate needs, different oral and written traditions were both needed and then handed down (why there FOUR Gospels - trust me, there were many that didn't make it).
So- Q. Again, Mark - the shortest of the Gospels, was always thought of as the weakest. Now that Scholars believe it to be the first, it has a lot of cachet. When the scholars looked @ Matthew and Luke, they saw almost all of Mark's stories in the later two gospels. Lots of the same stories. Usually in the same order. Usually, even, with the same terms and words. So, it is obvious to scholars ( well, not all scholars, but...)that it was Mark first and the other two cribbed lots of stuff from Mark.
Big However = both Luke and Matthew have tonnes of shit that Mark doesn't have. In fact, A LOT OF THE SHIT that the latter two had Mark simply didn't have. And to make it far more interesting, both Matthew and Luke have a lot in common - again, same stories and parables, in the same order, same words, etc etc etc... that lead to the theory that another book was used along w/ Mark by the authors of Matthew and Luke to write their books.
What book and where was it? It has never been found. But the theory goes that the book -called "Q" because the original werke was done by Germans, and Q is short of Quelle, or source. What kind of a book was it? They think that is was a collection of sayings and parables. Not in mark, but in both of the others, are such things that even non Christians are very familiar with :
The Beatitudes (Blessed are the ....)
Love your enemies (my favourite, if only I could follow it)
The Golden Rule (see above)
The Birds of Heaven and The Lilies in the Field
Judge not, lest ye be judged ( a deep favourite of Der Fuhrer - it's all about the judging in his world)
The Parable of the Lost Sheep (one sheep lost? Go looking for that lost one)
The Birds of Heaven and The Lilies in the Field
The Parable of the blind leading the blind
The Lord's Prayer
(for full list look for it)
But there are problems. First off, how come no one has found a Q? Well, we really haven't, but we also know that lots of stuff was lost. For example, the Nag Hammidi library and the Dead sea scrolls are examples of stuff hidden for almost 2,000 years and found. We also know that many of Paul's letters were lost - he references them in some of his extant letters, but never found. And the fact that they think Q is a book of sayings is ok - @ Nag Hammadi and elsewhere, there have been 'Gospels' of sayings found (Gospel of Thomas) . There are other theories of how the gospels were written. But I do enjoy this theory. And w/ my fetish for biblical scholarship - it's fading now, 14-15 months in, but still strong - the Theory of a "Q" source is really kool.
Oh - so this book? Ok. Not much more. I needed to read it. It was interesting in parts, and also parts confusing. It presents Q as a book that came to-gether in three different periods. How they figgered this - I mean, they haven't been able to ever find a copy of the book, so the authors claim that it has three distinct periods of growth are somewhat strange. The author feels that Q - in a phrase - was "...an early list of Jesus's instructions to his followers which were eclisped for reasons of emerging church hierarchy..." (in the book, not the exact quote)
So - what's Q? Backdrop: scholars took a long time - well, it took them 1800 years -to actually look closely @ the New Testament and conduct literature studies on them to try to figure much stuff out. Until then, most thought that the Gospels were written by followers of Christ (we think only John was, now, and sorta...) But 1800 years later... Quickly, modern bible theory has it that earliest writings still with us were St. Paul's letters, written in the late 40's through the 50's. The earliest gospel is - surely- Mark , and it was written sometime in the 60's - 65 is thought of as a best date. So, Mark doesn't have stuff on the Destruction of the Temple (where God lived, according to the ancient Jews), but both Matthew and Luke do. Matthew and Luke also comment on things in Mark, but mark doesn't comment on them. We believe that Matthew and Luke were written about 15-20 years later, and John later than that.
And by written down - these Gospels were @ first Oral tradition- then written down. of course, there are many many many different versions of these books - there is not one UR copy of Mark or Matthew etc etc etc or of any of Paul's letters. In fact, there are many differences. Bart Erhman, a specialist in this area (such a favourite author of mine - his is a real interesting story of a strict biblical upbringing, until he actually read the stuff carefully..... I do not know about you, but I feel finding out that it wasn't God who snapped her fingers and took over some old Palestinian's writing arm but rather human work - sure, divinely inspired, but isn't everything human--and surely these would be - to me, it makes these books and the wisdon i then even more holy) , writes that computers have yet to count the differences in the versions of old New Testaments. Because the different and separated early christian communities had their separate congregations and separate needs, different oral and written traditions were both needed and then handed down (why there FOUR Gospels - trust me, there were many that didn't make it).
So- Q. Again, Mark - the shortest of the Gospels, was always thought of as the weakest. Now that Scholars believe it to be the first, it has a lot of cachet. When the scholars looked @ Matthew and Luke, they saw almost all of Mark's stories in the later two gospels. Lots of the same stories. Usually in the same order. Usually, even, with the same terms and words. So, it is obvious to scholars ( well, not all scholars, but...)that it was Mark first and the other two cribbed lots of stuff from Mark.
Big However = both Luke and Matthew have tonnes of shit that Mark doesn't have. In fact, A LOT OF THE SHIT that the latter two had Mark simply didn't have. And to make it far more interesting, both Matthew and Luke have a lot in common - again, same stories and parables, in the same order, same words, etc etc etc... that lead to the theory that another book was used along w/ Mark by the authors of Matthew and Luke to write their books.
What book and where was it? It has never been found. But the theory goes that the book -called "Q" because the original werke was done by Germans, and Q is short of Quelle, or source. What kind of a book was it? They think that is was a collection of sayings and parables. Not in mark, but in both of the others, are such things that even non Christians are very familiar with :
The Beatitudes (Blessed are the ....)
Love your enemies (my favourite, if only I could follow it)
The Golden Rule (see above)
The Birds of Heaven and The Lilies in the Field
Judge not, lest ye be judged ( a deep favourite of Der Fuhrer - it's all about the judging in his world)
The Parable of the Lost Sheep (one sheep lost? Go looking for that lost one)
The Birds of Heaven and The Lilies in the Field
The Parable of the blind leading the blind
The Lord's Prayer
(for full list look for it)
But there are problems. First off, how come no one has found a Q? Well, we really haven't, but we also know that lots of stuff was lost. For example, the Nag Hammidi library and the Dead sea scrolls are examples of stuff hidden for almost 2,000 years and found. We also know that many of Paul's letters were lost - he references them in some of his extant letters, but never found. And the fact that they think Q is a book of sayings is ok - @ Nag Hammadi and elsewhere, there have been 'Gospels' of sayings found (Gospel of Thomas) . There are other theories of how the gospels were written. But I do enjoy this theory. And w/ my fetish for biblical scholarship - it's fading now, 14-15 months in, but still strong - the Theory of a "Q" source is really kool.
Oh - so this book? Ok. Not much more. I needed to read it. It was interesting in parts, and also parts confusing. It presents Q as a book that came to-gether in three different periods. How they figgered this - I mean, they haven't been able to ever find a copy of the book, so the authors claim that it has three distinct periods of growth are somewhat strange. The author feels that Q - in a phrase - was "...an early list of Jesus's instructions to his followers which were eclisped for reasons of emerging church hierarchy..." (in the book, not the exact quote)
However, the author feels that the first phase of Q was deeply influenced by the Greek Cynic Tradition - and if you look @ a lot of the sayings and context, the author makes a good argument. Seems these ideas were in heavy vogue @ the time. The second phase of Q was to change into a book for a movement - or an emerging religion. The last phase treats the emerging movement into a religion - Jesus as Son Of God, etc etc etc... Again, i'm @ a loss as to how they actually figured out the three phases, but it made for interesting...well, as time went on, it became less and less interesting reading - but it was good. Well, good enough. I guess.
the debate
President White Sox kicked the shotdown guys ass, I thought. My favourite part of the debate was near the end, when O'Bama pointedly summed up the eight years of republican shit by saying that Bush and them all really really sucked. Rite then the moderator , Panzer Lerh, turned to McCain and said "Please comment on O'Bama comment rite threre saying the Republicans have really really sucked for 8 years" and Mccain -- immediately - dodges the question - I can't remember, but he was real quick to get away from that question. I can only assume he either went into an anecdote about some dude he met on a foreign policy trip he took in the 80's, or went along the lines of saying it was a nieve thing to say. one or the other - it's all he got.
27 September, 2008
26 September, 2008
(or cut and paste this, since there are problems....
or even try this, since even that is not working:
New York Times
"You’re Bored, but Your Brain Is Tuned In"
By BENEDICT CAREY
Published: August 5, 2008
Published: August 5, 2008
ps, its securityout, w/ a pw of hilts
Googling Andruw Jones
written by Lazers
names edited by hilts
It was a late one at TC Pub, as the trivia battle did not begin until the White Sox game ended. Congratulations to the 2008 AL Central Division Champion Minnesota Twins!
J&B represented by: Chemical man, Stix, Shoe and Lazers
The competition: Bar, Best of Morning Wood, Team Miller
This week’s summary begins with the Aflac trivia question from the Sox game (for those of you who may not have seen it): Who are the only 3 players in MLB history with a stolen base in 4 different decades?
First Half: News/2008 White Sox/October 2008 Playboy
With minimum 50 Ks, which ’08 Sox pitcher has the best K/BB ratio?
With minimum 300 ABs, which Chicago player (either team) has the top average?
(note: bad guess from another team- Nick Swisher)
In his new biography, Robert Wagner confesses that, as a 22 year old, he had an affair with this actress more than 20 years his senior?
Name the 4 MLB teams for whom Javier Vazquez has played?
Miss October Year of Birth? (mentioned only to point out that Benkowski provided a visual aid for the team that selected this question…ahh, throwback to the old “gift of porn” days)
True/False: Julie Newmar posed for a nude set of photos in the 1970s, but they never were published?
As expected, Benkowski has some “guess the punchline” questions in the Playboy category. One joke asked what a sorority girl said after having multiple orgasms. Bar input: “I know you’re not Pat Benkowski.”
J&B selects its “Lady’s Choice” trick- Shortest Hair. Morning Wood guy: “Shortest hair where?”
Did not catch the halftime scores, but J&B was in the lead.
Second Half: Bears & Cubs/90s TV/Death, Dying & Graves
Which 2 Presidents are buried in Arlington, VA?
Only Cub position player with more BB than K in 2008?
100 people die each year choking on b.p.- what does b.p. stand for?
’90- short-lived sitcom based upon “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” starred this 21 year old actress who would later go on to become very famous?
Which 2 Presidents are buried together in the same crypt?
(bad guess: Washington and Lincoln)
1990s- 3 TV shows finished #1 for the season multiple times- 1 was a sitcom, 2 were not sitcoms?
Fall ’97- NBC Thursday lineup- 7:00 Friends 7:30 ?? 8:00 Seinfeld 8:30 ?? 9:00 ER
Who was the host of the 90s adult dating show “Studs”?
Only Cub pitcher with a better than 4:1 K:BB ratio?
Leading cause of death in US for kids aged 1-4?
Scores after two halves: J&B 2320 Bar 1870 Wood 1750 Miller 1390
Choice of Final Category: 90s Music or September National Enquirer. Two of three wins wager, with 3000 bonus for all three correct.
J&B, Bar and Miller select Music.
90s Music:
1991- who sang “Mysterious Ways”?
1991- who sang “2 Legit 2 Quit”?
1999- who sang “Amazed”?
National Enquirer:
“I’ll destroy you”- Oprah says this to whom?
Guy named John Seville was in a coma until his wife placed what on his chest, pulling him out of it?
Mariah Carey flipped out over a book’s revelation that she was dumped by her boyfriend after cheating with what person (6 letters)?
As Rocky said to Drago: “Go for it”
J&B represented by: Chemical man, Stix, Shoe and Lazers
The competition: Bar, Best of Morning Wood, Team Miller
This week’s summary begins with the Aflac trivia question from the Sox game (for those of you who may not have seen it): Who are the only 3 players in MLB history with a stolen base in 4 different decades?
First Half: News/2008 White Sox/October 2008 Playboy
With minimum 50 Ks, which ’08 Sox pitcher has the best K/BB ratio?
With minimum 300 ABs, which Chicago player (either team) has the top average?
(note: bad guess from another team- Nick Swisher)
In his new biography, Robert Wagner confesses that, as a 22 year old, he had an affair with this actress more than 20 years his senior?
Name the 4 MLB teams for whom Javier Vazquez has played?
Miss October Year of Birth? (mentioned only to point out that Benkowski provided a visual aid for the team that selected this question…ahh, throwback to the old “gift of porn” days)
True/False: Julie Newmar posed for a nude set of photos in the 1970s, but they never were published?
As expected, Benkowski has some “guess the punchline” questions in the Playboy category. One joke asked what a sorority girl said after having multiple orgasms. Bar input: “I know you’re not Pat Benkowski.”
J&B selects its “Lady’s Choice” trick- Shortest Hair. Morning Wood guy: “Shortest hair where?”
Did not catch the halftime scores, but J&B was in the lead.
Second Half: Bears & Cubs/90s TV/Death, Dying & Graves
Which 2 Presidents are buried in Arlington, VA?
Only Cub position player with more BB than K in 2008?
100 people die each year choking on b.p.- what does b.p. stand for?
’90- short-lived sitcom based upon “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” starred this 21 year old actress who would later go on to become very famous?
Which 2 Presidents are buried together in the same crypt?
(bad guess: Washington and Lincoln)
1990s- 3 TV shows finished #1 for the season multiple times- 1 was a sitcom, 2 were not sitcoms?
Fall ’97- NBC Thursday lineup- 7:00 Friends 7:30 ?? 8:00 Seinfeld 8:30 ?? 9:00 ER
Who was the host of the 90s adult dating show “Studs”?
Only Cub pitcher with a better than 4:1 K:BB ratio?
Leading cause of death in US for kids aged 1-4?
Scores after two halves: J&B 2320 Bar 1870 Wood 1750 Miller 1390
Choice of Final Category: 90s Music or September National Enquirer. Two of three wins wager, with 3000 bonus for all three correct.
J&B, Bar and Miller select Music.
90s Music:
1991- who sang “Mysterious Ways”?
1991- who sang “2 Legit 2 Quit”?
1999- who sang “Amazed”?
National Enquirer:
“I’ll destroy you”- Oprah says this to whom?
Guy named John Seville was in a coma until his wife placed what on his chest, pulling him out of it?
Mariah Carey flipped out over a book’s revelation that she was dumped by her boyfriend after cheating with what person (6 letters)?
As Rocky said to Drago: “Go for it”
Part II
J&B guesses U2, MC Hammer and Lonestar. Stix is very confident in all three answers, only questioning whether the middle song was made after the “MC” was dropped from Hammer’s name- will Benkowski penalize teams (or just J&B)?
Aflac answer: Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines and Ted Williams.
First half answers:
Matt Thornton
Reed Johnson
Barbara Stanwyck
Expos, Yankees, Diamondbacks, White Sox
1986
True
Actual punchline: “Are you all on the same team?”
Second half answers:
Taft and JFK
Ryan Theriot
Ballpoint pen (other guesses: body parts, buttered popcorn)
Jennifer Aniston
John Adams and John Quincy Adams
Seinfeld, ER and 60 Minutes
Veronica’s Closet and Union Square
Mark DeCarlo
Bobby Howry
Car accidents
Final question:
Miller- 1390- Music- guesses U2 (correct), MC Hammer (correct), and Lonestar (correct)- wagered 1385 plus bonus- up to 5775 and the lead (but somehow the drama is missing).
Wood- 1750- Enquirer- guesses Dr Phil (correct), “my blowup doll” (no), and Eminem (correct)- wagered 1739- up to 3489.
Bar- 1870- Music- guesses U2 (correct), MC Hammer (correct), and Lonestar (correct)- wagered 1870 plus bonus- up to 6740 and the lead.
J&B- 2320- Music- guesses U2 (correct), MC Hammer (correct), and Lonestar (correct)- wagered 1421 plus bonus- up to 6741. And that’s why they call it “the classic”.
Only missing answer- the guy awoke from his coma when his new born baby was placed on his chest.
Next trivia night in two weeks- Thursday, October 9th. Stix is out (due to his third procedure, not due to him and Nitenurse “googling Andruw Jones”).
J&B guesses U2, MC Hammer and Lonestar. Stix is very confident in all three answers, only questioning whether the middle song was made after the “MC” was dropped from Hammer’s name- will Benkowski penalize teams (or just J&B)?
Aflac answer: Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines and Ted Williams.
First half answers:
Matt Thornton
Reed Johnson
Barbara Stanwyck
Expos, Yankees, Diamondbacks, White Sox
1986
True
Actual punchline: “Are you all on the same team?”
Second half answers:
Taft and JFK
Ryan Theriot
Ballpoint pen (other guesses: body parts, buttered popcorn)
Jennifer Aniston
John Adams and John Quincy Adams
Seinfeld, ER and 60 Minutes
Veronica’s Closet and Union Square
Mark DeCarlo
Bobby Howry
Car accidents
Final question:
Miller- 1390- Music- guesses U2 (correct), MC Hammer (correct), and Lonestar (correct)- wagered 1385 plus bonus- up to 5775 and the lead (but somehow the drama is missing).
Wood- 1750- Enquirer- guesses Dr Phil (correct), “my blowup doll” (no), and Eminem (correct)- wagered 1739- up to 3489.
Bar- 1870- Music- guesses U2 (correct), MC Hammer (correct), and Lonestar (correct)- wagered 1870 plus bonus- up to 6740 and the lead.
J&B- 2320- Music- guesses U2 (correct), MC Hammer (correct), and Lonestar (correct)- wagered 1421 plus bonus- up to 6741. And that’s why they call it “the classic”.
Only missing answer- the guy awoke from his coma when his new born baby was placed on his chest.
Next trivia night in two weeks- Thursday, October 9th. Stix is out (due to his third procedure, not due to him and Nitenurse “googling Andruw Jones”).
24 September, 2008
soccer, again
Had a productive day, coaching wise. Well, I was able to get some stuff done. I faxed the coach of one CPS school about scheduling a game for the spring. The first time I got a position number (meaning hired for real) was @ this school, and he as the first coach I worked with. I see him from time to time, and last spring a coaches meeting I had to make he was there. So, I faxed him about a possible game we maybe could set up. His team would be - i'm guessing -not quite as good as mine this spring, so it would be an ideal tune up for the conference play later inthe season.
Three neices and one nephew has played for another coach - a Catholic League team, and very good - that I also approached today. I am not trying to schedule a game with them - we would be so smokerd - but they are involved in a summer league that for several reason mite be good for us. Again - we are not quite @ the level that other teams in the summer league are. However, the kids who play in the summer league are generally not on a club team -that's why they have these summer leagues. If I can get most of my squad out there, we should be competitive against these suburban and Cahtolic teams. But only if we get a heavy squad of girls interested inplaying. It may be a disaster. Gotta talk to that coach and let him brief me.
I really want them involved in the summer league because I think the competition will be good for them. This year should be a good year - we have lots of returning seniors, and ..... well ...... I'm the coach now. If we finish in the top three of our league (the First Division of the Chicago Public League) this coming year, we will be 'promoted' to the top division -called the Premier League (well, #3 has to ply the promotion/relagation game - so EPL,* haven't we become). The premier League has all of the top ta,well, eight of the top teams - who are murder to pay. So, for me, to play top competition in the summer will help us get to where we are going in the future.
Finally, a low rent league for the young girls. I am trying to start a third team, a freshmen team, here. There is a summer league in which low level girls can play. It's called A.Y.S.O., and I deem it a perfect context for my freshman to get wetted into the game.
But- will they do it. It is extra, and if this were Waubansie Vaeely, well, the girls would already be oin club teams. I feel that I have to start the program here -I'm beyond ready- and part of that is saying to the girls "I want for you the same that the girls @ Marist. No more, no less. Wait, wait. Much much more, and nothing less." The indoor team will be something like $60-90 a half season, AYSO is like $80 for the summer. And the summer league? Wating for a call from a coach.
Exciting times.
...................................................................
*said in Valley speak
23 September, 2008
all sexed up
Love the barn Swallows. to me, they are the birds of twilight (yes, robins and the cardinal @ the feeder, but otherwise...). They swoop and whirl all abou the darkning summer evening, my guess is going for all the insects. They will all swirl about real good, and then zoom rite over the ground a foot or two up like a P-51 strafing nazi positions.
Problems
Part of the problem in runing a city girls soccer team is that most of the top programs "B" freshman teams would give us a great game. Our girls just have not had enough days of soccer that the top squads do. Part of the deal in the past programs is that we had the girls / boys doing out of season work in the basketball/volleyball gyms . However, when we have schools like Nequa Valley and New Trier having their girls in organized teams a few weeks before they were born - and , of course, magnificant practice fields and gyms that we could not even imagine (actually, I wonder if Real Madrid has the quality of stuff some of these places do). This is not the place to complain about money or whatever - just, what were up against.
So, when I was @ Canaryville H.S. in the late 90's and early 00's, we had the kids do off season work Wednes. and Friday after the season ended. I have written about how good of shape I was in back then- i took that regular shift w/ 14-18 yr old boys for 6h/week, and it did me good. When i got to the second presidents high school they had an even bigger off season program. Beginning in november, we went twice a week. In December, it went to everydays. The girls there would do excercises, running, and some skills. We went seamlessly into the regualr season - so, from say 15 december to 15 MAy, we had it every day.
So the problem @ my school here is that there is NO SPACE for girls soccer. it seems to have been the lowest regarded sport @ this school, so there is no history of off season training. Given no training, all of the available space has been taken by all of the other sports. Especially since this school now has 3,500 kids, the competiton for space is tremendous.
So, I will take what I can get. I approached one of those in the know, and my asking for just 2 days a week one gym, 4pm-6pm = IMPOSSIBLE!! I'm working on a 2 day "open gym" concept - off season, you really shouldn't be coaching them as a team, so it's billd as a 2 day -NOT TRYOUT- funcamp. However, it will be good to see the younger geneation.
Then i tried to get space @ a nearby ark district gym. however, they re also booked rite after school. No good. The idea to get them coming back to one of the two parks nearby @ nite - if i can get a free gym - for maybe 2h of play -would be good. Still working on that.
So, I went to my old schools practice and talked to an old collegue. He has the girls go to a place on 14th and Loomis -an indoor soccer dome type deal - and it's 2 20m halfs, $800-$900 to join. two sessions. This seems close to ideal - except I to have to selll it to the girls. I do not want to force them into something they do not want to do -but shit, it kills me seeing the football team and basketball team basically practicing the year round. I just hate that it's my girls who suffer because this school has never had that sort of program in place. And shit, it's fucking this shit who has to do that. yeesh.
But todays facts and figures findings did me well. I have to hold a meeting very soon to guage the interest.
So the problem @ my school here is that there is NO SPACE for girls soccer. it seems to have been the lowest regarded sport @ this school, so there is no history of off season training. Given no training, all of the available space has been taken by all of the other sports. Especially since this school now has 3,500 kids, the competiton for space is tremendous.
So, I will take what I can get. I approached one of those in the know, and my asking for just 2 days a week one gym, 4pm-6pm = IMPOSSIBLE!! I'm working on a 2 day "open gym" concept - off season, you really shouldn't be coaching them as a team, so it's billd as a 2 day -NOT TRYOUT- funcamp. However, it will be good to see the younger geneation.
Then i tried to get space @ a nearby ark district gym. however, they re also booked rite after school. No good. The idea to get them coming back to one of the two parks nearby @ nite - if i can get a free gym - for maybe 2h of play -would be good. Still working on that.
So, I went to my old schools practice and talked to an old collegue. He has the girls go to a place on 14th and Loomis -an indoor soccer dome type deal - and it's 2 20m halfs, $800-$900 to join. two sessions. This seems close to ideal - except I to have to selll it to the girls. I do not want to force them into something they do not want to do -but shit, it kills me seeing the football team and basketball team basically practicing the year round. I just hate that it's my girls who suffer because this school has never had that sort of program in place. And shit, it's fucking this shit who has to do that. yeesh.
But todays facts and figures findings did me well. I have to hold a meeting very soon to guage the interest.
22 September, 2008
Going mobile
Sems that my days of being mobile free are going to be over. Sadly, I willneed one for soccer in the spring. Jackson - well, lots of people have been on me - has be pushing me to getb a fone for years, and he always thought that a 'pay to go' phone would be ideal for me.
It's just that there are lots of needs for a mobile phone when I am coaching. Lots of cancellations, 'where are the buses', etc etc etc... I'm not sure that i will use it outside of soccer , so don't get all heppped up. But I probably will have to - I have a phone and Gf not be able to call me ? Impossible !!
Totally Wired
It was 'play for may day' @ Phyissis (sic) Musical Inn saturday nite. May is the Big Buzzer's baby who has a very bad disease. Lots gots to-gether to have an extravaganza both fo her and for research into the disease. As Code named aul said awhile back, the disease is harsh on the little girl and "We need to catch a break". The fundraiser didn't cure her, but I am a believer in vibes.P.M.Inn was a place i hadn't been to since......shit, could it have been the 1980's (No way - early 90's more like it) - and lots hadn't either. there was agreat crowd @ the show - again, i love that even if it is not people's supersecretlittlecircleoffrenz only getting to-gether -bunchs of people got outside their comfort zones and gathered. i always loved that melding of different groups ordinarially not hanging tite to-gether - like, y know, a party. So, lots of different people, interesting people, etc etc etc... i didn't actually talk to any of the strangers. And some really seemed like strangers. Kahla was there - i never see her anymore. But then again, except for Gf and dragan, I rarely see anyone anymore*.
I was in an uncommunicative mood when I got there, but it only took minutes. Again, how cold I not talk to all who were there? i did - i was somewhat outgoing. Heavily represented was northern indiana, easy conversationmakers....
"Totally Wired" was the opener to ....Jabber, a covers sorta only grou - though there was latertalk of an unrecorded original that just didnt quite make the list @ the end........ They were excellent. covers only, yes, and there were @ least two snoozers inthe set, but it was very loudhardandfast when it was supposed to be fastoudandhard, so that was all greatness. Processed on bass, Liz Bustamante on drums, and Y Ray Andy on strummers.
...............................................
*=yeah, yeah, just wait until the first weekend of october.
two golden opinions of my father
Ran into the Croation Kid (3d floor, apt., 63d and Albany, east side) @ the Rita game. Very good to connect w/ olf frenz, although as usual I was in Secret Agent mode and trying to sneek around the foootball game. funny. So antisocial, but I passed the time yuking iy up bigtime w/ him.
He told me of my Dad. the Croat kid was kinds Croat toasted (I smelled it rite away -& viddied the Skybottlettes he was replenishing his 7up bottle w/. ). He told me very little, but this : "Yr Dad man. Tough as nails." Funny. My Dad was pretty no nonsense. I additionally was funnied up because I realised that The Croat Kid might have seen my Dad as nails because he was a bit of a rowdy kid, and I imagine my Dad had to yell @ us for whatever reasons over the years.
And the Joker. he met my Dad 10y after these episodes. The Joker was also toasted when he talked of my Dad one nite w/ Ocean near. He said two things. One was this "He rarely spoke. But when he did, it was usually..... (.....shit, i forget -but he wanted to convey somehting along the lines of ...) ... with great gravity (or, maybe, w/ great authority 0r like a pronouncement)." And then he said "When I think of the South Side, I think of yr Dad."
Obviously, all three of these things made me giddy w/ giddiness.
He told me of my Dad. the Croat kid was kinds Croat toasted (I smelled it rite away -& viddied the Skybottlettes he was replenishing his 7up bottle w/. ). He told me very little, but this : "Yr Dad man. Tough as nails." Funny. My Dad was pretty no nonsense. I additionally was funnied up because I realised that The Croat Kid might have seen my Dad as nails because he was a bit of a rowdy kid, and I imagine my Dad had to yell @ us for whatever reasons over the years.
And the Joker. he met my Dad 10y after these episodes. The Joker was also toasted when he talked of my Dad one nite w/ Ocean near. He said two things. One was this "He rarely spoke. But when he did, it was usually..... (.....shit, i forget -but he wanted to convey somehting along the lines of ...) ... with great gravity (or, maybe, w/ great authority 0r like a pronouncement)." And then he said "When I think of the South Side, I think of yr Dad."
Obviously, all three of these things made me giddy w/ giddiness.
football, soccer, and baseball / the wkd in sports
Pity poor gf. Waves of sports are hitting my shores, and somewise i gotta catch each wave.
Friday after school I dashed out to my hood to take in my old school's soccer team play. I understand that to getmeself readied up in total, i need to hang out w/ the coaching staff I used to coach with. I'm not nervous about being the top guy @ my school this year, but I also know that now that i am actively looking - instead of absorbing the lessons gradually - to upgrade my coaching abilities, the re immersion will do me and my teams fine.
They played near my hood - @ the Oak Lawn complex rite behind Christ hospital - and both games were played @ once. It used to be first varsity-then J-V- but this year they seem to be paying both games @ once. Big Change.
It was to the St. Rita game next. Played Mt. Carmel. I had to dash up Belmontbound and swung around real quicklike - almost one fluid motion, w/ the Sox win playing out on-air - and steamed back to 79th and Western to make it to the football game @ halftime.
There was a huge setup to this years rivalry - they have been playing since 1924, i think. Mt. Carmel had gone 18-3 in the last 21 games between the two - but make it 18-4 now. It seems that these days rita beats carmel only once every 7 years or so (Rita beat them always when I was growing up, but times change), so it was a kool atmosphere. There were 12,ooo fans there - never had that stadium been so surrounded by fans - it was on t.v., and --kinda embarrassingly -the schools rang the bells after the win. Well, it got a laugh outta me.
Saturday was losses by the Irish and the Sox. There was also to be freshman soccer game from my old school - it was scheduled for 10am @ 31st and somewhere east (like, as in east of State street - some unknown place for me...), but when I called up Pito for the directions, he told me that there was only 10m left - oh, sorry, I didn't tell you it was @ 9am??
And Sunday was pretty loppy bad. went to the Fire game, and they lost 4-1. Ouch. Watched the Bears before going into the Fire game, and they were winning. But the transistor radio gave me that overtime loss.
Oh, and the magic # was cut to 5. Alone good amongst the sporting news of the day.
Friday after school I dashed out to my hood to take in my old school's soccer team play. I understand that to getmeself readied up in total, i need to hang out w/ the coaching staff I used to coach with. I'm not nervous about being the top guy @ my school this year, but I also know that now that i am actively looking - instead of absorbing the lessons gradually - to upgrade my coaching abilities, the re immersion will do me and my teams fine.
They played near my hood - @ the Oak Lawn complex rite behind Christ hospital - and both games were played @ once. It used to be first varsity-then J-V- but this year they seem to be paying both games @ once. Big Change.
It was to the St. Rita game next. Played Mt. Carmel. I had to dash up Belmontbound and swung around real quicklike - almost one fluid motion, w/ the Sox win playing out on-air - and steamed back to 79th and Western to make it to the football game @ halftime.
There was a huge setup to this years rivalry - they have been playing since 1924, i think. Mt. Carmel had gone 18-3 in the last 21 games between the two - but make it 18-4 now. It seems that these days rita beats carmel only once every 7 years or so (Rita beat them always when I was growing up, but times change), so it was a kool atmosphere. There were 12,ooo fans there - never had that stadium been so surrounded by fans - it was on t.v., and --kinda embarrassingly -the schools rang the bells after the win. Well, it got a laugh outta me.
Saturday was losses by the Irish and the Sox. There was also to be freshman soccer game from my old school - it was scheduled for 10am @ 31st and somewhere east (like, as in east of State street - some unknown place for me...), but when I called up Pito for the directions, he told me that there was only 10m left - oh, sorry, I didn't tell you it was @ 9am??
And Sunday was pretty loppy bad. went to the Fire game, and they lost 4-1. Ouch. Watched the Bears before going into the Fire game, and they were winning. But the transistor radio gave me that overtime loss.
Oh, and the magic # was cut to 5. Alone good amongst the sporting news of the day.
19 September, 2008
Venus
Saw Venus, w/ someone delightful and someone kool. Watched it w/ Gf, and we both liked the movie. Always liked Peter O'toole, even the shitty band that fuck had in the late 1980's.
Still - anything w/ old age. I'm old enough now , and have lived in very close juxtposition w/ the elderly, I am becoming concerned w/ issues of age and all.
And, still, concerned w/ issues of Venus.
Still - anything w/ old age. I'm old enough now , and have lived in very close juxtposition w/ the elderly, I am becoming concerned w/ issues of age and all.
And, still, concerned w/ issues of Venus.
18 September, 2008
17 September, 2008
On being Winters
As I've broadcast, I am -and deeply excited, and deeply scared - the new head of the Girls Soccer Program*. Lots of work, but much less than Winters had to do. So, I'm trying to get as much stuff done now - in so many different ways - to get ready and feel like I am ready.
So - I have written before how I am pulling each girl aside from last year and giving her instructions: Are you coming back? Are you in any other sport. Yes, I am the head coach. Are you looking for good girls in yr gym classes? Saw Chiva. Yes, Y are my goalie this year. Saw Green Shoes and told her that I am planning for NEXT YEAR in regards to her - Since Chiva is a senior, I will need agoalie the next two years. I have told two that they are to be promoted to varsity.
Each time I have a freshman class in the library, or I am subbing for a freshman class, I tell each group about the team. I feel this is very important: to get to the kids early and put the idea of soccer in their heads. It's a spring sport and I am afraid the other sports will beat me to the best girls. I try to make a real energetic sell to them. I'm doing well so far.
I am also trying to prepare the girls for the season. My old schools had the teams training in the off season. My second hs team played twice a week after the season from 3-6 pm. Those were the days I strip off y shirt and totally take my shifts on the floor, playing w/ 14-18 yr old mexican kids. They aere so much better than I, but I was never a better athlete or soccer player than the mid to late 90's**. @ my last school, it was far more serious - beginnig in November, we'd have the girls starting to play 3x a week after school off season, and 5x a week from the week before xmas to whenever we were eliminated from the playoffs. Itw as alway important to get these city public school kids playing whenevr we could - All those suburban white schools are gigantically good, and we have to do so much to play thos teams and only lose, say 9-1. Some of y may remember that Neice #1 as a really good hs player - her teams would have beaten us 15-0. So, we have a lot of work, and I want to make sure that these city kids are being lionized as soccder players and young adults as much as any of the New Trier, Marist, or Sandburg kids. More, in fact.
So, I have been talking to everyone who can help me. In the last week, I have returned to my old school in order to - now, for the first time as boss - to gather in all thier wisdom. I ask and observe. And the great thing is, they know my situation and are excited for me - They are giving me all sorts of info and insite - and I need it all. So, last week I went to a game for the fist time this year - Fuicking hell, they beat Mt. carmel 3-1 (!!!) and I believe Iw illbe there till the end of the season. Not really coachoing, but all are familier to me,- so in yesterdays J-V game wheich i showed up, I did do a little talking during halftime.
I have continually gone to La Fleur in the PE dept to try and get guidence. They like that someone has taken in interest in the soccer program. I want to duplicate the programs I have been in, but realise that I am new. So, first item is to make sure the girls kno i am incharge. Not that it's self aggrandisement, but I want them to know that i intend to be a force. Second thing I am working on. I really want a gym to get the girls in so they can play maybe 2 nites a week for 2h. But I cannot get the gym for anyhting more than a token few days. I'll take it, but need to get the girls playing more, and NOW. So, I have to try and find another gym to get them time (Chicago winters are out, so no outdoor), but it's gonna be tough. It will take time to make this program into what I more envision(sic) it.
And then there is the problem of girls dropping out. I will amidt that I had tough plans for the goalie situation, but the regualr goalie for th last two years has left the school. I wanted an upgrade in that position - and how hard would it have been to say "I'm replacing you w/ thre J-V goalie". But it would have neded to have been done. Then my first choice replacement for her said she was quitting (but I had last years JV golaie in mind) - and then today told me she will probably be back. In my mind, i thknk i will have her on the field and 2d string varsity goalie. I'm real glad she's back. I have already told Green shoes -a soph - that she is to be made into a goalie for the future - and blessed kid that she is, she of course accepted my plans for her. But I am alsp losing two players - one that will be terrible to do w/out - to Mexican dansing class in the spring. I will have to go after them and pester them to rejoin.
AS a last aside, I will say that ......here come Hilts the Messiah - it is my duty to be their coach. If you read Securityout last season, you knew I loved that team. But:
I also know that the human currency in this school - 3,500 kids, Very Very Very Mexican-American (in the city, mainly the best teams (boys and girls) are generally the Mexican schools (best suburban schools generally are white, except for the occasional Morton etc etc etc...), and a funky ass school. Plus I'm tired of it always being -in girls soccer - the same white dominated teams in the public schools - Whitney Young, Payton, Northside - you w/ kids and live on the northside all know these schools, I'm tickled to find out - I want the Southside to have a dominant female soccer team again, farragut nonwithstanding. And, @ this school - although there are MUCHMUCHMUCH better coaches than me out there - I believe I am in a position to make this school a soccer great. Girls soccer. My plate is full rite now.
Much more later on the soccer thing - if yr sick of it already, then be glad I stopped here and did not continue for another 2-3 pages...... MOre later
..............................................
*=do note how I pompos-ed my title. hey, it's worth $2,400, but it's not all that glorified. Except when someone yells "Coach" in the crowded halls, or upon visiting my old team they flock to say hello and ask "Are you coming to-morrow?" It's so good to feel lots of love.
**=I'm old now and rarely play in the scrimmiges - funny, I'm the boss and I do what I want in practice, so if i'm tired, I don't play, but I insert myself into the game when ever I want.
**=I'm old now and rarely play in the scrimmiges - funny, I'm the boss and I do what I want in practice, so if i'm tired, I don't play, but I insert myself into the game when ever I want.
16 September, 2008
Mother and Lover
Lover was @ my house every day for the first two years of our relationship. She had the car, I was coaching, and she really really really wanted to see me.....really wanted to see me..... She came over, maybe 95% of the time. Even if Iw as gettin' home @ 9.15 - which happened a lot - and I had to get up the next morning @ 5.20 - which happen a lot - she'd be over. Mom loves her, and they get along real well.
But things are now diff. I have a car. It's always been very hard for me to see anyone - even myself in the mirror -every single day (I know, I want children, but I will rubicon that ...). I will totally amidt that it almost completely burned me out - for several years, It seemed that i never had any time to myself - and believe me, I can go months w/out talking ot another soiul. I'm very outgoing, and I am very NOT outgoing. Context.
But things are now diff. I have a car. It's always been very hard for me to see anyone - even myself in the mirror -every single day (I know, I want children, but I will rubicon that ...). I will totally amidt that it almost completely burned me out - for several years, It seemed that i never had any time to myself - and believe me, I can go months w/out talking ot another soiul. I'm very outgoing, and I am very NOT outgoing. Context.
But back to Gf. Now she never comes over. Never. She wanted to make a point about me being on vacation summer and that I should be the one coming over. I believe that she is correct. I feel I'm a very lazy boyfriend, and she has every right to complain.
However, I wanted to focus on my Mom and Gf in this post. Mom feels really bad that Gf never comes over anymore - she really missees her and thinks that she stays away from the house because of some beef w/ anyone other than myself. Someone in the family, maybe. Suxx, for several reasons. Both she and Mom are not happy about the situation. My past laziness has really fucked up things. And now I feel I have to choose between the two - Gf, who desperately needs me, and Mom, who also despersately needs me. It's crazy to choose, but didn't Jesus tell us something about leaving home when one marries, or something.... An example of this new world order, and my deeply confusing position in it.
Watched , finally, "Perfect Storm" last nite. I had it on DVD from CPL, and I wanted to watch it w/ Mom. Mom is from a family of fisherman, and she married a fisherman. My family in Ireland all loved it: My uncle Gerry took a special trip to the mainland (they are islanders there, mainly) when it came out to see, and my cousin in Belcoo also talked long and hard about it. It was sorta like a Band of Brothers type thing to them to me- they knew all the industry, so they loved all the fishing things in it. So, I wanted to watch it w/ Mom.
But I felt that it would be like cheating if I watched a film not w/ Gf. Really. It just seems that yr supposed to watch films w/ yr girl. The last solo films I saw were in 2005 when we just started dating. No longer do I see films lonesome.
So, on a nite Gf and I had no plans, I decided to finally watch it w/ Mom. And Gf called, and I actually LIED TO HER and told her Mom and I were just flipping around channels because the Sox game was on the radio. It's a confusing situation in which I really have no clue....
So, on a nite Gf and I had no plans, I decided to finally watch it w/ Mom. And Gf called, and I actually LIED TO HER and told her Mom and I were just flipping around channels because the Sox game was on the radio. It's a confusing situation in which I really have no clue....
15 September, 2008
14 September, 2008
Play for May / This Saturday / I'm going
Hi, all!
I wanted to send along that info for that benefit show that Crankface and I (Liz Bustamante) are playing. We are raising money to fight Kawasaki's disease and theshow will feature bands alternating between two stages at Phyllis'Musical Inn. Crankface and I are also playing music with Ham(Corn Kings) and Processed (Poster Children) but unfortunately the poster's were made before we decided upon a band name. Jabbar.
We'll be playing a covers only set with songs by Devo, The Fall, ElvisCostello, and more. Perhaps I'll see you there.
Take care, Liz
Without and Within / Many posts in one
Funny that, again - sometime during the Bears Colts game last week, best bud matt Jenke left my house and didn't return until the A.M. of Saturday morning. That period - m-t-w-f- was marked by a giant uptick in production, sleep, health, and ....happiness........ yet I always be hang'n wit dat fuck. The myth of the eternal return returned late friday after an attempted run @ a Sox game two days in a row.
Da Sox
I'd watched the boys lose 6-4 thursday nite, and I'd wanted to go friday again - something about only being @ THREE games this year and being embaressed @ that paltry total and there not being much time left in the regular 162. That, and the fact that they were giving out free Green hats - I wanna go !! And, the final kicker - one of Gf's workmates had vouchers for 2 free tix, reedeemable ONLY for Friday nite.
So, Gf wasna gonna go, so I called quickly some canidates to see f interested - two Cub fans, a Braves fan, and Processed - I'm just assuming he's a Sox fan. It was Jacob who responded first affirmatively, so I made the arrang's. Wishing we had mobiles, I got to the gate -SOLD OUT !! But they had mercy on me - "Saturday's a sell out as well, but Sunday's game is a go". So I traded the vouchers in for two to Sundays - if that game will be in.
Das Hurricaines
There really was no way of going to Fridays game even if it asns't a sellout - the three or four hurricaines that whirled their way through the New World this last fortweek all ended up in Chicago this weekend. Wow!! Fridays game -and Saturday's as well, were also rained out. For those of you who do not know, they have drenched this area bigtime. I know many have been to the tropics in monsoon season or whatever - but I have never seen rain like this in the middle of the continent ever before. It's stunning. There have been 1/2h breaks from time to time, but it's been almost 48h straight. So, I'm watching Da Bears rite now (cool again this wek so far, huh??). will switch back abnd forth when the Fire come on @ 2pm, and then gear up for the SOx game to-nite - if it gets in.
Da Bible Problem
So, with plans scuppered for a Sox win on Friday nite, I united w/ Jacob - who had been driven down to Comiskey town by another friend . We were supposed to meet @ the seats - I was to will call his ticket - but snce it was as a sellout, I had to wait outside Gate 4 a waiting and a hoping we'd run into each other (repeat, to all,of those actually existing in the 21st century - do you realy expect ME or JACOB to have mobile phones ?? NO!!!!"). We met, decided on a Russian run and a few mixed drinx tite round Western and Belmont - I knew, from reading comminuquies off the telytype -that the Young Guard were rallying that nite, and the afll back position was the Hungry Brain.
Great. Sux no Sox, but frenz are gathering. And a problem.
With both Jacob and Joker - over the years - there have been, um , personality conflicts. NO NO NO, not with each other - but... Lets just say it this way - over the years, I have lots and lots of lovely frenz who I deeply love and their very existence seconds my existence - (I know many have been frustrated by me being frenz w/ scruffy types, but again - Jesus asked me to visit prisoners in prisons, whatever that prison may be. Who am I to say no? Plus, in them they truely hold the keys to escaping my own prisons. You have keys I need to - and yes, you who read this are only slightly less 'slightly less' that my 'prisoner frenz', so don't be talking. In fact, many of my other frenz think that YOU ALSO are one of my prisoner vistor frenz, so watch it, brother..... Just remember, as important as 63d and Mozart -and etc etc etc ) is in mymademyth, Jacob et al is as well) - but lots of times they do not get along well. So, two years ago or so both Joker and Jabob , out of knowhere, got into a confrontation. Bizzare, but then again, I currency in bizzare. I always enjoyed how I blogged about it. Didn't mention the thing @ all, just seperate posts on each friend on something uniquie they pulled a decade or so ago whatever.
However - w/ Jabob in the Stasser and the possibility of Joker inside, I really had to look in, see if he was there, then enter w/ Jacob. If Joker was there, then it was a return to being 22 again, and he can't be here because he's there and they can't be here because..... 'some because or other'. But the bar didn't hold the Joker this nite - the fortmer great frenz luckily had 100m betwixt them this nite.
Who WAS there? There was Smoky Treats a sittin' when we entered; and later came Guitars, Will'm Randy, Gunners, and finally - X Ray Steve and wife. It was great to hang and jabber and all that. It was the last few hours before Matt Jenke cam back to dominate my conversations and talk all over everything I wanted to say, but in these last two hours, I ran and ran and ran @ the mouth and was fully cognizent that maybe i should let others get a word in edgewise.
Two people will relate. Lent, 1993, Jackson. Think - it's 11.45pm, were chillin w/ the TV, and Hilts is never shutting up. Never. Gallo's some Sunday supper nite, say 1998 or so. Again, same circumstances -maybe not Lent, but same in our context* ... and Gallo eventually yelling "Will you Shut up??"
So, we're @ the table, and my tactful self fell out. Uh, I finally weighed in on that situation. With Love. And I weighed in on another situation. And then another. I hope most peple were not listening, because I had a real lot os opinions, and opinions about people........... It's won't come back to me, im sure, but I am always amused when I 'm in that mood.
I rally should always be in that mood. I'm always telling the kids in class that they own each other other theirbest - why not ...... well, whatever.......But those four days of production and stepping up and announcing , well, @ least my own type or morality towards each other....well, it should be there more.
And, again, comparing myself to Jesus, but there wer many times the people ran that fucker out of town trying to kill him.
..................................
*=context being everything
12 September, 2008
“Stix” is Hungarian for “gay”
Written by Lazers
Names edited by Hilts
It was another relatively dead night at TC Pub last night. Perhaps it was just the timing, as two star players didn’t arrive until after the trivia game ended (J&B’s Pat and the Bar’s Trophy).
J&B represented by: Chemical Man, Stix, Vaugh and Lazers
The competition: Bar, Porch People, and Jukebox
First Half: News/NFL 2008/Mixed Up
Zach Thomas is currently on what NFL team?
Who is the NFL’s highest paid kicker?
Who was the owner of the pet shop that housed Magilla Gorilla?
Who played Sally Rogers on the “Dick Van Dyke Show”?
Before becoming famous on a sitcom, which actress appeared in commercials for Homemakers?
Some of the “Ladies Choice” challenges picked tonight: Longest Hair, Highest Heels, and Smallest Ears.
Scores at the half: Porch 1440 Jukebox 960 J&B 830 Bar 770
Due to their last place standing at the half, the Bar gets to help pick categories for the second half.
Also of note was the old guy from Porch hitting on Vaughn. She is not pleased, and even less so when let in on Chem’s earlier idea to send the old guy a drink and say it was from her.
Second Half: Entertainment/White Sox/Locations
Octavio Dotel’s first MLB team?
2007 Emmy for Best Actor in a Drama?
As of March ’08, the top grossing animated movie of all-time (from 2004)?
Ehren Wasserman’s first MLB team?
2007 Golden Globe for Best Actress- Julie Christie- what movie?
The furthest east one can be in Chicago is how far east (within 200)?
1996- White Sox opening day LF?
Most complete games in White Sox history- 356- what pitcher?
Benkowski begins a Location question: “If you’re on the north side…”
One of the Bar players: “hahaha faggots.”
J&B has “Ladies Only” choice of “Long Distance Roll” or “Arm Wrestling”. Vaughn says that she arm wrestles her sons all the time and selects that option. The gal representing the Bar whoops Vaughn’s ass. Strong showing for a woman with small ears.
Scores after two halves: Porch 2550 Bar 1930 J&B 1780 Jukebox 1380
Choice of Final Category: 90s Music, 80s Entertainment, or 80s/90s/00s Heavyweight Boxing. Two of three wins wager. All three will win 3000 bonus points.
J&B selects 90s Music and wagers it all.
90s Music:
1993- “Hero”- name the artist?
1996- “You’re Making Me High”- name the artist?
1999- “Have You Ever?”- name the artist?
80s Entertainment:
After Brad Palmer moved to channel 7, who became the morning sportscaster on WBBM- Newsradio 78?
On the “Wonder Years”- what was the full name of Kevin’s girlfriend?
1987- On Q101, Benkowski was the morning sportscaster for Robert Murphy’s show. Benkowski also was the sportscaster for the afternoon show- who was the dj for that afternoon drive?
No team selected the boxing category.
Gents?
J&B, without any input from Stix, guesses Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, and Brandy. Okay, you caught me. All of the input came from Stix. He is uncertain about the Brandy answer.
First half answers:
Dallas Cowboys
Robbie Gould
Mr. Peebles
Rose Marie
Shelley Long
Second half answers:
New York Mets
James Spader
Shrek 2
Chicago White Sox
Away From Her
4100 East
Tony Phillips
Ted Lyons
For the Lyons question, the Bar was the last team with a chance at answering, and they select Hangman:
Bar: guesses “C”.
Benkowski: “No ‘C’. The answer is Ted Lyons.”
Bar: “But isn’t his full name Theodore? That’s a bullshit answer.”
It is pointed out to the Bar that there is not a “C” in Theodore either.
Final Question:
Jukebox- 1380- Music- guesses Mariah Carey (correct), Toni Braxton (correct), and Brandy (correct)- wagered 1379 plus bonus- up to 5659 and the short-lived lead.
J&B- 1780- Music- guesses Mariah Carey (correct), Toni Braxton (correct), and Brandy (correct)- wagered 1780 plus bonus- up to 6560.
Bar- 1930- Entertainment- guesses Mike North (no- Benkowski: “No way in a trillion years…bad guess.”), Winnie Cooper (correct), and Bobby Skafish (no)- didn’t catch their wager, but unless it was negative 4631, J&B remains in the lead.
Porch- 2550- Entertainment- guesses Jeff Joniak (no)- Bee Bee (no- Benkowski: “Boy, everybody is fixated on Mike North tonight.”), and no answer for the last one- wagered 1900- down to 650.
J&B rises from the ashes to claim the night’s trivia title.
Missing answers: Rich King and Dan Walker
Next TC Pub trivia in two weeks- September 25th. Thusfar, I am “in”.
LaGrange trivia this Saturday at 7:00 (doors open at 6:00).
Names edited by Hilts
It was another relatively dead night at TC Pub last night. Perhaps it was just the timing, as two star players didn’t arrive until after the trivia game ended (J&B’s Pat and the Bar’s Trophy).
J&B represented by: Chemical Man, Stix, Vaugh and Lazers
The competition: Bar, Porch People, and Jukebox
First Half: News/NFL 2008/Mixed Up
Zach Thomas is currently on what NFL team?
Who is the NFL’s highest paid kicker?
Who was the owner of the pet shop that housed Magilla Gorilla?
Who played Sally Rogers on the “Dick Van Dyke Show”?
Before becoming famous on a sitcom, which actress appeared in commercials for Homemakers?
Some of the “Ladies Choice” challenges picked tonight: Longest Hair, Highest Heels, and Smallest Ears.
Scores at the half: Porch 1440 Jukebox 960 J&B 830 Bar 770
Due to their last place standing at the half, the Bar gets to help pick categories for the second half.
Also of note was the old guy from Porch hitting on Vaughn. She is not pleased, and even less so when let in on Chem’s earlier idea to send the old guy a drink and say it was from her.
Second Half: Entertainment/White Sox/Locations
Octavio Dotel’s first MLB team?
2007 Emmy for Best Actor in a Drama?
As of March ’08, the top grossing animated movie of all-time (from 2004)?
Ehren Wasserman’s first MLB team?
2007 Golden Globe for Best Actress- Julie Christie- what movie?
The furthest east one can be in Chicago is how far east (within 200)?
1996- White Sox opening day LF?
Most complete games in White Sox history- 356- what pitcher?
Benkowski begins a Location question: “If you’re on the north side…”
One of the Bar players: “hahaha faggots.”
J&B has “Ladies Only” choice of “Long Distance Roll” or “Arm Wrestling”. Vaughn says that she arm wrestles her sons all the time and selects that option. The gal representing the Bar whoops Vaughn’s ass. Strong showing for a woman with small ears.
Scores after two halves: Porch 2550 Bar 1930 J&B 1780 Jukebox 1380
Choice of Final Category: 90s Music, 80s Entertainment, or 80s/90s/00s Heavyweight Boxing. Two of three wins wager. All three will win 3000 bonus points.
J&B selects 90s Music and wagers it all.
90s Music:
1993- “Hero”- name the artist?
1996- “You’re Making Me High”- name the artist?
1999- “Have You Ever?”- name the artist?
80s Entertainment:
After Brad Palmer moved to channel 7, who became the morning sportscaster on WBBM- Newsradio 78?
On the “Wonder Years”- what was the full name of Kevin’s girlfriend?
1987- On Q101, Benkowski was the morning sportscaster for Robert Murphy’s show. Benkowski also was the sportscaster for the afternoon show- who was the dj for that afternoon drive?
No team selected the boxing category.
Gents?
PART II
J&B, without any input from Stix, guesses Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, and Brandy. Okay, you caught me. All of the input came from Stix. He is uncertain about the Brandy answer.
First half answers:
Dallas Cowboys
Robbie Gould
Mr. Peebles
Rose Marie
Shelley Long
Second half answers:
New York Mets
James Spader
Shrek 2
Chicago White Sox
Away From Her
4100 East
Tony Phillips
Ted Lyons
For the Lyons question, the Bar was the last team with a chance at answering, and they select Hangman:
Bar: guesses “C”.
Benkowski: “No ‘C’. The answer is Ted Lyons.”
Bar: “But isn’t his full name Theodore? That’s a bullshit answer.”
It is pointed out to the Bar that there is not a “C” in Theodore either.
Final Question:
Jukebox- 1380- Music- guesses Mariah Carey (correct), Toni Braxton (correct), and Brandy (correct)- wagered 1379 plus bonus- up to 5659 and the short-lived lead.
J&B- 1780- Music- guesses Mariah Carey (correct), Toni Braxton (correct), and Brandy (correct)- wagered 1780 plus bonus- up to 6560.
Bar- 1930- Entertainment- guesses Mike North (no- Benkowski: “No way in a trillion years…bad guess.”), Winnie Cooper (correct), and Bobby Skafish (no)- didn’t catch their wager, but unless it was negative 4631, J&B remains in the lead.
Porch- 2550- Entertainment- guesses Jeff Joniak (no)- Bee Bee (no- Benkowski: “Boy, everybody is fixated on Mike North tonight.”), and no answer for the last one- wagered 1900- down to 650.
J&B rises from the ashes to claim the night’s trivia title.
Missing answers: Rich King and Dan Walker
Next TC Pub trivia in two weeks- September 25th. Thusfar, I am “in”.
LaGrange trivia this Saturday at 7:00 (doors open at 6:00).
Written after rocking to "Hold my Hand" in the morning drive.
I'm a bit of an actor, i'll totally cop to that. I fully understand that even if the town im in is totally deserted, I'm still gonna walk down the street like the World Cup final TV audience is watching me. That old Wilde quote, along the lines of "I put my talent into my work, but I put my genius into my life" (or similar), sorta shines through, in my mind.
But, this post is not Wildian, it's about Hootie and the Blowfish. In being one of three punk rockers in my HS (no fashionisto was I - just the music), I knew that I was listening to shit the other century plus of folk had never heard of. hey, I knew i was kool - why pander lifes complexities when the leather runs smmoth on the passenger seat, anyway?
And it goes the other way as well. I remember a time in the basement 'den' of 1207 Morse, (where many of us lived for years, passing the place down until it was scuttled into a condo in the mid 90's): we were rocking to Zepplin, and some sorta stranger/punker exclaimed "You don't actually like this, do you?" My memory glories in the look that Ph.DhistoryKCprof (we got a name for her?? - Cult Women, that was it.) exchanged.
And then that Uptown place we had on Wolcott. Hootie came on - it was "I only wanna be w/ you". It was Hon and I on the couch, and we exchanged the following item: "I like Hootie - not every song, but..." And, of course, it's kool.
Rocky as well. Longtemps ago - when he was 18 - he told me that he thought it was kool that me, a punker, was also a total Stones freak, beatles freak, etc etc etc... I also like the fact that i pointed out to him that, well, i kinda associated him witht The Who, so what y talking about?
And the Spice girls. That first moment - yes, prefabricated - I heard "Wannabe", i fell for them. Not many other good songs do they have - but I do have seveal of their LP's. So what ya think about that.
Ok, sorry for all the usual Hiltsian self aggrendisement on how real fucking kool I am. We know through the experience of Bloom that we are all superheros. And sometimes superheros need pop music. This Ahab of a Bloom suerly does.
trust me. i'm so kool.
11 September, 2008
techicho direrto (sic)
So, in every way, this wek I annoubnced to the world that yes, indeed, I am The Man. As in, to parafrase Mel Gibson c. 1980, "If you wanna get odda here, ya talk tuh mee". I wanted to wait and wait and wait, but to quote Napoleon about this context "I may lose a battle, but I'll never lose a minute" : I am now, I am deeply pscyched and excited to say - and I knrew since last year - the head of the girls soccer program @ my school.
I know, I know, no big deal.
But to me - w/50-60 youths to lead - I feel, in my litte patch of this context (and this context only) - I am an officer. And not justa lieutenent. Maybe a Captain. No, Winters was a major. And that's it. MAjor Hilts, to conflate two real military WW@ figures. Or whatever.
So, this week I am have actively going after it. I've stopped the girls in the hall when I see them and tell them "Look for freshman and soph who are good. Tell them our team is great. use yr influence to gather these girls for our team." When freshman classes come in to the media center for orientation, I use the last few minutes of class to sell them on the team. I tell them even if they are not very good as 9th greaders, we will make them players by 12th. I'm getting better @ it to - the last class actually clapped after my 4m speel. Lets hope these girls are fit.
I've been to the athletic dept again and again for guidence, been to my old school where I used to coach to talk over some things I need to know (this is my first time running the deal - and am excited about seeing my old school play satuday in LaGrange.), named my J-V coach and asistent coach, and non officially told both MMf and Stopper from the J-V team last year that yes they are now varsity. Funny - M MF had to knw, and it was the first thing she asked. I told her "you know what team yr playing for this spring".
So, yeah, sorry guys, more HS girls soccer talk. Get used to it..
I know, I know, no big deal.
But to me - w/50-60 youths to lead - I feel, in my litte patch of this context (and this context only) - I am an officer. And not justa lieutenent. Maybe a Captain. No, Winters was a major. And that's it. MAjor Hilts, to conflate two real military WW@ figures. Or whatever.
So, this week I am have actively going after it. I've stopped the girls in the hall when I see them and tell them "Look for freshman and soph who are good. Tell them our team is great. use yr influence to gather these girls for our team." When freshman classes come in to the media center for orientation, I use the last few minutes of class to sell them on the team. I tell them even if they are not very good as 9th greaders, we will make them players by 12th. I'm getting better @ it to - the last class actually clapped after my 4m speel. Lets hope these girls are fit.
I've been to the athletic dept again and again for guidence, been to my old school where I used to coach to talk over some things I need to know (this is my first time running the deal - and am excited about seeing my old school play satuday in LaGrange.), named my J-V coach and asistent coach, and non officially told both MMf and Stopper from the J-V team last year that yes they are now varsity. Funny - M MF had to knw, and it was the first thing she asked. I told her "you know what team yr playing for this spring".
So, yeah, sorry guys, more HS girls soccer talk. Get used to it..
Political action from California/Vito broadcasts
Hi everyone,I have started a counter-petition to support Oprah against Palin supporters. A false rumor that Oprah has refused Palin's request to be on her show has angered some conservative women and men, who are now threatening to boycott Oprah and have started a petition to force her to interview Palin. Oprah has refused and reminded these people that she decided not to use her show as a platform for any of the candidates, not even Obama, whom she has endorsed. Obama has not been on the show since before he announced his candidacy; Obama, Biden, and McCain will not be on her show before Nov. 4, so why should Palin? Palin supporters are clearly trying to use Oprah to reach women viewers; of course, the idea that Palin is a pro-woman candidate is deeply offensive. And Palin hasn't even been interviewed on any news programs yet! Whether you are a fan of Oprah or not, you have to admit that it is her show and she should be free to choose whomever she wants to have on it.
This seems like just another controversy to distract us from the real issues of the election. The media is already picking up on this fake controversy reporting only on the attacks on Oprah and not the support.
This might seem like a small battle, considering the greater one we face, but we want to beat the opposing petition and support Oprah.
If you'd like to sign, please go to:
Please forward widely.
Thanks!
Vito
Thanks!
Vito
fronchroom
The 62d block of Mozart (pronounce it Moe- Zart, not Moatz -art)had, i think, 35 buildings on it*. One was the massive Shrine -a giant apartment comlpex - well, not that giant - one was a three flat, and the other 33 were bungalows. My love of architecture stems from this block and its setting in the Marquette Park neighbourhood.
Bungalows, I discovered when I read about them in my mid thirties, had a special pronunciation for the large front room (y know, couch, tv, front door): " fronchroom". Hmm, I thought, that's wierd. I mentally pronounced a sentence thusly "I'm going to the front room" and guess how it was naturally pronounced: ya, ya, you guessed, i pronounced it fronchroom.
Funny, being part of that milieu or history. Whenever, I read about the Irish immigrant families in the early 1910's etc etc etc in America, it strikes me sometimes when I think - hey, I fit into that as well - maybe not 1910, but that last massive wave of the 50's (parents came over separately in 1949).
However, lets talk about shit.
Two of my favourite stories of the fronchroom on Mozart. One is simple.
There was a long running room stretch from the kitchen to the front window that when I was young - I'm talking about 6-7-8-9 - and this baseball boy would take a running start from Point West , through the dining room and past the front door (no porch on our bungalow, - it was a side entrance) and going sliding Pat Kelly like into the fronchroom. Obv. it a childs thing, and it only lasted a few years, but I always funnyup when I think of that period.
But a greater story exists. The shit in a book story.
I HAD (Oh please God say I was young) to be very young @ the time, but I had......an accident...... now, I remember this story, so I couldn't have been that young - but I wasn't that old either. However, i knrw enough to have shame taught to me, so I knew I had to hide my creation. Into a book. Under the fronchroom radiator. Hidden.
Mom will dissolve into tears when this story comes up, but my favourite part o'it maybe never happened. Because I am sure that my own creation was discovered by my oldest sister, who discovered it when she....um, slipped on the book and feel down. That's my remembrance - and I'm sure I'm right - but no one else remembers that part o it.
Hmm. When the Battle of the Java Sea mounts the Klaus stage next summer.............
...................................
*=not including garages - that's Gah ragh ez, and not Gare-igez)
10 September, 2008
When I................got a song........stuck...in my head.......google........find those lyrics...............for me ? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Shine A Light"
by Spiritualized
When I'm tired and all alone
Lord shine a light on me
And when I'm lonesome as can be
Lord shine a light on me
When I'm tired and all alone
Lord shine a light on me
And when I'm lonesome as can be
Lord shine a light on me
Lord shine a light on me
Lord shine a light on me
Lord shine a light on me
by Spiritualized
When I'm tired and all alone
Lord shine a light on me
And when I'm lonesome as can be
Lord shine a light on me
When I'm tired and all alone
Lord shine a light on me
And when I'm lonesome as can be
Lord shine a light on me
Lord shine a light on me
Lord shine a light on me
Lord shine a light on me
09 September, 2008
all of my tears
Age and work have really cut into my concert schedule. Remember when we used to go to @ least a show a week? metro -err, cabaret Metro - was the center of the universe? Remember getting there hours before the show so we could be front and center, and going to take a piss be dammned?Well, was @ the Metro for the first time since....... well, since game 2 of the 2003 NL playoffs (I remember because - and i've writen this before - but that nite I was triple decked in the black and silver and walked straight through the crowd of the great unwashed outside of Wrigley. I do so love to appear from time to time in crowds of that sort to feel the power of myself. And to attract lots and lots of attention.). Have I seen a show since 2003 @ the Metro? I can't remember (it was that hippy group that has like 20 members in the group- i'm in the video for tat one song they recoreded that nite).
2003. Jeeze. Err, make that Sheesh, so I'm not so irreligious.
But last nites show was a return to those days, I feel. Dragon and I saw Spiritualised, and guess what?
Great show.
Great show as it was -DO NOT confuse it Spiritualised 1996 or 1997. It wasn't Shockingly Stand Still Because We're Right At The Front Of The Stage And I'm Freaking Out , or the Can I Please Drop To My Knees In Prayer Because This Fucking Show In An Ex Church in Michigan Is Freaking My System Down- but it was a great rock show. It was better than Pitchfork - something about inside a small club w/ a thousand crowd rather than 17,000 people in an outdoor fest - and I will testify that it was brilliant.
And I didn't expect it. It's been awhile since I really rocked out to Spiritualised on a daily basis- yes, I did see them over the summer and continually played - when it was in bloom - that live Glastonbury "Take Yr Time" - possibly my favourite version of possibly my favourite song of theirs - but their mailine time in my life has basicsally passed. Still lov'em, but their centrality is not central. However, they but on such trancendent shows, that when I can , i will always see them.
That Double door show a decade ago - wow. Such a impact. It wasn't music to danse to - Vamdom (this is a man who lives in Cali and is no longer frenz w/ Vito - i used to think he looked like a vampire when he had shoulder lenght hair. Not to be confused also w/ the Vampire, so named because of Halloweens passed.) pointed that out because in those days we were streaked wet w/ salty sweat and freezing in our tropically drenched t shirts because we jumped and danced and turned and flipping the hair and dansed and dansed and dansed - but this 1996 show, at the Double Door - wasn't that sort of show.
But the thing was, it was so good, we wee boys didn't actually have to dance our way through the rock show to totally get some sorta kick ass experience - we just stood there and let it....wash all over us. We were in a moment, no movement seemed necessary, and it was wonderous. That Church show a little later duplicated the feeling. Those two shows showed me that although dansing is a key to some shows - it certainly wasn't for all.
And guess what - last nites show, I dansed to half the fucking songs. Spiritualised - a DANSE BAND? Certianly not - except for last nite. "Walking w/ Jesus" , another song, "Good Dope/Good Fun" (Yes, The Voice Screamed out after that song "THAT WAS FUN!!" , since I knew "CUT YR HAIR HIPPIES" mite be misunderstood by the band), and the song that ended the set "...The Other Side" - was the best.
Oh - there was time to stare and enjoy - they certainly did play "Shine a Light" as they always have. Wasn't a perfect show, however. There were some standing/staring/wondering "when will this song end?" songs, of course. Spiritualised specializes in long and LOUD feedback jams. Some left me waiting for the end, but others.....well, more or less took me to the other side. And some of the other songs that have made me stand/stare in the past decade - "All of my Tears" or "Take your time" come to mind - were NOT PLAYED. But that's ok - hate to see the Beatles play again and only play the covers they did @ the Cavern Club.
Ans Jason? Didn't tell him a gallohello - I forgot, and he probably wouldn't have wanted me yelling out "Gallo says hello !!". But Happy was the Dude - really - he very obviously was having a great time and when they came back for an encore - more obviously happy body language.
I just had a good time. There was maybe plans to hit the Sox game that nite - only 13 home left and it was 1/2 price nite - but decided the Thursday nite game (yes, J and B'r's, mite mean I'ma missing that nite - and maybe more)and maybe Friday were betetr bets. Especially since the rain had turned out Comiskey's lights. There were plans to go totally lazy and stay @ home (and if our russian friend was in commision, I'da probably just stayed @ home - 2d day as I write, y'all). But Gf said I should go to the show, Dragon was going, and I was very happy. And funny. An ingrediant gone, and I go from standing and staring to dansing the whole show (well, 1/3 of the show). I should learn. And I should go to more concerts and Sox games. I really should.
Ans Jason? Didn't tell him a gallohello - I forgot, and he probably wouldn't have wanted me yelling out "Gallo says hello !!". But Happy was the Dude - really - he very obviously was having a great time and when they came back for an encore - more obviously happy body language.
I just had a good time. There was maybe plans to hit the Sox game that nite - only 13 home left and it was 1/2 price nite - but decided the Thursday nite game (yes, J and B'r's, mite mean I'ma missing that nite - and maybe more)and maybe Friday were betetr bets. Especially since the rain had turned out Comiskey's lights. There were plans to go totally lazy and stay @ home (and if our russian friend was in commision, I'da probably just stayed @ home - 2d day as I write, y'all). But Gf said I should go to the show, Dragon was going, and I was very happy. And funny. An ingrediant gone, and I go from standing and staring to dansing the whole show (well, 1/3 of the show). I should learn. And I should go to more concerts and Sox games. I really should.
08 September, 2008
stuck inside of o'hare w/ the helena blues again
greetings from Montana!!
Wait - I lied!!
I got a great 4am start on my Montana trip - my flite left @ 8am - by driving almost the entire way to the big airport. Then I got the El for the last few miles to avoid parking fees. funnyb- I thought it ap[propriate to park on the cousoins last block she lived in Chicago.
So, to the United desk, and found out that no my flite no longer existed: and that great plan that would get you to the wedding rite on time- well, sorry, but if you want to get into helena past 10pm for the 4pm reception - well, go ahead. So i decided to scop it all, dejectatly El my way back to the Peter Strasswe, and then home to paste myself rigerously.
The nite was derpessing. My cousin is one of my closest frenz, and somehow I missed waht I know to be a central point of her life (yeah, she's a girl in every way). I had no option when the morning flite was scuppered, but I'm mad i didn't fly in the nite before.
So, stuck in Chicago, should be in Montana this moment, dejected, sorroful, and really not looking forward to talking ot cousin..... glad now that I wasn't the dj
So, to the United desk, and found out that no my flite no longer existed: and that great plan that would get you to the wedding rite on time- well, sorry, but if you want to get into helena past 10pm for the 4pm reception - well, go ahead. So i decided to scop it all, dejectatly El my way back to the Peter Strasswe, and then home to paste myself rigerously.
The nite was derpessing. My cousin is one of my closest frenz, and somehow I missed waht I know to be a central point of her life (yeah, she's a girl in every way). I had no option when the morning flite was scuppered, but I'm mad i didn't fly in the nite before.
So, stuck in Chicago, should be in Montana this moment, dejected, sorroful, and really not looking forward to talking ot cousin..... glad now that I wasn't the dj
05 September, 2008
the west
i've been to the west of america before...california 15 times and a few airports in betwixt......but my cousin is now getting married, and im gonna be flying into helena regional airport soon......so, ill be in the middle west....no, the middle of the west...... or whatever for the first time.......i'd like to go for a longer bit, but this times a bit rushed, y'know........fly into denver, then switch planes and get on some small jet....... it's the getting up that gets me the ... early am as horrid equaliser.....and that i'd flied the idea of another marketgarden but was shot down by command.....still, i wonder if the morrow will bring dansing... i will be so dressed...
The White Whale
So, next to nothig done this summer, but the White Whale. So, some praise for an old lover. Q was such a big literary person, and she has had - and still does - a hold on my reading tastes still. Or @ least, the last little bits of her influence. She was the one who put Moby Dick into my mind with the simple phrase 'some think it the best bet as the great american novel. That statement once heard, Moby Dick had to be conquered by me.
Good book. There are many many digressions on a vast amount of things about whales - there are chapters devoted to describing the different sorts of whales - and there are even chapters devoted to describing pictures of whales. So, there is a lot of.....encloypedia time involved.
And it is Ahab who rules this book. Not perfect - Bloom is still my favourite made up person - but each time he takes the stage, it is like Mick or Morrissey out there. His crazyness is divine. His sweltering need to kill Moby Dick is what sets him apart. There are many times where thi gs would be better for the ship and crew if Ahab's obsession was not followed - but followed it was.
I won't ruin the ending fer ya, although I already knew. I'd seen the movie when I was but tyke, and I had the plot. That scene in the movie - it wasn't in the book.
There is great sadness in the book as well. The whalers are trying to kill alive beings, so it is really heartbreaking when the go throught and describe the hunt of the whales and their killing. Very sad. But a good book.
Good book. There are many many digressions on a vast amount of things about whales - there are chapters devoted to describing the different sorts of whales - and there are even chapters devoted to describing pictures of whales. So, there is a lot of.....encloypedia time involved.
And it is Ahab who rules this book. Not perfect - Bloom is still my favourite made up person - but each time he takes the stage, it is like Mick or Morrissey out there. His crazyness is divine. His sweltering need to kill Moby Dick is what sets him apart. There are many times where thi gs would be better for the ship and crew if Ahab's obsession was not followed - but followed it was.
I won't ruin the ending fer ya, although I already knew. I'd seen the movie when I was but tyke, and I had the plot. That scene in the movie - it wasn't in the book.
There is great sadness in the book as well. The whalers are trying to kill alive beings, so it is really heartbreaking when the go throught and describe the hunt of the whales and their killing. Very sad. But a good book.
04 September, 2008
virgil 3000
several months of vacation later,and I'm - ready - happy to be working again. Sub, of course, same school. Summer was kkiinda depressing. Lotsa time off, but there was no purpose to it. These last two summers have really sucked. I need to work next summer, somehow. I did work twoweeks subbing, but it wasn't enough.
I know, don't complain. But I drift in the hot times, and I am one person who shouldn't be drifting.
Well, @ least it won't be drifting into the street parade.
More later.
I know, don't complain. But I drift in the hot times, and I am one person who shouldn't be drifting.
Well, @ least it won't be drifting into the street parade.
More later.
02 September, 2008
Just a touch/
CHAPTER 36
The Quarter-Deck.
(ENTER AHAB: THEN, ALL) It was not a great while after the affair of the pipe, that one morning shortly after breakfast, Ahab, as was his wont, ascended the cabin-gangway to the deck. There most sea-captains usually walk at that hour, as country gentlemen, after the same meal, take a few turns in the garden.
Soon his steady, ivory stride was heard, as to and fro he paced his old rounds, upon planks so familiar to his tread, that they were all over dented, like geological stones, with the peculiar mark of his walk. Did you fixedly gaze, too, upon that ribbed and dented brow; there also, you would see still stranger foot-prints--the foot-prints of his one unsleeping, ever-pacing thought.
But on the occasion in question, those dents looked deeper, even as his nervous step that morning left a deeper mark. And, so full of his thought was Ahab, that at every uniform turn that he made, now at the main-mast and now at the binnacle, you could almost see that thought turn in him as he turned, and pace in him as he paced; so completely possessing him, indeed, that it all but seemed the inward mould of every outer movement.
"D'ye mark him, Flask?" whispered Stubb; "the chick that's in him pecks the shell. 'Twill soon be out."
The hours wore on;--Ahab now shut up within his cabin; anon, pacing the deck, with the same intense bigotry of purpose in his aspect.
It drew near the close of day. Suddenly he came to a halt by the bulwarks, and inserting his bone leg into the auger-hole there, and with one hand grasping a shroud, he ordered Starbuck to send everybody aft.
"Sir!" said the mate, astonished at an order seldom or never given on ship-board except in some extraordinary case.
"Send everybody aft," repeated Ahab. "Mast-heads, there! come down!"
When the entire ship's company were assembled, and with curious and not wholly unapprehensive faces, were eyeing him, for he looked not unlike the weather horizon when a storm is coming up, Ahab, after rapidly glancing over the bulwarks, and then darting his eyes among the crew, started from his standpoint; and as though not a soul were nigh him resumed his heavy turns upon the deck. With bent head and half-slouched hat he continued to pace, unmindful of the wondering whispering among the men; till Stubb cautiously whispered to Flask, that Ahab must have summoned them there for the purpose of witnessing a pedestrian feat. But this did not last long. Vehemently pausing, he cried:--
"What do ye do when ye see a whale, men?"
"Sing out for him!" was the impulsive rejoinder from a score of clubbed voices.
"Good!" cried Ahab, with a wild approval in his tones; observing the hearty animation into which his unexpected question had so magnetically thrown them.
"And what do ye next, men?"
"Lower away, and after him!"
"And what tune is it ye pull to, men?"
"A dead whale or a stove boat!"
More and more strangely and fiercely glad and approving, grew the countenance of the old man at every shout; while the mariners began to gaze curiously at each other, as if marvelling how it was that they themselves became so excited at such seemingly purposeless questions.
But, they were all eagerness again, as Ahab, now half-revolving in his pivot-hole, with one hand reaching high up a shroud, and tightly, almost convulsively grasping it, addressed them thus:--
"All ye mast-headers have before now heard me give orders about a white whale. Look ye! d'ye see this Spanish ounce of gold?"--holding up a broad bright coin to the sun--"it is a sixteen dollar piece, men. D'ye see it? Mr. Starbuck, hand me yon top-maul."
While the mate was getting the hammer, Ahab, without speaking, was slowly rubbing the gold piece against the skirts of his jacket, as if to heighten its lustre, and without using any words was meanwhile lowly humming to himself, producing a sound so strangely muffled and inarticulate that it seemed the mechanical humming of the wheels of his vitality in him.
Receiving the top-maul from Starbuck, he advanced towards the main-mast with the hammer uplifted in one hand, exhibiting the gold with the other, and with a high raised voice exclaiming: "Whosoever of ye raises me a white-headed whale with a wrinkled brow and a crooked jaw; whosoever of ye raises me that white-headed whale, with three holes punctured in his starboard fluke--look ye, whosoever of ye raises me that same white whale, he shall have this gold ounce, my boys!"
"Huzza! huzza!" cried the seamen, as with swinging tarpaulins they hailed the act of nailing the gold to the mast.
"It's a white whale, I say," resumed Ahab, as he threw down the topmaul: "a white whale. Skin your eyes for him, men; look sharp for white water; if ye see but a bubble, sing out."
All this while Tashtego, Daggoo, and Queequeg had looked on with even more intense interest and surprise than the rest, and at the mention of the wrinkled brow and crooked jaw they had started as if each was separately touched by some specific recollection.
"Captain Ahab," said Tashtego, "that white whale must be the same that some call Moby Dick."
"Moby Dick?" shouted Ahab. "Do ye know the white whale then, Tash?"
"Does he fan-tail a little curious, sir, before he goes down?" said the Gay-Header deliberately.
"And has he a curious spout, too," said Daggoo, "very bushy, even for a parmacetty, and mighty quick, Captain Ahab?"
"And he have one, two, three--oh! good many iron in him hide, too, Captain," cried Queequeg disjointedly, "all twiske-tee be-twisk, like him--him--" faltering hard for a word, and screwing his hand round and round as though uncorking a bottle--"like him--him--"
"Corkscrew!" cried Ahab, "aye, Queequeg, the harpoons lie all twisted and wrenched in him; aye, Daggoo, his spout is a big one, like a whole shock of wheat, and white as a pile of our Nantucket wool after the great annual sheep-shearing; aye, Tashtego, and he fan-tails like a split jib in a squall. Death and devils! men, it is Moby Dick ye have seen--Moby Dick--Moby Dick!"
Soon his steady, ivory stride was heard, as to and fro he paced his old rounds, upon planks so familiar to his tread, that they were all over dented, like geological stones, with the peculiar mark of his walk. Did you fixedly gaze, too, upon that ribbed and dented brow; there also, you would see still stranger foot-prints--the foot-prints of his one unsleeping, ever-pacing thought.
But on the occasion in question, those dents looked deeper, even as his nervous step that morning left a deeper mark. And, so full of his thought was Ahab, that at every uniform turn that he made, now at the main-mast and now at the binnacle, you could almost see that thought turn in him as he turned, and pace in him as he paced; so completely possessing him, indeed, that it all but seemed the inward mould of every outer movement.
"D'ye mark him, Flask?" whispered Stubb; "the chick that's in him pecks the shell. 'Twill soon be out."
The hours wore on;--Ahab now shut up within his cabin; anon, pacing the deck, with the same intense bigotry of purpose in his aspect.
It drew near the close of day. Suddenly he came to a halt by the bulwarks, and inserting his bone leg into the auger-hole there, and with one hand grasping a shroud, he ordered Starbuck to send everybody aft.
"Sir!" said the mate, astonished at an order seldom or never given on ship-board except in some extraordinary case.
"Send everybody aft," repeated Ahab. "Mast-heads, there! come down!"
When the entire ship's company were assembled, and with curious and not wholly unapprehensive faces, were eyeing him, for he looked not unlike the weather horizon when a storm is coming up, Ahab, after rapidly glancing over the bulwarks, and then darting his eyes among the crew, started from his standpoint; and as though not a soul were nigh him resumed his heavy turns upon the deck. With bent head and half-slouched hat he continued to pace, unmindful of the wondering whispering among the men; till Stubb cautiously whispered to Flask, that Ahab must have summoned them there for the purpose of witnessing a pedestrian feat. But this did not last long. Vehemently pausing, he cried:--
"What do ye do when ye see a whale, men?"
"Sing out for him!" was the impulsive rejoinder from a score of clubbed voices.
"Good!" cried Ahab, with a wild approval in his tones; observing the hearty animation into which his unexpected question had so magnetically thrown them.
"And what do ye next, men?"
"Lower away, and after him!"
"And what tune is it ye pull to, men?"
"A dead whale or a stove boat!"
More and more strangely and fiercely glad and approving, grew the countenance of the old man at every shout; while the mariners began to gaze curiously at each other, as if marvelling how it was that they themselves became so excited at such seemingly purposeless questions.
But, they were all eagerness again, as Ahab, now half-revolving in his pivot-hole, with one hand reaching high up a shroud, and tightly, almost convulsively grasping it, addressed them thus:--
"All ye mast-headers have before now heard me give orders about a white whale. Look ye! d'ye see this Spanish ounce of gold?"--holding up a broad bright coin to the sun--"it is a sixteen dollar piece, men. D'ye see it? Mr. Starbuck, hand me yon top-maul."
While the mate was getting the hammer, Ahab, without speaking, was slowly rubbing the gold piece against the skirts of his jacket, as if to heighten its lustre, and without using any words was meanwhile lowly humming to himself, producing a sound so strangely muffled and inarticulate that it seemed the mechanical humming of the wheels of his vitality in him.
Receiving the top-maul from Starbuck, he advanced towards the main-mast with the hammer uplifted in one hand, exhibiting the gold with the other, and with a high raised voice exclaiming: "Whosoever of ye raises me a white-headed whale with a wrinkled brow and a crooked jaw; whosoever of ye raises me that white-headed whale, with three holes punctured in his starboard fluke--look ye, whosoever of ye raises me that same white whale, he shall have this gold ounce, my boys!"
"Huzza! huzza!" cried the seamen, as with swinging tarpaulins they hailed the act of nailing the gold to the mast.
"It's a white whale, I say," resumed Ahab, as he threw down the topmaul: "a white whale. Skin your eyes for him, men; look sharp for white water; if ye see but a bubble, sing out."
All this while Tashtego, Daggoo, and Queequeg had looked on with even more intense interest and surprise than the rest, and at the mention of the wrinkled brow and crooked jaw they had started as if each was separately touched by some specific recollection.
"Captain Ahab," said Tashtego, "that white whale must be the same that some call Moby Dick."
"Moby Dick?" shouted Ahab. "Do ye know the white whale then, Tash?"
"Does he fan-tail a little curious, sir, before he goes down?" said the Gay-Header deliberately.
"And has he a curious spout, too," said Daggoo, "very bushy, even for a parmacetty, and mighty quick, Captain Ahab?"
"And he have one, two, three--oh! good many iron in him hide, too, Captain," cried Queequeg disjointedly, "all twiske-tee be-twisk, like him--him--" faltering hard for a word, and screwing his hand round and round as though uncorking a bottle--"like him--him--"
"Corkscrew!" cried Ahab, "aye, Queequeg, the harpoons lie all twisted and wrenched in him; aye, Daggoo, his spout is a big one, like a whole shock of wheat, and white as a pile of our Nantucket wool after the great annual sheep-shearing; aye, Tashtego, and he fan-tails like a split jib in a squall. Death and devils! men, it is Moby Dick ye have seen--Moby Dick--Moby Dick!"
from Melvilles Moby Dick
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