29 March, 2009

The Field of Mt. St. Jean, 8pm, 15 June 1815

Boy, talk about a disaster. On the 26th of March, we played our first 'conference game'. I'd been looking forward to this day because I thought we had a real chance to win the conference - but I was exposed as a terrible coach and our team looked , um, leaderless in the 1-0 loss. We just stunk, and I believe most of that reason was ...me.

One attempted explanation is that I'd spent so much time trying to get the whole program off of the floor this spring, I'd not been able to properly spend enough time on the varsity squad - the one I am head coach of. That's just an attempted explanation - true, but just an attempt. The real reason is that I just didn't apply myself to making this team my team and instead let last years playing decisions stand and the girls make decisions themselves. And it resulted in me not letting me coach my own team.

Bad.

My team is basically last years team back again. Really, only one girl is missing - the rest back. And despite the fact I had very real ideas on how I wanted the team to play and where I wanted the players to play and where some girls should play - inexplicably, I just let last years positions roll. We all figured on the ' lets not change what wasn't broken ' deal - but in fact we were broken. Last years team wasn't actually that good - 6-6-1 record and out of State in the first round - but we didn't see. What I should have done from the beginning was take the team over and style it my way - have some confidence in myself. And I didn't.

So, in this Thursdays game, when things got rough, the team fell apart. I can't describe the feeling of helplessness watching the team fall away from the sidelines. Just terrible. And the other team was so good. That it was only 0-1 testifies to the greatness of our defenders - but boy, we were in disarray. It was the lowest moment ever of my coaching career, and I needed to recover and lead these girls. The next twenty years of soccer @ this school depended on my reaction to what had happened. Again - we were in disarray.

And that's the coaches job to take care of. I let the team fall into this disarray. After the game, the meeting was terrible. Depressing. I knew especially the fault lied with me. I told the girls that what had gone on so far was totally my fault - and I feel this was true. Not a strategy to take the pressure off of my players - rather, it was true. At this point, I couldn't even see a way forward. It was a long bus drive home. A long ride.

Talked to Mom. Registered I was upset. About all. Called Gf. Me glum but not broken. Conversation turned to her hair or something in the second minute. About all. Finally called the top coach of Nek - and this did the trick. He's the guy whose had such a tremendous impact on me - and really it was good I talked to him since he calmed me down and steered me straight. He energized me, and when we hung up - I maybe not knew what to do - but I knew I had the energy to do it. But that call....

I was embarrassed to even voice my faults. But in a wide ranging conversation about things in general and things in soccer, I regained my - well, I didn't give in to defeat in coaching. We went over coaching in general, player decisions, injuries, scheduling games, goalies, formations, conducting practice, etc etc... As it really is my first year of running a program, he laughed and told me what did I expect in my first year? And he told me to use my strenghts. What are my strenghts? He told me when our sophomore teams played a week previously, he was impressed w/ the enormous amount of girls I gotten to come out for the team. He said it was my stenght to inspire people. Inspire people? Really? This is a good thing, and it was good to hear him say it.

Again, although it was heard by my ears, that idea that it was my first year and what did i think took a long time to sink in. Fuck that it was my first year - I wanted it all and I wanted it now. Like I was a kid. But, deep down, I knew he was rite.

Much reflection, called one of my captains, and told her we'd talk to-morrow and get her thoughts straight. I needed to take control, finally, of my own team. Funny, even that - I'd inherited this team, mainly, and failed to make it mine till this point. But in choosing to confer with just one captain - and not directly w/ the other (captain last year before I was coach) was one way in which I moved to take control.


The next nite, Saturday, the captain (Sweeper) and I had an hour monologue where everything I'd planned out I talked out. She wasn't allowed to talk much - it was important to get it all out - and I did. I rambled, new thoughts came to me, I rambled on further, and on and on ...

So, what I'd said, was more or less thusly, but in severely clipped form:

I'd wanted to coach this team so bad last year, and when I finally was named coach, I more or less reverted back to how they played last year. I deferred too much to last years coach (presently in Texas) and to their own wishes. Instead of making the decisions, I'd been too afraid to impose myself and make the changes that I'd wanted. I did not apply myself. I did not put my whole into it. And it wasn't because I was lazy - It was just ..... a failure to put myself out there because of the fear of .... a fear of .... whatever it was ... I wasn't doing a good coaching job at all. I was too afraid to coach. That was the fear.

So - changes had to be made. Mainly, it was me who had to step up and get things done. A long process, but ...

Injuries. I'd been warned that girls get injured much more easily than boys. One of the coaches on Nek told me not to schedule more that 12 games for my team. I listen to everything Pito has to say - but this time I ignored him. The head downtown guy of soccer - he also told me not too many games. But I was in total general manager mood, and loved contacting coaches to get other games going. Soo, I had scheduled 16 games. Sixteen. In a short season,many of the girls get injured, so I was left w/ a weakened team unable to field a squad for a game two days after the meltdown game. So, I had to learn to give the girls some breaks. We canceled that game, and then cancelled another. Horrid to call the coaches and say "Guess what?" But it had to be done.

Also, practice would be shorter. No longer three hour practices - lets have 1.5-2h practices. Day after games we'll have chill practices and not much running around. For the team, a very necessary change.

Positions. The girls insisted on three forward on top, and three midfielders. I wanted two forwards and four in the midfield. This was a Tremendous battle - the girls were convinced that only with three forwards could we score. But there was just no presence in the midfield...so we go w/ the 4-4-2 formation, and not the 4-3-3. A big battle.

There were many other small things - I need to get a mobile phone (I GOT ONE!!!) so i could be in better contact. I would come in early to one period so i would be available sooner for practice after school. I would pay much more attention to the varsity than to the entire program, especially since the whole thing is now underway and I do not need all the pressure to get it off the ground. But the main idea would be that i would actually coach the team now .. not just let inertia take hold.
It was a second good phone call. Both stabilised me. And now the real work of coaching the team began.

23 March, 2009

june brides

lightning rod

The adults around school have been reacting to me a lot lately. I'm pretty popular @ school - i'm a nice guy and all and work hard and am great with he kids. But lately - maybe its the maturing process of being a coach, maybe the maturing process of being close to getting a fulltime job here finally, or maybe its the terrible insanity that my sleepless fortnite entailed - but I'm getting a noticeable amount of hostile glares from certain people, and loads of love from lots of others.

The love im sure is the success of the soccer program. I don't want to stamp 'success' on it yet, just three games into the season - but people know the work and effort I've put in. Hopefully the principal, of course, but mainly the girls. They know. I've even won over my top assistant coach - he's real excited about it all, when I knew months ago he thought I was a freak for outlining my ideas for the program (he came from a very less intensive coaching background). So now this has spread to the rest of the kids - a lot of kids are coming up to me and id'ng me as 'soccer coach' and not 'substitute' or ;librarian'. funny transition that. The teachers, too. We got on stopping by the game today. Very kool.

But its the glares that funny me the most. Since soccer season has heated up, I've gone into barking mode. Not angry barking, but a coach has to bark. This process has allowed me to take no prisoners in school either. I want the job, and know I have to get tougher in all areas to be a success. A lot of work, me, to be a barker on kids. But ....

And I'm tired of the lazy fucking teachers who just want to drop off their kids in the library and fuck off. Special Ed teachers dump their kids in front of a computer, don't want me to reach if I have a substitute assignment, etc... I'm just a lot different lately, and the lazy ones feel threatened. So, the lazy fuxx - they glare. Don't say hi - despite me now making sure they get sunshine from me when we pass in the halls. Again - I'm no superman, but for sure there is a different thing operating these days. That deep amount of responsibility that I have always fled from - making me such a disaster as a classroom teacher - is now being followed through on.

Fuck them. They fucking suck. Pay attention to these kids, fucks. Just do yr job. Then y won't feel so threatened.

I'm Winters. Sometimes. But never Cobb any more.

football au printemps: injuries and confusion and site

Varsity is now 2-1 w/ the win today -v-Gob HS. We'd played them last year in a 'relegation/promotion' game @ the end of the year and won that game rather handily - I think it was 5-2. So I suspected a win this year - but it was harder than I thought'd be. Despite high hopes, we played a terrible and lifeless first half. We had a wind - kind've a big deal @ this level when it whipped that well - but could get nothing done.

It was only some of my fault - this was the last of our games before our ultra important Conference schedule, and we (I) have a lot to work on. I'm glad, however, we got some experience before these ultra games - only seven - come on. These seven games are important because we are presently in the second level of teams and if we win these seven games - or @ least get the most points out of these seven games - we can move into the top conference in the city (The Premier League). It'd be a kool thing to play w/ the giants next year.

We'd played one of these teams already - the 1-2 loss where I'd had my crisis of faith - and played well. But this first half - horrible. Partly it was confusion on where the players were playing. Although most of these kids have been playing together for years, I'm a new coach. Again - I know this is old - I didn't want to reinvent the wheel (so to speak- that wonderful phrase where you can use a cliche but also get away w/ it by this acknowledgement) and mainly used the kids in the same positions. However, there are new kids and injured kids and kids needing playing time - and in the course of the game, especially early on, I'd made some switches and that caused confusion. Mercifully, half time ensued, we all got on the same page, and instantly got better in th second. Seems like I'm saying that MY DECISION MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE - but really that's not the case or even a Hiltsian attempt to make all spotlites shine on him. I did what was needed, but i think the girls just came alive in the second half because they got used to playing - and especially the inspired play of one player in particular. more below.

Generally speaking, our defense was great - it was the offense that troubled. But in the first two minutes of the second half we had two great offensive combinations, and eventually the goals came. One was from a shot off the right winger - she so fast and was able to get around her defender a few times - her goal seemed more of a pass that eluded the goalie. One up, such a relief, and into the wind. The next goal was a killer shot from the left midfielder - funny, I wanted to say one of my favourite players, but they really all are) who scored from distance. We want the girls to take shots when they are open and in range, and presto!

We need to work on many things - spread the ball wide on offense, put it into space so the fast wingers can get to it, get in front of the goal, handle long balls and be quick on the turn - funny (back to Hilts and his role) how my dark clouds have turned into phrases like "put it into space so the fast wingers can get to it, get in front of the goal, handle long balls and be quick on the turn" . Time is short and the team needs direction, and I need to be there for them. And for myself.

There were other good things. The girl who made me mad the other day by not wanting to play on the JV team for one game came to me and asked to play. She's just a kid, and I felt terrible for getting mad @ her - but she did play goalie for the JV. She took the hit for the program. I'm proud of her.

Varsity got an old player back - the girl who has to play on JV because she has nite classes on T-Th and can only make it to the JV games (V. are played first, generally - JV later) was able to play on V for the first time this year because this game was on a Monday. Thursday she'll be back on JV. I'll take her when we can get her, and she'll get experince on JV. She played better on V - surrounded by better players.

The defenders displayed were great. Fantastic. They were strong on the opposing forwards and kept coming up big - especially in the first half. Again and again and again they cut off attacks from the other teams and basically kept our goalmouth free of opposing attacks. Well done beyond belief, and it gives me great hope for the future of the backline. In soccer @ this level, the premium on an organized backline is so great. For now, they inspire me and my faith in the team.

And we got a great player back. Again- one of my favourite players - came back from an injury, and her incredible energy really made a huge difference. A huge difference. She's a wonderful positicve force, and deeply skilled. Small in stature but throwing her body into the play always, her enegry spread to the rest of the team - her play was, I think, the catalyst of victory. 10m ago, when I knew I was to get this team, I wanted to name her as one of the captains. I decided to stay w/ one who was captain last year and one who was obviously the most respected of them all. Then, over the weekend, I revisited this question in my head - and decided not stay still. But now ...... She's just such a positive life force, and now. w/ the difference her play makes ...... maybe ...... I.......should.........

But there were also bad moments. One of the captains was injured. She has a wealth of talent and superior ball skills - but also missed most of last year because of injuries. One thing I've noticed about girls players v. boy players is the stunning amount of injuries @ this level among girls. Last year half the team was out @ some point or other. I mean, ER beyond belief. The positive life force I wrote about in the above para. was injured and this was her first game back in the season. Her injury, however, was a non soccer injury and I'm not so worried about her. But every game, some muscle gets twitched or a back strained - and the cumulative effect is scary. I do not want to be left w/ a bunch of injured kids and have to play JV in State.
But - we have stuff to work on, I have some good ideas, and am Looking forward to Thursday. And - I got upwards of 6h sleep last nite - yes, work up @ 5am - but FELL BACK ALSEEP. Not a classically great nites slep,but I haven't been more rested in a fortnites plus.

22 March, 2009

stinking...

I woulndt've bought the shirt, of course

My St. Patricks was all about oggling green clad sluttily dressed women.
Here's an alternative Euro version of St. Patick's.

Not an attempt to offend a girl I used to kiss full on the mouth

There is a blogger out there who I used to kiss full on the mouth. Longtime ago, never a big deal for either of us, never in too deep, and I think we were pretty good for each other (as in getting over other people) in the short time we both hung out and kissed full on the mouth. I have good feelings for her, y know it's kool, and I like that I still see her around. She's only one of two (a secret lover only Vito knows about - you need to keep quiet on that - remember what happened when I told GF about the possible job and swore her to secrecy and she immediately told Darwina who told you who told bro in law who ............)

I nicknamed her after a German battlecruiser, simply because @ the time I linked her blog to mine I happened to have German battlecruisers on my mind - I was comparing the NS-1 Peter Strasser to the Seydiltz. However, the other battlecruiser I named her blog after could quite possibly be taken as a kiss off.

No. Just Hilts is wierd and although maybe only Big Man could appreciate it, Hilts is gonna push stupid military stuff everywhere and laugh himself (and Big Man).

So, here's another way of making fun of myself , but fearful of making fun of other people - including the blogger who I used to kiss full on the mouth - I am warning in advance - I'm just mocking myself.
So...

I'm sorry that ¡securityout! has turned into the type of blog lately that only concerns itself about my soccer teams. (Here's the digg). i sorta compare myself to the young parents who were wilde once, but now blog about their children and their garden. And their tv shows and books.

See - I think it's funny, and you think it's offensive. Luckily she doesn't read my blog.

But- in the spirit of unfinished business (huh? what kind of a segway is that?), here's stuff I just finished ... about my children ....

the SSIP

congress

Football au printemps:Techinal Director

Just read a good comment from Gallo. Must admit that after my crisis of faith Thursday nite - in the dark hours, and me now running two straight weeks of insomnia (I'd average it out to 4.5 h of sleep a nite, and no nite in the last fortnite w/ more than 5.5h/nite - even on weekends - it's stunning and so unexpected that this has manifested itself), the team itself came after me - like they'd read the post, and they haven't - with full eyes telling me they needed me as coach. I'd woken up Friday - 4h of sleep - w/ that Winters feeling that officers lead and rite now I need to lead. i am th adult, and no more whining and crying to myself and securityout readers (it was a real tough post to write). So I lead.

Rosters

Finally got the roster situation settled. Each game we are supposed to have eligibility rosters of kids who can actually play legally. It's, um, not that big a deal in non conference games - but deadly serious in conference and city and state playoff games. The problem is that our AD is seriously overworked, and has a hard time updating our roster. We were missing a few names last weeks games, but this finally got most of them on for this week. Some names were still not on the sophomore teams rosters, but that was ok - the kids were legal, just on a different roster (still stuck on JV roster). But our pressing problem was that all CPS teams have ONE roster for their teams - but us. We have separate V and JV rosters. For me - until the solution surfaced - this was terrible, because I am constantly raising specific kids for specificc purposes between the rosters, For example, one girl is a senior and has played for 4 years - but to graduate, she has to take a T-TH nite class - there's no way she can make it to the Varsity games. So i offered her a good solution - drive to our game after class and play on the JV squad (which play rite after the VAr. game ends). This will allow her to practice and be in shape - and when we play on days other than T- TH or over break - she's back on varsity. I also need to develop next years players - one of Napoleons maxims was that "Men are lead by baubles" - so in select games, I raise to varsity - if no JV game - those girls I know will be w/ me next year. They get to claim they are varsity, if only for a bit - and get a taste of the VASTLY faster game in the upper level.

Again, the normal CPS thing is to have one sheet w/ all V/JV players on it, and I take my biro beforehand and 'line out' th girls who are on JV and not eligible for my game. The JV coah lines out on his roster those girls playing varsity. It's a simple system and allows me great flexibility to make personnel decisions minutes before the opening whistle. But with our TWO separate rosters, this presented a problem - until a meeting w/ the Ad and an email to the CPS soccer head downtown. The solution is perfect - just staple both rosters to-gether and consider them as one. I will be able to line out who is to be JV rite before the game, as all other coaches have that luxury.

There are still roster questions - but on the V and JV level, they are about over.

Goaliegoaliegoalie.

I just wanted her to play goalie on the JV for one game - one game - because the JV goalie works on Mondays ( I know I know, but its a fact of life in city sports programs), but like last year - and the year before - she pouted and walked away from the game. One game - one game - and pouting terribly. She has a history of this behaviour, but this is the first time it's manifested itself this year.

It's somewhat of an important thing, because all of varsity goalies - we have three - want to be field players. The best goalies I don't want in the goal - she is a superior field player and would be missed in that context. She mite have to lend a hand from time to time in the nets, but she's needed on the field. The next choice also wants to play in the field. She's been a somewhat different case - I hesitate to use the word difficult, so I used different - but has really stepped up this year. She REALLY wants to play the field - and is a plus for us there - but realises that we kinda need her in the nets a lot. I will use her as much as I can on the field - but in big games, she mite be stuck in goal.

And then our third choice. To be fair to her, she never wanted to be goalie - way back before I existed, some one asked her to be and it stuck w/ her. She was my JV goalie last year, although there was a lot of hemming and hawing about it. So my plan was to use her in one half and the other goalie in the other half. This probably would have worked fine - but our next game is on a Monday - so no goalie for the JV. I thought it would be a good solution to have her drop down to JV for one game TO HELP OUT - but instead she FREAKED OUT. Thursday she was with us @ Marquette Park, but wandered away. I was kind disgusted w/ her behaviour, and have decided to let the varsity captains figger out a solution. We'll see. But now JV will have to have an unpracticed goalie in the JV game on Monday.

And I can't shake the feeling that our loss on Thursday - a last minute bouncing ball over the second choice goalie - mite have been played differently by the pouting goalie - because if she hadn't walked away from us and refused to play, she would have had the net in the second half.


Looking for leadership


So, @ division, after waking up and feeling the leadrship gene back in me, I went and got both cptains out of class for a little bit for a discussion- a short discussion. I wanted their thoughts on other players, positions, and sub patterns. In many ways, my team is an inherited team, so I make sure that I got their opinions on these questions - I'm not gonna radically redo positions when these girls have been playing to-gether. I expressed my fears to them - well, not really, like you readers know - but I asked for more of their imput on field personnal situations so I can be a better coach - and it was good. Tomorrow I will do the same thing - call them out of class and then form up a line up for the game. This will allow me to ponder on it all day - which will be good for me. We talked about the goalie situation. I informd them that I and the coach who handles the money have agreed that if they fund raise $100, we'll pay for 1/2 of their uniforms (we issue them uni's , but we get them back. If they ant thier name and number on them, then they gotta pay for it themselves). We watched the division 'news' program - in which the team is always noted (I write up our press releases - and yes as I get more used to them, they will get more securityout like) Then I sent them back to class.

Friday was a conditioning day. Our 'Chief Financial Officer' runs them, and I let the girls go afte that. I really wanted to work w/ the sophmores, and thiswas a good solution. I met the varsity as they were resting, and the (one of the) captain and another player expressed fear that I was spending too much time w/ the young girls. I told them that there will be times - when they are conditioning - that I will not be there, and that I will spend other time w/ the young girls on a sparse case by case basis (I realise now that mite not totally be the case - I have to be VERY careful). I addresses the varsity during their meeting, just a bit. But this issue - me feeling confident in myself in being a good field coach (not just the Technical Director of the program) was mollified a lot.

Funny - Saturday nite, afte the NCAA's and the Bulls and the Fire games were all over - I took my practice books, notebooks, and a pen to Keegans to kick back and plan out some practices w/ a few Black Velvets. Sure, there was three drinks - but their were also assured practice plans for the week ahead addressing issuse that I think we need to work on.

So, as a coach, my confidence is back. It needed to be. Our team plans on doing great things.

19 March, 2009

Football au printemps :Us 1, Them 2, Me 0

It's taken so much to get all of this to-gether - so much work, and now towering worry about everything - and this was a game where we all looked forward to - and it wasn't the loss that killed me. We played well - i'd say it was 54% us and 46% them in terms of carrying the play - it was somethig else.

For me, it was the feeling that I can only go so far in helping the team get better. And I fear @ this point - despite all my much touted 'experince ' @ this school and that school - that my soccer expertise runs out when it reaches the high school varsity level - a high level- and it goes no further. I know full well that if Pito and crew were runnigng the show @ this school - fuck they'd be in the highest level.

My worth as an actual field runs out @ some point - and I think today - despite all the good I have done for this team/program - and I have done real and demonstratable good, yes I know- I can help barely any further. My expertise just runs out.


The girls are just greater experts than I am. Really, they know bette than I. At every other program I've been @, there have been strong soccer people running the show and me just helping out. I get the feeling that the same is true here -except that the girls themselves are the strong soccer people - and my role is to just help out.

Don't get me wrong - I'm totally respected by them, and I full feel the appreciation for what I have done for them. True is the phrase that in the history of my school, there has never ever been anyone pushing socce the way I have. But when I arrived @ the game - running late as I had a 10th period to cover and after I'd let the Varsity take cars to make sure they'd gotten there on time - they'd already decided on a starting line up themselves. This is a crew that hads been to-gether for four years and are very close - and it's like they sense that they don't want me to fuck up what they've got.

And again - don't get me wrong - they really appreciate, respect, like, and all those other things me - but ......

On the JV level, I'm actually a great coach. Really good. I love teaching the game to the younger kids. I look @ our younger kids and smile always thinking of the Love we had on our JV team I coached last year and what a good job I did. I'm excited because I am also helping coach our sophmore teams. But I really fear that I have reached a level. And what am I to do? I want to do great things - great things - and ......

This is a tough thing for me. I get so much love - from the teachers, the administrators, the students, other coaches ... my players... but I feel that .... it's just kinda tough.

And the fact we lost today doesn't affect this. If we'd won 2-1, I'd still be feeling these feelings. After doing so much good for the program, the girls, the team - I still need to find my way.

Btw, they scored two fluke goals, and we hit the crossbar and shot just wide again and again and again. Lek HS was very lucky to beat us today. I hope we meet them again in the city or state playoffs. We'll win then. And hopefully, I can contribute in some way.

Final note. One of my favourite kids lost her father yesterday. I figured she'd miss the game, but the girl showed up to help her cope. She's so young to have lost her father. And I'm glad that she chose us to help her cope with her grief.

18 March, 2009

Football au printemps: Us 4/ Them 0

Dateline Marquette Park:
Bizarre rushes, running around loking for this or that cheque, waiting for tyhe bus, the opposing coach calling saying "whghere are you" despite the fact that the game had been scheduled for 4.30pm- NOT 4pm - we played, finally, our first game. Look @ that score.
Exhausted beyond believf, I slept rite away - from 10.45 to 2 am - then awoke till about 4am w/ more worries and thoughts and .... Gf has always said I think too much. I seriously started to think 'maybe I should get some sleeping pills: but then ....... do I really wanna do that?
No.
Like the Imperial Japanese marines/ Army in WW2, I will work the work of Life raggedlooking, and 'shower/I need a vash" when I can.
To-morrow is another game. But - seriously - the tide of paperwork that NEEDS to get done is starting to receed, a game is under our belts ( they loooked so good - so good - so good) and coach Hilts has now meat behind all his pretty words.
We, y'know ... got it done.

16 March, 2009

Afrika Korps

South Side Irish Parade

Since I'm in the midst of the SLEEPLESSNESS crisis, I actually went to the Southside Irish Parade this year. Lived in this hood since 1991, and this is only the second time I've went. The weather was glorious - in the +60's. I'd been awake since 6 am - since the parade starts @ noon and I'm usually waking @ noon, I never go. But this year....

So - a third of a million obnoxious drunk people running through the neighbourhood. I love it and want to go again next year. I live 1.25m away from where the parade runs past 111th, and even that distance away people are trying to find parking places so they can walk that distance. It really is a kool thing for th neighbourhood - I just love the incredible energy electrifying everything around here. Plus, for once, people actually come here from all over - I'm really used to going to the North Side or the Loop or wherever to do things. It's fun to have the whole neighbourhood looking like it was after the Sox had won the Series in '05 and the people had taken over the streets. Since it was such nice weather, the whole day had Mt. Greenwood in a festive mood.

The Irish thing is whatever. Obv. I like being Irish, but in America there is a strange fascination w/ all things Irish. It really is treated like they are the golden race or something. Being of Irish descent myself (passported and all), I'm a little bit - no, a lot of bit - embarrassed by the attention paid to things Irish. Strange thing. But of course - if there is a little bit'o pretty to be gotten out of it, then of course I'll start talking the blarney. I'm not stupid. But still- strange thing. Often I run.

Oh, yes. The real attraction of the parade. The green sluts. Of the third of a million the parade - all dressed in green - half of them had to be women. That makes 170,000 women. Cut off the kids and the old ladies, that leaves say - 100,000. Cut out the hags and the nags and whatever else - that leaves us 50,000. So: 50,000 women, drunk many of them, dressed as slutty as possible in green. I really love it. I have to plan to go next year.

Congressmen and the Congressman

LFP's big birthday party @ Cork and Kerry to finalize the friday nite of rushed and impportant things to get done. School, rosters, meetings, then dropping off paperwork @ kids houses - gotta get it in, no matter what.

Went home, ate dribbles, and then out to the b-day bash. Mrs. LFP had rented the party room of Cork and Kerry for the bash, and it was huge. 200 -250 people showed up - and there were notable people missing. Open bar - drank one beer, then switched to soda so I didn't feel like shit. Worked.

I knew barely anybody when i got there. Searched out LFP, talkd a bit, but he had 249 others to chat up, so I switched to Mr. B, an old neighbourhood guy who works w/ LFP. Thn I sat around for 45m talking to no one and watching the Hawks and college baskets on the large screen TV's.

Finally, the wildest person who ever lived - you think JAcob is wilde? - arived. Keener - who has slowed a bit, to be sure - never the less was lifting people up, kissing people, being loud, and mounting the stage to sing in the microphones. Tis guy......

The cavalry arrived finally. BCD, Big Man, and BCD's latest stripper girlfriend arrived. It was good to see them. I was able to chat the rest of the night w/ frenz. I hadn't seen Big Man in a long time, and it was good to try to catch up/ go back. BCD was in fine style - the new boisterous stripper (we liked her a lot and she was easy to talk to ), the roll of cash (He took his roll out to pay for something and I immediately grabbed his hand to see - yes, hundreds....), the usual late arrival.

One man who ran for Congress in our district in 2006 was there. I'd helped out his campaign because a good buddy was running it (and BCD and LFP suggested it) and had a lot of fun. He lost, but it was a kool experience. Iwas hesitent ot say hello, since he really didn't kno me - but when those guys arrived, he was there with us. Finally I summed up the courage to say "Hello Mr. ____, I'm Virgil Hilts". He said "Good to meet you" and then "Haven't I met you before?" , and when I told him I'd worked on his campaign, he smiled large and gave me a hug. I though that was kinda kool.

It was a Friday, so when LFP drove his girl (Don't worry, he's still w/ his other stripped girlfriend, and maybe another or two I dunno about) back to her car, solidly tired Big Man and I left and went home.

Got in, lites out w/in a minute.

Football au printemps:Pito and the Crew

After the terrible rush to get paper-werkes beyond belief in - I raced in the Strasser to an important meeting near Comiskey Park to insure that we get even more paper-werke in to headquarters. This registered our school so we could have a team in the Freshmen League. By dint of hard marching, the cliche goes, and for the first time ever - my school has freshman team in girls soccer.

It was one of my goals. And yes, being an officer - a, uh, well, I'll declare because I know it - second lieutenant, say - involves getting these things done. I've been earning my bars. And it looks good for the school as well - only 12 other schools have a freshman team. And now us.

But I'm greedy. I don't want one team - I want two. I'm sure that maybe I have undertaken too much, but i want it really bad. One other school - a school even bigger than mine - has two teams. It's not competition with this school- it is simply the desire to provide a team for 20 more girls. My experiences coaching have been so positive, it's impossible for me not to want that when I can do it.

But we'll see. The meeting I went to basically was like a town meeting w/ voting. We met to set up the schedule - which teams were in what division (13 teams all to-gether, unless we get another --which'd make it 14-- in two divisions). We also set ground rules, and voted for it. "Ok, what if weather comes in and halts a game after ... say 25m .... should we consider that an official game?" "ok" "Yes" Hilts : "Well, doesn't 30m sound better - that makes it over the half way mark of the game (Soph/ Fresh League games last only 55m)?" "ok, is everyone in favour of a game being official after 30 instead of 25? Ok , 30m it is"

And it was nice to hang w/ Pito again. We coached to-gether @ Nek - the program w/ the biggest influence on me - and it's always great to hang w/ any of them. We had a good time - while the meeting went on, we were really like HS students laughing and making cracks and etc... I really miss that program, but life goes on. What I'm trying to create @ my school hopefully will have the same atmosphere.

We'll see.

Since the meeting was nar Comiskey, I picked up few tix - a single ticket to the 8th of April (it's too cold said she), and two for a day in Mai.

14 March, 2009

Football au printemps:Deadlines own Jessie Owens

Shocking day of running around and working and running around. Simply put - we had to get enough bodies on our three rosters to have three teams ready and alive- this being my first year running the show, it was kinda messy. They had to have two forms signed by their parents, and then the physical signed, stamped, and signed again. Some of the girls - rsponsible as hell - had it all. Others had this little dribble but not that - that but not the other - or .... nothing. So, w/ the help of the three other coaches, we assembled it all and delivered it to the AD - just in the nick of time. I woulda really looked like a fuckup if it didn't come off, and am glad ... PHEWWWWW - it went down.
But - it as all I did all day. Run here, run there, and be really quick w/ everyone. Real quick and short. My rep here is, of course, of a nice friendly guy who has time for most people. Suddenly I'm snappin' jessie owens, running from here to there, hurdles, sorry not nows, etc etc etc. I was given a pass by most, but am chuckled by the fact that people here HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS SIDE OF ME. Hopefully it won't come out often ... but it mite.
I depended a lot on the other coaches - all three came up big in getting helping me roster up and get it done. Basically, the JV coach ran practice, bless him, and it all went well. It was good to get this shit in - remember, this is the week of my 5am wake up and I can't go back to sleep craziness - all week this (5am wake up and I can't go back to sleep craziness) happened -all week - worrying about ... well, @ this point, worrying that this day went well. Since we now have three official rosters, I can relax somewhat a bit - but justa bit. My real calm time will come sometime around 1 April, when we get to play on our regular practice field instead of using gyms and catchascatchcan time @ our outdoor park rite outside school. Till then .. headaches a bit ... but lessoned.
Friday was deeply chaotic and hectic. But it got done. Maybe not w/ style, but again - I got it done.

commercial shillings

11 March, 2009

Manchester's Day

football au printemps: The Attack on Foy

Finally - finally -and although I am again awake @ 0500h worrying about the team - finally it's all coming to-gether. The issues presently:

Paperwork

Gettin' there. We need a -excuse me, not a, but three - rosters by Friday. This is the day - the put up or shut up day where its gotta get done. And now, I'm sure - we've crested the hill. I DO NOT have all of my girls paperwork yet still - but I have enough to go to the AD and say "here we are for now" and we'll be able to add the next set of girls as the season goes on - they will just have to miss some games. I'm ok w/ that - again, one of my great achievements of my ENTIRE LIFE is that I got three games schedules before conference games start(think NCAA - say, Big Ten Football schedules - same idea), and the girls can watch their teammates play and get jealous and race to get their fucking shit to-gether and to me.

The AD

It just seemed that we were being picked on - it really did. Disabused. I had a sit down w/ her after another email that started off w/ her classic "Let me make this perfectly clear....". I quivered up to hr office, but when I left, it truly was as if I was once again Ney, clutching a musket, holding the Russians @ bay as the rear guard and letting the rest of Napoleons army escape (Yes, I incomparably love Waterloo imagery more, but they lot there, didn't they?). We covered a bunch of issues, and they were all good.

So- stunningly, money issues, so fucking pennypinching me and God Bless my Dad who TAUGHT ME - guess what, I can relax a bit. It seems that our tiny little kitty - raised by A. R. last year wonderfully - actually DOESN'T have to be quite so husbanded, since we DO NOT have to pay for buses or referees for our games. I was under the impression that for the non-conference games that I feel were so important for us to play - we had to pay for Referees and buses. And the answer? NO! The school will pay for all of that - and in doing so, totally expanded our budget. Stunningly - like the Pacific War during those 5m @ Midway - it's all changed. Suddenly I can start looking to but extra equipment for us - like little goals, conditioning equipment, gloves for the goalies, etc etc etc...maybe even prizes like t shirts, etc... for the end of the season.

So- I asked her - not 'off the record', but 'I do not know please tell me' - about visiting grammar schools and ... observing practices and games of the schools around here so that ... well, I can tell them the grammer school kids fantastic our school is - especially the athletic girls playing soccer. There are heavy recruitement rules that I will meticiously follow - but our school really is a special school, and I'm tryig to match the soccer program w/ this specialness. As the Technical Director of the team here - I have a heavy iterest in it's future, and its njoyable that I can be a little proactive for the team. It's a great thing.

Funny - I feel a trillion times better about the relationship between the AD and I. Like i'd suspected, it was my natural "I'm being persecuted" inclination - and I knew it, too, like Blackies knowing but still experiencing it. Things so much better.

Multiculturalism.

We have kids from all over. Not quite like the school, that Gallos bro works @ - there are no Indians in sari's or Jews w/ yamakas here - but we got Latinos, African Americans, whites and Polish (and yes, notice they are in a separate category), Arabs, and Chinese. It's my goal to have a team that represents the whole school. I absolutely love my Latinas - but I want everyone well represented. So, all year, I went after all girls who I thought would improve the team - black girls, Polish girls, attempted to work w/ one of the bilingual Chinese teachers who had tonnes of 14yo over from China freshman - but until today we were totally Latin.

But then - YES- two African American girls approached me and asked about the team. Sat them down immediately and got their names, and one showed up for practice the same day. She's gotta play a lot and get better - but I used my fiat and no matter how good she isn't - she's on our freshman team. To me, a team - or a program - doesn't necessarily have to have the best 'players' - in the long run, our Team will be made better and stronger - for the girls, the school, for America and the World - and for me - if we are more multilaterally represented. I'm not sure how you readers feel about this - you know, it's America, and it's Race, and those not American just don't know - but I do know. It's a beautiful day for us.

Tne assistants.div>

They are happy. I have three. The JV coach - a good man, but we have not seen eye to eye about all. This is ok - it's a work inprogress- b ut I know that as the days go by, we are working better and better everyday. Since yesterday was so outstanding. we parted ways w/ a handshake - we both know, finally, that it's getting close and we just about got it all down. This is imooratant. He's a soccer guy and good where I am weak - I need him. Bit by bit we 're meshing better. The freshman coach is a neophyte in soccer, but sh LOVES the fact that she's a coach, and just wants to learn. Her enthusiasm is great. Finally - R. - another coach who worked w/ us last year - is looking to fit in and wants direction from me. I have a place for her in the context of the team - she is needed. It's working -I think.

Champ de Bataille.

We are orphans, pitchwise. The fields outside of the school are totally used up by baseball. We have to walk almost a full mile to get to the place where we practice - and we don't even get to play there 'till 1 April because they do not want to mess up the field for baseball w/ all the spring rain showers. That's seven games into the season. We're treated like chumps.

But an idea. There is an old factory (out of business) near the park that is now out of busiess. In a meeting w/ the park manager last fall, he mentioned that they had been trying to get the park district to acquire the land. I immediately thought 'kool' and got my mind working. If somehow we could get some action on it, maybe we could actually get a field for the team to play on.

But more: the school has a social action group that trains the kids to be leaders in the community. They try to plan and enact social action (or whatever the term is) to try and better the community. It occured to me that this would be an excellent issue for the social action group to take on. I went to the teache in charge of the social action group, overviewed him what I overviewed y just now, acknowledged it would benefit th girls team @ my school the most, and then told him that I'd get him back to him next week w/ photos, ideas, maps, Ph #'s, etc etc etc...

It would be good. Years away, though.


09 March, 2009

Gf's favourite of late

Football au printemps: Distraction

Driven down by sleeplessness, I was a wreck gong into school today. More shit happened - I had to email a coach of a Premier League school to tell him we had to cancel our "friendly" w/ them on Saturday - were just not enough together yet to get it done.

So - rosters are due this Friday - and, again, it's gonna be a near run thing. I think we will have enough bodies to fill out our three squads - unpreecented in our schools history, btw, those three teams (only had two before) - and a deeply proud accomplishment for me, because it as made possibe by one person - me - but just worrying. Usually it's Jesus or Joyce who I compare myself to - but now it's the president. All the fuss about grey hair on his head - I can only guess w/ the amount of worrying over the girls I'm ordealing through, I hesitate to mirror meself because surely it will be the sock of battleship grey reflected in my sites.

However, a meeting w/ the second coach in 4th priod was very productive - we are in the process of diving up players for the three teams, and its good to just get some decisions decided. It was easy to pick varsity - mainly last years kids, with a smattering of new kids. It was hard to winnow down junior varsity - I had to make decisions first, then the next bunch could be picked. We announced the JV team @ the end of practice - and it was funny because the girls who were picked were so excited, all hugging and excited and yelping.

And then there was the remainders. True they were not icked for the first two teams, but this year we got a place to put them. They are a ragged lot - pure freshman team players - but we have a place for them to play. Funny - the JV coach seperated the JV girls to talk to them, and I was 'running' the freshman team - and they all were totally like "What does that mean, that we are out here away from the other girls?" fearing that this was the end of the line. However, although they would have liked to make the JV team (Varsity? - HA!!), I'm sure they are happy that they are on a team.

And I am very happy. So many fears all day, mixd w/ other emotions - but a deeply satisfying ending to the athletic day - well, actually, as I write, the Bulls and HEat are tied near the end of double OT game.

FAcebooked to me from the Party of America

Greens note victory for the universal health care movement after the White House, in a reversal, invites Single-payer advocates to its March 5 health summit
GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org/

For Immediate Release:
Friday, March 6, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org

Issues & Answers for the media on Single-payer universal health care

WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders called the White House's reversal on excluding Single-payer advocates from a March 5 health care policy summit a modest but important victory for universal health care.

The Green Party of the United States is one of several organizations supporting Single-payer health care that urged its members and the public to demand an invitation for advocates of Single-payer/Medicare For All, who until Wednesday evening had been barred from the summit (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=188).

"The Obama Administration's reversal proves that if enough Americans speak out for real universal health care, we won't be ignored. Unfortunately, President Obama's welcoming remarks on Thursday showed that he won't stand up to the insurance lobby. He won't admit that the private insurance industry adds nothing of value to our health care system, while greatly increasing health care costs and impeding the delivery of health care," said Mark Dunlea, former chair of Green Party of New York State, currently co-chair of Single Payer New York.

"One of our greatest obstacles is the lack of media coverage for Single-payer, because too many in the media have been subject to pressure by politicians and the HMO-insurance industry, which exercises leverage through advertising contracts and underwriting," added Mr. Dunlea.

On Thursday morning, Green Party members learned that the White House had relented after receiving numerous complaints, and invited two Single-payer advocates: Dr. Oliver Fein, president of Physicians for a National Health Program (http://www.pnhp.org/) and Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), the author and main sponsor of HR 676, legislation for Single-payer program (http://thomas.loc.gov/home/gpoxmlc110/h676_ih.xml).

Until Dr. Fein and Rep. Conyers were invited, the 120 guests at the meeting included lobbyists for the for-profit insurance industry, as well as members of Congress, including Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus, who has declared the Single-payer "off the table." Physicians for a National Health Program, other members of the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care, and the National Single Payer Alliance led the call for President Obama to invite Single-payer leaders.

Issues & Answers for the media: facts about Single-payer national health care (also called Medicare For All)

How Single-payer works:

Everybody in, nobody out: Single-payer covers every American regardless of employment, income, ability to pay, age, and prior medical condition. Right now, about 48 million Americans have no health coverage at all and millions more have inadequate coverage. Under Single-payer, they will all enjoy guaranteed quality health care, including prescriptions.

In a Single-payer system, no American will face financial ruin because of illness or injury. Private HMOs and health insurance companies raise their profit margin by denying treatment to people with medical emergencies and by denying coverage to those they consider 'high-risk' because of existing health problems, age, low income, etc. In other words, private health insurance is designed to fail people who need health care the most.

Single-payer will allow Americans to choose which physician, health care provider, and health care facility will treat them.

Single-payer will cut national health care costs by as much as a third and reduce what working Americans pay for health coverage. Single-payer will be funded at the federal level and administered at the state level. Americans will pay for Single-payer the way we now pay for Social Security, but the amount working Americans will pay will be far less than for private health coverage, because Single-payer eliminates the profit-making insurance and HMO 'middle-men.'

Single-payer reduces paperwork for physicians and other health professionals, one reason why thousands of MDs, other people working in the health care industry, and medical students have endorsed Single-payer.

Under Single-payer, physicians, hospitals, and other health care providers would compete to serve the public, raising the quality of health care. Single-payer is a health insurance payment mechanism, not a health care delivery system.

Health care rationing? All health care plans ration care to some extent. Under private insurance programs, treatment is rationed according to ability to pay for coverage. Under Single-payer, the insurance company profit motive is removed and health care is rationed according to need, with medical emergencies and serious illnesses receiving top priority.

Single-payer and the economy:

Single-payer makes economic sense. At 3% administrative cost, Medicare (which would be made universal under Single-payer) is highly efficient compared to the 15-30% administrative costs of for-profit insurance.

Single-payer will boost the ailing US economy and provide relief for businesses large and small, since it will cancel the high expense and administrative burden of employer-based health care benefits (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=158).

Single-payer will relieve municipalities and school boards from having to bear the cost of providing health insurance to employees, allowing responsible officials to reduce their budgets and lower local property taxes.

Single-payer gives government (and therefore taxpayers) a stake in preventive medicine and promotion of good health habits to keep costs down.

The politics of Single-payer:

Polls have demonstrated popular support for a national health care program that guarantees universal coverage (http://www.wpasinglepayer.org/PollResults.html). In 2008, the US Conference of Mayors endorsed Single-payer (http://www.usmayors.org/resolutions/76th_conference/chhs_03.asp).

The US is the only industrial democracy that does not guarantee every citizen health care. Compared to other nations, America has the best medical technology but poor access to medical treatment. Single-payer will correct this scandal.

The Center for Responsive Politics has documented the millions in campaign money that the insurance industry has given to Democrats and Republicans to maintain their control over health care (http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=F09), with a total of $46,002,881 in insurance lobby contributions in 2008.

The Green Party endorses Single-payer in its national platform. The Democratic Party endorsed national health insurance in 1948, but removed it from the Democratic platform during the Clinton Administration. The Democratic and Republican parties continue to embrace failed 'market solutions.'

Barack Obama, before he launched his bid for president, supported Single-payer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpAyan1fXCE&feature=player_embedded). Al Gore opposed Single-payer when he ran for president in 2000, but admitted two years later that Single-payer is the best plan (http://www.pnhp.org/news/2002/november/gore_favors_single.php). Dennis Kucinich was the only Democratic presidential candidate in 2008 to support Single-payer.

"Single-payer health care is socialism!" By the same standard, so are public streets, sidewalks, parks, schools, libraries, fire departments, police forces, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and bailouts for ailing Wall Street firms. The principle behind Single-payer is that health care should be a human right, not a commodity that allows powerful corporations that don't actually provide health care (HMOs and insurance companies) to make money.

See also "Single-Payer FAQ" at the Physicians for a National Health Program web site (http://www.pnhp.org/facts/singlepayer_faq.php).

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org/
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

Tally of Green election victories http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections


"The First 100 Days: What Would a Green Administration Look Like?" (video and text) http://www.gp.org/first100

Green Party information page on Single-Payer http://www.gp.org/organize/sicko.html

"President Obama can either work to enact health care for all Americans or he can support insurance and HMO industry profits, say Greens"
Green Party press release, January 29, 2009
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=174

"An International Perspective on Health Care Reform"
By Connecticut Green Party member John R. Battista, MD
http://www.gp.org/first100/?p=119
(Published on the Green Party's web site as part of "The First 100 Days: What Would a Green Administration Look Like?" http://www.gp.org/first100)

Video clips:
2008 Green presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney speaks on Single-Player health care and racial health care disparities http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEHd4lRVUuU
More on health care: http://www.pnhp.org/news/2008/december/talking_points_why_.php
Health, the environment, and the economy: http://www.pnhp.org/news/2008/december/talking_points_why_.php

"Talking Points: Why the mandate plans won't work, and why Single-Payer 'Medicare for All' is what we need"
By Len Rodberg, PhD, Physicians for a National Health Program
http://www.pnhp.org/news/2008/december/talking_points_why_.php

"Albany Med chief [CEO of the Albany Medical Center] calls for hospital reform and single-payer system"
The Business Review (Albany, New York), September 8, 2006
http://www.pnhp.org/news/2006/september/albany_med_chief_cal.php

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog

oi!

Woken by self @ 0400h, still awake , worrying generally about the team, scheduling practices, working w/ adm., working w/ assistant coaches, worrying about papaerwork, uniforms, the weather, gym space for rainy day this week, etc ect etc...


So, im awake when I shouldn't be.... man, what's it like to be a a parent?? Must be this times 12 million millions.
However, I will finally part w/ this little tidbit. One of the professional people I try to model myself on - or @ least watch and try my best to imitate - is our head librarian. She's magnificant and she has been a great influence on this substitute teacher who is trying to get a librarian job someday. She is leaving this school to start up a new magnet high school in the fall - which leaves an open library position @ this school - in every way my dream job.. I've known for a few months now, but was told to stay mum. She has now allowed the word to get out, so I feel ok relaying it here finally.

Funny - when she took me aside and told me her plans and was told to tell no one, I asked if I could tell Mom and Gf. Even though I told them both it was a state secret, Gf told Darwina who told Vito who told his bro in law who told his mom the librarian ....... well, we stopped the bleeding before it went farther than that. However, spread it about now if you wish. I have to image that since I have worked in this media center for 3.5 of the last 4.5 years that I have a Ahab pegleg up. But, 'stranger things...'.

And - funny how the people covalese around you - when word started to sprad, immed. the people here started to say "Mr. Hilts, you should shave more often - the principal likes..." "Mr. Hilts, tuck yr shirt in, the principal likes...." "Mr. Hilts, have you talked to the principal yet? Maybe you should...".

For a man who knows a mothers love, it's wonderful to feel similar from everyone here.

Touring mates of Processed

08 March, 2009

so what?

AS massive as the Russian offensive that led to The Destruction of the German Army Group Center in 1944, U2 has been pushing it's t-34's and Il-2's into the attack something massive in these parts. I've always liked the group, but much less now than, say, than 1983 @ the Aarogon. however, they seem to still put out a good few tracks each LP - so I still have a soft spot for them.
So - I watched them all five nites on Letterman last week, and they were pretty good. So - if my Neice gets tix to the show, I'll take one. her's a few trax for you not to watch, since I'm sure most of you do not care. But ...





football au printemps: Money Beckons

Ah, the spending sprees!! I deeply pride myself on my cheapness - get it cheap or do w/out, generally (unless that whole Reggie Jackson/ Rutger Hauer/Matt Jenke/Mick Jagger thing is taken into account thing is taken into account). So, w/ successive trips to marshalls and Sports Authority, armed w/ my cheapness and a 'tax free' form, I went shopping for soccer balls. Pretty good - I got 14 total for $123 - they ranged from $7 to $14.99. Pretty happy that we got new quipement, and that it was priced nice.

The other thing I was shopping for was a first aid kit. The assistant coach was talking around $30 for one, but now I know full well that ALL PURCHASES should go through me (a single exception, see below): there was one @ C.V.S. that basically fit the bill @ $9.99, although I want to get a few more cold packs to supplement the solo one in the kit. They are 2 for $5 w/ a $1 coupon towards the next purchase - so, get the two first, then spend $8.99 on the kit. I'd asked Jackson the M.D. where to get one, and he basically said just go to a place like C.V.S. Haven't bought it yet - since I own a very slite patch of Walgreens, I make a point of shopping there instead of C.V.S.

And the candy sale is coming up. I was able to but this stuff because last year the team raised close to $900 in candy sales. This yar my job is to maybe double that this year - I want $2000. It'll be easy to tell the girls: Look*, last year we played seven games - this year 13. And I gotta pay $250 for two of these games - so - next year, do you wanna play these extra games again? Then lets go nuts selling and selling so next year we can take buses and pay referees and play teams in the suburbs or whatever.

The plan is to get tonnes of candy from like Wal Mart real cheap and then sell it @ the $1 mark. It worked great last year, and with all of the coaches pushing the kids and and selling candy themselves, I am very hopeful we can reach the doublecentruy mark. Plus - since we have another team this year - my school for the first time will have something rare to all teams citywide - a freshman team. Since that means there are an extra 20 girls or so - all very enthusiastic to be a part of the team - I'm VERY hopeful of that double century mark.

Very hopeful.
......................................................................
*=look? Who do you think you are, Pesident Obama?

Song is Over

Went to my schools basketball game - state playoffs - and we died a lonely slow death - we are done for. Last year, w/ more height/bulk in the middle and the freshman star playing his part, we won two extra games before the bitter loss to end the season. This year - well, since the star (now a soph) left in the middle of the year - something was missing. It showed since January, and this result was to be expected.

So, the song is over. I knew there was to be no state championship here this year, but the end came way too soon and I will totally miss it until next fall. Sucks. I'd really liked being part of the crowd - there wasn't another teacher who supported the team like I did, and I always felt the love from the boys @ school. I also loved sitting with the parents - I'm a pretty silent guy in many contexts - especially @ the games - but eventually I got to sitting near them. When I went into this game, I inadvertently sat on the other teams side of the gym- no biggy, but @ the end of the first quarter I switched sides to be near the parents. Not till November, now - but luckily for me, they're all coming back w/ a single exception or so. Wait till next year.


A final minor disappointment - Sister.3's kids I rarely see since they live way out in the suburbs (the other three sisters are basically w/in walking distance in the 'hood). However, if my school had won Friday night, then we would have played the Sectional matches @ the H.S. w/in 2 blocks of his house. It would have been fun to have taken them - the boy is a hooper in his own right and I'm sure he would have enjoyed it a lot.

still it was a good lay/ good lay

J and B -with the single exceptio of me - are all perverts. I consider the luckiest man on the face of the earth to be in their company, though - and the several days of emails about Minka Kelly culminate here.

45m/$7/1992


I love when Hilts picks stuff noone wants to hear to impose on those who brush closely to Security...OUT!


less than one month, now

07 March, 2009

06 March, 2009

the imagery of life

I wonder, long ago, if anyone had goin' through his had what sometimes i have going through mine - 27 knots, 33 degrees cold water, bows slicing through, thousands of trained men, @ their posts, concentrating on dials or optics or simply shoveling coal into horrendously hot boilers, twelve miles distant the enemy, slicing as well: and then, fire and smoke belching, the roar of the cannon (rifles so large simply unknown on land cepting freak specimens hinged on trains and coastal batteries), the dense black cordite smoke, water tall as tall trees rejoicing from the artic ocean: eventually ranged, straddled, and then finally hit - the shells slamming into feet thinchk metal plates - some richotcing off, some smashed to pieces - but some penetrating - some deep, some shallow - shatton damage of metal, twisted, the orange of fire, the black of oil smoke, the sudden sheering out of line stricken irrevocably - well, anyone.

Imagery of the Battle of the Denmark Strait - or Jutland, or First Guadacanal, or Dogger Bank, or the Java Sea - whatever it is, that imagery is alays with me.

bombers!

the nice weather

Love the weather. Wishing that during girls soccer season and for Sox games I'm ticketed to this weather would be always.

However, i fully realise that very soon - like next Wednesday, when we have our first friendly(exhibition game) - it will be rainy ad cold.

We'll take this when we can get it.

05 March, 2009

the Lenten season

Did I mention that although Lent has been going on for eight days, for me it has been going on for five days.
But - again - I have been on lent for five days now. And good.

Hitler

Favoured line from Russia's War by Richard Overy, about Hitler @ the end and copped up in the bunker:

"Since communications were poor, Hitler conjured up in his mind whole armies of Siegfreds battling through to free the capital from the Soviet dragon."

P.273-4

i am not naturally evil

Oh no, it hasn't passed my attention that the Man Himself (Morrissey) is going to be in Chicago on 4 April - and, well, He'll also be in Milwaukee the nite before. And, um, St. Louis, on the Wednesday of spring break.

And yes, these are the ways on which i was raised.....

Football au Printemps: ...laughing like crazy/@...

Boy - I'm still deeply in terrible shit because I do not have a soccer roster set yet. No question the school's AD is much more of a stickler for stuff than any other AD i've dealt w/ in the last two decades - we'd already have a preliminary roster, except that ... I dunno, she's saying we have to have a set roster ready for the season next week. This of course is ...... nothing that's ever seen before, by me, in any other program. However, as an old librarian who worked here once said, this school likes to follow the rules - and the rules I tried to BEND - everything was legal - wasn't allowed. Lots of head scratching, and deep instincts for all of us to fight off the urge to feel that someone here HATES THE GIRLS SOCCER PROGRAM - but the realization that I need to danse to this tune if I am to deliver on what i want for the girls in the program. It may be that everyone has to follow these

Yesterday was absurd. JV coach is really good, but a site that AD was dealing w/ him and not me (I came to practice after him and she was talking to him, and she basically ignored me and continued w/ him- fine, my girls need my attention, deal w/ whatever w/ my second, ok?) Um, i'm the technical director of this program - do you REALLY want this program to go back to seven games a year and no off season and Fridays off during the season and ? Do you care?

So, yesterday, I felt terrible. Just rotten. I'd known that in all reality, this school has never seen as ambitious a soccer person here as ever before - better players, better coaches: but never, to my knowledge, w/ my package - someone 'young', hard working, willing to put in the blood and sweat and TIME, experienced (this is the fourth high school program I have been a part of, and two others i have watched closely), and knows what to do. Now, this may be false - I have been here but fiver years now - but since, say, 1994, Ive never heard of my school having any sort of successful history. Now, in 1975, maybe - but not in my time*.

So, down on myself for the fucked up situation w/ the paperwork, down and fearful that i'd lose my team next year (Can't happen? Remember, 50 million Americans actually VOTED FOR GEORGE W. BUSH FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES), yesterday was shockingly terrible.

And then today. Great weather, we are still legal to conduct tryouts, and gloriously, 70 young women out trying out for the team. Again, the breath of life flowed through me. I love it. We had my girls, the varsity, scrimmaging on a small field. We had another two small groups of girls practicing in another area. Then, after 10th period, we had a smashing load of girls come out to play. Although baseball and softball had their people out - we dominated the space. And yes, I do feel competition w/ ALL other sports, 'cepting my beloved boys basketball team.

But- still no full sheets of paperwork .... and our first two exhibition games loom next week. One we can probably get away with - I don't even have to be there - but next week we have to have it set.
As Wellington said of Waterloo, It'll be a near run thing. Mite as well through in Blucher as well : Quelle affair! And, finally, Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah : to-morrow is another day.
.................................
*=please note, I really haven't done anything besides double the number of games played since last year, gotten them conditioning - before the grand halt - long before any other year, and created a third 'freshman' team. Oh, wait, i HAVE done well so far!!

A lot like that one video in th bunker when the Giants beat Dallas

bless you gallo

04 March, 2009

Tshiro Mifune

If it's not Morrissey or Orla, my next favourite name for a child mite be Tshiro. Well. But highly satisfied am I about my double viewing of "The Lower Depths" - one by Renoir, one by Kurasowa. WHich was better? I must amidt that I favoured the French for the first bit - but eventually the Japanese won. He's just such a good director. And I have seen so many of his films @ this point, it's fun to know that I have a passing familiarity with japanese actors/actresses from the 50's and 60's.


Both film were great.

But what of Italian Neorealism?

Well, the chicago Public Library System has only so many of them.

olde ferenz

in todays dcs

03 March, 2009

Football au Printemps

Had 'tryouts' today - for the first time in 2 weeks, our squad was back together. I'm off to see my schools BBall team play (home from practice @ 6.50p , out the door @ 7.30p).

No time - paperwork, eating, hello to mum, etc - but it was beyond wondeful to finally be w/ the kids again. And I'll tell you why I love it so much: we are like a little family (well, 60 strong), and for me that family love is an ineluctible part to life - and I am the leader o it all.

Miss so being a classroom teacher - but there is always family. And I help create it.
I so have to go.

02 March, 2009

FB Love

Nope, don't know who thy are, but do know its in front of Bigmans house.


Football au Printemps: the neices and nephews

It's an expensive thing to run a soccer team,ut blessedly last years staff left w/ w/ just enough to be able to be ok tis year. Bless youse,Coach's A. and A. I've written this before, but to save $97 a game for added non conference games, I've reached agreements w/ three coaches that instead of hiring refs', we will use one ref from each side and not pay them. So, for the game over spring break w/ Nek, we'll use one boy from each side to ref. Same w/ Lit and Sah. Gob and Lek both insist on paying the $97, so my hands are tied there.

However, it's w/ great pleasure that I'm able to invlove the kids w/ my program. I'd wanted neice.1 to coach my freshman team - a little thing about her being in roma for 6m squeleched that (somehwere around $1500 to coach). But Nephew.2 is on Spring Break then, and he's agreed to ref that first game. They will have their ref as well. I'm not gonna pay him - I've coached his soccer teams maybe 5-6 times over the years and have taken him to literally 100 Fire games by this point. He'll enjoy it.

Chicago au Printemps

Every Spring I finally remember - check the front of the house and see f Dad's Flowers are coming up. Told'n story 'fores : Dad, leaving us on the Sunday nite/Monday morning of Thanksgiving Weekend 1n 1993, but he left us a reminder that life goes on: the tulips the man had planted and we all forgot about - suddenly the following Spring started to bloom. It helped assuage over the impenetrable grief we felt, and made us all Love tuplips.

He'd gotten thm from some guy in Beverly whi he did odd jobs for. The guy also died, and they were selling the house. Dad - comon the poverty he was raised in - dug up th tuplips he knew bloomed there every year and replanted them here. He never got to see them when he was alive @ our house, but we appreciate them always.

Yesterday I finally figgered to check. Naked fingers under frozen blanket of leaves put there to help protect the bulbs. Yes, I see green. Reprotect. So, along w/ Gordon Beckham HR starting a three run rally in the 9th to beat the dogers (who cares the winner in a spring training game - but we all care about the teams future rocking it hard), Sundays other wonder news is that dad has reminded us again about life.

"limp wristed pantywaist seriously overdoing it on stage"

One of my two favourite descriptions ever of a singer on stage was this one, put out by Rolling Stone in say 1993, describing Brett Anderson thusly : " a limp wristed pantywaist seriously overdoing it on stage". Suede has so many good songs - and with special pleasure i remember getting Jacob to see them in 92 or 93 @ Metro - only us two: no vito, gallo, or any of the other britpoppers from that time period (and no, patience had yet to exist in our world - which meant Crankface knew naught of that shit as well).

But, a $7 ticket (SEVEN TO SEE SUEDE AT THE METRO - TAKE THAT PATIENCE!) got us a 45m raveup. They were brilliant. And the description "limp wristed pantywaist seriously overdoing it on stage" - holy shit, earned. Brilliant.

So, since I'd posted so much gay themed/played music lately, I figgered I had to do some more. So:




Another Engerlanderer that I love, Chesterfield (also known as English Matt), also likes this band (which englander/irisher doesn't?), and after a heavy nite out I crashed on his floor, but to wind down, always come on w/ the rugby videos and the brit pop. I can remember he being astonished that i - like every 'irish' (or english, or italian, or etce cte ct) kid everywhere, I could sing along w/ every word.

And that wonderful athemic sing out - you know: "an-e-mallllllllllllll/ an an-e malllllllllloooooooooo" or however it goes.

Whatever - I'm so very glad that the life was breathed into me and I got to experience this. Sweat. dansing. Loving it. An believe me - the instant they rocked into whatever song - there was m dansing.

It was 1993. What did you expect me to do At a concert then - sit there and listen??

"an-e-mallllllllllllll/ an an-e malllllllllloooooooooo"

This sent over by the Joker from Move On

Dear MoveOn member,
Want to see what change looks like? Real change?

Well, here it is. Last week, President Obama unveiled his budget—his blueprint for America—and it's ambitious, amazing, and unapologetically progressive. As Paul Krugman said, it will set America on a "fundamentally new course."1

President Obama called his budget "a threat to the status quo," and trust me, the status quo noticed. Oil companies, big banks and insurance companies are already mobilizing to stop it.2

Unfortunately, most folks don't realize how far-reaching and progressive the plan is—that's where we all come in.

Here are 10 really incredible things about Obama's plan. Check them out and then send them on to your friends and family so that millions of people will have the information they need to fight to make this vision a reality.

10 things you should know about Obama's plan (but probably don't)
The plan:


Makes a $634 billion down payment on fixing health care that will go a long way toward paying for a more efficient, more affordable health care system that covers every single American.3

Reduces taxes for 95% of working Americans. And if your family makes less than $250,000, your taxes won't go up one dime.4

Invests more than $100 billion in clean energy technology, creating millions of green jobs that can never be outsourced.5

Brings our troops home from Iraq on a firm timetable, finally bringing the war to a close—and freeing up almost ten billion dollars a month for domestic priorities.6

Reverses growing income inequality. The plan lets the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans expire and focuses on strengthening the middle class.7

Closes multi-billion-dollar tax loopholes for big oil companies. 8

Increases grants to help families pay for college—the largest increase ever.9


Halves the deficit by 2013. President Obama inherited a legacy of huge deficits and an economy in shambles, but his plan brings the deficit under control as soon as the economy begins to recover.10

Dramatically increases funding for the SEC and the CFTC—the agencies that police Wall Street.11

Tells it straight. For years, budgets have used accounting tricks to hide the real costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Bush tax cuts, and too many other programs. Obama's budget gets rid of the smokescreens and lays out what America's priorities are, what they cost, and how we're going to pay for them.12
This is the change we voted for. President Obama has done his part, now we need to do ours.

Can you pass this on to your personal network and then click here to let us know how many people you told, so we can track our impact together:


http://pol.moveon.org/budget10/?id=15687-2146880-MqhJHsx&t=1
Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Tanya, Peter, Justin and the rest of the team

P.S. Turns out there are way more than 10 amazing things in Obama's budget and we couldn't resist sharing just a few more.

Stops unnecessary government subsidies to big banks, health insurance companies and big agribusinesses.13,14,15

Expands access to early childhood education and improves schools by investing in programs that make sure every child has a qualified, strong teacher.16

Negotiates for better prescription drug prices using Medicaid's tremendous bargaining power.17

Expands access to family planning for low-income women.18

Caps the pollution that causes global warming, and makes polluters pay to support clean energy innovation.19

Sources:
1. "Climate of Change," The New York Times, February 27, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/opinion/27krugman.html?em
2. "Obama Calls His Budget Sweeping, Needed Change," The New York Times, February 28, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51201&id=15687-2146880-MqhJHsx&t=2
3. "Obama Offers Broad Plan to Revamp Health Care," The New York Times, February 26, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51202&id=15687-2146880-MqhJHsx&t=3
4. "Obama Expects Fight Over $3.55 Trillion Budget Plan," Bloomberg News, February 28, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51203&id=15687-2146880-MqhJHsx&t=4
5. "Energy Budget Is Sunlight After Eight Years of Darkness," Center for American Progress, February 26, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51204&id=15687-2146880-MqhJHsx&t=5
6. "The Economic Cost of War in Iraq and Afghanistan," The New York Times, March 1, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/weekinreview/01glanz.html
7. "Tax Cuts," The New York Times, February 26, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/washington/27web-tax.html
8. "Energy Budget Is Sunlight After Eight Years of Darkness," Center for American Progress, February 26, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51204&id=15687-2146880-MqhJHsx&t=6
9. "Student Loans," The New York Times, February 26, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/washington/27web-edu.html
10. "Obama unveils budget blueprint," CNN, February 26, 2009
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/26/budget/
11. "Obama budget would boost SEC, CFTC, FBI," Reuters, February 26, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51205&id=15687-2146880-MqhJHsx&t=7
12. "Obama's budget," Los Angeles Times, February 27, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51206&id=15687-2146880-MqhJHsx&t=8
13. "Student Loans," The New York Times, February 26, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/washington/27web-edu.html
14. "Health Insurance Stocks Dive on Medicare Advantage Cuts," The Wall Street Journal, February 26, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51207&id=15687-2146880-MqhJHsx&t=9
15. "Agriculture," The New York Times, February 26, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/washington/27web-agri.html
16. "Investing Wisely in Our Children," Center for American Progress, February 26, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51208&id=15687-2146880-MqhJHsx&t=10
17. "Obama Offers Broad Plan to Revamp Health Care," The New York Times, February 26, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51202&id=15687-2146880-MqhJHsx&t=11
18. "Obama Offers Broad Plan to Revamp Health Care," The New York Times, February 26, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51202&id=15687-2146880-MqhJHsx&t=12
19. "Setting 'Green' Goals," The New York Times, February 26, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51209&id=15687-2146880-MqhJHsx&t=13