It's Saturday night, The wee fella has been playing up all afternoon.
The missus has gone out with her brothers and I'm wearing my new football boots around the place to wear them in a bit.
I just found an open bottle of Chardonnay in the back of the fridge.
There's a nice new couple living upstairs.
This is turing into an episode of Spaced, with me as Marsha.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Probably my final sentimental wankfest entry.
There are two books that I would probably need if I were to be stuck on a desert Island. One is Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby, The other is the Collected Poems of Primo Levi.
As my last offical day of school is about to begin I want to share with you one of my favourite Levi poems. Please indulge me.
Unfinished Business
Sir, starting next month,
Please accept my resignation
And, if necessary, find a replacement for me.
I leave alot of uncompleted work,
Either from laziness or practical problems.
I should have said something to someone,
But no longer know what or to whom. I have forgotten.
I should have given something away, too:
A word of wisdom, a gift, a kiss.
I've put it off from one day to the next. Forgive me.
I'll take care of it in the short time that's left.
I have, I fear, neglected important clients.
I should have visited
Faraway cities, islands, deserted lands;
You'll have to cross them off the program
Or entrust them to my successor's care.
I should have planted trees and haven't done it,
Built myself a house,
Perhaps not beautiful but conforming to a plan.
Above all, dear sir, I had in mind
A marvellous book that would have
Revealed innumerable secrets,
Alleviated pain and fear,
Dissolved doubts, given to many people
The boon of tears and laughter.
You'll find the outline in my drawer,
In back, with the unfinished business.
I haven't had time to see it through. Too bad.
It would have been a fundamental work.
Primo Levi.
As my last offical day of school is about to begin I want to share with you one of my favourite Levi poems. Please indulge me.
Unfinished Business
Sir, starting next month,
Please accept my resignation
And, if necessary, find a replacement for me.
I leave alot of uncompleted work,
Either from laziness or practical problems.
I should have said something to someone,
But no longer know what or to whom. I have forgotten.
I should have given something away, too:
A word of wisdom, a gift, a kiss.
I've put it off from one day to the next. Forgive me.
I'll take care of it in the short time that's left.
I have, I fear, neglected important clients.
I should have visited
Faraway cities, islands, deserted lands;
You'll have to cross them off the program
Or entrust them to my successor's care.
I should have planted trees and haven't done it,
Built myself a house,
Perhaps not beautiful but conforming to a plan.
Above all, dear sir, I had in mind
A marvellous book that would have
Revealed innumerable secrets,
Alleviated pain and fear,
Dissolved doubts, given to many people
The boon of tears and laughter.
You'll find the outline in my drawer,
In back, with the unfinished business.
I haven't had time to see it through. Too bad.
It would have been a fundamental work.
Primo Levi.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Final days of the Nixon White House
I'm moving on to a new job, a new country (well, OK technically not a completely new country but it seems different everytime I go back and Gordon will be running the place by the time we arrive)and a new home (as above but it needs a lick of paint and the interior decor will consist of something more inviting than empty bottles and ashtrays).
Which of course leads me to reflect upon the leaving of this place.
The end of any school year is a time for reflection, indeed it should be or would be were but there any time for such luxury. We are all so frantically trying to get rid of the children, tear down wall displays, get the right stuff home and not send the wrong stuff home that it's normally August before we get a chance to think about the year gone by.
This year is no different.
I suspect that towards the end of next week it will hit me a bit. But by then I'll probably be so busy getting the move going that well, you get the idea.
Which of course leads me to reflect upon the leaving of this place.
The end of any school year is a time for reflection, indeed it should be or would be were but there any time for such luxury. We are all so frantically trying to get rid of the children, tear down wall displays, get the right stuff home and not send the wrong stuff home that it's normally August before we get a chance to think about the year gone by.
This year is no different.
I suspect that towards the end of next week it will hit me a bit. But by then I'll probably be so busy getting the move going that well, you get the idea.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Job.
No, not the fellow from the old testament (although moving across the Atlantic would try his patience I'm sure) I mean the paying money for services rendered variety.
I just got one!
Still teaching, but teaching my all time favourite age group, not a thousand miles from where we'll be living (although let's just say that my five years of having a 12 minute commute are certainly over. There's something distinctly karmic about that).
A telephone interview this morning and yeah! Stable Employment beckons.
I just got one!
Still teaching, but teaching my all time favourite age group, not a thousand miles from where we'll be living (although let's just say that my five years of having a 12 minute commute are certainly over. There's something distinctly karmic about that).
A telephone interview this morning and yeah! Stable Employment beckons.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Today I shook hands with a 101 year old man.
It had been a busy day spent trying to find kitten a loving home. I went to the barbers for a trim. There was the usual banter and one of the bantees was an old guy talking about Canada.
Barber. "But Mac, you need a passport to visit Canada now, they changed the law."
Really old man. "I don't need a passport, I'm 101. I got a letter from the President."
I shook his hand, "I never met anyone 101 years old".
"You have now kid".
For the record he was a spiffily dressed gentleman who is chauffered about by his 94 year old wife. The barber told me and I saw them myself.
Barber. "But Mac, you need a passport to visit Canada now, they changed the law."
Really old man. "I don't need a passport, I'm 101. I got a letter from the President."
I shook his hand, "I never met anyone 101 years old".
"You have now kid".
For the record he was a spiffily dressed gentleman who is chauffered about by his 94 year old wife. The barber told me and I saw them myself.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Tenants super.
A lot of us renters bitch about our landlords and often it's completely justified.
Well I'd like to turn that all around and applaud my UK tenant.
He lived in my house for the last five years, paid on the nail each month and apart from a small hole in the roof and a broken shower, caused no problems at all.
And this, this my friends, is the best bit.
Mr Tenant left things as he found them. by this I mean that my old bike 'The Lady' was discovered by my sister (who very kindly took the picture of the interior of my shed) hanging in EXACTLY the same place where I left it OVER FIVE YEARS AGO!!
If you look you can also see the blue plastic box of bike bits what I will attempt to use to restore it with!
I have a project!!!! the restoration of 'The Lady'!!
Well I'd like to turn that all around and applaud my UK tenant.
He lived in my house for the last five years, paid on the nail each month and apart from a small hole in the roof and a broken shower, caused no problems at all.
And this, this my friends, is the best bit.
Mr Tenant left things as he found them. by this I mean that my old bike 'The Lady' was discovered by my sister (who very kindly took the picture of the interior of my shed) hanging in EXACTLY the same place where I left it OVER FIVE YEARS AGO!!
If you look you can also see the blue plastic box of bike bits what I will attempt to use to restore it with!
I have a project!!!! the restoration of 'The Lady'!!
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
OHMYGAWDWE"REREALLYMOVING..
Another subtle view of our future home.
Looking towards the living room.
No cats.
Thanks to my sister for the pictures.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Talking of babies....
Some of you get to have sex and have a baby, For the rest of us...
there's this
I'm not normally so open and personal on this blog but hey, There are countless couples with male fertility issues.
I certainly think it's time us men with laughable sperm counts stood together.
Jeremy does a great job of talking up the issues and even raises a smile through a highly stressful experience. You can follow his exploits via the link at the bottom.
And if anyone is in any doubt about the value of it all, just ask my boy.
there's this
I'm not normally so open and personal on this blog but hey, There are countless couples with male fertility issues.
I certainly think it's time us men with laughable sperm counts stood together.
Jeremy does a great job of talking up the issues and even raises a smile through a highly stressful experience. You can follow his exploits via the link at the bottom.
And if anyone is in any doubt about the value of it all, just ask my boy.
It's a baby!
Shit the bed!
The weasels of Maine have had a baby!!!
New Weaselkind
All our love and onesies in a northernly 9 hour drive direction!
The weasels of Maine have had a baby!!!
New Weaselkind
All our love and onesies in a northernly 9 hour drive direction!
Monday, June 04, 2007
Final Days
One of the best students ever (a Fourth Grader who used to be a Third Grader who used to sweat a lot) just came up to me and said.
" These are your final days".
"But FGWUTBATGWUTSAL, These are YOUR final days too".
He grinned.
" These are your final days".
"But FGWUTBATGWUTSAL, These are YOUR final days too".
He grinned.
Running scared, leaving on a jetplane.
On Saturday I spent some time and money mailing a box to England. Inside the box was an assortment of old clothes for fixing up the house, heavier clothes for the cooler climate and running gear.
I hate running outside in the heat and humidity of the New York Summer and seeing how I'll be ending my job, moving, homeless,visiting family and sitting on the beach for the next few weeks there doesn't seem to be too much opportunity for the old stretch. So the shoes and PE gear have gone east. Running career to be resumed in cooler, more rural climes.
Book Learning # 34
Warriors. Portraits from the battlefield By Max Hastings.
I was unable to find a picture of the title to my liking so I've included a picture of a younger Mr Hastings, probably from his Falklands War "I counted them all out and I counted them all in" days. Except that that quote belongs to TV journalist Brian Hanrahan.
I was browsing the Community Bookstore on 7th Avenue looking for a suitable birthday gift for Neice Flighty-Bat (books are so easy to mail and encourage intellectual stimulation in the tween generation). Of course I ended up with nothing for the neice but found this slight gem for myself.
And a slight gem it was. A dozen or more vignettes concerning different warriors from a range of conflicts over the last two hundred years. The brave, the stubborn, the foolish and the lucky. Oh, the dead also feature.
The compact chapter style suits my life right now, will probably suit my life for the next twenty years. It seems that Hastings is one of those authors I return to every couple of years, just when I thought I wouldn't read a military history.
On a selfish note it's also heartening to see that though my pace has slowed my enjoyment of reading has not diminished.
Now I just need to get my running shoes back on.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Friday, June 01, 2007
Party time!
It's that time of year again!
listmaker and I (and some other foolhardy teacher types) are throwing a party for our classes this evening.
This year it will involve us invoking the spirit of Harry Truman by nuking Japan (no, that's wrong). We'll be wearing delightful Hawian shirts to amuse and entertain.
I told you I had it in
me.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Cultural differences.
From Sunday's New York Times.
"To be an ugly tourist is to miss the fundamental truth in Mr. Martin’s statement. “It is to have an overall lack of understanding that there is such a thing as cultural difference,” wrote Prof. Inga Treitler, the secretary for the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology, in an e-mail message."
Food for thought for those of us moving to another culture.
"To be an ugly tourist is to miss the fundamental truth in Mr. Martin’s statement. “It is to have an overall lack of understanding that there is such a thing as cultural difference,” wrote Prof. Inga Treitler, the secretary for the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology, in an e-mail message."
Food for thought for those of us moving to another culture.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Reasons to move to England.
I think the coffee machine is about to die and I cant be bothered to spend $30 on a new one. looks like it's coffee to go from now on.
Frau Random Doubt just got her UK visa.
YES!
That's right!
His Majesty St Tony of Blair just sealed the deal and has offically invited the missus to go and live in the green and pleasant land.
Offical like.
By the way it took less than a week for all the visa stuff to be worked out.
LESS THAN A WEEK.
Frau Random Doubt just got her UK visa.
YES!
That's right!
His Majesty St Tony of Blair just sealed the deal and has offically invited the missus to go and live in the green and pleasant land.
Offical like.
By the way it took less than a week for all the visa stuff to be worked out.
LESS THAN A WEEK.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Conversations in a deli.
I live in the heart of a fiercely Italian American neigborhood. Perhaps the last great blue collar Italian neighborhood this close to Manhattan. Every day you see the old guys hanging out on the stoops with their cigars and their hand gestures.
Last night I pop into the deli to buy some milk and beer. As ususal I have a quick chat with the deli guy who just happens to be a Chelsea fan. It goes a little like this.
Deli Guy " So you gonna be a Chelsea fan on Saturday?"
He's referring to this weekend's FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Man Utd.
This game has little interest for me, I'll dvr it and watch it Sunday night. Cockney billionaires versus Northern scum billionaires. I spose I'll support Chelsea then.
Me " Yeah, I guess. You guys put us out this year so that counts for something and you know I hate Man Utd, unless they're playing Italians or something".
I'm referring to Utd's recent defeat in the Champions league semis against Milan. Almost all Englishemen will support Utd against a foreign foe.
At this a point cigar chewing lottery guy picks up his ears and joins in our conversation.
CCLG "And what the fuck is wrong with Italians? What you got against Italians?"
Guess you had to be there.
Last night I pop into the deli to buy some milk and beer. As ususal I have a quick chat with the deli guy who just happens to be a Chelsea fan. It goes a little like this.
Deli Guy " So you gonna be a Chelsea fan on Saturday?"
He's referring to this weekend's FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Man Utd.
This game has little interest for me, I'll dvr it and watch it Sunday night. Cockney billionaires versus Northern scum billionaires. I spose I'll support Chelsea then.
Me " Yeah, I guess. You guys put us out this year so that counts for something and you know I hate Man Utd, unless they're playing Italians or something".
I'm referring to Utd's recent defeat in the Champions league semis against Milan. Almost all Englishemen will support Utd against a foreign foe.
At this a point cigar chewing lottery guy picks up his ears and joins in our conversation.
CCLG "And what the fuck is wrong with Italians? What you got against Italians?"
Guess you had to be there.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
busted!
Noo!
The one time (well OK, perhaps the tenth or eleventh but we're talking five years)I use the maintenance elevator because I'm exhausted from the five flights of stairs.
Whose standing right in the hallway as I jimmy open the door on my floor?
My Boss!
The one time (well OK, perhaps the tenth or eleventh but we're talking five years)I use the maintenance elevator because I'm exhausted from the five flights of stairs.
Whose standing right in the hallway as I jimmy open the door on my floor?
My Boss!
Third Grade writing.
There was once a mad scientist who wanted to make a robot. He worked and worked and he made a robot. He programmed it to do house cleaning. It did house cleaning pretty good.
One day the robot was really tired of working for the mad scientist so the robot went mad. The robot invaded the city with lightning swords, machine guns, blaster rifles and more. Eventually the robot killed everyone so he went to the lab and made more robots.
The robots invaded the earth and even you, Mr. Mondale unfortunately died. One of the robots made a blaster hose and accidentally killed several of the robots. And the first robot grabbed the blaster hose from the other robot and shot him.
The first robot was the only one left so he went on and invaded Venus. Earth and Venus clashed together and formed Venearth. Venearth was so much more awesome than the Earth. He made a city and robots ruled the galaxy.
By the blonde kid who loves Star Wars.
One day the robot was really tired of working for the mad scientist so the robot went mad. The robot invaded the city with lightning swords, machine guns, blaster rifles and more. Eventually the robot killed everyone so he went to the lab and made more robots.
The robots invaded the earth and even you, Mr. Mondale unfortunately died. One of the robots made a blaster hose and accidentally killed several of the robots. And the first robot grabbed the blaster hose from the other robot and shot him.
The first robot was the only one left so he went on and invaded Venus. Earth and Venus clashed together and formed Venearth. Venearth was so much more awesome than the Earth. He made a city and robots ruled the galaxy.
By the blonde kid who loves Star Wars.
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