Today Would Have Been My Grandfather's 85th Birthday

And to commemorate such a fine man, I present to you a snippet of the Congressional Record from 12/18/85 - Edward Boland of Massachusetts is the speaker. He begins by paying tribute to the "compassion, skill, and resourcefulness" of Veterans Administation workers.

Today, I want to pay tribute to one of those people, Dave Pogoloff, who has devoted the past 41 years of his life to ensuring that our veterans programs work. I doubt that there is a Member of this House who doesn't know Dave personally, or whose VA caseworker has not benefited from Dave's sage counsel and extraordinary dedication. He has served as the Chief of the House VA liasion for the last 20 years, and it would be impossible to estimate how many seemingly unresolvable VA cases have been straightened out due to his efforts. Others have received the credit for those efforts, most notably the Members of the House who could convey to their constituents the good news that their VA problems had been solved. But all of us know, Mr. Speaker, that our "success" with the VA was merely a reflection of the resolve that Dave made a long time ago to do all that he could to guarantee that veterans received all to which they were entitled from the programs that had been designed for them.

Dave will soon be retiring after serving under seven Presidents and nine VA administrators. His retirement will conclude a career in service to the Nation that began on the battlefields of World War II. Dave carries with distinction a visible rememberance of that combat experience, an experience that gave him several insights into the needs of our veterans. He has labored tirelessly to meet those needs and his labors have been immeasureably valuable. We will miss his experience and his ability in the months ahead, but I know that none of us would deny Dave the chance to spend more time with his wife, Florence and their children and grandchildren.

Congratulations, Dave, on your distinguished career and best wishes for a long and happy retirement.

The gavel given to my grandfather by Tip O'Neill upon his retirement.

The Search for a New Job?

Two weeks ago, I took a half-day to visit the public school up the block. It is only a few blocks from my current school.

As soon as I arrived, I felt comfortable. It is a big school with 1,300 kids. I like how small my school is but walking around these hallways just felt right. Each grade has between five and ten classes. It is an incredible school. It is well organized. Teachers have the freedom to tweak and create curriculum. Many public school teachers do not have that luxury. This is a great school so they can dictate somewhat to the state what they want to do. I guess if you keep the test scores high, you can kind of do what you want within boundries.

The state testing is a little problematic for me. Basically, teachers have to start teaching to the tests everyday for a month leading up to each of the two tests given. Apparently, it is much worse in other schools where they start teaching to the test on the first day of school.

One of the Assistant Principals showed me around and took me from class to class. One of the first things she said to me was, "Public schools are a lot different than what you are used to. We have bigger classes and we don't kick out the bad kids." Ouch!

The first class I saw was a 5th grade class and I was in awe. Apparently, the teacher I saw is a legend at the school and everyone in the community knows him. I could have sat in his class all day to soak it up and learn. The second class I saw was a 4th grade class. The teacher there had student taught at my school ten years ago with Woman Who Didn't Care About Teaching But Knew How To Pretend She Did and Made Me As Her Assistant File Shit All Day and Was a Nightmare to Work With. The third class I saw was a third grade class with a Too Cool For School Teacher. As I observed each class and interacted with a few of the kids, I decided that maybe I wanted to move up to fifth grade. Or maybe I was just so in awe of that first teacher of the day.

The school felt very similar to my current school but obviously a lot bigger. I felt like I could immediately step right in in any of these classrooms and I'd be fine. The class makeup wasn't overwhelmingly white. There was a nice mix of kids there. I would love to teach in a different environment in that regard.

When my time was up, I didn't want to leave. I loved it. And the school T-shirt looks better than my current school's shirt.

It might not matter what my current school does if I could get a job there. But the public schools hire much later. I'd have to be in limbo for two months if I leave. Plus, I just don't know what my chances are of getting a job at a public school that I'd be happy with. What if I leave a good situation and end up miserable next year? Teachers don't get paid much but at least it is a job that makes me happy.

Today I received my contract for next year. In my first entry on this subject, I wrote about how the school needed to financially step to the plate for me. If they didn't, I might have to leave. As decision time has gotten closer, I have become more and more wanting to stay at my school for another year. I really like the school. But the school had to do its part? Did they? Sort of. While their offer does offer me a substantial raise, it might not be enough.

I figure that I've been underpaid by 12-15% over the years. This raise basically raises me closer to some of my peers. I'm at a loss as what to do. Maybe this is a good thing. Maybe this will be what pushes me into the public schools where I know I can do well, make more money, possibly make more of a difference in kids' lives who actually need it, have better benefits (currently it would cost me $600 to get Youthlarge on my health plan), and have a pension plan.

To be continued ...

Happy Birthday to Me - A Few Days Ago

So there's this kid in my class who has been obsessed with his birthday. Starting on February 1, he has been counting down the days until the big day on Feb. 19. That explains this sign that he made for me to wear.

Mondale came in and told the class all about what happened in the month that I was alive and he wasn't.

He also gave them a quiz about all things 1973. Watch a bit of him in action in this movie: Mondale Pontificates. Best line of the movie is when he tells a kid to stop interrupting him because "This is about me." When the kid responded, "No it isn't, it is about him (Mr. Listmaker)," Mondale conveniently ignored that part.

Co-Teacher (Third Grade Boy Wonder) found this gem on the internet. Awesome!

And then it was time for 2 Tom's! I love the decor of this place.




The place is family style and it is great. I think everytime I've been there, the other large group there was a bunch of cops. The last time we were there was 2001. The pork chops are the thing to get.




One of these people will briefly pass out at the table. There was a LOT of red wine flowing.


After dinner, we headed to the Canal Bar, right across the street. It was nearly empty, except for us and the Miller Girls.

I got a white hat, a beer koozie, and lots and lots of beads!


Me and my honey.

A few minutes after this picture was taken, I wrote the blog entry that immediately precedes this one.

I Love Everybody

You heard me.

I teach in 7 hours.

Random Stuff

1. As a noted connoisseur of soaps, I've got to admit that I'm a bit puzzled at the sheer size of this bar of soap recently found in my soapdish. This is after a week's worth of use to boot!


Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining. Youthlarge keeps the apartment stocked with some great soap but this soap might be just a wee bit big. And yes, the letters on the soap do stand for Extra- Large Soap.

2. I'm currently addicted to this CD.

3. The clomping neighbor upstairs might be even more annoying than the Salsa parties downstairs. Former tenant Deborah's theory is that Upstairs Neighbor Sharon is a prostitute. The fact that she is clomping around in high heels late at night is Deborah's main evidence.

The other night, I was asleep on the couch to get some peace and quiet from the coughing Youthlarge when I was awakened by the unmistakable sounds of sex. When they were finished, someone left the apartment (her John?) shortly thereafter. It was 3:30 am.

Perplexing Fact: High Heels Woman is always wearing sneakers when we happen to see her in the hallway. She's clomping around as I write this. Yesterday, I briefly tried to follow her heels by banging on the ceiling with an umbrella. My Orioles umbrella to be exact. It just made her walk louder.

4. I'm accepting guest submissions for this blog. Either write as the hero himself or as people who know him. Seriously, send me your writing and you too can perplex women across this great land of ours. Read the comments if you are confused.

5. FM Adaptors for iPods are the biggest load of shit since New Coke.

6. What? No Handwashings or Hater Larry here? Bah.

Still Thinking About Pat's

Yesterday on our satisfying sojourn to Pat's for some cheesesteaks, Jen overheard this conversation between a boyfriend and girlfriend. Pat's is the place to be. Geno's is like Vegas in So. Philly. While Geno's might indeed be good, I have not ever tried it.

Boyfriend: Let's get Pat's

Girlfriend: I want to get Geno's.

Boyfriend; Um, ok. I can do that.

So they headed over to the bright lights of Geno's. A few moments later, the two were back at Pat's. The young woman had eaten just a few bites of her cheesesteak. Her boyfriend got in line at Pat's. As he munched on his Geno's steak, he ordered a Pat's steak. He wasn't even close to finishing his Geno's before he was handed his Pat's. Sometimes, you just can't accept substitutes.

In the Grand Tradition of Mo Kin

Check this out. Make sure to click on the first two links. Insanity.

Maryland Highlights

I'm about to head back to New York after a brief visit to Maryland. On the way down, Dave, Jen, and I stopped in Philadelphia for some Pat's cheesesteaks. The current plan is to go there on the way back north as well. God Bless America. Youthlarge is already counting down the minutes until yours truly delivers the goods.

Stone Groove Quote of the Weekend
"Your sister and I just saw Brokeback Mountain. It was okay. But as big fans of Queer as Folk, we were both disappointed by the lack of man-on-man action."

This from a man who won't even rent that show from the video store out of embarrassment. He sure talks a good game.

A Student Gave This to Me Yesterday

Youthlarge Hits the Big Time

It might not be as amazing as the layout in Bust but check out this picture from an article in this week's Onion.

The Search for a New Job, Part II

Interview # 1

A School That Is Starting Up in September in Harlem.

This school is the first of perhaps thirty schools to be created in the next ten years. A City Council member has been put in charge of the endeavor by the city. I interviewed with her and I learned quite a lot from our short conversation.

The school sounds amazing. It will offer low income children a new experience. The school day will be from 8:15 - 5. Kids will get science everyday. Every kid will take other amazing classes like karate, chess, knitting, and dance as well as the usual P.E., art, music trifecta.

She explained to me that this was a job for people who were appalled at how low income and minority students in this city are getting cheated by the terrible public schools. She is looking for people on a mission to change this. In its first year, the school will only be K and 1st grade. Each successive year, a new grade will be added.

She let me know that if I got in now, that I would put myself in a good position to lead some of the newer schools to be created in years to come.

Holy shit! Talking to her, I began to get excited! I could finally start trying to really do something truly worthwhile. But, wow, would this be much different than what I'm used to.

And the question arose - am I someone on a mission or do I just simply teaching? Anyone who knows me knows that the only mission I am currently on is to go to a baseball game in every state of the union. Could I do this job? I'm sure I could but it would become my life and I don't think I can handle that.

My day would easily be expanded by 4-5 hours a day, especially factoring in the long commute time to Harlem. I don't really have any desire to teach first grade. If the kids were older or if the school wasn't so incredibly far away, I think I would really be interested in pursuing something like this. Or maybe I'm just tricking myself.

I was told that the school has received 1,000 resumes from around the world. There are only ten positions available. She seemed quite interested in hiring me and pretty much told me that the ball was in my court. Of course, I would have to come in for a demo lesson, so nothing was a given but still. 1,000 resumes for 10 postions? Man, I was beginning to feel quite good about myself!

Today I e-mailed them and let them know that I was removing myself from the running. I just can't see taking this kind of giant step in my career.

A Will Clark, Hubie Brooks, Bobby Valentine, and Youthlarge Kind of Valentine's Day

Anyone Know What Boof Is?

Valentine's Day brings one of my teaching traditions. I get the kids to write about things they like about each other. After last year's banner crop, I was expecting big things. Unfortunately, this year's class wasn't nearly as funny as last year's. But I still did get some funny ones including one girl who just listed what she liked about each kid's wardrobe choices. She also missed the part about not writing anything about herself. So what does Girl Named After a Month like most about herself? The answer is simple - "I like you because of the coats you wear."

Make sure to read last year's entry for a description of the exercise.

Some others:

I like you because you help me get my boots off my locker.

I like your backpack and thanks for the eraser.

Thanks for opening my apple sack last year.

You always tell good stories and I can talk to you about the Rolling Stones.

I think you are really good at drawing because you have a soft hand move.

I like all the pants you wear.

It is fun playing Boof with you.

I like you when you sit at my desk during lunch because you do a great job cleaning up.

You are good at turning your face red.

You are very very good at getting away with things!

You interrupt a lot less than me.

I think you are nice because if you accidentally bump into me, you always say sorry.

I like you because we both like monkeys and when you act like a monkey, I sometimes think you are a monkey.

One of These Games Is Socially Acceptable and Is Played in a Bar, The Other is Quite Nerdy

Saturday: Bocce

The day began promisingly enough. If You Want My Bocce went into the big match against the Coffee Flats Terrors confidently hopeful.

And when they marched in carrying a boombox and playing Public Enemy's "Welcome to the Terrordome," the whole thing seemed utterly silly. Have they spent all of their time planning ridiculous capers like this? Radio Raheem, these clowns were most definitely not. Plus, somehow they thought that by putting the number 23 on their jerseys, they were going to rattle Mike (Reason to Believe). His old nickname on the Terrors was Jordan as in Michael. Was their message that their entire team were Jordan like? That might be true but the whole thing just didn't quite mesh.

Two seconds after the Public Enemy debacle, the jukebox played Elton John's "Daniel." Yet another sign! Our team was going to do well!

Apes poses for his Bocce trading card.

However, as soon as Mitch (Downtrain Train) lost the coin toss, I was a little worried. But he and other fellow rookie Adam (Gettin' Hungry) looked fine in the first frame and my spirits soared.

Are the Terrors worried?


This picture is from Slice's photostream. Check the link for more pictures and a completely radical note left by Balgavy. Youthlarge is quite intrigued as to how one goes about leaving a note? Any advice?

I might have looked good in the photo, but I sure didn't play well. The Terrors were just too damn good. Maybe their entrance did scare us and throw us off of our game. We lost 7-4 and 7-2. Don't despair though because Slice plans on creating a team blog for all to peruse and enjoy.

Sunday: Snow and Strat-O-Matic

Being There

Yes, that father is burying his daughter in the snow.

It is almost March which means only one thing - shorts time for Balgavy.

The main attraction - Dungeons and Dragons for baseball nerds. Strat-O-Matic Baseball. Jamie and I taught the newbies and then we got started. We have a total of eight teams in our league and hope to squeeze in a 28 game season over the next couple of months.


This poor tree can attest to the fact that the snow isn't all fun and games.

The Search for a New Job, Part I

I really like my school. But I'm currently looking for a new job. That does not mean that I'm definitely leaving but I need to see what is out there.

There are two main reasons why I'm looking for a new job.

1. I think I'd like to try something new. I've always felt a little guilty teaching at a private school. If my talent can lend itself to actually making more of a difference in kids' lives who need it more, then I would be doing more as a person on this earth, wouldn't I? Granted, rich kids need good teachers too. Hell, an argument can be made that many of the kids that I teach are the leaders of tomorrow. And if I can help instill a sense of responsibility to these kids' agenda of playdates and country homes, then good for everyone, right?

2. I am underpaid compared to most of my peers at my school and I can't stand for that much longer.

Fall Fan Director knows I'm looking for a new job. He wants me to stay and is going to do everything he can to try to keep me. I had a meeting with Red Pants a few days ago to explain my position. We'll see what happens in this regard.

If the school matches my financial needs, will I stay? Most probably. I began the year very down on the school but things are turning around. Fall Fan Director is a godsend. Red Pants is on the way out. I like my colleagues, the administrators, the administrative staff, the kids, and for the most part, the parents. It is a comfortable, satisfying job. I can walk to work in seven minutes. Plus, I don't know where I will be in three years. Maybe I won't even be in Brooklyn anyway. Why leave a place I really like now if I might leave soon anyway? I can always stay at my cushy job and actually get off my ass and finally start doing some volunteer work.

However, if I find a great public school job, it might not matter what my current school offers me. I'm a public school kid and I'm interested to try my hand there. They pay more and the benefits are much better. Yet, would I be able to deal with the testing? The bureaucracy? The large class sizes? I enjoy that at my school, I can teach what I want to teach within the larger framework. I've heard about some public schools where you have to teach a certain subject at a certain time and that you have no choice in the matter. That doesn't suit my style.

So, I embark on a job search. In my next post, I'll write about the job interview that I had today for a charter school position.

Are My Ears Really That Big?

It has been too long since I've shown off Youthlarge's calendar handiwork.

A Good Soldier of Cinema

Werner Herzog is amazing. Last week, he was shot while doing an interview. No big deal though. Read the link for more. It also links to the BBC interview. The beginning shows the shot and the end of the interview is amazing. In between is an interview about "Grizzly Man." This guy keeps becoming more and more fascinating.

One Nation

I just found out that Cheese Boy's great-great-great grandfather wrote "The Pledge of Allegiance."

Important Philosophical Question

Is it okay to tell the nurse who just took your blood that you do not want a Band-Aid because it hurts like a motherfucker when you end up ripping if off your hairy arm?

Enough Already

I've gotten to the point that if I see that a video on Subterranean or NY Noise is animated, I don't even bother to watch it. Is it just me or are at least 50% of the videos on those shows animated?

Dog is Sneaky & Will Steal Your Food If Given the Opportunity

Super Bowl Sunday: The Great American Holiday

First Youthlarge and I headed to Dave and Jen's. We were reminded of a very important piece of information.

Despite the amazing food and company, we decided to head to St. Mark's for some good times and gambling.

Mooney's Menu

Who said Matt Army wasn't cuddly?

Stay out of Mooney's kitchen!

The boxes were filled in, the numbers were ready, the MVP options were picked, the money was in. Alright, I guess I might as well watch the game.

Darrell Green says, "Pick the Steelers, give the points."

Primanti Bros. Time! Makes me want to get back to Pittsburgh soon!

Balgavy checks the boxes planning how to spend his soon to be 50 dollar winnings.

Mr. Cuddly and his honey enjoy some ice cream sandwiches.

Is there a football game on?

Highlights of the game other than the amazing food at both venues included Bart espousing his theories on everything and anything and me predicting a 94 yard Seahawks interception for a touchdown only to see it almost happen! I guess I'll have to settle for the longest interception return in the history of the Super Bowl.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I Present to You

The first games of the brand new season will be this Saturday. The championship winning Coffee Flats Terrors have splintered. Those with an official shirt got to stay. Those who didn't were purged from the records like they never existed.

Thus, a new team. Returning Coffee Flatters include Jim, Mike, and me.

Bottom Row
Youthlarge - Dixie Toot: Can usually be found at the bar eating beer cheese until called into action. Left-handed. The "Tanner Boyle" of "If You Want My Bocce."

Listmaker - Hot Legs: Playing Style - Eddie Murray

Adam - Gettin' Hungry: Hungry not for pizza, nor for burgers. Nothing tastes as sweet as victory on the bocce court.

Middle Row
Mitch - Downtown Train: Please stand clear of the closing doors. This train rolls local AND express.

Alex - Lethal Dose of Love: Combining crude strength and European style, he knows no fear and is prone to brute acts of physical intimidation. He's also dead lucky.

Jim - The Balltrap: If your balls get near mine, there's no telling what might happen

Back Row
Dave - One Part Handbags to Two-and-a-Half Parts Gladrags: I would describe my playing style as "proto-futurist." Greatest accomplishment in the bocce arena-- making a 9-year-old boy cry in front of his parents.

Glen - Down the Gasoline Bocce: My bocce style I would say can be described as “Oops!” Pretty much sums it up.

Elizabeth - Oh God I Wish I Was Home Tonight: From the shores of Rhode Island comes the dexterous wrist action and subtle poise of Ms. Elizabeth B.

Mike - Reason to Believe: Enigma. My bocce style is - Unstoppable

Not Pictured
Skippy - Young Turk: Maybe I’ll show up once, maybe I won’t.

I was at Floyd last night getting in some last minute practicing. I noticed that the trophy Apes had broken at Celebration Night had finally been fixed and returned to its proper place of glory by the court.

The last we had seen the trophy, our team name had been misspelled.

Floyd was terribly embarrassed by this mistake and blamed the trophy maker. They insisted that they would have it fixed. And so they did, I suppose.

I was also happy to see that they had finally added The Coffee Flats picture to the row of championship photos. But upon further inspection, I noticed something quite disheartening.


That's right. Yours truly had been excised from the proceedings. That's me on the far left. You can almost see half of my face. At first, I was upset but then I realized that this made sense.

From the beginning of last season, things just didn't seem right. Cap'n Terror "inadvertently" dropped me from the e-mail list that included such essential information as: 1. The season had indeed started and 2. Who wants a shirt?

Without an official shirt, I was banished from the proud Terrors. But that is okay. I've got Rod Stewart and I know in my heart that I'm still a champion. Oh yeah, our first match with the Terrors will be Feb. 11. I'm not saying that you should come watch. But let me just say, if you don't, I'm not sure you can really call yourself a true fan of sport.