Mind Blowing Music

So I downloaded Mastodon's Blood Mountain. I gave in. I have yet to decide if it is mind blowing music or as tasteful as Mastodon's music is perceived. Time will tell. 

The older I get though, I've noticed, the more I appreciated older music. As a kid growing up I wouldn't have thought twice about the Misfits, Billy Idol, The Clash, Black Flag or The Damned. Now in my post-college days, the older the band the better. This is also probably a result of the lack of innovating, creative new music.

Ah well. 

~~~

I think my favorite workout is my back workout. Worked out my back today and enjoyed myself. Back in the day it was all about the pecs just like every other dude on the planet. Now, I'm not too concerned with my chest. It's all about the overall look with a focus on the back. 

I sound shallow and lame. Ugh. 

Second entry in a day. 

Going out tonight. Should be fun to see some college buddies.  

Being a Musical Connoisseur

Having a 120 GB iPod has motivated me to download all types of music so I can truly represent the title and position of Musical Connoisseur. 120 GB iPod equals 30,000 songs. I only have about 6, 389 songs... not even a third of my new iPod's capacity, har har har. 

The main musical focus, at the moment, is... do I really like Mastodon? Do I like this band enough to get their new record, Blood Mountain for cheap and then follow in with their second record Leviathan? 

Leviathan is clearly based on Herman Melville's Moby Dick so that is an immediate point of interest. I have a fascination with the novel and it's characters but would this be overkill? I think not. After all, I am trying to be a Musical Connoisseur. Also, let's not forget, for me, my ideal apartment needs a wall devoted strictly to music... CD player, a record player and all my CDs neatly stacked and organized. 

I'm willing to settle for a small wall in a bedroom of an apartment I'll be sharing since I can't seem to afford a one bedroom apartment in Brooklyn at the moment. 

WOOOOOOO!  

And now it begins!

The post-holiday (Christmas, anyway) season has begun. Everyone who received money or wants to exchange any gifts they received will begin, today, to approach all stores in full force. With that said, I'll be on my merry way to Best Buy in an hour or two. As well as to Borders Books and Gamestop... oh joy! 

I have the desire to buy a Gamecube or a PSP but I'm wondering when I'll find the time to play either once work resumes. Just wondering, know what I'm saying? 

Comic shopping is in the plans for next week, that is for sure. 

I need some social interaction with people my age and of the opposite sex. I'm too much of a hermit. 

Saturday Night

And I'm alone. Surprise, surprise. My social life has taken a massive nosedive since graduating college. It's really damning to realize that I no longer go out or do anything really on the weekends. It's also a bit sad. 

2008 is approaching its conclusion and with that I've been seeing numerous "Best of 2008" lists and compilations. They're amusing to read and have kind of motivated me to put together one such list about the best music I heard this past year. 

Back in March, I proclaimed Flogging Molly's record, Float to have been one of the best record I had heard that really rocked in a long time. I still stand by that and, arguably, I think I will bestow upon it best record of 2008 honors. It was a great record on first listen and then second listen and then third and so on. The point is, what Float made me feel hadn't been triggered by any other record in quite some time. Automatic winner. 

Float's success in my life is why I continue to search for great music in the past. Newer bands bore me. That doesn't mean I won't enjoy a new band but I prefer gritty, balding, experienced veterans over the young upstarts. Warped Tour is a perfect example. I go to see the older bands. Bad Religion will be playing Warped Tour 2009 and I will go see them. 

Oh, before I forget. The crown jewel of musical discoveries for 2008 is, without any doubt, The Gaslight Anthem. Their latest record, The '59 Sound is solid and a great listen I still favor their debut, Sink or Swim despite it's cliche title. Another great band. 

The older or classier the sound the better. 

Been a Long Time...

It sure has, indeed, been a long time since I last posted. Been kind of busy and a bit lazy. 

This past weekend the faculty and I went on a retreat. It was fun, had some drinks and got to know people better. Good times. 

I've been interacting with the same group of people since December 12th with no day off in between. Tomorrow is Friday and big snow fall is expected. Yay for the weekend and the Christmas break that is 3 school days away. 

I need to finish some holiday shopping this weekend. No excuses. 

~~~

Did not see the girl on the train in the morning or in the afternoon. I saw her yesterday on my way back from work. She smiled. I should have spoken to her. I really should have. I'm a fuck up. Ugh. 

I need to speak to her next time I see her. Chances are I might fuck it up again. Sometimes, it's just easier to look and say nothing but damnit the possibilities of speaking to her could result in gloriousness. Then again, it can be disaster. 

Shit is tough. 

Still reading The Savage Detectives. Reading The Crucible with the juniors. Wrapped up Othello with the sophomores and we're doing essay writing now. 

Hopefully I won't fuck it up next time. 

Ahoy, I see Palisades!

Leaving for the faculty retreat tomorrow in Rockland County... I kind of regret agreeing to go on this. Get away from the school for the weekend to discuss school matters nonstop. Ugh. The way I'm looking at it is that since I get my own room I might be able to focus on doing a ton of personal and creative writing. This might be the forced situation I need to get the writing back on track. 

Cheers to that happening. 

Still reading The Savage Detectives. It's a good book so far. I totally fell for the character of Maria Font. Ugh. I knew it would end in disaster but I still fell for it. I might never learn. 

 

Twisted Nonsense

Saw Twisted Sister this past Saturday. It was their annual Twisted Christmas show. Half the set was traditional Christmas songs and the other half some classics from the band's career. It was truly a great show. 

It seems the older and more established the band, the better the live performance is. Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Twisted Sister, etc are all bands who kill it when they play live. The younger bands should take pointers from these guys. 

Listened to Nevermore today after sometime of not. I'm digging the punk/hardcore music more as of late. This state of preference has been going strong since October. I'm just digging punk and hardcore more than metal right now. It's a bit weird when I think about it since I was always a metalhead first and foremost. 

Strange, eh?

King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime.

Finished King Dork about an hour ago. It was good. The climax is absolutely insane and I love it for being just complete anarchy in the sense of bloody noses and the destruction of a drum kit. Needless to say, this book made me chuckle and laugh at numerous times throughout. The epilogue is a bit drawn out but beyond that it's a terrific novel. 

Now, onto The Savage Detectives. I've been putting this one off for sometime now. It'll be a nice end of the year read. I'm really looking forward to it. Roberto Bolano is one of new favorite writers. 

I hate it when you talk to girls and then in passing conversation find out they have boyfriends. Shit ain't fair. It just ain't fair or right. 

Snip, snip, snip.

I got a haircut today. I like the sensation of the electric razor on my head. It's a nice feeling. 

Listening to a lot of punk lately. Rancid, The Clash, The Gaslight Anthem, Alkaline Trio, etc. 

Twisted Sister this Saturday with the brother and cousin. Should be interesting and fun. 

The Holiday Season Dawns Upon Us.

This could be one of two or more posts I might make tonight. Oh my, why would I post more than once in a day? Life sucks or I let my mind wander to the point where I drive myself over the deep end time and time again. 

I've been eating Thanksgiving dinner since Thursday. I tend to appreciate it more in the days after Thanksgiving. It's probably because the expectations go down or the pressure that comes with the actual day are dormant in the days after. 

Holiday shopping has begun. I've spent about 600 bucks in two days so far and I'm only about halfway through the list of family members. 

Now onto the emotive pouring of the heart. I'm feeling lonely. I need to find my own apartment but I don't want to live alone. I need to get working on my Masters. I need to remove this feeling of loneliness I have. Work sucks and at the moment, I will be looking for a new school to call home in April. I don't want to leave my current school but administration is making it hard to coexist and since I tend to never speak up I might as well just leave quietly. 

I should see a psychologist or psychiatrist. What's the difference between the two anyway? I'm an educated, learned person. I should know. I should know. 

Onward... kinda, sorta.

Reading King Dork by Frank Portman. So far, I'm digging it. Another alienated teenage narrator who so far meets a mysterious but attractive girl, they kiss, share a moment and then it's all shattered by the simple mentioning of the word boyfriend. 

I don't want to end up alone. I'm deathly afraid of that. So again, I ask the gods and the sky... WHERE IS MY PUNK ROCK QUEEN?! 

Where? Where? Where? Where? 

I know life isn't fair but damnit. 

Dawning on Turkey Day

About to dawn on a 3 day work week. Turkey day is coming in 4 days which means 2 extra days off from work and Christmas is about a month away. Hopefully good times will be coming in the last stretch of the year. 

I'm probably crazy but still, there is hope for me... I hope. Haha. 

Terminator theme song is playing right now. It's a very good orchestration. Very good, full of intensity and emotion when the horns come in. 

Where's My Punk Rock Queen?

Just finished reading I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone. The ending is a bit abrupt as are the last 20 pages or so. Not sure I like how it ends without anything getting full resolved but then again that's how life actually is. In life there no nice wrap up endings. Life never will produce a fairy tale ending. It's a delusion I sell to myself. Sometimes, though, I wish life would throw me a fairy tale ending. Just once. 

The question on my mind right now is, where is my punk rock queen? Have I met her already? Will I ever meet her? Shit, is she even real? Where is my punk rock queen? Where? 

I just don't know anymore. Way to fuckin' sound emo too, haha. 

Somber Days Ahead

Spoke with the receptionist at the gym today, a new one. She's cool. A little thick but very nice face. Great smile. A bit young though... 18, a frosh in college. We'll see. 

Moving onto The Crucible with the Juniors by the end of the week or early next week. Need to crack down on some essay writing with them beforehand though. 

Still reading I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone. It's good... a bit cliche or dumb at times but it's got a bit of the spirit of Punk Rock. 

Apparently, November is the saddest month but Turkey Day is coming up and so is Christmas chaos. Oh well. 

Somebody told me that as the weather gets cold, people want to begin to settle down. In other words, people hibernate by getting girlfriends or boyfriends or somewhat reliable fuck buddies. It's on.  

It's been awhile

Not much. Submitted report card grades today. Finishing up The Scarlet Letter tomorrow and then a short answer response on Friday. The sophomores are rad. No problem there. 

Two more days before the weekend. 

Maybe I'll catch Soulfly this Friday at the Blender Theatre in downtown Manhattan. Maybe. 

Whoa!

TKE Alumni Weekend begins tomorrow. Should be an exciting time. 

WOOOOO!

Voted for the first time this past Tuesday too. It was good. 

Musings of the sort

Finished reading Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet. It was good. It ran a bit long in some parts but it was okay. In terms of the protagonists love interest it was left kind of open, so I hope he does get her. I'm sap for that stuff. 

Hit the gym today for the first time in like 3 weeks. It was good. 

Still rocking the muttonchops or the Lemmy as I like to call it. I'll be speaking at tomorrow's open school with my Halloween facial hair... should be interesting. 

Election day is two days away. First time I get to vote for U.S. President. Incredible. 

Missing the Signal

So I'm waiting for the LIRR train to take me home when this kind of indie/punk-esque girl walks by and then asks me for directions for a train that will take her to Mineola out on Long Island. I give her directions and she thanks me. She takes a lingering pause before walking down to the tracks. The moment she walks down, something inside me kicks me and I realize I should have asked her for her number or email. She lingered a bit and we did have some small chit-chat conversation before parting ways. 

Clearly, I missed the signal and realized a bit too late. I could have walked down to the track where she waiting for her train but at that point it may have seemed desperate. 

I always realize this when the opportunity, the moment has passed. It seems I'm perpetually missing the signal. Damn, I suck. 

One More Magic Potion!

Halloween costume is complete. This Friday, hopefully, will kick ass and be totally sweet. Might crash at Jimi and Nick's apartment... maybe. 

Ensiferum is bad ass pagan viking metal. Total sweetness. 

Reading Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet right now. Teaching Othello to sophomores. Still on Scarlet Letter with Juniors. The Crucible is up next. 

Here we go to the second full week of work in October. Holy crap! November is right around the corner. 

Viking Metal!

Never have I seen a show where fans of a band displayed so much emotion. I saw this at the Amon Amarth show. The entire crowd was rocking out, singing along and just kicking ass. It was amazing. I'm still gushing over the experience. 

Vikings and such

Amon Amarth tomorrow night. Very excited. This show has been years in the making. Crashing at a friends house. I need to find my own place ASAP. I need my own pad. 

Let's take it to the streets!

It's been a few days. On Thursday, I checked out Iced Earth and Into Eternity at Nokia Theatre. It was kick ass. Matt Barlow is now back with Iced Earth and it was amazing to see, most likely, my favorite metal singer knock it out. The man has a golden voice. This was clearly one of the best shows I've ever had the privilege to see.

Amazing. 

I have a ton of work to get through tomorrow. Did nothing to diminish that pile today. I did begin to piece together my Lemmy costume for Halloween. I need a pair of black jeans and a wig in order to be golden. 

Oh, and I'm totally obsessed with Iced Earth's song, "Ten Thousand Strong." It is truly a excellent piece of emotion filled music. Heavy Metal! 

I picked up a Misfits record and a graphic interpretation of Moby Dick... should be interesting. 

Ugh

So tired. Credit Recovery begins tomorrow... three days a week, an hour and a half each day. Ugh, why did I ever agree to that? I'm stretching myself just to cover my sophomores and juniors. It's only for 12 days though. 

Iced Earth this Thursday... I'm looking at only getting 3-4 hours of sleep. I hope the show ends at 11 or 11:30 just so I can get home faster, get some sleep and then go to work. Needless to say, I'm going to bail out of Amon Amarth on Monday. Too much going on at work. 

Mr. McCourt, where art thou? I question my profession every day. Why is it so political? Why?! I should be a construction worker or work in a nifty music shop in the Village and live in a crappy apartment surrounded by books and music. I'll never have money but I might just be happy. 

I've gone and lost my mind. 

A Silent Damn.

Just finished Hairstyles of the Damned. It was a bit thin on plot but then again growing up is thin on plot too. I still love the character of Dorie and it sucks Brian Oswald, our protagonist and narrator doesn't end up with her. I was hoping for some happiness even it was a fictional character's happiness and not mine. Damn shame. Damn shame. 

Records I will never tire of: Brand New's Your Favorite Weapon, Murderland's Lights Out and Guns 'N' Roses' Appetite for Destruction. Classics. All of them. 

Finishing Hairstyles of the Damned has made me want to listen to the Misfits now. I feel it is my goal to like this band. I admire them as it is. It's time to really dig their sound and them. 

I need my own place so I can blast my tunes all night long while drinking some beer. 

Longest Day Ever

Never have I ever seen so many parents come to conference with me about their children. Unreal. I'm exhausted physically and mentally. Incredible. I'm glad tomorrow there is no need to go into work. Wow. It's amazing. 

I smell like teacher sweat, White Castle burgers and beer combined. I smell kinda, sorta bad. I should probably shower. 

About two thirds or so through the book Hairstyles of the Damned. It's really good. Not sure where the plot is going but it's a damned shame the character of Dorie didn't end up with our fearless narrator. Damn shame. I hate it when I fall in love with a supporting character and then it doesn't pan out they way I planned. 

Why do I care so much? 

Julio McCourt?

I feel like my teaching path is mimicking the one Frank McCourt's teaching career took. Some shady business is going on. I don't know what to think. 

For once, I can see how thinking too much might send me over. Keep yo' mouth shut and look at the floor. Never look up! Never!

The Wolfman Beckons!

Yesterday was a good day. I was up from 5:30 am to 4 am. Nearly 24 hours straight. Good day at work and then good times in Manhattan with some of the Old Guard. Can't complaint. 

Manhattan again today for a movie, Midtown Comics again and to escort the parents to MSG for Vincente Fernandez, my dad's musical hero. 

Hoo-ah! 

Why?

Why am I questioning the fact that I sought a career in education? I'm supposed to love teaching. Why am somewhat regretting it? Why?

Why?

Reflections courtesy of the Goldman.

Best friend (from college and currently) is in San Francisco. I'm jealous. He drove out there and is hanging out on his own. Our friendships seems to be becoming more and more Kerouac-esque. I love it. I wish I could just up and go and join him out west. Most of my best memories in college involved Brian, even when it's a TKE memory, Brian is somehow involved. Good man. Last time I saw him, he came to visit me and we stayed up till 4:30 or 5 drinking beers and watching Undergrads. 

Two days off, and now two days of work and then two more days off. I rested and did nothing out of the ordinary. Mary is sick so we couldn't hang out. I think I can finally say that I like her. Not sure what she feels though. Time will tell, I guess. 

My A.P. is still bitch and whatever other vulgarity I use to describe her. If I leave H.S. for CTEA or teaching, all together, it will be because of her. Brian told me, most teachers leave teaching because of the bureaucracy and NOT because of the students. I totally agree with this. Totally. 

The question now is, if I do leave teaching, what could I do? What would I do instead? I feel the urge to watch Office Space. It's the most relevant piece of film, evidence of anything that can relate to my situation. Damn shame too. I like everything about my current school except for the blasted A.P. Damn shame too.  

I really just want a cool job, which would allow me to do something rad and then I could go home and feast on the mountains of literature I have collected since who knows and will continue to collect. I might end up going insane or I might do okay. Frank McCourt seems to have done pretty good for himself. I still want to ask him if he enjoyed teaching though. He seems to avoid answering that in his book, Teacher Man. 

Time off

No school/work today. The same for tomorrow. 

I'm tired and sore. It's a combination of the effects from work stress and weightlifting. My teaching career has seen better days in terms of supervising administration. 

Got the new Amon Amarth album. I looked for the new Iced Earth record but didn't find it. 

That's really it. Man, this entry really sucks. 

Sleep

Sleep has been hard to come. I like it because it makes you numb to all the wrongs going on in our lives and in the world. It's a shame it's only temporary. I think the key is to stop caring about the world and kind of move towards a life under the radar. 

If I were a construction worker then my job wouldn't follow me home. I would construct and then go home to drink a beer or two and read books. Sounds fantastically amazing. It is the sound of beauty. 

Glass

I want to hear the breaking of glass. It seems almost appropriate to hear the sound of breaking glass. It might make me feel better. 

End of Summer

Last day of Summer is coming to a close. 

I know of a lot of bands that seem to have a song titled "Bury Your Dead" or any variation on that title. Candiria, Martyr A.D., Arch Enemy, The Haunted are just some bands to name a few. I wonder what's this about. 

Giants game was intense. Kevin Boss caught the game winning touchdown in the 4th quarter before the Bengals went and tied it all up with a fieldgoal. Boss scored and then cried. My mom said it best with her observation of the emotion of football. The emotion factor is uncontested. This is probably the greatest sport ever this side of the world. I know soccer is number and it's emotional as well but so is American football. 

Random blog post today. 

More work this week. 

Drank too much on Friday. I might have a problem or I can't seem to keep track of when I've had too much. Maybe it's part of being a teacher. Who knows?

So it goes

And so it seems that the third week of school is near it's end. It's been an up and down week but so far it seems it will be ending on the up. 

Happy Hour in the city tomorrow after work... kinda looking forward to it. If it sucks then home. I'm really tired and this entry sucks. 

And so it goes yet again.

The weekend is over and onward to the third week of school. The past few entries might make it seem like I am not fond of my job. I am. I really am. I probably stretched out last weeks lesson but now all my classes have literature to read so things will be changing. The reading will keep them busy. 

I need to come up with some work for students to do and then post up on the outside bulletin board. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed. This is probably a second shot at feeling overwhelmed and stressed. My first year teaching was relatively easy. This, my second year, should have been manageable but it is proving otherwise. Blast my AP... condescending bitch. 

All I want to do is teach and discuss literature with the kids but this micromanagement bull is eating me alive. It's a shame if it chases me dogged and away from teaching. Having stress is one thing but being beaten into submission by it is another thing altogether. 

I'm gonna keep grinding my axe (teaching skills) for a long time... hopefully. 

Another week, another paycheck... sort of.

Second week of classes is coming to a close. Students are good. My A.P is not. It's funny, I feel that no matter what school I teach at the teachers will always be butting heads with the administration. It seems unavoidable. It sucks. This butting of heads just supports the it's a dog eat dog mentality and everyone is looking out for themselves even if it means stepping on people. 

Planning

First Sunday with a Monday. 

Teaching/refreshing literary elements and devices this Monday and Tuesday. Maybe I'll throw a quiz out there towards the end of the week. Keep the kids on their toes for the better. 

I will do this. Most likely. 

Week at School

First week of school done. I'm tired. Dead tired. The commute isn't terrible but I am exhausted beyond belief. I hope I get used to this. I have a small stack of homework to grade. I'm still in shock that these kids do homework let alone pay attention in class. It's good. I like it but it's like whoa. 

So tired. 

Gaslight Anthem is my current band of the moment... they write such good songs... romantic in terms on content like romantic literature. 

Kiss it goodbye

Summer ends for me today. This time tomorrow morning I'll be waiting for the M train to take me to work. This time tomorrow I'll be drinking coffee and hoping my lesson plan will last the entire block. 

Just like that it all ends. Back into the grind, the groove of things. It's 7:17 AM right. I've been up since 6:30 though. And so begins a new school year at my second high school in as many years. 

Here's to a good first day, a good year and a splendid everything work related. 

Summer Finale

Last weekend of Summer. It's cloudy and rainy. It's very blah and almost as if Summer knows that its time is up. Fall and Winter are going to gang up and the real question is when will this happen. 

Leaving for New Paltz in an hour... Saturday night boogie down special. 

Sunday afternoon/evening and Monday will be strictly for planning and writing lesson plans. 

Second day of work

Second day of work at the new school. It was a bit fun. It was mostly receiving a bunch of papers and being explained the rules and conduct expected of me. A universe apart of my year at Far Rockaway High School... a universe apart. 

Third day tomorrow and it's Friday. Hopefully Blockheads after work. New Paltz on Saturday... hopefully. 

Work

Set up my classroom today. Added color to my display boards and brought in supplies. I actually have a closet in which to hang my coat and stow away my supplies. 

I'm excited. Really excited. 

Work Tomorrow

Yay! Or rather nay? It's a mixed bag of what I feel right now. My second school in as many years. It's like being a rookie teacher all over again. 

Classroom set up is tomorrow. Just put together my bag of supplies like speakers, sponge to clean board, teacher's dictionary and various leftover supplies from June. 

Yay or nay!

I am Teacher Man

Finished reading Frank McCourt's memoir about his teaching career in NYC. It was good. He more or less captured what my student teaching and first year of teaching was. My mother pointed out some similarities between McCourt and Myself. We were/are aspiring writers and educators in the NYC education system. We've had love affairs with classmates. He had June and I had Natalia, who I saw yesterday...ouch, kind of but not really (I would have rathered inflicted pain but taken here almost without a moments though). 

Everyone should read McCourt's Teacher Man. It's not perfect and it struggles at moments but once the Stuyvessant High School portion of the book is reached it's wonderful and beautiful. 

I'm still sick and I still have work Wednesday. Ugh. 

Sick

I caught an end of the summer cold. I went from a sore throat a few days ago to a runny nose that won't stop. My vision is blurry and I feel out of it. I don't like being sick. 

If I'm gonna feel out of it I might as well be high because at least then I'll fall asleep from the floating feeling I'll be experiencing. 

Getting Sick

I have a sore throat. This is ironic because work resumes this coming Wednesday. I won't have to teach till September 3rd though. I should be okay by then but I love that I get sick towards the end of the summer when I'll be working again. 

Haha. 

Mirrors

Close to 50 pages into Frank McCourt's Teacher Man. 

I've already got the feeling I'm going to be looking/reading a mirror image of myself. McCourt's June is my Natalia. 

This is gonna be a heavy, boss, fucking real read. 

And so it goes

I finished reading Get in the Van not even two minutes ago. It's funny, by the end Rollins is repeating things over and over and I'm thinking to myself that I can't wait till I finish the book. Then when I get to the last journal entry I don't want it to end. 

Rollins' experience is a vivid one and I don't think it's been experienced by another group. From the journal entries it seemed that most crowds were hostile towards the band. I've been to numerous shows before and I've never seen a crowd get into it with a band. I've never seen a crowd reach the point of physical violence with a band. It's truly a unique experience. 

A part of me wants to be in a band and go on tour. I want to know what it's like. I know it will be tough, stressful and even dangerous to a point but I want to experience it myself. That's the romantic in me but if I asked Rollins I'm sure he would tell me there's nothing romantic about going on tour although I think a part of him would want to say it is. Based on the journals he kept, he preferred like on the road or in the van over staying at home and not doing much of anything. 

Who knows. Who knows. 

I'm going to start Frank McCourt's Teacher Man tomorrow. It'll probably be the last book of the summer. Work is a week and a half away. It's a weird time right now. 

Dream

I dreamt I owned a blue polo shirt last night. I have a green, red and 2 black polo shirts. No blue though. Twas just a dream. 

The Prestige

Just saw this movie and I'm left speechless. It's amazing. The plot twists are superb and unique... never have I seen such a movie that gives you a bit here and there and when you think you have it figured it out from out of nowhere it smacks you upside the head. 

Amazing. 

Time

Hit up Splish Splash today with the family. It was basic and fun. Got some sunburn on my arms. It's okay... could be worse. 

Listening to some Tiger Army right now. They're so good. Musical tragic romanticism. 

Workshop for this Friday was cancelled.  

Two weeks of summer vacation left. August 27th marks the beginning of my second year teaching. 

Testify 2

I'm on a huge Testament rampage right now. Just downloaded the new record and I want to venture into the attic and find my old copy of "The New Order." 

They were so good live. I want to seem them again immediately. I can't believe it took me this long to acknowledge this kick ass band. 

Chuck Billy sounds so possessed on the new record. Amazing. 

Testify!

Brian visited Saturday night. It was fun. Saw Pineapple Express, which was interesting in that it was surprisingly violent and graphic. Good times though. 

Last night caught the Masters of Metal tour at Jones Beach. Saw Testament, Motorhead, Heaven & Hell and Judas Priest. All of them killed it with Testament being my personal favorite. I couldn't understand a word Lemmy said and Dio gets smaller and smaller every time I see him. Judas Priest was rockin' as usual. Amazing show. I took the little brother. It was his first concert. 

I should continue apartment hunting this week. I have a professional development workshop on Friday at work. Should be fun. Vacation is slowly coming to an end. 

Restless

Had a hard time falling asleep last night. It seems like every couple of days or so I'll find myself bored with TV and yet not tired enough to fall asleep. I'll then toss and turn and eventually sleep but not without some struggle. To be blunt, I hate it. I like to fall asleep almost instantly like I usually do. 

Brian is supposedly coming down on Saturday for the night. Mainly because I have Judas Priest and Motorhead to catch in concert on Sunday. This sucks. To good things overlap each other. I kinda wish I didn't have tickets since I rather hang out with Brian. He's a good dude. 

It's morning and there's food in the fridge but I don't know what I want for breakfast. This sucks 'cause I know there are people who want to be found in my situation. 

I'm feeling quite restless as of late. I need something to happen. 

Rumblings

Saw a room available in a 3 bedroom apartment in Bushwick yesterday. It's nice, clean, near the J train, near stores but it's too small for all the stuff I would bring along in the shape of books, CDs and DVDs. Shame. 

The search continues. 

Still reading Henry Rollins' journals from his stint in Black Flag. I just started his entries from 1985. Two more years to go. WOOO! 

They've gone to plaid!

I really like plaid shorts... especially plaid prints with shades of black and gray/grey. There is something old school about it. 

I also really like Chuck Taylor kicks and old school hardcore punk. Talk about old school. 

Old School. 

It's the secret phrase of the day! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Warped!

Warped Tour was yesterday... fourth one in a row and overall for me. Every year that I go there are less and less bands that I want to see or go to enjoy in exchange for a day burning under the sun. Yesterday was the best weather I encountered since I've been going to the tour. 

I wore my white t-shirt with my fraternity letters yesterday as means to counter the heat. Black shirts and summer sun is never good when combined. One of the small opening band's vocalist was a brother so I chatted it up with him for a bit. It was cool stuff. Met another brother from Buffalo State while waiting for Pennywise to hit the stage and then had a girl take my picture because she had friends in TKE and wanted to show them. It felt pretty cool even though I had my moments of feeling like a douche for wearing letters. On top of that, I'm also an alumni even though the brotherhood is for life. 

Every Time I Die played first and they were okay. They're last great record was two records ago and frankly, they haven't made anything as engaging as the songs on Hot Damn!  They didn't play "I Been Gone a Long Time," which was disappointing to me. I used to play that song on my am radio show during my freshman and sophomore years of college. 

All That Remains followed and they played well until I hear their new song, "Two Weeks." Now the thing is with All That Remains is that they are a really good band with skilled musicians. Realistically they could continue making music in vein of their first two records and eventually make a good living off it but they chose to continue their path of cashing in. It's okay that they have a song on the Guitar Hero video game and had the main song on the Saw IV soundtrack but then I was witness to the song "Two Weeks" being performed. All I'm going to say is that All That Remains can make it without having to use clean vocals in an entire song but they did. They have three amazing records and sure the older the record the heavier and more brutal but still. I expected more of the band. 

Moving onto Pennywise, aside from taking close to 15 minutes to hit the stage they owned the day. In my opinion, the older bands usually dominate Warped Tour but never get the respect for doing so. But for me Pennywise dominated and did it very well. No complaints whatsoever, then again, Pennywise are one of the few bands that have maintained a steady course and stayed true to their beliefs. 

Against Me! played 8 or 9 songs in their 30 minute set. They did no talking in between. They hit the stage and played all way through. I have no complaints about that. They easily maximized their playing time. 

And with that another Warped Tour is in the books. It was fun but the number of good bands is slowly ebbing and that sucks because it is quite possible this could have been the last or the penultimate Warped Tour for me. 

Time will tell.  

Get in the van!

So I'm now, currently, reading Henry Rollin's Get in the Van. For those that don't know Henry Rollins was the last incarnation of the band Black Flag's vocals. Get in the Van is a collection of journal entries and photos from his stint in the band from 1981 to 1986, when they broke up. It's an addicting read. 

Warped Tour tomorrow... all day or rather from noon to 8 or 9. Might leave early if the closing bands all suck. I'm interested in seeing All That Remains, Every Time I Die, Pennywise and The Bouncing Souls play. Against Me! is not on the east coast leg of the tour so I get to miss them, which sucks because they've started to grow on me. I'm pretty sure I'm going to feel old and out of place since I'm too old for the young crowd and too young for the older crowd that goes for one or two older bands. I'm stuck in the middle... shit never changes, eh? 

Back to Get in the Van. I told ya it's addicting. 

And so it continues

Finished reading Johnny Hazzard about a minute ago. It was good. But it felt lacking though because there was no major or significant climax. That or I didn't relate to what could be viewed as the climax. 

Saw The Dark Knight yesterday and it was easily one of the greatest films I've ever seen. Its greatness transcends genres and everything that can be perceived. It was a brilliant examination and presentation of what man is capable of and of the impact one person's actions have on others. Best movie this year so far and probably for the win! 

Warped Tour is this Saturday. Fourth year in a row going. Last years pinnacle was seeing Bad Religion and discovering Tiger Army. This year's pinnacle? I hope it involves Pennywise, Every Time I Die, All That Remains, Bouncing Souls and another band or two. We shall see, right? 

The Dark Knight was amazing!!!

Oh Snap!

Finished Franny & Zooey. I want to know about dear ol' Franny. 

I'm a little over a third into Johnny Hazzard. Not bad so far. Simple and engaging. I'm totally digging the Johnny Hazzard protagonist. Not to fond of the description of his love interest though. 

Two weeks left in July... about 5 weeks left before I go back to school. 

Thinking too much

I over think things. I take a situation and image all the possibilities that can result from it. It's probably because of this that sometimes I feel that I can't function or perform certain tasks. I simply think so much that I can't do something much simpler. Go figure. 

I will finish Franny & Zooey tomorrow. I have about 30 pages to go. Salinger was absolutely nuts to write what he has written. 

I need incorporate some drastic changes into my life. I feel that I don't do enough and hence the window of opportunity for certain things is getting smaller. There I go thinking things over too much. It's a crippling disease. 

Gotta do more, gotta be more!

Saw the cute receptionist at the gym again. Either she digs me or she's a totally nice person. Not sure which. 

Might road trip in August for two weeks. If this goes through then awesomeness I become. 

Statue of Liberty tomorrow with kid brother and mom. It's been like 12 years since. I was last there in '95 when I had my broken left arm. 

Still reading Franny and  Zooey. I think I'm love with the character of Franny. Damn you Salinger! I find that I always end up liking literary characters for some reason. Why? Who knows! 

I need to buy a new pair of headphones. I want to buy a Wii. Played Wii Bowling and Mario Cart last night and it was AMAZING. I want. 

Musings 2

Saw people from high school last night. Needless to say, no one has really changed except for the fact that some of us have gained weight. Why? 

Oh well, it was nice to reminisce on some good old days. 

One story left to read in Every Man for Himself anthology. And then it's back to reading Franny and Zooey. Salingers' writing needs to be read patiently by me. Can't speed through it. I guess so I can savor it more. 

Musings

Cute receptionist at gym thought my name was Louis. Oh well. She's nice. I wish there was a way to figure out what she really thinks of me. She did promise to remember my name next time... will hold her up to that. 

Day 2 of workshop was very filling. I was burnt out by the last hour or so. Day 3 tomorrow and after Day 3 it's Day 4 and then, I wait for the check to come in the mail. WOOO!

At the workshop we kept talking about the word "outsider" so I had the Chumbawumba song, "Outsider" stuck in my head all day. It was kinda cool but then I remembered the Chumbawumba CD is upstairs in the attic. The stepladder to the attic has one broken hinge/support and I'm a big fella so I feel this is a recipe for disaster. 

Strung Out, the band, is growing on me. I have Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues and at first it was meh but it begins to latch on and gnaw without submitting until you dig it. Cool stuff. Very hectic pace. 

Back in the City

Started day one of a four day workshop on how to use inquiry to engage students in learning. It could be worse. 

The best part of the workshop is that it's in downtown Manhattan. Stopped by South Street Seaport for the first time in years. Literally. It was nice to go back... tons of tourists though. Good place to get one's afternoon drink on though. 

Riding the LIRR in the morning is pretty fun. I enjoy myself. Kudos! 

Night time

I like to listen to music at night. 

I miss being under some influence and listening to music. I would notice music more for its less obvious details. 

I love listening to Suenos Liquidos and grooving to the bass lines while in a state of influential bliss. It was groovy like a squiggly line. 

It's the Fourth

Fourth of July is a cliche. Like all cliches it is overrated and pretty useless. 

Listening to 311 during hot, muggy, humid summer days is a cliche. Listening to 311 while smoking weed is also a cliche. 

Blogging about cliches is a cliche. 

I'm a cliche because I try to avoid being a cliche but in the process I become a cliche. 

To be a pessimist; we're fucked. 

But we'll try to avoid being fucked and that is another cliche. 

Insanity

My family is insane. My parents need therapy... we all need therapy or something. Everyone has multiple issues. 

I hope my little brother avoids this trap hole. I really hope he does. 

Estranged

At 8 minutes and 42 seconds the song reaches its emotional climax. It's amazing. One of Axl's best vocal performances. It's easily the part that sold me on the song. 

What's even better is that "You Could Be Mine" follows it on the record (Use Your Illusion II) with its horse gallop drumming. Awesome. 

Guns N' Roses were/are a great band with a legendary legacy that touches the farthest reaches of the who knows what. I can only imagine if they were still together... then again maybe it's a good thing they ceased to continue. 

Thoughts and Ideas

The songs I will best remember are not metal. I could also be saying this because these non-metal songs fit my current mood. Then again, it could very well be true that the best songs written are songs that are not metal. 

It's weird. 

I love heavy metal but I know that I'm aware that other genres exist. I also know that not one genre has supremacy over the others. Just browse my iTunes. I do believe though that Meat Loaf knows the formula to creating successful music or good tunes. Just listen to any Meat Loaf song and you will see. Meat Loaf has it all, guitar solos, epic song structure, back up singers, soaring chorus', great drumming, the works. The works. 

Musicians must drink and do a lot of drugs. 

The least interesting music has to be the music created by people who do NOT drink or use drugs. Just take a look at some of the most memorable music created over the years. The one exception in my book is KISS but there is no mystery behind KISS. KISS is KISS and that's all. 

Even the better metal songs were/are created by people who drink and do drugs. 

Any song that makes you think or reflect or simply fits the aura/mood that booze and drugs puts you has a trail of spilt beer and drugs consumed. 

Believe me. And if you do not then just listen. Just listen. 

Monday

Woke up, had breakfast, watched episodes of How I Met Your Mother season 1, went to the gym, showered, later lunch, played some Madden on PS2, finished reading Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs, surfed the net, blogged this post. 

My day in a winded sentence. 

Next up is Macaulay Culkin's first book called junIor. Not sure what to think. I bought it this past winter on a whim but never touched it until now. Like I said, not sure what I'm expecting or what I want. Oh well. 

So it goes. 

Sundays with no Mondays

Today has been the first Sunday that will have no Monday in terms of having to wake up at 6:20 AM and having to go to work. 

Summer vacation!!! 

Summer Vacation

Today is the first full day of summer vacation. 

The Staten Island ferry was most fun yesterday afternoon with my peeps from work. Awesome. 

Smithtown tomorrow for a bbq. 

I've yet to actually rest or sleep in completion of my first year of teaching. I can't wait for Sunday when I will finally be able to relax. 

Because The Night

Is easily one of the greatest songs ever written. I absolutely love it. Every aspect of it, from the lyrics to the music itself... it's all amazing. 

Easily a top 15 song. Easily. 

Last Day of School

Today was the last day of classroom instruction. After I got out I went for drinks at Hamilton's house to celebrate her birthday and the end of the school year. 

Just like that I have been teaching for one year. It's kind of bittersweet. No cake, no cheesy celebration... just a few drinks and a slice of pizza. And a week of proctoring exams. Yay! 

Yay! 

I hope for the summer I do massive loads of writing and reading and some lesson planning along the way. HOO- AH!

Playing for Pizza

Finished reading Playing for Pizza today. Terrific short novel that I really enjoyed. It ignited a fire in me to visit Italy. I'm going to look into this for maybe next summer. It would be awesome. Awesome I say!

Van Halen wrote some great songs when Sammy Hagar took the reigns in the wake of Diamond Dave bolting. I enjoy both incarnations of the band. Not sure which I prefer though. Tough choice. 

What to read next? I'll let you know later. 

Let's rock!

I want to start a band and play a hybrid of old school hardcore and thrash metal combined with elements of death/black metal as well as epic/progressive/power metal and hardcore/punk attitude. 

I would play bass... hold it down on the low end side. I also contribute backing vocals... like screams, roars and the gang chants. 

Who's in? 

It's a Black Out!

Power went out today around 1:10 or 1:14. Almost got out of work early but the power returned around 1:55 or so. Damn the administration for delaying a possible rapid dismissal especially after the two other schools in the building pulled the trigger. 

Oh well. 

Too Hot!

It's been too hot the past three days. Tooooooooooo hot. It'll continue tomorrow but at a slightly cooler temperature and I use the phrase "slightly cooler temperature" with liberty. 

Tag Team

Found out today I'll be joined at my new place of employment by a current fellow coworker... English & U.S. History tag team! WOOOOOOOOOO! There is no denying the power there. 

Things are going well. Good things are moving at a good pace and no complaints whatsoever. 

I Love You, Natalia!

Finished reading I Love You, Beth Cooper a few minutes ago. It's not exactly what I expected and the ending leaves you a bit hanging on edge... guess I have to use my imagination to better understand the end. 

Anyways, my Beth Cooper is Natalia. If you know me then you know the saga of Natalia and I. Oh joy! It just didn't end well for me. I still don't know what I took away from this saga. 

Oh well. 

Next read: Playing for Pizza, John Grisham. 

Take it and run!

I took the job offer. Fall 2008, I will be teaching at a new high school... the times are a-changing. How bizarre. For the longest time nothing changed and then all of sudden, in a blink of an eye just about everything got turned upside down. 

From one situation to the next.

So I got a concrete job offer today. I had an interview with another school yesterday and scheduled a demo lesson for this Friday with them and then I find out I have an actual job offer. 

I literally have gone from one decision making situation to another... Do I go ahead and do the demo lesson or do I just take the offer already on the table? If I take the offer will I be putting myself in the school that can provide the best fit? Am I missing out on a better fit school by pulling the trigger and taking what I know I can get at the very moment? 

Decisions, decisions, decisions... from one to the next. 

Amusing read.

Currently reading, I Love You, Beth Cooper. It's a fun read. Very amusing. 

Like a Catch 22... sort of.

I have a job offer to teach ELA at a school in Ozone Park, Queens, NYC. I also don't have said job offer. 

What?!

Let me lay it down right quick, the principal wants to hire me but can't offer a concrete commitment because he doesn't know his school's budget yet. I'm his top prospect that he wants to acquire for his school though. So now, I have to wait a week to see if this will go through. 

Catch 22 for sure. 

Next

Finished reading, Slam last night. Nick Hornby is quite the master of writing male confessional related literature. Good stuff. 

I haven't decided what I'm tackling next. I've noticed though I go from humorous book to serious book. I consider Slam more of a serious book so, technically, a humorous book is next in line but you never know. 

I'm longing again. Oh joy. 

Somewhat smooth sailing

Wrapped up my second interview and first ever demo lesson today. I can relax for a bit. I just hope something comes out of these two interviews I went on. 

I've pretty much decided I rather not return to Far Rockaway H.S. if I can avoid it. 

Tomorrow is Thursday and then Friday and a 3 day weekend. 

Connelly's will open its doors this Friday to start another Rockaway summer. Yay!

Back to the grind.

New Paltz was fun last night. Today was not so much fun. It comes with the price of partying though. 

Another intense week coming up. Interview and lesson demo on Wednesday and then 3 day weekend. 

Connelly's is opening this weekend. Woot!

Dun dun dun!

First interview tomorrow. Then New Paltz on Saturday. Second interview on Wednesday. 

It's like being back in college...

On the dawn of my one year college graduation my professional life gets thrown a few wildcards. I have two interviews scheduled. One this Friday and then on Wednesday, the 21st. The latter has a demo lesson attached to it. I'm in the midst of preparing a professional portfolio and then I have to plan a demo lesson involving Othello and The Color of Water. 

So yeah, it's like being back in college but the risk failure is very much real. Too close for comfort. I can't stay up till 3 in the morning working on papers anymore. It's impossible. 

On the brighter side, New Paltz this Saturday for graduation eve partying and whatnot. But it's crunch time before and right after this weekend. 

It never ends. Leave to such a current situation that motivates my body to wanting to run and lift weights till it cannot anymore. 

Oh well, time to finish this game...

SLAM!

In the midst of teaching Shakespeare's Julius Caesar to my freshmen students. I'm aiming to possibly completing Caesar the Friday right before Memorial Day. That's two weeks or 10 school days. 

I want to try and squeeze a third literary text before the last day of classes on June 13th. I'm leaning towards the Chocolate War. It's quite the predicament I am trying to get into. Insane, right? 

I'm reading Nick Hornby's Slam for pleasure. It's good. British first person narrative works well. Hornby's definitely got a talent for writing male confessional lit. The guy is good. 

I'm also playing Skate on PS3. It's good but it takes some getting used to. I have the Tony Hawk's  Pro Skater game controls so imbedded in my brain that I just assumed Skate's control scheme is the same. It's not though. Not in any way. 

So it goes. Five weeks of classes left then two weeks of Regents exams and grading and then It's summer. Since beginning college, I have developed a real sense of how fast time flies. It's almost a year since I graduated college. It sure doesn't feel like it's been a year though. Simply mind boggling. 

So it goes though. So it goes. 

The REAL Animal House

Just finished reading Chris Miller's memoir about his college sophomore year. Obviously the focus of the book involves him rushing and pledging the Alpha Delta fraternity and all the hijinks that followed. 

Needless to say, I LOVED this book. I pledged TKE in college and despite that Miller's memoir reflects on college in the '60s and I was in college from 2003-2007 there are an infinite number of similarities that far outshine the very few differences. I would like to know what college was like in past decades. It would astound me and I would love it very much. 

The college semester end in two weeks. I'll return to New Paltz on May 17th for 24 hours of nonstop drinking and partying as part of the graduation weekend ritual. I'm excited because it will be a fitting celebration/mourning to mark my one year anniversary since I became a college graduate and had to enter the real world. Tragedy. 

It's a most bittersweet time. Summer is right around the corner. Here's hoping that the summer kicks ass! Cheers! 

Civil War

The Gun N' Roses song, "Civil War" fit the mood today perfectly. It was cloudy and rainy and the emotion and mood the song emits fit in perfectly. 

Without doubt the Use Your Illusion I and II records were ambitious and huge. This songs proves what this band was capable of...damn shame they imploded and fell apart. 

"What we've got here is failure to

communicate.

Some men you just can't reach...

So, you get what we had here last week,

which is the way he wants it!

Well, he gets it!

N' I don't like it any more than you men." 

Look at your young men fighting

Look at your women crying

Look at your young men dying

The way they've always done before

Look at the hate we're breeding

Look at the fear we're feeding

Look at the lives we're leading

The way we've always done before

My hands are tied

The billions shift from side to side

And the wars go on with brainwashed pride

For the love of God and our human rights

And all these things are swept aside

By bloody hands time can't deny

And are washed away by your genocide

And history hides the lies of our civil wars

D'you wear a black armband

When they shot the man

Who said "Peace could last forever"

And in my first memories

They shot Kennedy

I went numb when I learned to see

So I never fell for Vietnam

We got the wall of D.C. to remind us all

That you can't trust freedom

When it's not in your hands

When everybody's fightin'

For their promised land

And

I don't need your civil war

It feeds the rich while it buries the poor

Your power hungry sellin' soldiers

In a human grocery store

Ain't that fresh

I don't need your civil war

Look at the shoes your filling

Look at the blood we're spilling

Look at the world we're killing

The way we've always done before

Look in the doubt we've wallowed

Look at the leaders we've followed

Look at the lies we've swallowed

And I don't want to hear no more

My hands are tied

For all I've seen has changed my mind

But still the wars go on as the years go by

With no love of God or human rights

'Cause all these dreams are swept aside

By bloody hands of the hypnotized

Who carry the cross of homicide

And history bears the scars of our civil wars

"WE PRACTICE SELECTIVE ANNIHILATION OF MAYORS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

FOR EXAMPLE TO CREATE A VACUUM

THEN WE FILL THAT VACUUM

AS POPULAR WAR ADVANCES

PEACE IS CLOSER" 

I don't need your civil war

It feeds the rich while it buries the poor

Your power hungry sellin' soldiers

In a human grocery store

Ain't that fresh

And I don't need your civil war

I don't need your civil war

I don't need your civil war

Your power hungry sellin' soldiers

In a human grocery store

Ain't that fresh

I don't need your civil war

I don't need one more war

I don't need one more war

Whaz so civil 'bout war anyway

Back to School!

Tomorrow, I return to work for essentially 5 weeks straight. The only additional day off is May 26th for Memorial Day. Other than that it's work, work, work. 

20 consecutive lesson plans, day off and then another 4. I should run through Julius Caesar in that timeframe if not less. I'll shoot for 3 intense weeks of Caesar. 

WOOO!

Passing by type of post

So spring break is coming to a close with tomorrow being Friday. I didn't do much of anything and did not grade midterms nor read Julius Caesar. It literally slipped my mind. 

Ah well. 

America has been so good to me.

I am an official U.S. citizen. I got my certificate and all. 

Not that I don't appreciate it but I've lived in this country since I was 3, I received a solid education from American schools and now I work in a New York City public high school. I am America. 

Finished Fargo Rock City today. Now reading The Real Animal House by Chris Miller. I'm loving it already. Going Greek was easily one of the best decisions I ever made. It has come to define my pretty excellent college experience. TKE! TKE! TKE! TKE! TKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

OOOOH YEAH!

So it's been like 3 weeks since I returned to the gym and things are going well. I've fallen into a nice routine. BFF Amy comes home in like 3 weeks and says she's gonna sign up as well so that might be cool because then she'll be able to push me along. 

Tomorrow is last day before spring break...yay? Sure why not. 

I've applied to about 5 new schools since the open market started unofficially last Friday and and officially this past Tuesday. 

That's my crappy update. 

Happy Hour in Manhattan tomorrow...woot, woot. 

Epiphany.

It DOES echo something that is quite possible in our world. 

Golding knew something. He knew it damn well before anyone else. 

Depressing

The 1990 film version of Lord of the Flies only accomplished in putting me on the verge of tears. It blatantly strays from the novel but it puts viewers through an emotional struggle when witnessing the bullying of Piggy. It's just downright awful. 

I feel like a terrible, terrible person. Much the same way that Ralph and Piggy feel after the "accidental" murder of Simon. I felt that I should have done something to warn Piggy. 

Damnit. Blah. 

I'm back!

It's been sometime. 

Lord of the Flies is easily one of my new favorite novels. I feel the onset of tears when I read Chapter 11 and learn Piggy's fate. It's such a tragic novel and it's even more powerful because it seems to echo something that is all too possible in our world. 

It's what's up.

Went to Florida this past weekend for less than 48 hours and partied in South Beach. Good drinks, hot bartenders and good times. I have no complaints. 

TKE Alumni Weekend coming up April 4th - 6th. Another insane weekend. 

No real complaints about anything. 

Later dudes!

I'm here to pump you up!

Went back to the gym today. Went well and I feel like I have this new found power. Hopefully it leads somewhere. 

I'm totally hooked on the song, "Take Me Back to Paradise," by .38 Special. It's really rad! 

It's not about pure sunshine.

It's all about pure sunshine. 

Just finished reading Pure Sunshine by Brian James. Was not bad at all. Pretty good for a quick read. My friend, Simone gave me this thought; it plays out like Catcher in the Rye except light. You know what I mean, like diet Catcher in the Rye. It left me with a lot of questions but satisfied. Just about any book published by Push is good reading. Can't complain. 

Back to work tomorrow...normal, five day work week with a culmination of a 48 hour Florida trip. Should be a grand time. I will try to take many photos. I will put in serious effort. This trip is about four years in the making. Carpe diem baby! Carpe diem! 

Next up to be read: Fargo Rock City by Chuck Klosterman. WOOT! HUZZAH! YAWP!

PS: My students and I are entering week 3 of Lord of the Flies. A quest will be had this week. I also need to finish my bulletin board. Here's hoping to a strong, effective, tolerable week! Cheers! 

PPS: I enjoyed the sun being out today very much. 

Day off

This day off is sweet. I haven't done anything exceptional but that is okay. 

I'm supposed to start hitting up the gym today but it's wicked brick outside. Tomorrow definitely. No exceptions. 

I'm reading "Pure Sunshine," by Brian James at the moment. 

I will finally get to discuss "How I Paid for College..." with someone today. I read it like 3 years ago and my friend just finished reading it. I'm excited. Great book. Very funny. 

The Living End rocks! Need to see them live. 

What it is to yearn?

I'm yearning a lot these days. I need some changes but yet I'm still too chickenshit to take a chance with some of these changes. 

Three days of work to go before a three day weekend. 

Florida for a weekend in two weeks. 

I'm still yearning. 

A typical day in my current life does not allow enough time to listen to music. 

Damn!

I'm old. 

Is it June yet?

Sunday morning workshops are over. 

The only thing job related spilling into over into the weekends now is Saturday school but I alternate with two other people so I do Saturday school about once a month. I have about 2 or 3 Saturdays to go. 

I'm loving the fact that the sun is out longer now. Totally rad. 

Life Lesson #4563

Never do more than two shots of Jameson while at a happy hour in the presence of some of your former high school teachers. Never, because then you'll end up puking in the car of one of your former teachers. And that is just embarrassing. 

I know this not because I experienced it firsthand but I know somehow who has. 

Music...

...is my addiction. No doubt about it. 

Just downloaded Dark Tranquility's "Haven." 

It's good so far but it makes me feel weird that I downloaded just mere days after downloading All That Remains' first record, which I've listened to but not as much as I would have when I was still devoted to CDs. 

It's tough being a devotee of music. 

FATA and Literature updates

I feel the urge to see From Autumn to Ashes live again. I need to go to a show in general. It's been so long. Too long. It's not my fault the last string of shows have sucked though. Or is it? 

Arch Enemy and Dark Tranquility are coming in April/May. I will want to check it out. 

Every Time I Die is coming around later this month. I will want to check it out as well. 

Now on to something similar yet not. Got some new books to read. The question now is when will I have time to read? WHEN?! 

Maybe Summer, haha. I love my job but it does not leave room for much if any pleasure/self-acquiring knowledge reading. I need to get a job in Brooklyn or Manhattan so I have to take the train to get to work. This way I'll read on my way to work, always. 

Always. 

So many pages to read with no time at all. Romantic tragedy. 

Educational workshops and beer

To recap the latter half of the week, I showed Lost in the classroom as a visual bridge to Golding's Lord of the Flies. I'm excited and I managed to get 45 of my students hooked on Lost. I renewed my interest in the show. Everyone wins!

Went to an educational "code switching" workshop/conference yesterday afternoon...yawn. Afterwards I hit up TGIFridays and then a bar called Ulysses off the financial district. The bar was totally awesome. It had the whole Irish Pub theme going with a framed photo portrait of our most drunk president, Ulysses Grant. WOOOO! 

Left the bar 'round midnight but I missed my LIRR train home so I had to hang around Penn Station for about the time that it would take me to watch Monster Squad. 

Simone's birthday dinner/bash thing is tonight. Need to finish her mixtape and then it's onward to a few more pints of Guinness. 

Workshop tomorrow morning, ugh. It's the penultimate one though. 

Check it!

The PS3 now has online capability. It's awesome. 

Bought American Pie Presents: Beta House. It's a fraternity movie and I was active in my fraternity in college. It might be bad but I might enjoy it despite it being a terrible film. 

I also started reading a new book, "No One Belongs Here More than You" by Miranda July. It's a collection of short stories. I read the first one and enjoyed it very much. I'm looking forward to more. 

Started working on my Lord of the Flies unit as well for work. I know I could have done more in this week off but I did not. I feel no guilt or shame, I just know I could have done more. 

Lunch and shopping with Simone tomorrow....yay! 

Nostalgia!

So, while I was cleaning out one of my desk drawer's, I came across a sheet of paper, whose value goes beyond the concept of value.  It's a list of 10 lessons that my friends and I learned from our freshman year of college at SUNY New Paltz. 

The four primary people involved in the compilation of this list are Brian Gold, Adam Cady, Big Bear and myself. In our freshman year, we lived and died an infinite number of times. 

The list is as follows:

1. Drink excessively but responsibly

2. In the end, it should all be about fun

3. Everyone masturbates

4. No matter what you do, some people are just assholes

5. Road trips don't mean anything

6. Do not create a false image of yourself

7. Always wear a rubber

8. Do not have sex with random people

9. Make friends responsibly

10. Don't leave things 'til the last minute

This list is my our freshman year in a nutshell. Each point on that list was experienced by one or all of us. It has contributed to who we are today. 

Brian Gold says, "Our freshman year was our Vietnam." 

Taxes and an infinite playlist

Yep, did my taxes today for the first time ever. It was actually fairly simple. I walked to H & R Block and like 30-40 minutes later I was done. They did basically everything except sign my name, which I did myself. 

The second accomplishment of the day is that I finished reading Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, which was amazing. My own real version of this novel has happened in a way but with a terrible, terrible, terrible ending. Fuck off Natalia! I need to experience my own sequel and this time we'll go for the cliche ending because frankly a cliche ending puts a smile on our faces as opposed to the unexpected, anti-Hollywood ending, which is always better, for the most part, but it never quite leaves you with that warm smile that tells you everything is going to be okay. 

Not that it means anything, but I completed Aimee's Mixtape Part 1 today. Hopefully she'll like it. I'll finish part 2 tomorrow or if I get insomnia then I'll finish it tonight. I never get insomnia much these days though. 

Last thing, I thought about getting some ink done on me. I'm thinking, at the moment, the Iron Maiden Trooper but holding a Salvadorean flag and his uniform in Salvadorean colors. Any takers? 

Survival

Came back from New Paltz about four hours ago. It was fun and everything but I discovered that my body is no longer trained or accustomed to what a typical or normal night in New Paltz is usually like. My friends who went up as well; Max, Marco, Barry, Mike Nelson, Joe, Cory, Choda, Steve, Austin, Juice,  Aaron...we all enjoyed ourselves at a brutal and intense level. 

Probably not for a while.

I have the week off from work so I'll have some time to get important things done such as my taxes as well as reread Lord of the Flies, which I will begin teaching upon returning to work in the last days of February. 

I'll also play an obscene amount of video games. Or try to at the least. 

Just another excuse to sell and buy chocolate

Another February 14th, another year. 

Seriously, this is probably the most pointless day of the year. It's a blatant excuse to sell flowers, chocolates, teddy bears and other useless things for mass consumption. Why is it that out of the 365 days in a year, 366 for leap years, we have to single out one day and make it the day that we profess our love to someone else? It's a serious crock. 

I just don't get it or I've become too jaded. It's just another Thursday for me. 

New Paltz tomorrow afternoon and that is a pure excitement. I'm gonna get to surround myself in my old stomping grounds and party like it is Spring 2006 all over again. New Paltz here I come!

Marvel Ultimate Alliance awaits! 

It's Snowing!

So it snowed for like the real real time today. It's nice to look out the window and see a glaze of snow on the sidewalks and lawns. 

Teaching is a constant work in progress and I wish I could incorporate more music into the classroom but the ways things are going so far it seems quite swell. No real complaints. 

Three days to New Paltz and having the chance to act like it is Fall 2005/Spring 2006 all over again. I'm excited. The camera is coming with and hopefully I won't get to preoccupied to forget to take some photos of my brothers and I. WOOO!

It felt good to get some busy work done today when no students showed up to my last block class. I felt accomplished today and still do. I should probably also try and get my lesson plans done during my off periods in school. It felt good to come home and only have to do a 5 minute look-over my lesson plan. I got the chance to play some Marvel Ultimate Alliance and it felt good. 

I started reading Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, which I will most likely finish while I ride to the bus to and from New Paltz. Awesome indeed. After this then I will reread The Chocolate War or Lord of the Flies depending on which book the students select. Either way I win and yet they will think they have won. 

Glorious. Now, all I have to do is find a girl who thinks I'm cute and I can make out with. 

Remember, short controlled bursts!

ALIENS...man, I love this movie. Easily one of the best science-fiction/action movies of the 80's and of all time. It rules on every level. 

Game over, haha. 

Kick, push

Lupe Fiasco is pretty rad. He's just as distinguishing as Atmosphere and Jedi Mind Tricks. 

I need to do more research before I proclaim if he is totally boss. 

Chalk up another week at da Rock.

I should have gone to Happy Hour after work. I did not though. That's why I'm here typing. If I worked in a Manhattan school this would not be a problem. There would be no need to worry about being sober in order to drive home or anything. Just have drinks and fun. 

So I have to decide between reading and teaching Lord of the Flies or The Chocolate War. Which one to teach? The school copies of The Chocolate War look as if they are first edition prints. We just had new copies of Lord of the Flies delivered to the school. The only major factor in deciding is that I've read The Chocolate War before but never in a way to teach.  

I should decide fairly soon. 

This weekend I will go to H & R to do my taxes and formulate the research project I will assign my freshmen students to do over mid-winter break. 

Once February is in the past, on to some legit literature! 

So it goes.