Topic: NYC Teaching Fellows

OK…I feel it’s now appropriate to announce that starting this fall, I will begin a new job as a NYC school teacher. This week I got word that I have been accepted to the NYC teaching fellows, a program that places first time teachers in high need schools. Over the next two years, I will have loads of content to write about as I find myself back in school, teaching special ed and taking graduate education classes in the summer and evenings during the school year.

How do I feel about this? I feel excited. This despite the mixed reactions others have shared with me about the experience of working in some of these schools. While I appreciate stories and advice, this program will be good for me once it’s underway. It feels a bit scary, but only when my imagination gets the better of me.

For example, I just watched Blackboard Jungle (while sitting in bed on my new Dell laptop, finally gaining the perks of the digital age at home). The movie takes place in the 1950s I believe, and depicts the dangers of working in a large public school. The behaviors of the students in the movie almost made me want to quit, it really might as well have been a prison movie, things were that out of control.

But, life has treated me best when I’ve taken on things that scare me a bit. Plus, working with kids brings out a different Dan that doesn’t come out very often, and brings with it a heightened level of creativity, responsibility, childishness, dedication, and empathy.

I am expecting to have a couple of weeks between my current job and summer training, and I am trying to plan something to do with that time. One idea is to do go off into the wilderness somewhere, or perhaps just some remote and quaint little town, where I can pretend live for a week like a local. I am hoping to spend my days reading, asking taking only books recommended to me by others as their favorites. Not sure where I want to go yet, could go way out east on Long Island, somewhere more New Englandy perhaps.

Also, I’ve been asked by people if I plan on moving out of my home. I’ve had a few people, namely girls, comment how they don’t look to kindly on my living at home with my parents. The funny thing is, except for those comments, the experience has been nothing but a positive one for me. I know the moment I get my own place, I’ll grow immensely from the independence and added responsibility, but I have had a great opportunity to grow closer to my parents, and whatever trade-off that has meant on my social life, I think has been worth it. Plus, I’ve been able to put some dough away, which I’ll be needing as kayak season gets underway. So, to all you ladies out there who have beef w/ me living at home, well, when I’m having bbq’s at home this summer and cruising down to the beach after work, you’ll all have none of that!

done and done

today i go awol, reading old movie quotes from matthew broderick movies. love work, love it

p.s. the new photo is of a mega-babe from www.jewlicious.com  funny jews, trix are for rabbits.

oh…and also had a good dose of Wayne World’s quotes:

“Why is is that when you kill someone in battle, it’s called heroic, but when you kill someone in the heat of passion, it’s called murder?”

“You know…in some countries marriage is punishment for shoplifting.”

Topic: Schooling

It was about 2 years ago that I first began putting my thoughts about schooling/education into book form.  My perspective of time is still a bit silly, two years now appears a blink of the eye, but it was also just that, two years, 730 days, approximately 116800 hours (16hrs. awake a day)…shit, gotta grab lunch, will finish this piece later….

…and i’m back.  What was I saying?  Oh yeah.  I was thinking about time and aging.  And tied to that, are thoughts about schooling and life beyond school.  I have come to recognize that the issue of education is not the end-all and be-all of life.  My life is simple, hopefully get another 80 years or so out of it, maybe not, but what I want my life to be filled with is joy, entertainment, friends, family, etc. 

But school is the issue that I wish to develop knowlede of, and so I find myself reading Jonathan Kozol to begin to understand what the leading writers and speakers and leaders in education are thinking and saying.  I will begin to consume large quantities of their words and actions. 

Psychologically/Philosophically, I believe that there is potential for improvement in our schools and society, however, I also believe that right now things are “perfect.”  I think, that to think that things now are not perfect, only leads to mental anguish.  The struggle, whether it is a struggle for racial equality, economic equality, work equality, etc. is in itself part of this perfect world in which we live right now.

For even those who do not live in oppression of some sort, are still in a struggle against time, their lives finite.  Their lives full of minor turmoils that will never claim a struggle for the masses, for example, the turmoil of losing a loved one, or of a dispute with a family member. 

But, I am an amateur philosopher, and so I will begin dedicating myself more extensively to what will hopefully be more sophisticated writing about education, tying together my own interest in the subject, with those who I aspire to be like.

My friend who I just had lunch w/ is a law student here at Wash U., and he is an aspiring sports agent/attorney.  He stirred some thoughts in me as we discussed ambition, and drive.  “I don’t want to be normal,” he said.  We spoke about the need to surround yourself with the right kind of people, to serve as a measuring stick for you, and as motivation. 

Conversations on campus with a couple of professors of mine, who I recall more for their friendship and guidance to me, than perhaps what I was meant to be learning, served as goalposts for me to see my progress.  I can see better what I have achieved, and what achievements in life lay ahead of me.  The contributions I can make, and that I want to make. 

Tom. I fly home, after what has been a quick, but good week here in St. Louis.  Just the right amount and type of experiences to rejuvinate me a bit as I return to New York.  I exchange this the lazy streets and whispering parks of the Lou, for the whistling streets and highway life of NYC. 

ARSENAL FLIES INTO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINALS!!!!!!!

For the first time in team history, Arsenal moves into the final round of the biggest football competition in Europe, defeating Villareal 1-0 aggregate (1-0 at home and 0-0 in Spain).  A last minute penalty kick save by goal keeper Jens Lehmann sealed the deal for the Gunners, as we go on to face the winner of AC Milan vs. Barcelona’s game tom.  The finals is May 17th in Paris, France!!!

And…Dan is about to head out on vacation.  His first significant time off since beginning work last July.  That’s 10months people!!  And so, tom. he flies out to his proud college home of Saint Louis.  And…more potentialy exciting news awaits while on vacation, although that cannot be revealed until the time is right.  But, a recipe for success is in place, Arsenal’s victory, vacation, roommate’s wedding, etc. (notice etc., came after a list of 3, and implies a long list….that’s what it’s for.)

The office space closes for a week.  Time to trip the life fantastic!!!

Woody Allen went to NYU in 1953 to study communication and film. One of Allen’s most notable one-liners: “I was thrown out of college for cheating on the metaphysics exam; I looked into the soul of the boy sitting next to me.”

Topic: Weekend update

Took in some culture at the National Art Gallery in DC with one of my old friends who I met back in the day at Jew-camp. I have 3 weddings on the horizon, and my friend showed me the diamond he recently bought, which will make 4 weddings. I’ve never really examined jewelry up close, not my thing and all, but this was one stunning rock. Still can’t believe how much it cost, but those be the rules, right.

I did the whole Chinatown bus thing to DC, $35 r/t, besides getting leaked on during the way down, I had zero complaints. Attended a bbq at a college friend’s house in Columbia Heights, in a nice little 5-person townhouse. Was a good weekend overall, and especially enjoyed viewing Dadaist art, which was a form of art developed during WWI, and revealed artists struggling to depict what they viewed as the madness of their world, war, meaningless work, all that good stuff. Also was a Cezanne exhibit, quite a colorful painter, loved his trees.

This one is called Repuclica Automotons, anonymous face, patriotic flag-waving, cog in the machine.

So…I decided to take 5 vacation days over 2 weeks, which means a 2-day work week this week, and a 3-day work wee next week, w/ 7 days off in the middle. I think this works out better than taking M-F off, for a 9 day vacation. Any time you have a disrupted work week, is a good thing, so i’ll take the two weeks over the one.

TOPIC: BLOGGING WITHOUT BORDERS

I recall how I first got into blogging, in the fall of ’03.  I was back in St. Louis, talking to a professor of mine about my interest in writing.  She told me to try blogging.  I responded, “whating?”  She was a bit shocked that me, being of the internet generation, was behind the curve on this new technology.  But, I followed up on what she told me, and here I am, over 2 years later and still blogging strong.

Now, blogging is a household word, and while there are many people who still have never seen a blog in their lives, it’s becoming more common to discover in conversation that someone else has a blog.  It’s a bit like text messaging in America.  I don’t know exactly what factors were at play, but one day my best friend texted me something that would normally deserve a phone call, “Dude, your Mets are 10-2!” but instead, I was caught staring at my phone, not exactly sure what to make of this.  Before I could shake my disgust, however, I responded (with a text), “Why the fuck are you texting me?”

I guess that is an example of resistance to change.  Still, blogging has changed from when I first began using it as a means of “publishing my thoughts,” and organizing action, to something used to connect with other people for anything imaginable.  There’s as many types of blogs as there are cereal in the cereal aisle.

With this, I’ve also begun feeling the frustration of communities, or on a more basic level, services.  I use xanga, only because that’s what I was first introduced to.  The problem now, is that I have friends on blogger and other systems, and it becomes more of a challenge to keep up w/ them.  I don’t want to have to open up several accounts, or write more than one blog.  But myspace seems to be better for networking than xanga.

What do other people do to maintain all their blogging relationships?

terrorist bombing in Tel Aviv

photo from european floods

arsenal…best football club in europe?  only 2 games away from that distinction!!!

next wed. off to one of my favorite cities

my old dorm

famous Ted Drewes frozen custard

the new Busch Stadium, home of the Cards

the Art Museum in Forrest Park, where I spent many an hour lying about

And I’ll leave you w/ today’s edition of conversations w/ grandpa:

Grandpa: Is that you Daniel? (mumbled from my bedroom where I have temporarily been evicted from)

Me: Yeah…good morning gramps

Grandpa: You know…this is what you have to look forward to.

Me: you mean having nothing to do all day but lie around and not work, and forgetting that you told me the same thing yesturday.

Grandpa: Yup…only 35 more years for you.

Me: I know.  You’re lucky to be able to get away with repeating stories.  And that whole never working again thing is a pretty good deal too.

30min. later, in the kitchen

Grandpa: Where’s my breakfast?  What kind of service is this? 

Me: Life is better in the old people home, isn’t it?

Grandpa: You should see the breakfasts we get there.  The other morning I had eggs and pancakes.  Of course, I couldn’t finish even half of it.  (opens a pill jar) You know Daniel, when you get to be my age, you end up taking these pills. You see this one here (points to a microscopic sized pill)

Me: is a water pill.  It helps you pee.  Can’t I just fast-forward to 85 already!

Topic: They call me David Sedaris

When I first moved back home and began working in NYC, I wasn’t sure if it was ok to carry my lunch in a plastic bag to work. My closet has one suit, and my job allows me to wear virtually anything (I’m wearing my Arsenal jersey today in honor of our semi-final Champsions League match against Villareal this afternoon!). Every image I had of what I’d look like when I got older, was “guy in a suit,” and “guy with nice briefcase” and “guy w/ expensive imported watch.”

Turns out, I didn’t know my future-self as futurisitically as I anticipated. No suit, no briefcase, not even a mickey mouse watch, for this Dan. I pack my gym clothes in a school bookbag, and plastic bag the lunch and old-school cd player (yup…no i-pod yet).

The other week, I found myself lugging around my library book. Without any kind of interesting man handbag to put it in, and not wanting to leave it for the weekend, I was forced to carry David Sedaris’ “Me Talk Pretty One Day” around. Now, most of my bar encounters are pretty simple, grab a beer and some conversation type things, so I can get away w/ holding the book the whole time. But…this quickly landed me the nickname David Sedaris, at least for a few minutes of tepid laughter.

I’m reading another Sedaris book now, “dress your family in corduroy and denim,” and I must say he is quite the comic storyteller. I am enjoying his ability to capture the absurd logic that drives human thought. For example, as a kid David pittied his neighbors who didn’t watch tv, and though that his pity was an example of him doing his good in the world. This view changed rapidly, however, when the neighbors arrived for Halloween a day late, November 1st, because they’d been away for the actual holiday. With no candy left, the mother was forced to raid David’s own “winnings.” He reflects on the foolishness on giving his pity to such candy thieves. “When you ask for candy on Haloween, it’s called trick-or-treating. When you ask for candy on March 1st, it’s called begging.”

Recently, life has given me the feeling that all is fine. At least in my life, all is fine, and that is most important. I have in the past brooded heavily about ideas and small sets of people in a billion-person world. The poor, Africans, the depressed, the Mets. Maybe it’s the Mets 10-3 start that has me feeling chipper. But…I think it’s my discovery of the wonders of selfishness. Put another way, the benefits of taking care of number one before anyone else.

My idea of selfishness does not reflect the callous characterization of the word, as a person who would dismiss the needs of another if it meant giving up some of his own. Rather, it comes from the logic that unless I have taken care of my own pleasures, I won’t be much good to others. Sure, this is nothing new in the world of mental health and psychology, but I think i’ve finally found a way to embrace it in my own personal way. Sure, some guy over 50 years ago called what i’m describing “self-actualization,” but that doesn’t ring as true as “I’m selfish and I’m happy.”

Topic: What Jamie Oliver, aka The Naked Chef, can teach us about society

I want to start this post with a picture of John Taylor Gatto (you need to click on this link actually, then click on the pic to enlarge), one of the most well-known critics of contemporary schooling alive today.  I just received this image from a newsletter I receive about alternative education.  Now…take a look carefully at the table.  You’ll notice there’s a book.  Yes, it’s upside down, but if you look closely, you might make out the title.  “COLLEGE DAZE,” um yeah…that’s my book!  Yeah, gotta love getting excited over nothing important, but I’m one of those people who enjoys seeing their name in print sometimes, and it’s not every day a little self-published writer like myself randomly sees their book photographed next to one of his heroes (yeah…it’s strange when your hero is just an old angry Italian guy like Gatto).  This is almost as exciting as when Hardball, the CNBC show w/ Chris Matthews was filmed on my college campus during the 2004 debates, and there I was in the background, waving COLLEGE DAZE all around.  The only person I know who was watching was my mom, and her excitement was revealed in this statement, “Daniel, you need to get a haircut.”  That’s the last time I try to get myself on tv!

Speaking of tv, last night 60 Minutes did an interesting piece on Jamie Oliver, the English Chef who is known for his cooking shows and books, “The Naked Chef,” naked not because he is, but because he considers his ingredients and recipes to be naked, exposed, easy to put together. 

Jamie Oliver grew up dislexic, and was a special needs student growing up.  He told stories of how he got picked on in school everytime they pulled him out of class.  It’s both a nice “fuck you” story to all those who not just doubted him, but who might have crippled him as a person when he was younger, as well as a note of inspiration to young people who aren’t straight A students w/ a clear path into law, or medicine, or some of the other obvious big money successful by societies standards professions.

A few years ago, Jamie decided to open a philanthropic restaurant.  The purpose was not to make money (by that point he had pleanty) but to help “at-risk” young people find an out from their spiralling out of control lives.  The restaurant, called 15, is named after the 15 apprentices he takes on every year.  He puts them through grueling experiences where slackers are told to “piss off,” but for those who seize the opportunity, they are given the skills to become chefs in some of the top restaurants in the world.

It’s a great story, and there’s nothing surprising about it.  It’s a special story because who wouldn’t love the opportunity for a 1-yr. apprenticeship with a famous chef?  The funny moral of the story I get is that the best way to succeed in life, is to first cause a lot of trouble.  Only then can you get yourself into a meaningful educational experience that can get you going for life. 

I love the idea of the apprenticeship, and it’s interesting to me how the idea is so foreign or outdated in modern American culture.  (I recall meeting someone from Switerland while travelling abroad who told me how at 15 almost it’s quite common for people to find an apprenticeship.) 

In other news, I followed up my amazing hike on Sat., with an urban hike on Sun.  Starting from Penn Station, I began walking sounth down 7th Ave., through Chelsea, W. Village, TriBeCa, Wall Street, and onwards.  I passed by the World Trade Center, where there was a calming silence amongst the tourists.  I passed by brunchers, and dog-walkers.  Down to Battery Park, I passed by those carrying suitcases containing knock-off sunglasses, Rolexes, and purses.  These people sat in a line, 20 to 30 in a row, looking to sell and hiding their goods in identical cardboard boxes and bedsheets to avoid arrest from the poilce.  Grabbed a view of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and then up the east side of the city, passed City Hall, passed the bussling South Street sea Port, and over the Brooklyn Bridge, full of awesome views of the city, and tons of people also enjoying the great weather.

Into Brooklyn and onwards, at this point not quite sure where I was, or where I was heading.  Down Atlantic Avenue, past cafes with quiet gardens in the back, past some of the Cosby brownstone apartments, around Park Slope, and to Grand Army Plaza, the entrance to Prospect Park.  I was happy to reach this point, as my feet were in a bit of pain, having trekked about 8 miles in sandals that were not appropriate for such a hike.  I entered the park, barefoot, my first time there, and was in love with its openness, the kite flyers, wiffle ball playing, picnicing, introspective writers and readers. 

I’ve always been a fan of quotes and stories with interesting morals, and I’m reminded of this random encounter I had in St. Louis last year with this jazz musician, James Matthews who happend to be on my college campus.  At the time, I was sort of floating around the country via Greyhound, and he had spent a great deal of time in the ’60′s heading out to the west coast for jazz shows.  And he said to me, “When you go, you know.” 

When you go, you know.  Walking, hiking, cars, buses, trains, planes, it doesn’t matter.  I love travel, I love going. 

Que divertido!