Well, it's time. Tomorrow morning is the first day of school. With kids, anyway. Our "school" isn't ready yet. We're hoping my Monday. In the meantime we've taken the last 3 days and planned out how we're going to cart our 48 kids around Kihei from now until Friday. We're in good shape. I get to do my Learning Style / Multiple Intelligence activity I've been doing for years. Only this time it's with 3 times as many kids who are a lot younger than I've ever done it with. Piece of cake!
Tonight, I got my first phone call from a parent. (All the teachers have school-paid for cell phones). Little Billy is nervous about tomorrow and she wants me to talk to him. Done. So Little Billy's coming to school tomorrow.
So I haven't had a chance to talk about where our program is. It's actually housed in a Research & Technology Park. Our building is next to the Air Force's supercomputer that is the 11th largest in the world. There are serious, big-brained cats here and we're going to share their bathrooms with 48 booger-filled germ factories. Whoo Hoo!!!
There's been a few...uh...compromises...well...I'm not going to talk about my co-workers too much. I like them, I have to work with them and I don't want to do anything that'll make things weird. But there's a few things that are a bit more traditional - almost reactionary that make me go hmmmmmm. We're going to be giving kids an opportunity to be in the Civil Air Patrol. It's cool that middle school kids are going to get a chance to take flying lessons, but it's run by the Air Force. The kids who participate will have uniforms and march in parades and it's pretty militaristic. Slightly uncomfortable. I've had a brief discussion with one of my co-workers about the pledge of allegiance. I don't know if we're going to be doing it, but I'm not going to participate in that. I will stand respectfully, but I haven't participated in that in a long, long time - even when I was running for office. I'm willing to discuss it with kids (and parents) and I don't plan on making an issue of it.
There's a bit more emphasis on testing than I'd like. But there is a lot more freedom to do cool stuff - which I'll be taking advantage of. And the after school programs are going to be cool, too. More information as it comes.
Today, we had a weird problem. To use all the computers we have, and for me, to do the podcast (and eventually a radio show) we need a bunch of headphones. No problem, we have them. But the issue of lice came up. If we're sharing headphones then lice can spread like plague. So we're brainstorming ideas. Finally, I went online and found that certain essential oils can prevent lice. So after school, I drove out to Paia, to my favorite store - Mana - and grabbed some lavender & chamomile. Mixed with distilled water and alcohol...we should be lice free.
OK, it's off to bed...if that f-ing dog ever stops barking.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Saturday, July 28, 2007
The New Wheels
Here it is!
Click on the picture to see the other pictures. It's pretty freakin cool. To start it, you need the "smart key" which just looks like a remote. One you stick that in you push the power button with your foot on the brake. You can barely hear it start. The console on the dash tells you the MPG your getting at that moment. When you're totally on electric it shows 99.9mpg. It charges the battery when you slow down, and goes directly to electric when you idle. It only has one thing that drives me nuts. It does the beep thing when in reverse. But I'll probably get used to it.
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So I went to school today to help sort through Peggy's stuff. She's the teacher responsible for the Engineering and some of the Math in our program. Her background is middle school and she had a lot of crap. When we were done, Peggy, Dan (the lead facilitator and science guy) and I went to lunch to the Cafe Oasis. It's right on the South Kihei beach and for dinner serves $30 entrees. The lunch menu rocks and everything's under $10. When y'all come down, that's one place we're going to lunch. Amazing. Blackened Mahi Mahi with Papaya Salsa, rice & salad was unbelievable.
Then I came home and mopped the house. That's what I said. I mopped the house...the bedroom, the bathroom the kitchen, etc. The whole thing has this hard ceramic tile floor and it's been covered with this red sand/dirt since I got here. I seem to be getting a thin layer off at a time. So 40 or so more times and I should have it taken care of.
Click on the picture to see the other pictures. It's pretty freakin cool. To start it, you need the "smart key" which just looks like a remote. One you stick that in you push the power button with your foot on the brake. You can barely hear it start. The console on the dash tells you the MPG your getting at that moment. When you're totally on electric it shows 99.9mpg. It charges the battery when you slow down, and goes directly to electric when you idle. It only has one thing that drives me nuts. It does the beep thing when in reverse. But I'll probably get used to it.
*****************************************
So I went to school today to help sort through Peggy's stuff. She's the teacher responsible for the Engineering and some of the Math in our program. Her background is middle school and she had a lot of crap. When we were done, Peggy, Dan (the lead facilitator and science guy) and I went to lunch to the Cafe Oasis. It's right on the South Kihei beach and for dinner serves $30 entrees. The lunch menu rocks and everything's under $10. When y'all come down, that's one place we're going to lunch. Amazing. Blackened Mahi Mahi with Papaya Salsa, rice & salad was unbelievable.
Then I came home and mopped the house. That's what I said. I mopped the house...the bedroom, the bathroom the kitchen, etc. The whole thing has this hard ceramic tile floor and it's been covered with this red sand/dirt since I got here. I seem to be getting a thin layer off at a time. So 40 or so more times and I should have it taken care of.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Quick Hits from Today
Today was the first full-day at work. Meetings. The two other teachers had already started working on things to do with the kids - which I don't blame them. They shouldn't have been waiting for the King of Education to arrive on the island. But I have to admit, I felt kind of like an overpaid Teacher's Assistant today. But I know it's for the best as there's a lot of things about this program that's set up that I really don't know anything about yet. I'm fitting in fine and my ideas & ideals aren't causing any problems. I just have a huge learning curve in terms of the science stuff and I have to admit, I did get a bit lazy working at Hillside and School Without Walls. When I was in my own classroom / world I could go day-by-day. In fact I found that's what I do best. But now I'm team teaching and I can't do it that way. Gotta go old school.
So school finished and I grabbed the camera and headed up to Paia. I thought I'd take some touristy pictures to post and go shopping at the organic food store there. Uh...dumbass forgot that the battery to the camera was still on the charger. Pictures another day. I did go shopping. Mana Food Store rocks! Everyone's saying how expensive it is here and it's true, but Mana has all the organic stuff Wegman's has (and more) and at just about the same prices. In fact Tracey called me when I was in there, but my Fisher-Price phone kept fading.
So I popped my head into Jill's store. She gave me a copy of the latest from the island's version of City Newspaper. It was their annual Best Of... issue. So now I have a cool guide to a whole bunch of stuff. I even know where on the island to get porn...I mean....educational materials.
And yes, it does seem that there is a version of the Garbage Plate here. Though I'm thinking they just call it a "plate lunch". But the place voted the best was the Aloha Mixed Plate. It seemed pretty Nickish, but it looks like potatoes get dumped for rice. Uh...OK...maybe I'll give it a try when Robert comes to town.
There may be a killing soon. There's a weiner dog across the street that's been barking for 3 hours.
Let's see...oh, I have a kinda, sorta date on Saturday. One of the other MySpace friends from the show is going to show me around what "little night life there is" on Saturday night.
So school finished and I grabbed the camera and headed up to Paia. I thought I'd take some touristy pictures to post and go shopping at the organic food store there. Uh...dumbass forgot that the battery to the camera was still on the charger. Pictures another day. I did go shopping. Mana Food Store rocks! Everyone's saying how expensive it is here and it's true, but Mana has all the organic stuff Wegman's has (and more) and at just about the same prices. In fact Tracey called me when I was in there, but my Fisher-Price phone kept fading.
So I popped my head into Jill's store. She gave me a copy of the latest from the island's version of City Newspaper. It was their annual Best Of... issue. So now I have a cool guide to a whole bunch of stuff. I even know where on the island to get porn...I mean....educational materials.
And yes, it does seem that there is a version of the Garbage Plate here. Though I'm thinking they just call it a "plate lunch". But the place voted the best was the Aloha Mixed Plate. It seemed pretty Nickish, but it looks like potatoes get dumped for rice. Uh...OK...maybe I'll give it a try when Robert comes to town.
There may be a killing soon. There's a weiner dog across the street that's been barking for 3 hours.
Let's see...oh, I have a kinda, sorta date on Saturday. One of the other MySpace friends from the show is going to show me around what "little night life there is" on Saturday night.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
First Day on the J-O-B
Yep, today was day one on the job...new employee orientation. It went pretty well. I have to admit, it was a bit odd....it started off with dancing. Well, not necessarily me dancing (I'll get to that in a minute), but my boss was. To The Romantics - What I Like About You. It's corny (he admitted it) but we have certain "rituals" within the program that signal to the students when it's time to do certain things. So he started with that and then we spent the first 15 minutes deciding if we were going to use that song or the Gary Glitter song Rock and Roll...you know it...it's also called The Hey Song that's played in sports stadiums all over.
So we ended up choosing Gary Glitter, then we all had to get up and clap in some kind of rhythm to it and "Bring it in" which is what we were doing is called. It took all the rhythm this white guy could muster, but I hung with the group. We also played team four square. I swear this is a real job I have. I have also found out that I suck at four square.
But when we got down to talking about the school and the program it was all good. Mark (my boss) talked about a lot of things and used our conversation as examples about a number of things we want to do. Everyone seems to be on board with my ideas for going for a community radio station, a school newspaper (that goes out to the community) and a cable access TV show. Now I just have to figure out how to do all of it.
That was the morning. In the afternoon, I drove one of our big ass vans that we're going to use to schlep kids all over the island. I met another one of the teachers that I'll be working with. She's...um...older, but with more energy than everyone you know put together. I'm not sure if it's her or me or both, but there seems to be a really huge amount of assuming that's been done on what's going to be happening in the classroom - which it's my understanding that humanities-wise, that's my bag. But we'll get it worked out.
I looked at the Hawaii state standards online tonight. And everything I want to do can work with what the state wants. Boy, is the state lucky that worked out. So, I'm sure there's going to be some bumps here and there, but so far everything's pretty damn cool.
So we ended up choosing Gary Glitter, then we all had to get up and clap in some kind of rhythm to it and "Bring it in" which is what we were doing is called. It took all the rhythm this white guy could muster, but I hung with the group. We also played team four square. I swear this is a real job I have. I have also found out that I suck at four square.
But when we got down to talking about the school and the program it was all good. Mark (my boss) talked about a lot of things and used our conversation as examples about a number of things we want to do. Everyone seems to be on board with my ideas for going for a community radio station, a school newspaper (that goes out to the community) and a cable access TV show. Now I just have to figure out how to do all of it.
That was the morning. In the afternoon, I drove one of our big ass vans that we're going to use to schlep kids all over the island. I met another one of the teachers that I'll be working with. She's...um...older, but with more energy than everyone you know put together. I'm not sure if it's her or me or both, but there seems to be a really huge amount of assuming that's been done on what's going to be happening in the classroom - which it's my understanding that humanities-wise, that's my bag. But we'll get it worked out.
I looked at the Hawaii state standards online tonight. And everything I want to do can work with what the state wants. Boy, is the state lucky that worked out. So, I'm sure there's going to be some bumps here and there, but so far everything's pretty damn cool.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Hooray, Post Office
My Mom...Saint Mom, really...sent out a million boxes filled with my crap just before I left town. Today, I got all the confirmation receipts that she mailed to me so I thought I'd check to see what port all my stuff is getting chewed on by rats. Here's the response I got:
Your item was accepted at 7:30 AM on July 13, 2007 in ROCHESTER, NY 14692. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later.
It's July 23rd. Thank you, Post Office. You've been very helpful. I cannot understand why you lose business to ups, et al. It's a fricken mystery. Please make it more expensive to send a letter across town.
Your item was accepted at 7:30 AM on July 13, 2007 in ROCHESTER, NY 14692. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later.
It's July 23rd. Thank you, Post Office. You've been very helpful. I cannot understand why you lose business to ups, et al. It's a fricken mystery. Please make it more expensive to send a letter across town.
I've Sold My Soul
I guess I should just go in chronological order on this...it's going to be long, so you better be sitting.
I went to bed early last night because I had to get up at 3am to call my credit union in Rochester to deal with something that was causing some red light on me opening a checking account here. I get up and call. Seems that there was some $21 charge from the account I used for Smegma Records...like, five years ago. With the same credit union! I've taken out two loans and a credit card from them in the meantime and they never said a word to me, but they reported it to some credit bureau. So, that's (allegedly) being handled.
I went back to bed and couldn't sleep or not very well. I woke up around 7:30am to the sound of Bea watering the foliage on the side of my cottage. Damn, retirees. So I hung around the house, waiting for the electric company guy to come and put the electricity in my name. I uploaded all the pictures (which I'm sure you saw), mopped my bedroom (don't ask), worked out a little. I called the electric company who told me I didn't have to be there - a different story from last Friday. So I decided to go over to the school to fill out some paperwork.
Before I left, I stopped over to L & B's to ask a couple of questions. The bees in the tree in back are not a big deal (for now). Then I asked about the mail. There's only one mailbox that we share. I guess that's not such a big deal, but it has a lock on it and Lee has the only key. They'll drop off my mail at the door. Uhhhhh...now, I guess I don't care that much, but it sure is going to be weird when I get packages from Big Breasted Waitresses Video, Inc. "I....uh...training film"
Just a hypothetical...I would never order porn, Mom.
So, over to school. Filled out some paperwork. As Mark (my boss) & I are talking he mentions that they're working on starting a Performing Arts wing of the charter school. We both kind of looked at each other - my idea about the radio station & cable access TV - fit right in. It doesn't mean I'm going there next year, but just that I definitely have a place here and can fit in a number of roles. Mark also mentioned there's been talk about starting a school baseball team...he already knew I'd be able to coach it. Tenure? I don't need no stinking tenure!
Mark keeps saying, "if you need anything, just ask". Well, I took him up on it today. He has a Japanese Fred Sanford-type pickup. Saturday, I went to our local Salvation Army and bought a kitchen table & a couple of chairs. The chairs fit in the rental car, the table wasn't even close. So he let me borrow the hooptie to go get it. Of course the back was full of crap so I had to drive it to the recycling center to drop that stuff off first. So now I have a table! I'm sitting at it right now as I type. You think that's not a big deal...you have no idea how important it is to have some kind of surface to type/write/eat on that you don't have to kill yourself to use.
It was then I was officially deemed a "local". As I was bringing Mark's truck back to the school, I parked and some guy drove up to me and asked me for directions. ME. I've been here 3 days and I can't pronounce the street I live on. He asked me for directions to the Salvation Army! I just freakin came from there! I was able to tell him to get on Pulani Highway, then everything else was landmarks, rights & lefts. But I gave someone directions. If he didn't get there it was because he was an idiot...for not being able to understand directions with only 2 turns and for listening to someone who's been here 3 days.
Here comes the twister
Last night I was online, looking at car dealerships on the island. Originally, I was thinking to go with biodiesel. The dealer didn't seem too reliable. So I decided to put my money where my mouth has been for the last 10 years and go hybrid, but looking at the cost...I figured I didn't want to go that route. So I decided to just get something cheap and small. Well, as I was looking around online I found a used Prius. It didn't have a price, but the 5 new ones that were on the lot that I saw online a week ago were already gone, so I thought that I'd just drive down to check it out. (I'm sure you can see where this is going)
I pulled into the lot, got out and this guy who's standing there says "Hey Brother, you looking to buy another car just like that?" Referring to my rental. Now, when he called me Brother, I was wondering if he had gotten some report from the Rochester ghetto...where I'm strangely known as Brother Dave. Not in a religious way, but more in a Nation of Islam, stick it to the man way. They never taught me the handshake.
This dude's name is Brother John Ahsam. It's on his dealership business card. But he acts more like Felix than any of the NOI people I know. That's not an insult to Felix, just an observation. So I ask him about the Prius and the next thing I know I'm test driving it. Damn, that thing is f-ing cool. I look at the price. There's no way I'm going to get this thing - even at 60% interest. Two hours later, I'm signing the contract for this freakin car. I pick it up on Friday. I can afford it, but it's an expense I really wasn't counting on. My July trip back home may be a bit more economy than I planned, but it's all cool.
So I celebrated by buying a steak and some of Hawaii's Genny Beer - Steinlager. It's actually from New Zealand. Not too bad.
I'll have a picture up of the new wheels on Saturday.
As I typed this, I saw my first flying cockroach that everyone warned me about. Little bastard got away.
But I have a car and a kitchen table...things are going to start happening to me now!
I went to bed early last night because I had to get up at 3am to call my credit union in Rochester to deal with something that was causing some red light on me opening a checking account here. I get up and call. Seems that there was some $21 charge from the account I used for Smegma Records...like, five years ago. With the same credit union! I've taken out two loans and a credit card from them in the meantime and they never said a word to me, but they reported it to some credit bureau. So, that's (allegedly) being handled.
I went back to bed and couldn't sleep or not very well. I woke up around 7:30am to the sound of Bea watering the foliage on the side of my cottage. Damn, retirees. So I hung around the house, waiting for the electric company guy to come and put the electricity in my name. I uploaded all the pictures (which I'm sure you saw), mopped my bedroom (don't ask), worked out a little. I called the electric company who told me I didn't have to be there - a different story from last Friday. So I decided to go over to the school to fill out some paperwork.
Before I left, I stopped over to L & B's to ask a couple of questions. The bees in the tree in back are not a big deal (for now). Then I asked about the mail. There's only one mailbox that we share. I guess that's not such a big deal, but it has a lock on it and Lee has the only key. They'll drop off my mail at the door. Uhhhhh...now, I guess I don't care that much, but it sure is going to be weird when I get packages from Big Breasted Waitresses Video, Inc. "I....uh...training film"
Just a hypothetical...I would never order porn, Mom.
So, over to school. Filled out some paperwork. As Mark (my boss) & I are talking he mentions that they're working on starting a Performing Arts wing of the charter school. We both kind of looked at each other - my idea about the radio station & cable access TV - fit right in. It doesn't mean I'm going there next year, but just that I definitely have a place here and can fit in a number of roles. Mark also mentioned there's been talk about starting a school baseball team...he already knew I'd be able to coach it. Tenure? I don't need no stinking tenure!
Mark keeps saying, "if you need anything, just ask". Well, I took him up on it today. He has a Japanese Fred Sanford-type pickup. Saturday, I went to our local Salvation Army and bought a kitchen table & a couple of chairs. The chairs fit in the rental car, the table wasn't even close. So he let me borrow the hooptie to go get it. Of course the back was full of crap so I had to drive it to the recycling center to drop that stuff off first. So now I have a table! I'm sitting at it right now as I type. You think that's not a big deal...you have no idea how important it is to have some kind of surface to type/write/eat on that you don't have to kill yourself to use.
It was then I was officially deemed a "local". As I was bringing Mark's truck back to the school, I parked and some guy drove up to me and asked me for directions. ME. I've been here 3 days and I can't pronounce the street I live on. He asked me for directions to the Salvation Army! I just freakin came from there! I was able to tell him to get on Pulani Highway, then everything else was landmarks, rights & lefts. But I gave someone directions. If he didn't get there it was because he was an idiot...for not being able to understand directions with only 2 turns and for listening to someone who's been here 3 days.
Here comes the twister
Last night I was online, looking at car dealerships on the island. Originally, I was thinking to go with biodiesel. The dealer didn't seem too reliable. So I decided to put my money where my mouth has been for the last 10 years and go hybrid, but looking at the cost...I figured I didn't want to go that route. So I decided to just get something cheap and small. Well, as I was looking around online I found a used Prius. It didn't have a price, but the 5 new ones that were on the lot that I saw online a week ago were already gone, so I thought that I'd just drive down to check it out. (I'm sure you can see where this is going)
I pulled into the lot, got out and this guy who's standing there says "Hey Brother, you looking to buy another car just like that?" Referring to my rental. Now, when he called me Brother, I was wondering if he had gotten some report from the Rochester ghetto...where I'm strangely known as Brother Dave. Not in a religious way, but more in a Nation of Islam, stick it to the man way. They never taught me the handshake.
This dude's name is Brother John Ahsam. It's on his dealership business card. But he acts more like Felix than any of the NOI people I know. That's not an insult to Felix, just an observation. So I ask him about the Prius and the next thing I know I'm test driving it. Damn, that thing is f-ing cool. I look at the price. There's no way I'm going to get this thing - even at 60% interest. Two hours later, I'm signing the contract for this freakin car. I pick it up on Friday. I can afford it, but it's an expense I really wasn't counting on. My July trip back home may be a bit more economy than I planned, but it's all cool.
So I celebrated by buying a steak and some of Hawaii's Genny Beer - Steinlager. It's actually from New Zealand. Not too bad.
I'll have a picture up of the new wheels on Saturday.
As I typed this, I saw my first flying cockroach that everyone warned me about. Little bastard got away.
But I have a car and a kitchen table...things are going to start happening to me now!
You Want Pictures, We Got Pictures
You may think people are slow where you live...cable, DMV, post office, etc. I called over a week ago to get Road Runner set up here and the first available appointment is August 2nd. That should have been a clue. So Friday, I called the electric company to get the electricity in my name. The earliest they could do is Monday (today). Great. Do they know what time? Between 7:30 and 5. Huh? Can you give me an AM or PM? Nope. Great. So I'm hanging out, waiting for them and you benefit. Why? Because I finally got to the pictures. Now, a few caveats:
*I'm not good with this camera. So a few pictures didn't make it.
*I also tend to forget the camera a lot. So pictures of Quinn, Tommy, Portland in general get missed as well.
*But I do think I got lucky on a few shots - especially in Niagara Falls.
So, click on each picture to see the whole set or go to the Fotki link on the side for all the albums.
Niagara Falls
Portland
Dave's Cottage
*I'm not good with this camera. So a few pictures didn't make it.
*I also tend to forget the camera a lot. So pictures of Quinn, Tommy, Portland in general get missed as well.
*But I do think I got lucky on a few shots - especially in Niagara Falls.
So, click on each picture to see the whole set or go to the Fotki link on the side for all the albums.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Those Damn Jews are Everywhere
I decided to put this story in as a separate post. See below for the general stuff...
So I went into Jill's store yesterday. It's jewelry, purses, over-priced artwork...you know, stuff I know nothing about and would never buy. So I introduce myself, we start talking and a customer comes in. So while she's dealing with someone who may be spending money (and did), I'm looking around the store.
Hmmmmm...yada, yada...rings, necklaces, different colors, shapes...it all looks the same to me - Marcey can attest to that. Huh? What's that? Is that a hand-painted dradel???? My tunnel vision gets wider and I see all of this Jew stuff...menoras (sic?), those weird long stick things you hang on a wall with some hebrew on it. Jew stuff! But frilly, artsy Jew stuff. It's like I fell into Sid Blechnein's Jew Bargain Basement only there weren't any bargains happening.
Seems that Jill bought the store, and the inventory, from the previous owner in March. The woman is an Israeli who went back to the homeland. Jill's...well, not uncomfortable with the stuff, she just doesn't know what to do with it.
Sorry guys, I ain't buying all of you $90 menoras. You ain't good enough Jews.
So I went into Jill's store yesterday. It's jewelry, purses, over-priced artwork...you know, stuff I know nothing about and would never buy. So I introduce myself, we start talking and a customer comes in. So while she's dealing with someone who may be spending money (and did), I'm looking around the store.
Hmmmmm...yada, yada...rings, necklaces, different colors, shapes...it all looks the same to me - Marcey can attest to that. Huh? What's that? Is that a hand-painted dradel???? My tunnel vision gets wider and I see all of this Jew stuff...menoras (sic?), those weird long stick things you hang on a wall with some hebrew on it. Jew stuff! But frilly, artsy Jew stuff. It's like I fell into Sid Blechnein's Jew Bargain Basement only there weren't any bargains happening.
Seems that Jill bought the store, and the inventory, from the previous owner in March. The woman is an Israeli who went back to the homeland. Jill's...well, not uncomfortable with the stuff, she just doesn't know what to do with it.
Sorry guys, I ain't buying all of you $90 menoras. You ain't good enough Jews.
Play Ball?
[Warning: the following post contains sports jargon. Consult your doctor before reading.]
Today I went to a playoff game for the Maui Open League, the adult baseball league on the island. It was at the Maui Community College stadium. Not bad. It's in central Maui so it's not quite as hot as in Kihei, more cloudy. The field was OK, too. I've definitely played on worse.
So the two teams....hmmm....well, one of them was like a mediocre NABA 18+ team. The other was like a really, really bad NABA 18+ team. Not that impressive. It seems that it is an all-ages thing. Most of the players on both teams were pretty young, college age, but there were one or two older guys. And no one really stood out on either team.
Of the guys from the old team, we'd all do just fine in this league. Not to sound snobby, I'm just making observations, but I didn't notice anyone bring a bag with them, they carried their glove, cletes and bat. Both first basemen used regular gloves. The pitching was pretty mediocre. No...I'm not going to pitch again.
They're in the playoffs so that'll be it for the summer. My achilles is still tender so I'm going to do other things and look into it for next year. I may be too busy to play though...stay tuned.
Today I went to a playoff game for the Maui Open League, the adult baseball league on the island. It was at the Maui Community College stadium. Not bad. It's in central Maui so it's not quite as hot as in Kihei, more cloudy. The field was OK, too. I've definitely played on worse.
So the two teams....hmmm....well, one of them was like a mediocre NABA 18+ team. The other was like a really, really bad NABA 18+ team. Not that impressive. It seems that it is an all-ages thing. Most of the players on both teams were pretty young, college age, but there were one or two older guys. And no one really stood out on either team.
Of the guys from the old team, we'd all do just fine in this league. Not to sound snobby, I'm just making observations, but I didn't notice anyone bring a bag with them, they carried their glove, cletes and bat. Both first basemen used regular gloves. The pitching was pretty mediocre. No...I'm not going to pitch again.
They're in the playoffs so that'll be it for the summer. My achilles is still tender so I'm going to do other things and look into it for next year. I may be too busy to play though...stay tuned.
I'm Moving
OK...take it easy. I'm not moving tomorrow. But I did find a town on the island that I'm pretty sure I'm going to be moving to eventually. Kihei is OK...I'm in North Kihei and everything here is brown...the dirt, the buildings, etc. And it's really just a big ass strip mall. I like my cottage. My landlords are nice. But yesterday, I found Paia. It's like someone took Village Gate Plaza and turned it into a town in Maui. It's right on the north coast, it rains more than it does in Kihei (it's a freakin desert only 15 miles from green), there's an awesome organic food store there, a store that sells nothing but stuff made of hemp (which would make my shower curtain feel at home). It's an eventual thing. I may not get there this year...but I will end up in Paia.
So I went there to check out someone's jewelry/art shop. I met her online from the MySpace page for the podcast. She's been my Spam expert. So after I met Jill (that's her name), I ran some errands and came back to Paia to meet her for a drink. Some dude who's a relative regular at this bar latched onto us and did some minor flapjacking. He was nice, but obnoxious...which means, it was cool to hang with the guy for an evening, but I won't be making a habit of it. Some...OK...it sounded like he said he tests kites for a living, but that couldn't be right. Anyway, he said he spends most of his time in Asia and he was bragging about all the places he's surfed, blah, blah, blah...you should see Egypt...
I mean, I know Webster is where life is worth living but I really didn't think it was the right time to shove that in his face.
I was asking Jill some questions about the island and he was putting in his 10 cents (it was 2 cents X 5). When I was asking about traffic here, which I'll blog about later, he started saying how they do it right in China...they get a hundred people, put them in trailers on the construction site and have them work every day until it's done...takes 2 months, tops. When I questioned the working conditions I got the "oh, it's the best work those poor people can get". That's when I knew he wasn't going to be my new best friend - douchebag - it was funny because with that kind of attitude he couldn't figure out why the locals are rude to him when he's surfing. I didn't feel the need to get into a bar fight my second day here so...
I had a few beers and hung out. Jill seems cool. She's going to come on the podcast next Sunday so you can check her out and see for yourself. Though, I think she thinks she's going to be a regular (relax, Kez).
So I'm seeing the island, getting lost on purpose once-in-a-while. It's Sunday evening right now and I'm going to bed in a few minutes. Seems, I have to get up at 3am my time to deal with my credit union in Rochester. They screwed something up and now I can't open an account here...or get a car, which I'll need to do in the next week.
I promise, pictures soon.
So I went there to check out someone's jewelry/art shop. I met her online from the MySpace page for the podcast. She's been my Spam expert. So after I met Jill (that's her name), I ran some errands and came back to Paia to meet her for a drink. Some dude who's a relative regular at this bar latched onto us and did some minor flapjacking. He was nice, but obnoxious...which means, it was cool to hang with the guy for an evening, but I won't be making a habit of it. Some...OK...it sounded like he said he tests kites for a living, but that couldn't be right. Anyway, he said he spends most of his time in Asia and he was bragging about all the places he's surfed, blah, blah, blah...you should see Egypt...
I mean, I know Webster is where life is worth living but I really didn't think it was the right time to shove that in his face.
I was asking Jill some questions about the island and he was putting in his 10 cents (it was 2 cents X 5). When I was asking about traffic here, which I'll blog about later, he started saying how they do it right in China...they get a hundred people, put them in trailers on the construction site and have them work every day until it's done...takes 2 months, tops. When I questioned the working conditions I got the "oh, it's the best work those poor people can get". That's when I knew he wasn't going to be my new best friend - douchebag - it was funny because with that kind of attitude he couldn't figure out why the locals are rude to him when he's surfing. I didn't feel the need to get into a bar fight my second day here so...
I had a few beers and hung out. Jill seems cool. She's going to come on the podcast next Sunday so you can check her out and see for yourself. Though, I think she thinks she's going to be a regular (relax, Kez).
So I'm seeing the island, getting lost on purpose once-in-a-while. It's Sunday evening right now and I'm going to bed in a few minutes. Seems, I have to get up at 3am my time to deal with my credit union in Rochester. They screwed something up and now I can't open an account here...or get a car, which I'll need to do in the next week.
I promise, pictures soon.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Thought I Was Going To Maui, Ended Up On The Sun
Holy Crap it's hot here! Yeah, yeah...they say it's 87 every day in Maui...and the paper said that's what it's supposed to be...the thermometer in my car said 95...and it ain't no dry heat.
But so far, it freakin rocks! I have a lot of catching up to do...a lot of pictures to post and I'll get to all that in time. First of all, I left the USB cord for my camera in Portland, so I'll have to get another one. I'll have pictures of Niagara Falls, Portland & Maui. So for now, I'll just focus on my first day on the island.
Hawaiian Airlines is pretty cool. Probably the best flight I've had. We landed at the exact time they said we would. I have my rental car - I thought I was going to be tooling around in a Ford Focus, but I have a Pontiac cocktostensen or whatever it is. They actually had a special where I could have upgraded to a convertable Mustang for $40, but come on...my bald spot would burn and all the driving directions I've printed out would fly out of the car.
So I'm tooling down the "highway" listening to the Dollyrots (the only CD I have). I let myself get a little bit lost, just to look around. It wasn't tough to find the house. I like it. It's a one bedroom cottage...not a shed. I have a carport and a little porch-like thing in the back which will be where my next attempt at growing something will take place. There's a few plants already there - Bea (the landlords are Lee & Bea) asked if I would water them. I did warn her about my success with plants but she was fine with it. So as I went to take pictures of the back...uh...yard, something moved and scared the crap out of me...something in the lizard family. Don't know what it was, but I got a picture of it. Stay tuned.
Bea & Lee seem pretty cool. An older couple from Seattle. They actually found a bed for me! All my bitching about sheets, now I probably have to go for the non-organic as it's a "full size". I wouldn't be surprised if I eventually get something bigger, but for now I can focus on other things like...oh, I don't know...something to sit on. Bea has a workshop in their garage where she does ceramics. Some cool, Corn Hill kind of stuff. They let me in on a little secret...if you thought The Man is bad in Rochester, you ain't seen nuthin like Maui. People who work at places like DMV tend to charge people who aren't in the know extra to pocket the money. I did get some confirmation on this...
They also told me that the neighbor who is right behind me tends to raise roosters for cockfighting. How ironic. We just talked about that on the podcast a couple of weeks ago.
L & B also gave me the 411 on the mail...or from the mainland anyway. The post office told my Mom 3-4 weeks on the boxes she shipped for me. They told me it's more like 4-6 weeks. I may need to get a few things in the meantime.
So yesterday, when I was in Portland, I got a call from my boss at the new school. He wants to take me out for a drink on my first night here. Wonderful...my first time meeting my new boss in person and it's happy hour. So I changed clothes and met him at the school. That's where I found out an important nugget of information...my class won't be at that building...you know...the one I told everyone that's 3 blocks from my house. Nope...my class will be a few miles up the highway. I guess I'll be getting a car.
Now, as for a car. I've revised the plan with that. Yes, I want to be greenman, but I just came back from the grocery store...after a $150 shopping spree. Granted, that included stuff I'm not going to buy again - a colander, kitchen knife, etc...but yeah, it's going to be pretty expensive to live here. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with a used car.
But as for the school. Everything's going to be just fine. Mark, the director of the school, showed me the main school, where I won't be. Then, with the main teacher I will be working with, we went up to the building where I will be working which was a 5 minute drive up the road. There's still wires hanging from the ceiling and they just got the permit to do what's needed today. I'll go more into the specifics later. This floor is a pain to type on and I want to get to the highlights of the day.
So, me, Mark and Dan (the main science teacher) went to this touristy bar on the beach. We had a margarita (while in Rome) while talking about the program, my family, the state of education in general and in Hawaii. Eventually, I just asked straight out what they thought my role would be - if they wanted all the science stuff the kids are going to do to end up in activism. When Mark said yes, that's when I hit him with my idea about having a 3-pronged attack: a low-power FM radio station, a cable access TV show, and have the kids work on a book that would be published. I was worried that he was going to escort me to the first canoe off the island...he loved it. Dan smiled. I'm in. He also asked if I'd be interested in teaching sign language to 1st graders in the other part of the school. Yeah...this is going to be OK.
Tomorrow, I'm out to buy a bowl to eat my $5+ box of cereal. Oh, I'll need a spoon, too. Maybe a chair to sit in... Open up a checking account. And I'm probably going to visit Jill's store - a MySpace buddy from the podcast. I've only been here a few hours and I've already started working on my base sunburn. Aloha, Boyeeee!
But so far, it freakin rocks! I have a lot of catching up to do...a lot of pictures to post and I'll get to all that in time. First of all, I left the USB cord for my camera in Portland, so I'll have to get another one. I'll have pictures of Niagara Falls, Portland & Maui. So for now, I'll just focus on my first day on the island.
Hawaiian Airlines is pretty cool. Probably the best flight I've had. We landed at the exact time they said we would. I have my rental car - I thought I was going to be tooling around in a Ford Focus, but I have a Pontiac cocktostensen or whatever it is. They actually had a special where I could have upgraded to a convertable Mustang for $40, but come on...my bald spot would burn and all the driving directions I've printed out would fly out of the car.
So I'm tooling down the "highway" listening to the Dollyrots (the only CD I have). I let myself get a little bit lost, just to look around. It wasn't tough to find the house. I like it. It's a one bedroom cottage...not a shed. I have a carport and a little porch-like thing in the back which will be where my next attempt at growing something will take place. There's a few plants already there - Bea (the landlords are Lee & Bea) asked if I would water them. I did warn her about my success with plants but she was fine with it. So as I went to take pictures of the back...uh...yard, something moved and scared the crap out of me...something in the lizard family. Don't know what it was, but I got a picture of it. Stay tuned.
Bea & Lee seem pretty cool. An older couple from Seattle. They actually found a bed for me! All my bitching about sheets, now I probably have to go for the non-organic as it's a "full size". I wouldn't be surprised if I eventually get something bigger, but for now I can focus on other things like...oh, I don't know...something to sit on. Bea has a workshop in their garage where she does ceramics. Some cool, Corn Hill kind of stuff. They let me in on a little secret...if you thought The Man is bad in Rochester, you ain't seen nuthin like Maui. People who work at places like DMV tend to charge people who aren't in the know extra to pocket the money. I did get some confirmation on this...
They also told me that the neighbor who is right behind me tends to raise roosters for cockfighting. How ironic. We just talked about that on the podcast a couple of weeks ago.
L & B also gave me the 411 on the mail...or from the mainland anyway. The post office told my Mom 3-4 weeks on the boxes she shipped for me. They told me it's more like 4-6 weeks. I may need to get a few things in the meantime.
So yesterday, when I was in Portland, I got a call from my boss at the new school. He wants to take me out for a drink on my first night here. Wonderful...my first time meeting my new boss in person and it's happy hour. So I changed clothes and met him at the school. That's where I found out an important nugget of information...my class won't be at that building...you know...the one I told everyone that's 3 blocks from my house. Nope...my class will be a few miles up the highway. I guess I'll be getting a car.
Now, as for a car. I've revised the plan with that. Yes, I want to be greenman, but I just came back from the grocery store...after a $150 shopping spree. Granted, that included stuff I'm not going to buy again - a colander, kitchen knife, etc...but yeah, it's going to be pretty expensive to live here. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with a used car.
But as for the school. Everything's going to be just fine. Mark, the director of the school, showed me the main school, where I won't be. Then, with the main teacher I will be working with, we went up to the building where I will be working which was a 5 minute drive up the road. There's still wires hanging from the ceiling and they just got the permit to do what's needed today. I'll go more into the specifics later. This floor is a pain to type on and I want to get to the highlights of the day.
So, me, Mark and Dan (the main science teacher) went to this touristy bar on the beach. We had a margarita (while in Rome) while talking about the program, my family, the state of education in general and in Hawaii. Eventually, I just asked straight out what they thought my role would be - if they wanted all the science stuff the kids are going to do to end up in activism. When Mark said yes, that's when I hit him with my idea about having a 3-pronged attack: a low-power FM radio station, a cable access TV show, and have the kids work on a book that would be published. I was worried that he was going to escort me to the first canoe off the island...he loved it. Dan smiled. I'm in. He also asked if I'd be interested in teaching sign language to 1st graders in the other part of the school. Yeah...this is going to be OK.
Tomorrow, I'm out to buy a bowl to eat my $5+ box of cereal. Oh, I'll need a spoon, too. Maybe a chair to sit in... Open up a checking account. And I'm probably going to visit Jill's store - a MySpace buddy from the podcast. I've only been here a few hours and I've already started working on my base sunburn. Aloha, Boyeeee!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
The Way It Should Be Done
It doesn't HAVE to be all corporate you know. Powell's Bookstore is the (I hear) biggest independent bookstore in the country...and it's located in Portland. So the family took me to downtown Portland (which rocks) and we went to Powell's. Un-freakin-believable. Yeah, they had the usual top 20 NYT stuff, but there were books that even the other corporate slags could only dream of. Used books were mixed in with new, it was floors and floors of amazing stuff. I had been looking for the new Howard Zinn's A Young People's History of the United States and the corporate stores gave me excuses. Powell's had multiple copies. (It's cool by the way. So $80 later, I have both volumes of the Zinn book, and a bunch of stuff on Hawaii for myself and for my class.
Sorry, I forgot the camera, but here's a picture borrowed from another website:
I met a woman who worked there who was born in Rochester, moved when she was 6 and is also a member of the Greens here in Portland.
I gotta admit, this is a pretty cool town.
So, last night, I took my nephew to see the movie Ratatoulie. Seeing as how much of a fan I am of the book Heat
I was down with the movie.
Tonight...laser tag.
Sorry, I forgot the camera, but here's a picture borrowed from another website:
I met a woman who worked there who was born in Rochester, moved when she was 6 and is also a member of the Greens here in Portland.
I gotta admit, this is a pretty cool town.
So, last night, I took my nephew to see the movie Ratatoulie. Seeing as how much of a fan I am of the book Heat
I was down with the movie.
Tonight...laser tag.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Please Send Underwear!
[Caution: There may be some graphic language in this]
I was right, they lost my bags. Actually, I'm not even sure who lost them, because neither airline will take responsibility. Meanwhile I'm about to go on Day 3 with the same underwear. So the lying whore at American told me to NOT take my bags with me when I went to stay at the hotel in Chicago - that they would take care of the bags and give them to United. Then when United called them to ask about the bags, either the same lying whore or a different one said that I voluntarily have up my bags therefore they have no freakin idea where they are.
OK...long story short. Someone finally got off their asses and got my 600lb bags into Portland and some poor bastard is bringing them to my Sister's house - at midnight. I'm exhausted, but I'm waiting up for those damn bags. I'm really starting to feel funky in these shorts.
UPDATE: Well, we may have an explanation...as I opened the first bag there was a note from da gubment....seems double-checking me at O' Hare wasn't enough, they went through my bags as well.
I did either post on this on another blog or talk about it on the podcast, but I was told by someone who's pretty in the know that all registered Greens are on the Terrorist Watch List. They also put everyone who works for a Catholic Church on the list as well. (because priests & nuns are the main ones who protest at nuclear weapons sites) So people who are committed to non-violence are on the terrorist watch list...it really is 1984. What a bunch of evil suckholes.
I was right, they lost my bags. Actually, I'm not even sure who lost them, because neither airline will take responsibility. Meanwhile I'm about to go on Day 3 with the same underwear. So the lying whore at American told me to NOT take my bags with me when I went to stay at the hotel in Chicago - that they would take care of the bags and give them to United. Then when United called them to ask about the bags, either the same lying whore or a different one said that I voluntarily have up my bags therefore they have no freakin idea where they are.
OK...long story short. Someone finally got off their asses and got my 600lb bags into Portland and some poor bastard is bringing them to my Sister's house - at midnight. I'm exhausted, but I'm waiting up for those damn bags. I'm really starting to feel funky in these shorts.
UPDATE: Well, we may have an explanation...as I opened the first bag there was a note from da gubment....seems double-checking me at O' Hare wasn't enough, they went through my bags as well.
I did either post on this on another blog or talk about it on the podcast, but I was told by someone who's pretty in the know that all registered Greens are on the Terrorist Watch List. They also put everyone who works for a Catholic Church on the list as well. (because priests & nuns are the main ones who protest at nuclear weapons sites) So people who are committed to non-violence are on the terrorist watch list...it really is 1984. What a bunch of evil suckholes.
Houston, We Have A Problem
UPDATE: Here's a picture of my meat locker.
It's currently 7:55am and I'm sitting at a kiosk in O'Hare Airport in Chicago. My plane didn't leave Rochester until 8:30pm (4 hours late). Of course I missed my flight to Portland so AA put me up in a hotel for the night (the airlines, not Alcoholics Annonymous, but I can see where you'd think that).
So after riding the Mexican Chicken Bus Shuttle from the airport to the hotel- I got the wheel well and surrounded by a teenage dude flapjacking harder than I've ever seen to a couple of teenage...uh....bimbettes. I didn't know which I wanted more - for the kid to get shot down or for one of them to get syphilis. OK, just kidding. It's early and I'm cranky. So I got to my meat locker, I mean hotel room around 10:30pm (ct) and was up by 5:30 to get "selectively chosen" for a special security screening. Sorry, Z, the sunblock didn't make it because I didn't have a ziplock bag for it. I also lost my $3 travel size tube of toothpaste. What the hell is a ziplock back going to do if I'm blowing up a plane with sunblock? Or maybe they're worried that I'll take the sunblock and threaten to keep the pilot pasty white or his breath minty fresh. Anyway, I'll need to buy more sunblock. It's not like I haven't budgeted for it already.
So AA put me on a United Airlines flight today. They were sure that my duffle bags, each with it's own zip code, will be transferred to my UA flight. So far, no one has any idea and no way to find out. This should be fun.
Oh, and about the duffle bags. Getting bags that you could fit a dead cow in seemed like a good idea at the time, but I didn't think about having to carry the damn things. I know have, literally, bruises on my delicate shoulders from dragging them 10 feet.
I'm not complaining. I'm just describing in a way for comic effect. I'll deal with whatever because in the end, I'm ending up in Maui. I don't know how long that thought is going to keep me calm, but it's working for now.
I'll have pictures of my trip to Niagara Falls with Brad & Co, of my meat locker and will have of Portland by tomorrow.
Aloha.
It's currently 7:55am and I'm sitting at a kiosk in O'Hare Airport in Chicago. My plane didn't leave Rochester until 8:30pm (4 hours late). Of course I missed my flight to Portland so AA put me up in a hotel for the night (the airlines, not Alcoholics Annonymous, but I can see where you'd think that).
So after riding the Mexican Chicken Bus Shuttle from the airport to the hotel- I got the wheel well and surrounded by a teenage dude flapjacking harder than I've ever seen to a couple of teenage...uh....bimbettes. I didn't know which I wanted more - for the kid to get shot down or for one of them to get syphilis. OK, just kidding. It's early and I'm cranky. So I got to my meat locker, I mean hotel room around 10:30pm (ct) and was up by 5:30 to get "selectively chosen" for a special security screening. Sorry, Z, the sunblock didn't make it because I didn't have a ziplock bag for it. I also lost my $3 travel size tube of toothpaste. What the hell is a ziplock back going to do if I'm blowing up a plane with sunblock? Or maybe they're worried that I'll take the sunblock and threaten to keep the pilot pasty white or his breath minty fresh. Anyway, I'll need to buy more sunblock. It's not like I haven't budgeted for it already.
So AA put me on a United Airlines flight today. They were sure that my duffle bags, each with it's own zip code, will be transferred to my UA flight. So far, no one has any idea and no way to find out. This should be fun.
Oh, and about the duffle bags. Getting bags that you could fit a dead cow in seemed like a good idea at the time, but I didn't think about having to carry the damn things. I know have, literally, bruises on my delicate shoulders from dragging them 10 feet.
I'm not complaining. I'm just describing in a way for comic effect. I'll deal with whatever because in the end, I'm ending up in Maui. I don't know how long that thought is going to keep me calm, but it's working for now.
I'll have pictures of my trip to Niagara Falls with Brad & Co, of my meat locker and will have of Portland by tomorrow.
Aloha.
Monday, July 9, 2007
I Make The Young Girls Cry
No, I didn't bump my head and think I'm Barry Manilow. Today was my last day (overnight) at Hillside Children's Center. A couple of girls were a bit upset. The deaf boys? Luckily, I know they all have some kind of affect disorder - otherwise it sure looked like they were happy I was leaving. That wasn't the case, I swear. One of the people I've worked with made a cake and got me a hawaiian shirt. Beth is so sweet. I think the rest of the staff are just wondering who's going to fix the computer or fax machine when they get messed up. [By the way, to any cottage staff reading this...in the time it takes you to make a sign that says "There's a paper jam in the fax machine" and tape it to the machine...you could have pulled the paper out yourself. Come on, Meat!]
So for the one or two HCC alumni...here's a couple of pictures. I hope it doesn't bring you any flashbacks:
Hillside has pretty much taken on the qualities of Rochester itself, dysfunctional with a lot of business jargon and a lot of construction and unnecessary, expensive projects. Yep, that weird building is what they're doing to Hutch so it can become a DDSO cottage. Mo money, mo money, mo money!
I really wasn't that upset about leaving. Hillside's always been the place for me to go when I was fired from a teaching job and I'm proud of the work I've done there. But my last two stints...well, particularly this one. I just existed there. What little "good work" I was able to do as an overnight staff was engulfed by the institutional incompetence and indifference.
I learned a lot working at that place. It has really influenced my style as an educator - and yeah, as a person. (I know, that's kind of trite) And sure, it's cool to have "war stories" about getting bit or kids having tantrums at the mall, etc. But those incidents taught me about what's really important, and what motivates people to do what they do. Although I still go on the other blog and wonder who raised some people out there. Or as the Sloan song goes: Who taught you to live like that?
I'm more proud of the work I've done there than any political race I've been involved in, speech I've given or class I've taught. And most of my work at Hillside didn't even have the hugest, Lifetime-Movie-life-changing effect on those kids. But it was the most sincere, thoughtful, honest effort I've ever given in a job...in spite of the freakin administrators.
Jeez...I guess I make the old men cry, too.
I am music...and I write the soooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnggggggssssss!!!!
So for the one or two HCC alumni...here's a couple of pictures. I hope it doesn't bring you any flashbacks:
Hillside has pretty much taken on the qualities of Rochester itself, dysfunctional with a lot of business jargon and a lot of construction and unnecessary, expensive projects. Yep, that weird building is what they're doing to Hutch so it can become a DDSO cottage. Mo money, mo money, mo money!
I really wasn't that upset about leaving. Hillside's always been the place for me to go when I was fired from a teaching job and I'm proud of the work I've done there. But my last two stints...well, particularly this one. I just existed there. What little "good work" I was able to do as an overnight staff was engulfed by the institutional incompetence and indifference.
I learned a lot working at that place. It has really influenced my style as an educator - and yeah, as a person. (I know, that's kind of trite) And sure, it's cool to have "war stories" about getting bit or kids having tantrums at the mall, etc. But those incidents taught me about what's really important, and what motivates people to do what they do. Although I still go on the other blog and wonder who raised some people out there. Or as the Sloan song goes: Who taught you to live like that?
I'm more proud of the work I've done there than any political race I've been involved in, speech I've given or class I've taught. And most of my work at Hillside didn't even have the hugest, Lifetime-Movie-life-changing effect on those kids. But it was the most sincere, thoughtful, honest effort I've ever given in a job...in spite of the freakin administrators.
Jeez...I guess I make the old men cry, too.
I am music...and I write the soooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnggggggssssss!!!!
Sunday, July 8, 2007
This Saturday at The Sports Page
As you can see from the previous post, it's going to be a heck of a week. There's no way I'm going to be able to get to say goodbye to everyone I want to in a 1:1 kind of way, so I'm just going to be hanging out at The Sports Page on Saturday (7/14) starting at 7pm - for all of you with an early bedtime. I'm sure I'll be there most of the night, I know Mike will be there early and Brad once the kids are in bed & settled. And it looks like there'll be some Hillside folks there around 11. So stop by and have a beverage.
The Final Week
Well, there's only one week left until I leave for Portland. Here's what's on tap so far:
Monday - Finish my last Hillside overnight, giggle like a schoolgirl, sleep, Fastpitch game, try not to make drunk call to Keziah.
Tuesday - Spackle holes, take apart plastic shelving in basement (which anyone who needs shelving can have - free), get rid of records at Bop Shop, dinner at James' & Jill's, try not to make drunk call to Keziah.
Wednesday - Clean, clean, clean. Lunch with Robert, Podcast, try not to make drunk call to Keziah.
Thursday - Did I mention clean? Get table to Green Party, Brad & Co get into town, Fastpitch game, try not to make drunk call to Keziah.
Friday - Niagara Falls w/the Mitchell clan, Cookout at Michael's, try not to make drunk call to Keziah.
Saturday - Clean car, go to Boxman to have stuff...uh...boxed, get freakin bamboo sheets, pack clothes, podcast stuff & baseball gear. Get bikes to Friends Helping Friends. Sports Page (see above), keep drunk call to Keziah under 10 minutes.
Sunday - Take a lot of asprin. Send apology text message to Keziah, honor her request to remove her number from cell phone. Sell car. More asprin. Cookout at Mom's.
Monday - Meet with landlord, wash shower curtain (don't ask), Time Warner, take plates to DMV, credit union, last Goodwill run, pick up Mom, go to airport. Sit next to crying baby for 2 hours. Get lost in airport in Chicago, sit next to dude who tells golf stories for 3 hours. Land in Portland. Try not to make drunk call to Michael...
Monday - Finish my last Hillside overnight, giggle like a schoolgirl, sleep, Fastpitch game, try not to make drunk call to Keziah.
Tuesday - Spackle holes, take apart plastic shelving in basement (which anyone who needs shelving can have - free), get rid of records at Bop Shop, dinner at James' & Jill's, try not to make drunk call to Keziah.
Wednesday - Clean, clean, clean. Lunch with Robert, Podcast, try not to make drunk call to Keziah.
Thursday - Did I mention clean? Get table to Green Party, Brad & Co get into town, Fastpitch game, try not to make drunk call to Keziah.
Friday - Niagara Falls w/the Mitchell clan, Cookout at Michael's, try not to make drunk call to Keziah.
Saturday - Clean car, go to Boxman to have stuff...uh...boxed, get freakin bamboo sheets, pack clothes, podcast stuff & baseball gear. Get bikes to Friends Helping Friends. Sports Page (see above), keep drunk call to Keziah under 10 minutes.
Sunday - Take a lot of asprin. Send apology text message to Keziah, honor her request to remove her number from cell phone. Sell car. More asprin. Cookout at Mom's.
Monday - Meet with landlord, wash shower curtain (don't ask), Time Warner, take plates to DMV, credit union, last Goodwill run, pick up Mom, go to airport. Sit next to crying baby for 2 hours. Get lost in airport in Chicago, sit next to dude who tells golf stories for 3 hours. Land in Portland. Try not to make drunk call to Michael...
Friday, July 6, 2007
It's Not Easy Being Green
I'm starting to think about stuff I'm going to need for my place in Kihei. I'm pretty much starting from scratch.
At first, I'm not going to get a bed. I'm going to start off with a couple of these:
(Woman not included)
Then, once I have a bed, that's what all you jokers will be sleeping on when you come to Maui.
So, I'll need sheets. Well, being the Green I am, I thought I'd pick up organic cotton sheets. The cheapest I found was $60 for a sheet. One sheet. For $60 that sheet better come with a happy ending. (sorry to be so graphic) Shoot...I'll sleep on shredded newspaper before I pay that much for a sheet. So for half that I found bamboo sheet sets at BBB. Of course, there doesn't seem to be anything but Crap-Mart on the island so I'll be doing some online shopping.
At first, I'm not going to get a bed. I'm going to start off with a couple of these:
Then, once I have a bed, that's what all you jokers will be sleeping on when you come to Maui.
So, I'll need sheets. Well, being the Green I am, I thought I'd pick up organic cotton sheets. The cheapest I found was $60 for a sheet. One sheet. For $60 that sheet better come with a happy ending. (sorry to be so graphic) Shoot...I'll sleep on shredded newspaper before I pay that much for a sheet. So for half that I found bamboo sheet sets at BBB. Of course, there doesn't seem to be anything but Crap-Mart on the island so I'll be doing some online shopping.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
An Update
There's not any really big news to report. There's just little stuff. I talked to the guy who's buying my car back. He's cool with getting it the day before I leave, so that'll help a lot. And the landlord is cool with taking care of the security deposit the morning I leave. That's pretty much going to cover the security deposit and first month's rent for the new crib. The new landlord took forever to cash the check I sent for them to hold the cottage for 3 weeks.
I didn't realize just how much money I've been spending the last month. I'll be chilling out the next couple of weeks. I'd like to eat the first week I'm in Hawaii. I'm currently in my last week of work at Hillside. It could be the longest 4 days of my life. I'm pretty much "booked" every night (and some days) from this Sunday until I leave. I guess that's good, but I'm going to need a vacation from my last week in Rochester. Oh yeah, Portland. And I'll have a few days in Hawaii to relax before work starts. I'm going to need them to get back to a "normal" sleeping schedule. I guess it's not much of a surprise but I have not been sleeping at all lately. I'm on a futon and I can't shut my brain off.
Most of you know I've been doing this podcast. Well, tonight I did a Kids Edition of The Stuart Bedasso Show. I'll be putting it on CD's for all the kiddies: Alex, Jake & Lindsey, Tommy & Tessa and Quinn. I'd turn it into an mp3 for everyone to download, but there's that whole copyright thing. Fascists.
That's about it. I have a ton of ideas for the new gig, but I'm going to keep them to myself until I get down there and see how open they are to them. (insert evil laugh here) Let's just say it involves whipped cream, rubber sheets and a spatula...oh wait...wrong fantasy. Uh, it involves a low-powered FM radio station, a book and cable access TV...and a spatula.
I didn't realize just how much money I've been spending the last month. I'll be chilling out the next couple of weeks. I'd like to eat the first week I'm in Hawaii. I'm currently in my last week of work at Hillside. It could be the longest 4 days of my life. I'm pretty much "booked" every night (and some days) from this Sunday until I leave. I guess that's good, but I'm going to need a vacation from my last week in Rochester. Oh yeah, Portland. And I'll have a few days in Hawaii to relax before work starts. I'm going to need them to get back to a "normal" sleeping schedule. I guess it's not much of a surprise but I have not been sleeping at all lately. I'm on a futon and I can't shut my brain off.
Most of you know I've been doing this podcast. Well, tonight I did a Kids Edition of The Stuart Bedasso Show. I'll be putting it on CD's for all the kiddies: Alex, Jake & Lindsey, Tommy & Tessa and Quinn. I'd turn it into an mp3 for everyone to download, but there's that whole copyright thing. Fascists.
That's about it. I have a ton of ideas for the new gig, but I'm going to keep them to myself until I get down there and see how open they are to them. (insert evil laugh here) Let's just say it involves whipped cream, rubber sheets and a spatula...oh wait...wrong fantasy. Uh, it involves a low-powered FM radio station, a book and cable access TV...and a spatula.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
The More Things Change...
...the more they stay the same.
Well, looks like I'll be bringing my bat & shoulder ice-pack-thingy with me to Hawaii...
Maui Open League
Well, looks like I'll be bringing my bat & shoulder ice-pack-thingy with me to Hawaii...
Maui Open League
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Dave's New Wheels
I decided that when I get to Maui, I'm going to need a car. I was kind of hoping to do without one - I am pretty close to the school and the shore, but if I want to see the island and do some of things I want to, I'm just going to need a car - it's that simple, there really isn't anything in terms of public transit there. I had found this place online that both rents & sells biodiesel fuel cars. My plan was to rent one of their cars for a week when I got there and see what it's like and then buy one from them. Well, I'm getting a weird vibe from them...or should I say no vibe. They're not too big on returning calls and don't seem to be in that much of a hurry for my business. I know it's supposed to be a laidback culture there, but...
I also came across this article about the problems with biodiesel. But by the same token, just because a technology isn't the silver bullet we want, it doesn't mean we should just ignore it - that keeps the problem unabated.
So instead of staying home, I think I'm going big. I'm probably going to go hybrid...my first new, new car (as opposed to new-to-me) will be an Al Gore special. If I end up with some Fred Sanford hooptie, then I guess I'll have to keep my mouth shut.
I also came across this article about the problems with biodiesel. But by the same token, just because a technology isn't the silver bullet we want, it doesn't mean we should just ignore it - that keeps the problem unabated.
So instead of staying home, I think I'm going big. I'm probably going to go hybrid...my first new, new car (as opposed to new-to-me) will be an Al Gore special. If I end up with some Fred Sanford hooptie, then I guess I'll have to keep my mouth shut.
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