Work
The Bounty Hunting Teacher
Those of you that know me well know that at times I can have a bit of an addictive personality. I always seem to have some newfound obsession that I spend hours researching on the internet and even cause me to develop ridiculous schemes related to the object of my obsession. For example, last spring … Continue reading
The Best Class Trip Ever!
While we were diving in Cayman, even the intervals of time on the surface between dives were enjoyable and informative thanks to Nick Buckley! We actually dove twice at Trinity Caves, the site where a few weeks before, David Blaine did a lot of the shooting for his latest TV special. Nick told us a … Continue reading
Ice Cream Frenzy
The highpoint of the week at my current client is the event that has been tagged: “the ice cream frenzy” by a colleague of mine. Several months ago, during an “all hands meeting” to discuss the myriad problems facing the project, one of the solutions suggested, and the only one later implemented, was to have … Continue reading
New Rates, Old Rooms
My current home away from home, the Sheraton Long Island located in world famous Hauppauge, NY (no, I don’t know how to pronounce it either) has once again ruffled the feathers of my comrades and I. Despite a relatively modern and attractive lobby, complete with bubbling fountain and a full compliment of bubbly concoctions at … Continue reading
Teaching Through a Transit Strike
When I woke up Tuesday morning, I wasn’t really sure what the transit strike would mean for me. I knew that my usual Metro North trains would be running, and that I would be able to walk—like I usually do in good weather—from the train to work in about ten minutes. I sat watching the … Continue reading
Prevoyance Group has a Website!
After several months of writing and working with my web designer, Prevoyance Group, my fledgling consulting company has a website! It even looks moderately good to my non-artistic eyes. My lovely wife earned her gold start as Prevoyance Group’s lead proofreader, and I as lead copywriter. Hopefully the business will begin to pour in in … Continue reading
Esto es un abuso!
Henderson, one of my most intelligent and astute seventh graders, put it so bluntly: this is abuse! He was referring to one of the many asinine things that happened at my school last week. Here is a short summary of the ridiculousness of the week: 1. Students at my school take Princeton Review Exams. This … Continue reading
Consultants are “Special”
Monday marked the start of my third week as an “independent service provider,” which is loosely translated to Man Who Works for Self. My company, Prevoyance Group has been pumping out invoices, and word on the street is that the first official check should be coming next week. Working for oneself is quite an adventure, … Continue reading
Quitting Time
My father always likes to tell me that in a single year, he got married to my mother, started his first job, and was commissioned in the Army. The only thing that’s changed in those ~30 years is that he’s no longer in the Army. I like to think that I’m making up for his … Continue reading
Seeing RED!?!
The slogan for the event was “Seeing Red,” but for the Estrada/Sierra family across the country it became the “Red Scare”! My grandparents left their homeland in search of a better life for their families. Their stories are wonderful triumphs of seeking political refuge and searching for the American Dream. Ask any other member of … Continue reading
Let’s call the whole thing off??
Here?s a little story from school?talk about a tongue twister! So LaTia and LaCreshia told Felix that LaTiesha said that she was going to get her cousin to beat him up. Felix was concerned and told his friend LaTasha about the situation. He instructed LaTasha to give Latiesha a talking to. ?LaTasha, don?t hit LaTiesha,? … Continue reading
Enjoying SAP in the City of Brotherly Love
In an odd twist of fate, and much to the chagrin of my lovely fianc?e, Meghan and I have swapped geographic location vis a vis where we were last year. As faithful readers and friends may recall, Meghan was just finishing up at the University of Pennsylvania while I was working in Stamford. Once upon … Continue reading
Working Hard or Hardly Working?
In one of those amazing “management” decisions that makes you really question who is captaining your ship, my current client has implemented a cost cutting measure that requires all consultants to take the last two weeks of the year off. While this is a little rough for the independent consultants, who basically don?t eat if … Continue reading
Top ten reasons why I teach for America?
10. Because I LOVE getting my exercise by chasing David, Akino and Reuben around the library and the entire third floor. 9. Because if I weren?t there, who would tell the other teachers that don?t speak Spanish that the words puta, chupalo, chocha, and huevo are not the innocent pet names that the kids say … Continue reading
Take Your Boo to Work Day
This past Friday, my 8th grade students had the pleasure of meeting a ?friend? of mine: Mr. Patrick Gray! He did a short presentation about using business plans in the real world, as they are working on their own business plans as part of the unit we are currently working on. I think that the … Continue reading
Back in the High Life Again
Last week, I hit an all time low. Wednesday night, I bolted awake at two in the morning, soaking with cold sweat, with the feeling of spiders crawling all over my skin. I looked around in sheer panic, not recognizing the four walls that seemed to be rapidly closing in on me. After several years … Continue reading
It’s 3am, Do You Know Where Your Children Are?
If you’re Pat and Pat (yes, my parents really are both Pats) your only son was off to LaGuardia at 4am, and is currently enjoying the company of other working slobs in the Delta Crown room. I visited the restroom, and it looks like I smoked something funky, since my eyes are beet red. Ah … Continue reading
On the Road Again
Yesterday I received official word that I am heading out to Chicago on Monday for work. It’s been a little over a year since I was last travelling for work full-time, and I have mixed feelings about my return to the road. My favorite aspect of consulting is that a change in clients is almost … Continue reading
How Not to Show Your Teacher You Care About Doing Well On Your French Test?
?Miss, can I borrow some tape and a pair of scissors?? ?Sorry, you?ll have to ask Ms. Verhille.? Of course Ms. Verhille gave him what he was asking for. It seemed innocent enough?though she did mention that it was suspicious he insisted on using it at his desk. Later she mentioned that she didn?t think … Continue reading
Starting up week 2…
After countless orientations, trainings, institutes and such I began my professional career as a teacher last Monday at MS 391 in the Bronx. At the start of the week I was relatively calm and anxious about finally getting started, and at the end of the week I got my first paycheck! I made it through … Continue reading