So Then We Really Don't Need So Many Cops In The First Place

Most of the crimes the cops go after and most of the "criminals" in jail are there for small time drug problems. I guess it's the cops causing the problem. Leave people alone and you don't have nearly as much crime.

Good, get rid of the cops so we don't end up with more of these.

Two years ago I witnessed 100 jackbooted armored thugs walking arms locked down Derby Street in Salem. They would have beaten me senseless if it weren't for "the pin" I was wearing on my jacket. One good cop pulled me aside and said stand here with me. He was an older gentleman. Kind of like that pilot who ditched into the Hudson a while back. He struck me as someone who was good and decent and tired of the shit his job has become but powerless to do anything about it and so now just want's to quietly run out the clock until pension time.

The two cops on two separate occasions who were really disappointed when I blew significantly below intoxicated can fuck off.

I Quit

Well, I did get rehired. The union threw a fit because the administration did not follow contract with my dismissal. I don't want to stick around next year if the principal feels he needs to keep me on a short leash.

I had a couple interviews. The town I grew up in was one. The other is run by one of my Brothers. The ring opened the door but I was really prepared. I floored them. I knew things about their department that they didn't. I was charming. I was 100% full on. I had 3 interviews with 5 people over 3 days. (I was also very aware that I was interviewing with the various secretaries at every door.) My last interview was to talk salary. I knew they pay better. We negotiated by the boxes and I got exactly the box I would have landed in at the old job. I could have gone down a box and still made more.

I have a verbal agreement waiting for a CORI check to clear and in a day I should have a contract. I'm going to one of the top schools in the state and one of the original US News & World Reports top 200 High Schools. I'm also getting an administration that supports the teachers. There is no duty in the first year I just teach. After that there is no lunch duty, just study hall. They pay 3% up to $800 in 403(b). They pay 80% (swamp pays 60%) of the health and 70% (swamp pays 0%) dental. I also got a $5,000 raise (when you take into consideration that 20% difference in the insurance payment.)

I am a happy man but also saddened. The commute is the same amount of time but it takes me even further away from Marblehead and the city. I am also walking away from a bullet proof reputation within the community. And I would float. I wouldn't have my own classroom. But I think I do get a private office. It's still a better deal.

So ultimately I win by losing. I am unwilling to risk my career as a pawn between the union and the principal. I can't stay. The upside is I got a fucking raise.

1984

I bet you're expecting some rant about how all my wildest conspiracy theories are coming true. Even though canned goods and shotguns are an ever more viable and less wacko portfolio option this is not a post about how "The MAN" is trying to keep us down. Actually, I'm a white male between 35 and 55, a school teacher and a Freemason. I am "The MAN". No the title of this post is not about how RFID chips are in the chemtrails.

For our anniversary and Lisa's not quite 40th birthday we have tickets to this and this. I feel like a kid again only better. Both shows our seats are about 20 feet from the stage. So maybe bending over and paying for the premium seats is actually worth it. At least I'm not renting a limo to see the Grateful Dead or The Rolling Who like my mom does.

I'm Torn Between Titles For This One

I want to call it "I'll Give Up My Laser When They Pry It From My Cold Dead Hands" but "My Laser Has Killed Fewer People Than Ted Kennedy's Car" is too tempting to pass up. It's a slippery slope between banning toys that the cat loves and trying to stop Scaramanga and Doctor Evil from building a Chinese Death Ray on the moon and ransoming the Earth for One Million Dollars.

The Curse of the Flying Hellfish

See Mike, it really does exist!

Balls And Shaft

I just got home from a much too short weekend in Manhattan. The Kurz and I met up in NYC for a late lunch and some very abreviated sight seeing. Much of our conversation orbited my recent raising to the sublime degree of Master Mason and further light from the appendant bodies. Mike is hooked. He's so totally asking to be one that I find myself invested with renewed curiosity and enthusiam for the craft. Trying to look up the lodge in New York to see if there's anyting going on in the city that never sleeps I find all sorts of other websites. They lead me to other sites.

I come down with a wicked case of ADHD and just start wandering through the interwebs. I find this picture on a site that's claiming to be exposing all sorts of satanic Masonic secrets.



That's not the handshake.

None of the handshakes on that page are correct. If it was a disinformation site meant to trick e-masons who haven't truly recieved light I wouldn't be so concerned. But much of what Kurczy and I talked about was on some of the scandals and controversey surrounding my brotherhood. I feel the need to call out cowans.

Anyway, come home Mike. I want to be there on the 5 points when you're raised.

What's This All Got To Do With Freezing Point?

I may never see the letters Ph.D. behind my name but for the next month I am 16° Prince of Jerusalem. I skipped ahead in Masonic ritual on my way to becoming 32°. Which is too bad because I missed being 4° Secret Master for a month. Next month I skip everything in between and become Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret. It sounds so much cooler then it is. I guess the guys that know the royal secret can't wait 32 years to impart the secret. Most of those guys are in their 80's. If they didn't start skipping ahead in the ritual I would never find out what's going on.

Corporal Punishment Would Make My Job Easier

The admininstraion is supporting me in my detention policy. My student gets an hour office detention in place of a 5 minute talk with me about why I care about her safety. I want to say it's because of my newfound political power but it's probably because I'm a good teacher and this early in my career I'm a fucking bargain. They'd be fools to let me go.

Where Have I Been?

Wow, an unusually busy vacation week off from school. I am getting nothing done. Lisa's grandfather was in the hospital for a day. Bronchitis is the most likely problem. He's becoming a handful. Not the spry fellow he was a year ago. I'm also very worried about age related dementia. He's not as clear as he used to be. There's nothing wrong with his hearing but he doesn't understand speach. Everything is "What?" "What?" "What?" Then he gets it but by that point we're shouting our repeated statement at him. He doesn't understand why we're shouting at him all the time.

He's worried all the time about stupid little things. The heat isn't on and he's worried that the heater is broken. I'll admit that this was a problem for a month this winter but after $1,500 it's fixed and working. Sometimes it's warm enough in the house that it doesn't have to be on. Wait until the sun goes down, the heat will come back on. He doesn't get that no matter how many times we tell him that.

The day job is getting harder. I can't play when he wants to. I can't take care of the cars. I'm overwhelmed. I have another MTEL next week. I'm still trying to add Physics to my license. I'm not the least bit prepared.

Lisa and I are a couple days away from another ride on the in-vitro fertalization rollercoaster. I have to come up with something for a substitute to do for a couple days. I got a couple movies from Netflix. I guess I'll show them.

I did pass to the second degree with the Masons. I'm a Fellow Craft now. On St Patricks day I expect to pass to Master Mason. And Darren, that's not really what the G stands for but I can't tell you what it is.