Tag Archives: caddying

en voyage

Posted on by

Diary
Saturday, 28 November 2010
Written around fifteen minutes after 22:00
My Room, Folks’s Place, Land of Beautiful Trees, USA

This’ll be my last evening in Chicagoland for a while, as tomorrow morning I’m shipping out to New York City for a month to study for my Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. Mostly packed, save my backpack I left in my buddy’s car last night, but I’ve made arrangements to solve that problem.

From when I first landed in China last August, to when I left her for Europe in July, I invested countless amounts of energy into figuring out what I would be doing in fall of 2010. I thought about Indonesia, Korea, India, Russia, ya da, ya da, ya da. The idea of coming home caddying and reffing to earn money for my CELTA occurred to me, but not as my first option.

Jacopo_Tintoretto_001

As it turned out that’s what I did, in addition to spending time writing, teaching, tutoring, temping, pondering, playing, dancing and not a small amount being lazy. Being home the past four months or so has been incredible. I have gained a deep appreciation for the area I’m from and the family/friends who’ve known and supported me for years. Given all that, I am excited for my next adventure, but also melancholy about leaving my Chicagoland life.

Within that life, ever since Jeffrey got back home on Tuesday evening, my life’s been a blur. I worked the following morning for the running store I’ve been helping, then Jeffrey’s buddy James arrived, and we headed downtown. Stopped in Evanston first with them, then to meet some old high school pals, and as Jason predicted, we met up with some people from our grade whom we hadn’t seen in years. Took the ‘L’ downtown, for a quiet evening, though I planned out a visit to Green Dolphin Street for the younger gentleman, which they turned down.

Following morning, Thanksgiving, I reffed two games then drove Jeffrey and James home for our lovely Thanksgiving meal. Highlight this year was the duck my father purchased from Sun Wah, a delectable Chinese BBQ spot. Enjoyed conversation with the aunt, cousins, grandparents and James, then took a little nap. Jeffrey woke me up to head back downtown for a quiet evening, where we watched “I’m Still Here” and “The Expendables“. The latter was fine, the former was one of the most engaging cinematic experiences I might’ve ever experienced.

Woke up again Friday to ref a pair of contests. Had lunch with the boys at Billy Goat, which strangely had a Packers schedule on their wall. Did a little Black Friday shopping, investing my earnings in America, then met up with folks for dinner at Burt’s. Jason also came, and even the sophisticated New New Yorker was impressed. Following after dinner drinks in Wilmette, Jason and I skiied our way thorough three groups of people from the past at three different locations. Then met up with an angered Jeffrey and pals around 800 West Superior, the supposed location of a party I got texted about from a club info service I e-mailed to sign-up for.

It wasn’t warm, and they hadn’t found the “sweet club” as they said in not sincere tones. Jason led the search and then found it after toiling for almost a minute. Turned out *TANTRIK* was finished by the time we’d arrived, but I was at least happy to see it existed. On our way back, I stopped the cab outside a club I’d seen long lines for before, but hadn’t previously visited. Knew it was late, but felt I owed the guys a good spot for dragging them out there, so I made an arrangement with the bouncer to get in for a last drink. I liked entering to “Firework” by Katy Perry and the aesthetics of the joint, but it was a little too small for my taste. When I dance, I enjoy mooooving.

Saturday, today, had one final ref game, cleaned the condo with Jeffrey and James, got my haircut in Evanston, dinner with Mom and Dad at the club, a catnap and now I’m trying to tie up my online life before I head out tomorrow morning.

In closing, the two young ladies I’ve been tutoring in English writing have done some fine work I hope you’d read. Hannah’s written a piece about the 2010 Asian Games and Kitty essayed on how-to give a good speech.

*Corrections & Amplifications*

  • 6 Dec 2010 01:05 USA ET – Changed the date from the incorrect 27 Nov 2010 to correct 28 Nov. Removed a space before the period in the last sentence.

up too late

Posted on by

Diary
23 October 2010
Written roughly fifty minutes after the stroke of midnight.

Was lucky today and made some money caddying, wasn’t great for all the things I set out in my “Month of Charlie” post, but money’s important, too, and there won’t be many, or any, caddy days, left so I’m happy. As for this exact moment, I’m up too late, following a second evening of over-eating indulgence and a sour mood as a result.paro_Al_sliding_on_a_banana_skin

In more interesting news, Kitty submitted another article to me earlier this week, which I finally published this evening, its a lovely answer to the question “What clothes are fashionable?”

And before I sign off, go Cats! MSU is rife for an upset later this morning.

Image: Al sliding on a banana skin by, / cybergedeon from The Open Clip Art Gallery.

sports past and present

Posted on by

Diary
Written after 12:00 A.M. U.S.A. C.T. at the Ravenswood Metra Stop on 19 October 2010

Tonight I hung out with Pat, a former ice hockey teammate of mine and his roommate. While Pat was taking a call I ended up explaining to his roomie Pat and my’s high school hockey history. Sophmore year Pat and I made the JV team that won the state title held at the United Center. Junior year we made Blue, the second varisty team. That year Green, the top varsity team winner of the past 4 state titles, went independent (a la Notre Dame’s independence in college football), taking themselves out of Metro North, our local league. Green’s goal was to play better hockey than was available in its local league. Our Blue team won said league, then lost to Green in the state semi-finals, to my knowledge the best finish of any Blue team ever. Senior year we played for Green, and lost in the semi-finals, ending their 5-year championship streak.

Two out of three.

Following said discussion and Pat’s return, we watched the Hawks battle the St. Louis Blues. Down by two in the third period, Marian Hossa scored his seventh and seventh goals of the season to tie, and the Hawks won in OT on Sharpie’s goal. Afterwards Pat and I headed to Lincoln Station for a drink and unexpected birthday shot.

Amongst other topics we discussed golf. I have played the past three mondays at the club where I caddy. Playing three times in three weeks beats the one-off time I’ve golfed for the past three to four years. My game is progressing. I am now confident using Driver off the tee, something I have never been before. I shot 110 the first two times, and yesterday I played roughly twelve holes. Caddying the past seven years has definitely helped my game, in addition to a change in my playing attitude grown from college crew and Intramural hockey, judo in Japan, basketball in China and a general maturity.

Related to playing golf the past three Mondays I have been to the course for the past fifteen days straight. The longest streak of the year, and my life. Caddying (I did not work three times) the other days has been possible thanks to the amazing Indian summer (possibly Global Warming related) weather.

a slice of my projects

Posted on by

Diary
The Afternoon of Monday, September 27th – Evening of Wednesday the 29th
Written Wednesday Evening
My Room, Mom & Dad’s, Winnetka, IL, USA

Learning a little from last week, I did a much better job recovering from a short adventure and getting back into my routine on Monday. This gave me time to go out into Winnetka.

small slice of tree city usa

I started at the library and had a really helpful exchange with a young gentleman working there, who explained the resources available to me as a patron and how I could use them to aid in my studies. Next was a deposit at my bank, complete with a pleasant chat with the banker who bailed me out of trouble in China. Finally, I stopped by Phototronics, the local photoshop, whose owner took ten minutes of his time to fix my camera, and asked for nothing in return. Normally in my life finding information, handling money and getting things fixed have been done mostly through a computer screen, or over the phone. It felt like a new experience handling them all in person, even though that’s more what humans have been doing for the past however long, it hasn’t been my reality.

Tuesday was back at the course and lucky to get out and make some cash, while there found some time that day and evening to update danoff dot org. Hoped to work again this morning, to no avail, so I came home with an afternoon free to catch up on some of my projects. Started by adding another lesson plan to the resource I’ve been building sharing all my old lessons from China.

Moved across the net over to Peer to Peer University, where my course on Collaborative Lesson Planning has moved into week three. Week two did not have as much participation as week one as I noted in my third through review, so I adjusted my gameplan and simplified this week’s homework. We’ll see how it goes.

Next I published the latest article from Hannah, the student of mine from China whom I’m currently tutoring, this one on the merits of examinations. In exciting news I published the first article from my second pupil, Kitty. She’s another junior high schooler, and her first hit is about why she should study English.

I am making progress on some of my projects, which is good, because I’m reaching a point now where it is time for this energy I have been putting in to writing and online magic to bear some fruit. Part of it is the slow ripening nature of those mediums, more is I have lacked the discipline to see projects all the way through to the end. I am wonderful at starting them and getting better, but once I hit that first plateau of stubbornness (hat tip to Chu of E.T.A. from page 115 of Infinite Jest) I often give up and start something new. Now is the time to push on through. On that new note, though …

danoff-vs-room-introduction_000030click the image or here for a video

Image: “small slice of tree city USA“, by Charles Jeffrey Danoff, CCA.

beaten by small obstacles

Posted on by

Diary
Thursday, Septmber 2nd, 2010 (Written after midnight in the early AM of Friday)
Family Room, Mom & Dad’s House, Winnetka, IL, USA

Up late Wednesday night blogging and applying for a writing opportunity, so I was out of bed even later than yesterday, around six forty. Went through my routine, hit the road and got to the course about twenty minutes before eight. Had to be careful, because the front brakes on the bike I’m using are busted, but it went fine.

Soon after arrival the rains came hard. Socialized for a bit, did some more reading of Infinite Jest, doodled around on my computer, then took a nap. By the time I woke up a couple of hours later it was still raining, but petering down. Around one pm, standing outside chatting it went from black skies and drizzling to sunny day in the course of about five minutes, which was really strange. Had a fun time caddying on the course, aside from when I tried to hustle over a rope about six inches high and failed, landing instead with my face on the grass.

Following work, had a delicious burger eating dinner with Mom and Pop, watching the Bears lose to the Browns. Jay Cutler coyly didn’t play, which was annoying, but nice as it gave a chance to see Todd Collins in action. He did pretty well and I would love to be the one to start the city wide movement for Mr. Collins to unseat Cutler as the Bears starting QB. Power to Todd!

To close, I uploaded another lesson plan to the resource I am creating, this one is part two of a two part series … Mr. Brown & Mr. Danoff’s Halloween Lesson 2. Come back soon for part 1 … da da dum!

pure wheel

Posted on by

Diary
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2010 (Written after midnight)
My Room, Mom & Dad’s House, Winnetka, IL, USA

Out of bed late today around six. Went through my washing and writing morning routines, when I noticed a repetetive pitter patter coming from what seemed like the windows. I kept listening and sure enough, painstruck I lived (sans the intense bf-gf jazz) Eminem’s line:

Now you get to watch her leave out the window
Guess that’s why they call it window pane

It was raining outside, good for Chicagoland’s depleted vegitation, bad for Chicagoland caddies hoping to work. Agitated I tried going back to sleep, but after a few minutes in bed I decided I really do need to be earning cash right now and there’s a chance the rain might let up. Got on my bike and started riding, when I soon heard another repetetive sound. Stopped my bike and discovered my bike tire had gone flat. Even more agitated I rode back to pump up the tire, which proved more difficult than I imagined. Tried again to ride out, tire again gave through and by then I’d had enough. Got home and went back to sleep.

Woken up by Pop around 9:30 who then offered to transport me to Higher Gear, a local bike shop. Gentleman in there diagnosed the problem as relating to the tube, switched out and got me back riding in Tour-de-France-speed. Didn’t need it at the moment ’cause Dad dropped me off at the course, but following one and a half loops it was much appreciated as I effortlessly rode home.

And, after an unfortunate absence, the return of updates on building my lesson plan resource with: Mr. Danoff’s FWE 7B Lesson 2.

And, after an unfortunate absence, the return of updates on building my lesson plan resource with: Mr. Danoff’s FWE 7B Lesson 2.And, after an unfortunate absence, the return of updates on building my lesson plan resource with: Mr. Danoff’s FWE 7B Lesson 2.

高尔夫球球童

Posted on by

日记
2010年8月26日

今天早上我有工作。

我的工作是高尔夫球球童。

工作很有意思！

然后我和爸爸妈妈吃饭！ 然后我和朋喝酒。

现在我很累！

但是我的老学生要美国的音乐所以我给他 。。。 这个

Diary
August 26th, 2010

Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ yǒu gōngzuò.
This morning I had work.

Wǒ de gōngzuò shì gāoěrfū qiú qiú tóng.
My work was as a golf caddy.

Gōngzuò hěn yǒuyìsi!
The job is very interesting!

Ránhòu wǒ hé bà ba māmā chīfàn. Ránhòu wǒ hé péng hē jiǔ.
Then my Dad and Mom and I ate dinner. Then I drank with a friend.

Xiànzài wǒ hěn lèi!
Now I am very tired!

Dànshì wǒ de lǎo xuéshēng yào měiguó de yīnyuè suǒyǐ wǒ gěi tā … zhège
But, one of my old students wanted some American music so I gave her … this

p.s. today’s lesson plan: Mr. Danoff’s FWE 7B & 8B Lesson 16 [context]

the return of chicago charlie

Posted on by

Diary
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 (Written after midnight, so on the 26th)
Family Room, Mom & Pop’s Place, Winnetka, IL, USA

For the first time in a year I caddied today. I caddied full-time in the summers of 2006 and 2007, and it was awesome to get back out on the course today. Top-ten play nominee came when standing across a bunker from a colleague. He needed the rake on my side. I was going to walk it around the bunker to him (can’t walk through the sand), instead he indicated to toss it, which I did about five feet and he caught.

It was interesting meeting people and doing things I had not done for so long, but which came back to me really naturally. People I had not thought about in some time, their names popped into my head, as well as different things about their history.

On another level it was odd, because I spent a lot of time last year writing “A Caddy Story”, a fictional short story about caddying, that was published in Issue 4 of The Uncertainty Principle (read it here starting on page 11). Doing things or observing things I wrote about fictionally was , yeah strange.

Closed the night out with a couple of beers with Jay who was passing through on an epic journey South to see his favorite band Ween. Riding my bike home from the “L” I though about how one of my favorite things to do is chat with people whom I share a history with and releate things we know about from the past to the present in a way using them as a metaphor to explain something happening now (Hopefully I’ll be able to elucidate this idea better later).

To Mariano-Rivera the post here’s today’s uploaded lesson plan (context).