With Valentine’s Day over (thank God), I decided to focus on some location pieces here on my island. With the temps in the 70’s today, I decided to go to the Lincoln and South Brewery, which is a mile from my house. It was an old a/c repair shop located off the Mathews and Marshland circle at 138 Island Drive which is on a dead end. Look for the crane with the huge American flag and turn on Island Drive. If you weren’t looking for it, you would miss it.

I chatted with Dillon, who is one of several knowledgeable and friendly staff and I got my Cran Selzer. It was a gorgeous night, and I went to the firepit where I chatted with some guys from Long Island and sat down to write. They have music most nights with the area’s better talent and a trivia night. Tonight, was Zach Stevens and Charlie Simpson who are regulars on my Island.

Ok, getting to the important business, how are the beers? I haven’t had them all but will say, I haven’t had anything I didn’t like and will comment on brews that others had and have given their feedback.

First the Sours and Seltzers:

I had the Cran Slam, which is my favorite. The Ranch Water and Tidal Wave were also delightful, light and fruity and great for those who want a totally refreshing beverage.

Pilsners, Lagers and Ales:

Frankly, Pilsners and Lagers are my favorite when drinking a few and here are my favorites:

The Beach City and The Imaginary Barb are light and crisp and make for a wonderful experience. I had the Three Thumbs Up and the Hearts and Arrow to taste. Both had a well balance of hops that didn’t overpower the taste. I have heard very positive things regarding the Shenanigans Double IPA.

Porters and Stouts:

I must confess I am not a fan of Stout and Porter beers so I will only report on the reviews of others.

The Coffee Milk Stout and the Gucci Wood Porter were described as a little sweet and if one likes rich toned beers, both with not fail to satisfy. Now I know what you are wondering, what about food?

They have a light menu with things like Chicken Fingers, Pretzel Bites and Beer Dip is to die for, Loaded Nachos and Cheese Fries. There is also a plate of cold meats and cheeses. All in all a place to come and chill in the warm sun of the afternoon and to meet old and new friends. It draws families too as so far well behaves children (not a common sight these days). It is becoming a favorite of locals and my hope is that it thrives.

John Scarso aka NY John

February 15, 2023

Yes, here I am after almost 3 years of silence, yankeeindixie.blog is back from the dead. I will be updating everyone about my time before, during and after I cheated death in a three part series. Right now it is January 14, 2023 and I am sitting in a Holiday Inn in St. Augustine, Florida after taking a long weekend trip to clear my head and to write. I left the island at noon and arrived here in Florida. I had previously contacted a friend down here who i met several weeks ago at Coconutz. I will just call her Madison. She was sitting next to me at trivia night and here I was next to this beautiful blonde with the most sparkly eyes and the most beautiful smile. I was, of course, too shy to say hello but she started talking to me. we joined up as a team with another gentleman and we actually finished second. Lucking the categories were kind to us and it was a fun night.

We kept in touch and to my delight, she was free last night for dinner. After checking in, I grabbed a shower and a shave and ventured out to a local place called Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grille. It is one of the more popular places here in St. Augustine in the historic section. St. Augustine is a beautiful old city founded in 1565 by the Spanish admiral Pedro Menendez de Alives. I won’t bore you with a history lesson so I will move on. Back to Harry’s. It is a Cajun/Creole restaurant, wich at 7 was packed. The old town has very narrow streets and next to no on street parking. I found a $10 lot and left my car, which was a block away. As I was walking, Madison happened to drive by me and directed her to the same lot. It was not only cold out but extremely windy so the warmth of the restaurant was welcomed. We made our way upstairs to the bar to wait for a table, and we met these two ladies from Boston, who we chatted with and then were able to have their seats. We decided to just eat at the bar and drinks were ordered as we inspected the menu. She ordered to Louisiana Fondeaux and Shrimp and Grits, and I had the Boudin (sausage) Balls and the French Baked Scallops. Needless to say the food was amazing and plentiful and we were stuffed. As I sat there, I kept thinking to myself how amazing she was and how comfortable it was just to sit, talk and have a delicious dinner. She is from upstate NY and is looks very much like Daryl Hannah and I often joke that my blessing in life is to surrounded by such beautiful women. Ok, back to my story. After dinner and declining dessert, she recommended a small club down the street called the Trade Winds Tropical Lounge. There was a band playing there, so I was eager to go and check it out, and I do need stuff to write about, right?

After walking in, it was mobbed and a band called “Live Stream” was playing classic rock. Has anyone else noticed that guys in these bands are more and more resembling the commercial for AARP, where a high school band from the 70’s are now grey and can still rock the shit out of a place? Well they did!! One of the best bands I have heard in a long time. We got some drinks and were able to get a couple of stools to sit. We chatted with some other people there, nice people who also remember 1980. I did post a clip of “Enter the Sandman” on Facebook for SD (see previous posts for more info) and by 11 we both decided to call it a night, She had plans for Saturday and I had made plans to visit the distilleries here to pick up some goodies to take home.

Here I am writing about last night again feeling so blessed that God (yes I have proof he exists) has allowed me to meet some amazing people and I cherish their friendships. Off to shower again to explore the town with its 39 degree wind chill and 19 mph NW winds.

Ok, now Saturday evening and i had a very pleasant day. Layed around until almost noon and my first stop was the St. Augustine Distillery. I sampled their bourbons and bought their medium and their deluxe issue. The former I will share but I confess the latter will be for the most special occasion and person to share it with. I also got a couple of t-shirts to replace a precious one that is stained beyond hope. The New York term is schmutz. Sauces and tomato based condiments are not my friend while eating. Those who know me need no explanation.

By 2pm, I was in need of food, since I only had some Triscuits in my room. Parking was a nightmare but I did find a $10 lot at a local church. I was in the mood to sample some bbq and Yelp recommended a place called Mojo Old City BBQ. I opted for the bar and ordered the ribs. They were delicious and fell off the bone. They don’t drown them in sauce and you can choose to add your sauce of choice. The staff was friendly and I got another t-shirt.

I decided to walk around the shops and there was a wine bar called Bin 39. The other distillery there had too long of a line so I decided to skip it. Luckily the wind subsided and a break was needed. This place was cozy with wine flights but I chose a Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley. It as called Selby and it was a delightful choice. I love to people watch so I went back outside and sat on a bench. The old town was very busy with many large groups of people, who were enjoy the sunshine, and having a good time.

As the sun began to set I passed a place in one of the old buildings called The Milltop Tavern and Listening Room, who had live music coming out of it. I ventured upstairs and grabbed a small table near the stage and ordered a White Claw and some pretzel bites. After a while, my energy was starting to wain and the process of finding my car, which was parked about a half mile away began.

After a lovely walk, I found my car and drove back to the hotel and sat at the bar for a nightcap and watch the football game. Chatted with some other guests, I went to my room to finish watching the Jags make a great comeback and then fell asleep.

Sunday proved to be a more lazy day and I decided to leave the Fort for another trip. My ankle was getting a workout so I decided to rest until the afternoon. Once I was ready, I headed back to the same lot to park, which was centrally located and only about a 1/4 mile from the old town. I wondered around for a while, window shopped and decided to take the advice of Madison and eat at the River and Fort restaurant. It was on the river, across from the fort (duh), and the sun was shining and the winds had died down.

After requesting an outside table facing the river (spectacular views btw), I ordered a delicious Argentinian malbec and some appetizers instead of a full meal. First came the French onion soup and fried green tomatoes, which we both absolutely delicious and while I was eating, Madison sent me a text that the Space X rocket was about to launch. I was able to see it disappear into the clouds and thus witnessed my first space launch. I then ordered an appetizer of sticky ribs.I managed not to schmutz on my new shirt and paid my bill to continue my evening.

I read that the band Live Stream was going to be back at the Trade Winds again so I made my over there and to my delight, I was able to sit at a table. The band was again awesome playing classic rock and I pursued my favorite pastime of people watching. There were several birthday group and close to the end of the night there was a group of semi drunk women sitting next to me. What is with me and drunk women, where I am like a bug light? They seem to gravitate my way with no encourage from me. One attractive woman commented that I must be mean because my arms were crossed. I was chilly and trying to keep warm. My leather jacket was too much to wear and it was no big deal. Another women said “mean”? Look at him, he’s adorable”.If I could only convert those complements into a touch down or at least a field goal. (you figure out the analogy). I had to get back to the lot by midnight to get my car so my evening ended on a high notewith a few Screwball shots to warm me I made it back to my hotel in minutes and went to sleep.

Monday was a travel day and the traffic wasn’t bad, except for northern Georgia where an accident was cleared but had some residual back ups. Thus an end to a wonderful weekend and my first post in almost three years and it is good to be back.

Stay tuned for my three part recap of my absence and many more funny adventures. I have made some new friends and the people and going to make writing about them easy.

Best wishes

John Scarso aka NY John

Hilton Head Island S.C .

1/17/23

Alright, I decided to write what I originally had in mind. Here I am on December 2nd and today is the birthday of my dear friend Diana in NY and to movie buffs, in the movie Casablanca, it started on December 2, 1941. I only noticed that detail when I saw the movie up close and many of my old questions were answered, such as no mention of Pearl Harbor since in the middle of the movie Rick said it was December 1941. Anyway, I have been thinking about how Richard III started with this quote. We are a country at a crossroads again, and with the election over, we will see in which direction America will go.

Do I believe this election was rigged? Absolutely. The fact that ballots keep appearing out of thin air and that Biden got so more votes than Obama and Clinton make me believe the adage on Mayor Daley, “vote early, vote often”.

Now am I going to cry, scream, gnash teeth for four years? No, with the media ignoring this travesty and the courts complacency, time to move on and wait until next time. Funny, a friend of mine with kids so far to the left and giving her grief for not agreeing, my feelings are, I won’t debate children regarding politics. Kids in the 20’s have no clue how screwed their futures are. I will be long gone and they have to live in a world once portrayed in science fiction movies of the future. Remember Soylent Green takes place only a little more than a year from now.

Being down south I watch news reports of New York dying and as well as other major northern and far western cities and it make me very melancholy. Prior to all this Covid shit and the destructive policies of Deblasio, New York was the center of culture, entertainment, and all things cosmopolitan. I felt safe in Manhattan, both on the streets and in the subways. Of course I took precautions and avoided potential dangers as much as possible. My friends told me horror stories during the first lockdown and we are seeing the demise of theater, many amazing restaurants, and other cultural pursuits and the city is barely on life support. Hilton Head and Savannah, thank God, have survived. I must mentioned that Savannah has resisted draconian practices and you know what? Their streets are not littered with dead bodies. Life goes on here in the Low Country with the bulk of the tourist gone. It is amazing how much people drink and smoke down here. You cant do into a gas station store without seeing a constant stream of people buying 12packs and multiple packs of smokes. At the middle school, I don’t know of any smokers unlike in Assumption and Moore, the cloud of smoke would escape the teachers’ lounge whenever the door was opened. I guess with the weather being milder in general, a lot of restaurants and bars have outdoor seating year round with heaters and the like thus making it more obvious.

No one will deny 2020 sucked the big one and no one will lament on its passing in four weeks. Watts is up in Virginia, Bubbles in Jersey, but is here now for a visit, and a lot of people wrapped up in their own lives, I don’t see many people and tend to stay home more. With the kids every other week and subbing every day, I look forward to early bedtime, even if alone. Life just goes on and on. Been dreaming of people from long ago, both dead and alive and have been talking with my cousin Judy in Jersey who I want to go see next Thanksgiving if I can. I have not met my cousin Joe and I have so many stories to tell him about the family. I want to keeps these posts short so I can write more. I miss my old fireplace and have to resort to a You Tube video. Well so long for now.

John Scarso

December 2, 2020

Hilton Head SC

You may wonder why I chose that title. I was drawing a blank while listening to Wagner before my string of Chinese classes that I cover and monitor and I thought of Richard Ryan, my English teacher from high school. He was there from before my freshman year so we all knew of him and that he would be our teacher in junior year. He was the one everyone dreaded and then he becomes the one that stayed with me and now I consider a close friend, even 700 mikes away. He was tough and demanding in the old school style. His famous quotes were: “you will not leave my class until you can read and write”, “life is not fair, just fairer than death”, and his favorite, ” you danced to the music, now it is time to pay the piper”. In many ways he was my Mister Holland. I survived his class and with the prospect of Miss Krumm, who was even more dreaded, I was happy to have him in senior year and did a lot better. All his wanted was us to be able to think 3 dimensionally and to be able to express ourselves intelligently. After all these years, my only suggestion was to give us more of a historical perspective about the times of the literature that we were learning to give us context. Beowulf with 1979 mentality was torture and referencing more Tudor and Stewart England would have helped with Shakespeare.

He is now a successful author of Sherlock Holmes’s novels and as have I told him, the tables have turned and it is I who critiques his work. I enjoy his novels tremendously and I was even an inspiration for a very minor character in one of his earlier novels. I have been pressing him to write a story where I am featured as a bigger character and time will tell. So why I am writing this piece about a teacher from four decades ago? Simple: if one can influence somebody and forty years later that person writes favorably about him, then that person has been a tremendous success. He is also the one person who gets all my historical laced referenced jokes and other sarcastic remarks I come out with.

I am turning 57 Sunday and it amazes me how young my teachers were back then. I miss Celine Carr, my Biology teacher who is no longer with us, as well and Carl Leach, the music teacher and our musical director, who died a few years after graduation.

Now Mr. Ryan is retired and had been married over 40 years to his wife Gracie which shows he must have not been such a son of a bitch after all. When I write these pieces he is in my head with regard to the use of a phrase, or what correct grammar to use. He taught me to appreciate Shakespeare as a guy who wrote some really funny stuff as well as the heavy Macbeth themes. I have done some editing for a friend while down here who advocate for children and those abused by a sometimes corrupt legal system down in Dixie. I won’t elaborate further but the point is, what I learned in his classes carried over to a year as the baseball reporter for my college paper and the rest of my life of writing in general.

To sum up, thank you Rich and just know that you made a difference in hundreds or even thousands of lives and coming into teaching so late, I can never come close to accomplishment. I love the kids here and one class is the my “Dead Poets Society” class; good kids with distinct personalities and a lifetime of learning still ahead. What I have been told, the kids like me even when I am not doling out little treats at the end of the day. Well the galloping hoards awaits.

John Scarso

Hilton Head Island Middle School

12/1/20

11/18/20-11/20/20

Ok the election is over and we are still in a kind of limbo. Yes all votes must be counted and if Biden is the 46th President, unlike the Democrats who cried, nashed teeth and screamed for four years, I will take whatever result unfolds and move on. Granted Obama was not my choice and I still believed he was in over his head, but he was elected and time goes by fast and we are still here.

Enough politics, I am so election fatigued as well as Covid 19 fatigues. So over the masks thing and yes, I comply as required but my glass still fog up despite my anti fog spray!! Hilton Head has quieted down tourist wise and I am glad the families are gone. I have not see too many people lately but did visit SD in Savannah to watch Hokies football (don’t ask lol) and to help celebrate her birthday as it was a big one for her. I so love spending time with her.

Thanksgiving is coming next week and the holiday season is in full swing. I gave grown more and more sympathetic to Scrooge and the Grinch as the years go by. Isolated down here, I often think holidays past including Thanksgivings at my Aunt Marie’s house and those Christmases my mom would do. Looking back at the 70’s as my golden age as a kid, before college, girlfriends and work. I will be with my ex and the girls next week. When we were married, she took over Thanksgiving after her mom died and my family stopped having it at home and went out to restaurants. She alwas works so hard and it is a shame that a fantastic meal takes days to prepare takes only 600-900 seconds to eat.

As Faust sold his soul, I would in a heartbeat sell mine to be able to go back to say 1976 or so and relive Christmas as it was on Silver Lake Road with Nanny, my aunts, uncles and cousins, Mickey and Faith next door. She went to PS 45 with my mom and were close friends until she died about 6 years ago. We lived next door and how I would love some of her Christmas cookies. She and my mom were Godmothers to my sister and her daughter respectfully, As I write this, so many emotions are coming back and I can’t even get the Devil to take my soul. How sad is that? I have another birthday to remind me of my slow but steady decline and at this point, will probably be alone. I have lost a few friends here who have relocated back to where they came from and most of this year have not been out much.

I stopped going to Cool Cats; just got old and dating down here, forgetaboutit!. I will be going to Savannah during December, as they do Christmas right. Leap year moved my birthday from a Friday to a Sunday so another Saturday I got screwed out of. The weather has cooled a little finally, than God and I may go to Taphouse to watch Clemson administer VT’s weekly beating.

So what’s been going on in school? I have been a permanent sub this semester at the middle school and now been regular facilitator in a class in Chinese. STOP LAUGHING! Actually we lost out teacher, who was on loan, and now the entire class is done on line. I just keep the class in order. 3 classes with a few kids in one, and more in the other two. The last class has the cool jock kids that Stefani knows but I have not told them I am her father. Unfortunately yesterday they were fooling around too much and which will be address tomorrow. Update: Things have smoothed out with me adding to the technology of the class and yesterday the classes were much easier to control.. Not to get into much detail, but now I can see who is on line and follow what is being taught. I told all the kids that there is a new sheriff in town and they’re bring watched and recorded. “Ve have vays of seeing you” (German accent). I will be posting more during the Thanksgiving weekend as I will have the kids next weekend.

God Bless to all and your families.

John Scarso

Hilton Head Island

**********This piece is dedicated to all my teacher friends and to all out there trying to teach in this chaotic world. I love you all.***********

I am a month back in the classroom as a Substitute Teacher and for those who are teachers, you can commiserate with the current state of the classroom. School are no way like they were only a year ago, forget days gone by. Let be back track. In 1997 I was feeling burnt out and felt like I was going nowhere at Pershing and with the suggestion of Maryanne, I was looking for a career change. At that time I was taking two routes: the first was getting a government law enforcement job and the other was teaching.

At that time I had informed my current manager I was planning to pursue a Master’s degree in Education and he was supportive. Also at that time, I took a few law enforcement tests which included the US Marshal’s office and the US Postal Police. As a lark, I took the NJ State Troopers but was not really interested. When I took the Postal Police exam, I received an almost perfect score and was put at the top the list for the next class to be called. To make a long story short, they did not act on that list for almost four years and then tossed it out. By that time, I was above the maximum age so sayonara Postal Police job.

I also took the US Marshal test and made it to the third round, where I had to be interviewed by three administrators who did not smile. The details are a little foggy but what disqualified me was the question regarding being able to relocate. I hesitated for a second and thus got disqualified. By then I was above the age of most other law enforcement job. The Postal Police would have been perfect since they investigate postal crimes and seemed right up my alley. Being that Maryanne was also law enforcement, she was always supportive and I had the inside tips on how the system worked.

This led me to plan B, teaching. For years my friends have said that my passion for History would make me a good History teacher. I entered the Education program at CSI for a Master’s in Secondary Education with a Social Studies concentration. I even met my friend Diana while looking for the Health office and wound up in the same class. I did that for a couple of years and then I got promoted at Pershing so I stopped the program.

Fast forward to 2004. Joan was diagnosed with her issues and I became a stay at home dad while she was in the Early Intervention program in NYC, and after a period of time, I decided to get my Master’s in Special Ed because at that time, service providers were contractors and making a lot of money. Joan gave me a lot experience with disabled children but soon the City stopped paying as contractors and the money was a lot less. So my original program was birth thru 12th grade by then NY State changed things when I was halfway through the program and I was placed a grade 1-6. CSI had no other program so I was stuck there since they were the only school close enough for me to attend. I student taught in three different school and despite liking PS 21 a lot, I could not stomach the NYC DOE bureaucratic bullshit, so I found a job doing service coordination with a non profit agency for six years.

While I was still in the classroom, technology was progressing and Smart Boards were becoming into wide use with teachers using laptops and I began to become familiar with them. However I am currently trying to catch up with today’s technology which has changed a great deal.

Last year for example, the kids all have laptops and use Google Classroom and Power School” It keeps tracks of grades, assignments, tests and other functions. A really good system for the kids and I wish I had all these features when was a kid in school. Now the kicker is coordinating them with Zoom because half of the kids are home and half are in the classroom at any given day. I am seeing that this mix of home and school is not a positive mix for their academic success. We as a society is suffering from Covid 19 fatigue. I am tired of having to live my life like the grim reaper is at my doorstep.

Now at the of the end of October, the classes I have been covering have been diverse, except for of course, Social Studies which I have yet to get. Funny how being the only regular sub, all of the staff here know me. I am like their “Norm”, and I have a sense I provide some comfort to them, knowing that if they are sick or have an emergency, I am in the bullpen. A side note: I hate where a class has tables that make the students face each other and not the teacher. Many disagree with me but being old school, I like the old fashioned rows. It makes class managing easier for me since I am only in any given classroom randomly and sporadically. With the virus, the classrooms have revered to old style rows of desks. I am using a technique where, if time allows, I tell the kids a story. One is about how Nathan of Nathan’s hot dogs was founded and succeeded which teaches the kids about thinking outside of the box. I also told my story about having to do laundry in Munich without knowing German or how their laudermats worked. (They were a bit different than in the US), The kids love these stories and I generate a lot of questions and simulate their imagination. I talk about my trips to Europe and other topic that the kids may ask about. Storytelling goes back many thousands of years in our past. I have also brought in cool historical things to show them. (lava from Pompeii, Civil War money and bullets etc.)

Time to say goodbye for now and thank you to my 22 loyal followers.

John Scarso Hilton Head Island SC 10/29/20

“One flew east, one flew west, one flew over the cuckoo’s nest”. The idea for this blog title came to me last April as I was down by the water at my place watching the early morning bird fly. Yes, it has been about six months since I have written, and the world as fundamentally changed to a degree that no one can fully grasp now.

So, what is new? First the job subbing at the local schools: after three weeks last March, the state, county and island went into lock down. The schools closed, and my upcoming census job was postponed. But of course, the town elders encouraged people to come event though the beaches were closed, but I won’t go off on a tirade now. Joan did not do well with her routine disrupted and regressed behaviorally. However, she had bounced back and is doing well now that she is back in class and back to her routine. She has a new para who fantastic and he is doing wonders.

Needless, activities were curtailed, and I was in watching TV with all Covid19 related commercials. I won’t go on since everyone was in the same boat. I have not been to Cool Cats since before Jake died (January). It got old, with a tiny place, no food, no sports packages and the reminder of a kid who took his life in his prime. Don’t forget that all the times I was there, a buy back, Yeah right). I do have a few friends that are bartenders who sometimes “forget” to add a drink or two to my tab.

After things reopened, I hang sometimes at Coconutz, best wings and a killer pulled pork wrap while only being a few minutes away instead of the drive from the south end. They also have over a dozen TVs that gets every sporting event.

In July, I was finally called by the Census people to be an Enumerator (the person with the dopey bag knocking on your door if you did not return your census form. But as far as most others worked, my gig was cake. I was issued a phone and did the vast amount of training online. I was given my daily assignments online and I entered my data electronically. Here is the good part. I was assigned only cases on Hilton Head and in reality, I only dealt with a few people. My first few days, I was assigned my own complex on days of heat indexes of over 100 degrees with 90%+ humidity. Anyone who knows Hilton Head knows it is that is home to many, many rental properties where the owners fail to return their information, thus generating a visit. I quickly found the pattern in the chaos and my job became much easier with little human interaction. At the Spa, I quickly identified the vacation rentals and was able to enter all my date from my condo. During my tenure I was assigned several resort communities. The Hilton Head Beach and Tennis was exceptionally easy as I would make a list and give to the owner services director and she would confirm the whole list. I would sit outside on their shaded deck on gorgeous days entering data.  There were days where I would be sent to empty lots, houses under construction, or places in the woods where Jason would not go. Well that all ended on 10/3 which coincided with the schools reopening here.

I am current a building-based sub in the middle school where Stefani goes. They have half the kids in 2 days week and 3 days online, and the other half do the same. Since half of the kids go fully virtual, and the balance split, classes here are 1/2 of normal each day. I usually have 10-12 kids, sometimes less, sometimes more. The 6^th graders are new and the first few days they did know what to make of their new surroundings. The Cafeteria is temporarily closed, and kids eat during their free period in the classroom. I had to boot one kid out of class yesterday because he had no plans on working and was totally disrespectful. He obvious did know me and my lack of tolerance for those who are hellbent of causing issues. Needless to say, not a peep out of the other kids. Just a word on Hilton Head Middle School. The staff here is amazing, which is why I chose to be based here. In Beaufort County, the handling of substitute teacher is handled by a private company and a Sub can choose from available assignments. Having Stefani here and Joan next door makes thing convenient of days where they are with me.

The election is approaching, and I won’t get into politics, but I will be happy when it is over. I can’t stand all the commercials of TV and YouTube. Election and Covid19 fatigue is killing me. I don’t see SD in Savannah much as I don’t get down often and she works a weekend job which is keeping her busy. We had a trip to Jacksonville and St. Augustine in May as well as a day trip to St. Mary Ga, on the boarder with Florida. We still share the Hokies and I keep her informed when the game is on and she cannot watch it. I sometimes play pool with HV, who is a bartender here and she is a great kid (29). A hard worker from South Bend and an artist.

You are probably asking about Watts. She is in Virginia and we don’t speak that much as we did. We keep tabs on each other and a trip up there sometime in ’21 needs to happen. I do miss her craziness.

This is the second day I am writing this and on Wednesdays no kids are in not class but have a virtual day. I feel like I am in a Twilight episode where the guy’s car breaks down in a town that is totally deserted. I am in the media center, which is where I stay when I am not covering a class. I call it the “bullpen” because I do get calls in a pinch to cover a class or help with some other task. The Librarian is young and a big fan of pop culture (80s-00s). She is very entertaining to say the least. Saturday, VT will be playing Wake Forest and the Hokies are looking good. As of now, their schedule looks good except of course Clemson. It is hard having the best team in the nation in your conference and without divisions this year, I am hoping for second place in a large field of schools, and a good bowl appearance.

Well enough for now since I don’t want to ramble on and need to write more often. Every six months doesn’t cut it with the purpose of this blog. Election day is 13 days away, God help us.

John Scarso Hilton Head Island October 21, 2020 

I was originally going to write about becoming a substitute teacher here on Hilton Head, which I started 3 weeks ago. It has been an experience but in the mean time, the Corona virus has brought the entire world to a standstill. I am writing this on Thursday 3/19/20. As an Italian boy, I never understood the Luck of the Irish thing. 600 years of British occupation, the potato famine in 1840’s, the whole Catholic/ Protestant conflict and now within 2 weeks, all sports are canceled, all St Patrick’s day parades gone. Savannah does that day like no other. I liked its intimacy better than NYC or even Staten Island. I have  made the following observations:

I see America coming together as not seen since the Second World War. I don’t see the petty political bickering between parties, although any would be political suicide. Not to sound too political and nothing against Hillary but I do not think she would have been able to bring those parties together the way Trump has. Yes, he is not an alter boy, but I wanted a pit bull as president. These trying times has affected me financially since as a Substitute Teacher, I am per diam so I do not get paid, I will seek unemployment benefits for the first time if I can. God only know I paid into it for decades without using it but I will survive. I am finally selling those timeshares I don’t need anymore.  I am isolated on my island with the seniors who still have no survival skill and have not mastered social distancing or the concept of just staying home. It seems they can’t stay in. I have ample supply of TP and 20 gallons of water are coming tomorrow. Bars and restaurants are closed except to take out so I am just staying in cleaning my place for Joan to come tomorrow for 11 days. I do feel for my friends in the restaurant industry who are hit hard.

There is no one romantically at this time nor does it seem likely there will be for some time. I do have a few friends but either married, 20 or 30  something, or just not interested. Recently I have been spending time talking to MJ from Jersey. We were HS friends who could have gone in a different direction back in 1984. I do not know if I covered her in a year old post and frankly too lazy to look. For the first time in 36 years we are both unattached except for 700 miles between us, my two kids and her four. She recently became a grandmother and I can’t explain it but I have so many hot grandma friends. It was never like that when I was a kid; oh the times! If I was still in NY I would love to explore the road not taken in ’84 but things are moot I guess. We are just really good friends and talk every day. She is a delivery room nurse and with her kids almost grown, she is an amazing person who puts everyone before herself. MJ never complains and is 10x the person I am, and I had so lucky to have her in my life, even as a long distance friend.

I recently finished Richard Ryan’s latest book, Merchant of Menace. I chose to use Audio-book, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The narrator is a bit campy but it was a great Sherlock Holmes novel, and I highly recommend it as well as his previous three works. I tease him constantly because he was my HS English teacher for two years and I remind him that once he critiqued my work, and now the tables have been turned where the student critiques the teacher.

So getting back to now, I sit with my Bourbon and ginger like Hemingway typing away. I did win four bottles of Old Forrester bourbon back in December and I have Jack Daniels in my decanter as well as a bottle of Wild Turkey in my car from the Va trip. Time to make a dent while the bars here are closed. I knew my wet bar would come in handy eventually. I am in contact with Watts who is doing well and staying out of trouble. Bubbles moved back to Jersey so life goes on until this virus passes. I have faith in our president and I am glad our country is finally coming together. 9/11 unity was short lived and more localized. It quickly fell apart with all the bickering and NY beefs.

I promise to write more often and I want to thank all those who have liked my page and have encouraged me.

 

John Scarso

Hilton Head Island SC

February 26, 2020 Hilton Head Island SC.

I started this piece at Cool Cats Lounge over a year ago and kept putting it aside, Well I decided to complete it except now with a year and a half under my belt here on Hilton Head. This is my comparison of my  former home on Staten Island and my new home of Hilton Head Island. The only things in common between these two places is the fact that they are both islands. both shaped like shoes and are close in size and shape.

Climate

Obviously being in the South, the weather will be different. Right now at 8:30 PM it is 61 degrees on HHI for February 24th. This winter I can honestly say with my warm Sicilian blood, I needed my jacket liner 2 day and last year only once. It is funny to be in a t-shirt at 60 degrees and see people bundled up like the frozen tundra. I do not miss the snow, ice or the shoveling of it.

 

People

Staten Island has a cross section of people from all over the world and all ages. Recent immigrants from the Middle East and Western African nations have settled, Hilton Head has its senior retirees on the north end, tourists on the south end and a few its families. As for minorities, we have Latino and southern blacks but really little Asian and virtually no middle easterners. with the seniors, I do not know how these 70+ seniors made it. They just cross in front and behind cars like they do not exist. In NYC, three crossing against the light is called “making the 7,9,10 pin split. Another observation I have noticed is they walk like the walking dead if they are in front of you but if a check out lane opens, they become Carl Lewis and Florence Johnson.

Another thing New Yorkers have to get use to is saying “good morning and hello at least 100x a day. People don’t understand that sometimes we from NY just like quiet and not asked too many invasive questions by strangers. One night in Cool Cats a guy started talking to me and the first thing out of his mouth was “what do you do?” I promptly replied, “mind my own business”. He was dumbfounded until a smiled at him. Sometimes I tell people I am in the witness protection program and now I have to move again.

With it being 2020 and so many northerners here, no one call me Yankee. Well SD and Watts refer to me as NY John to their friends and family.

Food

Both places have amazing food but HHI has a gross lack of decent Chinese take out that delivers. Adding insult to injury is the food is more expensive and they tack on delivered charges and you have to tip. I just don’t do it anymore. Savannah had good Chinese and HHI has a Japanese hibachi place which very good but is a treat more than a regular routine. On Staten Island, I was getting Chinese 2x a week. My 12 year old daughter loves the way they cook in front you at the hibachi restaurant . No good bagels (the water sucks in SC) and I miss good pizza delivery. Pizza is expensive because it comes from regular restaurants so you pay sit down prices, then delivery and tip adds another $8.

Now I get cheap oysters here during happy hour compared to $3 a piece at South Beach SI. The seafood is awesome as expected and BBQ and great wings can be found. In Savannah it is hard to get a bad meal and there are many different and eclectic restaurants. I want to do a piece down the road on my favorite Savannah places. The bars are different here as well. In NY, a regular customer gets buy backs after 2 or 3. Here it does not happen as if the space-time continuum would rip open in a paradox if a freebie is given. I couple of my friends sometimes “forget” to charge me or make my drinks 2x as strong but having White Claw makes it difficult. I have given up beer and high carb drinks for vodka and club soda. I do miss Nurenburger and my West Brighton haunts and will visit in June when I have to go back on family business.

Traffic

The traffic in NY is horrendous all the time. Here on HHI it is more predictable. Avoid the bridge coming onto the Island on  Saturdays during tourist season. Traffic to get off get a bit heavy after 3 pm. At night, it is totally dead. I can come home late and see one car. The risk of deer and raccoons are worse. I don’t speed here. The cops here are not like the NYPD where they need to write tickets and play “gotcha”. I have met several officers and the county Sheriff who has better things to do to wait for a seat belt or stupid violation. Bluffton is strict with DWI’s so I don’t got there much and I behave when I am driving and don’t overindulge. With only 50 officers in the county, they concentrate on more important issues.  The people here do drive like morons and most accidents are caused by people assuming the other guy will stop.

Politics

I left NY and its liberal agenda for a red state. Of course the kiss of death that I am, as soon as I move here, the 40 year streak of a republican congressman from the 1st distinct in SC flips blue. The gal running was over confident and the Democrats did a better job of getting people to the polls. It will change this time I think. I am not going to comment on the local government at this time but they seem self serving as are most politicians. This is true of both parties.

 

 

I will update more later as I will be starting my job as a substitute teacher tomorrow at the middle school here. 7th grade science and second period I will have my daughter in the class. God help me!!!!

 

John Scarso HHI

 

It is the eve of Valentine’s Day and I want to apologize for not being on in months. There have been good things and tragedies. The fall saw trips. SD and I went to see a VA Tech game in October in Blacksburg where the Hokies won in 6 OTs and I got to see Watts for a bit. How I miss her. My only real friend here besides the bar buddies but of late, been staying in more. 2 weeks later I too Stefani to Atlanta to see Wicked, the aquarium and I had to stop at the Whistle Stop Cafe in Juliette, where Fried Green Tomatoes was filmed. Actually that was for me, since I LOVE that movie. then came my birthday and was hanging out with Bubbles one night where I met a real life Cousin Eddie from National Lampoon’s Vacation series, who was from Huntsville Alabama. Strange night indeed in Savannah and met SD the next night. A really weekend. Christmas came and went pretty uneventful except for Joan clogging the toilet on the eve. She was all in all good for the 2 weeks I had her alone.

2020 came in at Cool Cats and I continued looking for a real job here. In January tragedy stuck the  island. A local bartender who was pretty well know committed suicide at 23 years old. Jake was the nicest kid I know here and did two tours as a Marine in Afghanistan. The F&B community continues to be devastated and I have not been to CC since early January. I have been going to Club seats when the weather in nice near by and Coconutz at the Beach and Tennis Club. It is a full service sports bar that has every game on, awesome bacon bourbon wings and the pizza is very good. Believe it or not, I am being hired as a Substitute Teacher. Here in Beaufort County, sub positions are filled by an outside company. From what I hear few want to venture to Hilton head and fight that traffic. Since Stefani is at the middle school and Joan in high school, It would be perfect. It seems no one wants to commute to Hilton Head from off the island so I hope the pickings are good. Watch out kids!

As I side note I have met a very nice couple here. Mary Claire from Brooklyn and her husband Shuji, who is from Japan. They are staying at the Beach Club until April. Their permanent residence is in Vermont but are not Bernie fans. They had worked on Wall Street when I did and it is a breath of fresh air to be with people who have the same memories as me. Mary Claire gets my jokes and poor Shuji misses a lot due to my fast NY accent. I totally enjoy talking to Shuji about history, international relations and a host of other topics, I hope to spend more time with them,

I am going to close this out now and the next entry will be after I go into the classroom.