DAN TESSITORE

Hi Dan, I prefer the four-syllable version: Tess-...

2010-07-09T04:27:24.742-05:00

Hi Dan,

I prefer the four-syllable version:
Tess-I-To-Re.
And indeed, most people can't pronounce it in the right way.

Greats,

Kristof Tessitore
k_tessitore@hotmail.com

For some reason, Jay crossed my mind tonight and I...

2010-07-01T00:18:45.509-05:00

For some reason, Jay crossed my mind tonight and I'm sorry to hear that he has passed away. Thanks to Jay, I accomplished what I never thought possible. I took a technical writing class from him at Red Rocks College in Colorado. When I walked into the class, I was playing with the idea of being a technical writer. By the end of that class, I was well on my way to a 15 year stint in technical writing. Of all my years of college - and I ended up with more than one degree - even almost got a damn Ph.D at one point (went ABD). It was Jay though that got through to me and left an imprint on me. I remember when he first got to Chicago after leaving Colorado, I actually got a phone call from him - I can't even remember what we spoke of, but it was Jay, and I remember it left me smiling!.

Rest in Peace Jay - the world lost one of the good guys...

- Colorado

I know I'm a little late to write on this subect, ...

2010-05-13T21:59:21.270-05:00

I know I'm a little late to write on this subect, but I just found out about this tragic event. Gilligan (Jay) touched my life in a way that no one will ever be able to take away from me. He drilled those darn grammar principles into our brains all semester, and for that I thank him. He made a classroom of strangers into a family, and he actually made english fun. When I heard about this loss, it took my breath away. Gilligan was invincible; he was the strongest person I've ever known. He was always there when you needed to talk to someone, and he will always be in my thoughts. I miss you Jay, and I'll never forget the semester of English 101 I had at EIU. Thanks for the memories.
~Charleston

Jay's brother Steve is married to my sister. I th...

2010-05-13T12:41:33.187-05:00

Jay's brother Steve is married to my sister. I thought Jay was a lover not a fighter. It kinda makes him a little more sexy! I bet he's rocking it on the other side.

On first glance I could not. But I'll give it anot...

2010-04-28T22:05:48.801-05:00

On first glance I could not. But I'll give it another whirl when I dig it out of the box this weekend.

See can you decipher Skip's inscription to Jay in ...

2010-04-28T22:03:24.281-05:00

See can you decipher Skip's inscription to Jay in the story collection.

I was in Steve Yates' passenger seat in the car ah...

2010-04-17T02:06:44.662-05:00

I was in Steve Yates' passenger seat in the car ahead of David's as we wound our way to Tulsa. If Steve hadn't checked his rear-view at the right moment and seen the car flip, we might never have turned around.

Eudora Welty gave a great performance, by the way.

I think this might be '94, since I recall leaving ...

2010-04-16T07:36:38.576-05:00

I think this might be '94, since I recall leaving JR's and seeing a mass of frats in the street afterward-- it could have been another fight. I recall thinking, what am I getting into, as I had just arrived at the writing program. Great story, Big T.

Michael Catherwood

Great story! Reminds me of a few of mine I need to...

2010-04-15T23:21:54.322-05:00

Great story! Reminds me of a few of mine I need to share. Frat guys are cool - huh?

Jay a.k.a. Gilligan/Norm was the best teacher I've...

2010-04-12T22:30:27.741-05:00

Jay a.k.a. Gilligan/Norm was the best teacher I've ever had. One of the best memories I have was when he would call his mom and brother on speaker phone during class and have them tell us stories about Jay when he was little. They would tell us stories that would relate to the topic we were writing a paper on - we all got a kick out of it. I love the fact he would call his students by nicknames. It brought a class full of strangers into a family. The first day of class last year, before we left the room he made us all tell an embarassing story abut ourselves that noone else knew. It was from that moment on I knew he was something special. He is the reason I enjoy English so much and I will deeply miss him, as will the rest of his students. We love you Jay!

-“Simba”

Jay a.k.a. Gilligan/Norm was the best teacher I've...

2010-04-12T22:03:16.295-05:00

Jay a.k.a. Gilligan/Norm was the best teacher I've ever had. One of the best memories I have was when he would call his mom and brother on speaker phone during class and have them tell us stories about Jay when he was little. They would tell us stories that would relate to the topic we were writing a paper on - we all got a kick out of it. I love the fact he would call his students by nicknames. It brought a class full of strangers into a family. The first day of class last year, before we left the room he made us all tell an embarrassing story abut ourselves that no one else knew. It was from that moment on I knew he was something special. He is the reason I enjoy English so much and I will deeply miss him, as will the rest of his students. We love you Jay!

-"Simba"

In the short time I lived in Fayetteville, I didn'...

2010-04-12T14:54:25.796-05:00

In the short time I lived in Fayetteville, I didn't get to know Jay very well at all, but I have one fond memory of him that never leaves me.

One night, several of us caught Mudhoney at some little joint in town. Jay came dressed in something like a pink Izod shirt with alligator emblem, what looked an awful lot like acid wash jeans, and docksider shoes. I couldn't help but ask him whether or not he had intentionally dressed as a mosh pit target. "Not worried about it" was his sparse response. And that was the night I learned about Jay's connection to hockey. I watched as the most aggressive, Mohawk-towered, stud wrist-banded punk thugs hit the floor like sandbags as Jay delivered brutal shoulder checks. One especially stunning blow was offered to some asshole who felt he could throw his elbow into the temple of a young girl clearly new to the dangerously swarming pit.

Knock the fuckers on their asses in the next world, Jay!

(I can't remember for sure if Jay went to Boston College, but it's fitting that his home team won it all this year in the Frozen Four).

Thanks for that Dan. It made me smile and laugh o...

2010-04-12T13:28:55.340-05:00

Thanks for that Dan. It made me smile and laugh out loud. You're correct, he would not want a cliche ridden story about him. However, he was indeed the best brother any man could ask for.

I think this is a great story. It made me smile wh...

2010-04-12T10:58:48.689-05:00

I think this is a great story.
It made me smile when I read it.
He was indeed, a great guy, as are you Mr.Tessitore.

Saw Jawbox once. I know nothing about the other tw...

2010-03-31T07:47:10.004-05:00

Saw Jawbox once. I know nothing about the other two.

Have you heard any of J. Robbins' subsequent bands...

2010-03-31T04:31:39.159-05:00

Have you heard any of J. Robbins' subsequent bands?

-- Jawbox
-- Burning Airlines
-- Channels

Dan, Thanks for posting the "Bill Hicks Principles...

2010-03-01T08:21:55.534-06:00

Dan, Thanks for posting the "Bill Hicks Principles of Comedy". Though not every point fits every comedian ...it's definately a great resource. It's nice to see a comedian who's willing to share their wealth of experience.

Rick O

That was certainly a treat, and while I do remembe...

2010-02-24T00:04:12.852-06:00

That was certainly a treat, and while I do remember the athletic glasses and green stretchy gym shorts, that was just seconds before I caught a boot in the side of my neck, so the rest is kind of fuzzy.

Where the hell is the commentary about how we got ...

2010-02-23T21:09:03.657-06:00

Where the hell is the commentary about how we got to see up front and personal one of my greatest heros: Milo Aukerman (post: college - pre: med school). Probably the most cerebral punk who could sing "I queef, Enjoy. Smell my feces enjoy."

Both funny and sad. Funny that you got knocked the...

2010-02-23T21:00:53.041-06:00

Both funny and sad. Funny that you got knocked the fuck out and sad that I spilled half a Schaefer on the bathroom floor. Respect the band: True Sounds of Liberty

Nice post, Dan. Give me an aging, pot-belly-lad...

2010-02-08T12:29:40.012-06:00

Nice post, Dan.

Give me an aging, pot-belly-laden Who performance ANY DAY over an "in-her-prime" (ahem) performance by Grammy darling (and presumably "relevant") Taylor Swift.

Relevance? It's a moot point when one's discussing the Super Bowl halftime show, as you mentioned. What's sad is how totally irrelevant the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences has become.

Letterman is fine; he never was the “Family Values...

2009-10-06T18:53:11.586-05:00

Letterman is fine; he never was the “Family Values” type. Yes, he probably cheated on his girlfriend now wife. But at least he does go around claiming he is Mr. “Family Values” like some of our politicians (can you just see the grin on all “Fake News” reporters/ commentators and the Palin’s fringe). This has been a tough summer, for Dave, for our economy but at least he did not end up on the “Republican 2009 Summer of Love” list: Assemblyman, Michael D. Duvall (CA), Senator John Ensign (NV), Senator Paul Stanley (TN), Governor Mark Sanford (SC), Board of Ed Chair, and Kristin Maguire AKA Bridget Keeney (SC).

It's an outrage that extended sizes cost 2$ more. ...

2009-09-29T14:56:34.943-05:00

It's an outrage that extended sizes cost 2$ more. That's what's wrong with this country.

Kevin

Joanie was disappointed to learn that there was no...

2009-09-28T17:16:02.580-05:00

Joanie was disappointed to learn that there was no "white sale" at her local Wal-Mart

Haha Im glad somebody said it, very well said at t...

2009-07-08T10:50:02.529-05:00

Haha Im glad somebody said it,
very well said at that ^.^