Vince Quatroche's Rubber Eden

A brief semi factual autobiography Dec 01, 2005

Vincent Quatroche was born on the eastern tip of the North Fork of Long Island in 1955 in the balcony of the old Prudential Theatre during a matinee of Mister Roberts" among Mr. Quatroche first memories are the smell of cigarette smoke, the coarseness of the lodge carpet on his bare ass, the yellow color of the popcorn, the taste of salt and an Usher who looked like Bobby Darin shinning a flash light in his eyes, telling him to "keep it down".

His mother baptized him on the spot with her Coca-Cola.

His first attempted escape from Long Island occurred in 1973. Less than twenty four hours after graduating from high stool (sic) he found himself sitting alone on the steps of a "Savings and Loan" three thousand miles away in San Diego. Welcome to "The Road." He immediately took off hitchhiking up the coast (like he had seen in the movies). Clueless and soon broke he returned home three weeks later to start squandering his youth in earnest.

This pattern would more or less persist for the next few years till finally he managed to go away one day somewhere and not return. An education of sorts both in the traditional and "school of hard knocks" was forged during Vince's twenties. Between tragic love affairs and binge drinking, in his spare time he worked an ending series of manual labor jobs that offered little future and less pay.

Odds were fairly good among even his closet friends that old "Vince buddy" was going down. But hard. And would just disappear into the barroom floor one day to permanently wait for the iceman to "cometh". But defying those "in the know" crawled up off the mat and finished a BA degree in English and a Masters of Education soon followed. The big right turn occurred around thirty with marriage and fatherhood. The teaching career began in earnest right around that time and new air of legitimacy seemed to swirl in the air.

Somewhat. It was always the same old story. The teaching gigs weren't good enough. He wasn't a "real" college professor. Why was he still living in his old college town, drinking at the same old corner dive his old friends had deserted some twenty years previously ? And probably the most offensive aspects of all this was, "Why was he ok with it ?")

His critics had a difficult time finding fault with either his marriage or his role as father, (they certainly weren't interested in his writing) that much they conceded seemed to suit him. But only because he was married to a saint.

The years that followed proved to be productive ones. A series of spoken word poetry projects were produced through the 80's and 90's and received some limited exposure

on public radio formats in the US and Canada. Quatroche acquired a rather minor league regional reputation as a semi-interesting side show act when he participated in public readings during that time period. Commercial success and wide spread exposure eluded him most of time during this period despite some tepid half ass attempts to aspire to this reality all he really managed to do was either puzzle, piss off or in general fail to penetrate any intended targets.

The poetry scene is a tough one to break into to begin with. Quatroche's major flaws were:

He couldn't/wouldn't rap. B. He was a white man. C. Strange and obscure to begin with, his stuff probably wasn't all that good anyway.

Still, the persistent bastard that he is has managed some small manner of a teaching career, personal and professional accomplishments and limited recognition by somebody, somewhere. A key decision regarding the publishing was to stop knocking on doors trying to get the work in print, but simply do it himself. See it exist in reality and be satisfied with at least that much for the time being. Of course the more critical appraisal wants to dismiss this entire process/effort, writing it off as simply another vanity press exercise in self-premonition rather than talent. Perhaps but the alternative of having hundreds of little brown notebooks collecting mildew in a basement somewhere was at least one fate escaped. If you are truly interested in a listing creative efforts/events of the last ten years they are included below in chronological order, along with a couple of straight, standard bio blurbs.

Nervous in Suburbia

(Author addendum)

Quite honestly I getting a little tired of thinking up "witty crap" to invent myself as someone important, interesting and just another "neglected genius" the world forgot only to discover long after his death.

I'm not. They didn't. And don't make me laugh. On second thought, give it a try, tell me a joke (as an old friend used to say) I can dance to.

Vincent Quatroche

Fall 2005

67
persons take note.
Nurses look amazed. They pale.
The patient is brought back to life, or so.
The reason I don't do this more (I quote)
is: I have a living to fail-
because of my wife & son (and daughter)- to keep from earning.
-Mr. Bone, I sees that.
They for these operations thanks you, what ?
not pays you. Right.
You have seldom been so understanding.
Now there is further difficulty with the light:
I am obliged to perform in complete darkness
operations of great delicacy
on my self,
-Mr Bones, you terrifies me.
No wonder they don't pay you. Will you die ?
-My friend, I succeeded. later.
The Dream Songs
John Berryman

Vincent Quatroche has been a member of the Communication and English
Department @ Jamestown Community College since 1997. He has BA in English and Master of Science in
Education from SUNY @ Fredonia. In addition to his adjunct position with JCC,
Vincent has been a member of the faculty in the Communication Department
@ Fredonia State College since the late 80s. Mr. Quatroche is also an Instructor in
Adult Education for Erie-2 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES @ the Chautauqua
County Jail in Mayville NY since 1996. He is a published author of numerous creative
projects, including audio recordings and books. His poetry has been
disturbed widely throughout the United States and abroad.

A profile of his work appeared on PBS in 1998. Mr. Quatroche's professional credentials and
accomplishments are recognized and included in the 25th edition of the
International Biographic Center's Dictionary of Who's Who in the Field of
Education, Cambridge CB2 #QP United Kingdom, England.





		A brief semi factual autobiography Dec 01, 2005 Vincent Quatroche was born on the eastern tip of the North Fork of Long Island in 1955 in the balcony of the old Prudential Theatre during a matinee of Mister Roberts" among Mr. Quatroche first memories are the smell of cigarette smoke, the coarseness of the lodge carpet on his bare ass, the yellow color of the popcorn, the taste of salt and an Usher who looked like Bobby Darin shinning a flash light in his eyes, telling him to "keep it down". His mother baptized him on the spot with her Coca-Cola. His first attempted escape from Long Island occurred in 1973. Less than twenty four hours after graduating from high stool (sic) he found himself sitting alone on the steps of a "Savings and Loan" three thousand miles away in San Diego. Welcome to "The Road." He immediately took off hitchhiking up the coast (like he had seen in the movies). Clueless and soon broke he returned home three weeks later to start squandering his youth in earnest. This pattern would more or less persist for the next few years till finally he managed to go away one day somewhere and not return. An education of sorts both in the traditional and "school of hard knocks" was forged during Vince's twenties. Between tragic love affairs and binge drinking, in his spare time he worked an ending series of manual labor jobs that offered little future and less pay. Odds were fairly good among even his closet friends that old "Vince buddy" was going down. But hard. And would just disappear into the barroom floor one day to permanently wait for the iceman to "cometh". But defying those "in the know" crawled up off the mat and finished a BA degree in English and a Masters of Education soon followed. The big right turn occurred around thirty with marriage and fatherhood. The teaching career began in earnest right around that time and new air of legitimacy seemed to swirl in the air. Somewhat. It was always the same old story. The teaching gigs weren't good enough. He wasn't a "real" college professor. Why was he still living in his old college town, drinking at the same old corner dive his old friends had deserted some twenty years previously ? And probably the most offensive aspects of all this was, "Why was he ok with it ?") His critics had a difficult time finding fault with either his marriage or his role as father, (they certainly weren't interested in his writing) that much they conceded seemed to suit him. But only because he was married to a saint. The years that followed proved to be productive ones. A series of spoken word poetry projects were produced through the 80's and 90's and received some limited exposure on public radio formats in the US and Canada. Quatroche acquired a rather minor league regional reputation as a semi-interesting side show act when he participated in public readings during that time period. Commercial success and wide spread exposure eluded him most of time during this period despite some tepid half ass attempts to aspire to this reality all he really managed to do was either puzzle, piss off or in general fail to penetrate any intended targets. The poetry scene is a tough one to break into to begin with. Quatroche's major flaws were: He couldn't/wouldn't rap. B. He was a white man. C. Strange and obscure to begin with, his stuff probably wasn't all that good anyway. Still, the persistent bastard that he is has managed some small manner of a teaching career, personal and professional accomplishments and limited recognition by somebody, somewhere. A key decision regarding the publishing was to stop knocking on doors trying to get the work in print, but simply do it himself. See it exist in reality and be satisfied with at least that much for the time being. Of course the more critical appraisal wants to dismiss this entire process/effort, writing it off as simply another vanity press exercise in self-premonition rather than talent. Perhaps but the alternative of having hundreds of little brown notebooks collecting mildew in a basement somewhere was at least one fate escaped. If you are truly interested in a listing creative efforts/events of the last ten years they are included below in chronological order, along with a couple of straight, standard bio blurbs. Nervous in Suburbia (Author addendum) Quite honestly I getting a little tired of thinking up "witty crap" to invent myself as someone important, interesting and just another "neglected genius" the world forgot only to discover long after his death. I'm not. They didn't. And don't make me laugh. On second thought, give it a try, tell me a joke (as an old friend used to say) I can dance to. Vincent Quatroche Fall 2005 67 persons take note. Nurses look amazed. They pale. The patient is brought back to life, or so. The reason I don't do this more (I quote) is: I have a living to fail- because of my wife & son (and daughter)- to keep from earning. -Mr. Bone, I sees that. They for these operations thanks you, what ? not pays you. Right. You have seldom been so understanding. Now there is further difficulty with the light: I am obliged to perform in complete darkness operations of great delicacy on my self, -Mr Bones, you terrifies me. No wonder they don't pay you. Will you die ? -My friend, I succeeded. later. *The Dream Songs* *John Berryman* Vincent Quatroche has been a member of the Communication and English Department @ Jamestown Community College since 1997. He has BA in English and Master of Science in Education from SUNY @ Fredonia. In addition to his adjunct position with JCC, Vincent has been a member of the faculty in the Communication Department @ Fredonia State College since the late 80s. Mr. Quatroche is also an Instructor in Adult Education for Erie-2 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES @ the Chautauqua County Jail in Mayville NY since 1996. He is a published author of numerous creative projects, including audio recordings and books. His poetry has been disturbed widely throughout the United States and abroad. A profile of his work appeared on PBS in 1998. Mr. Quatroche's professional credentials and accomplishments are recognized and included in the 25th edition of the International Biographic Center's Dictionary of Who's Who in the Field of Education, Cambridge CB2 #QP United Kingdom, England.













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