For the LOVE OF GOD!!!!

Ok...I'm being schooled by a co-worker friend of mine (we go WAYYYYYYYY back) that I should post more often entries into my blog. "How else are you going to build a readership!?" he scoffs. Well, WTF??? I'm busy. GEEEEEEEEEZO PETE!!! Annnnnnnnnnnnnd I'm sort of new to this concept of BLOGGING and sharing my thoughts with a "readership". Whatever. No one likes me, so why the heck would anyone want to read what I think??

Well...fine. Here I am. See?? Aren't I cool? I'm posting now. Heeeeehannnh ha. Now what?

Ok...so, let's give you a quick run down of what's going on in my life...

• Massive amount of things coming to a head at the old OCFA as we get nearer to the launch date of this new TEMD program that I'm the supervisor of. Yeah...sure...I'LL TAKE THE JOB!!!! NO PROBLEM!!! Not. But anyway, I asked for it, now there's no whining allowed. Many things have to be completed, and my list, once long, is only sort of long.
• Marching band season is REALLY heating up, and I'm looking at being EXTREMELY disciplined this season and writing carefully and religiously on a work schedule that makes sense, and gets things done. If I don't stick to it, I WILL FAIL. And I hate doing THAT.
• Drum corps season has officially begun, and I'm MC'ing two major events. One is the "Corps at the Crest" at Mt. Sac on Saturday--THIS SATURDAY! And then I'm MC'ing the world famous Loud Music Symposium for the first time. This will be a slightly different manner of "announcing" for me (one of my few talents), as I'll be on a stage instead of hidden away in a pressbox at a football field. So...not sure what the genius minds behind LMS want me to do exactly, but as of late, I'm deciding to NOT FREAKING BE NERVOUS ABOUT IT LIKE I USUALLY GET ABOUT NEW THINGS and just go the hell out and tear it up.
• Speaking of tearing it up...there's a new drum and bugle corps in town, and they are about ready to DEMOLISH Mt. Sac. I speak of course of the immortal Kingsmen Alumni Corps that UNBELIEVABLY hyping right now. And they have good reason to. What started as a dream has over the last year turned into a VERY real "reality", and ex-members and "special guests" (members of other corps wanting to experience the Kingsmen mystique) are literally dropping what they are doing in their lives and committing to making this group happen. AND BOY IS IT HAPPENING. I have been invited by the executive folks that are running this project to come out to their camp at beautiful California Baptist University in Riverside on Friday night to "meet the corps" and practice a special script with them for their performance on Saturday night at the show at Mt. Sac. I cannot begin to fathom the emotions of these guys--some pushing into their late 50's and who haven't played since the 70's--as they relive an incredible journey they had in their youth. I'm jealous as heck--but I'm happier and supportive of this group. And just like these guys, even though I'm not performing, I CANNOT WAIT to see them perform on Saturday night.
• Father's Day was great for me, but also tough. I called my dad in Pasadena, and we had a great talk for about a half hour. I made sure he knew how much I loved him, how much of an inspiration he's been to me as well as so many other people (referring specifically to his picking up the tuba back in 1987 to give him something to do after retiring...and hasn't stopped since until just a couple of months ago, taking a self-imposed break from playing and performing so much). I've had a pretty good relationship with my dad over the years...but I just think he doesn't realize that despite his imperfections, he did as good a job being a dad as he think he knew how, and I just want him to not leave this earth without me telling him that. One of my best friends, Ron Zeilinger, recently lost his dad, and I marveled at his committment to his dad in the last days, and how he was able to get close to him and talk to him and let him know he cared and loved him. JEEEEEZ...what am I doing???? This is going to turn into a freakin' blubber fest. Well--I love my dad, and he's been on my mind A LOT lately.

That's about it...I need to go to bed now. Thanks to my good friend Jon Dumitru for "inspiring" me to not give up on the blog and to keep on typing. Damn you!! :-) And before I end this tirade....two questions.

WHO THE HELL IS LAGUNA CRUISER!? I feel sorry for you based on your comment if you think I or my two schmuck friends are "sexy". PLEASE...you must have better taste than that kind sir.

And second...WHO THE HELL IS FRANK JOHNSON? Didn't realize I had to go to Steve Ambriz's vigil for me to be able to honor him in my small way. As far as I could tell, I CLEARLY stated that I had JUST MET HIM!! Sooooooooooooooooo....THIS is what blogging is about!!! RAD!!! Well, "Frank", thanks for starting hostile and turning nice. Link me up--and I'll return the favor. But stick a sock in the hostility and learn to read. The only bandwagon I jumped on was back in 6th grade when I started playing trombone.