A review of the review, by a reviewer.

If you follow my blog, which to me, if you do, is amazing...but IF you do, then you know that one of my inspirations in life, at least from a literary standpoint if not a philosophical one, is Lee Rudnicki--whose great and long-standing blog has educated and entertained me for a VERY long time. Also, if you follow my blog, I mentioned that I actually had the chance to meet him last week after communicating with him directly and indirectly via the Internet and on a couple of conference calls. The classic case of "putting a face with the name" although we've both had our pics plastered around on the Internet (no gay porn jokes, Dumitru!!!). In any event...I offer this link HERE so that you may go read a review of the same LMS-LA event that I speak about. This is written by the guy, Lee, who basically started the whole thing. He has a readership of his blog of about 3 1/2 BILLION people, so, I'm feeling pretty good that he mentioned me not once, but twice...and it wasn't because I SUCKED EITHER!!! Thanks Lee!!

Currently southern California is at the threshold of a new dawn as we do our best to BURN DOWN OUR STATE. I just had a morning report from the state fire folks--the big fire out in Yucca Valley (which I thought was all dirt and rock--apparently they grow things there too!) is almost 40,000 acres and ZERO containment. That means that this fire is officially OUT OF CONTROL. We in the Fire Dept don't like those words OUT OF CONTROL much. Suffice it to say, even though I'm safe in Orange County, we all know how quickly life can go to hell in a handbasket when God decides to use our geography as a freakin' frying pan. It's HOT. And it's getting HOTTER this weekend. I can hardly wait.

Marching band season for me is in full swing--writing lots of drill...really pining inside for me to be able to get into the LAST FRONTIER I have in the pageantry arts, and that's to actually challenge myself to be able to be good enough to write for a Division I corps. That goal is so important to me that it's something I taste. I have feelers out there right now...but unless my name is Jamie Holly, apparently I won't be getting any Division II, III, or Division I jobs in the entire western United States. SHEEEEEEEEEESH! Oh well...such is drum corps.

Speaking of which...the folks in yellow and purple are doing a great job. Solid corps this year for So Cal Dream with much better programming and music and visual strength than ever before. And truly they could be so much greater if whatever PALL has fallen over folks in southern California that keeps them from seeing the fun and excitement of marching in a corps that's NOT going to suck every available minute out of their lives to participate in!!! I view senior corps as nothing different than being in a softball league, or a bowling league, or being a member of a book reading club or whatever. It's something to do as AN ADULT--and it has a LOT of benefits too! It's not that hard...and like I said before...14 million people between Santa Barbara and the Mexican border...and we can't get a full sized corps? Maybe that will change next year...

I'm out...and so should you...now get outta here!