HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHA! I can't stand trying to think of a title. I hate that. So, I'm just going to type and hopefully something will come to mind.
This past weekend after a week or two of starting to get my chops back, I played trombone three seperate times. On Friday night, I played a trombone solo I adapted from a Chip Davis/Mannheim Steamroller arrangement of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" for a church Christmas party. It went over VERY VERY well. I then met up with the Onyx Drum and Bugle Corps of Yorba Linda and hung with them for about 2 hours playing Christmas carols for the people walking around in the Eagle Hills development of Brea (side note--VERY VERY cool neighborhood of simply over the top Christmas decorations--you should go!). We were loud. Then, I went to a party over in Corona Hills in the ritzy richy rich area and played the same "Emmanuel" solo for a party...full of...MUSICIANS!!! Yeah...THAT was fun. I knew wasn't doing too hot when I heard half way through my solo a guy in the back do that kind of cough where it serves NO purpose other than to say, "OK--you've had your chance. Now sit down you amateur." Not my best performance in the world.
Can I tell you a little something? I CAN!?!?! Great.
I don't like Christmas very much.
GASP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?
Yeah, I don't. Wanna know why? Because I'm a very very very complicated man, that while I may be goofy and whimsical or whatever on the outside, I grit my teeth on the inside during this time of year. It has nothing to do with the SPIRITUAL elements of this season. It's just everything else. I would hope that I could get this figured out, but I can't. I was in a REAL REAL serious funk on Monday. I mean--that sort of funk I ain't felt in a long time. It's a combination of missing my mom, longing for my past, remembering those GREAT Christmas' I used to have...and wondering why everything NOWADAYS is so damn complicated. You worry about getting the right gifts, you worry about getting the gift in the first place, you worry about the nutcases that would STEAL your gifts as much as look at you, you worry about the traffic, you worry about making your way to parties, you worry about the decorations, about wrapping the gifts, about whether your own kids are getting the right message about Christmas in the first dang place but you're too wrapped up in your own stresses of work and whatever else to be able to think clearly...arrrrrrrgh. Sorry. I'm a little on RANT mode right now.
I guess I got out of my funk a little today because I, along with the secretary for the Command Center, went and picked up about 300 pounds of donated toys from the north and west OCFA stations to take them down to El Toro Marine Base for the Spark of Love Toy Drive. It was nice to see the generosity of people. If you saw me YESTERDAY however, I would have told you that Orange County is full of the biggest bunch of self-righteous and selfish inbred rat bastards--because Spark of Love was almost 200,000 TOYS SHORT OF THEIR GOAL to get toys out to the needy. 200K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Give me a FREAKIN' BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But apparently there was some "media blitz" put out, and the stations were all overwhelmed with stuff. So it felt good to do what LITTLE I could do to help. Nyleen called me and told me she was taking stuff that SHE had gone out and bought and was going to take it to the fire station for Brea Fire Dept who is also doing Spark of Love. Made me feel good. Or at least better.
I guess the bottom line is that I look around and see myself surrounded in Orange County by PLENTY. I mean...PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNTY. We are a VERY well-to-do society or culture or whatever you want to call it. But the price that's paid is that I find myself and my family getting "caught up" in the WRONG spirit of Christmas. And it's not so much that I want to sit with a Bible on my lap and read the Christmas story over and over--that's not what I'm saying. But on the other hand...
Can life just slow the hell down for a bit, please????
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr...
This has been a shitty day, and I apologize for the swear word there. But shitty is what it is and I would be dishonest to call it anything else. How was it in this state of shittiness? Let me count the ways...
--Got up this morning EXTRA early on a SATURDAY that I DIDN'T have any marching band stuff to do because my KIDS (love my kids, love my kids, love my kids--must keep loving my kids) are on a different biological clock than their big lug of a dad. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...up I was at 0715hrs today fixing oatmeal, getting on line and chatting with one of my best buds in the whole world (Hi Sheldon!!), and uhhhh...yeah...just kind of chilling. The Warden wakes up, waddles out to the kitchen, sort of grumpy, and takes over child care. I feel that having a Rockstar in the morning is a good way to keep from slipping into a coma, however, it also made me feel like I should repave the driveway, install a new engine in my car, write 108 different drill design ideas for the first 30 seconds of Capital Sound's show, and scratch incessantly at that itchy spot on the side of my left knee. I channeled that energy effectively and proceeded to do my annual post-marching band office cleaning so I can get set up for Drum Corps Hell. This story is WAY TOO FREAKING LONG TURNER!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry.
Must still be dealing with Rockstar poisoning. My day. That's right. Shitty.
Start cleaning office, than The Warden wants to go to our church so she could practice some Christmas dealybobs on the organ. Brought the kids as well, and let them ride bikes around the church parking lot. Begins to RAIN. A LOT!!! That wasn't fun. Get a phone call while my kids are dodging rain drops from a hereunto unidentified friend from another state that wanted to compare notes with me on a similar concern in the drum corps world (not Drum Corps World the news paper) and wanted to plan "some strategy" (which I cannot divulge at this time but the words "fraud", "killing the dreams of kids", and "deceit" were used in this phone call...A LOT...and I, with a nod towards my idol Lee Rudnicki, will CERTAINLY be turning the southern California drum corps scene on its ASS if what I think is happening IS happening...and I will HANDLE with great swiftness and prejudice...that's all for now on THAT). Drive The Warden to Kinko's for last minute copying. Drive around the unbelievably crowded parking lot looking for a spot to wait for her, only to find there WERE NONE, and those of us driving LOOKING for a spot were all (with the exception of me) crazed lunatics ready to kill for a spot. I picked The Warden up a little bit later, drove to the nearest El Pollo Loco because I had a freakin' JONES for a Chicken Verde Quesadilla--HOLY COW those are good--and drove home. I eat the food--actually had a nice lunch with the family around the table in our quaint little dining room. I become very tired...and decide to go to bed. Sleep like a man without sleep for weeks for 2 1/2 hours...God knows I needed it.
Nyleen's stomach, while I'm asleep, decides to make sure she pays dearly for the El Pollo Loco lunch and begins to cramp badly. Don't know what THAT was all about. But in between bouts of wanting to barf, she came up with the idea that we should go to the Mission Inn in Riverside and see all the pretty lights. Pretty lights? Mission Inn? How would you know about that? Ohhhhhhhhhhhh...I see. AOL told her it was one of the Top 10 places in America to see Christmas lights as they had over TWO MILLION strung up. TWO FREAKIN MILLION!?!?!?! Dang. THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT.
We go pick up sister in law who is recovering from a horrible traffic accident several weeks ago (constant back pain thing), and hit the 91. Allow me to rant for a second. It's freaking Saturday night. It's about 7pm. And the traffic is JUST horrid. It is TIME for something to be done about that freeway. It's just STUPID. Anyway...it's raining and I'm cramped up in the back of my Sequoia because I wanted my SIL to be in the front seat so she could be comfortable and Nyleen gets car sick if she's not in the front--so she drove.
I KNOW THE STORY IS TOO LONG BUT YOU WANTED TO READ THIS DAMN BLOG SO SIT DOWN AND KEEP READING!!!! THERE'S A POINT TO THIS!!!!
As I'm driving out...my boss calls. One of our veteran dispatchers was rushed to the hospital and she's NOT doing well. She's had some significant health issues these past couple of years, and I just fear she's not going to get too far now. I hope this isn't the case, and it was sad news to hear. We show up at Mission Inn, park, walk a freakin' block and half in the rain, walk around, notice about 40,000 of the 2 MILLION lights were actually on (lots of strands were out), and generally...just thought the whole trip sucked. Nyleen started crying because she was frustrated, Michael Ryan wanted to run into the street multiple times in what I can only assume was either misdirected 3 year old abilities to behave, or perhaps, he too was very frustrated and wanted to end his life by getting plowed over by a horse and carriage. Yes. I said horse and carriage. For 20 bucks...you could ride around in one. Uncovered. In the rain. Yeah....REAL fun.
Anyway...we get back ON THE ROAD, head back to the Orange Curtain, and we're hungry. Pull into the Don Jose's on Imperial Highway just off the 91 and get into our seats and order. All by about 8:15. Being 20+ year customers of Don Jose's, we are pretty used to getting our food, even on ULTRA busy nights, within about 10 minutes. IT'S MEXICAN FOOD FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!! 25 minutes later...and 7 buckets of chips later...still no food. I start getting irritated. I look around and see my waiter kabittzing with another table. I make mental note. Next time I see him come out, he goes to another table. Talks to them. Strike 2. Third time I see him, he's hold fried ice cream and a troupe of crooning Mexican waiters is following him to a table to sing whatever the hell they sing in Spanish for a birthday. Strike 3.
I go, quietly might I add, to the front desk, ask for the manager, who happened to be right behind me. Big oaf. Scared the crap out of me. Anyway, I said, "Look, I'm sorry to complain but I'm hungry enough to snap your head off and use your brain as an appetizer. I've been waiting for 30 minutes for our food. Isn't that just a tad long?"
The dude actually looked at me...I SWEAR THIS IS TRUE...looks at me right in the eye and says, "You the party of 20?" First...unless I was struck blind, there was no party of 20 anywhere in the restaurant. Second, where I was sitting, in the very back, was where a party of 20 would be. DEFINITELY no party of 20 back there. And thirdly...I don't care if I was a party of freakin 200, GET ME MY DAMNED FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh...for those that know me and can hear my voice, I VERY irritatedly answered him, "Noooooooooooooooooooo...I'm a party of five. This is outlandish." Now, why I chose the word outlandish I know not. I WAS hungry. Perhaps my speech center in my brain was not up to snuff. Not sure. OUTLANDISH. That's a pretty gay word. Wait. Not gay. More...European. No. More sort of uppity. AND I LIVE IN A MOBILE HOME FOR GOD'S SAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway...with 23.5 seconds of registering my complaint, magically, my food appeared. And no, I'm not too far off with those seconds. I saw the manager go in the kitchen, and next thing I know, not one but TWO waiters are running to my table with food trays with piping hot food.
Anyway...it was just a day of lots of other little things that would make this entry in the Observations of the H go on WAY too long.
Perhaps tomorrow will be better.
Oh...but no. I had to end the day on a downer note. Just before I started this entry, I found out Yamato is folding for the season. FOR GOD'S SAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!
--Got up this morning EXTRA early on a SATURDAY that I DIDN'T have any marching band stuff to do because my KIDS (love my kids, love my kids, love my kids--must keep loving my kids) are on a different biological clock than their big lug of a dad. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...up I was at 0715hrs today fixing oatmeal, getting on line and chatting with one of my best buds in the whole world (Hi Sheldon!!), and uhhhh...yeah...just kind of chilling. The Warden wakes up, waddles out to the kitchen, sort of grumpy, and takes over child care. I feel that having a Rockstar in the morning is a good way to keep from slipping into a coma, however, it also made me feel like I should repave the driveway, install a new engine in my car, write 108 different drill design ideas for the first 30 seconds of Capital Sound's show, and scratch incessantly at that itchy spot on the side of my left knee. I channeled that energy effectively and proceeded to do my annual post-marching band office cleaning so I can get set up for Drum Corps Hell. This story is WAY TOO FREAKING LONG TURNER!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry.
Must still be dealing with Rockstar poisoning. My day. That's right. Shitty.
Start cleaning office, than The Warden wants to go to our church so she could practice some Christmas dealybobs on the organ. Brought the kids as well, and let them ride bikes around the church parking lot. Begins to RAIN. A LOT!!! That wasn't fun. Get a phone call while my kids are dodging rain drops from a hereunto unidentified friend from another state that wanted to compare notes with me on a similar concern in the drum corps world (not Drum Corps World the news paper) and wanted to plan "some strategy" (which I cannot divulge at this time but the words "fraud", "killing the dreams of kids", and "deceit" were used in this phone call...A LOT...and I, with a nod towards my idol Lee Rudnicki, will CERTAINLY be turning the southern California drum corps scene on its ASS if what I think is happening IS happening...and I will HANDLE with great swiftness and prejudice...that's all for now on THAT). Drive The Warden to Kinko's for last minute copying. Drive around the unbelievably crowded parking lot looking for a spot to wait for her, only to find there WERE NONE, and those of us driving LOOKING for a spot were all (with the exception of me) crazed lunatics ready to kill for a spot. I picked The Warden up a little bit later, drove to the nearest El Pollo Loco because I had a freakin' JONES for a Chicken Verde Quesadilla--HOLY COW those are good--and drove home. I eat the food--actually had a nice lunch with the family around the table in our quaint little dining room. I become very tired...and decide to go to bed. Sleep like a man without sleep for weeks for 2 1/2 hours...God knows I needed it.
Nyleen's stomach, while I'm asleep, decides to make sure she pays dearly for the El Pollo Loco lunch and begins to cramp badly. Don't know what THAT was all about. But in between bouts of wanting to barf, she came up with the idea that we should go to the Mission Inn in Riverside and see all the pretty lights. Pretty lights? Mission Inn? How would you know about that? Ohhhhhhhhhhhh...I see. AOL told her it was one of the Top 10 places in America to see Christmas lights as they had over TWO MILLION strung up. TWO FREAKIN MILLION!?!?!?! Dang. THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT.
We go pick up sister in law who is recovering from a horrible traffic accident several weeks ago (constant back pain thing), and hit the 91. Allow me to rant for a second. It's freaking Saturday night. It's about 7pm. And the traffic is JUST horrid. It is TIME for something to be done about that freeway. It's just STUPID. Anyway...it's raining and I'm cramped up in the back of my Sequoia because I wanted my SIL to be in the front seat so she could be comfortable and Nyleen gets car sick if she's not in the front--so she drove.
I KNOW THE STORY IS TOO LONG BUT YOU WANTED TO READ THIS DAMN BLOG SO SIT DOWN AND KEEP READING!!!! THERE'S A POINT TO THIS!!!!
As I'm driving out...my boss calls. One of our veteran dispatchers was rushed to the hospital and she's NOT doing well. She's had some significant health issues these past couple of years, and I just fear she's not going to get too far now. I hope this isn't the case, and it was sad news to hear. We show up at Mission Inn, park, walk a freakin' block and half in the rain, walk around, notice about 40,000 of the 2 MILLION lights were actually on (lots of strands were out), and generally...just thought the whole trip sucked. Nyleen started crying because she was frustrated, Michael Ryan wanted to run into the street multiple times in what I can only assume was either misdirected 3 year old abilities to behave, or perhaps, he too was very frustrated and wanted to end his life by getting plowed over by a horse and carriage. Yes. I said horse and carriage. For 20 bucks...you could ride around in one. Uncovered. In the rain. Yeah....REAL fun.
Anyway...we get back ON THE ROAD, head back to the Orange Curtain, and we're hungry. Pull into the Don Jose's on Imperial Highway just off the 91 and get into our seats and order. All by about 8:15. Being 20+ year customers of Don Jose's, we are pretty used to getting our food, even on ULTRA busy nights, within about 10 minutes. IT'S MEXICAN FOOD FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!! 25 minutes later...and 7 buckets of chips later...still no food. I start getting irritated. I look around and see my waiter kabittzing with another table. I make mental note. Next time I see him come out, he goes to another table. Talks to them. Strike 2. Third time I see him, he's hold fried ice cream and a troupe of crooning Mexican waiters is following him to a table to sing whatever the hell they sing in Spanish for a birthday. Strike 3.
I go, quietly might I add, to the front desk, ask for the manager, who happened to be right behind me. Big oaf. Scared the crap out of me. Anyway, I said, "Look, I'm sorry to complain but I'm hungry enough to snap your head off and use your brain as an appetizer. I've been waiting for 30 minutes for our food. Isn't that just a tad long?"
The dude actually looked at me...I SWEAR THIS IS TRUE...looks at me right in the eye and says, "You the party of 20?" First...unless I was struck blind, there was no party of 20 anywhere in the restaurant. Second, where I was sitting, in the very back, was where a party of 20 would be. DEFINITELY no party of 20 back there. And thirdly...I don't care if I was a party of freakin 200, GET ME MY DAMNED FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh...for those that know me and can hear my voice, I VERY irritatedly answered him, "Noooooooooooooooooooo...I'm a party of five. This is outlandish." Now, why I chose the word outlandish I know not. I WAS hungry. Perhaps my speech center in my brain was not up to snuff. Not sure. OUTLANDISH. That's a pretty gay word. Wait. Not gay. More...European. No. More sort of uppity. AND I LIVE IN A MOBILE HOME FOR GOD'S SAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway...with 23.5 seconds of registering my complaint, magically, my food appeared. And no, I'm not too far off with those seconds. I saw the manager go in the kitchen, and next thing I know, not one but TWO waiters are running to my table with food trays with piping hot food.
Anyway...it was just a day of lots of other little things that would make this entry in the Observations of the H go on WAY too long.
Perhaps tomorrow will be better.
Oh...but no. I had to end the day on a downer note. Just before I started this entry, I found out Yamato is folding for the season. FOR GOD'S SAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, December 15, 2006
Milestones...
First time I ever marched a parade
Trombone player--7th grade, with the Boys' Club of Pasadena Marching Youth Band. Somewhere in Huntington Beach, some time in the summer, and the march...March Grandioso and Hey Look Me Over.
First time I was ever a drum major
I think it was the summer before my 9th grade year. For the same Boys' Club Band. Marched in the parade in "downtown" Mammoth Lake. Grand Marshall that year...Erin Moran. Figure it out...
First time I ever performed with the Pasadena High School Marching Band
Football game in 1980. Can't remember. Remember "sketchy" memories of setting up in old Lot 4 at Pasadena City College outside of the old Horrell Field and being nervous as hell because I was about to do what I spent 10 years earlier watching my big brother do. Pretty cool.
First field show I ever performed in with the Pasadena High School Marching Band
I think it was the West Covina Field Tournament but I can't be for sure. I DO remember that we performed there, the Savanna Field Tournament, the Westminster Field Tournament, and the Palmdale Field Show and Band Review. March--Eagle Squadron. I would like to now fully admit, 26 years later, that I never did fully memorize that HARD ASS MARCH. I apologize to Mr. Wickham. I might as freakin' well. Everyone ELSE is reading my stupid blog.
First time I ever almost beat the holy living crap out of a drum major for being an ASS at the West Arcadia Band Review (true story)
Current "courtesy" and tradition is when a drum major passes another drum major they salute each other. Sort of geeky, but sort of cool. Some weird ass military whatever. West Arcadia Band Review--1981, Pasadena High School's drum major (and BAD ASS) Kevin Ramsey was leading us south on Baldwin Ave. We had just gone through the SECOND area where we were supposed to play, called the Tournament of Roses viewing area. That's where TofR folks watch all the bands and take notes. WHATEVER. So we're heading south. I'm a trombone. Front rank. I believe I was right guide--maybe 2nd in. Can't remember. I played loud. What's more to remember? As we're going south, I see a drum major walking by himself northbound on my side of the street. Perhaps he lost his dog. Or his band. I have no clue. He stops--snaps a salute at my drum major. That would be the aforementioned bad ass Kevin Ramsey. Kevin didn't SEE the salute. Saluting drum major felt that was a slight. So he did what any good, decent, ethical drum major in full uniform representing his school would do...and I can see it as PLAIN AS DAY IN MY MIND--I was looking RIGHT at this joker...he flipped off my drum major.
Ohhhhhh...take note, this would be the Pomona HS drum major. I was incensed. He's lucky I didn't drop out of the block and knock him out right there. There was just something inside of me that snapped. I remember getting back to the bus, checking with my DM if he had seen the other DM salute him (He did not), and then, that little obsessive compulsive "I hold a grudge FAR too long" demon inside of me awakened. Either the Pomona HS drum major was going to die...or there would be a very unlucky cat in my neighborhood later that day.
Busses took us to Arcadia HS for food and to get ready for the awards. Out on the big lawn of Arcadia's music building, where little did I know several years later I would actually be an instructor and drill designer and be PART of Arcadia, many different bands sat around and ate their lunches and were relaxing. I was still in uniform, but we wore "togas" to protect our uniform so we could eat. I don't remember the specifics of what happened, but out of the blue, I saw the offending drum major. And in my 10th grade 15 yr old mind, I had a mission. I had to protect my drum major, I had to defend Pasadena High School, and I most CERTAINLY had to teach this guy a lesson that he should NEVER EVER EVER flip off another drum major. EVER.
I walked up to the guy, and told him who I was. I then explained to him that he was #*#&$, and a #()$)@)@$*, with a nice big helping of warning him that a sure and swift death would come upon him and his posterity were he to choose to be that rude again. Funny...his body language was such that he was broadcasting that A) he didn't believe me, B) he didn't want to listen to me and C) should I remain near him, he would in fact kill ME. So therefore, without a word, he turned his back on me. And started to walk away.
Perhaps I wasn't clear...so I tapped him on his shoulder and said I wasn't done. He sighed, you know, that big HEAVE of the shoulders, and turned around.
His attitude changed suddenly. For unbeknownst to him, and to myself, a large contingent of some of our, uhhhh, rougher and darker members of the PHS Band had seemingly come out of nowhere, and were standing behind me.
Message delivered.
First time I competed as a drum major
Tom Peacock competition, some time in March at Katella High School in 1982 at those "L" Pattern Competitions. My first judge ever--Brian Fox. Brian used to be drum major at Pasadena High School back in the 60's. Small world. Since I was totally self taught and didn't know my ass from a hole in the ground, after my "roll off" and 4 whistles, I stepped off, did a nice little flourish with my mace to get it around so I could start beating time, and then, promptly SPIT my whistle out. I still have the tape of Brian Fox laughing at me. Got 2nd place. Laugh at that.
First time I competed as a drum major in a band review
Fall of 1982, Pasadena High School in the Chino Band Review. Was a total and absolutely emotional sack of crap that day. But you wouldn't be able to tell it. I was cool, calm, ultra collected, and we were ready. Got the band lined up at the starting line, waited for my cue from the starting judge, did my roll off routine, did my 4 whistles, did NOT spit it out this time (LOL!), and started to "beat time". In drum major world, you're supposed to cue your salute routine so that when you snap your salute it happens 6 steps before the "salute line" and you hold it for 6 steps AFTER the salute line. I don't get it. But those are the rules. Remember I said you couldn't see I was a nervous mess before? Well you could on my salute routine. Oh, the routine was fine. I even did a "half moon" in the routine--difficult maneuver--and snapped my salute...and realized, I was saluting some other line that was about 40 feet away from the TRUE salute line. So my salute timing was like 29 steps and 6 steps after. Drum major judge said I was great--just learn the damn rules. Gee thanks.
More "firsts" to come...
Trombone player--7th grade, with the Boys' Club of Pasadena Marching Youth Band. Somewhere in Huntington Beach, some time in the summer, and the march...March Grandioso and Hey Look Me Over.
First time I was ever a drum major
I think it was the summer before my 9th grade year. For the same Boys' Club Band. Marched in the parade in "downtown" Mammoth Lake. Grand Marshall that year...Erin Moran. Figure it out...
First time I ever performed with the Pasadena High School Marching Band
Football game in 1980. Can't remember. Remember "sketchy" memories of setting up in old Lot 4 at Pasadena City College outside of the old Horrell Field and being nervous as hell because I was about to do what I spent 10 years earlier watching my big brother do. Pretty cool.
First field show I ever performed in with the Pasadena High School Marching Band
I think it was the West Covina Field Tournament but I can't be for sure. I DO remember that we performed there, the Savanna Field Tournament, the Westminster Field Tournament, and the Palmdale Field Show and Band Review. March--Eagle Squadron. I would like to now fully admit, 26 years later, that I never did fully memorize that HARD ASS MARCH. I apologize to Mr. Wickham. I might as freakin' well. Everyone ELSE is reading my stupid blog.
First time I ever almost beat the holy living crap out of a drum major for being an ASS at the West Arcadia Band Review (true story)
Current "courtesy" and tradition is when a drum major passes another drum major they salute each other. Sort of geeky, but sort of cool. Some weird ass military whatever. West Arcadia Band Review--1981, Pasadena High School's drum major (and BAD ASS) Kevin Ramsey was leading us south on Baldwin Ave. We had just gone through the SECOND area where we were supposed to play, called the Tournament of Roses viewing area. That's where TofR folks watch all the bands and take notes. WHATEVER. So we're heading south. I'm a trombone. Front rank. I believe I was right guide--maybe 2nd in. Can't remember. I played loud. What's more to remember? As we're going south, I see a drum major walking by himself northbound on my side of the street. Perhaps he lost his dog. Or his band. I have no clue. He stops--snaps a salute at my drum major. That would be the aforementioned bad ass Kevin Ramsey. Kevin didn't SEE the salute. Saluting drum major felt that was a slight. So he did what any good, decent, ethical drum major in full uniform representing his school would do...and I can see it as PLAIN AS DAY IN MY MIND--I was looking RIGHT at this joker...he flipped off my drum major.
Ohhhhhh...take note, this would be the Pomona HS drum major. I was incensed. He's lucky I didn't drop out of the block and knock him out right there. There was just something inside of me that snapped. I remember getting back to the bus, checking with my DM if he had seen the other DM salute him (He did not), and then, that little obsessive compulsive "I hold a grudge FAR too long" demon inside of me awakened. Either the Pomona HS drum major was going to die...or there would be a very unlucky cat in my neighborhood later that day.
Busses took us to Arcadia HS for food and to get ready for the awards. Out on the big lawn of Arcadia's music building, where little did I know several years later I would actually be an instructor and drill designer and be PART of Arcadia, many different bands sat around and ate their lunches and were relaxing. I was still in uniform, but we wore "togas" to protect our uniform so we could eat. I don't remember the specifics of what happened, but out of the blue, I saw the offending drum major. And in my 10th grade 15 yr old mind, I had a mission. I had to protect my drum major, I had to defend Pasadena High School, and I most CERTAINLY had to teach this guy a lesson that he should NEVER EVER EVER flip off another drum major. EVER.
I walked up to the guy, and told him who I was. I then explained to him that he was #*#&$, and a #()$)@)@$*, with a nice big helping of warning him that a sure and swift death would come upon him and his posterity were he to choose to be that rude again. Funny...his body language was such that he was broadcasting that A) he didn't believe me, B) he didn't want to listen to me and C) should I remain near him, he would in fact kill ME. So therefore, without a word, he turned his back on me. And started to walk away.
Perhaps I wasn't clear...so I tapped him on his shoulder and said I wasn't done. He sighed, you know, that big HEAVE of the shoulders, and turned around.
His attitude changed suddenly. For unbeknownst to him, and to myself, a large contingent of some of our, uhhhh, rougher and darker members of the PHS Band had seemingly come out of nowhere, and were standing behind me.
Message delivered.
First time I competed as a drum major
Tom Peacock competition, some time in March at Katella High School in 1982 at those "L" Pattern Competitions. My first judge ever--Brian Fox. Brian used to be drum major at Pasadena High School back in the 60's. Small world. Since I was totally self taught and didn't know my ass from a hole in the ground, after my "roll off" and 4 whistles, I stepped off, did a nice little flourish with my mace to get it around so I could start beating time, and then, promptly SPIT my whistle out. I still have the tape of Brian Fox laughing at me. Got 2nd place. Laugh at that.
First time I competed as a drum major in a band review
Fall of 1982, Pasadena High School in the Chino Band Review. Was a total and absolutely emotional sack of crap that day. But you wouldn't be able to tell it. I was cool, calm, ultra collected, and we were ready. Got the band lined up at the starting line, waited for my cue from the starting judge, did my roll off routine, did my 4 whistles, did NOT spit it out this time (LOL!), and started to "beat time". In drum major world, you're supposed to cue your salute routine so that when you snap your salute it happens 6 steps before the "salute line" and you hold it for 6 steps AFTER the salute line. I don't get it. But those are the rules. Remember I said you couldn't see I was a nervous mess before? Well you could on my salute routine. Oh, the routine was fine. I even did a "half moon" in the routine--difficult maneuver--and snapped my salute...and realized, I was saluting some other line that was about 40 feet away from the TRUE salute line. So my salute timing was like 29 steps and 6 steps after. Drum major judge said I was great--just learn the damn rules. Gee thanks.
More "firsts" to come...
Thursday, December 14, 2006
OK...allow me to geek out for a second.
First...I HAVE to get this off my chest. There's been a lot of press about Princess Diana and her tragic death and whether there was a conspiracy or the driver was drunk or the paparazzi killed her...whatever. My point is this. Is, or was, Diana not one of the most BEAUTIFUL women ever? I sure think so. Just wanted to tell you all. Thank you.
Second...today was the OCFA Holiday Luncheon. All of us at headquarters went over and congregated in this really big open area and had a turkey dinner. As I'm sitting there eating, the A/V guy for the fire department came up to me and says, "Dude, you wanna announce?" My ears perked up. Ohhhhh COME ON!!! ME?!?!?!? ANNOUNCE?!?!?!? :-))))) In any event, one of our big wigs was going to be the MC for the event, and they wanted someone to "announce" him on to stage. So I was "volunteered". LOL!! Oh, I forgot one thing. Said big wig was dressed up--like Borat. On the fly, I was able to announce him on to the stage. It was fun. However, what was even WEIRDER was sitting backstage and "Borat" had two "assistants" who were his "band". Well, ONE of these band members happened to be a former student of mine from my days WAY back in the 80's when I used to teach for the Arcadia HS Apache Marching Band (now California's largest marching band, thank you very much). SMALL WORLD. But it got smaller. Because as I joking around and waiting for my cue to do the announcing, said former student said, "Ohhhhh, and by the way, I read your blog." DOH!!!!!!!!!!!!! And then he said, "And you sure don't spend anytime talking about work!! You just talk about band and judging!" WOW!!! So...now I'm writing about work! YA HAPPY!!!!!???? :-) And how the heck did you know I had a freakin' BLOG!?!?!?!
Third...it tickles me to no end when I consider someone "FAMOUS" reads my blog. I have a vast amount of respect for this person and for HIS blog and for his unbelievable ability to do amazing things with the talents he's been blessed with. I know that sounds geeky, but this is a person who I've given great credit to for me starting my own blog, and I tend to idolize people that make impacts on my life. Not in a weird stalker sort of way. Not in a notebook full of his pictures sort of way. But in a totally HEALTHY manly sort of way!!! LOL!!! But seriously--this person made a goal a couple of years back to pack his bags and head to LA LA Land, and either fail miserably at what he was going to do, or be unbelievably successful. Apparently the LATTER occurred. Which is actually mind-blowing considering that he's breaking into--LITERALLY--the movie making business. And trust me, it's not that I would ever aspire to BE what he is doing (because I have the talent level of a piece of lint in comparison) however, it's HOW he sticks to his guns and makes life a freakin' adventure that just continually inspires me. He makes it seem like being SCARED of doing MORE than what you think you are capable is for PUSSES. And THAT my friends is partly why I wrote 11 shows this season, judged every weekend including NEBRASKA, why I'm sitting in my own office now at the Fire Department, and heading up a whole new "thing" AND organizing a Dispatcher Academy AND doing CQI for EMD's AND being a family man and raising two kids AND doing several music related projects for church. Yeah. I would probably be able to do all of this anyway, but I found a new inspiration this past year.
Soooooooooooooooo...with that--my hats off to Lee Rudnicki--and you can read about his exploits and to what I specifically refer to on HIS awesome blog at http://drumlaw80.blogspot.com/ . And thanks Lee for your example and humor--whacked as it may be.
Let's see...that's about it.
Second...today was the OCFA Holiday Luncheon. All of us at headquarters went over and congregated in this really big open area and had a turkey dinner. As I'm sitting there eating, the A/V guy for the fire department came up to me and says, "Dude, you wanna announce?" My ears perked up. Ohhhhh COME ON!!! ME?!?!?!? ANNOUNCE?!?!?!? :-))))) In any event, one of our big wigs was going to be the MC for the event, and they wanted someone to "announce" him on to stage. So I was "volunteered". LOL!! Oh, I forgot one thing. Said big wig was dressed up--like Borat. On the fly, I was able to announce him on to the stage. It was fun. However, what was even WEIRDER was sitting backstage and "Borat" had two "assistants" who were his "band". Well, ONE of these band members happened to be a former student of mine from my days WAY back in the 80's when I used to teach for the Arcadia HS Apache Marching Band (now California's largest marching band, thank you very much). SMALL WORLD. But it got smaller. Because as I joking around and waiting for my cue to do the announcing, said former student said, "Ohhhhh, and by the way, I read your blog." DOH!!!!!!!!!!!!! And then he said, "And you sure don't spend anytime talking about work!! You just talk about band and judging!" WOW!!! So...now I'm writing about work! YA HAPPY!!!!!???? :-) And how the heck did you know I had a freakin' BLOG!?!?!?!
Third...it tickles me to no end when I consider someone "FAMOUS" reads my blog. I have a vast amount of respect for this person and for HIS blog and for his unbelievable ability to do amazing things with the talents he's been blessed with. I know that sounds geeky, but this is a person who I've given great credit to for me starting my own blog, and I tend to idolize people that make impacts on my life. Not in a weird stalker sort of way. Not in a notebook full of his pictures sort of way. But in a totally HEALTHY manly sort of way!!! LOL!!! But seriously--this person made a goal a couple of years back to pack his bags and head to LA LA Land, and either fail miserably at what he was going to do, or be unbelievably successful. Apparently the LATTER occurred. Which is actually mind-blowing considering that he's breaking into--LITERALLY--the movie making business. And trust me, it's not that I would ever aspire to BE what he is doing (because I have the talent level of a piece of lint in comparison) however, it's HOW he sticks to his guns and makes life a freakin' adventure that just continually inspires me. He makes it seem like being SCARED of doing MORE than what you think you are capable is for PUSSES. And THAT my friends is partly why I wrote 11 shows this season, judged every weekend including NEBRASKA, why I'm sitting in my own office now at the Fire Department, and heading up a whole new "thing" AND organizing a Dispatcher Academy AND doing CQI for EMD's AND being a family man and raising two kids AND doing several music related projects for church. Yeah. I would probably be able to do all of this anyway, but I found a new inspiration this past year.
Soooooooooooooooo...with that--my hats off to Lee Rudnicki--and you can read about his exploits and to what I specifically refer to on HIS awesome blog at http://drumlaw80.blogspot.com/ . And thanks Lee for your example and humor--whacked as it may be.
Let's see...that's about it.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Marching Band is oooooooooooooooover...or IS IT?
Hi fans and friends and fellows...what is? What up? What it be like? Get down, get funky, now get back up...
Boy WHAT a season this has been in the world of marching band. I wrote 11 shows, all of which have indicated to me that apparently I will be returning in the fall (NOT holding my breath--I know the nature of the business MOST definitely). I thought--or I think--or whatever...that I had my MOST successful season in that I had a good time writing, I was pretty dang disciplined (thank you Project Manager part of me), and I just had some really great feedback from some directors. I REALLY do like writing drill--actually, I love it. And I hopefully was able to make it show this year.
But on TOP of the drill writing, I had what I think is a far more successful season judging for the SCSBOA (and that one trip to Nebraska--brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!). More than drill designing, I love judging. The SCSBOA is in some need of some SERIOUS "thinking" about their field show side of things. They have a very capable Vice President (and friend) who hopefully will continue being PROGRESSIVE when it comes to the field competition part of what we do in the music education business. But--I'm quickly turning this paragraph away from what I REALLY want to talk about...AND THAT'S ME!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!! (Those that know me--know I don't like to type ABOUT me--I just like to type about THINGS that I happen to be involved in!!! LOL!!). ANYWAYS--stay on target Turner--judging...yes, judging. As indicated earlier in my blogocrap, I have been a visual performance judge for this past season in SCSBOA. Judged EVERY single weekend plus 2 weeknight shows. Pretty busy. What made this season great for me was the feedback.
You know, it's one thing to have someone email you and say "Thanks for the great tape" or "Your comments were RIGHT on" (which I REALLY appreciated hearing), but it's WHOLE OTHER LEVEL to be on the phone for a substantial amount of time with not one, but TWO different VERY prominent DCI people talking about and in a way defending your judging ability. The two guys I spoke with this semester I respect a lot, and both were professional, friendly, and were able to help me see THEIR viewpoint without bashing me over the head. That was a very cool deal. I felt like the reason that all the trouble was being made by these two to talk to me was that because I MUST have been doing a somewhat decent job in the first place. I mean, I know if I was in their shoes (which I am technically when I put my designer/instructor hat on), I could give two poops about some visual judge's opinion if I felt it was someone not really doing their job well or not really respected in the first place. So...that was cool.
I also had the very unique experience of judging the LAUSD Championships this past weekend. Now, it's pretty well-known that, with very few notable exceptions, music, and more specifically, MARCHING music, is NOT supported in the LA school system. I think they are the 2nd largest school district in the country, but have a pretty horrible music system. Well, someone must have sent them a memo about that a few years back. Because LA has started to turn things around. Their marching band championships was always judged independently--and like I said before, with very few exceptions, there was very little in quality. About 3 or 4 years ago, LAUSD Championship folks contacted SCSBOA and asked for SCSBOA to handle judging of the event. It was the first attempt to bridge what had been described as a bit of a gulf between LAUSD and SCSBOA. To be on this panel was an eye-opener because there were still some bands out there that simply didn't have a clue. BUT, according to some colleagues, what I saw last Saturday was a HUGE improvement from 3 years ago.
SOOOOOOOOOOOO...that being said...CONGRATS TO LA. Some of your bands are WAY on top of it (Granada Hills, Garfield--BIG TIME, Van Nuys, Verdugo Hills, Los Angeles, San Fernando...and yes, EVEN LOCKE HS), others are on the right track. VERY encouraging. Good job LAUSD. And I have to give out a special recognition to someone who seemed to me to be the man in charge of the whole event, and that was a guy named Tony White. What a GREAT guy--and he talked to us judges before the event, and talked about a program called "Beyond The Bell". Some kind of funding or something so maybe music is going to get the lift it needs in LAUSD. Sure hope so. For all the good that I got of instrumental music in high school (especially in marching band), I can hardly believe that anyone would think it's NOT worthy to have for kids nowadays.
OK--well, that's the end of THIS blog. I have a new interface I have to get used to and figure out how to make my blog look better. I'm increasingly tickled by hearing from people that say "Hey man, I read your blog." That AMAZES me.
Boy WHAT a season this has been in the world of marching band. I wrote 11 shows, all of which have indicated to me that apparently I will be returning in the fall (NOT holding my breath--I know the nature of the business MOST definitely). I thought--or I think--or whatever...that I had my MOST successful season in that I had a good time writing, I was pretty dang disciplined (thank you Project Manager part of me), and I just had some really great feedback from some directors. I REALLY do like writing drill--actually, I love it. And I hopefully was able to make it show this year.
But on TOP of the drill writing, I had what I think is a far more successful season judging for the SCSBOA (and that one trip to Nebraska--brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!). More than drill designing, I love judging. The SCSBOA is in some need of some SERIOUS "thinking" about their field show side of things. They have a very capable Vice President (and friend) who hopefully will continue being PROGRESSIVE when it comes to the field competition part of what we do in the music education business. But--I'm quickly turning this paragraph away from what I REALLY want to talk about...AND THAT'S ME!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!! (Those that know me--know I don't like to type ABOUT me--I just like to type about THINGS that I happen to be involved in!!! LOL!!). ANYWAYS--stay on target Turner--judging...yes, judging. As indicated earlier in my blogocrap, I have been a visual performance judge for this past season in SCSBOA. Judged EVERY single weekend plus 2 weeknight shows. Pretty busy. What made this season great for me was the feedback.
You know, it's one thing to have someone email you and say "Thanks for the great tape" or "Your comments were RIGHT on" (which I REALLY appreciated hearing), but it's WHOLE OTHER LEVEL to be on the phone for a substantial amount of time with not one, but TWO different VERY prominent DCI people talking about and in a way defending your judging ability. The two guys I spoke with this semester I respect a lot, and both were professional, friendly, and were able to help me see THEIR viewpoint without bashing me over the head. That was a very cool deal. I felt like the reason that all the trouble was being made by these two to talk to me was that because I MUST have been doing a somewhat decent job in the first place. I mean, I know if I was in their shoes (which I am technically when I put my designer/instructor hat on), I could give two poops about some visual judge's opinion if I felt it was someone not really doing their job well or not really respected in the first place. So...that was cool.
I also had the very unique experience of judging the LAUSD Championships this past weekend. Now, it's pretty well-known that, with very few notable exceptions, music, and more specifically, MARCHING music, is NOT supported in the LA school system. I think they are the 2nd largest school district in the country, but have a pretty horrible music system. Well, someone must have sent them a memo about that a few years back. Because LA has started to turn things around. Their marching band championships was always judged independently--and like I said before, with very few exceptions, there was very little in quality. About 3 or 4 years ago, LAUSD Championship folks contacted SCSBOA and asked for SCSBOA to handle judging of the event. It was the first attempt to bridge what had been described as a bit of a gulf between LAUSD and SCSBOA. To be on this panel was an eye-opener because there were still some bands out there that simply didn't have a clue. BUT, according to some colleagues, what I saw last Saturday was a HUGE improvement from 3 years ago.
SOOOOOOOOOOOO...that being said...CONGRATS TO LA. Some of your bands are WAY on top of it (Granada Hills, Garfield--BIG TIME, Van Nuys, Verdugo Hills, Los Angeles, San Fernando...and yes, EVEN LOCKE HS), others are on the right track. VERY encouraging. Good job LAUSD. And I have to give out a special recognition to someone who seemed to me to be the man in charge of the whole event, and that was a guy named Tony White. What a GREAT guy--and he talked to us judges before the event, and talked about a program called "Beyond The Bell". Some kind of funding or something so maybe music is going to get the lift it needs in LAUSD. Sure hope so. For all the good that I got of instrumental music in high school (especially in marching band), I can hardly believe that anyone would think it's NOT worthy to have for kids nowadays.
OK--well, that's the end of THIS blog. I have a new interface I have to get used to and figure out how to make my blog look better. I'm increasingly tickled by hearing from people that say "Hey man, I read your blog." That AMAZES me.
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