The Observations of "The H": Hijinks and Tiddlywinks--WTF?!?!?!

Dudes and dudettes...welcome back to my blog, long forgotten but not totally dissed. I'm on a drug that I am convinced has caused me to regress to the days before I actually knew how to type. Yes...I do know how to type for I took a typing a class in 9th grade at the behest...request...the command of my dearly departed mother, who in her infinite wisdom back in 1980, was able to tell that the ways of the future would demand that I at least know how the hell to type. Little did she know (or did I know in my freshman wisdom) that one day in fact, typing would be CENTRAL to my life. So...thanks mom. And sorry about the drugs. Wait. I mean, sorry about my typing. Or lack thereof. I'm sick!!! That's the ticket!!! I'm sick. I got sick on Sunday morning, the morning of a large vegetation fire that roared through the eastern part of Anaslime Hills. I rolled out of bed and came into work on Monday, and actually went to the fire, only to suck in a bunch of smoke and crap which didn't help me much. Had a really bad cough, laryngitis...the typical. But I was REALLY run down. Then, when I thought I was getting better, I go to Pasadena for a training class, and could barely make it through the first day. Fever of 102, body feeling like it was hit by a truck...really bad shape. I decided to leave early and forego the certificate saying that I was smarter than when I went in...and here I am. I stole some Cipro antibiotics from my dear bride, and apparently it's working. Fever is gone, body aches are all but gone for the most part, but the cough is still there. Also had a very weird throat thing going on. It wasn't strep. I know strep. It was different. It would be like someone just out of the blue would grab my windpipe--and I'd all of a sudden have a need to cough or actually choke. VERY strange. I also had a "croup" cough on Tuesday morning....CROUP!! I'm freakin' 40 years old!!! But it was the same painful dry nasty cough I used to get when I was a little kid. I still remember those days. And this was the exact same thing. VERY STRANGE. But what's worse--I've been sick for a LONG TIME. When I get sick, usually 3 to 4 days and the worst is over. This has just been lingering. Probably the government spraying crap on us...or the aliens. Or both.

Anyway...word got to me that somehow this blog has been viewed by more members of the OC"EFFIN"A. Great. As if my reputation as a Monster-drinking, Rockstar-snorting, rebel rousing loud mouth at the OC"EFFIN"A isn't enough. Well--I would like to say hello to my fellow OC"EFFIN"A-ites that read this. And I would like impart...empart...import...give you some knowledge and a helpful hint. With all the warts and issues we may have to contend with during our day-to-day schlepping we go through here to get our job done, I DO have to say without a doubt that, warts and all, I still believe the OCFA is a great place to work. There are SO many ways that the OC"EFFIN"A can be better, but IN COMPARISON, we do many things right. And I'm no company man. I'd just as soon rail on what's wrong. But sometimes, getting out of my hole/cage and looking around a little at what else is out there, I have to be honest with myself and simply be grateful for what I DO have. That's not a license to settle for less. But it IS a license to not feel sorry for oneself. Does that make sense? In the dispatch world, I may not know everything there is to know, but I know enough. And I'm glad that I am where I am. Hopefully, no matter where YOU work in the OC"EFFIN"A you can feel the same way. Be grateful, strive to be the best, don't kill yourself if you're not, and don't settle for less from the powers that be.

OK...let me take my cheerleading skirt off here. Just a second.

OK...I'm back. Several topics to touch on....

Announcing for the WGASC every weekend. Been going well, except last weekend, when I could barely talk on the mic. Thank goodness for 200 watt amplifiers. The winter guard activity is VERY strong in southern California, and for those readers that think winter guard is something you buy for your car, go to www.wgasc.org and read up a little on what I refer to. If you're REALLY adventurous, go to www.wgi.org and you can see actually video clips of what it is that I announce for.
This probably isn't for public consumption yet, but I'm gonna go ahead and at least announce it PARTIALLY. It was just confirmed over the phone with the director that I am now officially on staff for this fall for a major marching band as the show designer. VERY cool. Just an off-chance that I asked about the position, and that opened a door I didn't realize even had a doorknob on it, if you get my drift. Apparently the door FLEW open and well...here I am. Official announcement coming soon just as soon as the dotted line is signed and I'm free to say who and where.
I'm confirmed now for 7 bands in the fall, and I'm good with that. I had 11 last season, and made the money I needed to get myself for the most part of debt. The CFO of the Turner Empire has now decreed that I no longer need to hustle for writing gigs, that we in fact can live off of less. Gee....thanks honey.
Openers have been written for So Cal Dream (www.socaldream.org) and Capital Sound (www.capitalsound.org) and response has been the most positive I've received for first drafts. Either means I'm getting better at this, or, people just don't want to argue with me anymore. It's cool to be writing for these groups, especially Cap Sound. First time to write for a corps out of state. I can only imagine doors opening because of this particular client.
Impulse (www.iyao.org) is up next. Music received and scores are ready--now have to meet with folks and get them a show written.
Heard a unverifiable yet VERY reliable "rumor" that things are a-changing in the SCSBOA for the field show side of things, and the "what" is interesting. I think SCSBOA is realizing to some extent that there has to be some more controls over the QUALITY of what they provide for their members. And if what I heard is true, they are addressing these issues. I'm not sure everyone will be rip-roaring for it, but hey, you have to keep in mind, molasses usually outpaces SCSBOA, so for changes to happen at all...I'm ALL for it. You see, I used to be very critical of SCSBOA. But they've done some things over the last several years that have been great, annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd, I've realized what SCSBOA IS. Plus I'm older. And wiser. And less prone to speak before I think.
Speaking of thinking before I speak, apparently I didn't when I responded on YOUTUBE to a stupid comment made by a person claiming to be a student of a band whose video was on the website. I called the "kid" an idiot for making that comment, and said I would have kicked his/her ass out of band so fast his/her head would spin. Apparently, someone thought shoving a bass drum mallet down my throat would be a way to solve me (big bad adult) saying something harsh to poor little student. Grrrrrrrrrrr...whatever.
I'm still sick. Just not AS sick. So shut it, Jon!
Speaking of Jon...http://jdaroundorange.blogspot.com/ He's one of my long-time friends and has a nice site. He's a dispatcher...and a politician of epic proportions. Today...city council. Tomorrow...state assembly. Soon after that...SENATOR?!?!?! Good GOD all Friday.