Has the dust settled???

Welcome back Turner....what are ya??

BUSY!?!?!?!?

Busy to say the least. Frustrated. Happy. Sad. Elated. Concerned. Anxious. Nervous to the point of stomach issues. Oh man....where do I start?

Two of the most important things right now that are over and done with that I was able to proudly say to myself "GOOD JOB!!!" if no one else would be able to: The announcing gig at the Rose Bowl, and my promotional interview and presentation at the Fire Department. I will expand further on both at a later time, but suffice it to say, those were two of the most challenging things on my mind these past several weeks. Both were opportunities that would/will open doors (OR CLOSE THEM) to the future, and I don't think I've ever been as "wound up" about this stuff before in my life...except back to the time I was getting ready to audition for drum major for my high school band in 1982 and had anxiety related diarrhea for 2 weeks PRIOR. Yeah. THAT was fun. Anyway...there's a lot of emotional and strange "baggage" involved with the Rose Bowl gig that I'll expand upon later.

The other biggee--the promotional--well, it's been on my mind obviously. Outside of the weighing in my mind if I wanted to actually follow through with the interview, I was going up against some heavy competition. There were going to be 7 of us, all of my competitors bringing something to the table. Then, strangely, not without at least some lovely DRAMA, 4 of the competitors pulled out, citing various reasons. I was pretty disappointed with one of the people that pulled out as I could have definitely worked for that person had that person beat me. And that person probably WOULD have. Because that person is very talented and needs a swift kick in the ass to remind THIS PERSON. Suffice it to say, that left the field to just three. Me, my comrade in arms and fellow blogging giant Jon Dumitru, and someone that was hired the same time I was back in 1994 Jenny Cradle. I couldn't afford to worry about those two leading into the interview and presentation, it was only AFTERWARDS that my self-esteem plummetted. LOL!!! I think all three of us uniquely qualify for the office. We all have strengths that could be utilized nicely. Our weaknesses are nothing out of the ordinary, certainly nothing worse than some of the qualities of people that hold FAR loftier positions than what I'm striving for. So...what this is going to come down to is not how many years we've been here, or how quickly I can pull a technical tidbit of knowledge out of my butt, or how I well I'll be able to supervise a whole CENTER full of people versus just a shift....rather, it will come down, inevitably, to the person that is going to fit the position the best. The person that will be able to learn, be taught, be able to use what is taught in some meaningful way, who believes in the organization, and will be able to motivate others. Am I the best for the job? I am one of the best, that's for sure. But I certainly don't DESERVE it. I have to EARN it. And if I DON'T earn it, than it's worth...

NOTHING.

That's my update--when I get a chance, I'll get back here and rap with you all abouts some cool experiences over the last few weeks.

HERE'S THE ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

A little later than I intended--but here it is nonetheless.

Yesterday, while I was at Pasadena City College announcing the Division II/III World Championship Prelims, I received official word that Drum Corps International gave the nod of approval for me to announce on Friday night at the Rose Bowl for the Kingsmen Alumni Corps!! I was ESTATIC when I got that phone call. I CAN'T WAIT. There's a bunch of campy sappy emotional stuff tied up with this that I won't waste you're valuable reading time on--but suffice it to say, 20 years after aging out performing my last drum corps show at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin in 1987, here I am announcing for DCI, AND I get to go to the "Big Show" and announce for a historic event. There's a bunch of FULL CIRCLE weirdness that surrounds this as well--again, I won't waste your time now with it. But maybe I'll explain it later.

Bottom line--I had a goal, and I made it. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Now...about yesterday...I announced at PCC and had a great time. Lots of fun! I think that it was one of my best times ever announcing. I was pretty nervous as I felt in some ways that my job I did yesterday was all about "first impressions" with a bunch of people from all over the country that have no clue who I am. So, I wanted to make sure they knew their announcer was at the very least COMPETENT (side note: I've heard some HORROR stories over the years of drum corps show announcers across the country doing absolutely HORRIBLE things...so horrible in fact that I'm surprised that DCI doesn't hire a "staff announcer" to tour all summer...but that's another story). Needless to say, I had a great time yesterday. Lots of fun.

Strange event of the day--and it's about this stupid blog. HOW MANY PEOPLE READ THIS!?!?! I actually wish I knew. I wonder if there is a way to get a counter or something to tell me how many people read this. In any case, I'm standing there, minding my own business on the track, waiting I believe for the final 6 corps chunk to get started. And a very nice man in the audience says to me, "So...what's your big announcement?" Unfortunately, I had no idea who this man was, but I knew exactly what he was talking about. Here's someone at a corps show at PCC asking ME about my FREAKIN' BLOG!?!?! LOL!!!!! I sort of stammered for a second, thinking to myself, "Uhhhhh...jeez...whoisthiswhoisthiswhoisthiswhoisthis..." but I very politely talked to him for a few minutes. Apparently this guy is going to the Kingsmen Exhibition tonight at Veteran's stadium--so maybe he'll come up to me and say "Read your big announcement!" LOL!!! And this time I'll say "And you are???" LOL!!!

Anyway...on to writing drill and getting some stuff handled today. Thanks for reading this blog. I don't know WHAT drives some of you to read this blog...but so be it.

NOW GET OUTTA HERE!!! (...and have a nice day...)

Off I go...into the wild blue yonder...

'Tis the final week of drum and bugle corps MAYHEM this summer, at least for me. Actually, that's not ENTIRELY true. I did write the drill for So Cal Dream All-Age Drum and Bugle Corps out of Torrance, California, and their championships aren't until the Saturday before Labor Day. But the JUNIOR corps season is on its last week. I'm tempted to type LAST LEGS. But...there's a reason I won't get too "wordy" about what I mean. Reason: I just don't want to rehash everything.

But truth be told. I learned a lot this past season, deciding, stupidly, to attempt to lay claim to the title of "If THEY/HE can do it, SO CAN I!!!" I wrote for three corps. Not entirely the smartest thing to do ever. But I certainly learned a lot--and I also learned A LOT ABOUT PEOPLE. Especially people I thought I knew. Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah...realizing that I'm not perfect keeps me from opening a big can of WHOOP ASS on my own blog and laying into certain folks. Suffice it to say--this "learning experience" pushed me a little into a corner. Unfortunately, I came out swinging, and I'm still a little, how should I say, "hair triggered". I'll just leave it at that.

And one more thing.

I'll NEVER do that again. And since so many people read this blog, the person that I most wanted to tap on the shoulder so to speak and say "See??? You're not the only one that can do this?" probably doesn't even know I exist, and is experiencing GREAT success this season anyway. Call it a rivalry, call it a tad bit of jealousy, call it whatever. I did it. And now I'm done. I did what I did for the WRONG reasons. And just as a "mentor" told me--if you're not writing drill for the LOVE of writing drill, than please, stop writing drill. Well--I'm not ready to jump off THAT cliff--YET--but yeah. There you go. Age 41. Still figuring my crap out.

OK...so...it's like 6:30 am and I'm typing on my stupid blog. WHY? Well, I had a bout of gastrointestinal difficulties about 2o minutes ago, and now, I'm in that hell between not sure if I want to go back to bed, or get up and write drill. YEAH. For the 8 bands I'm writing for.

Geeeeeeeeeeeesh. I'm sadomasochistic. That's it. I dig being punished. That's why I'm doing it. But actually...truth be told...band directors are FAR EASIER TO WORK WITH, I'll give them THAT much.

Well people, I'm outta here. Getting on the road, heading to Bakersfield for announcing duties for DCI. Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh yeah. That REMINDS ME. That little 48 hr window for the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT. I totally forgot. Sorry. Didn't mean to leave ya hanging. Yeah...well...as my information has it...the decision maker, a certain CEO of a certain international drum corps association is the deciding factor right now. And hopefully, I'll be hearing from him.

Then...the announcement will be made. Oh hey...here's a rundown of my week...

TODAY--Saturday: Get on the road to Bakersfield, check in to hotel, get dressed, and on to Bakersfield City College for announcing duties.

SUNDAY--Wake up. Stare at ceiling. Stare at TV. Wait. Wait. Wait some more. Than get dressed, go to Bakersfield City College for PART II of announcing duties. Decide after show if I take DCI up on offer to stay one additional night, or do I go home. Leaning towards home. Gots drill to write.

MONDAY--DRILL DAY AT HOME. Don't call. Don't write. Don't knock on my door, unless you're a methamphetamine dealer. Then we'll talk.

TUESDAY--Division II/III Quarterfinals, Pasadena City College--11am until it ends. Me...a microphone...and history is made. I debut as the "Official Announcer for the Division II/III DCI World Championships". But first...I stop by a hotel in Monrovia for a special secret rendevous with a certain ticket broker. Hmmmm...why????

WEDNESDAY--DRILL DAY. Same instructions apply as above. Except I'm driving to Long Beach Veteran's Memorial Stadium for a special Kingsmen Alumni Corps Exhibition, featuring Impulse, Pioneer, the Nicholson Pipe Band, and someone else....uhhhh...let's see....who is it...something about blue....blue cadets...well, whatever...I'll be there....THE VOICE AT WORK AGAIN...

THURSDAY--DRILL DAY!!!! Talk not to me.

FRIDAY--the day of days. Div II/III semi finals at PCC, 11am until it ends...then, I swing over to the Rose Bowl, meet up with wife, mother in law (flying in from Seattle), brother in law (flying in from Missouri), sister in law (flying in from Utah), another sister in law (flying in from Orange), and we all descend upon the DCI Semi Finals competition. However, we'll be in the LUXURY SUITE #113. Yeah. That's what I did on Tuesday. Picked up my $800 worth of tickets!!!!!! Yeah. $800!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Out of MY pocket. Dang I'm nice. And...AND...the possibility of a major announcement concerning this night looms on the horizon. COME ON ACHESON. COME ON BABY!!! (crossing my fingers...)

SATURDAY--Division II/III GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS!!! 10:30am...and then??? I'm not exactly sure. I may do a puppy dog act and BEG for a pass to Division I finals, but who knows. We'll see. If I don't go to finals, I'll just go back home, and WRITE DRILL!!!

SUNDAY--DRILL DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MONDAY--back to work.

That's it gang. If there's a computer at my hotel in Bakersfield, I'll check in. If not--later next week. Thanks for reading.

Now get lost.

MAJOR ANNOUCEMENT!!!!!!

I'm sorry to be coy--it's not my intention. But I received some news via email that shocked me to the point that I was shaking. A ball is rolling on a subject that I long thought was dead and done. And because I can't tell you exactly what it is (fear of jinxing myself actually), I just had to share with my readership (whatever Turner!!!!!) that I may be making a major announcement in the next 48 hours or so...or, I'll be making a major explanation of what DIDN'T happen over the next 48 hours. But I will let just a part of the cat out of the bag...three words...ready?

Rose.

Bowl.

Microphone.

That's all I can say. Well...actually...just so I don't cause a panic...I will say this. NO...I'm NOT replacing the KING OF ANNOUNCERS Brandt Crocker. So no...no weird rumors, please.

More to come!! CHECK OUT MY BLOG OVER THE NEXT 48 HOURS!!!