Ted to the Vet!

I had to take Ted to the vet this morning. He has been chasing a rabbit that seems to think it is fun come in our backyard and we thought he had hurt himself doing so yesterday. Ted had cervical neck surgery about 2 years ago and has been doing really well so we were pretty scared that he had hurt himself. The vet checked him out and could find no neck or back problems. That was a huge relieve. But he has been bite by something. We think fire ants. I hate fire ants. They are not even native to us. Well any way the vet prescribed some medicine and he already seems to feel better. So what does that mean. Well today I put down some stuff in the yard to kill ants and tonight's activity will be...Rabbit hunting! I have two finely trained hounds to help too. We have seen the enemy and now we shall conquer! Any way Ted looks and acts great since his visit to see Dr. Tim. I will keep you posted.

Home from Work

I know, I get the whole summer off. Not quite. I have been working today since 8:00 a.m. What does a band director have to do on his days off? Here is a list:

1. Got yelled at by wife from putting "dirt" in her car. (This is not band related but I thought I
should add it. I was trying to help her!)
2. Went to the school to:
a. Get a band letter and bar for a senior
b. check work mail
c. Copy the interlude of the show for the drill writer and percussion writer
3. Went to the booster club treasurer's work to get checks to pay the music writer and give
him some band fees.
4. Went to the post office to mail the copies I had made.
5. Met with the percussion instructor to discuss the percussion writing and to give him
scores to the interlude and closer.


And this is a day off! Haha. There are no days off for band directors it seems.

Happy Memorial Day

Try to remember what today is all about. It is not just a day off work or a day at the beach. Remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. The freedom that we have as Americans has not been, is not, and will not be free.

Freedom, Sweet Freedom!

I am out, for a while at least. Some people ask "Isn't it nice to have some time off in the summer?" My response...IT IS GREAT! Now I do go in about one a week in June to do some things that just have to be done and in July I usually start going in once a day but it sure is nice to do things on my schedule. I hope everybody has a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend and remember to thank the armed forces for what they do for us all.

Back from Charlotte

It was a great race especially the open race. Lots of action as is usually the case at Charlotte. That place just looks fast. We had great seats right between turns 1 and 2 and we could see the entire track. My buddy Scott met me at about 12:30 and everything was already set up. What a deal! Charlotte sure has changed since we first went 15 years ago. Gone are the wooden bleachers. Now there is a grandstand with about 50,000 seats in it. It was a little sad to see the general admission seats we used to sit in covered with advertising. Not that I would sit there now any way. The gates used to open at 12 noon for those seats and $20 was all it cost. The problem (and the fun part too) was that the race didn't start until 7:00 p.m. so you had to seat there for 7 hours in the sun! There is so much to do at this track it is kind of like a fair. I did get to on the set of Speedvision's Windtunnel while they were broadcasting too. I got to see Spencer Jimmy. He once put out fire with his bare hands at Darlington. All and all it was great and I ate way too much food but I was back home by 9:00 a.m. That's the way to do did!

Last rehearsal of the year or maybe the first

We had our final spring rehearsal today and it was great. This band has so much potential it is scary. One thing to remember is that potential is just that, only potential. It will take a lot of hard work, sweat, and tears to bring out the true accomplishment but today was certainly a step in the right direction. About 100 students were present today. Many people say I am too hard on the students or expect too much. I guess my question is why do they keep coming back? There must be something to somebody that pushes them too far. How far? Maybe all the way to state. We shall see. The music is hard and the drill will be too. It has been a very trying week for me professionally to say the least. It is nicely and rewarding to know that the students are coming together for something great. Only 2 months until band camp!

Only Wednesday!

Wow, what a week. That is the curse. The closer the end of school gets the longer the weeks get. Tomorrow is the last day of spring rehearsals and then it is off to the All-Star race this weekend. It always brings back great memories. It was the first race I ever went too. Now I can't remember how many I have attended. Nothing like a redneck, fishing, gardening, band director at a race! Wooooooooo!!!!! I hope everybody comes back for the last day of rehearsals tomorrow. We may have something great if we can just stick together.

First Day of Spring Rehearsals

We started today with a fresh slate (in more ways that one). The students were outstanding. Things that have been done for reasons that sometimes seem unclear seem to be coming together. Every student present today was there because they wanted to be. Not one bad attitude. Not snide comments. Just happy students and a great staff. I have never seen students catch on quite so quickly as they did today. They didn't have a choice. When good people are surround by good people, great things have to happen. It took about 2 minutes to get into block and we were off and playing scales and marching in about 5 minutes. Pretty incredible. Look out AAA, we are on our way and not to play nice either! One more event on Thursday for the last day of spring rehearsals and then it is freedom. Sweet, sweet freedom! Summer break!

Darlington!

Here goes some pretty good stuff! We left at 11:30 a.m. for the track and picked up my wife's best friend to go the race. Hey, who am I to not go to the race with two girls? We arrived at the track around 2:00 due to some poor planning on my part for the route we took. It was great warm weather, good neighbors, the site was set up, etc. We cooked our nice steaks and potatoes and then it started...RAIN! Not hard at first but then it rained harder. This was some serious rain. I mean I swear Noah came by once and asked if he could hang out under our canopy. So what did we do? We had a party! Yes, we had a party under a 10'x10' canopy until they called the race at about 8:30 p.m. We got home at about 1:00 a.m. (Once again my fault due to poor parking strategy). So what did I do? I woke up at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday and went back to the track...Solo. Nobody else could go that day so I went alone. Not one of my friends would take a free ticket to go so I went alone. I think some people were surprised. I do have fun at the race but the major reason I love going is to watch racing. So away I went. I arrived at 10:00 a.m. just as the gate were opening. My parking strategy was perfect this time. There something that I have always liked about going to the track early. It is odd. Here I was a facility that would in 3 hours hold almost 100,000 people yet it was eerily empty. I walked in and they took my ticket (s) and I asked the security guard if I could walk on the track. HE LET ME! I walk around on the track at turn 3. That is picture. If you look, you can see it was taken from the other side of the wall. I have also included the strange view of a fairly empty Darlington Raceway. The race was great and I had plenty of room. I did miss Cindy though but hey I loved the racing. I did not like who won but hey I was there. For any of you that think it is just watching cars go in a circle you should go. It may change you...forever. NASCAR is not just a sport. It is a true event. Cindy's friend had never been to a race and still has yet to see the event but I think she would even agree that there is fun to be had at a race. Next weekend I am off to the Charlotte Motor Speedway (you won't catch me calling it Lowe's) for one of my favorite events...THE WINSTON. I know it is now the All-Star shootout but not for me. So the next time you know I am at a race and it gets rained out, give me a call.

The Running of the Roses...(not quite!)

Ok, so we had the third annual running of the dachshunds. It was exciting with a fox horn announcing the start of the festivities. Ted and Henry were both as excited as could be and then the start. Both of them were neck and neck for the first 10 feet. There was a little bumping as the they surged forward and then it happened...Ted took a left hand turn on to the porch. Was he out of gas? No. Was it a flat tire? No. It was something he just simply can not resist. Pee! He had to smell some pee on the porch. Fowl play was a foot. Henry had strategically planted some fresh pee on the porch and it worked. Henry cruised to any easy victory. So for the second year in a row. Henry was victorious in his quest for domination. He deserves it. It takes not only horsepower but also smarts to compete at the highest levels.

Great Job!

The concert tonight was great. It was one of the best spring concerts I have conducted. The students should be very proud of themselves. Congratulations!

One of those weeks

These has been one of those weeks that I can't seem to stay ahead of, and it's only half way over. Oh well. I guess that is why I get paid the big bucks! I gave some of the kids the opener today. Some seemed to like it while others seemed to not care. That was kind of disappointing considering I think it is the best show I have ever put together. Tomorrow night is the spring concert and I hope a lot people come out to enjoy. Here is the program:

Salvation is Created - Tchesnkoff

Chorale and Shaker Dance - Zdechlik

Rough Riders March - King

God of Our Fathers - Claude T. Smith

As Summer Was Just Beginning - Deahn

Abram's Pursuit - Holsinger

It should be great. 7:00 p.m. in the Cafetorium. Nothing like a having a french fry stuck to your shoe while you conduct one of the best concert bands in the state.