The "DANGERS?" of Racing

Well you probably saw or at least heard about the big wreck at Talladega this past Sunday where 7 fans were injured when a 3,000 pound racecar flew in the air and crashed in the fence on the frontstretch. Yep it happens. I myself was in attendance at an Indy Car race in Charlotte when 3 fans were killed by when the entire wheel assembly came off of a car in a wreck in turn 4. They have never raced Indy cars at Charlotte again as a result. Think about. These cars are going over 200 mph on an oval race track. They are just doing what they are designed to do. Can accidents happen? Well obviously they can but did you know that 35 fans have been killed at minor and major league baseball games since they started keeping record of it? How about soccer? Hundreds! As for me, I will stick with my racing. If you have ever sat on the front row of any race track, you would quickly learn that it is a place to visit to see the real speed of the cars, not to watch the race. I was once hit with a bolt at Atlanta and we were on the 31 row. I still have it too. And by the way Talladega is my all time favorite track and sporting event ever and I am way more afraid of the camping area than the actual racetrack.

Happy Birthday Dale!

"We sure do miss you on Sunday's at lunch. You were the best there was and ever will be. Rest in peace old friend. We will never forget you. I often wonder how different racing would be today if you were still around.

One of best memories of Dale was at Talladega. It had rained all day and they almost delayed the race and I am sure because the commercialism of racing now, they would have delayed it in this day. The race did not even start until 5:30 p.m. and and Dale being what he was...he was wrecked. You can see how bad of a wreck it was in the video. I was standing on my seat which in the apex of the tri-oval with somebodies binoculars looking for him to get out. He did not at first but then I saw him get out and stretch and I promise you, he waved at me. Ok, he waved at everybody but I swear to me it was just me. He had a broken sternum and several broken ribs but what did he do after he waved to me? He set the current track record at Watkins Glen the next weekend. That is why he is my hero. See below for the silent video. They didn't even show the race on TV it started so late. Dale's wreck on July 28, 1996.

A Way Long Week

Monday - 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 - Meeting after school - 9.5 hours

Tuesday - 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. - percussion auditions and a booster club meeting after school -13 hours

Wednesday - 7:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. - percussion auditions after school - 12.5 hours

Thursday - 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. - percussion auditions and powder puff football - 13 hours

Today - 7:30 a.m - 4:00 - Going home! - 8.5 hours

Total 56.5 hours this week during the "down time" of the year. All in the course of an average week though.

Percussion Auditions

This week are percussion auditions. 26 students have shown up to try out of a spot. Mr. Apple is hard at work right now.

Happy Birthday Cindy

So my blog is no longer mainstream. The links are gone and so are most of the readers but guess what...I am glad. That means if you are reading this you found it on your own. I like it. This blog is and never has been about band. It is about me and what I like and I love my wife so I would like to say happy birthday to her and tell her I love her, although I do that every day. So "Happy Birthday" my little Cindy. I hope we have many, many more together.

Seize the Day

"Maybe good things come

to those who wait.

But the best things come

to those who seize the moment

and make it their own."

The wait and see attitude is not for me. I can't stand statements like that. Patience may be a virtue but it is also the build blocks of excuses. As for me, count me in as the I won't wait and see what somebody does to me or does to hold me back. I make my own luck and will continue to do so. If a situation does not allow you to achieve your goals, change the situation. If you don't like playing the "game", play your own game with your own rules.

"Where do you see yourself in five years?" has got to be the worse interview question ever. Perhaps a better question is "What are you going to do 5 days from now to improve yourself and those around you?" What about 5 hours from now? Maybe even 5 minutes.