Category: A Better Me

Brian Ibanez Info

There’s never a good time or way to pass on bad news so I’m just going to bite the proverbial bullet and post this.

I was in John Lopez’s office a few weeks ago when a call came in. I heard John say “Brian Ibanez” and thought maybe it was someone calling for a reference or something. Turned out, it was his brother in law trying to get some pictures of videos of when Brian was in the SWT Drumline.

Brian and his wife were hit and killed by a drunk driver about a month ago, leaving two young children behind. His brother in law now has custody of the kids and wants to share as many memories of Brian as he can with them. John is gathering pictures and videos of Brian to send to his brother in law sometime in the next week or so.

I know that he didn’t leave SWT in the best of terms but youth can be a time of making bad choices while trying to figure out who you are. From the conversation John’s had with Brian a few years or so ago, it seems as though he’d found his way and he knows that many of his decisions were wrong and how they hurt his friends.

If you have any fun memories you’d like to share – pictures, videos, stories, whatever – with Brian’s kids, you can email them to me or send them on to John Lopez. He’s still at SWT/Tx State. Also, please pass this on to others who were around the Bobcat Drumline/Marching Band from 1996 on. Thanks for your time on this.
~C

Here are pics I found and scanned in. Brian played on the top (or smallest) bass drum.
Brack 1996 #1

Brack 1996 #2

PASIC 1996 #1

PASIC 1996 #2

Pre-PASIC Exhibition 1998

Help the local animal shelter keep animals alive.

The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota of getting free food donated every day to abused and neglected animals.

It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on the purple box ‘fund food for animals’ for free. This doesn’t cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising.

Here’s the web site! Pass it along to people you know.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com

Weekend

This weekend was so wonderful!

On Saturday, we had our TMEA Region meeting but it only lasted 2 hours (I thought it was going to be a marathon all day thing) and everything went really smoothly. No arguments for the most part. Always a bonus and not always the expected.

The saxophone section had their First Annual Kite Day that afternoon. Not only did they play with kites, they had bar-b-qued burgers, volleyball, water fights (I managed to keep dry), cards, dominoes, etc. I went and hung out for a few hours and had so much fun! Most of the parents were there so it was a nice time to catch up on stuff that wasn’t just band related.

I really didn’t want to leave when I did but had to because Trish was playing with the Austin Civic Orchestra that evening and I was going to the concert in So. ATX. Amongst a few other very beautiful pieces I wasn’t previously familiar with, they were playing The Planets in their entirety! Considering this is an orchestra made up of many people that aren’t professional performing musicians, the concert was really quite well performed.

After that, I met up with my best friend Cathy and also with Daniel Montoya, Jr. at Opal Devine’s Penn Field and we had a fun time there, too!

Saturday seems like it was a busy day but really, it was all very laid back and comfortable. Just what I had needed.

Sunday was my birthday. I know you’re asking, “Why didn’t you remind us before this?” but honestly, I’ve been so stressed and tired that I didn’t want to deal with planning or doing much of anything this year. I really wasn’t feeling the whole birthday celebration need thing. I think I’ve mentioned it like twice this month on my blogs and that’s been it. *sigh* But it’s okay…

When I woke up, I layed in bed, watching some TV and hanging with the cats. I was going to go out and get myself some breakfast somewhere but then Cathy called, wanting to go have brunch so we did. We actually ended up having lunch at TGI Friday’s. Have you had their Pecan Crusted Chicken (Cathy’s dish) or their Cedar-Seared Salmon (mine)? Holy Cow, they’re both quite yummy!!

After lunch, we headed to Target ’cause I was hoping to get another lounge chair (hopefully similar to the one I already have) for my backyard because we were planning on hanging out in the backyard for a while…no luck. Everything they had there was either not a lounge chair, for a small child or just plain boring. *sigh* Regardless, I got my first summer reading series book and some 5 lb. hand weights. Still a successful trip. 🙂

Daniel then met us at my house to give me my birthday present – Home Depot Dollars!!! Thanks, Daniel!! 😀

Cathy left shortly after and my family came over. We went to the Sedatole’s house because they were grilling steaks and invited us over (I guess I could say for my birthday). They bought me a yummy cake and we had a really nice time.

As you can see, the whole weekend was really laid back and relaxed. Thanks to everyone and their Birthday Messages in all forms! They meant the world to me. I hope you have a fantastic week!!

Can you believe…

…that it’s been one day since I closed on my house? It’s been a fabulous year here – housewarming party, lots of Grey’s Anatomy Girls nights, dinners with friends, game nights, Thanksgiving, New Year’s…. I can’t believe this year has passed so quickly. And, after a year of paying around $150+ over the mortgage bill each month, I should have, oh, around $1.00 in equity! :lol

I still love my fridge, my backyard plan is coming along nicely and I might even get some new color on the walls by this time next year. Ah, the life of a homeowner! 😀
Love you, mean it,
~C

My latest trip to the Home Depot

On Monday night, I went to my local Home Depot for a workshop entitled: “Building Relaxation:Creating Backyard Retreats”. I learned a few good things and I think I’m going to make a water feature for my backyard sometime this summer. They had some other neat products and projects there and some suggested projects that were pre-made. I’ve gotten some new landscaping books recently they’ve inspired me to build a few things this summer for my yard. At the end of the evening, they had a drawing to give away a few books as well as the pre-made projects and guess what, I won one! It’s a neat cedar storage bench with a place for a potted plant. They had a nice palm displayed in the plant section of the bench and what do you know, they gave me that, too!! A great start to my backyard plans. So, if you have some time and want to help me build some stuff this summer (I’m borrowing my dad’s power & pneumatic tools), give me a hollar. It should be a lot of fun!

Here’s a picture of my new bench. I took it late last night so it’s not too clear but you can make it out.