Category: The Daily Grind

I can’t remember if I’ve blogged about this before but it’s official – I’m presenting at Texas Bandmasters Association Convention in a few weeks. I’m really quite nervous because I’ve never presented at a large conference like this before AND my partner in technology crime isn’t going to be there after all. I’m in it all by myself! Scary….

I’ve gotten a pretty good outline down and lots of info from my buddy who was going to co-present with me so I know it’ll go okay but I’m mostly afraid of the technological questions that may hit me. But if they really need to know tech specs, I can always refer them to the websites of the manufacturers, right?

I haven’t decided whether friendly faces will be something that will help or make me nervous yet but I’m guessing that familiar faces can’t easily be avoided so I’ll just deal with whomever shows up. It’s on the afternoon of the very first day of the convention so I’m not expecting a very large crowd or anything. I’m also not happy that I’m missing a huge chunk of the All State Jazz Music Clinic. I’ve gotta get someone to video tape that….

Okay, that’s it for today. Have a happy, safe and relaxing 4th of July! I’m goin’ to the lake!!!
Love you, mean it!!

Before about 10 am, the weather here is really nice. About 75 degrees and a nice breeze that makes a difference because it still feels cool. I’ve taken to walking/jogging every few days around that time in the last week or so. I know, one of my favorite phrases is “I don’t run unless I’m being chased”. I usually only get to a jog when I’m going a bit downhill and I can’t help but get my pace to a jog. My neighborhood lends itself to the activity really well because it has cut through pathways in between houses and a nice park to start my walk around. I also have quite a few small gradient hills to help the muscle resistance (or whatever it is hills do for ya). My walk/jog only lasts about 15 minutes but by the time I’m home, I’m drenched in sweat and my pulse rate is definitely higher so I know I’m getting in a work out. I have no idea the distance (although I’m sure I could figure it out using Google Maps or something) but each time I do this, I’m going to take a different route to see if I’m out longer or not. Hopefully, this will become a regular thing for the summer!

————————update————————
I’ve mapped it out on Google Maps (I love that app) so if you’d like to see my route, let me know and I’ll be more than happy to email you the link…if I know you. 😉

I love being on the water, in the water, around the water. It makes me so happy….

I watched the WWDC Keynote yesterday afternoon and I wasn’t impressed with what little they had announce. Yeah, yeah…3G iPhone – nifty. With iPhone 2.0 coming out for the phone I already have (at no extra cost), the 3G really doesn’t offer anything I don’t already have. iPhone for Enterprise? Don’t need it. I’m not paying for MobileMe – I have no use for it, really. They mentioned Snow Leopard (the new OS due out “in about a year”) but that was it – just a brief mention. My sister was right to warn me that it would be boring. She was able to keep up with some of the live blog stuff as the Keynote was going on. I’m actually quite disappointed in Apple this time ’round. Maybe something nifty will come from a session later on and we’ll be able to take advantage with a software upgrade for the current OS (which I don’t have yet, though).

We started some band stuff yesterday. We’re going 8-noon each day this week with the first 2 hours focusing on marching fundamentals and the second 2 hours focusing on music fundamentals as well as learning the show music. So far, the past 2 days has been very productive. What I’m most excited about is how enthusiastically the kids are participating in fundamental stuff. For example – breathing exercises. OMG, it’s been like pulling teeth to get my students to breath appropriately to play their music with correct support and phrasing so it might just come across, well, musical. I’ve tried breathing exercises before (these same ones we did today) and all I’ve ever gotten is light headed, yet resentful kids that I’m making them do anything except play the music in their folder. Today, we did a good 7-10 minutes of breathing exercises and they kinda seemed to enjoy them. They at least understood why we did them and cooperated!!! Tomorrow, I’m going to try to do a little tuning exercise with singing…maybe.

This weekend was A LOT of fun. Saturday started with a mini leadership seminar for our new leadership group so they won’t be completely lost when they had to be leaders (many for the first time) a few days later. After that, I headed to the lake with Crystal and some friends. They were a nice group of kids, too. We tied up with about 6-8 other boats and got some good water time in as well as met some nice people. Sunday, we celebrated Thura’s birthday at the pool at Emily’s apartment. Some more nice people and good grub as well as some really sweet kids that made it a whole lot of fun. Just the type of weekend I needed after such a “rough” week trying to close out last year.

Hope all is well with everyone!
Love you, mean it!
~C

I religiously watch Top Chef. I record each episode and watch it later ’cause I rarely catch it live. I always make a point to watch the “Next time, on Top Chef” bit at the end so I can put myself in suspense for the next week. This week, right before the credits, as they were doing the exit interview with the eliminated contestant (no spoilers here, folks), I noticed a disclaimer I’ve seen before but not consistently. It says:

Winning and elimination decisions were made by the Judges in consultation with producers. Some elimination decisions were discussed with Bravo.

Hmmm…the person who was left at Judges Table (not eliminated) was NOT a fan fave at all. In fact, the text/web poll they did during the episode said that this person should pack their knives and go by like 97%. Makes you wonder if that was done somewhat to create more tension in the upcoming episode because the other two left don’t much care for the third, either.

*Note: if you comment on this post, please do not spoil the ending of this episode. Thanks.*