its been a while

Marching isn't a very good time to start a blog if you plan on updating it regularly.
What's happened lately?
*Finished season 8 of scrubs (might have mentioned that already)
*Got paid today!!
*Worked with Alex Miller to write the drum break for the closer of the marching show, its pretty sweet.
*Shaved 2 minutes off of my 3 mile run today.
*Cut my thumb open on a metal barrel (but it is finally healing up 3 days later)
*Dark tower 5 is starting to pick up
*Holly isn't feeling well :( she is drinking theraflu right now.
*Band decided not to go to the Huntsville Marching Contest (we have won there the last 4 years, but the show isn't contest ready yet... its a big show)
*Found out one of my bass drummer's names is Glenn Eugene Fairchild Junior, so thats pretty cool.
*Can't wait to get out on the new sailboat!

(the boom wasn't installed yet on this picture)

*Noticed the leaves start to change this week, so thats exciting!
*Wondering if I should invest in a treadmill so I can keep up the running through the winter.
*I'm starving
*My rats are still really cool

ohhh sammy!

3 miles

I ran over 3 miles today! Before today, my best was about 2 1/4 miles. I felt pretty good too.

My High school drumline is sounding better lately. I hope the season works out as well as it should.

My middle school drumline has to be one of the best middle school lines around! They were able to play all of Fat Cat Sat on my Hat, a cadence I wrote for them, and it isn't all that easy. I think they are going to sound great by the end of the season too!

First day of fall today. Its starting to feel like it too. I just plugged in the electric heater. I don't feel like messing with my propane tank yet.

My rats are still awesome!

this week

Sorry for the lack of posts this week. This was a crazy week to be a band director in berryville. I had a tenor drum sectional monday afternoon, a full band rehearsal tuesday afternoon, a snare drum sectional wednesday afternoon, a middle school away game thursday night, a high school band rehearsal friday afternoon, a high school football game friday night, a rehearsal til midnight friday night, and a rehearsal from 8 to 12 saturday morning. I slept in big time this morning.

Also, it rained every day that I could have run until today, so this was my first run of the week, but at least I got one in.

I started working on my novel again today. I realize I will never be a new york times best seller, but it is fun to write. I didn't actually add any plot, I just went back and redid some of what I wrote already, tweaking a few things. while I was working on it, I looked in my front yard and saw 6 deer
This picture was taken through the screen on my window with my phone, so it isnt great, but it was cool seeing them. They were just grazing for about 20 minutes.

Monday

Today was just a blah day. The school day snailed by. I bought groceries, as well as the 3rd season of Dexter, and the 8th season of Scrubs. When I got home, I did my run. Now I am going to read and go to bed. Sorry for the pathetic post.

ombbb

Today I had a concert with the Ozark Mountains British Brass Band in Eureka Springs celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the grand opening of THE Auditorium. 80 years ago today, Sousa came to Eureka Springs with his band and played a performance. We played several of the pieces that the Sousa band played. The concert was pretty well attended and the crowd was very responsive.

***

I just got in from a run. It was pretty bad. I ran pretty hard and my legs were burning a lot. But I have all but accomplished the goal I set a week ago. 4 runs this week! I originally said 4 more by the time I go to sleep Monday, but I set that goal on a Monday, so that was an 8 day week. My new week starts tomorrow. Planning on 4 more runs next week.

high school football game

Friday night:
The high school marching band did very well at friday nights game. I am extremely proud of the basses! Measure 50-54 of Matsuri sounded amazing, Santa Clara couldn't have done better! Everything went pretty smoothly.

Saturday morning:
OMBBB had a last minute rehearsal for our concert tomorrow. Everything sounded good. I even felt good about my playing, which never happens.
Holly found a dead mouse in our kitchen, and a lizard running around the house while I was gone. I think she's had about enough nature for the day.

Saturday night:
Just got in from a run! Longest one since I hurt my foot over the summer. I had a close encounter along the way. A herd of cattle came up to greet me and trotted along beside me for a while, it was really cool! Then a weiner dog and some sort of terrier came running at me barking from across a pasture. It was one of the neatest running experiences I've ever had. Running on a road is so much more exciting than a track, even if the hills are killing my muscles right now.

I guess I better find something for dinner now.

Middle School football game

Tonight was the first middle school home game, which means it was also this years middle school combined 7th/8th grade band debut. It went extremely well. The middle school drumline has really felt like my baby so far this year, and they sounded great. I felt like my work with them this year so has been effective and efficient. I have the right kids on the right instruments, and they seem to be having a great time and they sound pretty good too. Our next game is in a few weeks, so we will be able to play a lot more by then. I wrote them a cadence last night called Fat Cat Sat on my Hat, and I think we might be able to get it worked up for the next game, as well as a few more drummy things. One of my basses didn't show up though, so I'm pretty bummed about that, but not enough to put a damper on the evenings success.

I also had a good day with the high school drumline. We had a little chat about what I expected of them and what I wanted them to expect in themselves and I think it might be good for the morale of the group. We are going to try a few new ideas for motivation, and I honestly don't see how they could make things worse, so they are bound to improve. One thing is getting them a drumline tshirt. I think it will make them feel like more of a unit. Because we are doing a Japanese show this year, I found the Japanese Kanji symbol for drummer, It looks pretty cool, I think we could put this on the back with all their names around it and it would look awesome.
I like all of them, so I figure I will let them vote on it to pick which we use.

If anyone out in cyberspace has any input on how to motivate high school students to work hard towards a long term goal, I am open to suggestions.

I am feeling much better about the high school drumline than the other day. It is amazing what a difference a day can make. Let's just hope tomorrow's away game is as successful as it should be.

...

Because of the middle school football game, I wasn't able to run tonight, but it wasn't part of my original plan anyway, so I am still on track. I plan to run Saturday, Sunday and Monday night. If that happens, I will have accomplished my goal.

...

Well, I'm going to go move some clothes from the washer to the dryer and hit the sack. I have an appointment with the Mid-World!

Rain

I don't know what it is about the rain, but it really put a damper on the day. Not that it was a bad day, it was actually my easiest day of the school year so far, but the rain made it feel less than awesome. I ended up making it home before 7:00! That is a first for the year. I also got to put in a run before dinner! Check 1 off my goal list, only 3 more to go by Monday night!

drumline

We had our Tuesday night rehearsal today. The show is looking pretty decent, but it is still far from being done. We are way ahead of where we were last year, but the show is much harder too. I am responsible for the drumline this year, and that's pretty scary. A few years ago, the Berryville drumline was the line to beat. Now after a few years of solid classes graduating, we are rebuilding the line, and me... a trumpet player... is the one at the helm, using my minuscule knowledge of marching percussion technique to get the drumline to play like champs.

They get a little better each day, but there is so much I still have to learn that I don't know and it gets overwhelming. I am certainly growing as a percussion teacher, but not fast enough. Just like the fact that they aren't improving fast enough... do you think there might be a connection there?! Luckily, there are a few actual percussionists that helped me get the drumline and pit off the ground this summer, or else we would be in bad shape right now. A few of those same people are available from time to time to help keep them in check, so that is very fortunate. In fact, one of them will be helping me work with the snares tomorrow! That will be fantastic.

.....

Tomorrow, I plan to run before heading home. Day 1 of the 4 day goal. Hope it happens!

....


Which wristwatches are swiss wristwatches

try to say that fast!


....

well, time to move some laundry to the dryer.

goodnight.

running

I am going to go run as soon as I finish this post and put on some shoes. No clue how far I'll make it, but I'm gonna go as far as I feel like I can. (probably only a mile or so)

........

30 minutes later

........

Well, I'm done. I don't know how far I went, but I was outside with my heart pumping for almost 30 minutes, with only a few times to stop and walk, so I think it is fair to say that I ran for 15 - 20 minutes, which is a lot better than any day in the past week. So there is some progress. Thanks for the motivation Parker! I probably wouldn't have run today if I hadn't had you to look up to and your blog for reading material on the drive home last night.

Let's hope I can keep it up.



Goal:
By the time I go to sleep one week from today, run 4 more times!

Smallville

Just got done watching the Smallville season 8 finale. I am excited that I haven't missed the season 9 premier yet! Too bad Smallville is playing on Fridays this year. I won't really be able to watch it until after football season is over. Hopefully the CW will be putting full episodes online.


While I was cooking breakfast this morning, I saw a bubble, created while Holly was doing dishes, floating around the kitchen. It was spectacular. It floated around for probably 3 minutes solid. It was the coolest thing I have seen in a long time.

Howdy

Knock knock...
who's there?...
Shmelmop...