From the 50 Yardline

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WHAT'S UP WITH COUNTRY MUSIC?

Because of the numerous school delay and cancellation news reports on local radio during the past 2 weeks, I've probably listened to more country music than I normally do in a year. I'm no stranger to country music and I had these thoughts before but now, thanks to "Talk To Me Daddy V" I have a forum for my opinions. Now before I start to rant and rave, let me give you an idea of my music history. First, don't forget, I was raised in New Jersey - not exactly the cradle of country music. Secondly, I had a father who, although he couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, was a fan of operetta, especially Gilbert and Sullivan and raised all 3 of his kids to love operettas. I was introduced to other classical music by my association with drum and bugle corps. To this day, I feel I learned more classical music repetoire from d and b corps shows than from all my years of under-grad and master's degree study. But I digress! My point is, I don't have a whole lot of experience with country music but I've been struck, over the years, by how depressing the lyrics are! I listened to 3 songs in a row yesterday that dealt with some guy crying because his girl was leaving him, somebody who wanted a dime for half the times he screwed up, and some girl who got pregnant after a "date" with her boyfriend. These are just three examples, but I checked the top 10 country songs on the internet and they all seem to deal with some tragic circumstance, love gone bad, a screwed up life, etc., etc. Now I know life is not all sunshine and roses (hey - I've been married for 25 years), but doesn't listening to music such as this tend to depress even the perkiest among us? At least Rock and Roll songs are musically complex enough that even if the lyrics are depressing you probably can't hear them! Now, to be fair, a lot of classical opera is tragic in nature, and even broadway musicals have tended to be a little heavy in subject matter in the last several years but even operas and musicals have there lighter moments and if nothing else, they nomally have some musically redeeming qualities. I guess, for the most part, I've always sought out music and entertainment in general, that is a little lighter, up-lifting or more humerous than "She Stopped Loving Me Today" - something more like "A Boy Named Sue". I feel the same way about my taste in books and movies also. Yes, my favorite movies of all time are the LOTR trilogy, but there a certain heroic quality to these movies which attracts me - the "against all odds" kind of appeal!

So tell me - what is the appeal of country music? What are you listening to? Are there any "classical" music fans out there" How about jazz? Talk to me.....I'm

Daddy "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" V

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY - COFFEE ANYONE?

It's Valentine's Day and a special one for me since it represents the 25th Valentine's Day with my best friend, my lovely wife. (Yeah, Jacques - I think she's hot, too!) For those of you who don't know, my wife was a flute player in the Patriot Band back when we were first attacking the State Fair monster. After she graduated, we started dating and were married in May of 1981. Since then, I could list a thousand occasions when she has done special things for me - special meals, unexpected cards and phone calls, special gifts, etc., etc., as well as a thousand times when I've had to leave her alone to take care of band business. Our house is always clean, clothes are washed and PTO and swim team money is counted (along with band $ on occasion). She amazes me with her computer knowledge ("flying by the seat of her pants" - no formal training), helps me organize my MusicWorks paperwork, drives a 2002 Honda CRV that still looks like it just left the showroom floor, and puts up with cranky teachers, cranky parents and cranky bosses at her full-time job for the Special Needs department in the Jay School Corporation. Did I mention that she's also a great mother? In addition to all of the above, one of the things that she has done for me every day for the last 25 years that I probably don't appreciate enough is fixing me coffee every morning. That's 25 years times 365 days per year (take away band camp week, band trip days - but add extra coffee on days like the last couple) well, you do the math! Those of you who know me know that I love my coffee - not that I'm a coffee gourmet or anything, but I do like my java - fresh and hot! It's funny how the big things that are done for us are always easy to recognize and appreciate but little things like fresh coffee everyday sometimes are overlooked. ☕

"Behind every successful man is a good woman!" Success is relative and I'm comfortable with letting others judge my personal success in life. But whether that judgement is pro or con, let it be known that the woman behind this man is not just good, not just great, but is probably as close to perfection as you will find on God's green earth!

Daddy "Eternal Romantic" V

CABIN FEVER!

Hmmm. I think everyone should try to help Daddy V!

Sorry, band fans, but it looks like we're in for a long haul. I have at least 2 bets riding on us not being in school for the rest of the week and I think I'm gonna win both bets!

First, some business. This Friday was the deadline for the first PATRIOT GUARD CLINIC but considering the weather, the deadline will be extended to next Tuesday. Past that, we can accept enrollments but we probably can't get a t-shirt in time.

Secondly, in regards to my post on a band song, there seems to be some support for the idea, so let's do some brain-storming and come up with some ideas. It should be a song that could be sung before a contest, not something that we would play. When I was at Haworth, it was a requirement for all freshmen to memorize the song and when we sang it, we circled up with the seniors in the center, then juniors, sophomores and finally the freshmen.

Also, I had at least one vote for "FINIS CORONAT OPUS" as a band motto. This is Latin for "the end crowns the work" which is a good motto for anything we do. The final product should always be a reflection of our work - remember, the final product not the final result. We can control our final product but not always the competitive result!

Talk to me, I'm

Daddy "I Need a Band Song Idea" V

GLOBAL WARMING? GIVE ME A BREAK!

Or

Excuse my conservative (well, moderate conservative) bias, but after this past week or so, what's all the fuss about global warming? Let's all remember this past week when we step foot on the pavement to start summer band!

PATRIOT BAND SONG - WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Do we need a Patriot Band "theme" song?

Over the years I have part and parcel to the use of "theme" songs for different organizations. I've often thought that the use of a band song was a great way to unite the group before a competition. When I taught at Haworth High School in Kokomo in the 80s we sang a verse of "You'll Never Walk Alone". The title is pretty well explains the song. I know several drum and bugle corps have similiar traditions with such songs as "Over the Rainbow", "Auld Lang Syne", etc. What do ya think, band members? Would this be something we should try? Give me some ideas. How about a band motto - you know, something Latin like "Finis Coronat Opus" (the end crowns the work).

Age and Experience vs Youth and Enthusiasm

Imagine trying out for the boy's basketball team, making the squad, then proceding to tell the coach which plays he should use, what kind of offense or defense, and how to coach the players. Or joing the football team and deciding for yourself who should play offense, who should play defense, who should play special teams, etc. Most of us wouldn't dream of doing this. This is the coach's job and we (normally) trust the coach to make the right decision based on credentials and years of experience. Yet every year we have "Monday Morning Band Directors" who, just like their athletic counterparts, could have won "the big one" if they had decided what music to play! Let me tell you boys and girls, it ain't that easy! Let's ignore th actual teaching for now and take a look at just the show design itself. Contrary to poular opinion, we don't take a "dart board" approach to music choice. Before we even think about music choices, we normally develop a show theme. I've heard a lot of complaints about using a "patriotic" theme for 4 years now and I can't figure out where that came from. 2003 was "Esprit de Corps". OK, Marine Corps, etc. but certainly not overtly patriotic. 2004 "Amber Waves" - yes - oozed patriotism. 2005 - I Love NY - patriotic? - duh. 2006 - Western Sketches - patriotic? Not unless George Washington rode a Red Pony! There's a difference between patriotic music and what is called nationalistic music - music that is a reflection of one's country and, hello, we are the Patriots. Nationalistic and patriotic music is kind of a given. I'm sure the Anderson-Highland get tired of playing Celtic music, but when you're called the Marching Highlanders it's kind of hard to play Iron Maiden!

ARREST MADE IN CONNECTICUT ATTACK! MOTIVE REVEALED!

OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF ARREST IN CONNECTICUT ATTACK

Officials from the FBI and the Indiana State Police held a joint press conference today announcing the arrest of Winny "The Poo" Ceegull as a suspect in the Connecticut poo attack of Taylor student, Emilie Boyes of Norwich, CT. Boyes was attacked by a seagull in late December while strolling on a Connecticut Beach with her boyfriend, Mark Garringer. PNA tests had revealed a mid-west connection after secret ingredients from an Indiana restaurant chain were found in the poo.


FBI surveillance picture of Whinny "The Poo" Ceegull

Officials from Scotty's Brewhouse helped police CSI units trace the source to their Muncie operation. FBI agent Hoo Phlung Poo related details of the arrest after receiving numerous tips from stool pigeons on the FBI's 1-800-POO-STOPPERS FREE phone line. Indiana State Police investigation team Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe helped cracked the case.

Could this be the future look for Mr. Smeltzer and Mr. Vogler?

For those of you who don't know, Daddy V has entered the age of technology by adding a cell phone and a lap tap computer to my personal possessions. I have always tried to keep "up-to-date" on the latest innovations but sometimes I have to be smacked in the face with them before I pay attention. It became brutally clear when Emilie Boyes showed me her Christmas present (from someone special) and I had no idea what it was! (an Ipod!) Last night, I took my Toshiba SuperXL-TurboCharged-LuxuryEdition laptop with me to bed and watched the ESPN Drum Corps International broadcast while my lovely wife peacefully snored the night away. Heaven - I'm in Heaven.

My wife and daughters have applauded loudly as I have entered this new era in my already challenging life, but the line must be drawn somewhere and I think, in reference to the above photo, the line has been drawn! The new style for next fall, gents, will be leggings - yes, you read that right, leggings for men! I have never been exactly a slave of fashion and I don't plan on starting now. I know very few women who look good in leggings let alone men. Made of microfibre cotton and wool blend they all have stirrups except for the ones, of course, that are cut above the knee. I wouldn't care if they were spun gold, I can't believe that any more than 10% of our population could look good in something like this - male and female.

Am I right or wrong! Talk to me...I'm

Daddy "Permanent Wedgy" V

INDIANA GOVERNOR APOLOGIZES FOR ATTACK....PROMISES SWIFT ACTION!

Indiana governor Mitch Daniels apologizes for Connecticut attack.

In an unprecendented move, Indiana governor Mitch Daniels used his State of the State address to apolgize to Emilie Boyes and her family for the vicious attack sustained by Boyes on a Connecticut beach. Daniels remarked "It saddens me to know that Miss Boyes was assaulted by a Hoosier seagull. I believe that this is just the tip of the iceburg. It all goes back to the drop in the state ISTEP scores and I believe that full-day kindergarten could have prevented such a cowardly attack." Daniels also invited Miss Boyes to return to the Hoosier state soon to finish her education.


Daniels remarked "Hoosier hospitality is my number one concern. If Miss Boyes can pick up the pieces of her shattered life, we will help her put them back together." Boyes had no comment on her immediate plans. Daniels went on to say that he will appoint a special Indiana State Police taskforce to further investigate the incident, look for possible mob links, and narrow down the list of suspects. So far, the only lead in the case is the PNA results which indicated that the poo contained special ingredients from menu items available in an Indiana restaurant chain. A Scotty's Brewhouse spokesman indicated "We are outraged by this crime and are working closely with authorities in their investigation."