PROM-SERVATIONS - SHOES, TATOOS AND MORE!

Tonight was Daddy V's first experience with this thing called the "prom." When Daddy V was a pup, the prom was not a big deal. As a matter of fact, the night of his senior prom, volunteer fireman Daddy V spent the night "babysitting" the town firetrucks while renovation work at the firehouse was completed. Civic duty before personal pleasure! After viewing tonight's proceeding, Daddy V would like to make the following observations:

1. Picking a prom dress is obviously more difficult these days than in years gone by. These days, girls must find a dress that is not only flattering but also effectively displays their tatoos!

2. Gentlemen also struggle with proper prom presentation. It must be difficult to find just the right color sneakers to match both their tux as well as their date's dress!

3. Ladies - if you never wear high heels what makes you think you can put a pair on the night of the prom and walk with any sense of style?

4. Along these same lines, when you know you're going to spend quite a bit of time on your feet, why would you wear shoes that you know are going to hurt? I'll bet I saw a dozen girls carrying their shoes - and those were just the wimpy ones who couldn't tough out the pain!

"QUEEN" SWEEP FOR THE PATRIOT BAND!

HER MAJESTY, "BOWLING" ALLY FULLENKAMP

Congratulations to Allison Fullenkamp, Patriot Band drum major and flute player, on being selected the 2007 JCHS Prom Queen. What a beautiful and worthy selection for such an honor.


HER MAJESTY, KELSEY BONE

Daddy V applauds Allison and would also like to congratulate Kelsey Bone on her selection for Homecoming Queen last fall. Daddy V wasn't on line until late last fall, so he wasn't able to give his blessing to Kelsey's honor. Both young ladies hold a special place in Daddy V's heart since he's known them both from an early age and he has enjoyed watching them grow into beautiful young women who have been fantastic members of the Patriot Band and Eastern Breeze Flute Choir members. Congratulations again to Allison and Kelsey!

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST!

THE HAPPY COUPLE!

Holy Matrimony! It's true! After months of rumor and speculation, the indomitable Mark "Melon" Garringer has asked the beautiful Emilie "Nutmeg" Boyes to spend the rest of her life with him and she said YES!


ARE YA GAME?

Needless to say, the happy couple has the well wishes of the entire Patriot Band and staff as they begin to plan their lives together!


YOU BET!

Daddy V has a special place in his heart for all our "junior" staffers - they keep him young - but it's no secret that Emilie has burrowed a special place in Daddy V's heart - kinda like a bol weevil burrows into a cottonpod! Must be the TaylorU/East Coast/Color Guard connection!
Daddy V asks God's blessing on Mark and Emilie during this happy time! But let's not lose sight of what's important in life! Summer band starts in 67 days!

BACK HOME AGAIN IN INDIANA!

For better or worse, it's back home again in Jay County for the Marching Patriots! All in all, it was a safe trip - nobody honked, nobody skidded - but what about what your thoughts - what did you like, what didn't you like. Make yourself the band director - what would you do different. Please keep in mind that even though your band staff are considered by many to be demi-gods (especially Daddy V) we can't control the weather!

RACHEL VOGLER WINS BOWLING CROWN!

I know this is the band blog, but pardon a little fatherly pride as I point out that my 5th grader, Rachel, obliterated all 60 contestants in today's Blue Jay High Rollers (elem./middle school - boys and girls) bowling championship at the Brown Bowl in Portland! Atta girl Rachel - following in your athletically proficient father's sneakers!

I'M A SUCKER FOR A GOOD QUOTE...

...so here's one I came across today that I think will be well worth thinking about as we begin to look forward to this year's contest season.

WHEN YOU STRIVE TOWARDS A GOAL, WITH ALL THE PASSION AND INTENSITY YOU CAN MUSTER, YOU ARE GREAT, NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME!
WOW! I think that speaks volumes!

Daddy V

On the Road Again.....with the Patriot Marching Band!

ADVICE FOR ROOKIES!

Many of our rookie band members have never been on a trip such as the one we are about to take. How 'bout some advice for them from our older members. How do you sleep on a bus? What should you bring on the bus? How about the morning after the long drive? Life in a motel room?


PLEASE USE BEFORE BOARDING THE BUS!

Let's help them out, veteran band travelers - especially you seniors who were on the trip to Florida! Send me your suggestions and I'll publish the best ones and give you the credit! Or how about your funniest trip story!


LIFE ON THE BUS WITH THE PATRIOT BAND


Talk to me, I'm Daddy V!

Spring Break 2007 - "Don't fire 'til you see the whites of their eyes!" - American Army officer William Prescott

BUNKER HILL MONUMENT. THE BATTLE ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE ON NEARBY BREEDS HILL BUT IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS!

Greetings Patriot Band members from the East Coast where Daddy V has chosen to spend his Spring Break discovering some of the history and culture of New England. Having deposited Mrs. Daddy V and daughter #1 in NYC (hedonists) Daddy V and daughter #2 traveled on to the state of Connecticut to explore some Revolutionary War history. We stayed in the lovely village of Mystic, home to the Mystic Seaport (kind of a Conner Prairie of the seafaring and whaling era). Mystic is not far from Norwich, CT, the birthplace of Patriot Guard staff member, the lovely and talented Emilie Boyes. I picked up a Norwich travel brochure in our motel and found out that, in additon to Miss Boyes, the Revoluationary War traitor Benedict Arnold was also born in Norwich. Now there's something to be proud of!


SITE OF THE BOSTON MASSACRE - A REVOLUTION STARTED BY A SNOWBALL!


Daughter #2 and Daddy V explored the incredibly complicated city of Boston (pronounced Bahstun) where we saw (in the the Boston vernacular) Pahl Reveah's house, Nahth Church (you know - one if by land, two if by sea?)Bunka Hill Monument, Fanuiel Hall, Quincy Mahcut, Bahstun Massacre site, (actually started by colonial rowdies throwing snowballs at the Redcoats or Lobsterbacks as they were known),


PAUL REVERES'S HOUSE. REVERE WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF 3 RIDERS THAT NIGHT IN 1775. HE IS REMEMBERED TODAY ONLY BECAUSE HIS NAME RHYMED WITH "LISTEN MY CHILDREN AND YOU SHALL HEAR..."

Bahstun Cahmons, and Fenway Pahk (home of the Boston "Loser" Red Sox. I mean, come on now. Why would you name a team after an article of clothing and then not even spell it right. Is there a WNBA team called the Poseville Pink Bras or an NFL team called the Texas Trousers? But I digress.) Following our Freedom Trail tour, we sampled some of the local delicacies including lobstah rolls, clam rolls, clam chowdah, and Bahstun's famous baked beans (hence Bean Town). Boston is a beautiful city but also a difficult city in which to drive because most of the roads are centuries old cow paths. Some of the streets were only wide enough for one car to pass. For 3 hours of parking (pahking) Daddy V paid $33!!!!! Next time, we take a taxi - better on the nerves and the wallet!


NORTH CHURCH OF "ONE IF BY LAND AND TWO IF BY SEA" FAME!

Following our our Boston visit, Daddy V enjoyed a visit to the Mystic Seaport Museum (very cool for Daddy V - just OK for daughter #2) as well as a visit to the Mystic Aquarium (very cool for daughter #2 - just OK for Daddy V). At night, we explored two unusual New England sports - Duckpin bowling and Candlepin bowling. More on this in Daddy V's next entry

CENTRAL PARK - NYC'S "GREENSPACE"

CENTRAL PARK IN NEW YORK CITY

The first landscaped public park in the United States, built primarily between the 1850s and 1870s, encompassing 843 acres in New York City between Fifth Avenue and Eighth Avenue and running from 59th Street to 110th Street.

New York bought the land for Central Park—and removed about 1,600 immigrants and African Americans who lived there—at the behest of the city's elite, who were embarrassed by European claims that America lacked refinement and believed a park would serve as a great cultural showpiece. The original plans of architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux sought to re-create the country in the city.

At first, Central Park catered almost exclusively to the rich, who used its drives for daily carriage parades. Though some working-class New Yorkers visited the park on Sunday, most lacked leisure time and streetcar fare, and they resented the park's strict rules, including the infamous prohibition against sitting on the grass. By the 1880s, however, shorter workdays and higher wages made park attendance more convenient for the poor and recent immigrants. With additions such as boat and goat rides, the zoo, Sunday concerts, and restaurants, Central Park's focus gradually shifted from nature to amusement. During the Great Depression, the powerful parks commissioner Robert Moses continued this trend, financing massive improvements, including more than twenty new playgrounds, with New Deal money.


CENTRAL PARK WAS THE FIRST LANDSCAPED PUBLIC PARK IN THE US

In many ways, the 1970s marked Central Park's low point. Though never as dangerous as reported, the park experienced a dramatic increase in crime, and it came to represent New York's urban decay. Moreover, New York's fiscal crisis decimated the park budget, and in the 1980s, the city gave up full public control by forming a partner-ship with the private Central Park Conservancy. Today, Central Park symbolizes New York's grandeur, as its aristocratic founders expected. They never dreamed it would also serve the recreational needs of a city of 8 million people.
Central Park's rolling terrain includes a zoo, lakes and ponds, greeneries, bridle paths, walks, and park drives. There are many playgrounds and other recreational facilities within the park's boundaries. The Metropolitan Museum of Art stands in the park on Fifth Ave. Other points of interest include a formal garden, an Egyptian obelisk popularly called “Cleopatra's Needle,” a New York City reservoir, and the Mall. In the open-air Delacorte Theater, Shakespearean dramas and other plays are presented free of charge.

STRAWBERRY FIELDS MEMORIAL TO JOHN LENNON IS PART OF THE CENTRAL PARK LANDSCAPE. THE LOCATION IS NOT FAR FROM WHERE LENNON WAS MURDERED IN DECEMBER OF 1980

ROCKEFELLER CENTER - BOTTOM OF THE ROCK

PROMETHEUS RECUMBENT

Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering 22 acres between 48th and 51st Streets in New York. Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, spanning between Fifth Avenue and Seventh Avenue. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1988. It is the largest privately held complex of its kind in the world, and an international symbol of modernist architectural style blended with capitalism.

Rockefeller Center was named after John D. Rockefeller Jr. ("Junior"), who leased the space from Columbia University in 1928 and developed it from 1930. Rockefeller initially planned to build an opera house for the Metropolitan Opera Company on the site, but changed his mind after the stock market crash of 1929. He took on the enormous project as the sole financier, on a ninety-nine-year lease for the site from Columbia; negotiating a line of credit with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and covering ongoing expenses through the sale of oil company stock. It was the largest private building project ever undertaken in modern times. Construction of the 14 buildings in the Art Deco style began on May 17, 1930 and was completed on November 1, 1939 when Rockefeller drove in the final (silver) rivet into 10 Rockefeller Plaza.

ROCKEFELLER CENTER AT CHRISTMAS

The Center is a combination of two building complexes: the older and original 14 Art Deco office buildings from the 1930s, and a set of four International-style towers built along the Avenue of the Americas during the 1960s and 1970s. The Time-Life Building, McGraw Hill and News Corporation/Fox News Channel headquarters are part of these "newer" Rockefeller Center buildings, which are now owned/managed by the major private real estate firm, Rockefeller Group.

Radio City Music Hall

The Radio City Music Hall was completed in December, 1932. At the time it was the largest and most opulent theater in the world. Its original name was the International Music Hall but was changed to reflect the new techonology of the time - radio. One of the complex's first and most important tenants was the Radio Corporation of America, hence the other name the Center itself was dubbed was "Radio City".

The Music Hall was planned by a consortium of three architectural firms, who employed Edward Durrell Stone to design the exterior. The interior design was given to the expert of the then European Modernist style and the expression of a new American aesthetic, Donald Deskey, through the direction of Abby Rockefeller. He believed the space would best be served by sculptures and wall paintings and commissioned various artists for the elaborate and now showpiece work. The theater seated 6,000 people and after an initial slow start became the single biggest tourist destination in the city. Its interior was declared a New York City landmark in 1978.

The GE Building (RCA Building)

30 ROCKEFELLER CENTER - HOME TO "TOP OF THE ROCK"

The centerpiece of Rockefeller Center is the 70-floor, 872-foot GE Building at 30 Rockefeller Plaza ("30 Rock") - formerly known as the RCA Building - centered behind the sunken plaza. The building was renamed in the 1980s after General Electric (GE) re-acquired RCA, which it helped found in 1919. The famous Rainbow Room club restaurant is located on the 65th floor; the Rockefeller family office covers the 54-56th floors. The skyscraper is the headquarters of NBC and houses most of the network's New York studios, including the legendary Studio 8H, home of Saturday Night Live. NBC currently owns the space it occupies in the building as a condominium arrangement.

Unlike most other Art Deco towers built during the 1930s, the GE Building was constructed as a slab with a flat roof, where the Center's newly renovated observation deck, the Top of the Rock is located, which was first built in 1933. The $75 million makeover of the observation area was carried out by the Center's owner, Tishman Speyer Properties and was finally completed in 2005. It spans from the 67-70th floors and includes a multimedia exhibition exploring the history of the Center. On the 70th floor, reached by both stairs and elevator, there is a 20-foot wide viewing area, allowing visitors a unique 360-degree panoramic view of New York City.

At the front of 30 Rock is the Lower Plaza, in the very center of the complex, which is reached from 5th Avenue through the Channel Gardens and Promenade. The acclaimed sculptor Paul Manship was commissioned in 1933 to create a masterwork to adorn the central axis, below the famed annual Yule tree, but all the other original plans to fill the space were abandoned over time. It wasn't until Christmas Day in 1936 that the ice-skating rink was finally installed and the popular Center activity of ice-skating began.

Center Art

Rockefeller Center contains, amongst many other corporate tenants, the New York headquarters of the world's biggest auction house by revenue, Christies. The Center represents a turning point in the history of architectural sculpture: It is among the last major building projects in the United States to incorporate a program of integrated public art. Sculptor Lee Lawrie contributed the largest number of individual pieces, twelve, including the statue of Atlas facing Fifth Avenue, and the conspicuous friezes above the main entrance to the RCA Building.

Lower Plaza at Rockefeller Center.Paul Manship's highly recognizable bronze gilded statue of the Greek Legend of the Titan Prometheus recumbent, bringing fire to mankind, features prominently in the sunken plaza at the front of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The model for Prometheus was Leonard Nole and the inscription from Aeschylus, on the granite wall behind, reads: "Prometheus, teacher in every art, brought the fire that hath proved to mortals a means to mighty ends". Although some sources cite it as the fourth-most familiar statue in the United States, behind the Lincoln Memorial, Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty, Manship was not particularly fond or proud of it.

In 1962, a plaque was placed at the plaza with a list of principles in which John D. Rockefeller Jr. believed in, first expressed by him in 1941. It begins with: "I believe in the supreme worth of the individual and in his right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness", and includes a list of other lifelong beliefs encompassing free enterprise and religion.