Long Nights...Impossible Odds...And Root Beer Floats...

Day 16...
Why these posts are entered so late I'll never know...maybe I like to let as much of the day transpire before I make an entry???

Anywho...

The center was "hopping" last night as movie night was a huge success.  The kids were really glad that we stayed open until midnight.  It was definitely a stretch for me.  It's been quite a while since I've worked that late.  "Paranormal Activity" was awesome!  The version I have has the alternate ending, which in my opinion was much better than the theatrical.  So, after a pool tournament, dancing in formation, a spaghetti dinner, root beer floats, and several buckets of popcorn later, the night was over.  Needless to say everyone had a great time and they were ready for the next event.  (I'm going to try and get some sleep between now and then...)

After all that I still had to wake up this morning and be in town for a workshop/seminar for work.  (insert scream here)  I know it's for the kids, but putting in my time is something of which I grow weary.  It was fairly informative.  I guess I'm not old enough to cope with "intergenerational grief".  At this point in my life I'm still more like a kid and less like an adult with all kinds of baggage.  Maybe I'm a kid with all kinds of baggage...yah, that makes more sense to me.

Oh well, I'm sleeping in tomorrow and then heading out to do some painting.  Should be a quick job and might even get a chance for some overdue practicing.  Lovin' the swing and can't wait to play with Scotty!!

Ciao!

Exploding Deer and Huge Battles...

Day 5 and the deer fur was flying!


That's right, deer fur.  It was the first time I'd seen a car hit a deer right in front of me.  The first thing I want to say, just to preempt this portion of the post, is that I'm very lucky and completely grateful that is wasn't me hitting the creature.  Had I not applied my breaks when I did or left the gym 10 seconds later than I did, it would have been me.  The deer was one of two or three (the typical deer story enters here) along side the road and as I stepped on my brakes it ran out across the road into my lane.  I started flashing my lights and honking my horn, more to warn the oncoming traffic than to make the deer run off, and instead of running back from where it came, it moved into oncoming traffic and was hit head on.  (Can you say "Intense!"???)


To make a long story short, there was a loud crash, a brief explosion of fur (which was all over the place), and oncoming traffic slowed to help.  I hated that feeling of there being nothing I could do to stop it from happening.  I guess when you live in this part of Colorado with all these fields and farms surrounding the main highway between two towns, it truly is something that is a regular occurrence.  I hope everyone was OK...


The work load is already increasing and it's going to take quite a bit of organization to make sure the goals we have set in the work place are accomplished.  There are so many things to accomplish....*aaaaauuuuggghhh*....the time will be there, the resources are in place and the people are willing.  The local area youth will benefit from our efforts and we will make progress!  (Hell yah!)


On a more twisted note:


This evening I found myself typing this post while watching "The Biggest Loser".  (For those who have no idea what this show is about, check it out online or try and catch in on NBC.)  The sick thing about it was, when the commercial break would occur, we would switch over to the travel channel and catch a portion of "Man Vs. Food".  A show dedicated to following a man who stuffs his face with food of titanic proportions.  These "challenges" are arranged, and at times grotesque, battles between a restaurant's famed feature food and some guy who basically eats FOR A LIVING.   Ahhhh...America, what a country!


The irony is extremely prevalent and I hope that there will be time to eat something deep fried between posts on how to diet properly.

Ciao!

Time For Some R & R...

The life a musician never slows and the concept of a "break" is extremely alien...


The new job is amazing!!  The youth services division is incredible and the level of progressiveness that these people are displaying is freakin' sweet!  Needless to say that I'm really enjoying what I'm doing and it's a job that is going to be productive and positive.  The changes that we are making are going to be astounding and the newly revamped "hang-out" for the kids is going to be intense.


This post is going to be short, but there will definitely be more after the break!  I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!  Safe travels and see you all after the food induced coma wears off!!


Ciao!

The Best Days Are Made...

Last night was incredible!!! The concert was a huge success, the guest artists were phenomenal, the crowd was loving it, and the band...the band was in the pocket!  I had such a wonderful time performing.  It's been a while since a jazz band concert made me feel that good about performing.  It felt great, the rush, the life, the music...that's truly what it's all about.  Sharing our music and love of music with the kids who came to participate and displaying what it possible when you work hard and enjoy what you do.

They [the high school and jr high students] had a great time, they all performed well throughout the day and the winning band was very deserved of the top prize.  For a group of high school students to sound as good as they did was incredible special.  They worked hard and it showed!  Congrats to them and all their tireless efforts to come and swing as a band!

The day was long, with 19 bands and long hours of running around, announcing bands, setting up chairs and stands, taking care of judges, and making sure that we were prepared for our own concert...whew!!!  The day ended in quite possibly the best way one can end a day.  Dinner with friends, wonderful guest artists, new acquaintances, lots of laughs and meaningful conversations, great food, and then fall asleep next to someone that means a lot.  Ya, he's pretty awesome!

So, Friday is here, Gershwin awaits us at the lunch hour and Rhapsody knows no stops for the faint of heart.  Music truly is the best thing on this planet.  Synonymous with love and a language all its own, I have been reinspired to progress to the next level.  What is that???  RENO!!!!  Hell ya!!!

Ciao!

Trio Reunited...

The return to school is going to be legendary.

Hanging out with good friends last night was definitely something I had been missing and I was so very grateful that they were there.  We had dinner and watched a movie, the latter to be described as unique for sure.  The dinner was great, not because the food was anything spectacular, but because we were together.  It just seemed to taste better, the night was a little warmer, the environment was that much more friendly.  I felt whole again....

The remaining days of "vacation" are winding to a close and already I'm moving into high gear to try and get as much accomplished as I can before the term begins.  I just hope it will be enough to make light work of the road ahead...