We're Performing with a Symphony

On Sunday, July 4th, my drum corps is performing with a local symphony at the Eisemann Center in Richardson, TX.

My corps' website is here, which also has a link to the Plano Symphony website.

We are all looking forward to it, because it is great exposure for our corps, is a professional gig, and will be INDOORS!!!! I can't tell you how happy that last part makes me.

We will be performing the Star Spangled Banner with the symphony and the chorus to start off the concert, and at some point (I don't know the entire run of show yet) we will do our performance of 4 or 5 songs, the symphony will perform, and at the very end of the concert while people are leaving, we are going to line the aisles and play again. We will be in full uniform but without shakos and plumes (hats). Any time we get to perform indoors without shakos is a big win. It's bloomin' hot outside!

Today I told my family about the performance and they seemed interested, so maybe they'll come. It's kind of far for them to drive there - over an hour - so we'll see.

We had rehearsal yesterday, and I drank over 150 ounces of water and Gatorade, it was that hot. That's a lot of fluids.

On Friday I have an appointment at the design studio for the house I'm having built. I will get lots of information to wade through, so I'll share some of it here. I also have rehearsal on Saturday and that rehearsal and performance on Sunday, so I'll be quite busy this weekend.

But the good news is that I'm in town this entire week. I don't go out of town again until a week from Wednesday, so I can cook my meals and eat real food, and maybe even visit some friends and do normal people activities in the evenings. Wow!

I get my company car on Tuesday FINALLY!!!, and am excited about not having to put more miles on mine, which is now at 103,000 miles in 4 1/2 years.

That's all my excitement for now. I hope each of you has a fabulous week.

Ahhh, Drum Corps

This is me tooting my own horn, so to speak. The picture on the left was taken at a park in/near Rochester, NY at a rehearsal during DCA World Championships over Labor Day weekend in 2009. The picture on the right was taken some time in June, July, or August of 2009 at one of the rehearsals. Rehearsal is tough on the body and rough on the clothes, so I have just a handful of T-shirts and shorts dedicated to this purpose. I have found that Adidas shoes fit my feet better than any other brand, so I'll stick with them forever, I suppose.

We're entering the high season for drum corps, when there is a rehearsal almost every weekend between now and Labor Day. Some are just Saturday rehearsals; some are Saturday and Sunday.

Two Saturdays from now, we have a performance in Austin, where all the active Drum Corps in Texas perform their show (standstill performance as opposed to marching + playing) on the steps of the state capitol. The performance is free to attend and has a family/friend feel. People bring their blankets and coolers and enjoy the evening of great music. There are a handful of Junior Corps in Texas, but we are the only remaining active competing All-Age Drum Corps. Corps fold all the time because it is an expensive prospect to keep one running.

Just to clarify, the singular and the plural are both spelled 'corps'. When you're talking about one, you pronounce it 'core'. When you're talking about more than one, you pronounce it 'cores'. I just thought I'd put that in there in case anyone was wondering.

I'm particularly excited about this Austin performance (which is called Texas Drum Corps Preview) because I now know how it goes. What I mean is that I know what to expect. Last year was my first year, so everything was new to me, and I had to learn where to meet for rehearsal at all these performances, what was allowed and not allowed, the timing and cadence of things, where to book a hotel, etc. It's amazing how much mental energy it takes to absorb entirely new situations.

If any pics are taken that I have access to, I will post them. I have to cut this post short, because I need to do a few things before I leave for Tulsa in the early morning.

Does This "SOLD" Sign Make Me Look Fat?

Yes, this is my new home site. After much initialing and signing and providing of all my financial documents, I am now the proud owner of this patch of dirt. It was 98 degrees outside today with nary a cloud in the sky, so the community's pool is going to be very appealing to me in the next few months.

Don't you like my kicks? (kicks are shoes, in case you didn't know)

Even though today is Saturday, the mortgage guy at the bank and I spoke for about 35 minutes. He looked at the documents the home salesperson scanned and emailed over to him. I gave him some more information about my salary, other accounts, etc., and he checked my credit score as well. He told me that I would absolutely be approved for the loan based, and that the official certificate would be forthcoming. He is going to tell KB Home to proceed with the home during their builders meeting on Monday.

I've worked hard and smart and handled my finances conservatively and intelligently during my entire life, so I expect to be rewarded now with a fantastic interest rate and every other perk or advantage that is possible. I'm sorry if that sounds snooty, I just feel like it's time for me to get the bonuses that the responsible people of this country should receive.

The incentives include a washer, dryer, refrigerator, microwave above the stove, and $5,000 in free upgrades. Anyone want to go shopping at the design center with me?

The home won't be ready until October or November, due to it taking 6-8 weeks to get a building permit in Fort Worth (lots of construction going on in that town right now), and houses that are already in the queue to be built, so I won't have to buy a lawn mower or have a huge financial outlay for yard type things right now.

I already posted this same pic on Facebook, and I will tell my family tomorrow. They know I've been looking for a place to build and haven't been happy with anything I've seen, but I think they'll be surprised that I moved so quickly on this property/community. I just saw it for the first time 8 days ago, but I knew immediately it was the right place for me. And just a note about that...I have learned to follow my gut/instincts on things like this. It's an 'I'll know it when I see it' type of thing.

Now I'm off to watch Season 2 of 24 on DVD for the rest of the night. Toodles.