Tuesday, July 31, 2007

A Different Type of Game

So I am playing a game with my blog friend Jen. Basically, she got to ask me five questions about myself and I agreed to answer them here. Here are her questions and my answers:

1. How many away games will you make this football season?
At this point, at least two. The two road games with the Sac State Band (Fresno State and the trip to Weber State ). Hopefully I can make two Niners games as well (going to SF is a roadie). And of course if the Hornets finally breakthrough and get to the NCAA Div. I Football Championships, as many playoff games as possible (out of 4 total).

2. Planes, trains, or automobiles? Why?
Planes: Because they are big, exotic and everytime I see one take off, it always amazes me something that heavy can get off the ground, especially the C-5's, 747's and now the A380's. Trains: I have always loved the sound of the train whistle. To me, riding on Amtrak is like going back in American history to the glory days of passenger train riding (although Amtrak service is far from what the private railroads use to provide). Cars: Well, you gotta have one in Cali to get around. As for race cars, I love IndyCars! They are the sleekest, not to mention the fastest. There is nothing like watching a race on a Sunday afternoon in Central Indiana. Of course I am referring to "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," The Indianapolis 500. So I choose all three :-p

3. Musical instrument you would learn if you had to switch at this point in life?
That's a good question. Probably the trumpet. Because it is the loudest instrument of them all. But I love my sousaphone and my clarinet.

4. What is the best part of having a new baby in the house?
Watching them learn things for the first time. And when they laugh. Its absolutely precious. Also when they fall asleep on your chest. That's the best!

5. The best way to make your flight attendant happy is to....
Since I have been out of the game for a couple of years....I would say that the best way is to pay attention to the safety briefing. That and probably compliment those who do a good job because we all know there are a lot of bad apples who don't like their lot in life, yet they have one of the best jobs out there.

Want to play now? Here are the rules if you do:
1. Leave me a comment saying anything random, like [the food you hate most in all the world]. Something random. Whatever you like.
2. I respond by asking you five personal questions so I can get to know you better.
3. You will update your [blog] with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and offer to ask someone else in the post.
5. When others comment asking to be asked, you will ask them five questions.

Another Year Older

Another birthday for yours truly today....29. My mom, ever the clever one, told me this morning while wishing me Happy B-Day that its "all gray from here." Thanks Mom for that.

Here's to a fun-filled Age 29!

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

End of an Era

Yesterday, my dear friend Jeff Edom told me he is stepping down as Associate Director of Bands at Sac State to take the band director job at Laguna Creek HS. Mostly, besides actually getting paid more money (which HS should never be higher than a university job), he will get to spend four years with his girls who enter Laguna Creek next month.

Jeff took this job in August 1996 after Jack Foote pretty much decimated the band. He convinced 37 people to be in the band that year and grew it into a 125-piece dynamic ensemble. What was once a school with no spirit, people started to care for the band again at Sacramento State.

He re-wrote Fight, Hornet, Fight to pretty much its intended original score when Don McDonald penned it in 1952. He took the band to places never before in its history: Portland, Spokane, Salt Lake City. The shows he wrote were outstanding to play: challenging, yet tunes that most people in Hornet Stadium would know or at least appreciate.

I'll never forget the Gladiator show in 2001. I had never seen our fans give a standing 'O for the band until that night against ucdavis-sucks! Even the aggie band announcer said that was the best show he had ever seen in 30 years of the Causeway Classic.

Jeff is like the older brother I never had. He is such a good friend that this one is going to be hard. I am happy for him because he will get to spend more time with his girls before they go off to school (probably Oregon). I am sad because we will lose the director who really saved the Sacramento State Marching Band.

The uncertainty of now getting a new director in 7 weeks before camp starts is going to be tough. As a member of the staff and announcer for the band, I, along with the rest of the staff will have to work together to help the new director feel not only welcome, but get him/her up to speed.

Jeff, thank you for all you have done in service to my Alma Mater. Words cannot express what you have done in my life and the lives of all of those in the Sac State Band for the past 11 years. You will always now be an alum of the Sacramento State Marching Band. You earned it. Thank you for saving "The Spirit of Sacramentoooooooooooooooooo..............."