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Dave's Living RoomEnjoy my sound tracks and adventures
December 07 Good Bye OHIO, Hello new lifeWith my Focus loaded to the max, I hit the road for North Carolina. Ohio didn't make it easy for me. I had to fight a snow storm all the way across the state. Finally, once in WV, the blood came back into my knuckles. The snow put me an hour behind schedule, but I still made it. I took a spare bedroom in my daughter's home. After about an hour, I had my "Man Cave" ready to live in. In case your interested, I did bring my horns. I understand some of my buddys are taking bets on when I will pick up with another band. I talked with my daughter. I suggested we might find a community band that Amanda & I can both play. This would be great. Plus while on the road, I thought I might like to play "Oh Come Emanuel" during a Sunday service at Amanda's church. Maybe my musical life will continue. I'm So BlessedLast night I was reminded how much I'm going to miss this home of 17 years. My sax "Dad" had me over to his house. Once there, four other sax buddy's showed up and we relived some of the great times we had during the last few years. We discussed the good and bad elements of the two bands we represent (Swing City Big Band & Wind Jammers Big Band). I'd like to pay tribute to each of these great friends.
First, Dick, my sax "Dad". A retired school principle. But like me, he doesn't understand the concept of retirement. Thanks to his for our next generation and his skills for building superior teams, he's back on the job. Dick plays lead alto in SCBB and lead tenor in the WJBB. You know what? I can always count on him to lend me a hand when I run out of gas.
The next man at this fine outing is Chuck. Chuck, the newest addition to the SCBB plays 2nd tenor. During the day you can find him directing a local high school band. Chuck and I have formed a bond. At each gig we could be found placing a critical eye on the clientele.
Next, we have John. John's a retired GM worker. Back in the day he had a fine combo. Now he's taken on the challenge of reading all of these charts with the WJBB. Thanks to John's big sound, the sax section with this band is outstanding. When this section plays (John, Dick (Dad), Mary Jane and me) it sounds like one instrument. When we play you can't pick an one player. Everyone blends into one beautiful tone. Last, but not least, Glen. Glen is a sub for both of these two bands. Alto or Tenor. When you're in the need for a good player, he fills the bill. In addition to his time with SCBB and WJBB, Glen plays with several other groups like the LCCC Jazz Band. Thanks Dick, Tom, Chuck, John and Glen for your friendship and musicianship. December 05 And Who Said I was Retired?Here goes, new life is being generated into my blog. Why you ask? Well, I'm turning a BIG corner in my life. I just quit my job with "Food Control Solutions"
and I'm on the road to a new job in Rocky Mount North Carolina. What a change this will be. Friday, its on the road with my car full of stuff heading to my Raleigh house. I'll be rooming with my daughter and starting a new job with Superior Controls.
To be sure, it was very hard to walk away from my three bands and all of my musician friends... There are taking bets on how long it will be before I'm hooked up with another group or two... Well, I'm going to take it easy. This new position will be VERY challenging. February 25 Search for a Teaching Position!Its time to answer a question I've had for a long time. Is teaching for me? I received the card from the Wake County Public Schoool System. My application is in order, I'm clear to apply for open teaching positions.
At this point there are two math positions open. One in a middle school another in a hogh school. It's the high school that's most interesting. I'll submit my resume and see what happens.....
February 24 Mighty Goliath Players 2007 season is ON...The first "pit" rehearsal for "Anything Goes" with the Mighty Goliath players happened last night. Unfortunately, I missed it. I had my retirement dinner in Livonia. Truth be told, I'd prefer the PIT over the handshaking. I was in a room with guys I didn't know very well if at all. I've only been in the group for 2 years, so I felt like a fish out of water. On top of that, with only 17 years at Ford, I was retiring when most the guys in the room had more years than me... So funny.
Need I say, the time in the PIT would have been prefered.
Anything GoesOriginal Broadway ProductionA Musical Comedy in Two Acts Tryouts began November 5, 1934 at the Colonial Theatre, Boston Opened November 21, 1934 at the Alvin Theatre, NYC Synopsis Reno Sweeney, an evangelist turned bar hostess, gets such a kick out of Billy Crocker that she boards a Europe-bound liner to dissuade him from pursuing Hope Harcourt. Although Billy dreams of Hope all through the night, Hope is determined to marry Sir Evelyn Oakleigh. Crocker has boarded without a ticket, so is forced to adopt a number of disguses. Also aboard is a wistful little man, the Reverend Dr. Moon, whom the FBI has branded "Public Enemy 13". Moon's ambition is to rise to the top of the list. On landing, Hope discovers she has become an heiress, drops her Englishman and consents to marry Billy. Oakleigh turns his attention to Reno, and Moon, to his dismay, learns that he has been judged harmless and dropped from the FBI list. Retirement from FordIt's hard to believe, but after 32 years, it's time to retire.
Ford's problems have opened an opportunity to retire a bit early. My first thought was to go to North Carolina and hook up with my daughter, teaching high school math in the Wake County Public schools. All of the paper work is submitted, but I happened across a controls company in the Cleveland area.
OK, the teaching thing is still my final goal. The summers and misc holidays is my idea of retirement. The local controls company made me a very nice offer. Oh well, my retirement on the 28th of Feburary is over on March 1st. Than its back to work.
My new firm is much smaller, and unlike Ford, it's growing. I'm excited about the new challenges.
Added Photo Log of my musical lifeI loaded a You Tube video of the varies musical activities I've been involved with over the past few years. Oh ya, that's me providing the sound track. Hope you enjoy..... August 16 Mike's WeddingJust a few short weeks we went to Mike's wedding. A beautiful wedding on Lake Michigan. I spent my time taking photos and MOV's of the event. I've promised to get a DVD produced of the ceramony and reception. It's a bit tuff getting it complete. But, I'll get it done. I will have a clip of two of the ceramony as I get it near finished.....
June 03 A day out of the officeThis is my second time taking advantage of Ford's Community Service program. Friday, I spent scrapping and painting buildings from the earily 1800's. The Frostville Museum consists of a half dozen builds that were relocated to this site for the purpose of saving a chunck of Olmsted's history.
I have a couple of pictures in the "Cleveland Engine Plant" photo album. There is a picture of a church recently moved to this site. As you can tell its going thru an extensive remodeling. The bell tower was just lifted up to its new home. Surprisingly, they found a bell in this tower casted in 1870 by a local Ohio bell company Before long, you can have your wedding in this church and reception in the country. Beautiful surrounding....
April 29 Signs of SpringIt almost makes the winter months worth it.
Love those tulips in front of the house.
New Home?When my daughter moved to Raleigh, we have been planned on making the move to NC when retirement time happens. During the Easter break, my wife & I drove to Raleigh to spend the holiday with her. To make a long story short, we BOUGHT a home.
The plan My daughter and a couple of friends will live in this house till that blessed retirement day comes about. Until than, Amanda and friends live cheaper than rent (saving more than $100 per month each) and I get a nice tax break. Sounds too good to be true, we'll see...
Seeing how MSN spaces is all screwed up, I have more pictures in a reliable net space (Photobucket).... Check them out.
A Lot Of Catching Up to do...MSN is up to the same old crap. I can't upload pictures AGAIN. Oh well, at least Photobucket has it together....
Last week Swing City did a benefit concert for the Lorain County Free Clinic. We were joined with a fantastic vocal group. Had a good time. We have several videos on the Swing City Big Band web site. Check them out...
OK, I'm the web master, one of the reasons why my blog has been taking "second chair"... April 03 It's Not Easy Being Green A frog goes into a bank and approaches the teller. He can see from her nameplate that her name is Patricia Whack. "Miss Whack, I'd like to get a $30,000 loan to take a holiday." Patty looks at the frog in disbelief and asks his name. The frog says his name is Kermit Jagger, his dad is Mick Jagger, and that it's okay, he knows the bank manager. Patty explains that he will need to secure the loan with some collateral. The frog says, "Sure. I have this," and produces a tiny porcelain elephant, about an inch tall, bright pink and perfectly formed. Very confused, Patty explains that she'll have to consult with the bank manager and disappears into a back office. She finds the manager and says, "There's a frog called Kermit Jagger out there who claims to know you and wants to borrow $30,000, and he wants to use this as collateral." She holds up the tiny pink elephant. "I mean, what in the world is this?" (you're gonna love this) (its a real treat) (a masterpiece) (wait for it) The bank manager looks back at her and says... "It's a knickknack, Patty Whack. Give the frog a loan. His old man's a Rolling Stone." (You're singing it, aren't you? Yeah, I know you are........)  April 01 As Nervous AS HELL!My daughter asked me, she doesn't know it yet, but I will do it.... A solo performance at her church in North Carolina. OMG (Oh My God), I will be "as nervous as HELL". But after thinking about it, it's an opurtunity to do some thing special for my daughter. Some thing she will remember long after I'm gone. Good or Bad, it will be unforgetable. I will create a midi track for "On Eagles Wings" and play the solo part on my flute....
Maybe, I can work in a section where I get the congregation to sing along during the chorus. Yes indeed it will be memorable....
March 23 What Was I Thinking?You know you're playing to much when...Here I sit, this is the only night I'll have off in 11 nights. Of coarse, this is over & above my "full time" job with Henry. Funny, but I feel like I'm on vacation because I'm sitting home....
Friday is OPENNING NIGHT. I'm sure we'll do a good job. Practice last night went well. A couple of bumps in the road when the singers decided to come in went they want to, and not when the music wanted them to. But we are good enough to made this a seamless transision.
It's the "being on the edge" that makes musical theater fun. You've got: 20 musicians, 50+ cast members, a dozen or so crew, a house full of folks and props. Any thing can go wrong.
The fun is in the reactions to these "panic" times.
March 20 In Musical Theater - Life IS the pitNOT THE CHERRY!
Just back from Brigadoon practice. I'll share with you a prespective few get when attending a musical production. This is a good thing. If this was the typical prespective, few would come back. But such is the life of a musician....
I ofter to you, two pictures that tell a story. First, my view from the music stand. Deep from the bowels of the pit. So deep in fact, the conductor must stand on a very tall podem to see the singers. See his foot. That's right, foot. So what are my chances of seeing his baton and the music at close to the same time.... none.
But than again, we're lucky, one of the trumpets set-up a video feed so we can see parts of the play (when we're not playing)... See the cage (net) in the video monitor?
The second pic has me standing at the pit enterance. You can see the conductor's head poking out of the cage. That's right, cage, don't feed the animals. The cage is there to protect the musicians if it starts to rain cast members. All in all, this is a great pit. Lots of room. Very clean.
Oh, did I mention, many years ago, I played a musical in Michigan that was in a converted barn. We (the pit) were stationed in the hay loft. We hoisted my brother's drums by rope into the loft. No way to climb the ladder while holding a bass drum. Don't ya just love it....
March 18 Good Memories Of Days Gone By....For many years, my life revolved around hockey. My son played from age 8 thru high school. I coached teams from Mite to Midgets. Many memories with a warm feeling of the friends, family and kids. Most of all the kids. The time we spent on the ice and bench. The hours of practice. All of the dreams. Pictured below is one of the boys that I had the pleasure of sharing these times. Times I'll never for get. Hard to believe, but now he's a senior. His father Bob was my coordinator for several teams. Thank you Bob for all you've done and good luck to you and your family....
Coach Dave
PS: Several of the pics in the "Hockey Album" have pictures of Matt and his buddies from about 4-5 years ago. Oh, how they grow... Matt is wearing the colors of the Amherst Comet High School Hockey team. I was involved with the group of parents that convinced the Amherst School Board to take hockey on as a varsity sport. This mark the beginning of a high school tradition and the end of my "Hockey Career". It was bitersweet.
But, I am proud of those kids.....
Brigadoon - Hell Week BeginsSunday at 2:00PM the baton drops on first "on stage" rehearsal for Brigadoon. We'll run thru the show twice that day. Than its everyday until openning night FRIDAY....
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