Cache of the Day - High School Football Games

I'm actually not talking about high school football games. The football game is just the opening and closing to the marching band.

I heard that statement once before, but OF COURSE I never believed it! Football is king, as is any sport when you're in high school. But - being a former "band nerd" myself - I couldn't wait for football season to begin. There is nothing like having the best seats in the house (our band at Cortez High School in Phoenix always sat on the 50-yard line on the "Home" side). And the antics in the stands! Having an instrument close by, while viewing a football game, always carries a potential for mischief.

One of my favorite times was when I first started going to college and, as a "prequel" to going to Arizona State University, I enrolled at Phoenix College. Of course I was in the marching band, and that is where I met My Pal, Andy. Andy always was the Master of Mischief and he (percussion), along with buddy Dave Hoops (trumpet), would make me laugh hysterically. I remember a particular game where Andy would put a trumpet to his chest and someone would yell out, "Hey Andy, play it with HEART!!!". And Dave - unseen of course - would play the "CHAAAAARGE" fanfare, while Andy would act like he was "playing" that fanfare with his heart. And then someone would yell out, "Hey Andy, play it by EAR!!!!" and Andy would put the trumpet to his ear and, well....you get the picture.

Of course, all the other non-band fans were actually WATCHING the game, so they paid no attention to these antics whatsoever.

I learned practically everything I know about football - and developed a true appreciation for it as my favorite sport - as a result of going to every Home game and 90% of Away games. And I developed a true appreciation for the unique bond that musicians have for each other through the closeness and camaraderie that we shared in these tight quarters.

So, much to my delight, my daughter Taylor is now in marching band at Mitchell High School, where she plays the clarinet. I can see that she enjoys the band very much. I'm pretty sure that is because of the people she plays with and shares the stands with. Here are a few shots of her in her band uniform.

So, football season has begun and going to Taylor's games has brought back some great memories, and just one of the reminders of why music means so much to me today.

Cache of the Day - Theme Parks

Everyone's got to do at least one theme park over the summer, and we've had a chance to hang out at a couple this summer.

Here's Tyler and Taylor at Kings Island, north of Cincinnati, getting ready to ride The Italian Job. Even though we were waiting in lines the majority of the time, and spent lots of money on food and drink, we had lots of fun.

The best value around is a Holiday World, where they've got great wooden roller coasters. The best part, however, is that all the fountain drinks are FREE!!!! And sunscreen - if you're in the water park - is FREE!!!! And parking is FREE!!!! We like FREE!

While nothing compares to Disney, these local theme park are loads of fun.

Cache of the Day - Biking

In honor of the final day of the Tour de France, Taylor and I got out our bikes and went for an extended visit along the bike trails in Bloomington. What a great workout, especially since the brake on my mountain bike was rubbing the entire time, causing better resistance than could be artificially simulated in any gym. I hated it. But Taylor sailed along on her road bike and laughed at me a lot.

The weather was perfect - warm and breezy, and we encountered many interesting characters in our travels.

We enjoyed the rest of our Sunday evening eating Mexican food on the patio, and Taylor here is still reading Harry Potter. (Don't tell her the ending yet....there are spoilers everywhere!).

Cache of the Day - Loving Summer!

After having lived in Phoenix for 20 years of my youth, I had a rather cynical view of summers. The year my high heels melted while I was walking on the sidewalk put it all in perspective and I knew I couldn't stand the heat any longer. While I miss my mother (hi Mommy!)and my brothers Stephen and Charlie and my sister Lisa (who I know never read my blog so I am not going to say hi), I don't miss the scorching heat of an Arizona desert summer. I sympathize with My Pal Andy, who just had to have a "snow day" in Phoenix because it was TOO hot!. (Actually, I don't really sympathize with him - seems he made out pretty good!). Read his post here to find out more.

I can get why people ("snowbirds") migrate to Phoenix in the winter, because that is when the weather is just about right. And the fall and spring is even perfect. Here's a shot of Taylor and I when we visited in March (out in Carolyn's back yard), and we could still be outside without collapsing from heat prostration. (And I don't want to hear any of that, "But it's a DRY heat!". It's still hot. I don't care how dry it is....115 is still quite unbearable. Especially when walking on the sidewalk.)

But of course the main reason for the migration is that the snowbirds get away from Midwest winters.

But I don't need to think about Midwest winters now. It is a glorious summer day here in southcentral Indiana. It is about 75 degrees, a clear, blue sky, and a gentle breeze is wisping along my back porch, where I have a view of a lush, green mini-forest and, if I look really hard, I can see the edges of the lake (I can totally see it in the winter, when the trees have no leaves).


And along with this glorious weather, comes fun outdoor activities, preferably involving water! I have had a chance to get out to the lake, where Stacy and I rented a boat for a whirlwind hour of water activity.


We also had a chance to visit Put-in-Bay, an island just off the coast of Ohio in Lake Erie. We had met some people in Chicago who invited us there...and we took them up on it. (Be careful what you invite us to!). They had a 35' boat that took us there (see the pics of Terry, Debbie, and daughter Brooke), and we had a WILD time.

And what a stellar way to celebrate summer. Beautiful weather, water, fun times with friends, good food and drink, lots of sunshine, great conversation....and relaxing!

I'd love to hear ways that everyone else is celebrating these beautiful warm summer days.

Cache of the Day - Guest Posting on Thursday Quote Day

Deb gently reminded me that Thursday is "quote day" on her blog so I've accomodated. Check out the latest at 8 Hours and a Lunch.

Cache of the Day - More Guest Posting

See me at Deb's blog today! Click on this link to access the post "Do you have a WIG...or a PIG?". I'll be back here soon!

Cache of the Day - Guest Posting!

I am a "Guest Post" on my friend Deb Owen's blog, so I'll just refer to her site this week. Click on the link to access her blog.