%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |   So playing the trombone wasn't getting me in enough trouble? |
| I need someplace to write down the often confusing thoughts that enter my mind, while my stories give voice to the characters that wander through periodically, this is the place for my voice. Join me if you wish, comment if you wish, all are welcomed and appreciated. |
Quilli ☕ runs a nifty forum "Question of the Day!"  , and today question sort of jived with a blog post I have been thinking of doing.The Question Today: "What are some things that you wished people knew about you?" My question is where to start? Let's go all the way back to "I'm Only the Trombone Player", which happened in 4th grade when I was nine years old. We were lucky enough to have a great music program, with wonderful teachers. We were allowed to choose our weapons of choice. Did I choose something cool like drums or sax or trumpet? Nope, I chose trombone, an instrument whose popularity, even then, was fading. I never practiced as much as I should have, sports like Little League and Soccer got in the way, but I stuck with it, my parents bought me a horn and I kind of felt obligated not to quit. Along comes Junior High/Middle School and I'm still playing the trombone. But, now scholastic sports enters the picture. I was always a little guy, speedy for my size. Think of me as a little roadster (the car thing), quick and maneuverable, way too small for American Football, but well suited for Soccer (the rest of the World's Football). Long story short, I had a great time playing Soccer, I loved my coach, and when he said a great way to stay in shape for soccer would be to join his wrestling squad I signed up. Turns out I was perfect for that also. Most teams didn't have a wrestler as small as me. So my matches were an automatic win for the team. The drawback was that to practice, I always had to wrestle above my weight. Disaster struck at a practice. While wrestling someone heavier than me and in a position where he was in control and on top of me, I tried to muscle my way out of the ride. The result was the tearing of most of the ligaments in my right foot. No More Little Roadster  and no phys ed for the rest of the year.  So there I was in study hall instead of the gym when Mr. Carraras, my band teacher came along; "What are you doing in study hall?" He asked. "I can't go to gym for the rest of the year because I hurt— "Well, this is a waste of time. Come with me." He walked up to the front table, where the study hall proctor sat. Pointing at me. "He'll be in the band room from now on." The study hall teacher passed him a clipboard, Mr. C signed off on something, and I was trapped in the band room for life. My foot never healed well enough to play sports again, still have occasional pain and a bit of a limp at times. But, I found a new home. And that's how I became "Only the Trombone Player" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Playing the trombone provided many great experiences. I played, starting way back in fourth grade at five worlds fairs, marched at Disney World, and played at a pro football (American), and started playing professionally, all before I graduated from public school. In my Junior year of High School, I was told to grow a mustache to look older so that I would be able to play in bars I wasn't old enough to drink in. During that High School period, I was also officially labeled as a Student Dissident. There was a problem with budget cuts and teacher reassignments. The music students didn't like the cuts, organized and led protests. Somebody who shall remain nameless led a sit-in at the District Administration Building, which forced a meeting with the school board. We won—and the Grumpy Leprechaun was born. And, it's still in my permanent record. I have been lucky to have played in almost every musical genre and setting. I have played wedding bands (first professional gigs), Big Bands/Jazz Ensemble, Symphony Orchestras, Opera Orchestras (boring for a trombonist), toured with a Country Western Band, Semi-Pro Off-Broadway Productions. I played on two different cruise ships (really boring). I was fired by Bobby Rydell (the whole horn section, we looked too young), but Karma bit Mr. Rydell when he was forced to hire the same horn section a year later to cover for his horns at a country fair. I have been privileged to have taught some wonderful students, many of whom have gone on to become fine musicians and teachers themselves. Some entered Military service units, such as the Air Force's Airmen of Note, among others. Others are teaching in various parts of the United States and one even taught as far away as Singapore. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I mentioned the Grumpy Leprechaun up there. He the guy that shows up when I have to be an administrator. He has to say no a lot more often than he'd like to; "I'd like to buy a new keyboard for the Jazz Ensemble." "Do you have any money left in your budget code?" Grumpy asked. "No, but I was hoping—" "Then you already know the answer. Right?" Teacher walks away dejectedly. Then Pubby shows up; "Ya know boss they really could use a new key— "He spent all of his money already, go away Silly Rabbit." "Yeah, but the old one starting to sound like— "Watch it Rabbit, you know how I feel about bad language in the Music Wing." Not to be deterred Pubby continues. "Well, couldn't the keyboard be used somewhere else too, maybe share the cost?" And along comes Anon-Y-Monkey; "So, if my calculations are right, and we take a little bit from the band, a bit from the choir, and a touch from Graduation, we're only about $250 short, we can swing— "Wait, what are you saying?" I ask getting alarmed. It's only $250 bananas." Wiggling his eyebrows. "We can swing that can't we?" Lil' Lime Squeeze and A Guavé Tortuga, the two musicians of the group, nod at me from the corner of the room; "Ya Mon." A cloud of fragrant herbal smoke surrounds Lil' Lime Squeeze's head. "We can't have the kiddies playin' on inferior instruments now." I give up and give in, they beat me again. Oh! By The Way; They prefer to be called facets of my personality, not figments of my imagination. |
| So as part of my super-secret, undercover, very temporary, "I even have to wear a suit" assignment, I am doing a series of interviews. The candidates are all current college students, who are interviewing either to do long-term observations of teachers currently teaching or prospective Student Teachers, who will actually join current teachers and teach classes next semester. In short, they are all candidates for entry into the teaching profession. Now, I realize this isn't a real job interview, and I realize that we are talking about students here. But, there are some tips you need to follow; The first tip applies universally to almost every job interview. Dress for the Job You Want. Shredded jeans and a tee-shirt are never appropriate for a job interview for any professional position. An outfit you'd wear for a night out clubbing is also not appropriate. If it makes the custodian faint, it isn't appropriate. If you need to, Shave! Comb your hair! Make an effort to look like you weren't on an all-night bender last night. Yes, all three showed up this morning. Next, bring a resume or curriculum vitae, even if it only covers your High School/College career. Why? Because I'm more interested in hearing HOW you answer questions than the actual answer. It will be easier on you if I'm asking questions you (hopefully) already know the answers to. If you tell me your favorite hobby is reading, expect me to ask which book you read last for pleasure. Cooking, what's your favorite recipe? I want to hear you formulate a cogent, clear answer. Please don't make me resort to: If you were a car, what kind of car would you be? Bring A Pen!! You are entering the big leagues now, you shouldn't need to borrow a pen to write things down or fill things out. And you will have to do both. Prepare questions you will ask me in advance. The questions don't have to be profound or even profession-related. Just show me you thought about the interview BEFORE you got here. Where do I park? Is there a place on-site to eat/buy lunch? I have classes in the evening, will I ever have to miss them to perform duties here? Unless you bring some for all of us, please don't bring food or drink into the interviewer's office. A water bottle is fine, a dry nervous mouth is a problem for everyone. Practice your handshake or nowadays, your fist bump. Only offer it if the interviewer offers it first. Last!!!! Remember, I'm just as nervous and eager to make a good impression as you are. I just have more practice at not showing it than you do. |
| If you subscribe to the rodent theory of weather prediction, today's Groundhog prognostications were at best a mixed bag. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. So, according to this resident of Pennsylvania, we're in for 6 more weeks of winter. Of course, Phil has an accuracy rate of 40%. Which might be as good as any other meteorologist. Now here on Long Island, we have not one, but two, weather-predicting rodents. Holtsville Hal, from the easterly end of our fair island is calling for an early Spring (Go, Hal). Alas, Malverne Mel, who resides in our west end predicted six additional weeks of Winter. So it looks like the long Winter vote has it. In past years we might have gotten a fourth vote from the rodent also known as Mel. He lived in Milltown, New Jersey. Unfortunately, Milltown Mel has suffered the heartbreak of too many failed predictions, he decided to cross over the rainbow bridge just before being made to prognosticate another year. I wonder what other communities have their own groundhogs, peering around corners, looking for their shadows? Does yours? The trinket below gives a little history behind Ground Hogs Day. The 1993 Bill Murry feature, Groundhog Day, had Murry's character trapped in a time loop, which made it more SciFi, than RomCom, at least in my eyes. The TV show Stargate SG-1 did a similar show "Window of Opportunity" in 2000. It's the sixth episode from season 4, if you'd like to check it out, it is available on Amazon Prime and Hulu. (I think). Previous to the film, the repetition Murry's character experiences wasn't associated with Groundhog Day, which came later. after the movie. The film itself gives no explanation for the repetition, even though there was one in the script's first draft. Stephanie's Curse , which she casts on Phil, the curse scene was deleted in the second draft.Be sure to check out "Note: Hopefully, You Took Part In The
[Link To ..."—Send A Merit Badge, Get 15K Gift Points!   |
So this morning, on my way over to the mainland, I decided to stop in at "Invalid Item" , for a quick breakfast snort – sandwich, yeah that's it, a quick egg, ham, and, cheese on a toasted roll, with butter, salt, and pepper.Anywho! This notice was posted on the door; Tell us all about "? Day" in a blog entry. The best ideas for 'MUSE DAY' will be selected– Then we'll celebrate that day on a future date in the Banana Bar. It was scrawled in crayon and fastened to the door with a steak knife. Which means it's an official message from Andre. You can tell he worked hard on it because he used three different crayons! Now I'm kinda busy with a semi-temporary, super top-secret project. I even have to wear a suit! But, this intrigued me. What Day would the four misfits muses who constitute my writing persona consider worthy of Celebration? It's not like any of them need an excuse to celebrate. The four of them will drop anything to have a party, including my charge card onto the bar. But, I digress. A Guavé Tortuga, ol' slow and steady, unless of course, he's in Lil' Lime Squeeze mode, was the first to chime in. He proposed the following possible days; Lay Back and Relax Day! There's Always Tomorrow Day! Lil' Lime Squeeze chimed in with; It's Five O'clock Somewhere Day! On my way to the water taxi I ran into Pub Bunny next, he suggested these days of celebration; Waiter! There's a Hare In My Soup/Cocktail Day! Bleery Eyed, Floppy Eared and Bushy Tailed Day! – Which sounds more like a personal statement to me. Anon-Y-Monkey jumped in, literally, he jumped out of a nearby tree with these beauties; Go Away and Leave Me Alone Day! (I actually typed alone three different ways, until I finally spelled it correctly—I hate that speed-reading program from Elementary School.) Give Something Away Day! — Not necessarily something of value, which is often his specialty. Lastly, I shared the fast trip across the rippling pond with Grumpy the Leprechaun. He thought about his answer for a long time, I thought he was going to come up with something very profound. Turns out I was wrong again! He first said, "we should celebrate all things Irish." I pointed out Saint Paddy's Day already did that. Grumpy replied. "Fair enough, let me ruminate a bit more lad." Finally, he came up with; Don't Put Ice In M'Grog Day! Keep The Booze Away From That Monkey Day! Why is There A Hare In Me Brew Day? And, most likely his best suggestion; Celebrate Yer Barkeep/Bar Manager Day! What Day Would Your Muse Chose To Celebrate/Create? Answer in the comments — Win A Prize! |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
Credit is delaying the pain unless one pays it off every month. I don't buy what I can't afford. I don't go into debt. I live well by living well within my means. 
