Rodeo Parade

Today was the infamous Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo Parade today. This is an annual event that happens every year in our town. It is hot and long and well hot. This is something I know the kids don't look forward to because when I was a band kid I hated this parade. This is the only parade I hated because it was so hot and everyone we knew would scream our names and then get made at us when we didn't turn to look at them. Hey I would rather be in trouble by my friends than by my director. The first football game is a week and half away and I might not go to it. Since it is an away game and I work at 7 the next morning it is leaning toward not going, but I will update about the next game because it is a home game and I can leave whenever I want and be able to go to my own bed. I know the kids are excited about the first game and have been working hard during summer band to get at least the opener on the field. They sound wonderful and am still fighting with myself on wether or not I will go to the game. It is still high up in the air and I still have a week to decide. If anything the next week will fly and I can see it then. Plus I don't really like going to Jay. Nothing against the town or the stadium whatsoever, but their stands are uncomfortable.

Fundraising

Today is the day of my favorite fundraiser of the year. It is the 3rd annual preview concert. No we don't charge money to hear the kids play, but we do feed people hamburgers so we charge them $5 to eat. We also have a dessert auction. One year we did a silent auction and it went over pretty well, last year we had a band parent unwillingly volunteer to be our auctioneer and this year we have a local auctioneer coming out. I have heard rumors that this certain auctioneer gets a lot of money for pies and desserts. It should be fun to watch the entertainment if not only the kids but of the auctioneer raising money for our kids. I will definitely update after everything and on my way out of town to give an update on how successful we were. 

Well the preview concert is over at least for me and our dog for one more year. Not nearly as hot as in the past, but still warm. Our dog had fun seeing everyone and begging for food that as soon as we got home he crashed on the floor. He is still in that spot as I type this. If he didn't have to go to his house so we could go on our weekend away he might just sleep there. From what I understand we were very successful and I will have the figures someday. The kids sound great. Even though we are brass heavy that is play. They sound great. 

Holst enjoying the evening. 

JB Robison Jr. doing a great job being a great auctioneer. Thank you JB and JB jr for stepping in and doing this for us. 

Holst is done and ready to soak in the AC. 

Jackson 5

Football season hasn't even started and I am already sick of one of the songs. I want you back is officially stuck forever in my head. That is just the first song. Yes the first song is done and on the screen. There are two more songs so probably by the end of the week I will be sick of ABC and then be sick of I'll be there. The joys of being a band directors wife. I am just glad that him doing one of my favorite songs last year that I didn't start hating it.

This week is going to be crazy. From the preview concert/cookout/dessert auction to us getting away for one last weekend away before school starts up strong. Next week we have the rodeo parade then the week after that school starts and the first football game. Crazy how quickly it has come up. 

We got to go see the finished junior high band room tonight and it is something I hope the kids will be proud of. I know if they would have renovated that room when I attended that school I would have been proud of it and taken great care of it. 

Begun

Well it has officially begun. The door to our office is closed and the work on drill for this year halftime show has started. I will probably see my husband when we eat dinner and when we go to bed. It isn't that bad. I know I will go in a couple of times to see if he needs anything or just some company. I am officially and band widow as my friend Kathy calls it. 

Sorry there was no post about the yearly directors meeting. With the summer band schedule and my job just flat out wearing me out we decided not to go. Granted I missed the fellowship of other directors and spouses, I know I will see some of them at contests and hear of their years. We also see a lot them at football games so I will enjoy stories there. Our first football game will be the first Friday in September and our true beginning will be next Friday for our preview concert. This is that time of year that the kids get to show the town what they have worked on during summer band and what we have planned for the next school year. We also get to raise money for the next year with our cookout and dessert auction. This year we are using a real auctioneer to sell the desserts. He has done this before at a fish fry and my husband told me he got a lot of money for the kids so I am excited to see JB in action for the kids.  

Field Marking

Today is the day my husband is up at school getting ready to mark the practice field. I am so thankful that this year is so much cooler than the last couple of years. I hate when school starts and it is so hot outside. I would take 90 and humid any day over 112 and humid. Oklahoma in summertime is not pleasant at times. I remember working during the summer at band and thinking good night how much hotter can it be. So our year officially started a couple of weeks ago when the music of the Jackson 5 was filling our home. I started strong on Monday when he started going up to do drum line practice and then on Thursday with the new comers to the group ( ie the Freshman and anyone that didn't march last year. we lovingly call them the rookies). This summer has sure flown by. It seems just like yesterday I was packing our bags to go to Dallas and now we are beginning the '13-'14 school year and the football season. Soon we will be back on the bus and headed to contest and football games all over NE Oklahoma. Well maybe not all over NE Oklahoma, but there are days that it feels like that. With me starting back to work, I won't be able to go to all the contests like I have in the past so my posts won't be as fun as they were last year, but I will try my best.

Tomorrow officially starts summer band. I am truly excited about this year. I will miss the kids that graduated, but get to welcome a whole new bunch of kids from our junior high. With the leadership dinner, these kids definitely want to have a great year. I am excited to go back to the Bixby contest this year. We will have our annual director's meeting on Wednesday with friends and that makes me happy. I look forward to this cookout every year. I love hearing about the year they had the year before and what they look forward to in the coming year. Not only with their own bands but with in the bands in our association and also with the honor band they put together every year. Plus I get to see other wives that go through the same stuff I do year after year. I know I will have more stories come Wednesday after the meeting. and I know some will be comical.