WLCALUM's Xanga

WLCALUM Entry 210

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:08:06 GMT

"Sub-titled 'The Set-Back'"

My right hand has been in a splint for the last 2 1/2 weeks. Day after Thanksgiving while walking home from a convenience store I took a hard fall on the sidewalk just shy of our driveway--fracturing a bone just below the pinky finger on my right hand. I was told I'd have to wear the splint for 6 weeks. Word was when the other members of the Greendale Concert Band found out-they were shocked. Got another appointment later this week.

That'll teach me to be more careful about my "spur of the moment" decisions.

WLCALUM Entry 209

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:02:04 GMT

Items and people I'm thankful for this year (not necessarily in this order):

The smooth transition between directors in the Greendale Concert Band.

All the musicians I perform and play jam sessions with (all of whom are quite agreeable).

The friends I've connected with here and on Facebook.

The ability to keep my ear to the ground and try to keep things in perspective whenever relationships get testy.

A segment of introspection I'm putting myself through of my own choosing-still a way to go yet.

WLCALUM Entry 208

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:27:31 GMT

Saw a high school classmate sing last night--she didn't disappoint! The set up was 2 people, (vocalist and keyboards) and the songs--a couple of slow Billy Joel numbers, Gershwin's "Summertime" --and later on several of this classmate's current friends got to sing at least one number--one or 2 of them really "hammed it up." After she finished performing, we shared a hug and she said she was glad I came.

Back in the day, this classmate played flute and was in color guard--was with me in band all 4 summers we competed in field drill competition. Summer after Junior year is the one I remember best--both of our student drum majors were real good motivators. The band spent a week competing in Iowa that summer-finishing 3rd out of 10 bands, and then going to Whitewater-WI and finishing just one place out of the natonal finals.

WLCALUM Entry 207

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:14:26 GMT

NCAA D3 Volleyball Tournament starts today. Don't know yet how much I'll follow the action.

Sat in on an informal ethnic music jam session last night. (just playing harmony most of the time.) Just decided to throw myself a change-up, I guess.

WLCALUM Entry 206

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:12 GMT

Had a much better turnout at Greendale Concert Band rehearsal yesterday. The director is a bit more consistently cool, calm and collected. We've done most of the music before. There are only a couple of spots that I work on, just to keep from losing the edge on them.

Lakeland beat my volleyball team in 3 in the playoffs--Lakeland also made the final--had to play on the road, and --incredibly, came back from 2 games down to overtake Dominican to get an NCAA bid--now they have to play Hope-MI on Hope's home floor --talk about a tough opening round draw!

After 17 years, my rectangular conversation stopper (in polite circles, it's called a TV-set) has given up the ghost. Since I wasn't using it that much anyway (Saturday night Mexican league soccer matches I can still keep track of on the net) at this moment I doubt I'll get another one.

WLCALUM Entry 205

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:28:21 GMT

Low turnout for Greendale Concert Band rehearsal yesterday. Other than that things went smoothly with our new director.

Been getting even more introspective than usual of late. . .

WLCALUM Entry 204

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:41:47 GMT

"My" volleyball team is entering the conference tournament as the 7th seed out of 8. To give an idea how much of a dogfight the race was, 3 teams finished tied for 1st, (10-2) 2 for second, (9-3) team 6 finished 8-4 and then my team was 7-5. Its' next in-conference match? Vs. Lakeland on the road. (We took that squad to a 5-gamer at home earlier this season.) I'm hoping one of the Illinois squads takes it, because in that event, in the D3 tournament an IL squad would be placed in a region other than that with WIAC power squad #2 nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh and the like. (Lakeland's had some extremely tough first round national tournament draws the last couple of years.)

Second of my 2 playing engagements the other day was the better one. (Trumpet section was weaker than usual in the opener-but we made do with who we had.) Believe it or not, I've been playing on the same still-strong reed for some 6-7 months now. Incredible! (Even if I just jinxed it, it's due to be replaced sooner or later, anyway!)

WLCALUM Entry 203

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:19:25 GMT

Had 2 back-to-back playing engagements yesterday-German band in the opener, Letter Carriers later. German band trumpet section was weaker than usual but we still got through it. Letter Carriers I told one of the other 2 clarinet players my lip wouldn't be quite up to level due to the earlier gig, so I ended up playing a lower part on the second book that band usually uses. Fortunately, there's enough depth in both clarinet sections that parts can be switched around, while still maintaining a strong enough sound to pass inspection.

Greendale Concert Band rehearsals start this Sunday. Someone on the band board mentioned they might put an ad in the suburban papers looking for musicians. We'll see what happens on that one.

Guess where "my" volleyball team is scheduled to begin post-season play next week? "On the road again. . . . " Won't know who the opponent will be until later this evening. (sorry, tee, I'll just have to leave you hanging for a few hours on that one.)

WLCALUM Entry 202

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:31:06 GMT

The volleyball team I follow's going to the conference playoffs!! It clinched a spot after a 5-set win on the road at Concordia-Chicago. Now there's only 2 regular season in-conference matches left-Concordia-WI at home later today, and Dominican-IL on the road in a few days. Considering 1--there was a coaching change prior to the start of the season and 2 --the team had to fight to get out of an 0-3 in-conference hole to begin with--I'm not complaining much, regardless of where the first-round playoff match is. The team's right in the thick of it (top 6 are in a real dogfight for positioning.)

WLCALUM Entry 201

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:28:24 GMT

An update on how the volleyball team I've been following is doing so far. Although the squad just O-fered in a meet out West, its' already won more in-conference games than it did last year (with 3 in-conference matches left yet).

The photo shows sophomore Alli going up for a block against two U of Chicago players in a match earlier this year.

The squad's currently in 6th place in-conference (top 8 finishers qualify for conference playoffs).

Developing. . .