WLCALUM's Xanga

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. . .

WLCALUM Entry 200

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:57:25 GMT

What to post.... what to post?

Ahh, here I go.

This football follower did not watch the Packer/Viking game a week ago last Monday night. (What a difference one tongue can make, eh?)

Still haven't had to break in any of those new reeds I just picked up. . .

Think its' time to close this up with a combination of oxymorons: I'll have some jumbo shrimp and fat-free bacon with an honest politician while watching a football team go into a "prevent defense". (Ba dumm bumm!)

WLCALUM Entry 199

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:40:24 GMT

The D3 volleyball team I've been following has been on a hot winning run-started out going 0-3 but won its' next 5 in-conference matches. Its' on the road at Aurora-IL tonight. Tougher in-conference schedule (all 4 remaining in-conference matches are against squads with records .500 or better.)

WLCALUM Entry 198

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:34:33 GMT

Wonder if Grace still has spare time to breathe?

WLCALUM Entry 197

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:32:04 GMT

Crazy time periods! Someone on an athletic board asked me to do them a big favor last weekend--(they'd be away from consistent Internet access)--wouldn'tcha know the day after I promised I'd help out- my computer freezes up and then when I try to get it running again I lose the screen! I had to go the "end-around" route to make good on my promise. (My laptop's working quite well right now-thank you.--Will I ever learn to stop doing anything rash with laptops??).