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 |   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. |
So How Did You Spend Your Sunday? I had planned to polish up a bit of a poem I'm working on for a certain E – Less Contest. Like most of my plans that got shot right to — well, let's just go with the "best-laid plans". It all started with a mid-morning phone call from the Minister at the local United Methodist Church. It seems he had a rather nice little Advent Prayer, specifically A Celtic Advent Prayer that he wanted to be set to music. Not an unusual request and not quite as last minute as these things usually are. Having the luxury of a bit of a modicum of breathing space, I decided a bit of research might help me "get a feel" for what I was attempting. BIG MISTAKE! Research ended up being another one of those meandering journeys around the net, which I enjoy, but it did suck up most of my writing time. Bottom Line? I never got to get "e-less" in New York. I do have two different settings of the poem working, actually on paper. And What Do You Get Out Of This You Might Ask? Well, you get a trinket for being a good sport and reading all this!   If you would like to read a bit more about Celtic Advent, the most succinct explanation was provided by The Prayer Foundation ™  For your reading convenience, I have placed the pertinent sections here; "Celtic Advent"  ...I'm only the trombone player! |
| The school at which I teach has for the last ten years done a traveling Veterans Day Ceremony. It is held on the last school open day before Veterans Day since we are closed on the day of. It looked for a while that this wasn't going to happen in 2020, in fact, I really had serious doubts about the event. A bit of background; The Salute was first conceived in the confines of the teacher's cafeteria after a conversation between a member of the English Department a Navy Vet, and myself. As a special project in one of his classes, he had assigned students the task of doing interviews with Veterans. Those interviews were then published in a book form and shared with the community. I mentioned to him that we should feature the best of them, by having the student authors read them at some form of ceremony/salute. Like I said we have been doing that for ten years now. This year of course there are obstacles; The first and most daunting, The fact that Robert, my English teaching partner in crime succumbed to the demons that haunted him and committed suicide. His loss was devastating, not only to me but to the entire school. That obstacle was overcome when the ENTIRE English Department decided to honor his memory by taking up his mantle and making the assignment a full school project. A committee has chosen one from each of four grade levels to be included in the program. Then, there's this whole Covid-19 disaster. How could we do this and still meet social distancing protocols? Up stepped a member of the Support Staff, The Chief Custodian (Army Vet) of the High School — "Why don't we just do it OUTSIDE?" Brillant! Then transportation became a problem, the number of students involved would have required three buses to maintain the social distance on each bus. Worried about being strapped for cash the Superindentent of Schools could not justify that. Cue the politician, this summer I made some new "friends", among them the local State Senator. His office went to work and we now have three Coach Buses for the day, everybody gets a row to themselves. The cost you might ask? The Senator is joining us, will make a short address, and serve as MC, though I'm not sure what price I'll be paying personally later on. So our schools Salute to America's Veterans will take place (weather permitting) on Tuesday, November 10th. More importantly, it will continue to take place, or so everyone at school assures me. The Program for the Salute to America's Veterans "Fanfare For The Common Man" by Arron Copland A Wiki about the Fanfare's history here. The entry of the Massed Color Guard. The High School Marching Band Drum Corps The High School Color Guard The American Legion/Veterans Of Foreign Wars Color Guard The Marine Corps League Color Guard The Color Guard of the Knights of Columbus Call to Order and Pledge Of Allegiance Building Principal The Star Spangled Banner High School Brass Ensemble/Marching Band Drum Corps The Introduction and Presentation of Selected Student Essayists English Department Chair Address by NY State Senator A Prayer for America's Veterans (Prayer in Trinket)   Colors Retire, accompanied by Brass Ensemble "Armed Forces Salute" This program will be presented at seven buildings, five Elementry Schools, the Junior, and Senior High School |
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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. 
