The Big Three

 Last December, I made a resolution to post more often.  Now that I have messed that up, in January, I am making a resolution to post more often even if I don't feel like it.

Moving on.

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THE BIG THREE:

No, I am not talking about Russia, China, & the good ole USA.

No, I am not talking about Cancer, Heart Disease, & Warts.

And, NO, I am not talking about Trump, Polunkski, and/or Biden.

This list could be extended for several pages.  Make your own list of Your Big Three.  Let's see what you come up with . . , The, And, & You Know . . . Football, Baseball, & Basketball . . . Roast Beef, Pork Chops, & Fried Chicken . . .  Easter, Christmas, & Thanksgiving (with a nod to the 4th of July) . . . Christians, Jews, & Muslims 

We could go on with this for hours:   Rain, Snow, & Hail   You get my drift here.

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My big three:

SOLAR - BUGS - & SHINGLES

I  live in a nice little neighborhood / housing development.  You can look it up online - love the title - Amity Estates.    Not Amityville, just Amity Estates.  I understand that our HOA has a new website going up yesterday or thereabout.  There is a facebook page too.

It's a nice area.  As of this year, the development is "built out."  This means that all lots have houses.  There will be no more building here. Of course in our associated close-by village - Salado - many many many more developments have been started.  These houses are not mansions.  They're just nice little, over-priced homes with grass and few trees.  I'm getting to the big 3.

We moved here about 2 years back in a house that was  probably built 5 years ago.  It is fine.  We're happy.  Now, that is the rub.  Sometimes we are not happy.  You sit back in your easy chair, relaxing your eyes.  They flutter shut.  There is a hint of a mild snore.  All three dogs  (ANOTHER BIG 3) have settled down for their afternoon nap.  Anna, Bella, and my own Sadie.   Sadie has a cushion by the front door and keeps a look out for killers and muggers and teenagers  (3).

All relaxed.  Settling down.  At rest  (3)

ALL OF A SUDDEN, YES -  ALL YOU KNOW WHAT BREAKS LOOSE.  The dogs have seen, smelled, or sensed (big 3) movement outside.  Let the barking begin.  Anna, the big girl, has the biggest bark.  It could cause deafness in the more fragile.  The other two have annoying barks.  I'M SURE their sounds reverberate around the front porch before reaching the ears of .... you may have guessed it ....  One of the Big Three.

Our neighborhood - being fairly new - is prime resource for companies who want more money.  They are a bit wrong about Amity Estates.  On the average, someone comes to my front door at least 3 times or more per week.  Are you getting it yet?

Today, my front door visitor:  Two fairly young, good looking men with matching shirts and a small computer in the left hand.  I stepped outside and said, "No, I do not want my roof shingled;  or my house treated for bugs;   and I do not want to place solar panel thingys on my roof."  They both smiled, and we had a nice conversation about me having too many salesmen trampling down my front sidewalk.

They moved on to the house across the street.  I stepped back into the house to try and shush my vicious animals.  My wife came out of the bedroom and said that she had really enjoyed her non-nap.  I put my trusty 45 back in the drawer.  And - I use this word too often - And, we both tried to settle back in before the next visitor arrives.

An Aside:  last week I was visited by 2 different young ladies from the Salado M.S. Band selling World's Finest Chocolate (and girl scout cookies).  This is different to me and happened after nap time.

To sum it up, I will add the 4th Biggie.  I get phone calls DAILY of people who want to buy either this house or my Rent house.  Each promises big money.  I did that type of work back in the 80s.  But, I only called people who had FSBO (for sale by owner) listed in the paper.  They were willing to stop and listen to me.  That experience is a completely different stone for a later date.

I close now because ANNA is in the back yard barking at the school bus.  I think it is time for her to come inside and nap more.

Thanks for visiting and listening.  "Hey, would somebody grab that ringing phone?"

mtz3 

Band prob etc. #1

This is the start of a new series - The series will be short stones (stories to the uninformed) about things that have happened or are happening  to me as a band student or director or watcher of other groups - In other words, an old guy doing what old guys do - talking and remembering things - telling them like listeners are interested in hearing them.
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Example or Two:
#1    One fall, I took my Ardmore band to a marching contest in Altus, Okla.  I don't know why we went that far.   I wanted to get a marching appraisal from some different people, so we went.  It was an all day affair.  I was not happy with the way the group performed, but so it is.
        We sat in the stands watching the other bands.  Along came this band - can't remember the school - they were doing their show.  It was not too good.  Maybe 40 or so in band.  You could hear a tittering in the crowd.   The cymbal player was the center of attention.
         This young man was having a wardrobe malfunction.  His pants were falling down.  Let me review.  Losing his pants - cymbal player - what does he have in each hand?  That's right; he has a cymbal - big ones if I remember correctly.   He would march a few steps and use his cymbals to pull up his pants - march a bit more, grab his pants with his cymballed hands, pull up, and go.
         You know he was a young boy.   Most cymbal players in small bands are the younger drummers.   This young man did a sensational job of marching and fighting the trousers.   The show was coming to a close.  For the big ending, the band pulled up in front of the press box and did a majestic last chord.
          Our cymbal player knew it was the final chord - the one that leaves everyone with a lasting impression - the CLIMAX of the show.    He couldn't miss that final necessary last crash.    WHAM !!  He crashed the cymbals together letting his arms fly upward to expose the cymbals to the crowd - And the pants fell, all the way to his ankles.  He stood there until the end of the chord, gathered his pants, and marched triumphantly off the field to a Standing Ovation.
          There was a lady next to me who made an 8mm movie.   I own a copy of this movie.  I don't know where it is - grainy - focus? - it is somewhere in my stuff.   I hope somebody finds it someday.
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#2      Same Ardmore band, different year I think, my excellent drum major Lee Ann Harris was standing on the sideline directing the band at a home football game.   She had a beautiful drum major uniform including one of those tall Busby fur hats.   I was too busy watching the band and missed her problem.
           The strings inside of the hat gave way.   The Hat fell down over her entire face.  She could not see a thing but the inside of the hat.  What would you have done?  She continued to conduct the band without a pause.  Someone in the stands snapped a photo (guessing her mom).  I have a copy right beside me attached to a filing cabinet even today.   Lee Ann was one of the finest drum majors that I ever had.   She went on to play in the One O'clock Jazz band at North Texas.  Excellent.  As a matter of fact, she was offered the opportunity to tour with Maynard Ferguson as the aux drummer. She declined.  I think it was because she would have been the only female traveling with Maynard's band.  What a great resume. 
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more later
m