MadisonBandMan1

If you want me to be frank, although Hebron has by far the hardest book musically this year - and definitely deserved the music caption - by their standards the music execution wasn’t all that great. It felt as if there were continuous minor tears front to back musically. Their visual program wasn’t their strongest, which is a historical problem of theirs. 
I feel as if both from a design and execution standpoint both visually and musically, 2021 was a MUCH stronger show than this year. I wholeheartedly believe they would have brought home the eagle in 2021. Unfortunately both Avon and Carmel deserved placing ahead of them. 
Congrats to Matt Harloff on winning a national championship in his first year as head director at Avon. They shave such a blended, well rounded sound this year. Super consistent. They deserved the win.

Hopefully this means a Championship for Carolina Crown in 2024 😘

Ok can we get back to talking about Grand Nationals? If yall want to talk about video games, private messaging is an option.

That leander tuba is FUN
 

That leander tuba is FUN
 

This isn't exactly a source piece, but this is something you HAVE to see! I ran across this recently and if I had been there live I probably would have been crying thirty seconds into the piece. Just WOW.
 

Great news: Marching Observer is conscious now and has made a safe recovery! He'll need some time but he'll back sooner or later.

You can always use the umbrella as a drum during performances. There is nothing saying you cannot, right? 

Knowing the new head director’s history with the competition I knew it was only a matter of time before my Alma Mater started showing up on this list again. 

Our band worked with her for years. Her writing for our 2018 show was awesome, especially the closer and opening impact were just sublime. We went away from her my senior year under new direction and I dearly missed her writing. 
 
Was also cool knowing her husband. They are BOTH legends in this activity which is truly awesome. Sounds like their son is well on his way to do the same too. 

She’s definitely the person to go to for powerful in-your-face GE moments. I don’t think anyone writes them like her.

This isn't exactly a source piece, but this is something you HAVE to see! I ran across this recently and if I had been there live I probably would have been crying thirty seconds into the piece. Just WOW.
 

Knowing the new head director’s history with the competition I knew it was only a matter of time before my Alma Mater started showing up on this list again. 

Ur mom does. 

Ugh. You're supposed to save those kinds of posts for April 1st! 😤

I have been wanting to ask about your condition for a while, I just felt like it wasn't my place, so of course I would love to learn about it. Chess is fun, and though I am also not very good at it, I have definitely found myself watching chess matches a few times when going down rabbit holes on YT. When I had my medical scare last month (still working through it) and didn't leave my bed for two weeks I found myself binge watching lawn care videos to fill my time. 

I am sorry about the lawyer thing by the way, I hope that issue is or can get resolved swiftly. You already have too much on your plate to deal with as it stands. I bet your wife is a champ, you certainly found the right person to be your wife it seems! Arizona is a beautiful state. Much better in the late fall/winter. The heat must be tough on you though texas isn't faring much better right now as it is. 

For entertainment, I started following a few chess youtubers. Odd choice as I'm not a particularly good chess player, but I have found it interesting. I followed the recent candidates tournament pretty closely. Other things included reading and playing some slower paced games on my computer. I've also spent a great deal of time learning as much as I can about my condition since it is not well known and relatively little is out there. Had to do some digging...
There are other things going on that take my time and attention, some of which are not good (lets just say that I had to hire a lawyer). I've also had a couple short trips around Arizona, one to the Grand Canyon via the Grand Canyon Railroad, and the other was several days in the Sedona area. Sanity has varied depending upon the day, but I and my family are still holding it together. This has been extremely challenging for my wife, and I want to be sure to sing her praises - she is awesome!
I thank you for your kind words. I enjoy engaging on this site and hope to continue to do so. If you ever get bored and want to learn about a condition that happens at a rate 1/100th of heart attacks (so 100 heart attacks for each 1 of these) and kills at around a 60-80% rate let me know. Academically I find it very fascinating to learn as biology was my weakest science area (physical science for me!).

I am super glad that you are still making progress in your recovery, even if slowly. Hope that you soon get to come to a show again. I know that would probably do wonders to your morale. In the meantime as you recover what do you do to keep yourself entertained/sane?

You are a treasure of this site. I think about you a lot. Definitely going to keep checking up on you.  

Right now it is all the medical appointments, surgeries, and of course bills that are more of an impediment. Health wise I can and have traveled back to Houston a couple times to meet with experts on my condition. My energy level is still much lower than it was, so I have to be careful so I don't get exhausted, but it is slowly coming back from my cardio workouts. I am still improving, and I hope to be able to attend in person in the future, just don't know when yet.

Just got done watching the Tourney of Roses standstill performance they did in ponchos...good lord  bass trombone. I could hear you in the State Finals performance video and you just sound even more meaty up close. 

Oh and I just purchased a shirt for Phantom! 

I just saw crown....my oh my are they on fire. There is a clip of them online, not hard to find and not on the tube. They are TOTALLY doing chandelier justice. Can't wait to see how this changes and is cleaned up as the season goes on. Excited for all of the others as well. 
 
 

I am glad that you can still have a good quality of life and are at the very least much better than where you were. No problem by the way. just very glad to know you are doing okay. 

Thank you very much and college is going as college goes...long. Lol. 

I was just thinking about you and wondering how you were holding up, and if any positive changes have come your way yet. How are you doing?

so - to shout out to MadisonBandMan - yes the city sees a HUGE influx of of visitors for Fiesta - but we don't know what this year will look like as it has been shut down for the past 2 years. this event happens at the "rock pile" that is Alamo Stadium down by St Mary's university. there are more than 30 bands that will march "in review" - they march to the front of the home stands on the track - stop and play a fun tune that has them all dancing and having a load of fun - after the first group of parade bands, - there is a feature band that will perform their 2021 field show, then another group of 10 parade bands - and another feature band - the next group and ends with the last feature band that will be CTJ performing their 2021 field show of "opposites attract".  once they clear the field,  ALL of the bands will return to the field for a mass band performance. this year the Mass band will be Directed by Dr. Cliff Crooms - Director of the Longhorn Band. - I attached a few pics. both of my kids have marched the parade and been in the feature band spot - gotta love fiesta - you can also catch bands at the Battle of Flowers parade in San Antonio on Friday - a tradition since 1891 and one of the oldest running parades in the country. or the Fiesta Flambeau that CTJ will also march on Saturday - a night parade that has all the kids lit up with lights. - VIVA FIESTA!! Lets go Claudia!!! - FYI - these pics where from tonight practice