I'm only doing it for money. To be fair, lots of money.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Captain Busy!
Faster than a rapidly dwindling budget (it's only September!), taller than a rapidly increasing stack of broken shit (it's only September), more powerful than the angst and ennui of 15 year olds (it's only September)... it's... it's...
Captain Busy! After completing a harrowing week of WWE Concerts, Pep Rallys, bad weather cancellations, football games, CONFERENCES, and so, Captain Busy has finally completed yet another daunting task: Picking Christmas Music and Fixing A Tenor Saxophone Case! He's even farmed out some research on drumline uniforms to an understanding and eager band-mom, so that particular project may actually get done within his lifetime.
Why now, all he has to do is finish writing up a bid proposal for his boss, and maybe, just maybe, he'll have a bass drum in his MS Band Room before Christmas! Hooray!
The next time I see my immediate predecessor, I'm going to bitch-slap him. I'm working way to hard at this job for a band this small. But one day, one day mind you, this thing is going to be a well-oiled machine that I can just sit back and watch run.
Side note: I went and saw Burn After Reading with The Brains, The Useless Chick, and The Wild Card. It was B.A.. Go check it out.
Captain Busy! After completing a harrowing week of WWE Concerts, Pep Rallys, bad weather cancellations, football games, CONFERENCES, and so, Captain Busy has finally completed yet another daunting task: Picking Christmas Music and Fixing A Tenor Saxophone Case! He's even farmed out some research on drumline uniforms to an understanding and eager band-mom, so that particular project may actually get done within his lifetime.
Why now, all he has to do is finish writing up a bid proposal for his boss, and maybe, just maybe, he'll have a bass drum in his MS Band Room before Christmas! Hooray!
The next time I see my immediate predecessor, I'm going to bitch-slap him. I'm working way to hard at this job for a band this small. But one day, one day mind you, this thing is going to be a well-oiled machine that I can just sit back and watch run.
Side note: I went and saw Burn After Reading with The Brains, The Useless Chick, and The Wild Card. It was B.A.. Go check it out.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Blogging at work
Uh-oh, a semi-serious post.
Well, I've lived up to two of the three promises I made myself this year. I have been keeping a daily log (for documentation purposes), and I've been diplomatic in all of my dealings with students, parents, and administrators. However, my desk does look like a trash bomb went off on it. Oh well. Maybe I'll clean it up eventually.
Getting a few things off my chest:
I took this gig because I wanted the challenge of building something up from nothing, which is where it's at. It's a little tougher than I thought. I know I can be an impatient person, and it's not as if the prospect is overwhelming, but it's been really tough for me to get excited about band this year, knowing that's it's going to be small and missing most of the parts. I think it's tough for the kids to get excited about it, too. I'm doing my best to be positive and hand out fun music, but what's really difficult is trying to find music that will 1.) appeal to their age and ability level, while at the same time 2.) be scored in such a way as a band of 11 will sound good playing it. The kids are supportive and cooperative, but already getting kind of duldrummy about it. I kinda am too. I knew that building a program would take time. Like, YEARS kinda time. And I guess I'm okay. I just have to be positive and think about the future.
Here's the other one, and I can smell this one coming in the wind. The same way you can smell a smelting plant or a rendering plant from the highway before you can see it.
We're starting to have meetings, and the main topic of one of these meetings (I shit you not) is "school spirit." We're actually interrupting planning and curriculum development time to talk about getting excited for the big game. I know this is an argument (discussion, point, whatever you want to call it) that I will never win (make understand, find a way to communicate with, whatever you want to call that too) with any AD, coach, or administrator, but I'm sorry: in the grand scheme of things, that shit is only important to athletes. And not even the good ones. The good ones give a fuck about school spirit, because they're going on to bigger and better things. The one's it's important too are the ones who aren't going anywhere. The ones always on the bench, who aren't paying attention to the game because they know they're never going to play. The same ones who wear a letter jacket after they graduate. The ones who never get over being in high school.
For crying out loud, this is supposed to be a college prep private school. We're really going to have a fucking meeting about school spirit in a place like this? Really? And unfortunately for AD's, coaches, and administrators, alot of them fail to see the value of instrumental music outside of the pep band playing at the games. I've even had one ask me what the band does the rest of the year once basketball season is over. I'd like to think that this place is going to be different. From both my School Head and my Division Head, I get the sense that they are not primarily concerned with how loud the band is at the game. I hope. I hope this, because I'm pretty sure I lost my last two jobs for having this opinion.
Well, I've been talking to myself about it all day. I figured I may as well type it out and let everyone else in on my rantings too.
Well, I've lived up to two of the three promises I made myself this year. I have been keeping a daily log (for documentation purposes), and I've been diplomatic in all of my dealings with students, parents, and administrators. However, my desk does look like a trash bomb went off on it. Oh well. Maybe I'll clean it up eventually.
Getting a few things off my chest:
I took this gig because I wanted the challenge of building something up from nothing, which is where it's at. It's a little tougher than I thought. I know I can be an impatient person, and it's not as if the prospect is overwhelming, but it's been really tough for me to get excited about band this year, knowing that's it's going to be small and missing most of the parts. I think it's tough for the kids to get excited about it, too. I'm doing my best to be positive and hand out fun music, but what's really difficult is trying to find music that will 1.) appeal to their age and ability level, while at the same time 2.) be scored in such a way as a band of 11 will sound good playing it. The kids are supportive and cooperative, but already getting kind of duldrummy about it. I kinda am too. I knew that building a program would take time. Like, YEARS kinda time. And I guess I'm okay. I just have to be positive and think about the future.
Here's the other one, and I can smell this one coming in the wind. The same way you can smell a smelting plant or a rendering plant from the highway before you can see it.
We're starting to have meetings, and the main topic of one of these meetings (I shit you not) is "school spirit." We're actually interrupting planning and curriculum development time to talk about getting excited for the big game. I know this is an argument (discussion, point, whatever you want to call it) that I will never win (make understand, find a way to communicate with, whatever you want to call that too) with any AD, coach, or administrator, but I'm sorry: in the grand scheme of things, that shit is only important to athletes. And not even the good ones. The good ones give a fuck about school spirit, because they're going on to bigger and better things. The one's it's important too are the ones who aren't going anywhere. The ones always on the bench, who aren't paying attention to the game because they know they're never going to play. The same ones who wear a letter jacket after they graduate. The ones who never get over being in high school.
For crying out loud, this is supposed to be a college prep private school. We're really going to have a fucking meeting about school spirit in a place like this? Really? And unfortunately for AD's, coaches, and administrators, alot of them fail to see the value of instrumental music outside of the pep band playing at the games. I've even had one ask me what the band does the rest of the year once basketball season is over. I'd like to think that this place is going to be different. From both my School Head and my Division Head, I get the sense that they are not primarily concerned with how loud the band is at the game. I hope. I hope this, because I'm pretty sure I lost my last two jobs for having this opinion.
Well, I've been talking to myself about it all day. I figured I may as well type it out and let everyone else in on my rantings too.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
I couldn't hold it
So I had my first day back to work today, and as you know if you're in the "ed-biz," the first day back is about 8-10 hours worth of meetings that go on and on, and if you're the new guy, generally speaking, you should be kinda quiet and take everything in. Be personable, but not aggressively funny or dominant. And I did that. All day. Through meeting after meeting after meeting.
The last meeting was our CPL meeting, in a little town in the middle of no where 45 minutes away. At this meeting we were promised steak. We were served club sandwiches. This was not necessarily a bad thing, as it enabled us to eat during our respective meetings rather than eat, then meet, thus unnecessarily lengthening an already unnecessary meeting. Worst of all, the meeting was started with a three minute internet video of insipid motivational posters. And they came up one phrase at a time, relentlessly inviting parody. Which, mind you, I was able to contain. Until the last one.
It started with "Aim for the heart..."
And right out loud (at least sorta under my breath), I blurted:
"Because you can't kill a vampire with a shot to the abdomen."
Fortunately, I saw my new boss chuckle. Obviously, his day had been just as long as mine.
The last meeting was our CPL meeting, in a little town in the middle of no where 45 minutes away. At this meeting we were promised steak. We were served club sandwiches. This was not necessarily a bad thing, as it enabled us to eat during our respective meetings rather than eat, then meet, thus unnecessarily lengthening an already unnecessary meeting. Worst of all, the meeting was started with a three minute internet video of insipid motivational posters. And they came up one phrase at a time, relentlessly inviting parody. Which, mind you, I was able to contain. Until the last one.
It started with "Aim for the heart..."
And right out loud (at least sorta under my breath), I blurted:
"Because you can't kill a vampire with a shot to the abdomen."
Fortunately, I saw my new boss chuckle. Obviously, his day had been just as long as mine.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Yeow-Wei!
Her back nine makes my driver straight. I want to putt in her rough. Also, she's 6'1" and could probably help me with my short game. And my long game. And just... you know, game.
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