Ride missed for my daughter

[old2soon]

That Mo fall ride was going on when i was baby sitting band instuments. My daughter is a saxophone player in the Willow Springs Mo Bear Pride band. We were at Reeds Spring Mo yesterday for their fall marching band festival. This was our second competition this month. At Washington Mo last saturday(10-1-11) we came in second in our class. Yesterday in the prelims with trophys available from 1st to 5th and four extra trophys for  outstanding peformances in flagging wood wind etc etc. Willow Springs came in in first over all and took all the extra trophys except drum major. Several hours later in the finals Willow Springs took first over all and 3 out of 4 extra trophys available. Missed out on drum major again. So with 2 chances at 10 trophys the Willow Springs Mo Bear Pride Band took 8 of the ten trophys available to them. And in each division there are only the 4 extra trophys available. And we have 2 more weekends of this. Every so often and once in awhile there are things more important than riding. But i did manage about a 70 mile fall ride of my own. Even had our school not won-i was spending time with my lovely daughter and helping out where i could. Think a 66 year old over weight roadie. RIDE SAFE.

[HayHauler]

That's good stuff man!  I didn't even get my 3rd bike until my son graduated from HighSchool and moved off to college.  We were away almost every weekend at soccer tournaments.  I wouldn't have missed it for many many motorcycle rides.  Anyways, there will be plenty of times to ride.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[olddog1946]

Proud papa time is really GOOD time....and a fine reason to miss a ride...

[da prez]

  Congrats to my niece and the band and the dirrector. I doubt if it came easy.
  The real miracle is that old2soon was entrusted with all the instruments.
   Good show bro 
                                     da prez

[old2soon]

Just back from another competion in Carthage Mo. We took the field in prelims at 3:00 p m C S T. When they got done with the tally our school came in first overall and took trophys for horn line and flaggers. Fast forward to 8:45 pm C S T and we came in third and no extras in the finals. Keep in mind it was a mix of school sizes in the finals with 9 schools in the finals. We beat four larger schools to get third. All in all a good outing for the Willow Springs High School Bear Pride Band. Yes proud papa here. RIDE SAFE.

[Big IV]

I was a sousaphone player in the marching band. We had good times. We'd compete in a competition or two every weekend. It was good times. Dad became involved when my little brother joined the band some years later. I wish my little sister was marching. I need a reason to follow the bands again. The high school I graduated from will be hosting a competition again. I might have to take the wife if November on the concrete stands isn't too cold for her.

[old2soon]

Last bump. Just got back from Eldorado Springs Mo and our final competition. In the prelims we took first overall and an award for percussion line(drums). In the finals we came in second. So job well done to the Willow Springs Mo Bear Pride Band. Now weather permitting dad can get back on the phat ghurl on saturdays. Thanks to every one for the kind words and i'll try to wait til this time next year to talk high school band. RIDE SAFE.

[Big IV]

The season shouldn't be over already. NC is still holding competitions. Then parades kick in. Our local band doesn't compete heavily in the parade band competitions but I have seen some bands take that more seriously than the field competitions.

[old2soon]

The season shouldn't be over already. NC is still holding competitions. Then parades kick in. Our local band doesn't compete heavily in the parade band competitions but I have seen some bands take that more seriously than the field competitions.

  Our field competition season is over. Any number of reasons but could have a lot to do with a 60% budget cut over the last two years. Not a misprint-60% cut. A lot of the parents yesterday were planning fund raisers. We will see. RIDE SAFE.

[Big IV]

Our field competition season is over. Any number of reasons but could have a lot to do with a 60% budget cut over the last two years. Not a misprint-60% cut. A lot of the parents yesterday were planning fund raisers. We will see. RIDE SAFE.

When I was a student in marching band the annual budget was over 100,000 dollars and it was completely fund raised by the students and parents. The jazz band and concert band spent what little budget the county provided. The county paid the director's salary as part of his employment. The trips, uniforms, instrument repairs, and general accounting was paid by the parents to make it possible. That was in the late 90s in a better economy.

I'm betting it would be harder to raise that much money anymore.