Step Up to Region Band!

A few weeks ago I told you how my daughter was in the All County Band.  Well, she also tried out and made the all REGION band.  

This past weekend we went to listen to the concert that this group put together in two days worth of rehearsals.  

Hard work pays off!

I'm a Plumber!

Amanda had water coming out of her light fixtures yesterday so it seemed like something wasn't quite right.  

Cari went over to help diagnose the problem and find the guilty pipe.  I picked up some supplies and met them at the house.

With all the tools and pieces needed with me in the attic I first had to take a selfie.

Okay, with that out of the way, we could now begin the work of cutting away the broken section of pipe.

Once the work was done I stayed in the attic as the girls turned on the water.  To my amazement no water started to spray out of my new connection.   It worked on the first try!!

I'm a plumber!!

Frozen Land

As accurately predicted by every single weatherman in the country, I woke up in frozen land Tuesday morning.

We didn't have any snow, but we did have ice.  Everything was coated in a nice glaze, so before heading into work I took some photos around the yard.

The pergola we built last year was covered in icicles.

 Tree branches were encased in ice.  You can see some of the buds that had started forming.

 Bird bath became a skating rink for the birds.

 These flowers were too early...

 Road art.

Winter Guard Competition

What do color guard members do when marching band is over?  They take over the gym.  This year my daughter decided that band wasn't challenging her enough and decided to take on the art of throwing flags and rifles.  

This past weekend we attended the first competition.  This was the first time I have ever stopped to watch this type of program.  

First of all.  Every group needs a vinyl mat to perform on.  Nearly all of them were blank pieces of vinyl large enough to cover a gym floor.   They each have to carry in and unfold a mat.  After their performance they quickly fold it up and run out of the gym.  Can't they all share one?  Seems like a lot of hassle for nothing.  

Next, the music.  The music that each group performs to is almost never something you have heard before.  This is some kind of off-the-beaten path artsy / indie type of music.  Something you may hear in a hidden coffee shop in Asheville.  I'm not even sure how the directors of these groups find this music.  There must be a website for stuff like this.

 I'm not saying the music is bad.  Just not something you are going to jump up and sing-a-long with.

Finally, the show. These girls and guys create some fantastic programs.  It takes each individual being precisely on time for every move to make this works.  When that comes together you get a fantastic visual treat.

I can't wait to see the next competition in a few weeks as the shows get more and more refined each week.   

Happy Valentine's Day

Birthday Girl 39

Finally got a birthday photo of Cari!

This past weekend we took a adventure trip together to Asheville to visit the Biltmore Estate.  We've been there several times but it seems like each time we go we discover something new about this place.

Happy birthday my love!

Photo from my phone (and boned chicken)

This first photo was just going to be a nice selfie of my daughters and I.  Somehow it turned  into this when one of them threatened to lick my face.  I'll let you decide who made the threat.

Next up, boned chicken.  

I have started to read the River of Doubt by Candice Millard.  This is about a trip into the Amazon that President Theodore Roosevelt took after his presidency.  Anyway, in the list of supplies they were preparing was boned chicken.  In some excitement I stopped to take a photo for my youngest daughter.  Then I realized my error.  She loves "bone chicken" such as fried chicken.  As I took this photo I realized "boned chicken" is actually referring to boneless chicken such as Chick-Fil-A.   

No matter, I still showed her the photo and sold her the idea that President Roosevelt was taking bone chicken on his trip. 

Honor Band

Last week my daughter performed in the All County Honor band.

All band students in the county are eligible to audition and the judges select the best of the best to participate.  This group then spends two days practicing all new music to perform at the end of the second day.   This is not easy.

At the concert last Friday we heard some really outstanding performances and it was exciting to see my girl on stage.

Bankrupt

This girl lost two teeth over the weekend.  

The tooth fairy has filed for bankruptcy protection.

Birthday Girl!

Snow has kept my love away from me on her birthday so her birthday photo will be a little delayed this year.  Until then, enjoy this photo of a Pepsi.

I knew this day was coming so I saved this Pepsi to drink on Cari's birthday.