This weekend marks the chosen celebratory and reminiscing-at-full-power events for my 20 year high school reunion.

For one, I think it’s amazing that technology has actually transformed enough for this level of planning to be done online. There’s a facebook page, website, and all sorts of opportunities to connect with friends of old.  I’m a reminiscing type of person, and experience great joy in skimming the list of fellow classmates in my class of ’89.

I liked High School a lot (I mention this because it seems a lot of people complain about their high school days), and while I enjoyed the classes, the Computer Club, learning great new things… Band was my absolute favorite part of High School.

In fact, the band breakfast is the only reunion activity I’m attending.

I’m not boycotting the rest of the reunion events or anything – I’m sure I’d probably have fun if I went.  I’d probably be more likely to attend if I was thinner, if it wasn’t so expensive, and if I wasn’t in the midst of a job change, moving my house, and some other big things going on.

Man I need to lose weight. 

It’s embarassing, you know?  Being what, 75 pounds heavier than when you exited your senior year?  I knew the reunion was coming up… it’s not like you have your 20 year reunion on some random year.  ALSO, I remembered back in January-ish that I was all like “hey, 20 year reunion is coming up this summer, so lose some weight, fatty!“  And so then I failed at that, and then come June or so, I found out the reunion wasn’t until OCTOBER so I was like “cool, now I can actually maybe lose some weight before then” and well I ate a lot of breakfast tacos instead.

I loved band so much.  Music, friendship, discipline, coordinating events, fundraisers.  It’s where I met my future wife (we just celebrated our 17th anniversary), learned the skills that got me into the Army Band, and paved the way for a love of music that helps define who I am.  My daughter is heavily involved in her high school band (drill instructor, is a strong leader, and earns high achievements), and I’m on the band booster board.  I’m still very close with a few ex-bandmates.

Band has shaped my life and for that I’m thankful.

*raises breakfast taco*

Here’s to being fit and healthy for my 30 year high school reunion.

Hey hey!  How ya doin?  REALLY?!??!  ME TOO!

Proud Papa

Once again, I get to brag about my amazing daughter.

This past weekend she participated in a Texas State thing called UIL Solo & Ensemble.  We’re in Region 26.

This is where a bunch of band students in a specific area (called a region) go and play for judges individually and/or with fellow band geeks.  They can choose to play Class 3 (easiest), Class 2 (harder) or Class 1 (hardest) piece for their grade level (High School).

Last I checked, High School is comprised of four grades, 9th through 12th.  Caitlin is in 9th grade.  Yeah, this little fact plays a role in the bragging.

So she chooses a Class 1 piece.  Did I mention that was the hardest level for High School?

Then, she plays it… get this…  memorized.  TWO PAGES of blank ink splattered all across the page like it was taped on the wall during the shooting of Dune, when Baron Vladimir Harkonnen gets his face treatments.

Eww.

The judge then assigns a rating of 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 (Superior).  The highest rating is a first division or superior performance.  This represents an elite performance given by a student.

If you’re still wondering by now what she earned, you don’t know my writing very well. 

She achieved a Superior Performance! And that also means she’s eligible to compete at the Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest later in the school year!

She worked very hard on this and we’re so glad all that practice and effort paid off.

Wii Fit Blog Badges

Speaking of bragging…. I wonder why there aren’t Wii Fit Blog Badges yet.  When I lose a ton of weight in the near future, I want to brag about it.  But since I’m lazy, I want my blog to brag about it for me.

I uttered about this recently, but I also wanted to put something up on the blog about it.

If you notice over on the right, my sidebar shows off my Guitar Hero stats.  I have badges that show off how many Expert songs I’ve completed, my ranking, etc.

I wish Nintendo / Wii Fit folks had a similar system.  I envision online profiles, so that your progress (however you measure that) could be uploaded and turned into badges that could proudly show off one’s achievements.  Some might want to show off their Fit Credits, their scores on the balance games,  yoga games, and others might even want to display their weight and BMI.

I, for example, would dare to show off weight and BMI because as vain as I am, I know I’d work out harder to lower it.  I need humiliation to help motivate me.

Everyone, please join together and laugh at my obesity so that I may improve.

Tales of Venus Retrograde

Nick Dagan Best’s traveling multi-media presentation has received rave reviews at astrology conferences across the continent. If you’re in Austin tonight, you can check out this presentation for free!

Tales of Venus Retrograde
by Nick Dagan Best

Venus goes retrograde in Aries on March 6 this year, revisiting an eight-year cycle that is parallel to a pattern found in human history. With this special edition of “Tales of Venus Retrograde,” Nick Dagan Best discusses the background behind this particular section of the Venus retrograde cycle relative to U.S. political history and many notable biographies.

Nick Dagan Best is an exoteric astrologer who uses storytelling and a visual presentation to illustrate how astrology reflects life unfolding in time. A student of astrology since 1995, Nick is known as “the human ephemeris” for his uncanny knowledge of dates in history and their corresponding astrological features. He lives in Montreal, Canada.  This website is http://exotericastrology.com/

Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Time: 7:30-9 pm
Location: Plum Blossom Wellness Center, 1700 S. Lamar, Suite 230
Cost: Free

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