Being bald?

I was listening to the Jagger Show this morning.  For those of you that do not know what it is, it's a radio show here in the DFW Metroplex.  Turns out there was a wager on the outcome of the game.  And two of the guys from the show, having lost, ended up having to shave their heads.

They treated it as though it were punishment or something.  If they think that that is punishment, just wait until it gets cold again.  Or the first time a cold drop of rain hits their head and sucks the heat from their body.

There are a few bad things with being bald.  Let me see if I can list the major ones...

1) Cold weather sucks.  Cold wind.  Cold rain.  Snow ( I assume.  Haven't done THAT yet, thank God.) You think you're cold?  Just wait until there isn't anything on your head to hold in the heat or to block the wind.  And when cold water hits your head...  Oh dear.  It almost feels like the very life-force is being drawn out of your body by a needle of ice.  Luckily, a good hat will help.  Now, we're not talking baseball caps.  For staying warm, they are pretty much useless.  The best I've found are made by Underarmor.  I love mine.

2) Sunny days.  To any that have ever had a sunburn, you know how much it sucks to have one of those.  And many women know the absolute terror that a sunburn down the parting in your hair can bring.  Or that one time you went on a trip south of the border and thought getting your hair done in a those little braids would be cool, only to discover you now have a checkerboard kind of sunburn on your scalp.  Well, being bald is worse.  Trust me.  I know from experience.  Not only is there the pain of the burn...  But, it can really screw with your equilibrium making you feel hot and cold at the same time.  Then there is the fact that you NEED to shave to maintain that clean bald look.  This is even more important because the little bits of stubble trying to grow through will actually itch when they try to break through the burned skin.  The best defense?  Sunscreen.  Lots of it.  SPF 45.  If you're going to be outside all day, though, do yourself a favour and get  a wide-brimmed hat.  Don't do the baseball cap.  You're only guaranteed to get a REALLY funky-shaped sunburn that will not fade until mid-December.

3) Various low-hanging objects.  This includes, but is not limited to tree limbs, car-door frames, cabinet doors, windows...  Basically anything that could concievably touch your head and has a sharp point or corner...  Or is just simply not going to move because you head (no matter how hard it is) is not going to dent it much less move it out of the way.  Not much can be done about this one other than situational awareness.  Keep your eyes open and pray you only scrape the hell out of your head once or twice a year.

4) Razor burn, nicks and scratches.  Yes.  These SUCK.  And it happens to the best of us.  And the damned things just will NOT stop bleeding.  Seriously.  One nick and you're making a check every 15 minutes to make sure it hasn't started bleeding again.  And shaving it the next few days risks just opening it up again.  So very unpleasant.  The solution to this...  Well, try not to be in a hurry.  Change your blades often.  Use a good blade.  I prefer the Mach 3 Turbo myself.  And many bald guys also swear by them.  If all else fails, keep a stiptic pencil handy.  Yes, it burns worse than a bad urinary tract infection.  But, it will make you presentable much faster.

There are some bonuses to it, though.

1)  You spend less money on haircuts, shampoo and conditioner.  In fact your whole day is simplified.  I don't use bar soap anymore.  I use shower gel.  I get mine from Bath and Bodyworks.  It smells great.  Leaves the skin nice and soft.  And works GREAT for shaving in the shower.  Traveling is much easier as well as a consequence.  Less to pack.  Granted, your monthly costs for razors goes up significantly.  But, it's a fair trade, I think.

2) Women LOVE to touch a bald head.  That's provided you keep it nice and clean shaven.  Though there are a lot of bald guys out there...  It's still a bit of a novelty.  And nothing beats sitting there minding your own business and feeling a someone caress your scalp.  Well, that is provided it's not some ham-fisted guy who was just curious what it felt like.

3) You're no longer "losing your hair."  You've gotten rid of it.  And really, compared to the comb-over...  It's a change for the better.  The negative to it, though.  You're not fooling anyone.  They know you're just going bald.

Wow, yes.  I've been quiet.  So, I guess that I should blog just a little bit to get y'all caught up.  Or just to blog 'cause I'm bored.

Right now Lisa is semi-passed out on the couch.  We went out to dinner at Olive Garden.  It was blessed free of the typical dinner time crowds here in Frisco.  With everyone else watching the game, we knew it would be.  Today was also the first day that she has actually gotten dressed in almost a week.  Now before all of you guys out there start sportin', let me explain that she's been a snotty little mess all week...  Even though I stocked her up with plenty of Puffs Plus she had to blow her nose so much that one night when I came home her nose was rubbed so raw there was actual scabbing.

Hot, huh?

Turns out she had gotten the flu.  She felt sick on Monday and figured that she would go to the doctor's office near our house.  Since he's my PCP, I had the number handy.

She then tells me that she has a prescription for me.  She has the flu.  Could I pick her up some supplies.  They ended up giving me a prescription for Tamiflu so that I would have better success fighting off the flu since...  Well, my wife is a snotty,  feverish, sweating, shivering contagious mess.  It's a good thing cats can't catch the flu from us otherwise Baxter would be in a world of hurt.  He's been at her side almost the entire week.

But, let this be a reminder to everyone...  Next year.  Get your damned flu shot. 

We got together for a bit of a recording session at All Saints Catholic Church. I think we clean up pretty well, don't you?


Check out this video: Hornpipe by Accent Brass Ensemble



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What American accent do you have? (Best version so far) Midland ("Midland" is not necessarily the same thing as "Midwest") The default, lowest-common-denominator American accent that newscasters try to imitate. Since it's a neutral accent, just because you have a Midland accent doesn't mean you're from the Midland.

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I guess the subtitle could read something like, "My further descent into band nerddom."

I think, though, that the official name of my little group is zerchipdanhickland.  Which is only slightly less difficult to spell than getting the last names spelled correctly of Megan, Chip and myself.  But, we figured we'd never get any bookings that way.  So, we came up with Accent Brass.

We've got Chip and Mike on trumpets.  Well, the trumpet family is safer to say.  Since they each bring about three different trumpets to play.  Though, even at that, they carry less metal around than I do with my horn.  Megan and Jeff are both playing horns.  Myself?  Well, of course I'm playing tuba.  Over 2 decades and I'm STILL playing tuba.  Welborn, Avila, Larson and Osner would be so proud.

The idea is to play at weddings.  Okay, not EVERYONE wants a brass quintet to play at their wedding during the ceremony.  But, for those that do, we're ready.  We've been rehearsing for months now as an ensemle at least once a week.  Mike has been a GREAT arranger cranking out arrangements of lots of standard wedding songs to fit our unique ensemble.  Most quintets are written for 2 trumpets, horn, trombone and tuba.  So, the voicing is a little different.

Pictures, website, even music clips will be available soon.

Damn, gotta go buy a tux now.  Well, not RIGHT now.  But, soon.

Okay, gotta admit that I actually watched it.

I mean, come on, it's eye candy.  Cute women, skimpy outfits.  My TiVo was SOOOO there.  The Pussycat Dolls have a new reality show searching for the newest member of their ensemble.

Sure, the girls had decent bodies.  Otherwise they'd have not made it onto the show to begin with.  Some of the faces on the other hand...  Anybody with me on this one?  A show of hands please.  Does Jamie not make you think of Princess Vespa's "before" picture from Spaceballs?

Anyways...  The main point of this post is the ending.

Survivor has the whole torch thing going on.  The Bachelor had their little rose.  I think one of those "who wants to be a trophy wife" shows had a diamond necklace or some such.  Don't even ask me what the Bachelorette had for their token...  Though, I'd not be surprised if it was pink if Trista picked the colour.

But...  When the girls walked out with little fuchsia feather boas...  Okay, maybe "little" was not the right word to describe them.  I've seen smaller, less conspicuous boas in drag shows.  It's like Cruella Deville changed from hunting dalmations to flamingoes.  Hell, if I were one of these women trying out for the Pussycat Dolls I'd almost want to be voted off just so I could be rid of the damned thing.

Who was smoking what when they decided they needed a gimmick like that for when they voted someone off.  Whatever it is...  Share with the class, damnit.

The emphasis in bold is mine and what made me laugh.  It's only REALLY funny if you were there.

 

2006 DCA Championship Program / Yearbook

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Inside you'll find scores from all DCA World Championships since 1965, a tribute to long-time drum corps photographer Moe Knox, and a guide to DCA competition scoring. Features, including photos, from all DCA participating corps give you insight into the corps' program, repertoire, and staff.

Purchase the Official 2006 DCA World Championships Program and Yearbook today .... and preserve the memory of this exciting season.

 

"Plano/Allen Barbie"
The modern day homemaker Barbie is available with Ford Windstar Minivan and matching gym outfit. She gets lost easily and has no full-time occupation.
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"Oak Cliff Barbie"
This recently paroled Barbie comes with a 9mm handgun, a Ray Lewis knife, a Chevy with dark tinted windows, and a Meth Lab Kit.

* This model is only available after dark and must be paid for in cash (preferably small, untraceable bills) ...unless you are a cop, then we don't know what you are talking about.
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"Frisco Barbie"
This yuppie Barbie comes with your choice of BMW convertible or Hummer H2.  Included are her own Starbucks cup, credit card and country club membership.

* Also available for this set are "Shallow Ken" and "Private School Skipper."

** You won't be able to afford either of them.
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"Mesquite Barbie"
This pale model comes dressed in her own Wrangler jeans two sizes too small, a NASCAR t-shirt and tweety bird tattoo on her shoulder. She has a six-pack of Bud light and a Hank Williams, Jr. CD set.  She can spit over 5 feet and kick "Mullet-haired Ken's" butt when she is drunk.

* Purchase her pickup truck separately and get a confederate flag bumper sticker absolutely free.

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"Grand Prairie Barbie"
This tobacco-chewing, brassy-haired Barbie has a pair of her own high-heeled sandals with one broken heel from the time she chased "Beer-gutted Ken" out of "Mesquite Barbie's" house.

* Her ensemble includes low-rise acid-washed jeans, fake fingernails, and a see-through halter-top.

** Also available with a mobile home.
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"Lower Greenville Barbie"
This doll is made of actual tofu. She has long straight brown hair, arch-less feet, hairy armpits, no makeup and Birkenstocks with white socks. She prefers that you call her "Willow."  She does not want or need a Ken doll.  But if you purchase two "Lower Greenville Barbies" and the optional Subaru wagon, you get a rainbow flag bumper sticker for free.
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"East Dallas Barbie"
This Barbie now comes with a stroller and infant doll.

* Optional accessories include a GED and bus pass.

** "Gangsta Ken" and his 1979 Caddy were available, but are now very difficult to find since the addition of the infant.
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"Oak Lawn Barbie/Ken"
This versatile doll can be easily converted from Barbie to Ken by simply adding or subtracting the multiple snap-on parts. 
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Yes, the title is... ODD..... But, when you have a bunch of musicians whose minds free associate rather... ummm..... freely, you end up with some odd nicknames for songs.

The first part of the skit wasn't captured..... We'd just gotten done performing the O Come Medley, then Simple Gifts where we played that while standing above the Chorale and then had to run down and do Good King... So, the video guy had to run from top stage left to the back of the audience... He barely made it... *chuckle*

The skit starts off with Jayson, Russ, Mike and I rushing in with gifts... Unwrapping them and finding horns... Then the four mellophones come in with their gifts..... BIG SHOCK!.. More horns... So, Mike runs to his gift, opens it and it's..... well, a wooden box... It's called a cajon, actually... This leads me to wonder about the sanity of percussionists as a whole for naming what amounts to a simple wooden box as its own instument family... But, I digress.

Of course at this point in the skit Mike is befuddled... This is very much a "what the f*** do I do with THIS?" moment.And he starts asking for ideas... Well, the rest of us just start to play.

Partway through Mike figures out that it's a type of percussion and starts going to town... Hilarity ensues... Or not... But, either way it's a damned fun piece... This was actually one of our WORST performances to date for the number... But, even at that..... It sounds pretty cool... I hope you like it.

Good King Wenceslas

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Okay, guys and gals... Here's the second video from one of my concerts at the Meyersen.

To kind of paint what is going on here..... When the show starts there are a couple dozen members of the chorale on stage with some trumpets up in the top of the stage... It's an awesome piece that you really need to be there in person to see... It's a lot of trumpet flourishes from the left and then from the right in answer..... With the members of the chorale maintaining the melody... Then the remaining members of the chorale come down the front aisles... So, if you're not in one of the balconies you're surrounded by men singing..... VERY cool.

Of course, I don't have video of THAT.

But, once that ends..... Well, damn... They gotta get all of those guys on stage without making the audience wait... Thus we were asked to put something together... Thus the horn quartet was written by Mike Hickman.

Then Mikel asked Hickman..... "If you could find a way for me to play my bass trombone at the Meyersen," his primary instrument, "I'd REALLY appreciate it.".. So, Mike being the great guy he is starts figuring out how to add a bass trombone to a horn quartet.

Finally it dawned on him... "Wait, if I'm writing this for Mikel, I might as well write a part for me..... And maybe we could get Mark Crouse to play a drum in it, too.".. How do I fit into all of this?.. Well, Mikel got married the week of this performance... So, I get to play Mikel's bass trombone part on my tuba... That's why I fracked that high G both times... Overall this performance was an off night, seeing as how I hit that note all the time..... But... Eh... Whatcha gonna do?

We actually fixed the arrangement of bodies in the next performance because the distance between the horns and the three of us stage left led to some tears, which you'll sooooo be able to hear if you pay attention.

Some definite kudos go out to the guy on the right... He's actually filling in for another performer that couldn't make the concert that night. And he's actually sight-reading the music.

Ding Dong Merrily on Horn

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Yes, I know. The video cuts in and out of focus from time to time. And I'm one of a gajillion people onstage. But, if you wait until around the 1:20 they are gonna zoom in on a soprano player and I'll be on the right side of him.

I'm the middle guy in the section with the BIG ASS horns. Enjoy.

O Come Medley

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If you bothered to read my main page you'll know that I'm active in a little cancer research project.  No, I'm not a human lab rat.  I use my computer to help find new drugs for cancer treatment.  For more information go here.

But, we do some fundraisers from time to time.  This time Lisa has carved an artificial pumpkin with my team's mascot on it...  JoJo.

If you want a chance to win JoJo, then go to this thread on my group's forum.  Raffle tickets are only $5 and all proceeds go towards buying new computer parts in order to keep searching for cancer treatments.

Here's what he looks like :

That is all.