Okay, once again, from the top ...

The blog went dark ... but not for lack of desire. Maybe just lack of time.

The spring had a DCI cinema event and a 20th anniversary. Read the April post (admittedly just put up) that should have been made on that day.

This summer started with an election to lead the middle school band boosters (uh oh). It was, however, tremendously full of DCI shows - Chambersburg (where I had the wonderful opportunity of announcing the first DCI show of the season), Annapolis, Dallas (x2!), Atlanta, Rock Hill, West Chester, and the Semi-Finals webcast.

Dallas - wow - what a change in venue since I first went there in 1982 and got bit by the bug. Atlanta - a cool venue (in all meanings of the word)! Rock Hill - a new home for an old show that was fabulous, and a reunion of what we ended up calling "The Dead Presidents".

What can be said about Carolina Crown that hasn't been said? I was confused at the start of the season (when my announcing stepped all over the green grass) but awed by the end, where I came within a few hours of flying to Indianapolis.

The summer also included visit to colleges, including one where we had a chance interaction with a Carolina Crown alumnae. It had a band camp, with two students in it (MP, now a senior and TP, a freshman). It has a great chance to talk to a former neighbor who spent the summer in the Bluecoats.

Fall begin with any web-time dedicated to the middle school website design. I got to spend 3 hours as a fly on the wall with Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser. And now it's halfway through October and marching band season.

The band has a great show potential, the best potential ever. They have had drum corps quality guidance for the first time I can remember. And yet ... and yet ... there is just so much more to talk about on that end.

And did anyone see the CD cover shot of the DCI winner Blue Devils? Okay, they were good, but nothing says Marching Music's Major League (R) like your world champion sitting ... strike that ... slouching ... in a chair that would get most students tossed from band class, no matter how good they are.

Leaving the fall and going into the winter may see may also see auditions ... and the spring may bring us back to where we stopped as we march on toward a dream in this community.

So, once again, "On the Field" ... from the top ... 5, 6, 7, 8 ....