Music
Last weekend the kids and I needed a change of pace in a big way. A former coworker is in the West Valley Jazz Orchestra and encouraged me to bring the boys to last Friday night's concert at West Valley College. The guest performer was Greg Adams, the trumpet player and arranger and sometimes composer for Tower of Power. The sets were good, the kids had a good tim, and M got Greg Adams' autograph on a program, which he showed to his band teacher for extra credit.
My mom spent the last 5 days in Arizona watching my neice and nephew pass their Tai Kwon Do black belt exams and catching up with family and friends. Because of that, it was very much a dudes weekend at my house.
Saturday was the Cupertino Tournament of Bands; a half-time show competition for marching bands from about 100 miles around. I used to play in that tournament and had fond memories of the field shows. We got there early to get good seats. I noticed many differences between how they do it now, and how we did it then, but all in all it was a pretty fun show. J alternated between enjoying the music, concession stand food, and digging in big pile of dirt at the edge of the track. I think I used to do that when I was his age and my older sisters and brother performed in half-time shows. M had a good time, and we compared notes on the performances.
The next afternoon M sold popcorn in front of a grocery store with the Boy Scouts and volunteered for a second shift because he was having fun at it. I took J swimming, and it was a decent way to spend the weekend.
I gotta get my head clear. This stuff seems to help. Just being with the kids is really good.
My mom spent the last 5 days in Arizona watching my neice and nephew pass their Tai Kwon Do black belt exams and catching up with family and friends. Because of that, it was very much a dudes weekend at my house.
Saturday was the Cupertino Tournament of Bands; a half-time show competition for marching bands from about 100 miles around. I used to play in that tournament and had fond memories of the field shows. We got there early to get good seats. I noticed many differences between how they do it now, and how we did it then, but all in all it was a pretty fun show. J alternated between enjoying the music, concession stand food, and digging in big pile of dirt at the edge of the track. I think I used to do that when I was his age and my older sisters and brother performed in half-time shows. M had a good time, and we compared notes on the performances.
The next afternoon M sold popcorn in front of a grocery store with the Boy Scouts and volunteered for a second shift because he was having fun at it. I took J swimming, and it was a decent way to spend the weekend.
I gotta get my head clear. This stuff seems to help. Just being with the kids is really good.