Except to say that it takes participation on your part to make a soup. You've got to gather the directions, read the recipe, prepare the ingredients, cook and stir, season and wait.
And in the end, after you have make your choices and done your job . . . you get delicious soup.
None of that happens when you watch college football.
It's entirely passive. And you are the passive one. You sit and watch. And nothing you shout or swear at the TV will make a difference.
And you don't even get delicious soup at the end.
So, spend your time today making delicious soup and less time watching college football.
(Full disclosure--I toyed with using a vulgar or course title using swear words or curse abbreviations for this post. You know, as a way of creating a clever dissonance with the content to come. But then I didn't. But that didn't stop me from taking even more time to type this out and explain it to you, so that you can pat me on the back for the joke I didn't make. I guess that is why people hate bloggers.)
Last Saturday, Lynda and I attended the Columbus Symphony Orchestra's performance at the Ohio Theater downtown.
You would be justified to think at this point Most of those words have never been presented in that particular order about something YOU did.
But I did it because of the particular music they began the performance with: Aaron Copeland's Appalachian Spring. (I didn't know that the second piece would be based on letters written by Abraham Lincoln, but that was a nice bonus as well.) You can click this link to see some of the details of the show.
Copeland has been my favorite American composer since I was in high school. This was because of a set of circumstances that combine pop culture and marching band--so of course, it had to happen to me.
If you are of a certain age, you likely remember the "Beef. It's What's for Dinner" commercials that ran frequently on television during the Reagan Eighties. The jaunty upbeat symphonic music that linked cattle on the range to your Saturday night dinner table was courtesy of Aaron Copeland. (It is from the Rodeo suite, to be specific. The fourth movement is named "Hoedown.") Copeland became an even more mainstream name because of this bump in his musical exposure and brought awareness deep into South Georgia to me.
I was further locked into Copeland soon after when my high school marching band capitalized on this popular awareness by incorporating the beats and some musical elements of "Hoedown" into the percussion feature of a halftime show one year.
But that only linked me to Copeland himself. It didn't take very long for me to hear Appalachian Spring for the first time. And that was courtesy of the (Garfield) Cadets (of Bergen County) drum corps show of 1987.
(The final two minutes of this show . . . from the enormous musical hit of "Simple Gifts" through the scatter drill break and resolve into the march off of the field remains in my top three most impactful drum corps moments over 40 years after seeing it for the first time. Just chills-inducing.)
It was all over for me at that point.
I listened to a cassette recording of Appalachian Spring MANY times in the intervening high school years. In my bedroom at night, in the dark, with the volume down. Sometimes riding my bike around town via my Walkman. (When I wasn't otherwise listening to XTC's "Oranges & Lemons" or R.E.M.*)
But--to bounce back to the present.
It was a great thrill to enjoy such stellar music live. Copeland especially, but the entire program was great and we had such a good time. We are lucky to have the arts available to us here and I'm very happy we had the chance to be there and listen.
I found a bit of time and a good enough piece of content to create some football distraction this week.
Above, as the title shows, is the final "production" video of the 2024 Marching Warrior show RED.
I really have enjoyed the existence of these end-of-season videos, which the program started making in 2022 (Play Ball). Please go visit the Westerville North Marching Band YouTube page to see that show as well as 2023's Non-Stop. And there are curated playlists of many other years of the program, stretching back through the previous decade and even into the 1990s when available. There are also a variety of Go-Pro Point of View videos that the kids have made and that I have collected on the site. I also love watching these videos--most of them beginning when Grace was still in High School and continuing now through Jay's Junior year. It helps capture the unique individuals and experiences of each year's day-to-day work.
The site is a labor of love done mostly through the skills of the band's official photographer/videographer Aaron Layne and also the Go Pro work of many students--spearheaded for the last several years by graduating senior Nick. I've done my bit by organizing and curating where needed to keep it as tidy as possible.
If you begin digging around here, I absolutely guarantee that you will spend enough time within to completely skip any and all football for this weekend.
So, until next time . . . remember. Your alma mater has its own marching band. And they work a hell of a long time each week. So don't ignore them during halftime. The hotdog will be there when the third quarter starts. (And the line will be shorter besides.)
I haven't been able to/haven't chosen to post every week of the season. But I ran across this story and knew that it was interesting enough to merit taking some time to put it up there as a way of distracting you from watching college football on Saturday.
And . . . yes . . . I know that I am counter-programming college football with . . . college football-related content. But this is more history and art-driven content than it is about Xs and Os and defensive schemes and whether your team is winning or losing in the conference. So I think it is a defensible strategy for driving your eyeballs elsewhere. (And what did they say once a long time ago--"Only Nixon could go to China."?*)
And, heck, football games are long. So read it twice!
And that's it for this weekend.
Just remember that you'll never get back the time you spend in front of the TV watching your alma mater. And they won't know you are doing it. (And if they somehow DO know that you are doing it . . . well, then that is the basis of another week's future FC-P.)
(Honestly, you're lucky to be getting anything at all.)
When I need a good old emotional release and a cathartic cry. Or when I forget and subject myself to it one more time and damn the consequences, I can turn back to the Bluecoats 2022 50th Anniversary Alumni Performance at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
You might wonder why--since I have only ever watched Drum Corp on VHS or live on PBS (yep, I AM that old and that's how I did it when I was in high school) or on YouTube. Or . . . God forbid . . . the few times I'm irrationally given money to FloMarching in August.
But anyway . . . the question remains.
Why should this make me cry. I'm an interested, but removed observer of the sport. I never marched in a Drum Corp. I admittedly only became a dyed in the blue lover of the Bluecoats when I moved up to Ohio and my marching band kids reintroduced me to the group. (Though I've been a committed skeptic of the Blue Devils since the late 80s.) And, I haven't marched in a band since 1990--more precisely, Fall of 1989, unless you count an odd parade or something before June 1990s graduation.
But--as I've said before in this space--those marching band years were deeply special to me. It has been a thread through all of my blogging years. And it has come raging back in the last seven to eight years as I've watched some of my kids go through the sport and forge their own friendships and memories and emotional attachments. And I've been blessed to be allowed on that journey with them, working on the side as a volunteer. So my love of marching band and its emotional weight is strong and reinvigorated in this middle period of my life.
So, watching an alumni corps play the hits and knowing the history behind it--leaving aside the powerful, raw beauty of the music itself--affects me.
So, yeah . . . ugly cry each and every time.
And another undeniable reason that this stuff makes me cry is the emotion that the corps members show during and at the performances conclusion. This is most evident if you are watching a DCI championship video because what you are seeing is the catharsis of months of repetition and effort all coming together in 14 minutes of release. These kids have eaten cheap food, slept on gym floors, and relentlessly marched their drill and honed their music to a razors edge. They've been doing it through the summer for 8-10 hours every day. And then, when the competitions begin, they ride on buses across the country to perform. They get feedback, they receive judges critiques, they adapt and relearn. And it all comes together for that specific group of people on a night in Indiana in August. The thrill of achievement, the roar of appreciation from the crowds, the immediate sadness of saying goodbye to that year's corps. It all is bound up in what you see in their faces.
How can one not react to that?
I've seen it in my kids at the high school level. Knowing the work and the pain and the stress that comes with making a show better and better for months. Seeing their surprise and delight when they get a good score or win a trophy. Feeling the sadness when they know they could have done better on a specific performance. And then seeing them do their best later and get rewarded. Watching them come together with their friends for do something together. We call our band a family and it is that in all of the best ways.
So--spend time with family today (however you define that term). And don't expect your alma mater to win that conference game against their newest hated rival that just joined the conference last year for . . . reasons.
Until next time (even if it isn't next week). Or maybe it will be?
Didn't George Lucas say something about how stories, like poetry, rhyme? (Meaning it as a justification that the repetition in his stories and what some might perceive as a weakness in story telling was actually a feature and not a bug.)
checking . . .
According to this source, he said "Again, it's like poetry, so that they rhyme. Every stanza kind of rhymes with the last one."
Well . . . he is definitely not the only one.
Because tonight I'm minding my own business and watching a rerun of an Alias episode. ("Almost Thirty Years" which aired May 21, 2002.) And at the end of the episode, Sydney blows up a big Rambaldi device that collapses a sphere of red water being suspended in anti-gravity whatsis. This begins a flood within the building. And so Sydney and Vaughn run to escape the rushing wall of liquid. Sydney safely gets on one side of a bulkhead door (which has a window). And Vaughn is trapped on the water side and so Sydney gets to watch as he is surrounded by the water.
DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR TO YOU?!
DOES IT RHYME?!!!!!
Maybe it would help if I shared a clip of this episode of LOST ("Through the Looking Glass--season 3, episodes 22 and 23, which aired May 23, 2007)
So . . . as you can see . . . Mr. Abrams's creative partners Lindelof and Cuse were happy to take a bit of Alias lore and hit me with it again almost exactly five years later.
And I didn't make the connection until over seventeen years after that.
Look. I'm sorry that the #HatofSummer has been official for weeks and I forgot to cross post this video from my other social media feeds over here.
Fifteen-years-ago me would be severely disappointed.
But current me is who he is. And that's just how it goes. I encourage you to get over your disappointment and surf back through the WWYG?! archives and feel better about when this was more vibrant and vital and we all had more pep in our step.
None of that, however, takes away from the very satisfying fact that #OfficialHat2024 is out there and the #HatofSummer project continues--even after all this time.
So not everything slowly withers on the vine.
As much as the hat's simple existence, I am happy with the new style and video elements I added this year. No, I didn't experiment as much as I thought I would. But it gives me confidence that I might make another step next Spring when #OfficialHat2025 approaches.
When I started this project in 2012 I didn't know where it would go. And all these years later, it seems evident by the tone of this video that I still don't.
Such are the defining characteristics of the #HatofSummer.
Memorial Day weekend is now only two weeks away, so the time you have left to vote for the #HatofSummer is slipping away!
Perhaps this is surprising to you? If so, that might be because I have not done a great job of reminding everyone about the voting progress this year. Regardless #OfficialHat2024 will be chosen very soon and then no more new hats for me until Labor Day weekend!
Anders makes very good weekly videos about making cocktails and often discusses the history and creators of the drinks featured in each video. As I say in the video, I'm learning more about making cocktails and have started experimenting with spirits and liqueurs and the like. Cocktails always intimidated me as the ingredients always seems confusing and foreign and odd. But, as with everything else in life, if you take your time and think about it, you can learn.
Here is the third of four choices for the 2024 #HatofSummer.
It's another bit of swag from another local Westerville business--a hat for the Temperance Row Brewing Company, housed within Uptown Deli and Brew.
This is a favorite restaurant of ours. The food is simple, but tasty and I enjoy their locally brewed beers as well. And from a historical point of view, this restaurant is notable for being the first Westerville brewery since the temperance movement hit alcohol sales in the United States back in the early twentieth century.
As you may know, Westerville was a very important headquarters for the temperance movement before and during the Prohibition era in the United States. Westerville once called itself the Dry Capitol of the World. And it mailed information against the sale of alcohol across the globe from this (then) sleep town in central Ohio.
But those days are over. Prohibition ended in the 1930s, but Westerville remained dry until the 2000s. Now there is a museum for the movement in the local public library and information about the Anti-Saloon League. As well as a memorial statue on Main Street outside of City Hall.
But we also have alcohol sales and many good restaurants and wine bars up and down that same Main Street. And if you look, you might see me on a summer weekend with a glass in hand, wearing the Temperance Row Brewing Co. hat--if it wins the most votes, that is.
I was in Delaware, attending Grace's latest concert band performance at Ohio Wesleyan. It was a rare opportunity to get the whole family together to see Grace's concert. Sarah and her boyfriend drove up from Columbus. Jay didn't have a Friday night conflict of some kind. And even though it was (maybe?) the worst snow storm of this winter, we all made it there and back home again.
After the concert was over, we drove in the snowfall and trudged through the sidewalks of downtown Delaware to have a quick late night dessert at the Delaware Whits. And there, beside the counter, was this hat.
It looks bright and nice and I decided then to buy it!
Today, the Google Form opened to receive votes for the 2024 #HatofSummer.
So, I'm posting video number 1 here to start publicizing the choices for #OfficialHat2024.
And, to peek behind the curtain a bit, I have a bit of dilemma. You see, I make the videos and I don't open the voting until all of the videos are ready. But when I have all of the videos ready and I open up the official voting, I am reluctant to post all of the hat videos in a block. Because I want to tease out the time period of new videos to try and draw people in. (You see I still labor--after all these years of evidence to the contrary--under the delusion that I will ever be able to generate any sort of Internet interest in the things that I do.)
So, I have videos ready. And I want to time delay video presentation. BUT . . . the Google Form already tells you what the hat choices are--even if you don't have all of the videos to watch yet.
But does it matter?
Untimately, no. I doesn't matter.
So I guess what I will do is this--
I've posted video 1: Seersucker now. Here. And you can start voting now. Over on this linked Google Form. But you will also see the other choices, even if you don't have the full context. But I'll be releasing those videos in a sort of accelerated pace over the next few days. It won't matter or make any difference. But that is what I've chosen to do.
Even though there is snow on the ground outside the window as I type this, Spring is soon to arrive. And that means that the videos for the 2024 Hat of Summer are in preparation now.
And so, I spent some time this weekend working on the ins and outs and I got this teaser trailer put together.
I hope that you like it.
And I really hope that you keep your eyes open for the other videos that are to come.
Next up will be a rules video, separate from the hat-specific videos. (It's odd that I haven't made a rules only video in the past, but I'm excited to put it together.)
The hat videos and the Google form for voting are soon to be made and will be live soon. As always, I thank you for your attention and your interest in this weird little annual project of mine.
Did you think I was done just because YOUR team got eliminated last weekend?
Well, even though the field has been winnowed and there are fewer games on the schedule during a Saturday, that doesn't mean that College Football has gone away. And wherever there is a pigskin (p)rumble going on somewhere, I'll be there . . . in spirit . . . because I can't afford to go to all of these games and the whole reason for this thread is to NOT promote . . . anyway . . . you get it.
BUT!
What/how can I distract you from the various conference championship games? How can I convince you not to watch was is (in theory at least) the BEST matchups between the BEST teams in YOUR chosen conference?
The best thing I can do, as always, is turn my attention to the marching band.
I don't know if you've heard this about me, but I'm into marching band. I like it. I have participated in it. I support it. I assist with it. My kids were/are in it. etc.
And I'm not sure you know, but this past marching band season was a historically good one for my kid's High School. The Marching Warriors did quite well at (al)most all of the competitions that we entered this year. And the "NonStop" show (based on Hamilton--ever heard of it?) was a crowd favorite and one of more technically challenging shows that the Marching Warriors have done in a long time.
And the band program is blessed with creative people who have done a great job this year and in many past years to capture the experience of the show with drones, multiple cameras, on camera recording, and kid-mounted GoPro videos that put you inside the show in very fun ways.
So, today, I am going to encourage you to wander over the the Westerville North Bands YouTube channel and peruse the Playlists. You will find several videos of the NonStop show from a crowd angle (in the stands) and if you check out the GoPro Playlist you will find many more POV recordings of the show from various band members. Those POV videos are so fun because you get to see and hear the kids in their element. But you also gain a stronger appreciation for the effort and skill that is required to be a marcher/performer/musician. If you have never been in a marching band, you might not fully comprehend the challenges. Challenges that these kids have dedicated many months of their year meeting and exceeding.
So, celebrate something other than football today.
You'll be glad you did.
Main WNHS Bands YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@WNHSBands
Lynda and I worked outside cleaning up the yard this morning and we also decided to take advantage of the mild weather to hang Christmas lights now. But we are not preparing to turn them on until after Thanksgiving. Just pre-prep.
We are one of those families that don't do our Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving has passed. But we also wanted to avoid being outside in colder temperatures and climbing up and down on ladders with stronger winds blowing.
We are learning and growing.
Hmm . . . what else can I tell you today to distract you from watching football?
Jay and Grace went to see The Marvels last night while Lynda and I were celebrating the end of the marching band season at a parent's party. I think a good time was had by all--even those who went to see the latest MCU movie. (Lynda and I may be able to go see it tonight while Jay is attending the student end-of-marching-season party. So we are doing our part to prop up the revenue for the MCU once again.) The reviews and pre-speculation for this movie are shaky, but I am expecting to find things that I like about it.
Speaking of things that I like, and as I mentioned above, the marching season has come to a close and Non Stop 2023 is done. It is certainly a sad time when that activity that takes up so much of our time and our effort finishes, but there are a few things that console me once again.
First, this was an excellent season! Non Stop was such a fun show and the students gave it there all each and every week. And the results show how strong the show was and also how strong their performances were. It ended up being one of the most successful competition seasons that the Marching Warriors have had in a very long time. We competed strongly in every event we entered and won most caption awards and rankings in the band's class. And the re-entry into the Bands of America competition circuit after several years away was illuminating and enjoyable. I think the band and the staff learned a lot from that exposure and think that it will be reflected in next year's show design.
And here is a final band-related thought--along with an accompanying video.
For the last several years, the band has captured a variety of Go Pro POV videos from individual band members. For 2023, there is a flute video, a trumpet/flugelhorn video, a Guard/Rifle member video, and most recently a drum major video. And it is the drum major video that I want to highlight here--and for admittedly selfish reasons. While the video itself is very interesting and it displays a fun perspective, I noticed when I previewed it that I show up at the very end. And when I do, I remembered that this run-through occurred around Halloween. And that I chose to wear my Steve Harrington "Scoop Ahoy" costume to the game that night. What I find funny is that there is very little, if any, clue to explain WHY I am wearing such an outfit. And years from now no one may know at all. So it may be very confusing to some future viewer to understand what exactly some sailor-looking guy is doing at the end of that video?!
Anyway . . . watch and enjoy.
I further encourage you to spend the rest of the day watching videos on the WNHS Marching Band YouTube channel. It will be much more enjoyable and a better use of your time than watching college football.
(And this counter-programming is even football adjacent!)
somebody hears you. you know that. you know that. somebody hears you. you know that inside. someone is learning the colors of all your moods, to (say just the right thing and) show that you’re understood. here you’re known.
leave your life open. you don’t have. you don’t have to. leave your life open. you don’t have to hide. someone is gathering every crumb you drop, these (mindless decisions and) moments you long forgot. keep them all.
let our formulas find your soul. we’ll divine your artesian source (in your mind), marshal feed and force (our machines will) to design you a perfect love— or (better still) a perfect lust. o how glorious, glorious: a brand new need is born.
now we possess you. you’ll own that. you’ll own that. now we possess you. you’ll own that in time. now we will build you an endlessly upward world, (reach in your pocket) embrace you for all you’re worth.
is that wrong? isn’t this what you want? amen
--Vienna Teng, The Hymn of Acxiom
It was busy last weekend. And it is busy this weekend. And it will continue to be busy for the next several weekends.
So, you might think that taking some time off to relax and enjoy some football would be a good thing.
But that is the opposite of what should happen.
Immerse yourself in other pursuits.
Don't get trapped in the pigskin prison.
Find a new obsession.
Enjoy the coming of the fall while it is still here.
Look for the diversion that is a change in season.
Embrace a shift in perspective as one time ends and another begins.
And remember . . . your alma mater is definitely scrubbing the Internet to get important data on you so that it can target its funding request emails to you in the most appropriate way. And any money that you give it is NOT going to make the football team any better.
I'm going to busy most all of today with a trip across Ohio and back for a marching band competition.
So I'm keeping today's FC-P short.
Here is a video from last night's halftime performance of the Play Ball! 2022 competition show. The only things that are missing from this are a. the competition (baseball) uniforms and b. the audio samples. (And the absence of the samples hurts the narrative of the show a bit. But hopefully it will all be there today.)
No matter what YOU are doing today, make sure it isn't football-related. (And yes, I will be in a football stadium, but there will be no football happening in it.)
