My week included lots of this…
And lots of that…
I think it’s a safe bet to say that “someone” is welcoming the arrival of the weekend!
Filed under: children, Teaching | Tagged: band, teaching | 2 Comments »
It’s Band Season!
Posted on September 17, 2011 by auburnchick
There’s nothing that says high school football season like a band marching in at the beginning of a game…
This is my third year of being a band mom, but I still get chills when I watch the pageantry…
I am so impressed by the kids’ dedication to their craft as well as the band director’s commitment to the music and his students…
I don’t quite know what I’ll do next year when I’m no longer an “official” band mom. Guess I’ll have to soak up as much of the fun this year, while I can!
Filed under: children | Tagged: band, teenagers | 2 Comments »
Beat of Life
Posted on March 4, 2011 by auburnchick
Yesterday, Rooster attended a pre-tryout percussion clinic. It was held after school with the purpose of preparing those who are going to be trying out for the percussion section of the marching band.
Rooster had informed me that he probably would not be finished until 7:30pm.
I left home around 6:30 and headed to Panera to pick up dinner. I wanted to make it home before American Idol started.
As I meandered my way back to my house, I took a back road that led me past Rooster’s school.
Because the weather has been absolutely glorious here, I had my windows down.
As I passed by the school, I heard drumming, so I turned my head to see what was going on.
Standing beside the school were several bass players, drums hung over their shoulders, practicing their little hearts out.
Rooster was not among them. He is trying out for snares this year, so he was practicing somewhere else on campus.
Still, I was touched by the dedication of the students I heard playing.
Who really wants to be at school from 7am until 8pm when they could be home watching TV or playing Xbox?
When Rooster finally came home at 8:15, he was dead tired.
His feet and legs hurt.
His hands were sporting three or four blisters as well.
The band will be under new leadership next year, but the changes that have already been put into place have been positive ones. He has a renewed love and enthusiasm for this school activity, and I could not be happier.
As I listened to him tell me about his long afternoon, I was reminded of the poem he submitted for a poetry contest last year.
He wrote it for extra credit for his English class (I, being the mean mom that I am, made him do the extra credit to earn some much needed points). His poem was one of several selected to be published in a booklet that the contest’s sponsor produced.
The poem is below…
Beat of Life
With every measure of music I play
The beat of life comes rocking my way
When I hit my drum with all my heart
I also have to remember my part
If I don’t keep up with the rhythm
Then I may have to put up with the schism
If I make sure to play it right
My line will make sure to keep it tight
The better and better that my chops get
The more and more that my spot is set
So if you think I can’t survive
The beat of life allows me to stay alive
Rooster has always marched to the beat of his own drum.
The song he plays is music to my ears.
Filed under: children | Tagged: band, child rearing, teenagers | 3 Comments »
What a Week!
Posted on November 13, 2010 by auburnchick
I’m not quite ready to blog about my latest week in teaching because I am exhausted from my non-teaching activities!
High school soccer season officially started a week and a half ago.
I eagerly drove to the first girls’ game, even though it was raining cats and dogs.
I was eager to see “my” girls and the parents.
I went home that night wet from the knees down but happy as a lark.
The girls had an away game a few days later, but I chose not to go because I had a lot of work to do at home. I also had a band booster meeting to attend. I guess that’s the advantage of not having a child on the team.
However, I did go to the next home game, which was on Wednesday night. The girls were playing one of their former arch enemies.
We beat the team soundly.
It was a little strange to see the girls huddled after the game. My Chicky wasn’t there anymore. In fact, someone else is now sporting her number.
Time moves on, and I am happy for that.
On Thursday, I attended two more games. I made sure to arrive in time for the JV game. I wanted to take pictures.
I don’t know why, but I cannot seem to separate myself from my camera when attending such events. I think it’s because I want to make sure every child gets photographed so they will be included in the slide show at the end of the season.
Both teams won their games, and I walked off the field satisfied.
On Friday night, I attended the last football game of the season. I was eager to see the half-time show, which the band had only been practicing for two weeks.
It was different from the show that was presented during FBA (band competition).
Because I had been at practice on Tuesday, I knew that it was going to be good. One of the school’s teachers used to be in FAMU’s famous marching band, and she had choreographed part of the routine.
During the game, I almost didn’t care what was going on down on the field. It was half time that I cared about.
I, along with most of the band parents, walked to the other side of the stadium (we were the guests) with five minutes left in the first half. I managed to find a prime spot to stand so I could take pictures.
The show began.
Oh.
My.
Word.
The ride the band took us on was better than Disney’s wildest ride.
I screamed like I was on Space Mountain.
It was thrilling…especially the part where the players collapsed on the field and were resuscitated by the beat of the drum…
See, the crowd had assumed that the show was over.
But the best was still to come.
As the band members were “revived,” they sat up, to the beat of the drum, and bounced their way, in a sitting position, around to face the crowd.
Then, they played the rest of the song they had been playing when they had “passed out.”
They collapsed one final time.
It was magnificent!
Because the game was against a cross-town rival, it was especially satisfying.
Although we lost the football game, our band out-played the other school’s.
I took a bit of video from the drumline’s sequence…
Rooster’s hands are the ones right in the front of the video.
Because it was the last game, the band director allowed the band to play in the stands an extra thirty minutes after the final whistle blew.
The parents went nuts. We were all dancing, and many of us had our camera out.
Rooster and I left, both pumped up with adrenaline.
I told Rooster that I felt as good as I ever did watching one of Chicky’s soccer games.
I stayed up until 2am culling through the nearly 2400 pictures I had taken.
Yeah. I’m hard-core.
I must have been exhausted, because I slept until 12pm today.
What did I do when I got up?
I attended two more soccer games…boys games.
I’m crazy.
I know.
I took another 1700 pictures.
I wonder if people think I’m a little weird going to games in which my children are not playing.
I suspect that people may feel sorry for me, assuming that I’m hanging onto the past.
I’m not.
What drives me?
A love for the kids, simply put.
I never, in a million years, would have guessed how tight the bonds would be between me and the kids that I’ve come to know over the last few years.
I love watching them grow up, mature, and gain confidence in themselves.
Be it band or soccer…these kids are finding themselves and discovering who they are in respect to the rest of society.
I am so thankful to be able to be a part of this.
It sure does make for a crazy week though!
Filed under: children | Tagged: band, children, soccer, teenagers | 1 Comment »
Is There a Medic in the House?
Posted on October 19, 2010 by auburnchick
So, you might remember that on Tuesdays, after I leave work, I drive directly to Rooster’s school so I can help out at band practice.
I get there as quickly as I can…usually by 3:10…and the kids are usually already lined up, waiting for some AuburnChick love.
During the last two weeks, I have performed the following triage duties:
- Sprayed Benedryl on several sets of legs to help with the itching from various bug bites
- Administered Pamprin, Advil, and Benedryl (caplet form)
- Squeezed out dollops of lip balm onto several fingertips (not touching the container to the skin, of course)
- Checked the foreheads of several kids and deemed said children fever-free
- Listened to kids detail how they upchucked pop tarts and how they are having bowel issues
- Devised impromptu ice packs for sore knees
- Passed out napkins to children who had nosebleeds
- Called moms and dads when children sounded croupy and/or thought they had strep (all the while putting parents on speaker phone so they could converse with their children…the result of my fear of catching the germs said children were complaining about)
- Applied bandaids to blisters
- Closely monitored a band member who “fell” out when she kept her knees locked too long and, thus, deprived her lower extremities of oxygen (this was a little scary)
I believe I have fulfilled all requirements for the official First Aid Certification.
Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: band | 4 Comments »
Would You Like to Make That a Combo?
Posted on October 12, 2010 by auburnchick
Last Friday night was a big night for me.
No, I did not have a hot date, so get your mind out of the gutter.
Actually, it was the first time that Your’s Truly got to volunteer in the band’s concession stand!
I think I hear crickets chirping.
Have I bored you already?
Well, please, read on, because it was a very big deal to me.
First, the background.
See, once upon a time, I was the soccer mom of two children.
One day, my Rooster boy up and decided that soccer was no longer the game for him. He was on to bigger and better things.
Drums.
And so, I became a mom of a soccer daughter and a boy who owned drums.
Time passed, and Rooster decided that he wanted to play in the band.
I cringed.
Me? A band mom? Say it ain’t so.
But it was.
Rooster’s first year in band was interesting.
I was still Soccer Mom Elite. Band came in a distant second.
Plus, band meetings were a bore…all of those people sitting up front at a long table.
I went to one meeting, I think. I chafed when I heard that you had to pay membership dues and buy a special shirt to be allowed to volunteer with the band. I believed that I should have the right to volunteer without paying money. Plus, money has been oh so tight after being laid off from my splendid-salaried job.
Forget that, I said to myself. I’ll just sit my ever-expanding behind on my stadium seat and enjoy the band from up close.
More time passed, and Chicky went to college.
I remained a soccer mom, but with one child in the house, it was time to play fair.
I picked up my gear and attended one meeting…then another…all without paying said “membership” dues. I was broke (still am) and totally against the fee.
Well, it was during the second meeting when I had the opportunity to speak up.
And speak up I did.
I hoped I did it in a nice way, but I had a few things to get off of my chest.
Lo and behold, I discovered something.
Those people sitting at that long table in the front were…
Get this…
Nice.
GASP!
I know!
They listened to me without putting me down, and they made me feel like they genuinely cared.
So, I left the meeting, still not a paid member, but feeling better that I had spoken my mind.
Two days later, a friend told me that someone had generously paid my dues, and I could now start volunteering.
I was embarrassed and floored.
Yes, money is very, very tight at Chez AuburnChick, but I never wanted anyone to pay my way.
But, I humbled myself and thanked the Lord for His provision and for the kindness of unknown others.
The next band practice, I had to fill out the required volunteer forms along with an order form for the all-important booster polo.
This polo, when worn, designates a parent as an “official” member of the booster club.
I looked at the price of the polo and told the treasurer that I would have to pay it in a few days, after the Mr. got paid.
She looked up at me and told me that someone had paid for the shirt as well.
Oh
My
Word.
Tears sprang to my eyes.
I found out that the treasurer had ordered my shirt, already knowing what size I needed. The paperwork wasn’t even necessary.
Now, do you remember that away game I went to a couple of weeks ago? I blogged about it here.
Well, I have to admit something.
Even though I wasn’t chaperoning that game, I took my brand spanking-new polo with me…just in case they needed someone to fill in.
I never said a word, and they didn’t need anyone.
A week passed.
Well, because I was now an “official” member, I was free to sign up for other volunteering duties.
I immediately joined up with the concession stand crew for what was expected to be one of the biggest games of the season.
Half of Other Podunk, USA, was expected to fill the stadium, and we would be feeding them.
On Friday, I proudly donned my new shirt…even doing the embarrassing thing of taking pictures of myself and posting them on Facebook.
I’m a dork at heart, you know.
Dweeb to the hilt.
I wore that shirt all day, using the excuse that I didn’t want to mess up my hair by changing clothes later.
Finally, it was time to go.
I was nervous.
I had heard that the concession stand lady (the one in charge) runs a tight ship, and I didn’t want to get fired my first night on the job.
I needn’t worry.
She had things under control, and boy was I impressed.
Look at this amazing new sign our stand sported…
I was given the task of being a runner because, in the words of Concession Stand Lady, “You’re little. You can run.”
Great.
I’d been looking for a way to work exercise into my routine.
Basically, my job was to stand behind the ladies working the front counters and get them the stuff they needed to fill their orders.
Thus, I was responsible for manning these…
I had to make sure we didn’t run out of drinks…
Notice the green?
Yeah. It was a test.
Mountain Dew.
Tons of it.
I resisted.
I am good.
Sometimes.
The orders started coming pretty fast once the gates opened. It took a little while for all of us workers to settle into a routine, but we finally did, trusting each other and laughing a lot in the process.
I thought of my friend, Rebecca Jo, every time I plunged my hand into the Diet Coke bin. It’s her favorite, you know.
I learned how to cock my head just so in order to hear orders being placed and, thus, slip the orders under the arms of the girls at the counters.
I think I irritated one of my co-workers a couple of times when we met each other at the pass, each sporting the drinks that a customer had just ordered.
You might remember that I am an overachiever.
I am also Soccer Mom Elite. I didn’t raise a loser.
Four hours after I started, it was all over.
The home team had lost, but the concession stand had been a success.
It was then when I discovered how sore I was.
Oh
My
Word.
The insides of my ankles hurt. Of course, I’d been wearing flip-flops the entire time…not exactly running attire.
But, I left the stadium with a huge smile on my face. I think I talked Rooster’s ear off in my excitement to share stories of the new friends I’d made.
You see, there is still a part of me that is stuck in high school days…the very unsure moments that filled those years.
That polo shirt worked magic on me.
It transformed me into someone who belongs.
It made me feel like I was part of something bigger.
It’s often hard for me to step outside of myself.
If you’ve read my blog for very long, you know this about me.
I think there’s a part of us that has the desire to fit in.
I think I finally understood why band moms are so hard-core.
It’s not just about the kids, but it is about the shared experiences with the other parents.
And so it was that as I walked away with the echos of, “Would you like to make that a combo,” I did so with a joyous heart (and half-polished nails on the ends of numb fingers).
My polo is already hanging in the closet…eager to be pulled out for another volunteering assignment.
I can hardly wait!
Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: band, band mom, volunteering | 3 Comments »
Are You Ready for Some Football?
Posted on September 7, 2010 by auburnchick
What can be better than watching your favorite team play a great game of football?
Well, listening to the band that pumps up that team, I say!
The Mr. might say, “For shame!” Nothing should upstage goal-line stances!
But, being a Drum Line Mom, I think I just might have to beg to differ.
Last Friday night, Rooster’s high school played its first home football game. The band was in the stands, pumping energizing music into the stadium and encouraging the team to work harder.
Honestly, before last year, I never paid much attention to the band.
In fact, dare I say that the band was a teensy bit annoying at times?
Now, don’t you start throwing drum sticks at me!
I’m just being honest.
I’ve gotta tell you that now, I am mesmerized by the band.
I don’t know if it’s the music or the kids.
I guess it’s a combination of the two. All I know is that I love watching the looks on the faces of those participating.
The kids are having fun, plain and simple.
I especially enjoy watching my Rooster’s face as he leans over and looks at the other drummers as they are playing.
I have no idea if he’s playing the music correctly. All I know is that he is having a great time jamming out with the kids he has spent hours upon hours with.
I love watching the drum line as it stands on the track and plays various cadences while the rest of the band files into the stands.
I love watching the kids line up and await their turn to play the much-practiced halftime show.
I especially love, after the game, looking back at the pictures I took, never realizing the concentration it takes to play well.
Rooster’s face said it all (wish I could show you).
And after the game, I love riding home with Rooster and getting his take on the evening.
It reminds me of riding home with Chicky after soccer games.
I’ve learned to ask a few questions but mostly to listen.
So yes. It’s almost Fall, and, thus, it’s football season.
More importantly, it’s Band Season.
Let the fun begin!
Filed under: children | Tagged: band, high school, teenagers | 1 Comment »
Muscle Man
Posted on August 31, 2010 by auburnchick
Tuesdays and Thursdays are Rooster’s band practice days.
These are the days when I pick him up from school at 5:30.
Oy, but what fun.
Actually, it is fun. I get to see many of the students I have subbed for over the last two years, and now that I am teaching at another school, this is a good chance to reconnect with them.
The only bad thing about these afternoons is the funk that accompanies such reunions.
If you were not in the band or never had the pleasure of being a band mom, allow me to explain.
See, marching bands have to practice their halftime shows for the football games they will be playing at.
To do this, they need large spaces to practice their formations.
Large spaces exist outdoors.
In Florida, this means practicing in heat and humidity.
By the time students walk off of the field from practice, their clothes are drenched in sweat.
Their bodies don’t smell all that good either.
To keep cool, a lot of the kids roll their sleeves up to their shoulders.
Hey, every little bit helps, right?
Today, I got to the school early, so I waited in the band room (a huge thanks to the mom who let me in). It was way cooler inside.
Finally, the kids began arriving to put their instruments away.
It took a few minutes before Rooster entered.
I almost did not recognize him.
He is right at six feet tall now, so he stands above a lot of the other kids.
But it wasn’t his face that caused me to take a second look (although I did notice the new glasses he is sporting these days…very fine indeed).
No. What caught my attention were his upper arms.
I looked again to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.
Nope.
You guys…my skinny minny boy has the beginnings of deltoids.
What are deltoids?
Deltoids are the muscles that sit at the top of your shoulder blade and run down to your biceps.
Not only does Rooster have discernible upper arm muscles, but I think I might have seen the barest hint of a bicep…
Ok, so that picture is not Rooster’s body, and it is exaggerating the size of the muscles I saw.
But still…
Try to imagine a beanpole.
Now, imagine a beanpole carrying around a set of tenor drums…
Psych!
Gotcha!
Bet you thought that was Rooster! heehee
Alas, no, it’s not him, but that is the type of drum set he carried around all summer during band camp.
It’s no wonder he is becoming a muscle man.
Someone, please stop time. I want my little boy back — the one who, when his “muscles” were flexed, only showed his bones covered in skin.
Oy! What’s a mom to do?
Actually, I know.
I’m going to get Mr. Muscle Man to start doing all of the heavy lifting around here!
Now that’s using my brain muscle!
Filed under: children | Tagged: band, children | Leave a comment »
AuburnChick – A Band Mom
Posted on September 5, 2009 by auburnchick
As of last night, I am officially a band mom.
Towards the end of last school year, Rooster decided to try out for band. He made the drum line, being selected to play cymbals. He was a tad disappointed because this is considered the first rung on the “ladder” of drum line. Snare drummers are at the top. He wants to be a snare drummer. So, he’s gotta work his way up.
Now, I’ve gotta tell you that, while I’m happy for him, I’m fighting this “Band Mom” thing.
I’m a Soccer Mom…hardcore. I’ve been doing the soccer thing since Chicky was seven years old.
I know I’m a nerd, but doing the “Band Thing” seems oober nerdy.
However, when Rooster brought home is band hat (I have no idea what the proper word for this is), I began to get a little excited…
And then when Rooster came out of his room wearing the rest of the uniform…
Um…I almost shed tears.
He looked so official…
Ok…so the picture looks weird because it’s missing a head. You know me…ever the protective Mama.
But you get the idea.
He was psyched.
My heart was torn.
Chicky is at Disney World, playing in a tournament. The Mr. took her. I LOVE watching her play, but we knew that someone needed to be home with the boy to support his interests as well.
Rooster and I headed to the football stadium earlier than we needed.
Good thing too.
If you’ve been reading my blog over the last year or year and a half, you know that Rooster has a tendency to forget things.
Um, yeah.
We got to the stadium, and I had just entered when my cell phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number, and the caller hung up before I could answer.
Then, I saw Rooster jogging toward me.
“Mama, you have to go home.”
Uh oh.
“What did you forget?”
“My cape. It’s in the bag, which I left in my room, I think.”
Poor guy. Being his first time, he had no idea that he was missing part of his uniform.
Being a good mom, I ran home, found what he needed, and got back to the stadium in record time. Good thing we live in a small city!
The band warmed up, and I chatted with a friend…the mom of one of the dancers in the band.
I watched the drum line warm up…
Rooster is standing to the left of the hatless cymbal player.
The game finally started, but I was distracted. Every time the band started playing, I turned my head to watch Rooster.
I wanted to see his reactions.
What a joy it was too.
There were some songs where the cymbal players had to turn around and hold their instruments for the snare drummers to play. During a couple of the songs, Rooster laughed and bopped to the beat.
There is nothing so special as watching your children enjoy life.
I attempted to film, with my regular camera, the halftime show.
Halfway through, I realized that I had been zooming in on the wrong cymbal player.
Oops.
Oh well.
The game eventually ended with our school winning. I enjoyed watching the cheerleaders, many of whom had been in my classes this week. They all hollered their hellos to me, making me feel really good.
I gave an extra special handshake to one of the school’s mascots, who happens to be one of Chicky’s good friends and a special kid. He and I have a strong bond based on mutual respect. Teenagers can really be awesome sometimes.
I watched as one of my students from last year got hurt and had to be helped off the field. I’ll be praying for him and checking on him next week at school.
After the game, the band played a few more songs, and then it was time to head home.
Rooster had a major adrenaline rush. He talked non-stop and laughed hard when I told him about filming the wrong player. He said he KNEW I would do this and should have explained where he’d be standing.
I told him that next week I’m painting some of that infrared paint on his uniform so I can put on special goggles to find him.
Oh, and Chicky’s team won its game too. Icing on the cake for the evening.
Although I don’t envision myself a hardcore, polo-wearing Band Booster, I am definitely more enthusiastic of Rooster’s new adventure.
Filed under: children | Tagged: band, high school, teenagers | Leave a comment »
My Week in Pictures
Posted on September 4, 2009 by auburnchick
Shopping at Target: Spent $9.83. Saved $23.81
Free Samples in the Mail along with Coupon Booklets
Pele has grown to love tennis balls
Preparing for my Publix shopping trip
Publix Trip: Spent $38.95; Saved $78.93
I donated this bag of food today.
Bex Socks...in progress (Cookie A's pattern from Sock Innovation)
One baby hat (Project for Hope) complete!
Mr. Bear decides to try it on...
Rooster's Band Helmet - First Football Game Tonight
Filed under: children, Knitting, Pets | Tagged: band, couponing, dogs, Pets, publix, Saving Money, shopping, Target, teenagers | 4 Comments »
AuburnChick's Adventures 