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I complimented her smile and ran into wokeness

After watching a TED talk by a North Korean defector, I became interested in hearing more about NK and started watching about 3 different youtube channels. I also bought one book by one of the presenters as they tell heart-wrenching stories of escape, some traveling through multiple countries to get from North to South Korea, or to America. Many are sex trafficked; bought and sold as payment for…

I know exactly when and where I decided I wanted to be a band director

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Virginia Beach Music Festival and the 3rd Floor Balcony

Jr High Detention – twice + 1 extra day

I didn’t get in a lot of trouble in school, and never for anything disrespectful, hurtful or damaging. I was never “sent to the office” because of behavior in a classroom. But I did get at least three days of detention that I recall. I’m not sure detention straightened me out because I don’t think my mischievousness caused any long-term harm. Most who read this will be surprised.  Nickels in the…

It hurt worse than a paddle (I think)

Summer Band went along the schedule of Summer School; 8am-noon daily. There was a 15 minute break in the middle of the day that you could buy pop or snacks, or just rest up, or do something stupid and get in trouble. The new Science Building (which also housed the gymnasium and the band room) had been opened only a couple years earlier. It had a new type of light switch throughout — that required…

The only time I was ever asked for a kickback

I was working for the national fundraising company and in my first few years as a full-time product fundraiser. I spent most of my time calling on larger groups such as total elementary and middle schools, bands, choirs, leagues. It was a time when you could still walk into an elementary school, go to the office and ask the secretary if you can see the principal — and have at least some chance…

The Harsh Reality of Getting To and Paying For College

Unlike many teachers, a high school band director can have a student for four years or more. Sometimes, the high school director is also the middle school teacher, so those students can have the same teacher for seven years. They come to the high school as curious freshmen and develop exciting dreams. Sophomores are excited about the colleges they will attend and what they will do. They want to…

When Law Enforcement Got Involved in My Fundraiser

It was in one of my early years of fundraising on my own. I was working with an area elementary school and using a program that included chocolates manufactured in Wisconsin. The order taking and product delivery went fine. It was a day or two after I delivered the student-packaged orders that I took a tense call from the principal.  [Mr. S] was a hard man to work with. When I started in…

QDP Corporation; Innovators, not Inventors

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This article is in response to a Storyworth.com question about friends over the years. Read more…

Some choices we made about how to raise our children

Joan and I both come from broken homes. Her parents were divorced, remarried and divorced again. Her mother wouldn’t allow any contact with her father. For our wedding, Joan walked down the aisle alone. Joe was there for the ceremony but left immediately following. My parents’ divorce had less animosity. Our father was still in our lives. There were visits and support. 

But we were both on the…

The System worked for us, but we had to work the system

For two years during elementary school, both our sons were part of a GT program called “Project Challenge”, where they allowed students to advance in several areas. When they got to middle school, the program stopped and that was a problem (for us). The two in this clip, David and Casey, were allowed to take an 8th grade Algebra class during 7th grade year — and were the top two students in the…

BYODT or How Much Tape Does It Take to Stick a Director to the Wall?

There was a fun “Prize Program” that went with our Candle Sale for the band. Yes, it was one of MY (Priority Fund Raising) sales. Here was the prize description at the bottom of the letter (highlight added).

AT THE ICE CREAM PARTY

CA$H BA$H

Tape the Directors to the Wall (BYODT)

Ice Cream – All You Can Eat

Variety of Door Prizes

Pig Races (Names drawn)

FUN…FUN…FUN ICE CREAM PARTYfor ALL who…

A Silly Deal with the Band

It was at my first Regional Competition at Chesterton in my first year returning to education in 2005. Mr. Campbell and I were walking back toward the buses with the judges’ “Silver” rating results. I was wearing a new school windbreaker Mr. Campbell had given me. 

“You might want to take that off or flip it inside out.”, he said, with no additional comment. 

  I questioned him. He simply…

Remembering Wayne, Marquis and Eva

Remembering Wayne and Eva September 22, 2017Local Interest, Uncategorized Edit

Twenty-four years ago, on Sunday evening, September 22, 1996, our good friends, church family, and business partners Max and Barbara Garwood and Joan and I with our two sons, were attending the third and final evening of church revival services. The Garwoods were noticeably distraught at the end of the service as…

To and From School, Public Transportation and Walking the Rails

There were few times I ever got a ride to or from school other than band practices. Charlie Collins lived in the trailer park behind Rosedale pool and he had a car….or was allowed to drive his parents’ car. He would sometimes drive me. Mom would on rare occasions. 

For regular school days, Mom would give me bus money. There were no school buses available. The #6 Rosedale bus would stop at 45th…

Over the years, I would share stories with my students. They really enjoyed my police encounter stories. I’ve consolidated all of them (I think) here.

Three cops in front of Salem house during father-in-law July 4th visit. 

It was my second 4th of July parade at Eastern HS in Pekin, IN. That parade is the longest, continuous July 4th parade in the country. 

This time, I’m married. And Joan’s…