And the Band was There...

When you join the SMU Mustang Band, there is a certain, shall we say, indoctrination process that includes learning a whole lot of random band history. A whole lot. That's a technical term for a bunch. And, when you're reading through said history to memorize it, there is one phrase that is used over and over..."And the band was there." The Band doesn't miss much. They are often "there." This blogger remembers reading that phrase several times while trying to remember the actual details. Ahem.



Last weekend's season opener of SMU Football was no different. The band was indeed there. And I would have to say they were a real highlight of the evening. Let me go on record as saying I don't always think this is the case. (Blasphemous! My Mustang Band friends are screaming! Light the torches!) Sometimes, in some years, the band was NOT a highlight of the event. But this game, this band, they sounded pretty darn good for a small college band.




Except for one tuba player - he wasn't raucous the whole time, which leads me to believe there have been discussions about the sound he makes when it sounds as if his tongue is coming out the bell and onto the field. And how that's not the most pleasing sound. And how that sound might not blend with what else is going on. But that didn't stop him from trying it once or twice. The tongue thing, that is. The crass, nasty sound. If I were his band director, I might have to arrange a trip to the island of Never to Be Found for his mouthpiece.




But other than that, they were enjoyable! The pre-game routine was new and different this year, and was well executed. The halftime was shorter than some weeks. I presume the brevity was to allow time for the visiting band. So, for your viewing pleasure today - here are a couple of short videos of the halftime show. Enjoy them here on a Friday while I'm enjoying time in Indiana.

A few seconds of the feature piece with soloists.



Moving into the traditional "Diamond M" formation.



All but a bit of the first note of the "Waring Ending."
This is the end of every Mustang Band halftime show.

Now you're up to speed on what the Mustang Band was up to last weekend. Aren't you glad you have me to keep you updated on all the most important stuff? I knew you'd say yes.

Best wishes for a lovely weekend. I'll be attending lots of great events in Indiana, including my dad's side of the family's reunion. Can't wait. See you next week.

The State of SMU Football with S

While I am away in Indiana today, enjoying some time with the Hoosiers, my sweet husband S will be taking his first try at blogging. Be kind to him. Oh, and I should point out I just uploaded some random game shots for him before I left town. So he had no control over the photos he had to choose from. So don't blame him when they are lame. OK? Here we go!

First, I must thank A for allowing me the opportunity to take the helm. I am keenly aware of the awesome influence this blog has on the lives many. Her insight, humor and amazing photographs have entertained, encouraged and enlightened us over the past year and will certainly continue for many more.

Today’s rant will focus on the state of SMU football. As a proud Alumnus of the university with a few receipts to prove both attendance and payment in full (yes, A has 3), I feel somewhat qualified to spout meaningless nonsense about this establishment. As a native Dallasite, I can remember our last heyday in the early 80’s and even had an economics class in the very room where the death penalty was announced later that decade. As a member of the Mustang Band in the early 90’s I proudly supported our team while wearing polyester in shades of red and blue. But today, I must admit I am tired.

Last Saturday, Amy and I attended the season opener at Ford Stadium, named for the Dallas banker and not the former President, against Stephen F. Austin. While we both enjoyed the pre-game festivities along the boulevard, my interest of the game waned early in the first quarter. Yes, SMU did manage to win the game against a team of a lesser NCAA division, but their performance on field was pathetic.



Since the death penalty and no football on the hilltop during the ‘87 and ‘88 seasons, SMU has enlisted five coaches to guide this once storied program to prominence again. In that time, we have only experienced one-yes one-winning season. Yet, our latest installment, at the tune of $10MM over 5 years, is to be the one who can finally break through the barrier that has haunted us for over twenty years.

During that time, SMU has managed to produce a rather successful athletic department winning both conference and national championships in several of the 16 other sports it fields. But for the one played on the gridiron-the one that somehow continues to generate the most attendance-even minor success eludes us.

If one analyzed this collection of teams as business units, one could argue continued investment in the football program should cease and resources should be allocated elsewhere. Applying the Boston Consulting Group's Growth-Share Matrix, the football program is a Dog and is tying up cash that could be better deployed elsewhere. Unless such Dogs provide a strategic purpose, they should be liquidated.



Is such a statement extreme? Yes. Will it occur? Probably not. But greed landed us in this position and the reality is we just might wander aimlessly in the desert of mediocrity, never destined to reach the Promised Land again.

Thanks for giving me the day, A, and A's readers.

The Ate Up One will see you again tomorrow.

We Picked #3...and Painted!

Thank you to everyone who voted on which color we should paint the kitchen. The big decision was made to choose number THREE. Three it was. We chose three. 3. 3 is a magic number. But I digress to my 70's childhood. Back to paint...

Here's the real kicker - we not only chose number three, the magic number, but we also PAINTED THE ROOM this past holiday weekend. I know. I can't hardly believe it myself. Whoop it up, my friends. This sort of home improvement progress never happens quite this fast around these parts!

So, of course, I documented the transformation for you to share with you here.

First, we moved everything in the kitchen to the dining room table.

Yes, that's a lot of wine.
That's what a vacation in Napa where you actually join the wine club will do to you.

Then, S patched what needed patching and we let that dry.

Then we taped everything off.

Pay no attention to the mess on the ceiling. S is going to do that THIS weekend, while I'm in Indiana - coat and paint the ceiling. I can't wait to see it when I get back. It'll be great!

And we put down paper over the counters.
This was mainly for me.
I'm a three coat kind of girl - wall, floor, me.

Then I Kilz-ed the "test" areas and areas near the stove and sink.
And S got started on the actual color where he could.

Then he moved to the roller. And I did the cutting in.
An "action shot."

S isn't actually in that shot because he forbade me from taking his photo while painting. You see, he took his shirt off because he was hot. And he wouldn't let me photograph him topless. Oh well - there's the roller and his elbow.

After one coat, I wasn't so sure about the color choice...

Will you LOOK at all those electrical outlets?
Thanks Steve!

We even painted behind the fridge.
We really did it right.

So we did a second coat.

And I still wasn't sure about the color.

But then it dried completely...

...and I think, with trim and artwork, it'll do.
Yes, the dog beds really make the whole room work, don't you think?

I don't think it's exactly the color I had in my head. I think it's a little lemony where I thought it'd be a little more on the buttery side. Yellow is a tricky color. But, as I said, it'll do. With the trim and art up, it'll definitely do.

When we sell this house, remind me to take a shot like this.
Will you LOOK at how big that kitchen looks at this angle?
Optical illusion...

I want to point out that this entire room painting project, from start to finish, if you don't count the 30 minutes or so S used to patch the night before, took us about 5 hours. That's not bad, sister! I mean, it certainly looks better than it did when we started! I'm sure we can all agree on that! And, as I mentioned, S is going to work on the ceiling this weekend, and some cabinet trim. Then next weekend we'll do door and window trim. And, if we get really wild and crazy, light fixtures. I know - it could be touch and go. I mean, those bare bulbs are really something, aren't they? So we'll see.

And, once we get ceiling, trim and light fixtures up, the kitchen will be officially DONE. 18 years in the making. OK, maybe not that long. But, a long time coming. And it might be here by the end of the month! Amen to that!

See you tomorrow.

Down on the BOULEVARD

So S and I went over to SMU, where we are both alums, to take in the first football game of the season. Before the game, SMU fans don't tailgate. No, no, no. That's too plain. Passe. Old. Overdone. At SMU, fans BOULEVARD.



What is Boulevarding? Um, well, it's tailgating. Yep. That's what it is. Anyway, no matter what you call it, at an SMU game, it is most likely the best part of the day. Why? Well, because you can catch up with your fellow alums, relive old times and make new memories. And, the game hasn't started yet so hope still springs eternal that the Ponies will actually win. Ahem.

After the boulevard, on the way to the stadium.

Later this week, if we keep it together, S is going to do a guest blog post right here about the game itself. About the state of SMU Football, and what he thinks about all of that. So I won't ruin the suspense on that one and talk about the game. I'll just show you some photos from our time on the BOULEVARD.

This is it, pretty much...

...people milling about, visiting, grilling, drinking, eating...

...hours before the game.

SMU's finest were on hand.

And, in case you were wondering...SMU recycles.

The Peruna handlers brought him around for the kiddos.
That reminds me of one of my favorite jokes...

Have you heard Peruna lately?

He's a little hoarse.

Get it? Horse-hoarse-horse? Little Horse? Little hoarse? Haaa haa. Hee hee. Ho Ho. Snort. Whahhaaa. Whoa. Ohhh...

OK. Maybe it's not all that.

S and JG with their Pony Ears.
No, they aren't wishing you "peace." Not these two. ;-)

Our friend JG, regular reader and commenter to this here blog (thanks JG) has an annual spot on the Boulevard that he and some of his fellow alums pay good money to inhabit each season. In addition to stopping by the business school, walking up and down the length of the boulevard and partaking of all the free food, a must-stop is at JG's place.

JG's first tailgate...in 2000. (Photo supplied by JG himself and his new scanner.)
They've come a long way, baby.

He's got tents, televisions, grills, food and beer.
And in more recent years, a kiddie play area. ;-)

And, most importantly for us, he knows probably 85% of the people we know at the game. And those people also meander by his place. So, hanging out there gets you all caught up with the gang. It's always a fun time.

Tricia And Carolann.

Brian and Kevin (not pictured here) were up from Houston.
It was nice to see them!

Tricia, S, JG, Brian, me.
So fun to catch up.

So, that was our time Boulevarding this was weekend. Later in the week, S'll take a turn at the keyboard to give you a blow by blow of the actual game. See you tomorrow.

Rest in Peace, Dear Friend

David R. Davidson
1948-2009

Saturday, a giant in the Dallas musical world and a dear friend, died. David R. Davidson fought valiantly for over two years against cancer. Valiantly. Just a week ago today, he went to work at Highland Park United Methodist Church, where he was music director, and he directed the rehearsal of the DS Chorus. And now we will collectively lay him to rest on Thursday. There will be many eloquent things said about him, and my thoughts will be the least of these, but I have to share a little bit with you about this man I knew and appreciated so much.

David and me after the last Christmas concert in 2008.

I only really got to know David over the past five years. We worked together at my job, mostly on the annual series of Christmas concerts. We had occasion to work on other things too, but this was why I saw and spoke with, met with and emailed David regularly all year long. We have a wonderful group of professionals who work on this production each year. But David was the musical director of the production and very much the central force that helped make it what it was each year. I am so glad we have his thoughts on a complete program for this coming December. It will be an honor to carry them through to a completed series as he envisioned it.



If you didn't know he had cancer, you might not have ever known he was sick. He kept one of the busiest schedules of anyone I know. He was, as mentioned, music director at Highland Park UMC as well as the conductor of the DS Chorus. That alone would keep the average person more than busy. David, on top of that, was a choral and handbell clinician all over the world. If you read his obituary, you'll see all the myriad of programs, artists, concerts and events he was involved with. Not to mention, he underwent all sorts of treatments in town and away from Dallas to try to win the war against his disease all the while keeping up with it everything - never slowing down - even when I know he had to be feeling less than perfect. And, he was the grandfather to two sweet little boys that were the light of his life, as well as a father to Jena and Chris, husband to Judy, brother and friend.

Before one concert last year, he realized he showed up at the hall wearing two different shoes.
He laughed and laughed about that.

He was a tall distinguished looking man with a larger than life persona. He held to the highest of musical standards and expected those around him to do the same. We learned from him, for certain. He also had a huge laugh and a great sense of humor. I loved it when we could make him laugh. What a bright smile and happy face would come upon him - and that laugh - what a wonderful laugh! He was thoughtful and careful with people and situations. And man, could he pick out a good red wine!

Backstage with the "Dickens" folks, Christmas 2007.

It is a comfort to know David is no longer suffering here on earth. But, it is also so hard to believe he is gone. I mean, I worked on just one of his projects and knew him only a few years of his way too short life, and have lots of things I'd still like to discuss with him. There are thoughts that come up about this or that which I would normally refer to him. New items are bound to come around and he will no longer be the person with whom we can counsel. This is the way it is when someone dies, I know. But for some reason this fact is hitting me square in the face with David's death more than most. In fact, I would say I have been in a general malaise over his condition. It's been hard to concentrate on other matters. We will find a way to move on, of course, but David will be so very missed by so many. Not to mention his family and closest friend with whom he shared so much time and memories.



And the secret to "moving on" for me will be to remember him in significant ways - remember all the truly beautiful, moving, sacred musical moments he provided us; the things I learned from him; and all the ways in which we shared this earthly place. In that way, he will live on. And because of this, David will live on for a good long time in all the lives he touched. In this way, he is alive and well here on earth. And this will honor him and comfort us. And that is a good thing.

Well done, good and faithful servant.

Now he can rest. And I wish him a peaceful rest. And I wish peace and remembrance for his family and friends who are missing his presence here on earth.

Rest in peace, dear friend. Rest in peace.