Saturday
6:00 am – Even after being up till midnight waiting on Big
Boy to get back from the concerts (and another jamming session), the sun shines
early. It actually starts to rise around
4 am! We all showered and enjoyed
breakfast on the patio. Minus the bird
droppings, the patio is very enjoyable. Watching the birds find breakfast and
giant lizards scamper around the shade and kids splash in the pool was very
peaceful.
About two minutes later the phone rings. Baby Girl answers. The van will be waiting for us as well. Great!
I’m glad they anticipated that. I
was going to call once we got the cart loaded.
Within a minute someone loud (yelling into a radio or something)
arrived, ready to take our luggage for us.
Hubby would be glad to know that I’m not straining my back loading
everything. This guy seemed stressed and
not very friendly. Hardly even
polite. I’m glad I sent the kids to the
first workshop without me. Baby Girl
would have mentioned (a bit too loud) that he wasn't as polite as the last
guy. He did load the van (kind of), then
return it to the lot. Then I joined the
kids for the first of the workshops.
The 9 am banjo class was how to catch and keep
attention. The instructor showed the
audience some bluegrass/traditional/cross picking things. I didn't understand a bit of it, but it
sounded good when he demonstrated.
When the second workshop was over our band had a meeting. We needed to discuss the uniform for the
evening, what songs will be played (there were changes from the original plan),
the next show….
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| Nathan Hanna, Buddy Griffin and Tyler Jackson |
By the time we were done talking the third workshop was
nearly over. You don’t want to walk in and be rude, so we went to lunch with another band member and his dad. Of all the places we could have gone, new
places, places that are not in Houston, the kids all chose Carl’s Jr. Whatever.
It’s food. I’m not picky.
After eating I stop by Auto Zone and try to find a quick
solution to my license plate problem.
The sales guy took the plate off with his fingers before I finished
talking. Ugh. I feel like a ditz. I thought it was going to
take a tool and time. He we put it in
the back of the window – perfect. I
thought it was going to be too dark to see.
Now I just need tape.
I walk in to check my keys back in with the valet and ask
the check in guy for tape. Perfect – he as
clear packing tape! I get two long
pieces and tape the pate onto the window.
I will deal with the stickiness later.
It will be less expensive and worrisome than a ticket. Especially an out of town ticket.
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| Tyler Jackson |
We made it back in time for the last workshop. Big Boy was adamant about attending this
one. Tyler Jackson is a former student
of Mr. B’s and a fantastic player. I
walk in the room and Big Girl is holding her arm wile Tyler is holding her
Banjo. Oy. Turns out that she broke a string and he was
sweet enough to fix it for her. This was
by far the best of all the classes. I
think most of it is because he was a former All Star and knows what my kids are
learning, who they are learning from and what they need to hear. I know it’s not all about them, but this was definitely
the best workshop they attended all weekend.
More swim time. We
have a few hours until our performance so several of the band members went
swimming, some took a nap. We had
checked out, so we just hung out by the pool listening to the performances and
chatting with the friendly waitress. In
my grand plan, I had planned on leaving tonight so we can be at White Sands by
morning and have a lot of fun playing all day.
Only problem with that is we don’t have a room to keep our things in for
the day. Oh well. Just like everyone else here we will walk
around with a banjo all afternoon. J Sitting by the pool I smell the burgers being
cooked. Mmmmm. I’m getting hungry. Maybe.
I watch the lady grilling. She is
wearing those plastic gloves to make the patties. Then she turns and gets a bun. No glove change. She takes the bun off the grill. No glove change. She grabs lettuce and cheese – with the same
gloves on. Then she gets the spatula and
puts the meat on the bun. Never taking
the gloves off. What is the point of
wearing the gloves if she is still going to cross contaminate the food? I am no longer hungry.
 |
| Nathan Hanna |
6:00 pm – Time for us to check in with our fearless leader. We get the stage set up, get the sound stuff
ready, move chairs and get everyone tuned.
After a quick run through it’s already time to get started. It amazes me how quickly they can run through
an hour long show. With just 15 minutes
to go before we perform, Mr. B has everyone leave the stage (they walk in
playing for the first song) to get a drink and go to the bathroom.
8:00 – what a great show!
In the four years we have been with the band, there has only been one
performance (that I have seen) that hasn't been absolutely stellar. That wasn't tonight. With many compliments and a standing ovation,
the band left the ballroom.
Big Boy and I collect our instruments from our friend’s room
while the girls have the valet bring the van around. Big Girl comes back and says that the valet
won’t bring it for her. What? I don’t want her to drive, don’t give her the
keys. Just bring the truck. Whatever.
I let Mr. B know we are leaving so he doesn't wonder where we are. The girls went back to the valet. Big Boy and I catch up and Big Girl has the
keys. Apparently Mr. Rude doesn't like
the fact we went out to the truck earlier and have already checked out. Big Girl says that he told her he can’t bring
it around for us. She said he was rude
too. I’m getting frustrated and
tired. The kids are getting tired. We walk allllll the way to the truck (with a
broken foot!) and repack it.
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