As long as the Musical Mafia didn't call a hit

My 13 yr old son plays in the middle school band.

And we rent his trombone from a local music store, Music & Arts.

I realized this week I'd skipped a payment.

Accidently.

As I hurried to make the phone call in order to get caught up on payments...it occurred to me that there might be a musical mafia.  I didn't want to have to get a loan from a shylock...or get iced.

Maybe, if there is a musical mafia, they put the hit out on my son...they outsource...and use bullies from the local middle school to collect.

I'd feel so guilty.

We're paid up though.

Donny can play his trombone safely. 

I know, sometimes I think too much.

And follow too many rabbit trails. 

I'm weird like that.

Dive-Bombing Crickets

Donny's in 7th grade band, and he plays the trombone.

(Don't worry, I'm getting to the crickets)

Last weekend he got to play with the high school band at a football game.

It was pretty exciting.
And he had a blast...

except for the dive-bombing crickets.

WHAT?!

I know, I had to hear that twice too.
Apparently there are flying crickets all over the stands...
and they dive-bomb into the people and stands.

So, while Donny was playing his trombone,
he would feel things landing on him.






Kind of sounds like something out of a nightmare to me.

He said a lot of them just plummeted to their death in the stands.


It was quite an evening.

And, then, there was the whole incident where he fell and broke the trombone...
but we won't go into that!!

Do you have any insect horror stories?!!

Like no other

A music stand like no other:

Annie's such a sweetie!

A Garden of Eden like no other.

Bubba & the Trombone Tackle

First I want to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to read and comment yesterday about religion. I really appreciate what everyone had to say, and it was so interesting to hear all the different points of view.

Thank you.

I need some time to ponder this subject.
So today we'll cover lighter material.




Have you seen one of these before?
If you have kids in sports, they're very useful.

Apparently they have many uses...

The only thing better than a Bubba Keg?

3 Bubba Kegs!!

They hold a butt-load of water & ice and keep it really cold!
(You can find them at Academy & Target.)


My oldest son uses them the most, because he is playing tackle football.
They have at least two practices a week, for at least two hours each...sometimes more.
and in the Texas heat, water is NECESSARY.

We have discovered not all parents send their kids with water...or enough water.
So we bring several Bubba Kegs to share now.

(They don't touch their mouths to it or share germs, don't worry! I did.)

Here is Donny at his FIRST game.

The gear these boys wear on the field is amazing. I don't know how they move.
Texas Homeboy was there to help with tie the shoulder pads.

And secure the helmet, because I'm sure I did it wrong.

And then they gather on the field to play. Their first game.

(I won't mention they might have lost 30-0.)
I don't know much about football,
but I think I heard some dads saying,
our line wasn't doing very well...
Ok, maybe they used stronger words than that.

Donny was sick, so he didn't actually play.
But he did suit up and support his team.

He's on the line though, and I think they could have used him.

The line didn't hold...the other team cut through like a knife through melted butter.

I had to doodle-out the last name on my son's jersey.
Don't you like the poster-look of this photo?
Picnik is so much fun to use for photo editing.

One more thing...

As you may or may not know, a few weeks ago the boys got one of these:

And, it has since been moved out of the den
and upstairs to the game room, thank goodness.

However, today, the 11 yr old brought home one of these:

He's so excited to be learning a new instrument!
He's joined the middle school band.

I might need some earplugs while he learns how to play.

But when he let out a really loud NOTE,
and poor Annie went running with her stuffed animal...
We all burst into laughter.