The Daily Poop - Sat, 12JUN10

If you're new to NavyLyres, or haven't been here in a while, here's what's going on:

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The 2010 Navy Musicians Association reunion--June 23-26, in San Antonio, Texas--is just over the horizon. If you haven't registered, chop chop, Do the Hustle, get with the program. Information on registering for the reunion, reserving a room, etc, is available at the NMA website.

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The Daily Poop will appear, well, daily, until the reunion begins. Sometimes, more often. This is NavyLyres's busiest time of year. I hear from those who are coming, those who can't come this year, and those who haven't made up their minds. I'm glad to get your news; it's often worth passing on to everyone. What's up? Are you coming? Who are you looking forward to seeing? Drop me a line.

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One of this site's most popular features is the Navy Musician's Lexicon. Stop by for a few laughs.

It's been a challenging year for many of us, our complicated lives further stirred up by economic worries. All I can say is, I am so ready for this reunion.

San Antonio Chow Call

Musicians, as anyone who has ever watched a Navy band attack the hors d'oeuvres table during breaks, need to eat.

Our hotel has a restaurant, of course, and San Antonio, no doubt, has fine places to dine. But we're often interested in slipping out to a nearby spot between rehearsals, for lunch or an evening meal.

Here's a partial list of restaurants within walking distance of our hotel--a half-mile, mas o menos. (That's Spanish for "You need the exercise.")

• - Smokey Onion
• - Texas Land and Cattle Steak House
• - Applebee's Neighborhood Grill
• - Sea Island Shrimp House
• - Thai Lo Restaurant and Sushi
• - Church's Chicken
• - Chick-fil-a

and my two personal favorites:

• - The Cheesecake Factory
• - Bubba's Burgers and Steaks (really)

The Daily Poop - Thurs, 10JUN10

A number of first-timers ask about attire at the Navy Musicians Association reunion. Please allow the Chief Fashion Advisor (FAC) to promulgate information concerning dress.

Wednesday through Friday is decidedly casual. We dress comfortably and informally for rehearsals, jam sessions and impromptu get-togethers in the lounge.

You'll see a number of members wearing NMA shirts and caps. These items, the closest thing we have to a "uniform," are optional and available at our small stores.

While there are no strict rules of dress, tradition provides us guidelines, particularly for the last official function of the reunion, the Saturday night Banquet.

Members tend to dress up for this occasion. It is solemn, as we sing "Eternal Father" in honor of departed comrades, stirring, as our band performs patriotic favorites, nostalgic, as we suddenly snap to attention when the service medley reaches a climactic "Anchors Aweigh, and a damn lot of fun when the bands play for dancing. We are, uniquely, both performers and guests on Saturday night, and dress accordingly.

Toting jackets and ties around the country, however, is not always easy, particularly for those who fly. I, the Chief Fashion Advisor (FAC), who usually sets the standard for correct, appropriate attire at NMA reunions, will be traveling by airplane, and may leave my jacket at home this year. 

In summary, pack for a few days of relaxation, culminating in a meaningful and enjoyable evening of remembrance, nostalgia, dinner and dancing.

The Daily Poop - Wed, 9JUN10

NMA Officers Planning 2010 Reunion. 

Two weeks until the NMA reunion officially begins in San Antonio. Two weeks of incessant blogging. Welcome to Year Three of The Daily Poop.
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NMA member Juan Villalpando, of Corpus Christi, is rounding up Texans. Paul Bowman, also of Corpus, may come, gig schedule permitting. Juan is also on the trail of two suspects in San Antonio: pianist John Sheridan, formerly of the Commanders Trio, and Ernie Jimenez, former Naval Academy Band drummer.
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I have never been to Texas, so I can only judge its people based on my acquaintance with Doyle Church and Tex Waldron. By this reckoning, Texans are warrant officers who talk funny and play the trombone.

Lee Hudson. At the reunion. Nuts.

The bad news is that Lee Hudson is coming to the NMA reunion. The good news is, he won't get there until late on Friday.

This works out so great. I'll arrive in San Antonio a few days before the reunion starts--late Sunday, in fact--so I'll have over four full days of relaxed enjoyment before Hudbucket shows up and lowers the general tone of things.

Do not be deceived by the fact that Lee and I appear to get along. Out of respect for our comrades, to keep the event from becoming a Texas cage match, we act civilly toward each other at reunions.

It's all an act. Believe me, we really can't stand each other.

Come out, come out, wherever you are.

This year's Navy Musicians Association will be my fifth. Attending has become an important tradition.

Even this pre-reunion period has its pleasures and traditions.I begin to get news from all over the country. Long-time members and first-timers tell me who's coming, who has to miss the event this year. I send announcements to all NMA members whose email addresses are listed on the roster.

Great traditions. Well, most of them. The one I don't look forward to is the Big Bounce: after sending a mass mailing to NMA members, my mailbox becomes clogged with emails bouncing back from members with nonfunctional email addresses.

It just happened again. Fully a quarter of the email addresses listed on the NMA roster don't work.

This can happen for a number of reasons:

• You have a new email account, but forgot to notify the NMA.
• Your mailbox is full.
• Your settings are refusing mail. 
• You wrote it unintelligibly on your membership application, registration form or other correspondence, 

Folks, email is the wave of the present. Go to the NMA roster and check your email address. The point of belonging to a reunion organization is not to hide from your buddies.

Go to the roster.

If you use Outlook Express, or a similar email client:

• Left-click on your name. An email will open, addressed to you at the address you supplied the NMA.

If you don't host your email in your computer (you use Yahoo, Gmail or some other web-based email):

• Right-click on your name.
• A menu will let you put your email address into the clipboard (something like "copy email" or "copy shortcut.")
• Copy your email and paste it into the search box at the top of your screen and have a look.

Welcome to the 21st century. We're glad to make your acquaintance.

Has it been a year already?

The Navy Musicians Association 2010 reunion is mere weeks away. Here's a quick review of last year's get-together to put you in the mood...