Saturday, June 11, 2011

The Daily Poop - Sat., 11JUN11

Holy smokes--the NMA reunion begins in only 10 days. That's no time at all--I spent longer stretches of time than that writing charts in the chief's mess in the flicker of a battle lantern while the Blue Ridge ran loss-of-power drills in the Indian Ocean.
- - - - - - - -

The wife of an old shipmate wrote to me and said that she and her husband have a happy marriage. But, she said, "I've come to accept the fact that the best days of his life were with you and the Navy guys." 

- - - - - - - -

I keep hearing that the Holiday Inn has been renovated. New faucets in the men's room and a digital "Schlitz" sign over the bar? Actually, it looks like they've done a bit more than that:

Friday, June 10, 2011

The Daily Poop - Fri., 10JUN11

In the recent issue of Leger Lines, I saw that the NMA reunion features an an optional cruise on the Spirit of Norfolk. Here's what I want to know: is there anyone in the NMA who was ever stationed in Norfolk or Little Creek who hasn't played on the Spirit of Norfolk? When I was stationed at the school, I gigged on the Love Boat, at various times, with MUs John Pastin, Phil Field, Max Stumf, Roy Mahoney, Steve Dimond, Clem Skinner and half the guys from the CINCLANT band. It wasn't the worst sea duty; I made $29.50 a night.
- - - - - - - -

Even though I don't drink anymore, I've been thinking about making a field trip during the reunion to the Brass Bell on Independence Boulevard. For a number years the Bell was my home away home. It was a hangout for three Navy units: the School of Music, Seal Team Two and a Mobile Training Unit. We got along pretty well, all things considered, and when you walk into a crowed bar and the only empty stool is next to a Seal, there's a lot to consider.

- - - - - - - -

I don't know which I like more: NMA reunions in even-numbered years at various locations, or reunions in odd-number years in Virginia Beach. The "away" games are always new and exciting, but there's a lot to be said for these "home port" get-togethers: we know the facility, and the hotel management is familiar with our needs. I guess neither is better; they're both great.



Thursday, June 9, 2011

The Daily Poop -- Thurs., 9JUN11

Have you registered for the reunion yet? You can do it when you arrive in Virginia Beach, of course, but it's easier on the system if you do it in advance.

- - - - - - - -

A few decades of water flowing under the bridge has carried me to a time of life where I'm more mature, open-minded and forgiving.

Except where Lee Hudson is concerned. He's coming to the NMA reunion again. All the way from Texas. I gotta say, he goes to great lengths to annoy me.

Fortunately, he'll only be in Virginia Beach for a few days. At least I'll get some peace.

- - - - - - - -

One of the strangest excuses for missing a Navy Musicians Association reunion is "I can't leave the bar."

In the case of Tex Waldron, it's for real. Tex ("Mack," as he's called on the Coast) owns and runs a Seattle jazz club, which keeps him busy. Of course, we'd prefer he was serenading us with his sweet trombone tone in Virginia Beach, but, as you can see, running a night club is a full-time gig:

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

The Daily Poop -- Wed, 8JUN11

The Navy Musicians Association reunion begins two weeks from today. Officially, that is. I'll be sneaking into town Sunday night, June 19; I need the extra time to learn how to use my camera. Figuring out how to turn on the flash would improve my coverage of the reunions significantly.
- - - - - - - -
An important thing I've learned about our reunions is they're not just about old friends--new friends are a major part of the attraction. Some of the guys I met at my first reunion five years ago--Ralph Hasty, Dennis Bear and Bob Montogmery come to mind--are now guys I look forward to seeing again every year and miss if family obligations keep them away. I'm happy to say that Pete Codispoti will be back this year. Pete was with us in Virginia Beach in '09 and was a major contributor to my Fun Index. He was also a big factor in lifting the NMA Rock Band to new heights of, well, something-or-other.
- - - - - - - -
 The rock band, by the way, needs a name. Geriatric and the Pacemakers?
- - - - - - - -
Once more, with feeling:

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

The Daily Poop - 7JUN11

News, views and snooze in preparation for the Navy Musicians Association reunion.

Two weeks and a wakeup.
- - - - - - - -
Two of my old Navy Band Newport shipmates will be returning to the NMA reunion after missing the fun in San Antonio last year: Max Murry (bass) and Tom Wholley (piano) came to the reunion for the first time in Virginia Beach two years ago. I'm glad they've agreed to a second chorus.
- - - - - - - -
Newporter Jack Rodway, however, will not be in attendance. He and his wife Mickie are selling their house and moving in early July, and the timing is too close. I have issued Jack a Certificate of Validity for this excuse. It's a one-reunion, non-renewable note of forgiveness, and you don't want too many of them in your file.
- - - - - - - -
Wouldn't you know it: just as I send out the notices that the annual Daily Poop season has begun, blogger.com redesigns its blogging interface. Everything you do to get the scoop online is revamped, altered, just plain pain-in-the-butt different. It looks like the learning curve well be, well, vertical.

But these changes all happen "under the hood." You, the loyal patron, won't notice anything different. You can count on the same smooth, high class journalism you expect from a humble guy like me.

Monday, June 6, 2011

The Daily Poop - Monday, 6JUN11

NMA Officers Planning 2011 Reunion. 
Barely two weeks until the NMA reunion officially begins in Virginia Beach. Two weeks of incessant blogging. Welcome to Year Four of The Daily Poop.
- - - - - - - -
I've had a few questions about ground transportation from the airport to the hotel--some of us are flying to Virginia Beach for the first time. Arranging a shuttle ride from the airport is easy--the details are here.
- - - - - - - -
Lucky me--I get a warm-up for the reunion. The week before the reunion will be Navy Week here in the Quad Cities area of western Illinois/eastern Iowa. (We've had this honor before and, believe me, it's a big deal here in Corn Country, USA.) Navy Band Great Lakes will give a number of performances. I've seen the pop/rock contignet, "Horizon" before--NMA member John Pastin's son Chris was the drummer. This year, I'm hoping to catch the jazz and concert bands; I imagine those youngsters will compare pretty well to our NMA bands...
- - - - - - - -