Layover in Detroit on my way to Norfolk.
Go ahead, say what you will about Detroit, but I'm in their municipal airport and they have free wifi. This goes a long way in my book.
I must be the antsiest traveler in the NMA. I was up at 3 a.m. worrying that I wouldn't hear my alarm clock. What the hell, i got up and loaded the car. I think this comes from all those years of Navy travel, where nothing ever went right and I wasn't just in charge of me, I was in charge of a band full of Bozos like me.
In fact, now that i think of it, my first responsibility that the navy ever handed me went awry. Right after being sworn in in Baltimore, they put me in charge of getting six guys to Great Lakes. I lost half of them in an airport in Pittsburg.
My career went downhill from there.
Frank Mullen's very unofficial source of poop, skinny and bitching for present and former U.S. Navy Musicians.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
The Daily Poop - -Sat., 21JUN14
Goodbye, cruel world.
I'll click "publish," shut down the imac, toss the bags in the car and I'm out of here. On my way to Virginia Beach for a few days of reindeer games with the membership of the Navy Musicians Association, the finest folks I know.
Of course, s**t happens. Rain and thunder is predicted for my arrival time in Norfolk this afternoon, so I could wind up cooling my heels in the Detroit airport for an undetermined period of time. Who knows.
So I'm off. Best wishes to all my shipmates. I hope to see you in Virginia, and if you have to stay home, remember you can follow the action here at LiveBlog2014.
I'll click "publish," shut down the imac, toss the bags in the car and I'm out of here. On my way to Virginia Beach for a few days of reindeer games with the membership of the Navy Musicians Association, the finest folks I know.
Of course, s**t happens. Rain and thunder is predicted for my arrival time in Norfolk this afternoon, so I could wind up cooling my heels in the Detroit airport for an undetermined period of time. Who knows.
So I'm off. Best wishes to all my shipmates. I hope to see you in Virginia, and if you have to stay home, remember you can follow the action here at LiveBlog2014.
Friday, June 20, 2014
The Daily Poop - Fri., 20JUN14
I just got an email from Lee Hudson. (Note to self: figure out out to block senders in Windows Live Mail.)
Lee is coming to the reunion. That's the news. Like I was glad to hear it from this two-faced, southern-drawling, snore-inducing seas story-butchering back-stabber. (Anybody got extra hyphens to spare? I'm all out.)
-------------------
In brighter news, today is my last day of work before leaving for Virginia Beach. I'll fly out of Moline, Ill. tomorrow morning and arrive mid-afternoon. If all goes well, that is. Weather looks fine on this end. As always, I'm getting hyper as the reunion approaches
------------
I just saw on Facebook that member John Derby is offering to shoot portraits of members with their horns at the reunion. All the more do I hope that Tex Waldron will show; one last photo of The Partner and his Bone will complete my All-time Favorite Photo Gallery.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
The Daily Poop - Wed., 18JUN14
I just had a glance at that yellow countdown thingie on the right and saw that the reunion begins in seven days and 48 minutes.
It's true. The NMA reunions technically begin at 0900 on Wednesday morning. That's when the first rehearsal actually starts. Okay, really, that's when trying to herd a bunch of sleepy MUs into a semblance of a band begins.
In truth, it's hard to say when the "reunion" part of the reunion begins. Because the official action begins on Wednesday morning, a good number of members will be on site on Tuesday. That often means a Tuesday evening jam session in the lounge.
We can do that because the equipment-moving elves have moved the NMA's gear into the hotel on Tuesday during the day or perhaps sometime Monday. ("Equipment-moving elves" is a misnomer. They're actually members of the Board of Directors who haul the tons of NMA stuff to the site in advance.)
In fact, on Monday you'll see a good number of members milling about the hotel. And now that I think of it, last year I came down into the lobby late on Sunday afternoon and encountered Wilbur Smith, the Blakeleys and Leon Harris.
So if you come early, we're glad to see you. Same thing if you come late. Many attendees arrive while the reunion is already in session. Some show up on Thursday. MUs who couldn't cancel weekday obligations arrive on Friday and still enjoy all the weekend activities.
So yes, the NMA "reunion" begins on Wednesday morning, but the "reuniting" part begins whenever MUs get together.
Which is why I like being in touch with you this way. It kinda starts the reunion even earlier.
It's true. The NMA reunions technically begin at 0900 on Wednesday morning. That's when the first rehearsal actually starts. Okay, really, that's when trying to herd a bunch of sleepy MUs into a semblance of a band begins.
In truth, it's hard to say when the "reunion" part of the reunion begins. Because the official action begins on Wednesday morning, a good number of members will be on site on Tuesday. That often means a Tuesday evening jam session in the lounge.
We can do that because the equipment-moving elves have moved the NMA's gear into the hotel on Tuesday during the day or perhaps sometime Monday. ("Equipment-moving elves" is a misnomer. They're actually members of the Board of Directors who haul the tons of NMA stuff to the site in advance.)
In fact, on Monday you'll see a good number of members milling about the hotel. And now that I think of it, last year I came down into the lobby late on Sunday afternoon and encountered Wilbur Smith, the Blakeleys and Leon Harris.
So if you come early, we're glad to see you. Same thing if you come late. Many attendees arrive while the reunion is already in session. Some show up on Thursday. MUs who couldn't cancel weekday obligations arrive on Friday and still enjoy all the weekend activities.
So yes, the NMA "reunion" begins on Wednesday morning, but the "reuniting" part begins whenever MUs get together.
Which is why I like being in touch with you this way. It kinda starts the reunion even earlier.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
The Daily Poop - Tues., 17JUN14
I woke up at 0300, thinking about stuff I need to get done before I fly to Norfolk on Saturday. I write a weekly column for a chain of newspapers in western Illinois, and the way the reunion and my deadlines are lined up, I realized I had to write three columns this week. Packing, shopping, printing out concert band music. Etc.
So I got up, made coffee and turned on the computer. It can all wait.
Great news for those who really care how much weight I lose for the reunion every year. Not that there are many of you. Or any.
I won't embarrass you with numbers. Let's just say that I've got my weight down to MU2 level, c. 1979. I've been down to MU3, even MUSN in prior years.
Oh, and I've also settled the haircut problem. I accepted the fact that it was too late to go to the manly barber. My coiffure simply wouldn't have time to recover from the butchery. Love the barber, hate the haircuts.
So instead, I have an appointment for tomorrow at the hair salon around the corner. Yes, yech. But the woman does a good job.
The whole point is to have professional attention paid to The Bald Spot. A B-flat haircut just doesn't address the issue. And there will be no comb-overs, not on my head.
The solution is art. Styling. A hairdo that says this guy has hair. Lots of it. Sure, there's a bit of baldness here and there, but that's to be expected at his his age, and it's hard to believe he's 65, he looks 20 years younger. And oh yes, he's slim, isn't he? Like a rail. Like a flagpole. Like a plastic coffee stirrer.
That's why I'm willing to sit in a shop full of w-w-women. It's worth it all just to walk the halls of the reunion and hear old men whispering to each other, "Hair. Not fat. That damn Frank."
-------
I heard Charlie Sweet may be coming to the reunion. And John Derby's coming, too. They've both been to reunions before, but not at the same time. John and I both worked for Charlie in Show Band West in the '70s. A years or so ago John told me he'd like to apologize to Charlie for his behavior back in those days. I told him that I apologized on his behalf when I saw Charlie in Louisville in 2006. John and I were pains in the butt in those old San Francisco days. We didn't know that someday we'd be bandleaders and find out the hard way what it was like to run a band full of people like, well, ourselves.
------
Okay, that's been plenty o' stalling. Since I leave on Saturday morning, it's four days and a wakeup.
So I got up, made coffee and turned on the computer. It can all wait.
Great news for those who really care how much weight I lose for the reunion every year. Not that there are many of you. Or any.
I won't embarrass you with numbers. Let's just say that I've got my weight down to MU2 level, c. 1979. I've been down to MU3, even MUSN in prior years.
Oh, and I've also settled the haircut problem. I accepted the fact that it was too late to go to the manly barber. My coiffure simply wouldn't have time to recover from the butchery. Love the barber, hate the haircuts.
So instead, I have an appointment for tomorrow at the hair salon around the corner. Yes, yech. But the woman does a good job.
The whole point is to have professional attention paid to The Bald Spot. A B-flat haircut just doesn't address the issue. And there will be no comb-overs, not on my head.
The solution is art. Styling. A hairdo that says this guy has hair. Lots of it. Sure, there's a bit of baldness here and there, but that's to be expected at his his age, and it's hard to believe he's 65, he looks 20 years younger. And oh yes, he's slim, isn't he? Like a rail. Like a flagpole. Like a plastic coffee stirrer.
That's why I'm willing to sit in a shop full of w-w-women. It's worth it all just to walk the halls of the reunion and hear old men whispering to each other, "Hair. Not fat. That damn Frank."
-------
I heard Charlie Sweet may be coming to the reunion. And John Derby's coming, too. They've both been to reunions before, but not at the same time. John and I both worked for Charlie in Show Band West in the '70s. A years or so ago John told me he'd like to apologize to Charlie for his behavior back in those days. I told him that I apologized on his behalf when I saw Charlie in Louisville in 2006. John and I were pains in the butt in those old San Francisco days. We didn't know that someday we'd be bandleaders and find out the hard way what it was like to run a band full of people like, well, ourselves.
------
Okay, that's been plenty o' stalling. Since I leave on Saturday morning, it's four days and a wakeup.
Monday, June 16, 2014
The Daily Poop - Mon., 16JUN14
What's the point of having a blog if you can't whine once in a while?
Oh noooooooo.
I just heard from Frank Bartley. He can't come to the reunion; he has a regular gig in Florida he can not abandon.
Oh noooooooo.
Frank and Max Murray are the two of the NMA's finest bass players. I knew Max couldn't come this year, but now, without Frank Bartley, others are gonna have to step up to the plate at the evening jam sessions
Bill Sterck claims he's a rock player and doesn't do well with jazz chord changes. This was proven false last year when he was pressed into service.He did a fine job and we'll happily invite him on the bandstand this year.
Lee Hudson, I hate to say it, is a gifted musician with a good ear. It also pains me to say that his humility sometimes keeps him off the bandstand when the jamming gets particularly fiery. We'll have none of that this year, Dr. Milton Leander Hudson. We need you on bass.
Then there's me, of course, but I am physically limited. My repetitive stress injuries flared last year when we were short on bass players and I overdid it. I still haven't recovered, but I'll do what I can.
The damn thing is, I love our jam sessions and because we were short on bass players last year, I took it upon myself to be a rhythm section savior. On Thursday night, I knew I should limit my participation, but we needed a bass player and the music became hot. I got worn out and knew I should stop, but agreed to do one last tune. An up-tempo version of "Secret Love" was my downfall, a rendition that included a combination of Latin rhythms and Mike Vax. When it was over, I took my pain to the pool, saw a buddy sitting under an umbrella and pulled up a chair.
Well, I tried to. The chair was wrought iron. By the time I'd dragged the monster across six inches of concrete,
Owwwwwwww.
My reunion bass playing was over.
I've suffered from carpal tunnel and failed surgery for years and am used to a certain amount of pain. But for the last year, it's been worse than ever.
Raaaaaaaabbiiiiiit!
---- Commence whining. ----
Oh noooooooo.
I just heard from Frank Bartley. He can't come to the reunion; he has a regular gig in Florida he can not abandon.
Oh noooooooo.
Frank and Max Murray are the two of the NMA's finest bass players. I knew Max couldn't come this year, but now, without Frank Bartley, others are gonna have to step up to the plate at the evening jam sessions
Bill Sterck claims he's a rock player and doesn't do well with jazz chord changes. This was proven false last year when he was pressed into service.He did a fine job and we'll happily invite him on the bandstand this year.
Lee Hudson, I hate to say it, is a gifted musician with a good ear. It also pains me to say that his humility sometimes keeps him off the bandstand when the jamming gets particularly fiery. We'll have none of that this year, Dr. Milton Leander Hudson. We need you on bass.
Then there's me, of course, but I am physically limited. My repetitive stress injuries flared last year when we were short on bass players and I overdid it. I still haven't recovered, but I'll do what I can.
The damn thing is, I love our jam sessions and because we were short on bass players last year, I took it upon myself to be a rhythm section savior. On Thursday night, I knew I should limit my participation, but we needed a bass player and the music became hot. I got worn out and knew I should stop, but agreed to do one last tune. An up-tempo version of "Secret Love" was my downfall, a rendition that included a combination of Latin rhythms and Mike Vax. When it was over, I took my pain to the pool, saw a buddy sitting under an umbrella and pulled up a chair.
Well, I tried to. The chair was wrought iron. By the time I'd dragged the monster across six inches of concrete,
Owwwwwwww.
My reunion bass playing was over.
I've suffered from carpal tunnel and failed surgery for years and am used to a certain amount of pain. But for the last year, it's been worse than ever.
--------End Whining.--------
Now it's time to inject some positive vibrations into the atmosphere. Maybe a new bassist will show up. Maybe Rabbit Simmons will return. This year.
Raaaaaaaabbiiiiiit!
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