Now muster the coffee detail. The morning mealtime will be abbreviated to facilitate timely departure for Kansas City. All hands are advised to participate, as the midday meal is as yet unscheduled and will likely occur at a brief afternoon fueling stop.
Husband, load luggage and instruments in car. Wife, give the house a clean sweep, fore and aft. All hands make preparations for getting underway at 0900.
Set course for Kansas City.
Frank Mullen's very unofficial source of poop, skinny and bitching for present and former U.S. Navy Musicians.
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Friday, June 10, 2016
FRI10JUN16 - The Daily Poop - Effin'-a Seabag
Last year, while talking about Navy promotions during a pool-side jaw-fest at the reunion, Cecil Strange said, "I was a slick-armed first class." I'd been out of the Navy for 28 years, yet understood immediately that he'd been promoted to MU1 during his first enlistment.
The language stays with you. Last night while trying to figure out how to pack for the reunion and trying to make room for one more set of skivvies in a small rolling suitcase, I was thinking about old Navy sayings: "The eagle shits," "I took a dead horse," "haze-gray and underway, "My sea bag is packed."
"Sea bag," I said to myself. "Did somebody say "sea bag?"
I opened a closet door, rummaged around and there it was: the solution.
I have no more packing problems. That sum-bitch holds a lot of stuff.
Thursday, June 9, 2016
THURS9JUN16 - The Daily Poop - Iron Man Frank
Real men iron their own clothing.
Well, that's how it used to be. Being married to the world's most wonderful woman, I often get help with the ironing. So much, in fact, that I've sort of given it up. Jo spent her career as a nurse and spent a lot more time ironing uniforms than I ever did.
But today I manned up. Packing for the trip to Kansas City has involved getting the summer clothes out of the closed where they've been waiting for summer to reach Illinois. This stuff needed ironing, and lots of it.
And I did it. Me, myself. Ironing is not exactly like riding a bicycle. I fell a lot and took a few wrong turns, but after a few hours job was done.
And, as it used to say on that document that came my way once or twice a year: "Petty Officer Mullen wears his uniform with unmistakable pride and his appearance reflects the highest standards of the United States Navy."
Well, that's how it used to be. Being married to the world's most wonderful woman, I often get help with the ironing. So much, in fact, that I've sort of given it up. Jo spent her career as a nurse and spent a lot more time ironing uniforms than I ever did.But today I manned up. Packing for the trip to Kansas City has involved getting the summer clothes out of the closed where they've been waiting for summer to reach Illinois. This stuff needed ironing, and lots of it.
And I did it. Me, myself. Ironing is not exactly like riding a bicycle. I fell a lot and took a few wrong turns, but after a few hours job was done.
And, as it used to say on that document that came my way once or twice a year: "Petty Officer Mullen wears his uniform with unmistakable pride and his appearance reflects the highest standards of the United States Navy."
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
WED8JUN16 - The Daily Poop - One Week to Go
Hard to believe it, but one week from this morning, the 2016 reunion of the NMA will be underway.
The first day of an NWA reunion is the shakedown cruise. There's been a lot of planning, and now the plans meet reality. Sometimes it's a smooth introduction, sometimes it involves rough seas.
But generally, at 0900 there's an empty room, a collection of music stands and a box of music, and by 1000 there's a big band running down swing tunes. We meet again in the afternoon for concert band, and then again in the early evening for another round of big band. At some point lounge starts filling up and the jamming begins. Any stories that didn't get told during the day are unfurled at the bar.
Sometimes the fun goes late, sometimes we tuck ourselves in early, but one thing is for sure: MUs still know how to be on time for morning rehearsal. We're ensemble musicians, not solo artists. We depend on each other. We pitch in to get the job done. And when the workday is over, we get together to shoot the breeze, have a sip or two and jam.
Sound familiar?
The first day of an NWA reunion is the shakedown cruise. There's been a lot of planning, and now the plans meet reality. Sometimes it's a smooth introduction, sometimes it involves rough seas.
But generally, at 0900 there's an empty room, a collection of music stands and a box of music, and by 1000 there's a big band running down swing tunes. We meet again in the afternoon for concert band, and then again in the early evening for another round of big band. At some point lounge starts filling up and the jamming begins. Any stories that didn't get told during the day are unfurled at the bar.
Sometimes the fun goes late, sometimes we tuck ourselves in early, but one thing is for sure: MUs still know how to be on time for morning rehearsal. We're ensemble musicians, not solo artists. We depend on each other. We pitch in to get the job done. And when the workday is over, we get together to shoot the breeze, have a sip or two and jam.
Sound familiar?
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
TUES7JUN16 -The Daily Poop - Tidbits
I'm getting caught up. Today I finished two columns for the Rock Island Argus and Moline Dispatch. My weekly deadlines are Mondays, and since I'll be in K.C. for two of them--and since I don't want to spend time in my hotel room opining on Illinois current events while shipmates are having fun--it's better that I get the work done before playtime begins.
Is this you? If so, you probably have questions (Is there a dress code? What do I do when I arrive at the hotel? Can I bring a buddy who's not an MU?). You'll find answers to common questions on the NMA website's First-timer's Guide.
----
We're expecting a big turnout next week in Kansas City. This means we're likely to have a good batch of first-timers who haven't got their feet wet.Is this you? If so, you probably have questions (Is there a dress code? What do I do when I arrive at the hotel? Can I bring a buddy who's not an MU?). You'll find answers to common questions on the NMA website's First-timer's Guide.
----
Attention all members: Got gossip? Let me know. Got questions: check out the First-timer's Guide. Got complaints? Twelve paces forward on a ten-foot gangplank: March!
Monday, June 6, 2016
MON6JUN16 - The Daily Poop - Battle Royale
(SportsNews) The 2016 reunion of the Navy Musicians Association will feature a matchup that hasn't been seen since the 2010 reunion.
Chesson versus Knox is likely to dwarf any Mullen/Hudson bout you may have witnessed. Terry Chesson and Jo Knox have been biding their time since that San Antonio contest, "The Texas Clash of Titans" that did not end with a clear winner.
The two combatants, so different in stature and demeanor, have one thing in common: they have both been in charge of Frank Mullen.
Chesson leads in chronology, having been Mullen's bandmaster in the 1980s. Knox, however has held the position of Wife since 1993.
NMA members will find tickets to "The Battle of the Bosses" included in their registration packets.
Chesson versus Knox is likely to dwarf any Mullen/Hudson bout you may have witnessed. Terry Chesson and Jo Knox have been biding their time since that San Antonio contest, "The Texas Clash of Titans" that did not end with a clear winner.
The two combatants, so different in stature and demeanor, have one thing in common: they have both been in charge of Frank Mullen.
Chesson leads in chronology, having been Mullen's bandmaster in the 1980s. Knox, however has held the position of Wife since 1993.
NMA members will find tickets to "The Battle of the Bosses" included in their registration packets.
 |
Louisville, 2006: I refereed Referee Frank Mullen
officiates an early bout between Chesson and Knox.
|
Sunday, June 5, 2016
SUN5JUN16-The Daily Poop- Midwestern Reunion
I've spent years hoping for a reunion in the Midwest, and now, poof!--wish granted.
I think we'll have a good turnout. Our non-Virginia Beach reunions are sometimes smaller than our "home-port" reunions in Virginia Beach, but this Kansas City get-together is shaping up pretty well.
John Derby and his wife are coming; they live in Missouri, so their drive will be even shorter than mine.
Gotta check on Bob Nolan, another old San Francisco shipmate. He's in Iowa, also closer to Kansas City than I am, and I'm hoping he'll be able to make it to the reunion. Both Bob and John were guitarists with Show Band West when that band moved from San Diego to San Francisco. I'm hoping to see a bunch of alumnae of that band.
And I'm always glad to see Dennis Bear. He lives in Wisconsin and has attended every reunion since I've been going. I met Dennis at my first reunion, Louisville in 2006. It's interesting that MUs that you never knew on active duty can become, over the years, NMA friends that you look forward to seeing at the reunion.
Been a while since we've seen Ralph Hasty at a reunion. Ralph is also one of the first NMA members I met back in Louisville. He's in Missouri, too, so maybe he'll be there.
And of course, MUs from further west will be coming. It is my fervent hope that piano players will be among them...we've been a little shorthanded lately, keyboard-wise.
I think we'll have a good turnout. Our non-Virginia Beach reunions are sometimes smaller than our "home-port" reunions in Virginia Beach, but this Kansas City get-together is shaping up pretty well.
John Derby and his wife are coming; they live in Missouri, so their drive will be even shorter than mine.
Gotta check on Bob Nolan, another old San Francisco shipmate. He's in Iowa, also closer to Kansas City than I am, and I'm hoping he'll be able to make it to the reunion. Both Bob and John were guitarists with Show Band West when that band moved from San Diego to San Francisco. I'm hoping to see a bunch of alumnae of that band.
And I'm always glad to see Dennis Bear. He lives in Wisconsin and has attended every reunion since I've been going. I met Dennis at my first reunion, Louisville in 2006. It's interesting that MUs that you never knew on active duty can become, over the years, NMA friends that you look forward to seeing at the reunion.
Been a while since we've seen Ralph Hasty at a reunion. Ralph is also one of the first NMA members I met back in Louisville. He's in Missouri, too, so maybe he'll be there.
And of course, MUs from further west will be coming. It is my fervent hope that piano players will be among them...we've been a little shorthanded lately, keyboard-wise.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)