SAT, 16JUN18 - The Daily Poop - My Old Kentucky Home

Saturday Morning

It's hot. It's still morning and it's still hot. It's hot everywhere. Hot as hell.

Except in our hotel. Jo and I left the Mississippi River Valley yesterday, drove across sun-baked Illinois and sun-baked Indiana until we reached our day's destination, sun-baked Louisville, Kentucky.

We'll drive today to Beckley, West Virginia. It will be hot. It's hot everywhere. Hot as hell.

Which makes me wonder: what will the weather be like in Virginia Beach during the reunion next week? It's always hot, but this year, it's hot everywhere. Hot as--well, you get the picture.

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I'm sorry to hear that Bob Grindle has to stay home this year. Apparently, I'm not the only person in the world with medical problems. We'll miss you, Boomer--aye!.

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On the other hand, I hear that Marty Nau will be here this year. A last minute medical event kept Marty home last year. I missed hearing him play, tho' I'm lucky; the radio host of the late-night jazz program on WVIK, Rock Island, plays Marty's recordings Marty can make a clarinet worthwhile listening to.

FRI, 15JUN18 - The Daily Poop -- First Edition

Five days and the fun begins. Music, laughter, old shipmates, new friends, Basie charts and sea stories galore. It's the 2018 reunion of the Navy Musicians Association.

 And thus begins the Daily Poop, my annual, pre-reunion pep rally of news and slander. I'll keep this up daily until the reunion starts on Wednesday the 20th (or maybe the day before) at which time Live Blog 2018 will kick in. That'll be round-the-clock coverage of the NMA action in Virginia Beach. More about this later.

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I'm looking forward to this NMA reunion like never before. It's been a crappy year--cat scans, ekgs, stress tests heart blockages--I was afraid I wouldn't be able to make the trip. But a coupla weeks ago, the doc put a stent in my heart. Yesterday he gave me the okay to travel and said I could hope for improvement soon.

So my wife and I are about to hop in the car and head toward Virginia. (Actually, Jo will "hop" in. I'll "dodder with my cane.")

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Usually, I spend about month before the reunion in a quivering state of high anticipation. Because of my aforementioned medical uncertainties, haven't experienced such high drama this year. Until now. I'll have to pack it all in during the next few days.

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Got news? Slander? Are you coming to the reunion? Do you have to stay home for your grandniece's first dance recital? Let me know. Giving me news to share helps the Daily Poop cover more than just me, me, me.

So, away we go. Our course is set for the Holiday Inn in Virginia Beach.

Anchors Aweigh!