OK, OK, this is late because of a very good reason. No, actually several very good reasons -but- I won’t bore you with them. Nosir, not when there are so many exciting things going on right now. It is mid-October here, not sure what it is where you are, and I sat on the patio with my pre-breakfast coffee while waiting for the sun to come up. In much of the northern continents being outside in mid-October means wearing a coat of some kind. Here in this part of Oklahoma we are being blessed with second spring weather. Yessir, I am totally in agreement with whomever is in charge of the weather. The only drawback I can see so far is that (blankity blankity) weed in my yard keeps growing and taking over.
I have tried the natural weed killer of vinegar, etc and it works a little. It does not, however, kill the roots so the (insert blankity here) stuff grows back quickly. I have put an amazingly priced weed/feed product and it certainly does feed the weeds. If you know a product that kills the weeds without killing bees I would be grateful if you told me. I do not have a military flame thrower but have considered that option.
Speaking of bees, I opened one hive yesterday to see their progress and there was very little. Oh, progress, that is. Without taking apart the whole top box it appeared that there was not enough honey for me to take this year. I did scold them severely but it apparently had little affect. The other hive is not as accommodating to a human (me) sticking his nose into the hive just to look so I didn’t. So, as much as I would like to send you a pint, it looks as though that is not going to happen. Who knew some bees were not busy and were too lazy to make their keepers some honey?
My youngest granddaughter will be marching with her high school band in a contest today so I shall be in attendance. This girl is a shade over five feet tall and not much more than a shade, if any, over one-hundred pounds. She is a good oboe player, but for those who do not know, one does not march with an oboe. Nosir, not at all. So she went through trying, at her director’s “suggestion,” playing the tenor saxophone. The tenor sax is almost as big as she is so this old band director/grandfather didn’t think that was a good idea but he provided a sax anyway. That is, thanks to a good friend who loaned the instrument.
Jump ahead some weeks and Pop was asked, “Pop, do you know what I am going to be marching with?” There was this feeling of dread as Pop had a very good idea where this was headed. He also, in the past, had some problems filling every instrumental spot for a complete marching band. Holding his tongue, he asked. “Tuba,” she proudly exclaimed. By “tuba” she of course was referring to the Sousaphone.
Now in case you are not familiar with the Sousaphone it is the largest of brass instruments and weighs many pounds. It wraps around one’s body like a cold python and takes a great deal of stamina to master just the physical aspects of long rehearsals and parades. My babydoll is going to be carrying that monstrosity just as the big boys do only my baby is not a big boy. She was very excited as she had a great start, according to the prejudiced reports. Let me interject here that I played Sousaphone and entered college as a tuba major so I do know the pitts and perils of Sousaphone playing.
Then another incident helped her cause. I was at Henryetta High School to present them with a large knight’ suit of armor. The high school band was there doing a fine job of getting excitement up and just keeping the crowd occupied as they filed in. Being totally observant, I noticed a very young girl carrying a Sousaphone. During break I made it a point to talk to her and ask her story. This old man was not yet convinced about tiny girls carrying such a horn.
She told me this was her first year march with the horn. So, as my grand, she had changed instruments. Naturally I asked, “What did you play before you played Sousaphone?” I was sure she would say clarinet or oboe or flute. Remember this is a tiny girl who was in elementary school just a little bit ago. She looked at me and blew me away as she said, “Before I got in high school I played concert tuba for two years.”