2005 TOP 10

Reflecting on the year 2005 I have come up with my top-10 list …

10.
Single again… well,.. almost (officially) … – Divorce is in very final stage. FINALLY ! Thank goodness! It has taken way too long. My own stupid fault though. Should have decided a divorce right away when the bomb went off. Probably too hard to let things go,… Glad this situation is pretty much over now. Hate it ! Has hurt way too much! Still does…. Always will… (only therefore in last place)

9.
Work – Finally have found some more pleasure at work at the school I teach at now. Thought of quitting a few times over the last few years. Have been very very disappointed with the level of the kids at this school, but this year seems to be a little different. Some are finally picking things up and even remember stuff when they get a test. It’s still a struggle though at times. But actually I have a few classes that are a challenge to work with kids even eager to learn!


8.
Ritchie Price – Got to meet one of my idols last summer again. This great trumpet player used to march with the Rhode Island Matadors for many years, right before I marched with them in 1984. This summer he was performing with the Empire Statesmen (my favourite DCA corps!)

7.
Jamie Cullum – Have been to quite a few concerts, but Jamie Cullum’s concert at the Heineken Music Hall earlier this month comes very close to my favourite! I think only Harry Connick Jr. and Herman Brood (Back on the Corner) rank better.

6.
Friendship – so happy to have friends! Some have meant a lot to me this year. Got to meet some new friends too this year, some of which I know from the past. Neat! Sometimes one should look more on the sunny side of life.

5.
Gran Canaria – Had an absolutely great holiday with the rest of the family at one of the Canary Islands in February. Beautiful hotel, excellent food, nice environment, fabulous shopping, all-inclusive drinks & Piña Coladas, entertainment, excursions… Even got to see the opening of Carnaval season and the crowning of the Queen of Carnaval. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t at its best.. Oh well,…

4.
Modena – Italy. The absolute highlight of the performing season was the four day trip to Italy beginning of July. A very relaxed trip. Not too many gigs, but everywhere we played we were extremely well received and cheered for. My favourite musical friends from the States – The Concord Blue Devils – were there too. WOW ! So much fun at the gym we all stayed at. Evenings were very long!

3.
Wedding & US relatives – When my brother and sister-in-law got married in September all of our relatives from Michigan were over to attend the wedding! GREAT! We all had a lot of fun with them while they were over. Too bad we live so far away from each other. Am sure we would all visit much more regularly. Family is a valuable thing in life!

2.
On Tour with Blue Devils - This summer I toured with the Concord Blue Devils again on their DCI 2005 Tour. I had toured with them in 2004 as well, including the Tour of Champions all the way to California. This year I worked for them as a volunteer again, helping out with the Devils Food (the cook staff), driving the souvie truck & trailer, doing some paint jobs, and simply helping out wherever I could. A lot of photographs I took appeared on their website. Have also been able to do a lot of work for our own corps’ scheduled USA Tour for next summer.

1.
Ruby – My very first niece! In August, when I was in the States, this new little baby was born in our family. My niece is incredibly cute! Have posted about her before. Best thing that happened in 2005!

Lazy

The holiday season struck me with a good feeling of laziness. Normally being off from work would slightly activate my eager to start doing things I normally don’t get to, but this year is a bit different.

OK,… I did clean up, rearrange stuff in the house, took furniture apart which moved out and spent quite a bit of time away from home this first week of school holiday,.. but in general I can’t say I’ve been too active.

In fact I’m just tired. Simply tired… of MANY things.

SAD !

Jan Thora 1936-2005

photo taken at Vlamo Championships Koersel

A very sad day today!

I went to the funeral service of Jan Thora - a good friend of mine from Belgium. OK, we did not meet on a very regular basis, but being friends in music means being the closest friends possible. PERIOD!

Sharing the same passion, the same hobby, the same ideas, having the same goals, pleasure and satifaction in music... Friends in music are friends for life! Seldom have I met a person this friendly, correct, disciplined and devoted. Jan was the personifcation of his passion.

Unfortunatly life has ended for my friend and great personality Jan Thora from Bree in Limburg-Belgium. As vivid and active Jan used to be, as abrupt this was put a halt to by a terrible disease a few months ago.

Every summer I used to run into Jan at numerous music events in both Belgium and the Netherlands over the last 25 or so years. He was there as an instructor with one of the many drumlines he used to teach or simply as a spectator and devoted fan, thoroughly enjoying his passion: music (especially drums!) performed by drum & bugle corps or bands. Annually he stopped by at our corps' camp weekend.

Jan was always interested in anything connected with his hobby. The history or anecdotes of corps, new instruments or drumheads or sticks, backgrounds on repertoires, new members in the groups, new techniques,... no,... not just anything... Jan was interested in EVERYTHING!!!

I was especially pleased when I found out Jan was also going to attend the DCI Championships in Kansas City (I think that was 1989...). Of all musical events I met him at, this was the biggest surprise! I know he was very interested in the drum & bugle corps activity, but had not expected him to cross the pond and actually go there. Was great seeing him there!

Way back I copied recordings for him and even brought him a video tape one year. He got hooked on drumcorps! He has made a total of four trips to the DCI Championships. Next summer would be his fifth trip. The tickets had already been booked and sent to his home. Unfortunatly he can't be there in person.

As a drum instructor he taught many many bands and drumlines. At the service in church today representatives of several of these units were present and together performed a piece written by him. A touching and emotional performance! Jan had been an instructor for 42 (!!) years for one of these traditional groups.

His latest "baby" in his musical career was the birth of "Cadence drumline" from Kaulille, formed two years ago. In this unit he could go all the way, and challenge the talent of his members to the limit.
Both his sons Coen and Tony are snare drummers in Cadence as well. Cadence performed in exhibition at the recent Belgian Show Championships in Koersel, and stunned the crowd and other participating units with an excellend (standstill) performance.
Jan had been diagnosed with liver cancer a few months ago, but he insisted Cadence would participate in the event. And so they did. Jan was there to witness, and conduct from his wheelchair.

I am absolutely sure the passion of Jan Thora will live on in this fine drumline!

Jan,... Next summer at the DCI Championships in Madison I know you will be present somehow.... I bet you'll be teaming up with drumcorps legend Fred Sanford, enjoying our show (Jubal, one of your favourite European corps) together.

Unfortunately you and I never got a chance to play together,... but some day, Jan,... we'll meet again, and I'll make sure I'll have my trumpet with me. I know you brought your sticks...

I'm full

Stuffed... completely...

Ok, I know food is one of the highlights of Christmas every year, but today was a bit too much. Feels like I can explode any minute. Probably the extra liquers and Bacardi-cokes added to this feeling.

Spent the day with my brother and his family. Neat presents under the tree. Not as many as in previous years. Then everyone bought stuff for everyone in the family,... so we spent some hours unpacking. This year we changed the format, and we all bought presents for 1 person only. This worked out fine. Obviously there were a few extra gifts for the hosts and my new cute little baby-cousin Ruby. What an adorable kid.

I took a few studio-like photos of het the other week and had them enlarged for my bro and his wife, and an extra copy for the proud grandparents of course.

I'm off to bed in a few minutes. Has been a long day... As usual I'm late with some stuff, and had still had to wrap some gifts right before I left home. And print a photo calendar at the very last minute...

Tomorrow is a quiet day. Am going to rearrange some furniture in the house. Also take some furniture apart, which will be leaving the house this week. Dinner at my folks.

THE CADETS

It's Christmas,... I know,.. but I'm going to take you back to Thanksgiving. (A celebration the Dutch don't have by the way)

The Cadets drum & bugle corps performed in the famous Macy's Thanksgiving Parade last month. WOW!

Check out this little video clip of the nine time World Champions The Cadets in New York City.

Done!

I'm done.... for this year.
No more classes until January 9.
Feels great!
Tomorrow only sports activities for the kids. I will be touring from site to site with my camera to capture everything on the memory card. Shouldn't be too hard...

The Tropical Caribbean party yesterday was an absolute hit. We had a blast! Compliments only for our organizing committee. The greenhouse was transformed into a tropical resort,... beeches, flamingo, palmtrees, BBQ's, salads, and best of all.... a Cocktailbar!
Party started at 4 PM.
Had the complete list of offered cocktails (small glasses though) down before 6 PM... (oops).

Of course it was the same little group to turn off the lights at the end of the party... Yes,.. including myself.

This morning it was back to normal teaching life!

Tonight another party... The Gala Premiere of our Christmas Circus! Owners of the circus are friends of mine. Always nice to be at their performances!

3 more days!!!!!!!!

It's almost a month after my November 24 post... about the kids' assignments at school, remember? Well,... next report was due TODAY!... In some classes this was absolutely no problem. A very large percentage of due papers was handed in.

In my own class however only THREE kids were able to meet the deadline. God, I'm pissed! And they have found out what that's like alright!

Had one kid sent home today. Expelled from school for the next three days today. We'll only see her back during class after the holidays. (most likely) Totally screwed up! Crossed the limit big time today.
She has "only" been kicked out of class a record of 16 times already this semester.

Fortunately there's only three more days of school left. I know kids are ready for their two weeks' holiday. SO AM I !!!!!

X-mas gig

photo by Maarten van Dijke (www.HRCweb.nl)

The annual Christmas Fair (Christmas Market) in our hometown has become the largest one in the country. Some 350 little stalls filled the narrow old streets in the city center this year. Some were selling typical Christmas-related stuff and ornaments, others were selling plain old market crap. More than 300.000 people visited the 2005 edition of the “Kerstmarkt”.

Our JUBAL All Star X-mas Band (brass ensemble + 1 drummer) traditionally performs four or five gigs on the Sunday. This year was no difference. Despite the rain during the last two concerts, the crowd’s reactions were very positive!

Our X-mas-repertoire can now be stowed away for another year. Next year Paris? Who knows… Something to start working on.

(Thanks you Maarten for the great pix!!)

What an amazing party !

Saturday night I was invited to attend a company party as the photographer for the event.

For this party, the Rotterdam based company had booked the amazing partyship “Pure Liner” , which was anchored at Hotel New York, the former cruise terminal base of the Holland America Line.

With 400+ black tie and evening gown guests on board I thought the ship was pretty full, even though the maximum capacity ’s capacity is well over 600, but then… in winter no one goes out on the decks! The ships interior is unique and very modern. Different bars, video screen wall, DJ-set, podium, dance floor,… everything for an absolutely amazing party.

Champagne to welcome the guests and catering by Martinair with a spectacular chocolate fountain.

The entertainment at the party included Holland’s best female singer Trijntje Oosterhuis, accompanied by pianist Michiel Borstlap in a mini concert. Two DJ’s created the exact right atmosphere.
Some 500+ photos later I found myself on my way home, having had a great evening out!

Jamie Cullum........ WOW!

What a fabulous Jamie Cullum concert at the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam last night !!!!!!!!!!!

I've been to various concerts over the years, but this one really stuck out big time! Amazing repertoire, variety, stunning effects, great band, fabulous visual projections, incomparable voice, humour, creative programme,.. and two full hours long entertainment!

It's been a while since I had such a great night a a concert. Last time was probably with Herman Brood & Big Band performing the "Back on the Corner" book or Harry Connick jr. in Antwerp.

The drummer apparently was born in my own home-town. How'bout that!!!

You may be a king
You may posses big fat world and its gold
But gold wont bring you happiness when you're going old

The world's always the same, you'll never change it, change it
As sure as the stars shine above

You're nobody, nobody till somebody loves you
So find yoursel somebody, somebody to love

Gouda,... not just cheese!

Gouda has a wonderful annual event prior to Christmas: "Gouda bij Kaarslicht".
All lights on the market square around City Hall and in the surrounding houses are switched off and the entire place is lit by candles only in nevery visible window.

A spectacular sight!

Mayor Wim Cornelis holds a speech and Carols are sung around a giant Christmas tree - a gift from the Norwegian town of Kongsberg - in front of City Hall.

This year our Queen Beatrix attended the event, which therefore drew a larger crowd than other years. For the third time our Christmas Brass ensemble performed two sets on the square tonight.

Pirates

Ed & Hans Entertainment performed at a private company party Friday night. My friend and I started performing together as a joke some years ago, when we made a CD with children's songs.

Played a few gigs at the Kids Carnaval in town and at some private parties. Had two hits in the drumcorps' Theaterproductions in 2001 and 2003/2004.

Friday night we were hired as Security, drunk waiters and Pirates. Absolutely hilarious! We had a ball!

Embarrassed

Oh my God,....

We got invited to perform with 11 trumpets in an Opera concert last night. We were the main attraction in Verdi's Finale II,... but things didn't quite happen as we had expected.

We had split the section into two groups to play from the little (Muppetshow-like) balconies on either side of the stage.
The group opposite ours was the first one to enter with the main melody in the Triumph March,...
And they DID !!!

Unfortunately it was about twelve bars early...

Double gig

caused me to be at the theater two hours early tonight! Damn!
Went to see a Dutch comedian Jan Jaap van der Wal. Didn't realize my tickets said 22:15 instead of 20:15 (when ALL performances at our local theater start!!!),... the guy did TWO performances this evening,... so my sis-in-law and I ended up spending an extra two hours with a good glass of red wine in the adjecent bar.

Show was GREAT! Great sense of humour! Great up-to-date jokes. Even took something from today's news!

BSUR - Be As You Are...

Sinterklaas has left the country...

And he's most likely in Belgium right now....

For some reasons our neighbours in the South are one day behind. No offence... the good old man simply can't be in two countries at the exact same time, right?

Had the family over for dinner last night. Great fun. Always great to be with family. As usual I had little presents (in the tradition of Sinterklaas) for all of them. My folks just got back from a trip to the Canary Islands... so I bet my dad had a few Piña Coladas there. I got him a do-it-yourself Piña Colada-kit (bottle of rum, cocktailglass, a pineapple, can of coconutmilk, pineapple juice, and all the necessary decorations)

My brother recently bought a caravan/trailer for his first holiday in Spain with wife and baby daughter. I put together a "Yes-I-Am-Going-Camping-And-Can-Do-It-Without-Help- SURVIVALKIT"... We had a good laugh last night!

Now it's waiting for Santa Claus,... more presents! Ho Ho Ho...

Kids,... ya gotta love 'em

Honestly,... I am crazy about kids! Love them to death. Since recently especially my new little niece. What a cute girl this is!

Would love to have my own family with kids. I was seriously working on that, but unfortunately someone had to really fuck up and completely ruin my plans for the future!
I'll see what the future holds for me... Have been trying to pick up my normal life again, however hard that is at times.

In my everyday life there is an abundance of kids around me. Not my own... true,... and for some of them counts that I'm really glad they're not my own. Oh my God,... what's wrong with some of them... Unbelievable!

On the other hand though I'm glad this only counts for a few of them. The large majority of the kids are great, well-raised, fun (and funny at times), very verbal, still a bit ignorant,... I'm very lucky with the kind of job I have!

Hangover

From last night... not from the booze though!
But things (finally) have to be settled...

Life sucks (at times)

Last gigs today

Iet Piet Waai Weg Band

We’re finally done… After three full Saturdays of black faced performances with the band the outfits can be put away for another year.

In the Dutch tradition of Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) we change our mardi gras-type band into Sinterklaas’ helpers “Zwarte Pieten”(Black Peters) every year and play at different events, both at shopping centers and private company parties.

You’d have to know more about the tradition to really get the point of this annual celebration for children. It’s all about presents for them, pretty similar to celebrating Santa Claus in most other countries. Fortunately here some families get to celebrate both Sinterklaas AND Christmas with present. The lucky ones!!!
(In fact the tradition of Saint Nicholas in the Netherlands, France and other parts of Europe was the inspiration for Santa Claus during Christmas in the USA and other countries!)

We did a total of 12 performances in three weekends. A good financial boost for the upcoming Carnival weekend in February,.. Five days of fun and music!

See my photoblog www.hk-pix.blogspot.com on Monday for another photo.

Born in the year of the DRAGON

Ok, ok,… according to our own Sun Signs I am a Virgo, but according to the Chinese Zodiac Signs I am a dragon… I found some interesting descriptions of dragons on a site full of (Chinese) horoscope related information.

This is an excerpt of the text:
People born in the year of the dragon are powerful and full of vitality and strength. To them, life is a colourful leaping flame. Though assuming airs of self-importance, being prejudiced, making arbitrary decisions, and indulging in some of the wildest fantasies, these people are always adored. They are proud, aloof and frank.

Dragons are quite energetic, and their anxiety, yearning, and enthusiasm can be almost as passionate as religious fervour. They have the potential of achieving great accomplishments, and like to act boldly and resolutely, always putting on a great show as they do so. Although often successful, they are likely to be destroyed and to become self conceited or mad about power if they are unable to control their enthusiasm. Sometimes such a person will believe that he is greatly restricted by society, tenderness and honeyed words. When he flies into a rage, he can become extraordinarily rude and inconsiderate.

Sometimes he may forget to apologize. In fact he can become so busy with his work that he will have no time to explain himself. Though hot-tempered and arbitrary, he is respectful to elders. No matter what differences he may have with his family, he will offer his help resolutely and generously, leaving differences behind if his family needs his help.

A person born in the year of the dragon has clear objectives in life, never idling about. He must have a cause to strive for, an objective to be realized, and the opportunity to make mistakes. Without ambitious plans, and the ability to pull his forces together to start afresh after failure, he is like a train that cannot run because of a shortage of fuel. Such a person finds pleasure in helping others, and you can always count on their help. They are extroverts who have a deep love for nature, and such a person may become a great travel buff, a good talker, or a sportsman.

He has true and sincere love, which comes from the depths of his heart. You can be sure of his true love. If he is rude, he will probably have a strong destruction force. Though the "dragon" makes people feel dazzled, he is not a profound thinker, and only when he is able to control the magic power described in legends can he create wonders.

Never enough sleep…

Once again I realized that when I listen to my body I end up sleeping a lot more and much longer than I initially plan. Having being home from work (some flu virus) for the third day in a row now I can’t say I’m rested, because my throat and all the coughing are wearing me out. Tomorrow I’ll go back to work, though the kids probably don’t mind me being absent.

And am I glad I have a job,… Jeez,… you won’t believe how many phone calls I get from call centers trying to sell me insurance, subscriptions, green energy, mortgage, so-called “free” stuff,… and other crap!

%#@*-off,… I’m trying to get some rest!!!

Another reason to seriously think of finishing my home phone contract. I don’t use the damn phone too much anyway.

Cough, Cough, Splutter, Splutter

Cough, cough, - splutter, splutter
My lungs feel like, they belong in the gutter
Sniffle, sniffle, Kleenex galore
I don’t know if I can take much more

Bright red nose, sore as can be
There doesn’t seem to be much hope for me
There’s a heap of sandpaper at the back of my throat
I’m freezing cold, please pass me my coat

Shiver, shiver, wrap me up warm
These virus’ take on a peculiar form
Achoo, Achoo, croak, croak
Please excuse me whilst I choke.

My mother had a saying which used to make me laugh
She would tell me as she tied up my scarf
‘Cough it up – it might be a ship’
Then when it’s up, we might all get some kip

I don’t think it’s a ship inside of me
But a monster growling as loud as can be
‘Cos my head feels as though it’s about to explode
And everything I hear seems 10 times echoed

So it’s honey and lemon with a Panadol or two
And a liitle toddy in a nice warm brew
There’s no romantic night for me full of charm
But a hot bath and a tub of tiger balm

(by Gaye Algar)