Marching Band Madness

Hello Family,

Life is great in North Carolina. Oh, there's that job part. But other than that, everything is wonderful. Oh, and there's the interim report cards that aren't as high as the kids, or parents want, but life is great. And the reason is: It's marching band season. It's the time of the year Kent has been in love with since his freshman year, and now Peter is following in the same step. After weeks of band camp and practice after school it's time to put on the uniforms and march in competition form! We didn't know the environment could be more exciting than it's been in years past. But having the Drum Major and a 2nd family member in the band has ratcheted up the excitement. And now Kiana is talking about joining the high school marching band next year (as an 8th grader). She really wants to march!

This year's theme is Nocturum. It's supposed to be an "urban vampire" show. If you click on the link below you'll see the entire show. It's supposed to be a 'moon' in the middle of the field and the scaffoldings are to represent an urban setting. I don't get it.. but then again, I'm not as artsy as the instructor.

Of course, another event requires the right haircut.

Peter's head has become the billboard for 'all

that is cool.' Needless to say, he was the talk of the band (and probably the school) when he showed up on the friday before the first competition sporting this new cut. They are part of the Northwest Guilford Viking Band. This is the logo of the "Vikings." I couldn't get intricate enough to do the viking head that is supposed to

go in the middle of the "V." But it did the job!

The boys competed in their first competition last weekend. Even though they have a very young band they are gelled that day and they were able to walk away with 1st places trophies in each of the six individual categories, 1st in 4A, and Grand Champion of the entire competition! Here's a link to see their show . Kent is holding the Grand Champion trophy. It was a major accomplishment considering it was the first competition for half the band. And to see Kent walk out to receive the trophy for Drum Major and then for Grand Champion was almost more than his parents could handle. They have since had another home game (homecoming) to perform but their latest competitions got rained out. During the homecoming game we were able to get a little closer to the marchers than we can during a competition so I was able to do a little focusing on Kent's leading. You'll see his salute and some of the show.

I was able to get a few seconds of Peter. It's hard to pick him out during much of the show because they're all wearing matching uniforms (strange, I know!!!). But at the end he comes into frame as they're ending.

The marching band program is wonderful at their school. It is the one thing for which Kent has the most passion and this weekend, when the instructor announced that the two competitions were rained out, he was really bummed. I believe his exact quote was "That was going to be 17 hours straight of nothing but band. It was going to be awesome!" Now Peter has his sights on following in his brother's footsteps as drum major when he's a senior. And, as I mentioned, Kiana is thinking of jumping threw a little loophole in the whole "high school" definition of the marching band and joining next year as an 8th grader. And honestly, because of the quality of the kids, we would be excited for it.

Peter to NOAC

It's about time I share this story. One of the big events for our summer was Peter's first big "high adventure" experience. Ever since he was elected into the Order of the Arrow he's been wanting to do more and more within the brotherhood. At his tap out he heard about the National Order of the Arrow Conference and he came home and told us he wanted to go. His passion only increased over the next few months and he continued to get more and more active in the chapter. Many times he had a stronger desire to go to OA than to regular scout meetings

At the end of July his wait was over. He had gone up to summer came the weekend before so he could pass off his brotherhood test, so he could go to the national conference as a full-fledged brotherhood member.

Of course, a new adventure requires a new haircut.

We had started the "specialized" haircuts a few months ago with a diamond and then a star (for the Youth Trek). But if you're going to hang out with a few thousand Order of the Arrow brotheren, you must have an official "haircut." We had a good time giving him the haircut and I believe he had a great time at the conference.

He got to spend a week at Indiana University, going to events, taking part in activities, and just basically hanging out with a bunch of others who love the OA. The hair was a hit. In fact, he was included in one of videos they used each night to highlight the days activities. Peter even said that kids would come up to him and say "Hey.. you're the one with the haircut. I want to take my picture with you!!" He was a star! He learned about the fun of patch trading and came home with man OA flaps.. including one that lights up. Wow.. what differences from when I was a scout. He's now talking about patching trading at next year's Jamboree. And he's making plans to be part of NOAC in 2011.

Kent Finishes School

I can't believe the year is over. Just over a year ago at this time I was wondering if I had bit off more than I could chew. I was just a few weeks into an Executive MBA program. Basically, it pushes all the information into a year and adds some intense residencies. I had just returned from San Diego, where I met at the headquarters for Ken Blanchard. He is the author, speaker, businessman who put his name on the program through the Grand Canyon University. We returned to San Diego this summer for the final residence and to hold our celebration. I couldn't believe how the time had flown. I couldn't believe that I survived the finance and accounting classes. And I couldn't believe that I had finished a masters program. Apparently, it was a little difficult for others to believe I had such success. The man who recruited me, while recognizing me at the final party, said "I didn't know if would be able to survive the course. After all, he was a communications major." He is a friend of mine who worked with me in Little Rock so everyone thought he was joking since he, too, was in the communication industry. Later, while talking to him and thanking him for the recognition, he admitted he was only half joking. I knew it was true since I had confieded in him that I was petrified when I entered the program that I wouldn't be able to learn, and that I wouldn't be able to keep up with other "professionals," and that I would never make it through courses like accounting and finance. I told him that I was so nervous before the first residency that I was wondering if I could back out gracefully, and that I was so scared that I would get behind each week that I started my work a few days before and made sure my assignments were in a few days early. Doesn't sound like the old Kent, does it?! I learned a lesson many of you knew much earlier in life. If you get on your homework early, study hard, and get it in early, you get good grades. I quickly realized the pressure we put on our own children when we expect nothing but A's. As I got those first couple A's, I started to feel pressure to keep it up. Then I got A's in the next, and the next. Then came accounting. Many hours on the phone with the professor, many others in the office of our finance department manager at the station, and many more on the computer, I somehow pulled out an A in that class as well. Then finance, and the same thing. Then I realized I only had a few more classes to go and I needed to get A's in them too. I survived the pressure and was honored to receive the top GPA award for the graduating class. That's the above photo.

The photo on the right is with Ken Blanchard right before the departure.

Now that I have the degree, I have to figure out what to do with it. I'm in the process of finding a new career. I vacillate between wanting to find a position here (to capitalize on my name recognition) and wanting to move out west to be closer to family. Honestly, if I found a good job in the west I would jump on it quickly. However, I'm finding it very difficult to get any attention in markets (and businesses) in which I have no contacts. So most of my action has been in the Greensboro area. But even here, there isn't much movement. I guess my big problem is that I can't narrow my focus. I think I really would love to instruct. Whether it's college courses or training seminars, I love to help people learn. We had to develop a training module for the final residency and it was fun coming up with a rough draft module on office communication. Part of me would like to take that and develop it further. Then, one of the instructors at the last residency asked me to coach her in her on-camera performance. That got me wondering about that field. There's also the fascination with writing a book (but what to write about?) and public speaking. I've applied for numerous positions in public relations and corporate communications with a long-term desire to be in the business management arena. And then I've also dabbled a little in short videos. I'm in the process of shooting some videos for Remington guns. I'll be on-cam for some, and I'm helping produce others. So I'm rather schizophrenic in my plans. I wish I had someone who said "this is what you need to do, now do it." This whole choice thing is HARD!!!

Through all of the movement and non-movement, Yuu has been a rock. She's been very supportive of my efforts in school and has been very supportive of the family in my current situation.

Peter and Joe Thiesman

This is Pete with the former Washington Redskin great Joe Thiesman when he was in town speaking at the Scout Breakfast.

Introduction

Hello. This is a return to the private blog-o-sphere for me. About four years ago the company that owned my place of employment "suggested" I cease doing a personal blog because there was no "oversight" over what I wrote or included. Since that time I wrote on the employers blog.
Here's a link to that site: http://www.digtriad.com/life/community/persona.aspx?plckPersonaPage=PersonaBlog&plckUserId=77c3187a46cd466bb59af08db1fbf0ed&U=77c3187a46cd466bb59af08db1fbf0ed&sid=sitelife.digtriad.com

I shall write more..