Here are some pics from my forray into the world of gardening:

Ah yeah.  You like that don't you?

Its the first day of Fall/Autumn.  Some random words/things that come to mind when I think of Fall:  Leaves, orange, darkness, coolness, fresh air, poetry, death of insects, more school, clothing, fishing,  botched elections, deer, and football.  Not necessarily in that order. 

Also, Fall reminds me of marching band.  Yes I was in the band in high school, and college (undergrad).  Please don't ever make this comment when around me: "This one time, at band camp..."  Just don't even put the thought in my mind.  Anyway, in many ways those were the best times of my life.  Traveling around the state and country.  Feeling the electricity of a friday night football game as we destroyed another opponent.  And the chilly saturdays at competitions when your stomach was in knotts from being so nervous.  Being in the marching band allowed me to go to Disneyworld, DCI competitions, Bands of America, numerous road trips to unbelievable playoff games, bowl games, and the like.  My time in marching band culminated with marching and performing with the Miami University Marching Band right in front of Macy's before Santa Claus came out in New York for the 2003 Macy's Thanksgiving day parade.  It was an incredible experience that I will never forget.  If you never participated in marching band at any level, just know that it is more than dressing up in a funny looking uniform, playing an instrument, and being silly.  Band members are often the hardest-working students as they maintain hectic schedules, hours of rehearsal, and sacrifice their time and energy to provide the visual and aural soul of the school they represent.  The band is a harbor of tradition in the fight songs, alma mater, and school colors, yet it is also reflects the future and continuity of the educational institution in the face of a new member who seeks to carry on those traditions, and takes pride in representing the name on the sleeve of their uniform, just like those who put on a jersey. 

So it saddens me to hear from a Dean of Faculty who says that participation has dropped, and the Mount Marching Band will not take the field for the remainder of this year.  It seems that the status of the band is up in the air.  Hopefully, there will be a resurgence in participation when the administration takes action to "look at ways to increase efforts to recruit more students into the band program."

Hopefully it truly is a priority to restore the marching band, and to see the value of having such an organization representing the Mount.  There is an opportunity to rethink the band's role in our school, and to consider the possibilities of trying to utilize the band as an ambassador to the community in unique ways.  There are many different and perhaps new ways to get students excited about joining an organization.  But generating excitement takes work, commitment, and support from top to bottom. 

In closing, I won't be attending any games at MSJ the rest of this year, for various reasons.  But the day the Lion's Roar Marching Band does retake Schueler Field, I will be in the stands wearing blue and gold.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPNnIFH6_RU

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOfhpGbFS-Q

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx0ktWojxTM