March 19, 2008

The website is updated...and even Beseler posted something!

http://www.danoandchris.com

In keeping with my good faith promise to update more than once a month, here I am doing so. I’m sitting at work during a slow period of the morning, and I thought right now would be a good time to get at it and take care of the updating. So, here it goes...

This past weekend was a very good time as the Patents Pending cats took to the road once again for another wedding. This time it was for Kelby and Kevin’s wedding in Bismarck. We took off in the late morning and made the trek to Bismarck. Upon getting there, we realized that the power situation in the place wasn’t going to work out so well for us. Thankfully, we had Eddie’s dad there, Dennis, who is a master electrician. He managed to make things work out and created a 220 for us so that we wouldn’t blow things up in the building. Thanks to him, we were able to run a power problem-free show.

Kelby and Kevin’s wedding was one of the shortest weddings I’ve ever been to. As a matter of fact, it took just under 22 minutes from start to finish. The joke was that they were trying to beat our old Guard Band friend Kari’s wedding. Well, if the unofficial timing was correct, Kelby won!

The dance was a great time. It was nice to play and rock out with my friends on stage as always, and also, it was very cool to see a bunch of my old Guard Band friends, past and present, all in one room. Kari Sweeney made the trek from the Cities for the wedding. DeAnn came out from Milnor and Brad Reed drove out from Fargo. Former member John Noyes was also there from Bismarck, as was Cherie Frenzel. Of course, Jennifer Schwind was there serving as the bridesmaid for the wedding. We had a blast, and I’m glad we had the opportunity to play and be there for the event.

Here’s a picture from Valentine’s Day. I don’t think I really talked to much about it, but I didn’t reprise my roll as the really drunk guy passing out at the bar like I did in 2007. I did get pretty rolled up in booze that night, though. Since Lauerman’s is no longer alive, a small contingent of us went over to Labby’s due to the smoke-free condition there. Tanya and her friend Kayla joined up with myself, Eli, and DeAnn. Aaron Bedford (not pictured) also showed up for the fun. We drank a bunch, played Buck Hunter, and conversed about how Valentine’s Day sort of sucks. It was a good night overall. I’m glad to have not spent Valentine’s Day alone even if I didn’t have a date.

I had a video up on YouTube of Patents Pending playing ’Brown Eyed Girl’. Well, it got taken down this week for a violation of the copyright. I wasn’t entirely surprised, but it was kind of weird getting the notification.

I’m looking forward to getting home for Easter. I need some time off from work and gigs and all of that jazz. I’m riding with DeAnn back to Minot to save some bread on gas, which is cool. I’m looking forward to visiting Mom. I’ll also see DeAnn and Eli some more along with visits hopefully from Jennifer Schiff and Keira Oscarson. It’ll be a nice break from the normal. I’m looking forward to it, that’s for sure.

I heard from Kevin Kosiak, and he has only one month or so left in country. I’m pretty excited to hear about that. I can’t believe he and the members of the 164th Engineer Battalion (SECFOR) have been gone so long. Nonetheless, I look forward to seeing Kevin back safely in the United States!

Oh, just for fun, you have to download this Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. It will give you all sorts of neat information about your life- no kidding. Click here to check it out. You’ll be amazed...

I talked to Matt Tompkins the other day on my way back from Bismarck. We chatted about the old days and our old friends. We tried to make guesses on what a lot of people were doing. Matt and I were able to correct each other in many cases, but it is intriguing to wonder what happened to everyone. We graduated from a class of over 450 in Minot. What happened to everyone? Thank goodness for blog sites such as MySpace and Xanga and such. Those help. Facebook is the ultimate in being able to keep up with everyone. Maybe that’s why I’m so hopelessly addicted to it!

So I found myself looking through old photo albums, and I came upon a few pictures that I just felt like I had to share! The above picture was taken in 1993 when I was young and thin. What happened to me...

Here’s a shot from IMC 1995- over 12 years ago. Skip Spoerke is in this picture along with me and Dawn Mosbrucker and John Fred’s left eye. We made a lot of friends through music and Music Camp. That’s what I love about music- it’s still how I primarily meet people to this day.

This picture is from my final jazz band concert at Minot Magic City Campus High School. We had just gotten back from our trip to Florida (hence the Disney clothing for the concert) and in this picture, I had just won the Louis Armstrong Award. Along with me in the picture is Chris Marquardt, who is now a bio-chemist in Minneapolis. He was my main trombone rival from junior high all the way through high school. Ah, the memories. The more I think about being younger, the more I miss it. But, there’s a lot of good things going on in the present, so I can’t really complain when it comes down to it...

Anyhow, I suppose I should get back to work. To all of you out there who visit this site (and I know there aren’t a lot of you anymore), have a great Easter weekend. Take care, and I’ll be in touch. More soon...

March 13, 2008

I wish I could say that I had more free time to update this site more often, but after looking at the site statistics for the last few months, I don’t know if it totally matters. It would seem to me that I keep this site rolling primarily to cater to people who find the site on a whim. More so, I suppose, I keep this site rolling along because it’s a good way for me to be able to rememebr everything that has happened from day to day since 2001. It’s crazy that I’ve held on to this site- a hobby for so long. But, it’s a good thing, I guess. I’ve gotten in trouble through this site with friends, acquaintances, professors, colleagues, and family alike. I’ve stirred rumors. I’ve even confirmed them! I’ve done a lot of stuff on here, and I guess in the end, even with the mistakes that I’ve made, I feel alright with the site. It’s a place that I can come to and put down my thoughts as raw or honest as I want to. And for that, I love it.

Things have been busy for me since I last updated, but nothing has been out of the ordinary. I have played a number of gigs and done a number of Guard performances. I have went to work most days and I have done a lot of funeral honors in that time. I have managed to find time to hang out with my friends. My weekends have been busy with company and activities. My weeks have been riddled with rehearsals and work. I wish I could point out something really interesting right now, but I really can’t seem to come up with anything.

Short Takes and Thoughts (From March 13th)

I’ll be dropping a lot of names today.

Garden State is now officially one of my favorite movies of all time.

Texting is a disease.

Thank God Ace Frehley has come and gone.

I never thought I would say it, but I sort of like the Slim Fast breakfast shakes.

John McCain is going all the way.

Where did all of the simple music go?

I hope Eddie builds a studio.

I need to hang out with Rena more.

I bet Craig Hillig would’ve been proud of me today. I can’t say exactly why right now, but it does involve a handgun.

The writers strike is over, and new episodes of Scrubs start on April 10th. I have been saved.

The Promotion List made me sad.

Eddie, Russ, Jessy, and I love the new basketball game at the Sidestreet. We need to get one of them for Russ’s garage so we can play with it during the summer while we cook out. Russ scored the highest out of all of us with a 97. Who would’ve thought?

Texas Roadhouse doesn’t take checks. So, if you get violent about that sort of thing, don’t go there.

The Juno soundtrack makes me giddy.

Roger Clemens is a liar.

I’m looking forward to Easter. My Mom told me she would make me an Easter basket. I bet that she actually does. My Mom kicks ass.

I love Radiohead.

A ’Dave Stordalen-less’ drill is a bad drill.

The 188th Army Band Brass Quintet makes me happy.

Patents Pending is going to rock the hell out of Kelby’s wedding...

I hate to admit it, but I sort of miss Tim Smith’s guest pieces on the site. I hope that he writes another one soon.

I think Gene Simmons is going to pass his lie detector test.

Fergie is so in love with chew.

Sheep go to heaven. What about sheepdogs?

What’s wrong with Meatloaf?

Ryan Jackson is much better than Jay Beech.

All of Green Bay is still collectively crying.

Does anyone have a descent horn arrnagement of Just a Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody? Do I have to write one? I just want to be lazy, I guess...

All of Paul Simon’s music makes me magically happy. What’s up with that?

Did Aaron Beseler ever exist? Was he my imaginary friend?

I sand It’s Not Unusual the other day in a rehearsal, and the most unexpected feeling came over me- I liked it. I bet Dan Johnson could feel it way out in Dickinson.

I’m still thinking of you, Dad.

I’m out.

Now I think I'm going down to the well tonight and I'm going to drink till I get my fill.
And I hope when I get old I don't sit around thinking about it, but I probably will.
Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture a little of the glory of, well time slips away
and leaves you with nothing mister but boring stories of glory days…

Glory Days
Bruce Springsteen

I love that song. It’s slowly becoming my story, and I’m totally fine with it.

It’s been a pretty eventful last month or so since I last had a chance to update. A few weeks ago, we all experienced a bit of a scare as DeAnn landed in the hospital and had some surgery to fix a thing or two. A handful of us visited her several times in the hospital as she recovered from her ordeal, which lasted about five days or so. I’m glad to report that she’s doing better now and she’s back on her feet at work and with the Guard Band.

NDSU Jazz Festival came and went a few weeks ago, and I was able to get out to the concert. The band played well overall. It’s a young band, and it has a lot of promise and with some experience, it’s going to be a very good group in the future. They just have to put that air through the horn and make it really happen attitude-wise. Energy is what makes a band a great big band. I always reference Stan Kenton and Buddy Rich when I think about bands with attitude. I love a band that knocks my socks off from start to finish no matter what the chart. Intensity is what it’s all about, and I think this band will be learn more and more as time goes by. From what I understand, no one is graduating from that group this year, so we can look forward to an even better showing as time goes on. Anyhow, good work to the NDSU Jazz Ensemble and Dr. Mack. I miss playing in that group. I had a lot of good times there and made a lot of good friends and colleagues while in the band. A special shout out should go to the trombone section, which I thought was the spectacle of the night. Led by my boy Dan Hinman, they played the hell out of the trombone-rich arrangement of ‘My One and Only Love’. You made me proud, boys and girl. Keep up the good work.

The Super Bowl went down a week and a half ago, and it was one of the finest ever in my opinion. The only two that beat that for me personally were the two in a row for my boys, the Broncos. Though my Broncos didn’t even get close to getting to the big game this year, the game was incredible as I cheered on the New York Giants as they ruined the perfect season for the New England Patriots. DeAnn had just gotten out of the hospital that day, so Eli and she came over and we watched the game in all of its HD glory on Russ’s TV. (Russ went to the bar for the record…) It was an action filled game with one of the coolest fourth quarters I’ve ever watched on TV. Anyhow, I was glad for the result, and I look forward already to the new season. I’m counting down the days…

Last Tuesday, I had a Dixieland Band playing at Monty’s for Fat Tuesday. Al, Russ, Jeff, Eddie, and Jesse joined me in playing three hours of very fun Dixieland music. We only do this once a year at the most, and it was cool to get the group together to play. I always look forward to playing jazz and its cousins anytime I get the chance, and despite the small performance space that Monty’s offers us, I’m still happy to take the opportunity to play there.

This past weekend, I played a wedding dance for Annika Berg’s sister, Sara. She and her new husband got married the last weekend of December out on the farmstead in the cold winter weather. They saved the big party for this past weekend, where they hosted a dance some of the old boys from the former Patents Pending five-piece version group. Al rejoined us on stage with Josh, Eddie, Russ, and I. We played a bunch of our old stuff along with a few newer country tunes and had a really good time. It was nice to play with Al again, and it was good to play another dance. People seemed to enjoy the show especially the last third of the show, and the dance was a success. Thanks to Al and Annika for lining up that show for us.

Things have been alright aside from those things. Work has been very busy. We’re experiencing one of the busiest streaks in our young ten-month existence as we have performed honors for over 25 funerals to date. A good majority of those details have been conducted outdoors, so that’s been interesting as it’s been so damned cold this month. Nonetheless, we’re thrilled to be able to provide these important honors to veterans and their families. Every veteran, war time or peace time with an honorable discharge is entitled to what we do, and we’re glad to be able to be there whenever we are called upon. After nine months on the job with Military Funeral Honors, I am proud of what we do on a daily basis, and I hope to keep doing it for some time.

I’m only going to put this little section in because a number of people have asked about my discontent of today’s “holiday” and they want to know why I reserve this night as one of the only nights I ever proclaim that I’m going to drink to forget. So, here’s my quick quip regarding Valentine’s Day. I don’t necessarily hate the “holiday” for the fact that it’s a holiday that celebrates sweethearts and all of that stuff. I don’t necessarily hate the “holiday” because it’s flower shops and Hallmark’s way of making a ton of bread over a one-week period. The reason I personally don’t care much for it is because of some of the past memories I’ve had on this particular holiday and the subsequent timeline that followed. The holiday for some reason seems to serve as a reminder of several good things that I once had in my life during this fateful day that were ended shortly thereafter for different reasons under different circumstances. There are two ways that it really gets to me. The reminder of personal mistakes that I made and opportunities I missed because of those prolonged mistakes come to mind. Secondly, the reminder of what others have selfishly done to contribute to these downfalls comes to mind. It’s not that I haven’t forgiven those people or let those moments go- I have. It’s just that at during this “holiday”, I am reminded of the principle of these situations and further reminded when I see those very people that I forgave unaffected to this day in their own situations, if not, doing exponentially better. But, that’s just life, and I’m not mad at them for how things turned out. I live a life of symbolism, and this little “holiday” plays into it in a harsh way from year to year. I can do just fine most other days, but this is one those days that bring back a host of skeletons that I rediscover from year to year. February 15th will be just fine once again with the exception of the massive hangover that I will suffer as a consequence for Valentine’s Day evening. And then it will be business as usual until next February. No need to worry about me, though- aside from this one particular day that I have self-sentenced myself to this sort of punishment, life is very good and I am content with the paths that have brought me to where I am today. So there you have it. I hope it makes sense.

Well, with that deep stuff off my mind, I can report overall that life keeps coming and going, and I’m feeling alright about things these days. For me, it’s still about work, the Guard Band, a few gigs here and there, and hanging with the friends when I have the time. As I get older, I find the rhythm of my life to be comfortable, and I guess I can’t ask for more at this time. I hope all is well in your world. More to come soon…

Short Random Thoughts

-Never blow in a cats face when you’re less than 12 inches away from his non-declawed paw.

-Congratulations to Tim and Sara.

-I want to play more Cake.

-The snow is falling.

-I voted for my first Republican ever this month. Lots of people are surprised. Hell- I’m surprised!

-Schwind = preggo.

-Does anyone really feel badly for the New England Patriots?

-I got immunizations for my online pets today. How weird is that?

-What were the Twins thinking?

-Valentines Day is here again. Remember what I did last year?

-Did she say yes?

-The NDSU Jazz Ensemble trombone section kicks ass. Keep it up!

-Welcome to the shop, Zach. I hope you can handle my cynicism.

-Congratulations to Mandy Smallbeck on the birth of her second child.

-Aaron who?

-What’s wrong with gift bags?

-I’m asking a lot of questions today.

-The writers strike is over. When will the new episodes of ‘Scrubs’ begin again?

-Roger is guilty, just like Barry is.

-Does anyone really feel badly for Randy Moss?

-What’s up with the three million Facebook applications? It’s confusing.

-Wayne Bergeron is not only one hell of a trombone player; he’s also a really cool guy.

-Keith Jarrett is my new hero.

-Ace Frehley is playing the Fargo Theatre. Wow.

-Puppers is a good addition to the household.

-I’ve been working on my Frank Anderson impression. I think I’m pretty good at it.

-Does anyone really feel badly for Tom Brady?

-I just added another Facebook application.

-Great audition, Mandy.

-Congratulations to Jen Melegaard on the birth of her first child.

-I miss playing with Al Berg.

-I did in fact buy makeup for my nose. What’re you going to do about it?

-John McCain is the man.

-No, I’m not going to put the Ace Frehley show on the Upcoming Events section…