Texas Loop--in Houston, We've had a problem!

Now just outside Houston, Tx in Benham. Nice housing site about 60 miles from the show tonite. We are on late (10PM) so it will be another late nite drive of 5 hours up to San Antonio.

The shows in Lafayette at University of Louisiana, and Ocean Springs were excellent--the corps is performing well and getting things cleaned up--hopefully judging will get us back on the upswing again soon.

A couple of nites ago, we had a vibration-induced melt-down of the circuit breaker on our main food truck generator. It looked like the coolers would be down but Tom managed to jury rig the system to get the food service back up and running. We found the parts and will get them installed in the next day or so.

Then, last nite at the show, after a non-remarkable load of the car onto the trailer at ESL, the ignition key would not turn. The interlock was jammed from either the shift lever or steering column. We worked on it for an hour or so and finally got the car to roll off the trailer but it is locked up now and at the dealership for repair. It took some special scurrying to get it back onto the trailer straight by pushing it up without a way to steer! ( some of my passengers now believe I NEVER have the ability to steer!)

Our show tonite will be in a another very large relatively new, stadium. It seems that the energy level is high among the kids--they now have a sense for what it takes to do well nite after nite. Orlando was a unique surprise and I think they want to experience it some more.

I got a very special surprise in Ocean Springs. After the show, I heard my name being called--the pit had gathered and presented me with a signed key from a marimba as a thank you for my support. IT brought me to tears as each of them thanked me individually--a great moment I will remember forever--thanks guys! Pix to follow as soon as we transfer them from a different camera.

THE BLOG GOES INTERNATIONAL!!!!
That's right! I learned from the web analysis that the blog is being read in Japan, Europe, and South Africa now! Cool!

BIG show this Saturday--San Antonio regional. Check with DCI.org for recordings, videos, and scoring matrix. This is where we start getting sorted and ranked in a serious way--San Antonio, Atlanta, Murfeesboro, Allentown, then Indy. Its time.

Check out the link to the right to see hundreds of quality pictures by Ed M. from Orlando--thanks Ed.

Bye for now, pix later.

Curt