This Could Be The Start Of Something Good

Happy crazy Friday music education lovers!! Man, what a busy week it's been here at MENC!

With so many new and exciting music education advocacy ideas in the works, it's really going to be an awesome next few months here at MENC for the Government Relations & Outreach Department!! (just you wait and seeeeeee!) All of these great new music education advocacy and government relations projects got me to thinking though... maybe it would be fun to share with you all, the "Inside MENC" readers, a few of MENC's most recent "advocacy idea outtakes." After all, it's not just every music education promotional strategy that can end up being a certified winner--and so, there's always bound to be at least a few castoffs by the end of every brainstorming session.

So with that in mind...

Here are the "Top 10 MENC Music Education Advocacy Idea Rejects!"

(10.) Invite some friends over for a dinner party, then proceed to serenade them over the course of the entire evening about the endless wonders of providing children with quality music education programs (refuse to be interrupted for any reason whatsoever).

(9.) Dress up as a giant music note and wear your costume to work every day. Music teachers might catch a break for this sort of behavior, but good luck explaining your actions if you work in practically any other job (and if you do, as you're being reprimanded by your boss, use it as an opportunity to discuss the inherent value in offering music education in our schools).

(8.) Offer free concerts in your front lawn featuring your children and pets performing for anyone who will listen. Take requests from the mailman, dog walker, pool boy, etc. Don't be shy.

(7.) Change your car's horn to The Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up."

(6.) Stage a barbershop quartet sing-a-long in your child's principal's office. Sing loudly and proudly about music education. Display no shame for having adorned your candy striper style pants.

(5.) Next time you stop by a fast food restaurant for lunch, sing your order into the loudspeaker at the top of your lungs. "Laaaaaaaaaaarge fry and some funding for music ed-U-caaAAaaAAaation!, YEAH!"

(4.) Dress up as your child's music teacher for Halloween. It's not creepy. I promise. Wait, yes it is.

(3.) Insist to your neighbors and friends that the "The Music Man" was originally written about an amazing elementary or secondary school level music teacher. Appear angry and agitated when people disagree. Don't back down.

(2.) Any time someone turns a radio on, stand up, throw your arms into the air, and claim to be orchestrating the music. Insist that you're capable of performing this feat on the fly thanks for to having such an amazing music education as a child.

And the number one MENC Music Education Advocacy Idea Reject...

...which actually has nothing to do with the list at all but is something that we really DO want you to do...

(1.) Visit us here at MENC! We love music educators and we're just as in love with music education as you are!! We'll all make great friends :-)

Ta da!

And now... here are the Friday...

"Government Relations & Outreach Department Album Picks of the Week!!!"

SKJ: Went home sick. Feel better!!
HLS: Queen - Greatest Hits
CBLW: Eisley - Combinations

Thursday Interlude: Concert Ties that Bind

In December 2003, members of the 81st Amour Division in Fort Knox, Kentucky, filmed a segment for the MENC's World's Largest Concert® with the Scott Middle School Chorus at the Patton Museum in Fort Knox.

Photos by Mike Johnson and Tommy Hill

Hi y'all,
Last week I got an email from Maryanna Jones, a music teacher from Kentucky and on Tuesday we talked. Great conversation. Who, you may ask, is Maryanna Jones? I guess I am getting ahead of myself.

In my job as managing editor for news, I interview a lot of music teachers. Band directors, choral directors, general music teachers, string teachers, college professors. And believe it or not, I remember most of the people I have talked to for stories. I find music teachers to be creative, passionate folks who like kids and like what they are doing, so the interviews are often like easy-going conversations than rigid question and answer sessions.

There is one particular interview that really sticks in my mind, though. In December, 2003 I had only been working at MENC a couple of months and I was working on a story list for an upcoming issue.

The 20th anniversary of the World's Largest Concert was coming up in March 2004 and I got the idea to talk with a music teacher who had performed the concert for many of those years. Project manager AL gave me the name of a teacher and I called her.

Who I got for the interview was Maryanna Jones, an MENC member who teaches at a Department of Defense school in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Here is an excerpt from my story, which appeared in the March, 2004 issue of Music Educators Journal.

Sing, Sing a Song: WLC Celebrates 20 Years of Fun

MENC member Maryanna T. Jones, who teaches general music and choral music to students at both schools, also celebrates an anniversary with the airing of this year’s concert. This is Jones’ 20th consecutive year directing students in the WLC. She began her WLC involvement as a member of the European Music Educators Association (EMEA) and a teacher at a Department of Defense school in Germany. Participating over the years has been a moving experience for her as well as her students.

“The WLC is one of the most magnificent things we have ever done. I still keep in contact with many of my former students, and they have told me how much they remember the concert,” Jones said. “Oh, the power of music and the way it connects our lives. It is all about the kids and what the WLC has done for them over the past 20 years. Thank you MENC!”

More than 20 of Jones’ students e-mailed MENC to discuss how much they enjoy participating in the concert.

Maryanna's students posed with soldiers from the 81 Armor Division during the WLC taping in 2003.

“The World’s Largest Concert is a blast every year. I am glad we have the privilege to be in the World’s Largest Concert. It is something to look forward to,” wrote Brittany Barnes, an eighth grader.

Arielle Bland, another eighth grader, wrote, “It’s kind of fun to know you are singing the same songs other kids are singing the same day.”

Walker Intermediate Principal David Reed said that he appreciates all the effort Jones and her students put into the WLC, but he said he is equally impressed with the way she incorporates other subjects, such as Kentucky history, into her music classes.
And he emphasizes that the WLC is not just a music department effort at his school. “Our entire staff gets involved. Everyone works to make the concert happen,” Reed said.

At Scott Middle School, Principal Julio Gonzalez also says Jones plays a part in unifying students of all backgrounds. Among singers in the WLC segment are six severely handicapped students from the life skills class. Jones’ students acted as mentors for the students, some of whom are autistic or have brain damage. He added, “The WLC has been a uniting force not only for our school community but also for our military children and their families wherever they may be.”

For Private First Class Earl Gilhouse, the words of the song and the days with the kids really had special meaning. A few hours after the concert taping, he shipped out to Iraq for at least six months.“I have a family back home in Las Vegas, and thinking about them, it makes me sad to leave, but participating in [the WLC] reminds me of what I am going to defend,” he said in a telephone interview before heading overseas. “I wish I’d had a program like this back in my school.”

I remember so well the interview I did with Gilhouse, too. Maryanna called me during the taping and asked if I would like to a couple of the soldiers who participated at the museum. A moment later a deep voice came on the phone and we chatted for a few minutes. I remember trying to keep my composure and the enormity of what he was about to do sunk in. He was leaving for Iraq. That day. And he and his fellow soldiers took the time out to sing with kids. Took the time to talk to me. I was so moved, but remember thanking him for helping with taping, and also for his military service.

When Maryanna and I spoke this week she told me how happy she is that the WLC is coming back in March 2008. She is teaching high school and middle school now and looking forward to having her students participate. She inquired about the music for the concert, which will be on Thursday, March 13, 2008 . If you want WLC info, too, stay tuned to the WLC Web site where more details about the WLC will be published in the coming weeks.

Hal Leonard Corporation is supporting MENC and the WLC by providing sheet music and audio tracks for use with the WLC DVD.

In a statement, MENC President Lynn Brinckmeyer explained the return of the WLC recently:
“Thank you to all of the dedicated teachers and state leaders who voiced their desire to bring back the World’s Largest Concert. We are also grateful to the members of the MIOSM/World's Largest Concert Task Force."

“Thanks to their thorough research and review, the National Executive Board was given recommendations for a revised WLC. Once again MENC members and their students will have the unique opportunity to participate in music-making with other students across the nation,” Brinckmeyer added.

There is definitely an ebb and flow to my work, as October Teaching Music heads to the printer, I am beginning work on the November issue of Music Educators Journal. I have a story meeting tomorrow to discuss the news for that issue.

I will leave you with an aside. This morning our department, Member Marketing, hosted the August social where we celebrated the monthly birthday and anniversaries. It was a fun respite, but a lot of people have meetings today so it somewhat brief.
I made the cake you see below for the social.



It is a lemon blueberry pound cake with a powdered sugar/lemon juice glaze, a recipe I found in Cooking Light magazine in 1998. Since that time I have made it for bake sales, brunches and summertime cookouts. I must say that it works as with frozen blueberries as fresh ones, so don't be afraid to try any time of the year. Here is the link for the recipe. Let me know what you think. I may make another one for my Labor Day Block party.

Here in Fairfax County, VA, school starts next week. And my son Matt starts high school. Yea! Have a great Labor Day holiday.
RF

Midweek Meanderings and Miscellany XXIV: End of Summer

Alas, we approach the end of summer, days of long light, greenery, fresh sweet fruit, empty highways and back streets, no coats or boots, and a more relaxed pace, when possibilities of "free time" seemed unlimited! Time to start keeping on schedule, remembering where you stashed your cold weather clothes, and thinking ahead to the busy fall/winter holiday season!

As a short sweet farewell to summer, here are the responses from 636 MENC members who responded to MENC's August Question of the Month question, asking: What did you do this summer?
68% traveled
66% read!
63% hung out with family/friends/kids
55% prepared for next year's teaching
54% practiced music for myself (for fun, to keep up chops, to learn new music for self, etc.)
53% performed music for fun/volunteer
44% worked in the yard/garden/outdoors
43% exercised more
43% veged out
35% performed music for pay/work
33% taught music for pay
32% outdoor pursuits (hiking, boating, fishing, sailing, biking, swimming, etc.)
32% took classes/courses/workshops for professional development credit towards teaching/music education
22% took classes/workshops for enhancing my music/teaching skills, but not necessarily for credit
18% OTHER
13% taught music voluntarily
12% participated as actor/singer, instrumentalist, director, conductor, or behind the scenes in community, children's, or professional theater
10% took classes for my own personal interest or development, not music ed related
10% worked for pay at a non-music job
7% volunteered at a non-music job
5% learned a new hobby/skill
5 % got married or other life/family event

We'll be posting the responses to the remaining QOM responses for August on the MENC website soon! Those responses answered these questions:
What will be your biggest challenge this coming school year? What do you hope/think will be the best thing about the new school year? Any new or on-going goals you're hoping to meet with your music classes?

We also asked respondents to list top musicians/ensembles they'd recommend music students LISTEN to, regarding a particular instrument (voice included), technique or quality, or piece of music, as an example of "this is what we're trying to teach you", "this is a great example of what it's all about!". We'll post that listening list as well!

In the meanwhile, please read about how scientists believe PERFECT PITCH now is attributed to ONE gene!

And, about Music in New Orleans:
Tough Times for New Orleans Musicians
New Orleans Music Scene after Katrina, two years later

Happy Labor Day weekend and GOOD WISHES for the school year!
See you next week! SR

Harley will make it home in time...in my world

Although this is being written on Friday, I confess, it will be posted on Monday while I am off for a week of "vacation." I heard via OWL that Harley is on his way home. He sent me a cute photo of him all strapped in and waiting for lift off. Who knows with air travel these days - it could take him a while to get home. Train may be quicker.

All is well at MENC this week. I did get most of my work done. However I may have to run in on Monday. You see...... we need to make a decision about our health care provider and we have reviewed rates which are up as they are all over. Also this week there will be a Directors Meeting that I will be missing. The NEB gave the "go ahead" to Dr. M to move ahead with plans for a Business Development Department. If you remember in the blogs employees were talking about the "move" around the offices - Pubs when downstairs, Conventions moved to our floor (2nd), and then there was some rearranging of the third floor. EH, who is Assistant Executive Director-Project Development, will be discussing the role of our newest MENC department which he is heading. He and several other staff moved to the second floor where Pubs use to be. One of the goals (I assume) of the Business Development Department and its five employees will be to look for corporate sponsorship. MENC was successful in The National Anthem Project in garnering corporate support. Should be an exciting year ahead for us.
As I noted last week in my blog, Harley and I are going to be doing several things on my week off such as get a hair cut, get a massage, play tennis, clean craft room (UGGGGGGGG - I know Harley will run out on me and hide), play tennis, create art, yada yada. You stay cool and I will try to do the same. See you in September!

Espresso (All Jacked Up)

Hello, and happy gloomy slash sunny Friday to all!

Today, I have a question that I'd like to pose to the loyal "Inside MENC" readership. Let me ask: do any of you ever have those moments when you just start to randomly pontificate on some minute life detail for no apparent reason at all? Like perhaps one of those strange instances when you simply choose a word in the English language and proceed to say it over and over and over again aloud until it begins to sound like nothing more than garbled gibberish?

The.

The.

The.

The.

T. h. e.

The.

The.

The.

THE.

The.

Ahhhhhhh!!! What does that word even MEEEAN?!?!

Weird.

Well, anyways, that exact thing happened to me this morning as I was exiting MENC's closest Reston Starbucks location with my daily hit of morning euphoria in hand (aka: a Grande Raspberry Mocha Latte--yum!). In order to better set the scene, let me try to elaborate on the series of events that preceded said meaningless philosophical moment:

So I had just received my hot, delicious, steamy, caffeinated beverage from a kindly, yet waaaaaaay too cheery barista, and was headed for the door, when out of the corner of my eye what did I see, but a kindly, middle-aged gentleman holding a delicious bev. of his very own (Tall Cinnamon Dolce Latte with Sugar Free Syrup--I heard him order) quickly approaching the vicinity of the exit himself, from the opposite side of the restaurant.

This, is when all of the hullabaloo began.

"Uh oh," I thought. "We're both going to reach the door at the exact. same. time!" Instantly, a minor bout of panic came over me. I hate scenarios in which two people are forced to realize that they're both going to arrive at a precise location at literally the same moment, and hence, someone will need to take the lead while the other falls behind.

You just can't both go through the door at the exact same time. It's a matter of simple physics. It just won't work.

So there we were.

Face to face.

Decision time for me and Mr. Tall Cinnamon Dolce Latte with Sugar Free Syrup.

Two early bird coffee addicts starring down the barrel of life's cruel sociological fun house-shotgun.

What to do... What to do...

I fell behind.

It's no big deal or anything, so whatever.

But that, is not the end of this sorted tale...

On to phase two!

The door holding.

Sigh.

As I mentioned earlier, Mr. Tall Cinnamon Dolce Latte with Sugar Free Syrup is nothing if not a gentleman (see, I don't just loosely throw that word around without having a good reason for using it), and so, he politely offered to hold the door for me. "Thank you," I said, and quickly walked through it. Now here's where the real fun began:

A SECOND DOOR.

Ooooooooooohh how I loathe the implied double door holding Starbucks exiting second "thank you--have a nice day!"-follow-up remark.

At this point, you all probably know where the story is headed: Mr. Tall Cinnamon Dolce Latte with Sugar Free Syrup proceeds to hold the door for me... again, and I, in turn, proceed to thank him... again (actually, to be fair, I offered a, "thanks--have a nice day!", the second time, but same diff.).

Ugh.

Awwwwwwwwkward! I'd already thanked him!!

He knew it.

I knew it.

All of the baristas knew it.

Painful.

Society shouldn't have to function like this.

So I got to thinking... (enter my previously mentioned moment of philosophical nonsense...)

I believe that a person should have several response options from which to choose under such circumstances:

(1.) "Thank you--have a nice day!" (The dreaded implied double door holding Starbucks exiting follow-up to your previous "thank you"-remark, largely considered to be standard practice in most areas of the world--unpleasant, yet effective)

(2.) "I can see that you're about to hold the door for me twice and I'd like to thank you beforehand for both of those actions prior to your actual performing of them." (A novel approach--courteous, yet efficient)

And now... for my own personal favorite...

(3.) The double head-bob. Risky business, yes (it's possible that the door holder won't actually catch on to the fact that you're thanking them without using any spoken words), but when properly executed, I truly believe that this third, considerably unheralded alternative may be the best remaining solution to humankind's implied double door holding Starbucks exiting second "thank you--have a nice day!"-follow-up remarking troubles.

Food for thought.

In other news, all remains well here at MENC. The August edition of the legislative memo will be e-mailed to subscribers next week (if you haven't done so already, subscribe!!) with some interesting new features; we continue to work with our partners in the arts community to prepare for the upcoming reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (we have some really exciting potential changes in store for the legislation!), and the Government Relations & Outreach Department anticipates many new and exciting music education advocacy opportunities for our members over the weeks and months to come, so stay tuned!

That's all from the Commonwealth for this week!

And now... here are the Friday...

"Government Relations & Outreach Department Album Picks of the Week!!!"

SKJ: Tim McGraw - Let It Go
HLS: Jamie Cullum - Catching Tales
CBLW: The Format - Dog Problems (going to the concert this weekend for my birthday! WOOHOO!!)

Thursday Interlude:

Hey All,
Wait, can you hear that? It is the sound of me shivering. Like EWL I am grateful for the rain we had this week. Everything is green again. except for the trees around here that have suddenly decided to begin changing color. But it has been really really chilly this week,too. Brr.

I am somewhat grateful, for the cool, rainy weather, though, because my son Matt started freshman football practice this week. I had pictured 100 degrees and humid, but he and the freshmen on the team have had it easy. Well, weather wise. The drills have been pretty intense. Matt loves it, though.

A couple of days this week I had to go to the high school for meetings and I was kind of amazed that a full three weeks before school starts, there were kids everywhere. I walked past the band room (windows open) and the flutes and trombones appeared engaged in a music tug of war. In a hallway, I heard the boom, boom, boom of the base drums which rattled the aforementioned windows.

There were kids playing volleyball in the gym, kids playing tennis on tennis court, cheerleaders hurling themselves into the air and the dance team working on some saucy moves. Homework and lectures are to come but I saw a bunch of kids who seemed happy to be back at school, which is great.

At the parents' meeting, I was very happy to hear the athletic director tell the parents to keep reminding their kids that they are student athletes not athlete students, which is a message my husband and I deliver a lot at home. Actually, Matt says, says he is looking forward to classes. (Nearly finished with the reading assignments).

I am really looking forward to football season. Go Hornets! I love football anyway (Big K.C. Chiefs fan, love the Redskins, too and around our house lots of college football on the tube in the fall) but there is something about high school football.

Takes me back to my marching band days. It was so much fun playing in the stands and taking the field at halftime.

I went to a few games last year when Matt was still in middle school (I was allowed to drop him off with friends and then I had to find fellow geezer to sit with).

Matt's games will be on Thursdays, but the varsity games on Fridays are fun because of the band. The band at Matt's school is really good and I enjoyed the halftime shows as much as the football. I will pass along some halftime photos once the season starts. I have some friends whose kids are in band and they are rabid, rabid band boosters.

Well, back to my day job. I am finishing up October Teaching Music pages today. Lots of good stuff in the news this issue. A date book with important music education events over the next year, the complete text of MENC's Centennial Declaration, a story about a study that links quality music education and test scores, and a new MENC/Rowman & Littlefield Education book by music teacher Susan Haugland called Crowd Control: Classroom Management and Effective Teaching for Chorus, Band, and Orchestra
I had a great interview with Susan, who is very witty and the book reflects that.


Oh, and by the way (not confusing you, am I?) you can also see the online version of the September right here Music Educators Journal news .

If your school year has begun, hope things are going well. If not, good luck on the preparations.
Til Next Thursday,
RF

Midweek Meanderings and Miscellany XXIII: Fall's a Comin'!

As EWL wrote in her blog yesterday, Tuesday WAS gloomy (so is today!), but we DID need the rain! But when the rains come this late in summer, and it's this dark and murky, I can't help but think that fall is just around the corner. Of course! It's only a month away, officially, and school is starting, the crickets are chirping, the daylight is noticeably shorter, and even the leaves are changing colors to yellows and rusts....the gloom and drizzle just add to the atmosphere. It'll be Halloween before you know it!*** (and sure, the stores won't let you forget as they've already got the Halloween candy out!! I'm sure we'll see Thanksgiving and Christmas goods in the stores come October 1, if not sooner! Talk about RUSHING the last quarter of the year - or, as you teachers see it, your first semester!). Anyway, I look forward to the short season of blue skies and less humidity that we will hopefully soon have in DC as the autumnal equinox draws near.....

(***well, since we're talking gloomy, dark, rain and Halloween - watch this blog come October for what I'm sure will be thrills and chills as the Executive and Government departments of MENC put on the annual MENC Halloween Social (Potluck meal, costumes, pumpkin carving contest, candy jar counting contest, and other assorted demented activities!) And yes, we do get work done on that day, we just look a little strange while we do it. Staff take this opportunity SERIOUSLY to dress up (or down, as the case may be) to allow their alter egos to shine through. We've had BIRDMAN, SLASHER in the white mask or whatever his name is, Snow White and the Evil Witch, Mike Wikowski (Eyeball guy) from Monsters Inc., an Angel floating on a cloud (cloud included in costume), a replica of the Statue of Liberty (green face paint to boot), any number of witches, ghouls, biker chicks, punk rockers, Harry Potter characters, and even a gal dressed to the nines as Mozart! (we even had someone dressed as a "Cereal " Killer (festooned w/ ripped boxes of cereal all over her tunic!). Stay tuned for some great photo ops and tales!)

A music teacher came to visit yesterday, she's a part timer in a private school, looking to go full time in the public schools. She browsed through the MENC books in the lobby, and we talked about info she could use/need, as she pursued the transition and continued to teach at her private school. It was nice to have a face to face "request" meeting for a change, as most of the requests for help and info I receive come via the phone or email. As much as MENC is about music teachers, the one thing noticeably absent physically in these offices are the TEACHERS!! (although I take that back! Many of the staff here either were former music teachers, or musicians....and many still are practicing musicians, some at the professional level!) I still think it'd be VERY COOL if we could employ on staff, in rotating semester shifts, (or full years, if they were retired), former music teachers to take the info/help calls from music teachers "out there", and to provide on - call help and feedback and resource referral. We could have satellite offices to cover the different time zones of the country, so teachers in Hawaii would have the same access as teachers from New York!). How's THAT for dreaming? Well, maybe one day. In the meantime, we do have the MENC MENTORS on the on-line discussion forums - have a look! (also, many states have mentor programs for music teachers, write info@menc.org for more info!)

I could bore you with more details re: the survey results I'm working on, or regale you with tales of the requests coming in, or other longer term projects on the horizon, but will spare you and leave you with a few jazz related resources.

JAZZ 101 courtesy of DOWNBEAT magazine

JAZZ For Young People

JAZZ for Young People: What is New Orleans Jazz? (I saw this on PBS over the weekend, awesome!)

JAZZ at Lincoln Center

MARIAN MCPARTLAND, one of the first jazz musicians I grew to love, is being inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame this year. To quote the PBS site for McPartland's 25 year old radio show, "Piano Jazz": "She is deeply committed to music education in the country's public schools and was inducted in the International Association of Jazz Education Hall of Fame in 1986". "For more than 25 years, jazz pianist Marian McPartland and her guests have teamed up for an hour of weekly jazz sessions. Whether it's solos, collaboration, reminiscences, or straight talk about influences and style, no two Piano Jazz sessions are ever the same. " This is truly a good show!

GOOD LUCK with the new school year, all you returning teachers! Let us know if we can be of assistance! SEE YOU NEXT WEEK! SR

Rainy Tuesday

It's a dark and gloomy Tuesday here at MENC. The rain is so needed that it's hard to be grumpy about it, though. I'm collecting the proposals that were due yesterday for a major Web site project we're undertaking, hanging out on a couple of conference calls for other projects, going to various meetings. We've got the year's Tri-M promotions out to the printer, and Collegiate promotions will be starting this week. (These are promotions to new prospects that the marketing department handles; the Student Programs department has already been hard at work for weeks getting out materials to active chapters so they can renew before the school years starts.) We're also about to drop a major regular membership acquisition mailing in about two weeks.

Have you heard about this? The New York Times recently published an article on a new book, "The Role of Art In Schools" by Ellen Winner and Lois Hetland, that's causing a bit of a stir. Americans for the Arts was able to publish, online, a letter to the editor from their CEO, Bob Lynch. Also, Nick Rabkin, a leading researcher in arts education, blogged on the topic.

Moving on, on Sunday I was attending more outdoor music (Pat Benatar!) and the crowd was asked to rise to sing the national anthem. Which we did, and of course I know it, and sang along, but that has never happened before at any rock concert I've attended. Interesting.

Onward - EWL

Harley needs bail money? You Gotta be kidding in my world!

OK in my world today I get a Western Union asking for money to bail the little guy out of the pokey. My feeling is, if he is old enough to run away to see the world, he is old enough to take bail money. I would imagine by now he should be over ARN leaving him and he should be getting back to reality here and help me out in my office. I plan on taking next week off to rearrange my "craft" room which is simply out-of-control chaotic which means it is worse than my office. I need the little guy to run interference -- like I need to throw him in the room first to see if there are any unwanted critters that have taken up residency in there. I know this might sound like cruel and inhumane punishment BUT Harley is pretty scary when he pretends he is a Dementor and floats around trying to depress everyone. He's so cute, my little guy.

This weekend I was pretty busy making a birthday box to hold MJ's birthday DVDs I got for her. She was on vacation last week so when you called the office all you got was the automated machine. She is always gone for her birthday (off to the beach) and we give her gifts when she comes back. I loved the box I made for her (if I say so myself). The "popcorn" used is from a mold that a friend of mine made and now sells on her web site. It is a cool website and you can find it at //www.wewillalwayshaveparis.com/. She is an incredible artist and I do take a number of her workshops.

This week I am working on a number of items relative to the MENC Hall of Fame. Every other year at the national convention up to three individuals are inducted into the Music Educators Hall of Fame. You can find the guidelines on the menc web site. We are now getting ready to mail nominee information which is confidential to a committee/board of 14 individuals (includes the chair). They will receive bio information on 33 individuals and will then vote on a ballot which is mailed back to the chair of the committee. Any individuals who received "no" votes is dropped from the list for the next go-round. The three individuals with the majority of votes are then passed on to the National Executive Board and they vote on the report in November. The first inductees into the Hall of Fame happened at the 1986 Convention in Anaheim, CA. There are currently 64 names on the plaque in the Board Room. The first year was an exception and 32 individuals were inducted. Many of these were historical leaders in music education. After that the number has been limited to 3. You can find a listing of those inducted at: http://www.menc.org/information/histinfo/Historicalinfohall.html.

Harley wants to put his name in for the next go-round. That should be like really interesting......... I will have to let the little guy down gently on his head. Hope your week is a good one! I'll be here waiting to hear if Harley got a free "get-out-of-jail" card. I think he thinks it is cool and he might run into Lindsay, Paris, Nicole, or Brittany.

See you later! HARELY - you get your little red behind HOME NOW..... NO EXCUSES..... NOW.

Nope, I don't care if you are winning at BINGO.

Simply The Best

Good afternoon!

Welcome to another Friday edition of "Inside MENC!" See how I added the exclamation point there at the end for emphasis? That's because I'm excited. That's what it means.

I love coffee.

Elaine: "And one more thing, you really think we need the exclamation point? Because, it's not "Top of the Muffin TO YOU!!!""
Mr. Lippman: "No. No. It is."

Let's start off today with a couple of important recent MENC related news items:

1. MENC's brand spankin' new music education advocacy brochure series "The Power of Music ... Changing Lives" (inspiring? yes!) is now available as a free PDF download on MENC's Music Education Advocacy Central Web site! WOOHOO!!

We in the Government Relations & Outreach Department are especially proud of these little babies--they were handcrafted with much love and affection and it will be very difficult to see them go.

Err, be downloaded.

Wait, no it won't.

Downloading is great!

It's the wave of the future!

Do it!

Do it now!

Download the brochures!

Wow. Well, it's official. The world has actually become so darn digital that it's impossible to even make jokes about separation anxiety with inanimate objects anymore. Sigh.

In any event, the brochures are targeted specifically for use by principals, school boards and parents, and provide a detailed look at the "the why and the how" of supporting school music education. Very soon the brochures will also be available for purchase in hard copy form, so keep your eyes peeled for updates on the availability of "The Power of Music ... Changing Lives" in the near future!

2. Another terrific new resource (more new stuff you say?? oh yes. more new stuff.), "Music for All Students: Planning Music Education Advocacy," MENC's hot off the presses (digital presses, that is), information-filled, vibrant, educational reference guide for the music education advocate, provides step by step analysis and breakdowns of everything one needs in order to become an effective music education advocate. PLUS, the book's design is super pretty, and it too, is also available as a freeeeeee PDF download! Yaaaaaaay!

Now.

On to something else.

Something more disturbing.

On to the strange recent behavior of certain other members of the Government Relations & Outreach Department.

Ok.

So I'm just going to cut right to the chase here.

SKJ and HLS have been acting very odd this week.

There is no question about it.

Let me give you a little bit of background so that you will hopefully understand more fully:

Without drawing out an actual floor plan of MENC's Reston office headquarters, you'll have to take my word for it when I say that over the course of a regular work day, I often times pass SKJ's office on my way down the hall from my own to get to the copy room, to visit with another colleague, or to head downstairs for one reason or another. Now usually, when I peer into her office, what I most often see is SKJ hard at work on an assignment at her computer, deeply engaged in an important phone conversation (passionately assisting an MENC Member with a music education related question, no doubt!), or discussing a new/upcoming outreach project with HLS.

Not this week.

Oh no.

This week, has been different.

This week has been odd.

This week has been... boxes.

Lots of boxes.

Boxes stacked so high that you'd think SKJ worked for the same box making company that John Locke on "L O S T" did, prior to the start of his most excellent and amazing supernatural island adventure, of course!! ("L O S T" returns in February with all new episodes--be sure not to miss it ya'll!!!)

But I digress.

For a day or two I let the boxes thing go.

I'd walk by SKJ's office, and she and HLS would appear to be playing happily with their boxes. Sometimes it looked as if they were building forts. "That's nice," I'd think to myself. "They're being creative." Music education inspires creativity, you see, so I really wasn't all that surprised at what I appeared to be witnessing. I figured that perhaps the two of them were constructing make believe concert halls, taking turns offering renditions of Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It" while the other made fake crowd noises and chanted phrases like, "We love you, Tina!", and, "Your hair style is totally practical!--You go girlfriend!"

It wasn't my place to judge.

I figured that SKJ and HLS were probably just going through some hard times personally (it happens to the best of us), and that maybe this was their own weird kind way of expressing how they were feeling, and dealing with it.

Then the MusicFriends brochures started.

Thousands of MusicFriends brochures.

MusicFriends brochures by the bushel.

I'd walk by SKJ's office and she'd be swimming in MusicFriends brochures.

One time, I got up to go the bathroom, and I happened to briefly glance in, only to witness SKJ and HLS lying on the floor completely immersed in the brochures, "wallowing" in them, one might say, while cackling loudly and exclaiming over and over again, "They're mine! They're mine! They're aaaaaaaaaaall mine! AHAHAHAHAHA!"

Another time, I caught HLS fashioning some sort of crude, rudimentary poncho out of the brochures. She seemed lost. Emotionally.

Enough was enough.

I had to help.

And that is when I finally learned what was really going on.

In order to explain the rest, I ask that you indulge me, if you will, in an excerpt from the latest edition of the MusicFriends Newsletter.

Ahem:

"Get your FREE MusicFriends Brochures - Is your Back to School night approaching? Would you like to hand out free MusicFriends brochures? Contact Stephanie Jones with your name, address, and how many brochures you need, (limited quantities are available). MusicFriends brochures are a great resource for growing local music advocacy efforts and engaging parents!"

That's right ladies and gentlemen.

FREE MusicFriends brochures.

And talk about a hot item!!

SKJ and HLS were going CRAZY all week trying to keep up with the demand for these awesome brochures! They had been boxing and boxing and boxing brochures until their little hands bled!!

I couldn't believe it.

TRUE. MUSIC. EDUCATION. HEROES.

In any event, I was eventually forgiven for misjudging them both as having gone completely insane, and immediately gained new respect for their tremendous efforts on behalf of both MENC and its amazing Members.

The End.

Oh, but in other news, HLS still wears that awful "brochure poncho" when it rains.

It doesn't look good.

And now... here are the Friday...

"Government Relations & Outreach Department Album Picks of the Week!!!"

SKJ: Kelly Clarkson - My December (last week's pick)/Various Artists - Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
HLS: Ari Hest - The Break-In (last week's pick)/Matt Nathanson - Some Mad Hope
CBLW: Neal Casal - No Wish To Reminisce

*99% of the SKJ/HLS box and brochure story was fabricated or grossly and obscenely exaggerated for humor-inducing purposes. In real life, it was still pretty funny, though. You just had to be there.

Thursday Interlude: Hello Louis

Blog Update 2:55 pm




And Farewell Elvis

A short time ago my fellow blogger SR sent me a message:

SA had a ticket to see "The king" on 8/20/77, but he died four days before! She has the ticket, a stub from a previous concert, and a photo of the marquee of the theater before (welcome!) and after (we mourn). LH, JG and others contributed to the "memorial" on S's cubicle exterior! Check it out!"
Intrepid reporter that I am, I did. And I immediately noted that a ticket to the concert was $15. $20 with tax. Wow.
The shrine also included flowers and, appropriately, a hound dog. Nice job ladies.

So, in the interest of acknowledging the passing of Elivs (30 years ago today! How could I have forgotten that! That is why one station I listen to was playing Paul Simon's "Graceland" over and over.) I present the following photos taken a short time ago. Where were you 30 years ago today? Wait, you don't have to answer that if you don't want to :-) If you do, leave a comment.





And now, back to our regularly scheduled program.


Happy Thursday Y'all,

Do you like to listen to music at work? Silly me. Forgot who was I talking to for a moment. Listening to music definitely puts a bounce in my day, smooths out the rough spots. On days when I don't have interviews for stories, (and I had a couple of good ones this week. Thanks, Janet and Susan :-) I listen to where ever my mood takes me. When I am writing or laying out pages, some days it's the soundtrack from O Brother Where Art Thou. "Man of Constant Sorrow?" "Big Rock Candy Mountain?" "He's in the Jailhouse Now?"Anyone? Whenever I listen to the soundtrack and I can just see George Clooney, his hair slicked down, bellowing into that microphone at the radio station and Holly Hunter, what a perfect role for her...but I digress.

Other days it's the Pointer Sisters or Ray Charles or Harry Connick Jr. Anyway, this week was I reunited with an old friend, Louis Armstrong and some his fans.

When I was a kid, I remember seeing Armstrong on television variety shows. He'd play a little trumpet or sing in that strange raspy voice of his. For me Pops was ok. A benign presence, a curiosity and little more. Oh, and I liked his "Hello Dolly," one of the best thing about the Barbara Streisand version of the movie musical.

For me, all that changed in Ken Burns Jazz debuted on PBS in 2001. I know some people didn't include this or that, or had the wrong perspective. Me, I loved it. I watched every night it aired and taped it so I could watch it later. I couldn't get enough of the music. I learned to love and now have a fairly extensive jazz collection that includes Ella Fitzgerald, Fletcher Henderson, Django Reinhardt, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington and, especially Louis Armstrong.

The documentary taught me what a genius Armstrong was, how he revolutionized trumpet playing as well as vocals. I liked the talking heads on the show, too. Stanley Crouch, Gary Giddens, Wynton Marsalis, who discussed Satchmo and put his contributions in perspective.

So, this week I was pleased to find a new radio documentary on Armstrong on the NPR series,
Jazz Profiles.
The third episode in the Armstrong series, "Louis Armstrong, The Trumpeter," details his virtuosity and includes lots of Armstrong music. The first two episodes are more biographical, but all include commentaries by Giddens and Law. The series celebrates the 100th anniversary of Armstrong's birth. And old pals like Crouch and Giddens and Marsalis offer commentaries.

If you are interested in using information on Armstrong in the classroom, visit Smithsonian Jazz
The Web site includes educational materials for grades 5-12. You can download lesson plans and other information as PDF files and you can also listen to Armstrong's music there.

Well, I better get back to the October Teaching Music news pages. Hope you are wrapping up the summer with work and/or fun. Or maybe those are same thing? When you listen to music during the day, they can be.

Til Next Thursday
RF

Midweek Meanderings and Miscellany XXII: Short, Sweet and AH-one and AH-two!**

**(* for those of a certain generation....those who don't get it, see paragraph two below..hint: Champagne Music!)

The office move has been made! Things looks great. IT and Mailroom guys did a phenomenal job! amazing they got it done! (and I'm so glad to see that buddy EW, who was just given an office three months ago, actually gained space in her new "condo sized" cubicle facing the forest!)

In brief -
- Lots of back to school calls from teachers and others seeking resources and help, and
- categorizing hundreds of responses to the two surveys we did this summer on the standards for transmission to the Standards Task force by 8/31!
*** SPECIAL THANKS this week to JL of IT who saved the day by helping me fix a blooper I made on my computer which prevented me from being able to access the formatting codes on this blog! Were it not for JL - you'd be reading this in black and white only, no color and no links!

The main deal this week is,
I've been wanting to share this article re: accordion playing, an old timer teaching the instrument to youngsters, fearing the skill will die out. I've always liked the accordion, my first memories of this unique instrument being my Uncle Stan playing the box at family gatherings. It was the coolest looking thing, and made the most amazing sound. It lured me down to the basement where the guys were drinking and yucking it up. Uncle Stan would come over when he saw me creep down the steps, and play as he smiled at me, and then he'd come over and let me press a few of the keys/buttons....what a thrill!

Yes, Uncle Stan was Polish American, and this was in the mid 60's, but lest you think the accordion is just Lawrence Welk's instrument of choice to play sappy cornball music, think again (and hear the LIVE performances BELOW!) This free vibrating reed and bellows contraption has much to teach, about how it came over to this country, all the types of music that can be played on it (Tango, Eastern European gypsy music, even polkas and waltzes, chanties and ballads and jigs, and Cajun/zydeco!), the different names the accordion takes in different cultures ..........
(to quote the W. Post article linked above:
"Although originally conceived in the early 1800s as a device to tune pipe organs, the accordion was quickly embraced as an instrument throughout Europe for its versatility, rich sound and portability. It traveled to the United States with the wave of emigration at the turn of the 20th century and became big business in the 1930s, when immigrant vaudeville performers stole the spotlight with their ornate accordions and fast-flying finger work."

This instrument and its sound gets your blood pumping!!

To supplement the Post article, I went looking for a few links to share (see below) about the history of the instrument, and the accordion in American music. Unbelieveably, the first item that came up on that search was an article by Uncle Stan's SON, MY COUSIN, Roy!!! (professor at RIT, Rochester, NY, also amateur pianist and pilot).....! Talk about coincidence! My cousin has written about the accordion in Polish American culture! I'm sure he has some great memories of the instrument, too, his Dad being an accordion player..... (and his lovely Mom, my Dad's sister, my Aunt Irene, had a beautiful singing voice, I'm sure she sang along with Uncle Stan...I know she and my Dad used to perform in Polish folk costume in their home town in the 30's....click to see cool photos of such costumes; it's the 2nd photo in queue, not the family portrait)

Have a listen to some live performances by musicians from around the world happening this week in Washington DC at the 60th Anniversary Coupe Mondiale International Competition for Accordionists, jointly hosted by the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG) and the American Accordionists' Association (AAA) from 13 - 18 August, 2007 in Alexandria, VA (Washington, DC) USA.

CLICK to hear live broadcasts from the JFKennedy Center Millenium Stage

Here's the schedule this week:

Wednesday:
- University of Missouri-Kansas City Accordion Orchestra, Joan Sommers, Director
- Martin Music Center Accordion Orchestra (CA), Randall Martin, Director
Thursday:
- Showstoppers Acc. Orchestra & Dancers (NH), Rosita Lee Latulippe, Director
- North Shore Accordion Orchestra (New Zealand), Lionel Reekie, Director
Friday:
- Accordeonova (Denmark), Peter Anders, Director
- Beijing Children's Palace Baidi Accordion Orchestra (China), Chen Weilang, Director
Saturday
- Winners of the six CIA Coupe Mondiale Categories

LINKS about the Accordion

HISTORY of the Accordion

American Accordionists Association (and once on, click on WORLD of Accordions on left hand column, to see more details about how they work, and their classification)

Daily reports from the Coupe Mondiale, and other neat links

CHAMPAGNE music

STARS of the LAWRENCE WELK SHOW

Around the WATER COOLER

Ensemble plays over net: Arab, Jews and Persian musicians share the same stage

International Relations and Culture (check weekly for new stories)

See you next week! SR

Musical Insights

Last night I read an Entertainment Weekly Special Report "New Orleans: Back from the Brink" on the resurgence of music there in the two years since Hurricane Katrina. Worth reading for all the insights from the local musicians who are trying so hard to rebuild the music scene there.

It's never too late to learn something new about music, as I discovered from this story about Drum Major Academy that my sister Margaret told me last week. The two of us don't have any personal marching band experience, so this was a glimpse into that world for us. Margaret reports that her boyfriend's son George attended the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst two weeks ago. The academy was attended by drum majors, color guard members and band section leaders - more than 360 DMA students. They were also joined by Thom Hannum's Mobile Percussion Seminar - adding 100 percussionists, for over 460 students. The Drum Major Academy is run by Mr. Parks, who is currently in his 29th year at the University of Massachusetts where he is director of the Minuteman Marching Band and Professor of Music. (He is also a member of MENC. And, in one of those small world connections, I mentioned this to MENC staffer/Massachusetts native LE --who told me her son had attended that academy years ago and that she was still in touch with Mr. Parks.)

Margaret says the final ceremony was absolutely fascinating, and truthfully brought tears to her eyes. (This could have been because she had fallen and broken her foot four days earlier as they were dropping George off...but that's another story.) The closing ceremony began with all of the drum majors marching out in formation. Everyone was in very tight formation, and they proceeded to demonstrate some of the maneuvers they had learned.

Then the drum majors sat down, and the percussionists performed - they had spent the week under a "I need more cowbell" theme. Next, the color guard performed, and then the drum majors came back out. The students were marching on asphalt - it was a very very hot day, but apparently it's harder to march on asphalt then a field; mistakes stand out more, etc., which is why they were on the parking lot. They proceeded to demonstrate some of their salutes, which were absolutely fascinating. The last salute and mace twirling was done by the head or the former head of the marching band for the University of Massachusetts. He was great!

Then, Mr. Parks directed a "March off". He called out commands to them, and the drum majors and color guards made all the turns. If someone made a mistake, the spotters called them off the field. After a time, they paused, and reformed, and George was still in - he had made it from 400+ down to about 40! Unfortunately, he made a wrong move soon after that, but it was very impressive. It came down to a girl and a boy; the boy won. Everyone cheered. Margaret said they felt proud of everyone.

Finally, everyone reformed their formation, and Mr. Parks asked all the drum majors to conduct the National Anthem. Margaret said it was absolutely wonderful - the kids conducted and sang - they sounded beautiful - all sorts of parts and harmonies. She asked George later how did it possibly sound so good, and he said that everyone had been told to sing the part they would have played if they were still playing their instrument. (In George's case, he plays the tuba.)

On the way home, she learned more about Drum Major camp from George. It turns out that drum majors are real leaders - drum major camp began at 8:30 every morning and ended at 10:00 at night. There were lectures and marching. Mr. Parks taught leadership skills, life skills, as well as conducting. One of the goals of all the drum majors will be to "find the two freshmen who might drop out of marching band" and help them stay in. Talk about great advocacy! He also reminded the drum majors that they were in a special fraternity of drum majors - that they had a high standard to hold up. Margaret said she was super impressed and will look at drum majors and marching bands in a new light after this experience!

Off to more meetings and projects. I'll leave you with a fun idea for how you can help make music education part of the upcoming Republican debate.

Onward -- EWL

MENC is asking all 2008 presidential candidates to tell us what they would do to support music education if elected. The September 17 CNN/YouTube Republican debate gives you a unique opportunity to participate in this effort. Create a video asking the candidates how they would support school music -- and you could see it broadcast and answered on live TV!

YouTube encourages original submissions! Use details from your own experience in the classroom or in training, from participating in the World’s Largest Concert, the National Anthem Project, or All-State Festivals, from the many studies about the benefits of music education (www.menc.org/facts) … or whatever creative idea you think will get the attention of moderator Anderson Cooper.

When you have posted your video, please contact HannahS@menc.org so that MENC can track and view your submission.

Please forward this information to colleagues, music students, your own kids! The more submissions, the more likely music education is to be addressed during the debate.
For more information including submission guidelines, visit http://www.youtube.com/debates . Entry deadline: September 16, 2007.

Postcards from the Edge of ..........

I can't believe it. I got several postcards from Harley and a couple "sightings" were reported. He is as elusive as UFOs. Hmmmm, maybe he -- nope -- not going there, you can breathe easy. Some of you have equal eyes and figured Harley was in the Baltics. I am impressed. Some thought he was on the east coast at a beach. Yes, Harley was in Estonia, Haapsalu to be exact. As you can see he is sitting on Tchaikovsky's Bench as it faces the sea where the swans live and play. He (Tchaikovsky) visited the spas in the late 1860s when the world seemed to crowd in on him. The town itself was first mentioned in 1279 and was around a castle (you saw the iron gate Harley was sitting on last week). It was called the "Episcopal Castle - probably a King Henry the 8th connection.
It was reported by both PB and PS that Harley was seen on a ship headed into the South. PS said she caught sight of a red dog sunbathing in Christopher Columbus' home town. Good grief the super wonder dog gets around. WELLLLL, while wonderunder is coasting on his little red behind, I am toiling away in an office trying to get items cleaned up prior to the beginning of the school year when everything breaks loose around these hallways. Last week I worked on President Lynn Brinckmeyer's travel. This is not easy on her or on me (a little violin music here if you please). The MENC national president travels a lot in the two years they are in office. They represent us at many meetings with other national organizations. Besides trying to make as many state music association meetings, they are also charged with the usual presidential duties of attending appointments for MENC on Capitol Hill, in the Washington, DC, area, and other places around the country including New York City, LA, etc. The MENC President must also work at their real job in the midst of all of this traveling and association work. It is not an easy job and I truly admire anyone willing to throw their hat in the ring to run for this position in our association. We are one of the largest "subject" area associations in the United States. President Brinckmeyer's real job is at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. She has classes to teach, choirs to conduct, college students to counsel. She is one busy lady.....

Well, back to work we go ("we" being relative since Harley ran away from home - may his buns be baked!). Speaking of buns, bagels to be exact - poor PS, my assistant, burned her leg with a bagel bun from the toaster. It hurts to look at the burn on her lower thigh. (Looks like a cresent moon - kind of cool if it weren't a burn - wonder if we could sell the image on ebay and say it looks like - you fill in the blank?) The scoop is she toasted half a bagel, she got it out of the toaster - it was really hot - so she dropped it and then (I don't know why) she tried to stop it from falling on the floor and she put her leg up to block the fall (obviously in shorts) and it landed and not only scalded her but really burned her. WOW - lesson for today - when the bagel pops from the toaster let it fly and don't get in the way............ OK back to Harley buns -- Can't wait till next week to see where the little red wonder will be off to - I think he is on a quest for the Holy Grail. Hmm, what do you think Harley's Grail is?

We Like To Party!

We like to party
We like, we like to party
We like to party
We like, we like to party
We like to party
We like, we like to party
We like to party

...but we also work purrrrdy durn hard around here! ;-)

What a strange day in Reston.

Just about everyone is gone today, or so it would seem. Up here on the third floor, the absence of SKJ and HLS means that things have gotten especially quiet for me (i rely on both of them to keep this place lively--and goodness knows--they never fail me! :-)). So here I am, aaaaaaaaaaall by myseeeeeeeelf, don't wanna be aaaaaaaaaaall by myseeeeeeeelf...

haha

Boo.

In other news, the past two weeks of Government Relations & Outreach Department birthday celebrations have been a real hoot. HLS's b'day activities last week consisted of a surprise morning brunch (normally I would put air quotes around the word surprise, but i actually don't think that she had any idea--it was incredibly well-executed), and a very pleasant, well-attended luncheon at Cafesano. I think it's fair to say that just about anyone who works at MENC develops at least a mild affinity for Cafesano--it's delicious, fairly priced, and it feels very chic and trendy (oh come on, like THAT matters, right??). To get a better idea of what Cafesano is really like, just try to imagine the last time that you ate at a Cosi...

There.

Got the image?

Now try to imagine that the experience wasn't horrible.

Congratulations.

That's Cafesano.

Meanwhile, SKJ (who is currently livin' it up in NYC right now--grrrrrrr!) had her office b'day fun this week, with an equally well-attended (the Government Relations & Outreach Department is seriously just like Hansel - SO hott right now.) and delicious lunch affair at Champps restaurant and bar. While the experience was a total blast (amongst other topics, PF and I discussed the subtleties of Barry Bonds' tainted home run chase and the horrors of traffic in the Commonwealth), I have two lingering questions regarding Champps:

(1.) Why the two P's? "Hey guys, I'm headed out to Champpppppppppps! Catch ya later!" I mean come on! Where does this sort of thing stop?! Do they think that they're being novel by having two P's instead of one?? Me thinks no. No, no, no, no, no.

(2.) Is this the same Champps as the sports apparel store where I used to buy my Reebok "Pumps" as a kid? Because there was definitely a sports apparel store downstairs beneath the restaurant--and if so, then that's a pretty weird combination. I mean, what would inspire someone to start a chain of sports apparel stores slash restaurant/bars? That would be like me waking up one morning and wanting to open a petting zoo slash space camp. Or, SKJ deciding that she wanted to form a band slash medieval performing arts troupe (whoops! forgot all about the Renaissance Festival!), or, HLS wanting to work at an animal rescue shelter slash FBI call center (although, to be fair, the way that our government operates these days... that's actually probably not all that far off). Anyways, hopefully you see my point. Oh, and if you're thinking to yourself, "Jeepers creepers! If he's so durn curious, why doesn't he just Google the two different Champps brands to see if there's any joint relation between them??", well, it's because I'm short on blog material this week.

Obvi.

Anyways, the last portion of SKJ's b'day fun was an afternoon treasure hunt that concluded with her discovery of yet another gathering in her honor in the sun room (which was, at that point, brimming with her smiling colleagues, and some delicious birthday goodies, to boot!). The clues (which by some miracle, SKJ was somehow able to decipher) would have been completely lost on me. I'm not exaggerating (ok, maybe a little) when I say that I would have been wandering around outside in the woods for hours upon hours on end trying to figure out where it was that I was supposed to go. Let me give you a few examples of what these so-called "directions to your birthday party"-style clues were like:

(1.) Black is black and blue is blue! Happy Birthday to you to you! To find your party just jump and shout, jump and shout and eventually you'll figure it out!
(2.) I like birthdays, yes I do! I like birthdays, for me and you! We've thrown you a party, it's exciting and great! We've thrown you a party, let's gather 'round and celebrate! To find your friends just think real hard, just think real hard while holding this note card!
(3.) Happy Birthday! We've thrown you a party! Now find it, we're hungry!

I'm telling you. I would have never found that party.

As a quick update, we're working on several exciting new projects up here in the Government Relations & Outreach Department! I don't want to give away the farm, but ch-ch-ch-changes are a-brewin', as Mr. Bowie would say! So stay tuned!

And now... here are the Friday...

"Government Relations & Outreach Department Album Picks of the Week!!!"

SKJ: "I forgot to send CBLW a pick!"
HLS: "I forgot to send CBLW a pick!"
CBLW: Jesse Malin - Glitter In The Gutter