The Sound of Bugles and Drumming

Driving near the University Saturday with the car windows open, serendipity came my way again as I heard music coming from the athletic field  and I thought it must be the marching band practicing. What I discovered was even more exciting as there before reaching the field was a parking lot filled with semi 

trailers.

The sound verified the trucks's existence as the competitive Drum and Bugle Corps was practicing on the fields. The footwork was quick and furious and these kids were working hard.

They battled the ferocious gnats and muggy conditions with their summer practice. Their attire- boys shirtless and gym shorts and girls with exercise sports bras/ bathing suit tops and shorts. Nice tans indicated a lot of practicing outside.

Fortunately afterwards I posted pics on Face Book and  made a comment. A Milwaukee friend said her neighbors were there and she'd asked them about the performance but before she could write back, two local friends provided more info regarding the Corps and that evening's performance. 

As suggested I ventured onto the Corps website and will not only share what I found there about the groups mission but will also share my friends's words about this program that was celebrating its 50 year anniversary. 

"Being in the Blue Stars is about more than just competitive success. It's about working side-by-side with the best friends you've ever had to put together a show that's engaging, breathtaking, and brings audiences to their feet, night after night. It's about being a part of an organization with a proud heritage that spans nearly 50 years. It's about giving everything you have to make your summer the most amazing experience of your life - not just for you, but for your fellow Blue Stars, for those who came before you, and for those who will wear the uniform in the years to come."

Talk about legacy, read on what friend Judi said. "“All of my family was in Blue Stars and four of us in La Crescent Apple Arrows before 1964. My sister played French horn bugle, my brother a baritone, another sister was flag/rifle my brother on drums and youngest brother on drums and then assistant drum major. My mom chaperoned and was known by the whole corps as "Ma" which made us all laugh because we won't have thought of calling her that. She chaperoned for 3-4 years after all her kids at aged-out of drum corps at 21.

We used to audition to get a position, right in La Crosse. Things have really changed and, recently, there were very few members who were actually from La Crosse. 

I did look at the website and it costs $150 just to audition now at one of two sites. -either Indianapolis/Ann Arbor. Then there are summer/ winter camps. The Blue Stars is about learning how to perform. Participation instills many life skills according to their mission statement: “teamwork, dedication, a strong work ethic, setting goals, and discipline, that success can be achieved both on and off the performance field.

Friend Cari related that despite an hour weather delay ( yeah it rained AGAIN, "the first 3 corps played in the rain. All their running and jumping I thought someone would fall. Nothing. I'm in awe of all of them. There was an all age competition. Oh what fun and oh even at their age and weight they showed they still had their youth. This used to be televised on PBS. I miss it."

La Crosse Blue Stars are the ones I saw practicing. According to Cari they got 7th place with the competition lasting until 11:30. There were 15 bands from all over. Canada, Ill, South Carolina, Camden county, New Jersey, Nashville, Tenn, Boston, Dubuque,Iowa, St. Peter,Mn, Canton Ohio. Michigan, Racine,WI. Atlanta, Allentown, Pa. There was a all male corp. Fantastic, I didn't get a program. Celebrating Blue Stars 50th year, alumni came out and did a show then the horn section from the present corps came out and played with them. Over 200 strong. Wow. 

And a rainbow came out as a corps announced their piece was named "The Dark Side of the Rainbow. And then the full (supermoon) came out directly in front of us. The audience was facing the bluffs. So glad the weather had a change. We had no lightning and thunder show. Otherwise we wouldn't have see this super talent. They have another performance today in Iowa. They travel every day all over the States. Sleeping 
on gymasium floors..." Ah, hence that 'mess' trailer.

I am sorry I let the weather dissuade me from returning for the final performance. Judi and family were there in honor of their Mom who recently passed and whose involvement touched so many lives including their own. I can't help but think the rainbow and supermoon were just for her.

And that all this happened here right outside of End of the Rainbow Valley...

FOTO FRIDAY: FUNNY CAPTIONS

Don't worry I didn't forget FOTO FRIDAY. I just had a timely blog entry that needed to be added this week. 

Anyhow, here's your opportunity to post a pic with a clever caption/ add suggestions to mine...


As I was crossing the creek bridge the other day roadside I saw some commotion going on as a sandhill crane was trying to shake  a free loading red wing blackbird off her backside. The sandhill crane asked me my opinion... see caption.

" Does this red winged blackbird make my butt look big?"

Queen Jester added this caption: 

               "Great...next thing I know the blue bird of happiness will fly up my nose!"

OK, your turn. Just send me your pics & captions via FB/ email and I will attach them... Have fun and a great weekend.

Boom.. We Could Be Blown to Smithereens...

Thursday the city of La Crosse was one of 51 cities this week known to commemorate the deaths of 47 innocent people killed in a Canadian town called Lac Megantic after an oil train derailment exploision last year at this time. Our city's memorial of this train disaster was held at one of the city's high schools, Central, whose athletic field borders the railroad track.

CARS, Citizens Acting for Rail Safety, organized the ceremony where victims's names and a brief bio were read as their photos were affixed to model oil tankers. The only sound that followed each name was a hand bell being rung that is until the ceremony's solemnness ironically was drowned out as one of the 42 weekly oil trains rumbled past parallel to where we were seated. 103 tanker cars long to be exact carrying about three million gallons of highly explosive Bakken crude oil on each train, pass through the heart of La Crosse every week. Chilling to say the least...

Notice real Bakken Oil Train passing behind ...

You see we had faces to associate with the death toll  and the majority of the Canadian victims were young people who had barely begun to live their lives. Many bodies were deemed unrecognizable by the coroner's office... 

We listened to the how and the why during this ceremony. These deaths were unnatural as they were the result of an industrial accident. Yes, collateral dammage such as community buildings can be rebuilt but what happens to the community who suffers the losses and are still suffering? We owe it to those that have been injured / lost their lives to learn something from these tragedies.

The 1267  red diamond designates flammable oil

We have to remember and do something because these DOT111 tanker cars have been deemed unsafe since the 1970's.  And nothing has been done about replacing them. These unsafe cars can also carry other equally dangerous chemicals like fertilizers/ chlorine/acids.

A sewer drain was directly in front of where we were seated.

And when these cars leak/ explode they can run into sewer systems and carry their damage much further from their initial sites as the flames did in Lac Megantic.

Unbeknownst to our community 10 miles south of where we were sitting, the recents rains have brought the Mississippi flood water  only one foot from where rails have previously been washed out. Imagine this is where these oil trains sit daily to wait for other trains to pass! This stretch south of town is the Upper Mississippi Refuge Area. One doesn't replace ecosystems.

Railroad crews have also been quietly repairing an unsafe bridge not even 5 miles from the End of the Rainbow Valley that runs over Coon Creek, one of the state's best trout streams...

The railroads have known that they endanger us and many other communities every day with these unsafe oil tanker cars and they have done nothing except increase their traffic.  It is our responsibility to do something about their immoral behavior. 25 million people live within the blast zone of the Bakken crude oil tanker routes.

I know one man who has the power to stop this unsafe oil transport and this is our President. 
          Why don't you join me and write him today?

 It is not a question of if another accident will happen, it is the question of when and where... 

Those With Should Share With Those That Do Not…

While Natureman was waiting for me to finish an errand, he decided to take a little walk around the block in central La Crosse. Near one of the middle schools he discovered a piece of property which had been divided up into about 10 feet square garden plots.  

A mother and child were working in one of the plots so Natureman complimented the woman on how nice the gardens looked and inquired as to how long this land had been used like this. She responded that the gardens had been there awhile, adding that anybody can garden there but the plot costs $30 for the season and the conditions are that the gardener must share 10% of their produce with a neighbor/ somebody in need. What a terrific idea!

A couple of days before this incident Natureman and I had once again had the opportunity to sit at the 'Share the Bounty' table in the Farmer’s Market. I am sure I have mentioned it before but the idea is that shoppers are greeted and asked to purchase a little extra as a donation to be dropped off at the end of their shopping.

All these food donations then are distributed to food kitchens throughout the City.  If  people choose to donate monetarily, we take the monies and go shopping in the market that day trying to distribute purchases among the vendors. Then at the end of market day, vendors also graciously donate produce that won’t last until their next market day.  It’s a win win situation for consumer, the grower and the food pantries and we are keeping business local also! And if the home gardener has extra, then this can be also donated.

As the season  continues,  the collections become larger and larger.. I just love the sense of community and taking care of our own and everybody benefitting. 

Not Raisng the Roof, Just the Funds...

The best part of summer is the numerous art fairs.  I love  seeing the various artists's creativity and we didn't even have to travel 10 miles from the End of the Rainbow Valley to attend the last one.


You see, this past Sunday Norskedalen, the Norwegian heritage farm, held a wine and cheese afternoon with an art fair at their Skrumsrud site which not only served as a fundraiser but also promoted area artists. The cheeses and wines at the tasting were also local.

Ominous clouds threatened the skies all day but luckily the skies didn't let loose since artists were located both inside period buildings and tents in the scenic farmland.

Coon Valley Oak Bird house

Rosemaling

There were all types of crafts from rosemaling ( a Norwegian flower motif painting on woodwork), pottery, needlework, photography, homemade  soaps & lotions, jewelry and woodwork and woodturning objects for sale besides the silent auction donated items from the artists.

The weather probably hindered attendance but those that attended had a very lovely afternoon, including yours truly...

Losing My Touch...

I have been extremely fortunate as to my Couchsurfing experiences but one's luck can run out.  Was Green Bay going to be the city where I misjudged my correspondence with my Couchsurfing hostess?

You see I had made contact with a fellow couchsurfer who had space for both friend Lynn, and myself.  We would be easy guests as we would be fed by M.O.M. with even Friday night entertain- ment at Lambeau. 

The plan was that when we were close to Green Bay, I would give a call so more definite arrangements as to arrival time could be made. But when I called the number provided, I was taken aback to receive a recorded message saying that the number was no longer in service. I must have misdialed. So I tried the number I had again. Same outcome. Oh dear, now what?  Of all times I hadn't brought my laptop with me and couldn't reconfirm the number. Wait, I could call home. Luckily I found Natureman home and talked him through the steps to find that email info. Nope, it wasn't a copying error, I had written the number correctly. 

What to do?  Why would she have given me the wrong number? It's not like a giving the wrong digits to a guy in the bar... If you don't want to host somebody, you just say "No" to the surfing request.  You are told you are always supposed to have a backup plan and for the very first time I didn't have one. Maybe she just made a typo and didn't catch it. Well, we didn't panic right away.

After stopping to pick up our registration stuff at the convention center we still had time before the Appreciation Party so I suggested driving by the given address. Maybe we needed to find another place to stay/ maybe Couchsurfer host Jamie would be home /maybe that address didn't even exist. Since it was only a mile away and en route to where we needed to go next, we GPS'ed it. Sure enough awaiting us we found a quiet neighborhood with manicured lawns and according to the next door neighbor who was holding a garage sale, a 'Jamie' lived next door. And a dog was home.

Whew, RELIEF. Ok so I left a note in the mailbox as to our timing plans and my cell number with hopes that Jamie would discover it upon her return and give us a call.  But alas no call and when we returned from Lambeau, the house was still dark. Surely her dog would have needed to be let out. Maybe she didn't check her mailbox.  There was a side entrance, maybe I should leave a note there too? I'm going over the past correspondence in my head. We had spoken about it being Friday and maybe she'd go out after work. We could go take a walk to a lovely garden we had driven past... It was a lovely evening and still daylight.

One major problem en route to this unique Garden I realized I really needed to visit a bathroom. The neighborhood library was already closed but at the end of another block was a neon light and more traffic. Yea, maybe a laundrymat/ business, hopefully still open. It was an old corner grocery store but an elderly man was locking up as we turned the corner, Lynn had pointed out a sign saying 'general public no bathroom use.' Just my luck but I got the gentleman's attention and he reopened the door and I explained we were from out of town and unfamilar with the area, could he point me in the direction of a business with a restroom nearby. The younger clerks in the store said I could use their facilities. Thank you Lord. As I was escorted to the back of the store I explained that we were supposed to be staying nearby but I had the wrong phone number. He asked me what it was ... I started to recite the number 9-0-2.. he stopped me as the Green Bay area code is 920 not 902.  I thanked him profusely on both accounts. 
Sure enough I was finally able to reach Jamie. She wondered why she hadn't heard from us AND she apologized for mistyping the phone number AND she had left a key in the mailbox. She would finish up dinner with her friends and be would be home shortly. 

Greatly relieved, Lynn and I continued on our walk to the  garden and all its surprises. Beautiful plantings and many yard sculptures.

After our nice walk we made our way back to the car to unpack and make ourselves at home. 


Not long there after Jamie joined us and we ended up  exchanging travel stories late into the evening. Much later than my usual Friday nights...  

One thing's for sure - I am not losing my touch and there are a lot of nice interesting people with big hearts everywhere.  

Selfie time : Lynn (L) Jamie ( R)

Home of the Packers...

I am not exaggerating when I say I live in an 'asportual' home. I have absolutely no clue who is playing for whom/ what game is on. In fact, the only time any game might be on our TV is when one of the boys is home.

Lynn's First Visit

So, you could say a visit to the home of the Green Bay Packers, Lambeau Field, might be lost on someone like me. Yet, when the appreciation party for the M.O.M. Mission of Mercy Free Dental Clinic volunteers was being held at Lambeau and we could arrive in Green Bay earlier than expected, Lynn, my friend and 'ride', expressed a desire to go.  Why not? 

Requested Attire: Packer gear, of course. But do you think I even had anything Green & Yellow in my closet? Nope. Thank goodness Lynn's son could lend us some gear. I wouldn't have a clue if people were staring at me for wearing the wrong player's jersey. 

Things aren't exactly quiet in the off season. If you didn't know Lambeau is under construction.  Packer fans are not hard to come by in this city nor state and they decided to support this major renovation...

Anyhow 600 volunteers filled the Lambeau Field Atrium for a buffet dinner, music and  even an auction.  The place obviously knows how to handle a crowd and the 6 food tables never had a line nor waiting. 


The wait staff refilled table water and cleared plates. Each guest besides having a yummy dinner was gifted one free beverage.

Note that great Packer shirt.

12 Volt Band entertained us

We were blessed by many sponsors for this entire M.O.M.  2-day clinic including our bar-b-que chicken/burger dinner with sides and music, not to mention the space for the appreciation evening.

 Even a Packer autographed football was auctioned off. I heard someone say the name was mispronounced but then corrected. Heck, if John Travolta can mispronounce Idina Menzel's name at the Academy Awards, it can happen to anyone and what would I know anyway? Anyhow a dentist from Eau Claire won the bidding on the signed ball by Datone Jones (Day-tone) who  I now know happened to be a first round draft pick 2013, defensive end. And no, I didn't bid on the ball. :)

What a terrific venue in M.O.M.'s host city for 2014.