Sunday Funday - October 25 2020

 SUNDAY FUNDAY - OCTOBER, 25TH, 2020

YES - SUNDAY/FUNDAY!!!

WOW - The last Sunday in October - and only nine Sundays left in 2020!!!

Some Personal Reflections 

So, Karen, how did you take up the tuba?

(Oh no, not another note on her “tuba fetish”)

In fifth grade, we could join the band.  To make things easier, there were two brass instruments a person could play - trumpet or trombone.  On the woodwind side, students could take up flute, clarinet - and maybe alto sax.  

I think the grade school band directors must have hearing loss as they listened and encouraged these new ‘musicians’ to learn an instrument.  

But, by seventh grade, the junior high band directors needed to flesh out the parts.  The director coaxed some people to play French Horn, Tuba, and baritone on the brass side.  On the woodwind side, there were pretty much all the various saxophone parts plus bass clarinet and oboe.  

My band director found me as an easy sell “You’ll be the FOUNDATION of the band.” - by foundation when playing a chord, I would have the root or basic tone of the chord.  

BUT, the reality was that I already was one of the biggest kids in seventh grade - and I could carry the tuba home to practice.  (I still pity my parents having to listen to me practice!!!)

If I would have played trumpet, I probably would have dropped-out - but being a tuba player wasn’t quite unique - but much rarer.  In junior high, I became First Chair tuba player - and in high school, I was the first chair until my senior year.  

In my junior and senior years - again thanks to my size, I became the drum major and in the parades would be out in front in my fancy uniform keeping the beat for the band.  (Note, I was a lousy drum major - I wasn’t a showoff like other drum majors you see these days - strutting around like a plumed peacock!!)

But, tuba playing became part of me.  In college, I don’t remember if I was the only tuba player, but I was the best.  We took trips with the band and as my roommate in my sophomore year was the lead trumpet, I was kind of a big deal (note - tuba players have never been considered sexy!!!)

College also helped me in my next tuba activity - ORCHESTRA.  I found I loved orchestra music - symphonies, and more.  There was a tri-college symphony in Winona Minnesota and my roommate was lead trumpet - and almost by default - I became the lead tuba player (and as happens - the only tuba player!!!)

After college, tuba playing became a hit-or-miss for many years until I ended at Dakota State University.  The concert band was about 25 people and without a tuba providing the “foundation” it was struggling - so although I also was the Dean of the College of Business and Information Systems, I was the tuba player in the band.  

When I moved to Connecticut, I found the Hamden Symphony Orchestra.  They had a tuba player - who had TWO tubas, so “bang” - I became the second tuba (and shortly - first tuba player).  The other tuba player was already in his 70s and just kind of went through the motions.

Well, news of a ‘real’ tuba player in the area led me to be the tuba player in the Cheshire Symphony Orchestra and the Quinnipiac University Orchestra.  And, somehow I became the faculty advisor for the Quinnipiac University Pep Band.  So, Monday night was Cheshire Symphony Rehearsal, Tuesday night was Quinnipiac University Symphony, Wednesday night was a brass quintet for a church, Thursday night was Hamden Symphony rehearsal and in the winter sports seasons, Friday and Saturday were either hockey or basketball games.  (And, on some Saturday, we played for Women’s Basketball at 1:00; Men’s Basketball at 3:00 and then for either Men’s or Women’s hockey at 7:00.

My wife became a “tuba widow” (not a golf widow).

BUT .. playing in the pep band has earned me several honors.  

I played in the Division I NCAA Hockey Final (the “Frozen Four”); I played in the NCAA Division I women’s national basketball tournament. I like being able to say “I played in the NCAA Division I Frozen Four Championship Game”.  Then somebody might say “Gee, I didn’t know you were a hockey player”. And, I can answer them - “I’m not - I played with the pep band!!!”

And, now, I only play in two groups - the Brushy Creek Brass Band for Oktoberfest and the Williamson County Symphony Orchestra!!!  And, that’s about enough!!!

Aside - there aren’t many women tuba players - I wonder why!!!  

Of course, tuba players are generally fat boys and not very bright!!!

*****

HOW ABOUT SOME RIDDLES

-1 A man describes his daughters, saying, “They are all blonde, but two; all brunette but two; and all redheaded but two.” How many daughters does he have?

-2 Two fathers and two sons are in a car, yet there are only three people in the car. How?

-3 A little girl goes to the store and buys one dozen eggs. As she is going home, all but three break. How many eggs are left unbroken?

-4What begins with an “e” and only contains one letter?

-5 What has 13 hearts, but no other organs?

SOME NATIONAL DAYS

National Art Day - October 25th

National Pumpkin Day - October 26th

“Pumpkins are so much more than just a fun holiday accessory. Not only are they one of the best-known sources of beta-carotene (an antioxidant converted to vitamin A in the body), but pumpkins are loaded with fiber, potassium, and vitamin C. Try some on National Pumpkin Day “

National Chocolate Day - October 28th

More than three-in-four surveyed have chocolate at least once a week — talk about a sweet tooth!

Favorite type of chocolate? Nearly two-thirds of respondents pick milk chocolate over dark or white. 

In a crowded field, over four-in-ten people surveyed pick Hershey's as their go-to brand.

National Oatmeal Day - October 29th

“ The fiber within oats is more soluble than any other grain. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and turns into a thick, viscous gel, which moves slowly through the body. This means it keeps you full for long periods of time. Soluble fiber also slows down the body’s process of glucose absorption and inhibits reabsorption of bile into the system, meaning you avoid sugar highs and lows while your liver gets its needed cholesterol from your blood

National Candy Corn Day - October 30th

And

Halloween - October 31st.  

There is a full moon this year on Halloween.  The last time was 2001, and, the next Halloween with a full moon will be 2039.  

And, in my research, there seems to be a link between Candy Makers, Halloween, and Daylight Savings Time (which starts this year on November 1st.  Seeming, the candy makers wanted Halloween to last longer before it got dark so kids could go Trick or Treating in the light (and thus parents/houses could give out more candy!!!)  So the plan to get Congress to move the start of regular time until after Halloween in theory helps candy sales!!!

And, of course, you know that the term Halloween is a form of “All Hallow’s Evening” - for November 1st - which is “All Hallow’s Day” - or “All Saints Day”

RIDDLE ANSWERS:

HOW ABOUT SOME RIDDLES

-1 A man describes his daughters, saying, “They are all blonde, but two; all brunette but two; and all redheaded but two.” How many daughters does he have?  The man has three daughters, one blonde, one brunette and one redhead!!!

-2 Two fathers and two sons are in a car, yet there are only three people in the car. How?  It is the grandfather, the father, and a son. 

-3 A little girl goes to the store and buys one dozen eggs. As she is going home, all but three break. How many eggs are left unbroken?  Three

-4What begins with an “e” and only contains one letter?  Trick question - an envelope has only one letter inside it!!!

-5 What has 13 hearts, but no other organs?

A deck of cards!!

LOVE WINS!!!

HUGS!!!

Karwen