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January 2008 Blog
Rick Hampton Square Dance Caller
 

January 1st 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR
I had such a GREAT time calling with Jet- Lynn and Sylvia had a great visit (as did Jet and I). I am still a tad under the weather but feeling better. Politics are alive and well in Sac, and well as everywhere else- Despite that FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rick

January 4th
I was able to sub for the Steppers (Fresno) tonite- Their caller had storm travel issues- Fun but small- Dancing during a Monsoon is interesting.  I hear the Monday Fresno Advanced group is having insurance issues (I'm not sure why-ACA/CL will cover these things)- They're dark and unsure if they wish to sign the hall contract- Meanwhile I had to cancel the 2nd Sunday A2 Workshop (Remember the one that these folks requested) due to attendance vs. driving home 300 miles to call.- My group is insured- no problems.  I hope that the nice folks realize that if Mondays go away-It will be a while-if ever, that I offer more than an occasional A2 workshop- I agreed to do a regular 2nd Sunday wksp in addition to my 4th Sunday A2 Dance  after they folded- and got burnt.  I hope that IF this incarnation flops, then we will work together this time- Otherwise I see driving in their future- a loong drive...say Bakersfield or Oakdale

Rick

January 14th
A busy 10 days, 1500+ miles and lotsa FUN!!- I saw an old, dear, friend at Sandpipers (From the Fresno area) I'm so glad to see folks returning to Square Dancing!!- Tonite was a GREAT party nite at Whirlaways, we lacked in visitors yet had a full floor of club members!!- This is what this club and I have been striving for- Self sustaining events. I'm pleased that we are all on the same page for the future!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!- Tuesday Visalia starts classes- I hope the trend started last year continues-Growth!!

Rick

January 15th
A good start- 11 new dancers (13 if you count the couple where the hubby refused to dance) and this was before the newspaper publicity hit.I look forward to this class.................On another front, after a 900 mile weekend..... I really enjoy calling and teaching as my profession but if the current trend of SD folks not giving value to the activity-and the travel expenses go up much more-I'm going to have to re-evaluate.  I cannot believe some of the clubs who will not raise the door price from 5 bucks, Sheez that's a latte Grande.  I hope I can continue to work with the smarter groups-who value the activity-and who are capable of a budget that is doable for all.  I am sadly having to drop future contract offers from a fair amount of groups who still think a dance is worth a mere 4 bucks and callers get the same bucks we did in the 80's.  Anybody got a part-time job for me?

Rick

January 21st
A really fun nite in Oakdale- We included the new dancers and ALL had fun.  The Tuesday group had some TV and Newspaper publicity Fri and Today (Not the Public service crap- a Real Article and Real TV coverage)- Hopefully that will add to the 11 (I suspect the Hubby will not come back) we had last week.  I'm off tonite as the hall is unavailable, I'm still looking for a P/T Job- hehehehehe (Not really kidding)

Rick

January 26th
A GREAT day- A fun SD Party for 75+ Girl Scouts and parents, No hay bales-YAY!!!!!!.... Kid # 2 had Formal tonite
Kid # 1 (Mommy to be) Did hair and makeup-  They used to try to kill each other ::))  I cooked 2 nites in a row-Tonite I even got to eat with Mrs. Rick.   I understand my Tuesday (Visalia) group had a good visit to Whirlaways (My Monday group) tonite- I hope they beat the weather home.....Speaking of Weather, The Frazier Park group was snowed out Thursday, Michael K. was snowed out of a freeway- So I hopped down to Joaquin Squares- Fun Nite!!!!....Oh yeah the newspaper and TV didn't hurt any , but a major increase was not in the cards- 17 (I Think) total.......sigh.
Tomorrow it's A2 in Clovis- Then Bakersfield, Visalia, Bakersfield, Frazier Park and Redding -I got some driving to do.

Rick

January 28th
A Sad Day at the Hampton's , Please pray for Jess and Jered as we found out her baby had no heartbeat and is dead. The 2nd Ultrasound confirmed this sad news. Help us by praying for understanding.
Thanks

Rick

January 29th
The procedure went fine, Jess is OK.  Thanks for your kind words and prayers
. ....................Last nights class had 27 folks- Fun evening and a nice distraction.

Rick