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June 2008 Blog
Rick Hampton Square Dance Caller

June 1st

Hi all, It has been a couple of weeks since I posted.
My # 2 kid graduates from HS on Tuesday, I was able to catch her singing (a duet-she did solo in the Christmas show) with the choir and WOW!!!!!!!- 6 months is amazing She also received a MAJOR award voted on by her classmates and I'M VERY PROUD...In fact I called J.R, D.N, R.S and E.H- all callers I work with often and said "we suck"- Let's learn from the kid. hehehehe
As far as do-see-do goes, Jet and I had fun calling A2 today, yet I'm saddened that a "blowup" at another former club has affected the Sunday attendance- My position is 1) There was ZERO reason for the Steppers and Stompers to fold-Changes Yes-Fold-NO  2) Who "hooks" up with who is none of anybody's business!!!!!!! ( A death of a spouse and how one grieves is NOT YOUR BUSINESS) 3) If y'all don't get over this silliness kiss Sundays goodbye- and Fresno area s/d too...Their ain't much left!!!!!!!!...I'm trying BUT also looking for a job...I would hate to see it go away but Fresno might (Visalia dancing is up-I will continue to be doing this even with a job-)....apologies to the folks who enjoy and support the dancing, but help ME PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rick

June 10th
I'm glad to announce that I will be working with The Monday and Tuesday groups for another season-YAY- My last
nite for Thursdays is this week-Rod will take over the reins.  I'm looking forward to My East Coast tour (I leave Father's Day early AM) and will be back after the Wichita Nationals.  I wish I had not had a recurrence of ear/sinus infections, But I did and I saw the Doc today- I'm OK to fly-just feel like doo-doo.  When I return I will be actively seeking a day job, one that hopefully will fit in to the calling schedule......we'll see

Rick

June 11th
WOW- The Oakhurst club is doing so well.......I've called up there a couple of times each summer and it keeps growing!!!!!  Jan is doing a great job as their caller and it was nice to see her and Jackson tonite.
QUESTION........ How can we replicate the success of Visalia and Oakhurst in Fresno??  Numerically it would seem that a Fresno group would be larger, Yet there is no Basic/MS/Plus group in town........I'm confused- Thoughts??
Email Me

June 14th
A GREAT Pre-Fathers Day- I'm leaving on my East Coast Tour in 6 hours (11pm now) so my great kids celebrated w/ me today......I LOVE YOU GUYS  Lynn will be with me thru the East Coast leg, then we'll be on 2 different planes
Lynn to home, Me to Wichita.......I'm looking forward to this trip, yet a tad sad, as I will be getting a "day job" when I return July 1st- and who knows how that will affect the future (except a regular paycheck hehehehehe).....I hope to see many of you on the trip- PLEASE step up and say HI!!!!!!!!

Rick

June 30th
I'm back from a mostly great trip I called at Times Squares in NYC Tuesday the 17th, In Enfield CT. on the 18th, In Elmwood Park NJ and a Sold Out Weekend on the 19th and 20th in Colonie NY, Then back to Elmwood Park NJ on the 21st- Then a Day off- that's "mostly" comes in!!!!!   Lynn was with me on the first leg, and we had just this Monday to do the tourist thing- Now let me backtrack, as rental cars were the issue on this trip-  As we realized at Dulles airport Sunday the 15th 9:45pm- we were not going to make it to Albany airport by Midnight, when the car rental place closed- We called them and QUOTE "There are a ton of late flights....we'll wait for you".....When we realized it would be 1am when we landed, Lynn called again and at 10:20pm- NO ONE ANSWERED (1:40 before they closed)
As I was afraid of, when we got to Albany-No one there, I asked the adjacent rental car counter "did the dude say something about leaving me keys?"......She said Yes-Your keys and folder are there-Pointing to a folder- I took the keys and folder, got the car and left.......At the hotel (3am now) I looked at the folder and it was NOT MY NAME (At this point I technically have a stolen car)-  I emailed the manager with a oops and I'll have the car back in the late morning- And I did...I got car #2.....all's well till the following Monday, when Lynn wanted to do the tourist thing......and we went off the the ghetto of Albany for a Museum..........All's well till a narrow street (at the museum entrance) had a Ford SUV parked crooked to my right- a car parked exactly opposite and a SUV coming toward me, drifting my way
And that's when I nudged 1/4 inch too far to right and KABOOM- My mirror "kissed" the parked SUV mirror- After stopping and wondering if Lynn and I would be remembered (Many of the folks in this "ghetto" came out to see why folks who did not live in these parts had crunched "Grandma's Daughter's car"....Info exchange and CYA-Whew!!!!
An hour later Rent car # 3.......All's well that will eventually end well- Insurance companies can be a pain!!!!!!!!!!!!
The next morning Lynn flew home and I flew to Wichita.........More on Nationals on My July Blog.....BTW It was a GREAT workshop at Whirlaways tonight!!!!

Rick