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March 2008 Blog
Rick Hampton Square Dance Caller

March 5th
A Fun evening at Skirts Tonite, I needed that as I have a group who is undergoing issues, Issues that had been resolved but are boiling over again- I hope these resolve soon, and for good this time- The bottom line is 2-3 persons
can kill a group, and this group is teetering in that direction- We cannot offend visitors at dances, and have loud yelling at workshops- C'mon guys-THINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!............Visalia is going very well and I look forward to a Frazier Park Workshop, Orange County, Apple Valley then to Clovis weekend.

Rick

March 10th
A GREAT trip thru So Cal- Friday at Rambling Rogues Anniversary, Sat in Apple Valley at the Thunderbirds
(Then a haul arse trip to Clovis for A2Sharpshooters)  Tonight was Bakersfield and a good workshop.
Now the next 3 nites are dark (Not my idea, hell this kills my budgeting-I do this for a living- I think next contract I'll do as many callers do- Dark nites by the club are a paid nite- I've resisted this for 5 years BUT this is getting RIDICULOUS)  Anyway I feel crappy- allergies, and I Hope I'm well for The BAKERSFIELD FIESTA- Not to call, To dance ( A policy of no local callers- Yet I live 100 miles away, and a Caller who also calls in town gets on the rotation from less than 90 miles away- Oh Yeah I don't call for the right club)  This is a GREAT weekend, let's hope that the politics don't kill it.

Rick

March 11th
I feel like crap- I'm grumpy- and I'm looking forward to dancing with Lynn this weekend. Who knows this may be the last year I can justify not working during a 3rd weekend of a month in the middle of the prime s/d season, I asked a simple question about the weekend, and it turns out the old saying "one awsh*t wipes away all the attaboys" is true. Oh well, I'll see how this plays out, I was hoping that the troubled waters I saw in The V area would not repeat in the U area- but It looks like deja vu all over again OFW

Rick

March 20th
I still feel like crap, Lynn and I had a GREAT time dancing- Then a studio session and CallerLab- Back home for 3 hours and off and running again. The situation above was resolved by me, although the issue remains- Sometimes it's better to say oops, I'm sorry.  I still wonder why the situation is the way it is. OFW.  I have a truly difficult decision to make for 2009- Yet I know that I will do what's best for my area groups- Not so good for me.-There is always the 7-11 job...................This weekend takes me to Riverside, Sunland-Tujunga then home to see my "Mexico missionary" and Easter.

Rick

Easter March 23rd
He is Risen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Amen!!
A fun trip thru Southern Ca. I wish my voice had come too- I had 2 of the hardest, yet the most fun dances I've ever called- Y'see I had no voice- What I did have was an amplified squeaky whisper- I'm glad the CowTown Singles and guests (huge crowd) and The Bloomin Squares (Good Crowd) were so kind, I hope they enjoyed Squeaky Rick- Both really seemed to have fun- Wow I just got a small appreciation of what Rod went thru (before he was diagnosed-of that I have no idea) without a voice. After all a Square Dance Caller with no voice is your friendly 7-11 clerk.
I'm going to bed- 2:39 am, Just got done unpacking, I plan to stay in bed till my cold is over or till the 7-11 job comes thru.

Rick

March 26th
I actually called at one of my groups tonite- Thanks Wes and Norm for filling in the last 2 nites.
I am a tad better but still feel crappy- I pray that I'll be at 100% (Ok 85%) for the Redding festival

Rick