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May 2006 Blog
Rick Hampton Square Dance Caller
May 3rd
We folded the Tuesday class.
I hope now that all the pieces are in place to resurrect this group. I think
that if we can survive this 2+ year decline, we can survive anything. I hear a
caller change is in the works at a nearby group. I wish all parties well-I hope
they prosper-I also hope that with this change, the folks will begin to
participate in the only other area group that dances that level
May 7th
I find it ironic that most of those who are questioning the decision
to fold the Tuesday class, are many of the same folks who have left the
group-due to "we can't dance with that class"-Go Figure! Anyway a
fun trip to Southern Ca.- Thursday we started the process of re-thinking the
approach to square dancing in bedroom communities- Maybe it's as simple as ABC?-
Saturday was a small (but larger than usual) dance in Newbury Park- I hear
they're going to fold-Sad, but another example of how the wrong hall can kill
ya- In this case horrible echoes, in Visalia it's price. Sunday was a
blast at C1 class. I have a lite month then it's 9 days a week June-September.
Rick
May 8th
In the Neighborhood- The "Crazy Cat Lady" as she was called by a note found in
my mailbox- Hit a Nursing Mommy Cat in the head with a shovel- I know this as I
talked to the animal control people today- In fact this PsychoBi## was in my
Tuesday class a few years ago- A truly lousy dancer. I hope they haul her off
and flush her- I'm missing 3 cats-BIT$H -Fortunately the nut case signed a
statement admitting to todays shovel attack. The neighbors seem to be
aware as per the note I found in my mailbox. Sheez I sure attract the
psychos- There's a Dude (Ray Bodine) serving time for attempting to murder a
Tulare County Judge (H.Broadman) by firing shots at the Judge in court- He
Missed, He wasn't a very good dancer either- Spares & Pairs Club Member-Me the
caller-Also a Visalia club (folded now). In fact, before the shooting, while he
danced-not very well- this nutcase wrote threatening notes to the "cohabitating"
sinners-aka the President and Girlfriend. The dude had a strange set of moral
values-....i.e anti abortion fanatic- I think abortion is wrong in most cases, I
don't shoot at people, I also don't kill cats-Isn't that how Jeffery Dahmer got
started? (another nutcase with Valley ties- his mom lives in Fresno) Sheez
I've gotta move. So how was your day?
Rick
May 9th
A notable increase in attendance tonight!- This would lead me to FURTHER
believe the V area needs Dances-not classes-Too bad a Tuesday Night is a lousy
Dance nite- The incoming V Prez was there- didn't dance-seldom does anymore-too
bad it usually takes a few more than mid 40's to fully slide to the Dark
(politico not dance) side. Is the V area ready for 1) No Festival 2) No
dancing 3) still the V lives- I guess that in s/d, like life. one should
research what one votes for. After all the State (Oh yeah the bay area) turned
down the intelligent Arnold measures- So why not vote in those who wont
advertise a 50 year old festival-but will fold it. I hope crazy cat lady
gets a ballot.
Rick
May 15th
A wild few days at the Hampton Mansion- Lynn had a major medical scare,
Teenagers vs. Parents is a bear-We had to cancel the cruise-The Texas Nationals
is rapidly becoming more of a chore than a joy-I wonder if S/D had "promoters"
rather than volunteers-would we be better off?- Wait I don't wonder, I know.
Just compare a Winter Fest to most other festivals- Compare the dancing at
Caller Run events vs. The 45 minute long breaks at many club events-followed by
another 20 minutes of announcements (Ok so maybe I exaggerate-a little- It's
more like 30 and 10 minutes AKA 2 tips)
Monday nights are going GREAT!!!!! Tuesdays had 1 good night in a row.
Wednesdays are winding down for the summer hiatus. Thursdays are trying some new
recruiting tools. Sundays are doing well at both C1 and A2. BTW I haven't
seen "cat lady" in a few days
Rick
May 16th
I'm sad, I have to let my oldest make her own mistakes-out in the real
world. I wish I hadn't fought with her the other nite.
Say a prayer for her please. I hope she finishes School.
Rick
May 16th
I'm still sad but now I'm also MAD- The Morons who run the PPAV hall in
Visalia, The folks who have taken a once mighty hall and ran it into the ground,
have said $250 on a TUESDAY IN VISALIA -Finally the club
said................well no thanks.
I hope the PPAV board gets fired over running out a 30 YEAR tenant-and the LAST
regularly scheduled one-If you need a hall- DON'T RENT THAT PLACE- I hope their
sopas and festas suck- That they lose money and that the city take eminent
domain and condemns the place-Screw Em- (Sadly I've been trying for 5 years to
get the club to realize this was going to happen-I take ZERO joy that I was
correct)...................If anybody sees Jess-Tell her I love her and miss
her.
Rick
May 17th
Thanks to all the DADS who have shared their stories. I still hurt.
I see the SharpShooter Music project may have enough subscriptions to become a
reality-let's hope!!!!- I hear from a caller that he's worried about the future
of a "social" not a "square dance" club- I can think of 2 3/4 Thursdays
groups that fall into that trap-Not Mountain Squares-We have a GREAT workshop-
just not enough people- Thursdays in the mountains may soon go bye-bye, Tuesdays
in the V area may as well- Crap, and I wanted to call full time? Yeah it's just
obvious now that s/d will survive under professional/semi-pro management
and the existing will die off (in some cases , soon I
hope)............................If anybody sees Jess tell her Hi from Dad
Rick
May 19th
I went out to the V area's largest club tonight- Nice people- Long
announcements by the V chief politico and awards for 80 year olds who dance?
HUH? -
Plus the T.P. (top politico) announced the Aleve TV ad is a good thing- So the
5th largest city in California muddles along with one club and the T.P thinks
all is well. Oh well; Say hi to the kid if you see her
Rick
May 20th
I had another nite off so I was at The V area's Square 8's for a beginners
hoedown- 4 callers, 4 squares- Not a soul from the 5th largest city- No T.P.
either-at the ONLY regularly scheduled Square Dance in the V area -in fairness
no dancers to speak of either-Related????....................Hmmmmmmm? (The Mtn
Clubs have some regularly scheduled Sats. but we're talking almost 100 miles
away)- Thanks to the Visalia Gang (My tuesday club-the one without a home) for
almost 50% of this dance. At the home front I got to see and hear Cassie Hampton
sing today-GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Beatles songs at that!!-My niece and
nephew are staying the weekend (4 and 10) and finally If anybody sees my
other kiddo-tell her I love her!- Mountain Squares Tomorrow.
Rick
May 22nd
11 Squares at The Mountain Yesterday- LOTSA FUN and (shhhhhhhh) it was 100%
Mainstream-hehehehehe
We didn't tell. Graduation tonight (I hate those but don't fight
them)- HotDogs and cake-It was OK. I'm starting week 2 without hearing from JLH-
I miss you-LOVE DAD
Rick
May 30th
A relaxing Memorial Day weekend- A promised visit to the Sunday Dance fell
thru AGAIN- Folks just tell us you're not coming-we believe you when you say you
will, Plan for it and get screwed. This is the 5th time- Anyway my outreach to
your group has cost me a sizable number of my long time dancers (I lowered the
level for y'all-as you asked for-Whoops-I guess I'm an Idiot)
July is very likely the LAST DANCE at the advanced level in Fresno- Please for
once and finally-do what you say and start DANCING-(Don't you see that's what
has killed the Fresno area-No Dancing-Just Classes and workshops but no dances),
and with your new workshop caller-you will be actually able to dance the
level-Assuming that dancing-not perpetual Workshopping is your goal.
At Home my Kiddo has returned with attitude, but
she's here- Mom is now the basket Case-Mad and Hurt, I told her it's OK for me
to be the hurt one- as you've who've known me for years know -A case could be
made that I deserve it- Mom Does NOT! (I'm glad the kiddo is home-Thanks
for prayers-Now please pray for mending)
Rick