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May 2007 Blog
Rick Hampton Square Dance Caller
May 1st
A busy week- a Full schedule till Mother's Day Weekend and Sat and Sunday
off YAY
Don't forget to join us Sunday 5/6 for a Ricky B. Memorial benefit dance.
There are lotsa folks who'll be there!!
I'm too busy to write about some of the weird stuff going on in s/d land-Nothing
new-Maybe Later
Rick
May 3rd
The entire Hampton's went to see Lynn receive her school's Teacher of The Year
award!!!! Yay Lynn!!
Thanks to Norm for doing Frazier Park!!- I hear the Fresno Monday group is
having a bit of trouble finding a caller- It seems the crowd is not( to at least
one of the callers being considered ) sufficient to make the economics work-I
was truly afraid that would happen- They really need to find a cheaper, better
located hall to survive!!
I wish them well in the search (I already have a Monday) I have indicated I
would be interested in The Friday Group, just not 51 times a year- I would be
able to call 35-40 times and I think 12-15 Guest callers a year would be
good-we'll see? Sunday has us at The Ricky B. Memorial Dance with Tony O.,
Me, Phil F. ,Skip S. and more handling the calling- Should be well attended-
This follows Friday in Riverside and Sat in the O.C w/Tex Gibson- FUN
Rick
May 6th
A GREAT benefit for Ricky B's Family- Over 25 Squares- Over $7000 raised- Thanks
to all the "worker bees" Especially Wes, Nancy ,M.H, Marylyn, Bill, Bonnie,
Fred, Carol, Cheryl and so many others!!!!! Thanks to all the callers-
Tony O., Phil F., Ben G., Skip S., Norm C., Fred K., Bob K., John S., Rob C.,
Wes C., James B (as in Boswell) gosh I hope I remembered everyone- THANK
YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The weekend trip was a Fun but difficult travel
weekend- On the way to Riverside on Friday I got caught in a 60+mph wind driven
sandstorm- I saw 2 18 wheelers blown on their sides. Sat was in Buena
Park- A fun nite calling with Tex Gipson- I'm kinda pooped, a full week then a
day or 2 off
Rick
May 7th
GOUT SUCKS- I had to miss a Thursday (2 weeks ago) due to this crap. I went thru
the meds and the ugly side effects , but late enough in the day to have to have
a sub- So after the nasty regimen (ending at midnite-I was OK up till
tonight- 7pm Started the workshop ( a GOOD nite) James B. called a tip and did
some studying- 10pm Chatting with James in the parking lot- a twinge in my left
foot- Midnite- I can't walk-so I started the meds again- 1x Hour for 6 hours or
till you puke-4am - Foot still hurts, Don't want to barf-GOUT SUCKS- Foot still
is unwalkable- 2 pills to go-I will be OK sometime later Tuesday, but whazzup
with my once every few years gout flare-ups happening tice in 2 weeks????? and ,
did I mention, GOUT SUCKS- PS- a Great Workshop tonite
Rick
May 9th
So if we want new dancers, younger dancers, why in the hell would 2 callers (in
a row) who are subbing at a group, who recently lost their caller, WHY IN THE
HELL would they YELL at teenage dancers, The club has no problem with the teens
enthusiasm, I applaud the teens and these IDIOTS want to
YELL????????????????????????? I hope this club cancels any bookings they have
with these fools. Oh yeah Another caller cancelled 2 bookings (remember this
club LOST their caller-as in passed away) so the club is working on the short
term, How on earth , if not on PURPOSE, could this sub, not know his schedule a
lousy 2 months out- Nothing new, this dude has been double/ triple booking a
Loooonnng time- Hey Highest bidder wins eh'- Always, in the case of some
"callers" anyway here's the recap 3 callers who have screwed a single club in 5
weeks, 1 doesn't know any better, the 2nd is a overgrown kid with a big ego and
the 3rd can't seem to make it to anything but fiestavals - but the hiring goes
on as life goes on................ In one case shouldn't a "fiestaval
rotation" be reconsidered-Long overdue but Really???????????? If not why not? in
the other case, perhaps an "official" demo be reconsidered????????? In the
3rd case why was he there in the first place-Dark would've been better AGGGHHHHH
no wonder s/d is as FU%%ed up as it is-
OK I feel better, too bad s/d is on life support -Y'all have a meeting now,
After all s/d problems are always solved in meetings.
Rick
May 10th
I think something must be in the water- People are losing their
minds.................Kid dancers are suddenly "disrespectful" - Well, I've
called to these enthusiastic teens, Rick Called to them for over a year, Rod's
called to them-Wes has called to them -Yet in 2 weeks they suddenly
changed????????????????? Maybe the 2 callers you yelled at them are to blame..
Respect is earned. I wish I could share what one of these callers said
about the club, not just the teens, the whole club- It was pretty ugly and sure
as hell not respectful of the ENTIRE CLUB, The dancing ability of the club and
more- Alas I only quote with permission-Trust me- The kids are NOT the bad
guys!!!!!!!!
AGGGGHHHHH
Rick
May 12th
A Really FUN New Dancer Hoedown at Steppers and Stompers- I've indicated I'd
call for this group, if asked, and if they don't mind my traveling (I figure I
can do 40 or so Fridays per year)- Again a BLAST- I'm off for Mom's day
Rick
May 20th
It was a really great week- The S/D folks have been behaving-mostly, A
Fabulous S/D party at Impact Church in South Sacramento- GREAT s/d party and a
growing church. The Oakdale dance had great weather (outside) and a broken
A/C inside- Rather Hot- a large crowd and visitors from Germany. I hope
the Gorman fire did not hurt the Mountain Squares Dance today- This S**T is
getting old, and I have been amazed this group is still dancing after all the
snow/fire/stuff happens. I have a Normal week, plus I'll again be at
Steppers Friday Then a weekend off- Memorial Day Weekend- GOD BLESS THOSE WHO
HAVE BEEN/ARE IN THE ARMED FORCES
Rick
May 25th
A small crowd at Steppers Tonight- Holiday weekend- It was FUN!!! I indicated
I'd love to call for the group, but I have a feeling that the "V" will return to
the old habits, at a greater cost, and will remember (probably too late) why6
Ricky B. was hired in the first place-Oh well, we'll see.......... Frazier Park
had a good class nite- I'm amazed that the class is hanging on-given the
sporadic schedule. The "U" area seems to be having some growing pains and
I hope all hell doesn't break loose- Folks remember what happened just north.-
Anyway I'm off till Tuesday and looking forward to being normal for 3 days-
(Except my damn ankle is hurting like hell- Gout SUCKS)
Rick
May 31st
A good day- Kid #2 got accepted in both choirs (the really good ones) for next
year-Her SENIOR YEAR-agghhh
Mrs. Rick and Kid # 2 Fly to Italy/Austria in 3 weeks for a College Choir tour
(Yep that makes 4 choirs-counting church)- "Fly to Italy"-- My chest hurts- but
I am "silly" as Lynn says. My 2008 East coast tour is shaping up nicely, I'm
looking forward to Charlotte (Unless I die of irrational fear while my family is
in Italy).........The "U" area is in the midst of a s/d politic turning point- I
hope folks have listened (and learned) what occurred in the "V" area and will
get thru this. Let's hope, I think they will, I hope
Rick