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September 2007 Blog
Rick Hampton Square Dance Caller

Sept 4th
A good trip thru southern Ca this labor day weekend, If you don't count freeway fires ,Shut down roads Lightning, T-Storms, A tornado as well as heat and travel issues.  I made all my gigs and had fun once there- The travel was a tad less pleasant.  ::)))
This week sees me back to the southland (San Diego) for Fri/Sat and the first Clovis A2 workshop on Sunday- Just let someone whine about dancing after a drive to Visalia the nite before.....grrrr........ I'm starting this group for the sole reason of providing some regularity for these nice folks, most who have said YAY, most who have also not supported the 4th Sundays- We'll see, but if the support is not there, I may chalk this up to "I shoulda known"
Keep the "Taller Caller" in your prayers- His voice issues may be a tad more serious.

Rick

Sept 5th
How to avoid spam..........1) check email more than once a month/year/decade?? 2) click to report/block actual  spam 3) Don't use EarthLink or any other "You must be in my approved list" email "provider" cuz after all how the heck can somebody reply to your message you sent me???? 4) don't reply to actual spam 5) don't click on email links you don't know 6) THINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...................Then again with all the evil internet demons ..Maybe you should........Unplug your computer, after all a virus may sneak into your house and eat your food, erase your VHS tapes, let the air out of your tires, forge checks, steal your kidneys-leaving you in a bathtub of ice while running off with your spouse.............Did I Mention THINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I feel better now

Rick

Sept 9th
Well It was a tiring weekend-900 miles Thurs thru Sun but all fun. Thursday, Thanks to The permission of the Mountain Squares, and To Norm C.-we we're able to make sure that the Joaquin Squares had somebody to call on their FIRST nite back- These "Caller Schedule Issue" situations never fail to befuddle me, Perhaps a calendar might help-Oh well-All's well (or just Status Quo?) Friday/Saturday was my first trip to San Diego in a while -Ocean Wavers on Friday/ Finest City Squares on Sat. (This is a GLTB Group if you're not familiar with them-Stop By-FUN) Sunday was the first NEW A2 wksp in Clovis- A sufficient crowd to so far continue, Not the hoped for/agreed upon crowd- But nothing New- A Fun Day-Lotsa work done and in a few more sessions it will be a group not receptive to the "local casual crowd"- The same folks who 1) Said this was wanted 2) didn't show up 3) Were not the 2 couples who sent word why they couldn't make it- Y'all need to be there next time, or forget it- This is a progressive workshop, and to progress, y' Have to be there-I drove back from San Diego to be there, were y'all farther away? ................ By the Way Ask Rich R. to sing, he will!!

Rick

Sept 10th
Hey we got a class- some 20 folks, and only one single (Youth) A fun nite- 2 more open weeks (To the angels please quit talking in the square- There is just one caller- This is a good class- I'll handle it-That's why you pay me the big bucks ::)).............Give the "Taller Caller" a prayer- they found a growth on his vocal folds (chords) and it'll be a week till the test results are in..........I hear Andy Allemande entertained well Sat in Visalia, I hear the club made a profit....Why are no further Sat. dances scheduled???????????????????????????????????????????????
Life in the "V"- speaking of which- nice folks who were trying to re-start Squarama have Lost their "on hold callers", and, as I was certain would happen, waited too long............... Too bad they didn't bow out gracefully and there would have been a Prez B-day weekend in 2008, and we would have had 8 months publicity out- Will we try 2009- Well as the old saying goes-miss a year- why bother..... Oh well defecation occurs.

Rick

Sept 17th
2nd Night and another great class- I believe we were at 21 (5 missed from last week-6 new came) YAY.  By the way  I learned that a club member wants to change to cancel existing contracts with callers-most callers- This is the same idiot that has presented multiple 100's of dollars for re-imbursement of "publicity costs"  and is one of the rudest people I've ever met. NOTE There is 2 ways to handle this 1) Muzzle this fool 2) Cancel signed agreements with many callers and good luck finding anybody to call dances, or the class for that matter- I will not.  This dude cost you a caller a few years ago, and split the club into a shell of it's former self- Are y'all going to repeat that debacle????

Rick

Sept 23rd
Man have I been busy, A GREAT 4th Oakhurst and very likely a sell-out in 2008.  I'm looking forward to the closing nite of class tomorrow-and the first nite of class Thursday. This week is Mon-Thursday, then off to Nevada for their association event- Plus/Advanced.  I really get refreshed when local issues are offset by travel- It helps any attitude adjustment I may need, perhaps some folks should get away for a square dance weekend-or just get away-hehehehe

Rick

Sept 30th
JET GAVE ME A COLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAA-WAA  (That's OK I gave it back to him)- A Fun trip to Nevada, It was great working with Leo and Marlene- Lynn and I had a chance to spend quality time ( translated I was laying in bed moaning I'm sick-She was doing teacher work) Actually we did play a bit on Nevada's Finest Slot Machines, Had some really good food, and I did whine hehehehehe.................This week sees another normal week-looking forward to the largest class Mondays have seen in 3 years, The Completion of the largest class Tuesdays have seen in 3+ years, The start of the new Advanced class and the 2nd open nite on Thursdays- THEN I HAVE 3 DAYS OFF!!!!-It's BBQ time

Rick