Found in Fishers

I’m too young to feel so old

Enough is enough with the health problems this week. I reported earlier this week about my good old broken foot and toe. Good news, bad news. The good news is it's only a broken toe. But the prognosis would have been better if the foot was actually broken. I saw the podiatrist today and it turns out that because I have a flexible bone structure (you should see the trick I can play with my hands) my bones have shifted in my feet in a way they should not have. Therefore, the bones are out of alignment and he suggested that I have surgery on the foot to fuse some of the bones correctly and use some bone fragments to make them straight. At least that's what I think he said. I wasn't expecting to hear all that, and the fact that I had to have minor office surgery while there, may have clouded some of the details.

When he saw my foot he also noted that the pain in one of my toes was not from the strange angle my toe was making, but that I had an in-grown toenail. So he numbed it and took care of it. Ick. I was sick to my stomach thinking about it. I'm going to need 2 weeks off work for the surgery and it's not something I have to rush into right now, so that is good. Maybe over a break.

Oh, and I should not forget about Wednesday At 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning I woke up with unbelievable pain. A pain that I recognized; kidney stone pain. I could not take it any longer so at three I had John take me to the emergency room. Yep, it was a kidney stone. Only 2 mm though, so if it didn'tt pass while in the hospital, it should in a few days...or maybe weeks...so they sent me home with some strong meds in case I had a flare up while it passed. Took a nap and went to work. This has not been a good week for me. Maybe I should stay away from concession stands. Bummers.

A ton of calories and a broken foot

Well, the totals are in:

• 520 slices of pizza
• 400 hot dogs
• 118 brats
• 240 hamburgers
• 300 pretzels
• 137 nachos
• 985 pieces of candy
• 299 bags of chips
• 1488 drinks

Looks like the concession stand for the Royal Invitational last weekend was a popular place. It sure was rocking all night long. Can you imagine how many calories were consumed in about 6 hours? I heard lots of positive comments so far from those who participated in the contest, as well as from numerous volunteers. That's very exciting.

Trust me when I tell you, this hurts!

As I stated in a previous posting, my feet were aching. They have been kinda sore lately, but boy, were they sore today. Actually, my toe was numb. Broke down and went to the doctor only to find out I not only have a broken toe but also a broken foot. Don't ask me how I did this because I really don't know. I wish I could tell you something really exciting like I was water skiing or mountain climbing and slipped. All I do know is that my feet were not sore in China. After that I don't actually remember when my left foot started hurting so much. I have to see a podiatrist on Thursday so I don't have any news about the treatment plan.

The board meeting went smoothly last night. Mark, another Fulbright Scholar, and I talked about China for about 30 minutes. The audience of teens getting meeting hours for Government Class enjoyed the discussion. And, in celebration of the Moon Festival in China, I had mooncakes for everyone to eat. They students were pleased to have treats at a board meeting. I'll fill you in later this week on the status of my foot and will include a lovely picture of "the boot".

Almost 4000 were found in Fishers and my feet are killing me

Saturday was the big day: The Royal Invitation. A day that we have planned for since last spring. Over 280 volunteers manned their stations and 18 bands came to Hamilton Southeastern High School for this marching band competition. When I volunteered to manage the concession stand, I must have been delirious. Things started quiet and then it was incredibly busy for 5 straight hours. I don't have the exact totals yet, but I know my Dad helped grill over 800 hotdogs, hamburgers, and brats. I will get those totals to you later this week.

 

More than 3,000 people attended the Royal Invitational at Hamilton Southeastern High School on Saturday. And boy, did they eat!

The morning started Saturday at 9 a.m. when I went to open the stand and start cooking my cheese for nachos. My Dad and I ran to Sam's Club to get the frozen food, the Dollar Store for containers and back right to the high school to set up. We had lots of volunteers. Dad came on his own Friday night. He came in the house, threw down a couple hotdogs, and we were off for Senior night at the high school football game. Liz was recognized as a member of the color guard. It was nice; kinda got teary-eyed for a moment. It doesn't seem possible that I have a senior graduating this December. Of course, the color guard coaches are hoping she will fail a senior class because they really want her to stay in for winter guard. And, if you have seen her perform this year, you too would be amazed at how well she does. Mark continues to do such a wonderful job. It's so incredible to see these kids start out practicing in the early summer on the school parking lot and then today putting on such a beautiful show. Go Mark!

We didn't get home Saturday...rather Sunday about 1:30 in the morning. We did some talking around the table eating cold pizza and leftover hotdogs before going to bed and my announcement that we were sleeping in. But I couldn't sleep I was so physically exhausted and my legs were throbbing in pain. I finally got up about seven thinking that by moving around I might feel better. I did. Got some laundry going, emptied my car, cleaned up the kitchen. And then started thinking that my Dad was taking this sleeping in thing way too serious. I got quite a bit more work done before he graced us with his presence. It was almost noon! I decided to make scrambled eggs even though I should have made lunch. We talked a bit and he was on his way home. We didn't get much time to visit with each other, but it was cool to have my Dad come down by himself to see us. And many people sure came up to me at the competition telling me how much they liked my Dad. Neat.

While I was slaving away in the concession stand, John was down on the field photographing 19 bands, along with all the other activity surrounding the Royal Invitational. In just a little over five hours he took

Here's Liz tossing her rifle during the band's show, which this year is titled "The Sky's the Limit". Actually, guard folks don't call it a rifle; it's a weapon.

just a tad more than 4,200 photos! John was at the computer from 10 Sunday morning until sometime Monday morning without a break...uploading photos, editing and color correcting them, and then uploading them to his website. At the same time he had to squeeze in time to update the band program's website and write/publish the weekly newsletter that he sends out via email. You can check out his photos from the big event at www.indyeventphotos.com. Just select the "Gallery" menu and then "Hamilton Southeastern 2007 Royal Invitational". Next week he'll be in Louisville for another competition, and then back to southern Indiana beginning in October. It's a living!

 

And here's out little trumpeter, Mark. Despite the occasional complaint about early-morning practices and long Saturday's, Mark really does enjoy marching band.

Mom is feeling better. She had some minor surgery on Thursday and was resting. Sarah has a terrible cold so she couldn't make the trip. Bought a carload of breakfast food items for the daily breakfast program I run at the high school for the band program and unloaded them today. No rest for the wicked. Hmmm, what's next? A school board meeting on Monday night. I'm giving a presentation about China and education reform.

Lotsa gettin ready

I have been doing a lot of getting ready this week. I have been busy getting ready for the Royal Invitational Marching Band competition as the concession stand manager. That means lots of note taking, trips to the store, and the whopper of all trips tonight to Sam's Club to stock the stand full of candy, pretzels, popcorn and more. Three flat bed carts piled with food.
I am also getting ready at work for a presentation Monday to the school board about China. Mark Heiden, a teacher at Brooks School Road Elementary and I both were in China this summer as Fulbright Scholars. He was studying Chinese. I was visiting schools. We are going to do a joint presentation on Monday night. He is going to talk about the culture and his experience with the language, I am going to talk about the school system and reform in education. I am also going to share mooncakes with the school board as next week is the Chinese Fall Festival and mooncakes are eaten. More about that next week. I am still gettin ready for lots of other things before the board meeting.

4 more days until the Royal Invitation and what am I doing?

This Saturday is the Royal Invitation. An event sponsored by the Royal Command and Guard with 18 bands competing. I graciously agreed to manage the concession stand. That is concession stand"s". We have the main stand, a stand outside by the grills, and a stand out by the parking lot near the bands. It seems kinda crazy but I have things pretty organized. I just hope things run the way I have planned them to run.
Tomorrow it is off to Sam's Club to make sure we are ready to serve our 400 hotdogs, 240 brats, 70 pizzas, 200 hamburgers, nachos, pretzels, popcorn, candy and soda. That is 125 cases of soda.

I am planning on two SUV loads of food that will be purchased tomorrow night and unloaded in the band room upon our return. We are hoping the weather holds out for us and the rain stays away. It is suppose to be in the 80s, that is good for Coke sales. Sarah and Liam are coming down too so Sarah can help. Hoping Mom and Dad are with them, we will see.

Until then after work I am preparing job descriptions, writing to do notes, running quick errands, attending last minute planning meetings, and shopping. I feel like I have a second full time job right now.

Royal Command and Guard takes First Place

What a great day for a band competition. The weather was perfect. The kids were pumped up. The show was wonderful. The Royal command and Guard performed for the first time this season in Frankiln, Ohio at the Bishop Fenwick Competition and scored a FIRST PLACE in their division. This set the stage for the group to go into the finals round and compete with the top 6 bands of the day all of which were much larger than HSE. After a break, the Royal Command and Guard came back even better than the first time to take 3rd place for the day. And the color guard... best of the show! They really are good. You should see Liz toss that rifle.
It was a challenge to keep my eye on Mark. They really do look alike from the bleachers. I do try to keep looking for the trumpet section but they move around so fast. When you watch the Royal Command and Guard you can see that they are really far ahead of the others with their disciplined marching.
It was tough getting home. Juan and I were both incredibly tired. I drove the first leg and when I was just about ready to give it up, Juan woke from his brief nap to take over, thank goodness. We did not arrive home until 1:30 AM.
It was so much fun. This year especially because I got to know so many parents over the last 2 years. It really is a blast to talk with them and visit and watch all the other bands. I really liked another band too, their show was about Martin Luther King's speech The Drum Major. It was very entertaining.
I kept an eye on the concession stand as I am in charge of our concessions next weekend for the Royal Invitation. We will be hosting a competition with 19 bands. I am ready to serve 200 hamburgers, 400 hotdogs, 250 brats, and 70 pizzas. Let's hope there is not rain.
Consider coming to central Indiana for the show, it will be a treat! The family up north is coming down to help with concessions. We have plenty of room for guests.

Just 2 more days until showtime!

This is a busy time around the Reichanadter house for a variety of reasons. First, school is at midterm so homework is getting serious now. Add to that practice time with band is everyday except Thursdays and Sundays. I am busy getting teachers ready at school for our new balanced literacy initiative, I am in charge of the daily band breakfast and also the band concession stand for the Sept 22nd competition. Juan is busy with the band competition too and with his very busy photo business. But it is almost showtime. Saturday is the big day that the Hamilton Southeastern Royal Command and Guard will debut this season's show, The Sky's the Limit.

Last night I put the crystals on Liz's guard uniform and cleaned the grass stains from the right knee that she added during the first dress rehearsal. We are off to Cincinnati this weekend to see the band. I am excited but I promised some of the kids I would make breakfast at 6:30 AM. Yes, I am crazy. Last year I started this little gig on competition mornings that I would make pancakes for some of Mark and Liz's friends. It is fun but 6:30 will come very quickly. Almost every week until mid-November is booked. Sounds weird, but I am excited. The parent show shirt arrived tonight, got my pom poms out. I am ready to go.

One more thing for Liz. When tossing her rifle last night at practice it landed on the ground wrong and cracked. That is $38 of firewood now. Oops. The good news is that it did not hit her in the head. She dropped it during practice. During the show run through last night, I was so amazed at how she can twirl and toss a rifle and saber. Wow.

It's Colts Day in Indy

Today is the big day. The city is ready for the big evening at the RCA Dome. Yes, the World Champion Indianapolis Colts are playing football tonight. This is big for central Indiana. The mayor of Indy asked employers to allow employees to wear Colts gear. Me, oops forgot and wore black. But it was hard not to see who most people in the area are cheering for tonight. As for me, I am in need of some R and R so I am going to relax. At the same time Juan will be serving up beer and brats for the fans at the RCA Dome.

This year the Hamilton Southeastern Bands have two booths to work at. One for pizza and one for hotdogs and brats. That means that Juan can have his fill of working at the games. For me, no way. I cannot function at work if I have to serve food all night and don't get home until about 2:00 AM. For Juan though he is thinking about going on the band trip this spring so he is trying to earn the extra money from the booth. With or without Mark, he might be going.

Time has an interesting effect on people. I am still a region rat at heart but it is really hard not to cheer for the home team this week. I am not really a sports fan either unless they are winning. Call me a fair weather fan but GO COLTS!

A view from the bottom

It's Saturday and look who is working on Labor Day weekend. Not ME! Yes, that is correct. Often known for my overachieving personality, I decided to visit Sarah for a day and celebrate Dad's birthday as well. Upon arrival, I found Sarah and Dad painting the garage after a full morning of scraping. Nope, not me. I was in a holiday mood. Besides I did not have any painting clothes. So for several hours I moved my chair around the garage as Sarah did her ladder to watch her paint and talk with my mom. I was not feeling too guilty either. Just darn glad I was not having to paint this weekend. I did get a couple dirty looks and inappropriate comments from her. I will blame it on exhaustion! Happy Labor Day.