Practice

 

I am bushed but hopeful.

The research talks of my many researchers will be coming at the end of this week!  All their various talks are ready to go (other than minor typographical error corrections that likely will be noticed as they continue to practice).  

And, they are tasked with doing a whole helluva lot of practice before scheduling a "Dress Rehearsal" with me over the next three days.  They hopefully will be smooth, eloquent, and be able to weave a beautiful story of their work for the "Dress Rehearsal" ahead of their real presentations.  But, that may be a "pipe dream" of sorts.  They are all feeling nervous, so I suspect for at least a few, the "Dress Rehearsal" will reveal their need to KNOW exactly what they plan to say before they say it and they will have to scramble to practice and practice and practice if they are NOT up to snuff.  

Come the end of these research talks, I am thinking I will have a celebratory beer or two in the evening when I eventually traverse the land back to home.  Yet, I cannot become too celebratory, as the next day, I have to take a very early morning bus trip with my band as the scheduled "Battle of the Bands" is set halfway across the state and our group is set to play sometime that day.    This is a yearly event where community bands from across the state come together to play across the day and be evaluated by band professionals (usually College of Music Faculty).  They give each community band a critique of how they can further improved.  Our conductor is nervous as hell (as he usually is) and we have one more (likely fire-and-brimstone style) rehearsal tonight to practice our program of songs.  

Last Thursday, I ended up getting to the "Retiree's Cigar Group" regrettably late, but one friend was there, so for a part of the time that was very nice.  The remainder of the time, I spent editing student talks.

I got up late this morning and only was able to run 7.7 miles before I had to stop and get ready to go to the U.  

PCS - 8.... pipes still call to me each and every day.  Their nurturing of my mind is something I miss terribly.

Contentedness Score - 7.5.... the light at the end of the tunnel is in sight!  

PipeTobacco