The Haasienda on Shroyer…

  
In a few weeks, the schools will let out for the summer.  The staggering farewells with my seniors will soon commence.

Although I dearly love this time of year, it is also one of the most difficult times.  For the past 30 years, I’ve always found it terribly difficult to see my seniors leave.  Every year, I have three or four students that I’ve taught 12 to 13 years. 

This year, I will see nine students off to college.  Four are going into music education, two will major in musical theater, and the other three will major in film production, finance, and nursing.  Four of these nine wonderful young adults have been with me for 13 years.  Two have been with me for seven years, and the other three have been with me for four and five years.

The past several weeks I’ve attended a number of final performances, all featuring my seniors as soloists.  While it is always exciting to see how much they’ve grown musically, and in other areas of their life, I still get a lump in my throat knowing our time together will soon end.  I always feel for the band and choir directors as they watch their students leave the stage for the last time.

So, Mark, Laurel, Samantha, Rob, Rebecca, David, Mitchell, Cassie, and Devin…  thank you for your tremendous dedication and hard work, your devotion to your school music programs, and for making my life so much richer for being a part of it.

Know you are loved…

several years ago, my friend, Pati, gave me a bunch of routes to plant.  She told me what they were at the time, but of course I am mediately forgot what flower I was planting.  Monday, they finally began blooming and I learned that the flower was an iris. The pictures I’ve posted on Facebook have received a lot of impressive coverage.

The Haasienda has it’s 2015 Spring-Summer Swag going on!

Each Spring, I cannot wait for Fairmont Industries to hold their plant sale next door.  This event is hosted by the Special Needs Teachers & Staff, and their students.  This fund raiser assists the program, and students, with summer camps, items throughout the school year, and a wonderful end-0f-the-year banquet for these delightful young adults!

Remember to watch for my Facebook & Twitter posts, or emails, about the 2016 Fairmont Industries’ Plant Sale!

 My grandmother, Donna Clary Barmes, would’ve been 91 years old today. I am sure one of the first things she did upon reaching heaven in 1992 was to locate the nearest McDonald’s so she could continue to have her chicken McNuggets which she dearly loved.

This morning, my brother, Destin, left a message on my phone recounting one of Grandma Donna’s chicken McNuggets stories.  I am sure there are several hilarious stories of Grandma and her chicken McNuggets.

 One of my favorite stories involved the McDonald’s in Anderson Indiana which was located right next to another fast food restaurant chain, which I’m thinking was Wendy’s. The entrance/exit ways were right next to each other.

One day, Grandma decided she wanted some chicken McNuggets for lunch. She turned into the fast food drive, but she was not in McDonald’s drive-through. She pulled up to the drive-thru’s speaker and did not even hear the associate say, “Welcome to Wendy’s.”

Grandma attempted to order her 10 piece chicken McNuggets. The associate kindly pointed out that the chicken McNuggets were next-door. Grandma went ahead and placed an order for something like small french fries.

The next day, Grandma Donna was in Anderson, again, and determinedly said “I’m going to get my chicken McNuggets today!”

Once again, she turned into the wrong drive-thru lane.  At the speaker box, she was actually paying attention to the greeting: “Welcome to when days. May I take your order?”

Realizing her repeated mistake, she’s very sweetly, and matter-of-factly said, “Oh, I don’t believe I’ll have anything today.”

With that, she pulled away from the speaker box and drove right over to McDonald’s.

She got her chicken McNuggets!

iss you, Grandma Donna…..  Know you are still loved….

Twenty-three years ago I watched Johnny Carson bid farewell to America upon his retirement.

Tonight, I watch a fellow Ball State University alum, David Letterman, take his leave from the stage.

This is kind of sad. For nearly 50 years, I enjoyed both Johnny Carson and David Letterman’s late night shows. 

As a young child, I never required much sleep, and often watched Johnny Carson with my mother.  None of my friends at Washington elementary school new who Johnny Carson was.  Heck, I remember when Tiny Tim married Miss Vicky.

When I got to college, I joined my friends nearly every night to watch David Letterman show.  Quite often, he would shout out to his alma mater, bringing cheers from those gathered in the main lounge of the honors college dorm.

I will certainly miss David Letterman each evening.  Behind his great humor, and hilarious, and sometimes goofy antics, David Letterman is a   great man of compassion.

Despite lacking energy, I decided  to grab my camera and take a 3 mile hike through Dayton’s beautiful Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum.

It’s May 2, but there is still a good deal of spring beauty yet to appear.  What has premiered is quite lovely.

As I was preparing to leave the cemetery, I rounded the bend near Governor Cox’s tomb. 

 There on the hill was an elderly gentleman seated in his lawn chair near a gravestone covered with beautiful flowers.  Beside him was a boombox playing music.  The gentleman gazed into the sky while his lips moved, possibly singing the song that I could faintly hear while driving past.

While I wanted to think of this as a tender, sad moment, I could not help but think of it is anything but beautiful. Yes, it is sad that his love is no longer with him, but how beautiful it is that he treasures the memory, and in such a tender gesture.

Every day at The Haasienda is a new, fun adventure.  The early morning energy from three dogs is like trying to put a lid on an erupting volcano.

The buses begin pulling into the high school parking lot, next door, around 7:10 AM each morning, and despite my efforts to pretend I am still sleeping, The Girls are ready to spring into action.  

About the time the wonderful aroma of coffee begins wafting upstairs, Chief, who has taken to sleeping downstairs on the leather sofa, bounds upstairs almost always at 7:30 AM, on the dot.  This ignites Harrigan and Bailey’s full energetic fuse.
Bailey, “Miss Wiggle Bottom,” turns the bed in one of those vibrating beds that was so amazing when staying in hotels as a child.

Harrigan, while romping with Chief, eventually comes to check on me, sniffing my breath, holding her nose to my eyes, and offering one of her very deep voices that practically sound human.

After a while it is difficult to maintain my laughter.  I become just as enthusiastic as my beloved furry trio.

Thus, the day begins… 

April has always been one of my favorite months.  It’s filled with American history.

On a personal note, April 6th is my mother’s birthday, so that leads the days of special occasions.

April 02, 1865   Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capitol, falls to the Northern Army.

April 03, 1860   The Pony Express begins delivering.

April 04, 1968   Martin Luther King, Jr. assassinated.

April 05, 1964   General Douglas McArthur dies at age 84.

April 07, 1949   SOUTH PACIFIC opens on Broadway.

April 09, 1865   General Robert E. Lee surrenders to General Ulysses Grant thus ending the Civil War.

April 12, 1861   The Confederates fired upon Fort Sumter starting the Civil War.

April 12, 1945   President Franklin Roosevelt dies at Warm Springs, Georgia.

April 12, 1945   Vice-President Harry S. Truman is sworn in as President of the United States.

April 13, 1743   Thomas Jefferson born near Shadwell, Virginia.

April 14, 1865   Abraham Lincoln is shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater.

April 14, 1912   The HMS Titanic hits the iceberg.

April 15, 1865   Abraham Lincoln dies at 7:22 AM.

April 15, 1912   The HMS Titanic sinks in the North Atlantic.

April 16, 1867   Wilbur Wright born near Millville, Indiana.

April 18, 1775   Paul Revere makes his famous ride.

April 19, 1775   Revolutionary War begins.

April 30, 1975   The Vietnam War ends with the fall of Saigon.

Sadly, two footnotes in US history:  April 19, 1993, Federal Building in Oklahoma City is bombed, and April 20, 1999, one teacher and twelve students were killed at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.

This has been a fun, fun day!

I rose at 7 AM, took the furry Trio on a brisk, short walk, and returned home for breakfast. I spent the majority of my time working in my study the remainder of the morning.

At noon, I met Lea Loree at Little Saigon, a Vietnamese restaurant on Woodman Drive.  The food was delicious, and the company refreshing, and fun.

The food was delicious, and the company refreshing, and fun.

I decided to take a chance to visit the presidential hangar at the Museum of The United States Air Force. Typically, when I visit the museum, good to work for the presidential planes is always filled.

Today, however, I hit the jackpot. There was one seat available and the next-door was in 30 minutes.

Pres. Truman’s plane, “The Independence,” was closed for renovation. I walked through Pres. Eisenhower’s plane, “The Columbine,” and Pres. Franklin Roosevelt’s plane, “The Sacred Cow,” which had an elevator to accommodate his wheelchair.

My favorite plane of the presidential fleet is SAM 2600.  The history that accompanies this particular exhibit is overwhelming.  This was the aircraft that flew Pres. John Kennedy to Dallas Texas, only to return with the president and his casket.  You get to stand in the spot where Pres. Lyndon Johnson was sworn in, as well as the area, in the rear of the plane, where Pres. Kennedy’s casket sat on the return flight to Washington DC.    I spent some time in the bookstore, and then returned home to take the dogs for a walk.  Now, I am down by the Dayton mall running a few errands before I return home for more spring break fun and cleaning.

My entire day was consumed with spring cleaning, packing up items for Goodwill, and taking things to the county landfill.

This evening, at 6 PM, I began another portion of cleaning and separating.

In July 2000, I was introduced to Patricia Hill, the executive director of ACTION Adoption Services.  My dear friends, Kay and Bill Hetzer, were in the process of adopting their first son, Joey.  Shortly thereafter, I filled out my own paperwork to begin the adoption process.

By the fall of 2002, I was fully ensconced with ACTION as a support group leader, an instructor for pre-adoptive classes and ongoing training for adoption and foster care licensing, and serving on the Board of Directors (member, president, vice-president) when I did not have an active file between the adoption of my sons.

Last fall, the agency began the process of merging with National Youth Advocate Program, more familiarly known as NYAP.  ACTION will still serve prospective adoptive families, adoptive families with post adoption services, and support group.

I personally believe this merger is quite positive, allowing the agency to fully focus on adoptions and support group, and not be burdened with the licensing, clerical, and fiscal responsibilities.

In fact, I am relieved.

Tonight, the Board of Directors met for the final time.  For me, it was bittersweet. The president and I signed over the building, which Pat had purchased, and paid off, to NYAP. At 7:20 PM, we officially dissolved the board, and dismissed for the last time.

Sometimes, spring cleaning can be a loathe-some task, but when it is completed it’s a marvelous feeling.

Everything happens for a reason.

I actually love spring cleaning. Heaven knows I do not enjoy dusting, or any other type of cleaning, but I do love clearing out items which are no longer of use in the home.

The van is completely filled with items from the basement and attic. I cannot believe just how much there is.  When I leave the house in an hour, I will drop these items off at Goodwill.

At 1 PM, I will pick up Cody and Cooper, two brothers who are a part of the Fairmont high school wrestling team.  The wrestling team has a great fundraising program, Rent A Wrestler.  This is a fantastic opportunity to help young athletes raise money for camp, and to get some assistance around the house. Cody and Cooper arrived here a year ago, along with the Josh Parrett, now in college, to move entertainment units, my old piano, and clean all the woodwork on the lower floor.  The brothers have been back several times to assist me. I highly recommend acquiring Cody and Cooper for any chores you need completed around your home!

The brothers have been back several times to assist me. I highly recommend acquiring Cody and Cooper for any chores you need completed around your home!

It is strange to see some things loaded in the van. Some of the items were acquired when we first moved into this home to accommodate all the adopted sons, and foster sons, who lived here the past 13 years.  However, a new chapter has begun, just as a new chapter has begun for each son as they venture further into adulthood.

Now, onto more items on my list.

I bought a new White House book today, and ran across this photograph of President Lyndon Johnson kissing his grandson, Patrick Nugent (b. 1967).   

I’ve seen so many photographs of LBJ looking gruff, intimidating, and downright bullying, but this photograph was touching.

I found a current photograph of the 47 year old Patrick Nugent. 

I found a number of photos of LBJ with Patrick, and it shows this incredible side of the president.

And a number of these photographs include a dog! 

My wonderful two full days of music have come to an end.

FRIDAY:

• Completed show choir arrangements
• Taught a fantastic voice/acting lesson
• Dinner with some former students, Henry and Matthew
• OMEA large ensemble/choirs adjudicated contest; chatted with colleagues and friends

SATURDAY:

• Breakfast with three former students, Lyndsey, Jill and Brad
• Worked on business items
• Nap
• Coffee with a former student, Kellen
• Dinner with former student, Marlyn and Tristan
• Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra with Keith Lockhart conducting Benjamin Britten’s WAR REQUIEM
• Private party honoring Keith Lockhart

I could not have asked for a more fun weekend!  Thank you to everyone who made these past two days so much fun, and so memorable!









Tom Aldredge

This morning, one of my favorite actors, John Herrera, posted a beautiful in-memoriam birthday tribute to his friend, Tom Aldredge.

I was not familiar with the name, and began researching Tom Aldredge.

Wow!

Some of his credits include:

• Norman Thayer in the original production, ON GOLDEN POND (Broadway)
• Hugh de Angelis in THE SOPRANOS (Television)
• Narrator/Mysterious Man in Sondheim’s INTO THE WOODS

What really caught my eye: born in Dayton, Ohio… attended The University of Dayton, prelaw… buried in David Cemetery, Kettering, Ohio.

Tom & Theoni

So, this phenomenal gentleman of the stage and screen, and husband to Tony and Oscar winning costume designer Theoni V. Aldredge, was not only born in Dayton, but was buried a mile from my home.

I went to the cemetery, located his grave-site, and paid my respects.

Thank you, John Herrera, for introducing me to this fine gentleman.

Please check out the following links for more information on Mr. Aldredge:

NEW YORK TIMES: Tom Aldredge, Character Actor, Dies at 83

MASTER WORKS: Tom Aldredge

15 years ago, today (tonight, rather), I was seated at the piano in Normandy Church’s sanctuary, waiting to begin a musical production.   This little 7 year old blonde headed boy, whom I’d never seen before, came up to me, handed me a bag.

“Here.  We made these cookies for you.”

I asked his name, and he shyly said, “Joey.”

I shook his hand, and thanked him for the Valentine’s cookies he had helped make, and asked to which family he belonged.

“I don’t know their names but it’s that guy back there.”

I turned to look into the audience, and there sat my dear friend, Bill Hetzer, who waved.

“Oh!  You’re Joey!”

I gave him a hug, and then immediately turned my attention to the stage where the producer was welcoming the audience to our production.

Joey had come to stay with Bill & Kay for one of his first weekend visits which was a part of the adoption process.  Only 8 months earlier, Bill and I sat eating our lunch at Yankee Trace when I admitted that I was considering adoption.  Bill looked up, laid down his fork, and leaned in, “Kay and I were just talking about the same thing last night.  We’re not done being parents.”

Our adoption journeys had begun.

Bill and Kay found A.C.T.I.O.N. Adoption Services first, and began the process.  Before long, I was picking up my adoption packet and application, and meeting one of my favorite people in the world, Patricia Hill, executive director of ACTION.

It’s been such a joy to watch that seven year old boy grow up these past fifteen years, and I was lucky enough to spend additional time with him when he studied piano with me for several years.

This handsome, strapping 22 year old man has just returned from Germany where he was stationed as military police with the United States Army.  Shortly, he will head off to his new assignment in Texas.

Best wishes to the little boy who handed me a bag of Valentine’s cookies, fifteen years ago.

Know you are loved…

Joe & Bill in Germany

Adoption Day

Joe at 22

The teaching week is over (except for two lessons, tomorrow), and I am so proud of all 71 of these hard working students!  Unfortunately, five were sick with the crud, and they, too, are exceptionally hard workers!

Tomorrow, after lessons, I am having a quick dinner with a student’s mom (and maybe, dad, too), then off to the Dayton Philharmonic concert at theBenjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center.

Saturday, I hope to accomplish a number of arrangements before heading to Town Hall Theatre to see a student as the lead in the matinee of FANCY NANCY. Then, it’s off to Centerville High School Theatre to see THE WOMEN OF LOCKERBIE.

Best wishes to my students who will compete with the Beavercreek HS and Ankeney MS show choirs at Northrop HS in Fort Wayne, Indiana! Do your best, Gang!

Woo hoo! The home-made dog treats are a hit!

Well, at least with The Girls. Chief is not so interested in them. Bailey and Harrigan love them!

This is the recipe: (if I can handle this you know it is easy!)

Ingredients:

2 eggs
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons dry milk
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 1/2 cups brown rice flour *
1 teaspoon dried parsley (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350º

In large bowl, whisk together eggs and pumpkin to smooth.

Stir in dry milk, sea salt, and dried parsley (if using, optional).

Add brown rice flour gradually, combining with spatula or hands to form a stiff, dry dough.

Turn out onto lightly floured surface (can use the brown rice flour) and if dough is still rough, briefly knead and press to combine.

Roll dough between 1/4 – 1/2″ – depending on your dog’s chew preferences, – and use biscuit or other shape cutter to punch shapes, gathering and re-rolling scraps as you go.

Place shapes on cookie sheet, no greasing or paper necessary.

If desired, press fork pattern on biscuits before baking, a quick up-and-down movement with fork, lightly pressing down halfway through dough.

Bake 20 minutes. Remove from oven and carefully turn biscuits over, then bake additional 20 minutes.

Allow to cool completely on rack before feeding to dog.

* Brown rice flour gives the biscuits crunch and promotes better dog digestion. Many dogs have touchy stomachs or allergies, and do not, like many people I know, tolerate wheat.

Makes up to 75 small (1″) biscuits or 50 medium biscuits.

In one hour it will be 2015.  2014 was a good year.

The biggest addition to this year has been bringing into our family, December 25, 2013, Bailey and Harrigan, after bidding farewell to Flyer and Navi.  The Girls have been such fun, and have truly become a part of The Haasienda.

Matt Huntington received Beavercreek HS’s outstanding musician award!

It’s been a busy, and exciting year of teaching.  The students are soaring in a variety of ways, and it has been great to see their progress, and successes.

I’ve done a ton of rearranging, reorganizing, and tossing out.  The house, once filled with sons, and their friends, now has a somewhat quieter, settled atmosphere.  I am truly enjoying this new chapter.

Despite not being busy with sons, and their activities, I found myself even more busy.  But, it is a different kind of busy.  I do find that little housework, other than sweeping and keeping things picked up, gets completed.  I utilize the Rent-A-Wrestler program from the high school, and several current and former students do not mind being hired to run errands, or go grocery shopping for me.  I am getting a little more selective about what I wish to do, and with what I’d prefer not to bother.

I did not travel as much as I hoped.  I made several trips to Indiana to visit Mother, several trips to visit my neighbor boy at Ohio Northern University to watch some shows, a day trip to Lexington, Kentucky to visit the Mary Lincoln House, and down to Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill, to Chillicothe, Ohio to see the Adena Mansion, and to North Bend, Ohio to attend the retirement service for Alice Kay Hoover.

And, the big item this year was turning 50 years old.  I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a birthday as much as I did this one.  My students, their parents, and many friends turned this into an incredible week-long event.  Fantastic!

Here’s to an exciting 2015!  Happy New Year, Everyone!

Les Taylor, the extraordinary band arranger who influenced me greatly, posted this on his Facebook page.

“I do believe in magic. I was born and raised in a magic time, in a magic town, among magicians. When I was twelve, the words was my magic lantern, and by its green spirit glow I saw the past, the present, and into the future. We all start out knowing magic. We are born with whirlwinds, forest fires, and comets inside us. We are born able to sing to birds and read the clouds and see out destiny in grains of sand. But then we get the magic educated right out of our souls. We get it churched out, spanked out, washed out, and combed out. We get put in the straight and narrow and told to be responsible. Told to act our age. Told to grow up, for God’s sake. And you know why we’re told that? Because the people doing the telling were afraid of our wilderness and youth, and because the magic we knew made them ashamed and sad at what they allowed to whither in themselves.”

Today is National Adoption Day.

Jose’s arrival in Ohio, September 2004.

I am especially proud that our country has established a day to recognize, and celebrate the world of adoption.  My world has always been surrounded by adoption.

I am adopted.

I am an adoptive father.

I have several family members who are adopted.

I have several family members who have adopted.

I have many friends who are adopted.

I have many friends who have adopted.

One of my heroes is Wendy’s restaurant founder, Dave Thomas.  The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is an outstanding organization, and does many wonderful things for the world of adoption.

Each time I adopted a new son, our first meal was always at Wendy’s to celebrate our first meal together (supper time together was mandatory).

Jose & Quintin at Wendy’s for Quin’s 1st meal with us.

Thank you, Dave Thomas, and thank you to all the wonderful parents throughout the United States who have adopted children!

And a VERY special thank you to Patricia Hill, and the wonderful staff at A.C.T.I.O.N. Adoption Services!

I am ending my very long day watching Ken Burns America: The Congress.

One of the most hilarious stories: Speaker of the House, Thomas Brackett Reed of Maine, had a tremendous wicked wit.

Reed once remarked of two colleagues that they could never open their mouth’s without subtracting from the psalm of human knowledge.

And he defined a statesman as a successful politician who is dead.

Upon seeing his portrait, painted by John Singer Sargent, Congressman Reed said, “All my enemies are revenged.”

When asked whether he would attend the funeral of a political enemy, The Speaker said, “No, but I approve of it.”

All too often, young folks are overlooked when it comes to their manners and courtesies they demonstrate.

This morning, as I entered the Ankeney Middle School main office, there was a good deal of congestion.  Another staff member was temporarily filling in for the school secretary, juggling the telephone, a few students and several parents.  I also knew that as I walked toward the doorway leading to the hall she would need to juggle one more item of pushing the button to release the door (locked for security measures).

As I signed in, I spied a young man, perhaps an 8th grader, standing with his foot in the door.  I moved toward the door, anticipating a few seconds of wait time until the lady pressed the button.  However, the boy pushed the door open.

“Thank you, so much!  I appreciate you holding the door for me.”

He replied, “I saw you were heading towards the band room and figured you would need to get out.  It’s busy in here this morning.”

Wow!

I could have given him a list of 25 things that made him an outstanding young man.  I was impressed, and grateful.

As I walked down the hallway, a piece of paper slipped from my hand, and a young lady raced to retrieve it and bring it to me.

After piecing together my saxophone in the practice room, I moved to the band room to collect my first student.  Band was just getting started, and there was still a bit of chaos.  I began to move toward the other side of the band room when I noticed a delightful 8th grade percussionist, a special needs student, hurrying over to inform my student I was there.  I thanked this student, and he was so pleased he could be of assistance.

I truly love it when young people rise to the occasion for even the smallest things.  In the past thirty years of teaching, the atmosphere in the schools have drastically changed, and the attitudes and behaviors of young people, where courtesy, politeness and thoughtfulness seem greatly diminished.  Maybe it’s my perception, but there is definitely something different.

I always take the time to express my gratitude, and even explain why their thoughtfulness is important, thus reinforcing their wonderful behaviors.  Yes, parents must do this at home, however, we are all a part of that team – that village – that must assist parents with coaching, teaching, reinforcing, and cheering.

I am really proud of those three students at Ankeney Middle School who demonstrated wonderful thoughtfulness!  I am also grateful my mother took the time to instill, insist, and even demand her children use great manners, especially at the table, and to be courteous and thoughtful!  I’ve seen it in my sons, and I see it in my brother’s children!

Go, Young People!