Friday, December 31, 2004

New Year's Eve Thoughts

I was out gardening today (yes, it's my day off. yes, it's sorta my job to garden. but what self-respecting gardener can turn down an opportunity to get out and dig in the dirt on New Year's Eve -- in Iowa!)

Anyway, I was out planting the last of the bulbs today and doing the last of the yard cleanup and it occurred to me that this was the first time in probably more than 2 years that I've had 5 days off in a row (Wednesday for Sebastian's surgery -- he's still hurting some but doing fine with his recovery; Thursday as a vacation day for our anniversary -- thanks everyone for the kind words (kind of a quiet one because of Seb's recovery but got to watch lots of football with him yesterday and today); Friday as the 2005 New Year's holiday; and Saturday and Sunday as regular days off) without being on a bus with a bunch of marching musicians. 2003 tour with the Colts. 2004 Rose Parade with our high school band. 2004 tour. 2004 Finals.

Damn but it feels weird..........

Already signed up for vacation for finals week. Now just have to pick out my other 2 weeks. I'm kinda thinking that the Southern leg would be nice. Oh the possibilities.

david

Sweep


IMG_4171, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Thursday, December 30, 2004

Happy Anniversary

to us.

Jody and I have been married 30 years today.

Anybody else got a special day to take note of? Leave a comment by clicking on the "0 comments" item at the bottom of this post.

Enjoy,
david

Up front


IMG_9091, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Wednesday, December 29, 2004

Fosse, Fosse, Fosse


IMG_3024, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Tuesday, December 28, 2004

forty-six, forty-seven, forty-eight......


IMG_7059, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Monday, December 27, 2004

Attention


IMG_9030, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Sunday, December 26, 2004

Precision


IMG_7020, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Saturday, December 25, 2004

Make a joyful noise


IMG_9055, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Friday, December 24, 2004

On guard


IMG_7032, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Ok, so it's a bad pun. I'm on vacation. (In frozen Iowa).

Merry Christmas, every one!

Thursday, December 23, 2004

Staff conference


IMG_7060, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Thanks to the whole staff for everything they do!

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Lots of new faces...


IMG_5006, originally uploaded by David Speer.

...and lots of food.

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Must-gos


IMG_5071, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Well, most of the pictures from a fantastic December camp are over at colts.org. But there are always leftovers after I decide what I'm going to put out for Katherine to use for the official Colts website.

Since this is the Virtual Cooktruck, there are no leftovers, though. Only must-gos. So here we go with the obligatory PBJ picture. There'll be one a day again until we run out....

Bon Appetit

Monday, December 20, 2004

Seconds after I posted the menu...

I got this from Olaf. Somebody in Holland loves the Colts.

Olaf's note:
That sounds like cookin' to me
Made that grill working again!
I can't remember, but it makes me thinking where have I seen that before.
Food program stays top of the bill

Hope many vets came back to taste our food!

Hi from Olaf


Blow the dust off...

...the 2005 Colts virtual cooktruck is open for business.

Menu for Colts December 2004 Camp

Friday snack
Chicken nuggets with dips
Salty snacks and sweet snacks
Peanut butter and jelly

Saturday breakfast
Pancakes (ummmmm, they were good)
Bacon
Cereal
Peanut butter and jelly

Saturday lunch
Sloppy joes on a bun
French fries
Strawberry Jell-O with pineapple, peaches, and marshmallows
Brownies with gooey topping
Peanut butter and jelly

Saturday dinner
Turkey and dressing
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Corn
Christmas cake
Peanut butter and jelly

Saturday snack
Pizza sticks with sauce (A Colts December camp tradition)
Must-goes
Peanut butter and jelly

Sunday breakfast
Eggs McMona (Eggs, sausage, cheese in an English muffin)
Cereal
Peanut butter and jelly

Sunday lunch
Chicken breast sandwich (or leftover sloppy joes, which is what I had)
Macaroni and cheese
Carrots and peas (the menu said green beans, but I remember carrots and peas)
Pretty pudding parfaits
Peanut butter and jelly

Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Hello 2005

You didn't really think I could stop doing this for a whole month did you? I barely lasted a week. I guess there are worse things to be addicted to than drum corps. (Come to think of it, why are you back here when I said I was done for 2004? Hmmmmmmmmm)

Anyway, if you are listening, welcome to 2005.

The banquet was great. Lots of people. More people than chairs in the Colts center. Greg said this year was the first time that had happened. The program was long, but that was mainly due to a middle section of tributes to Greg by former members, parent representatives, volunteers, and board members. There'll be pictures, but I'm taking care of colts.org first so check back here later.

The Sunday meeting about the 2005 show was exciting. The Colt Cadets show sounds really fun. I was a bit apprehensive about the reaction to the Colts show after all the fun Vicki and Ibe had in building up the Cadet show, but the kids were all energized when Ryan laid out the music and show concept for the Colts.

It hasn't been officially announced on colts.org so I won't go into a lot of the details but it's going to be a warm, emotion-packed show that still has lots of velocity and big drum corps moments. Some of the songs are hummable and familiar and others will allow for lots of dramatic effects. Pit and percussion should have a lot of fun with this one.

I'm really taken with the first hints of the visual organization of the show. Can't wait to see it on the field.

Oh yeah. Ryan referred to the show as "Postcards from Home." But he also called it just "Postcards" so I don't know whether there's an official title yet.

It just sounds really, really exciting.

david

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Goodbye 2004

It's time to let go. Sure, 2004 was great. But banquet's coming soon. The wrapup of a truly special season. The good news is that 2005 is only a few days away now. Doesn't it start Sunday?

I've shared what I saw in my encounters with the 2004 Colts. These pictures have been just a small part of my memories of a bunch of exceptional Colts and the wonderful people who love and support them.

I think I'll fill up the cooktruck time between now and camp in December by putting in some hours pondering the one true question that really matters. I like to think of it as the cook's dilemma. To me, it ranks right up there with all the other questions about life, the universe, and everything. It's something that we all have to face eventually.

What's more important: sleep or shower?

(See you at the banquet!!!!!!)

Kick-ass kids


kids6, originally uploaded by David Speer.



kids5, originally uploaded by David Speer.



kids4, originally uploaded by David Speer.



kids3, originally uploaded by David Speer.



kids2, originally uploaded by David Speer.



kids1, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Monday, November 22, 2004

Kick-ass leader


greg, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Thursday, November 18, 2004

Kick-ass bus drivers


mike, originally uploaded by David Speer.


Nice pants, Mike!

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

Kick-ass uniforms


ka4, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Tuesday, November 16, 2004

Kick-ass staff


stafff, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Kick-ass cooks


ka3, originally uploaded by David Speer.

This is not to say there aren't kick-ass cooks that aren't shown here (for example: Polly, Jim, Bill, Luba, Kathleen, Jim, Marlin, my Jody, Tom, Mr. Megan (couldn't resist, Dave), Sue, Sue, Susan, Cliff, Bruce, Lori, Sarah, Kelly, Diane, Shari, Bev, Olaf, Rob, Larry, Jeff, Laura, Larry, Janice, Lauren ... I know I'm leaving out somebody really important. Sorry if it's you. I apologize. But I could go on and on). This is just a representative sample of those people who make the real Colts cooktruck something special.

Monday, November 15, 2004

Kick-ass corps


ka1, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Friday, November 12, 2004

2005 Info at colts.org

I know a lot of you visit colts.org every day like I do, but for those who don't, be sure to go there and click Colts 2005 Information Released! for the latest news.

Don't miss Kent's long letter about the 2004 season, either. Great job, Kent.

david

Putting it all together


ka2, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Thursday, November 11, 2004

Cymbal-ism


cccolts09, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Tuesday, November 09, 2004

And it's just warmup


ct2, originally uploaded by David Speer.

100 percent 100 percent of the time.


P7220016, originally uploaded by mirandamom.

Monday, November 08, 2004

and away......


P7270038, originally uploaded by mirandamom.

I'm having so much fun with the "going for it" theme, it continues this week.

Friday, November 05, 2004

, up,


P7270024, originally uploaded by mirandamom.

Thursday, November 04, 2004

Up


P7270011, originally uploaded by mirandamom.

Wednesday, November 03, 2004

Big time


P7160021, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Monday, November 01, 2004

Big boom


P7180044, originally uploaded by mirandamom.

Playing to the crowd


P7180005, originally uploaded by David Speer.

This week's theme...

...is "hype," suggested by Kent. Going all out, kicking a**, putting it all on the line. Whatever you call it, it's cool when Colts do it.

Saturday, October 30, 2004

Best Seats in the House


bestseatsinthehouse.JPG, originally uploaded by David Speer.


Weekend bonus!

Have a few pictures that don't seem to fit any categories that are coming up, and the marching band performance got rained out last night and I had a little 'picture time' on my hands, so I thought I'd throw in a bonus photo for the weekend.
See you again Monday.

Friday, October 29, 2004

Pit pals


Pit pals, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Wednesday, October 27, 2004

Curb service


Curb service, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Birthday breakfast


Birthday breakfast, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Tuesday, October 26, 2004

Feeding frenzy


Feeding frenzy, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Monday, October 25, 2004

Food, glorious food


cerealreflections.JPG, originally uploaded by David Speer.

That's this week's theme and it comes from Jody Glow. Eating it. Cooking it. Loving it. Hating it.

Hey, it's the Cooktruck. It's all about food, right?

Thanks to all who submitted suggestions for themes. Watch for yours between now and banquet.

david

Friday, October 22, 2004

What to do, what to do.....

As I'm sure all of you have noticed... (You have noticed, haven't you? Even one of you?) As I'm sure ALL of you have noticed, there have been "themes" for pictures over the past few weeks (drivers, uniforms, gangs). Any suggestions for next week's theme? I have an idea or two, but I always just do what the photos suggest to me. (Don't your photos talk to you and make suggestions? No? Pity.)

It might be fun to try to build a set of pictures around someone else's idea of a theme from last summer.

thanks for looking,
david

Brass gang


brassgang, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Thursday, October 21, 2004

Night gang


nightmoves.JPG, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Wednesday, October 20, 2004

Cook gang


cooktruckcrew.JPG, originally uploaded by David Speer.

I think this is in Murray, Ky. But who really remembers, and does it really matter? I miss all these guys a lot. And all the rest of the cook gangs I got to work with this year.

That's me in the shadow of Olaf.

Tuesday, October 19, 2004

Almost missed a day....

Well, the job almost got me. Almost let a whole day go by without posting a Colts picture. That little 196-page book thing is throwing me this week, but we'll struggle through somehow.

david

DC Gang


dcgang.JPG, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Monday, October 18, 2004

Gator gang


gatorgang.JPG, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Friday, October 15, 2004

Bonus photo


pic_0189, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Oalf said he found this photo of 'Pip' on the internet and he sent it along to me (and other people). Thanks, Olaf! Keep 'em coming.


Here's a copy of the email Olaf sent me:

Hi guys,
 
Guess whom I found on the internet!!!
A lost colt in England with the 37th kingswood D&B Corps
They call it a percussion night.
 
Talk to you later
 
Olaf


It's great to hear from folks who are still looking at the cooktruck. Thanks, everyone! Keep 'em coming.

Thursday, October 14, 2004

Ready


ready.JPG, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Inside the dome


insidethedome.JPG, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

Hats 'n' Horns


hatsnhorns.JPG, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Uniformity


uniformduty.JPG, originally uploaded by David Speer.

Monday, October 11, 2004

Please dial slowly


plsdialslowly.JPG, originally uploaded by David Speer.