I'm back! After being away from my beloved activity (again) due to work, family and other "life" distractions I just couldn't stay away any longer. Glad to see DLO is still alive and kicking and many familiar names still here. The new site is amazing, some very cool technologies implemented here.

For those who don't know or remember me from the old forums I'm another old DCI alumni from way back in the '80s. I marched cymbals at Suncoast in '89 (the last year of the real Sound IMO) and tenors at Magic in '91. I taught for 2 years at my old H.S. and did a few theater gigs and rock bands after graduation until I went off to the University of South Florida (that unfortunately didn't have a marching program back then) to pursue an English degree. Many years later I got back into drumming and taught and arranged for a small performing arts school my best friend (who I marched with in H.S.) was teaching at. I'm still hacking away on my practice pad to this day.

These days I work in computer repair which takes up most of my time and spend my free time with family and friends. I'd love to do senior corps but my schedule just won't allow it.

Quick question for DLWebmaestro, did all my old account information get lost when the new site went up? I had to re-register (no big deal, luckily my name was still available) and I'm assuming my forum rank will start over (was kind of proud of that but don't recall what it was).

Anyways, it's good to be back. I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones. I'll be checking in regularly again.

Not exactly sure what happened to some people's posts. There may be some sort of inactivity timer on some user accounts, but I'm not sure. You aren't the only one who's had to re-register after a long break.


But regardless, welcome back! The average age of our users just jumped up a couple years now that you're back .

Welcome back, man.

Glad to have more maturity around here ;-)

And yeah, I'm another of those whose accounts didn't make the switch, or timed out from inactivity. Luckily, the only thing I lost (other than those beautiful 2 stripes, hehe) was the ability to search for my old posts.

At least the forum still has all the great info it has always had. That's the important thing, methinks.

EDIT - and happy b-day to me.....I like the little cake with candles by my name today.

Happy Birthday!

Yeah, the rank isn't all that important but it is one of the many very cool features of DLO. Of all the forums I belong to this is by far the best run. Actual information and productive discussion beats flame wars any day. Complete sentences are also a nice thing.

On a totally unrelated note, my old H.S. line had an informal reunion about a month ago. We borrowed some drums from my buddy's school and hacked for about 2 hours then off to Hooters for some "milk". It was a blast. Maybe I'll post some pics but definitely not the little video, too much dirt even for a bunch of guys who haven't picked up sticks in 10 years.

Wish I could do that with my old high school line. That would be a blast. Unfortunately, two of the snares live on the other side of the country, another snare would need a travel permit from his probation officer, and two tenor players would either need a pardon or a favorable showing in front of the Parole Board.

On second thought, not sure that would be too much fun. Then again...

Not THAT was funny. What H.S. did you go to, Alcatraz High?

Not everyone from our line was able to make it, obviously. The really sad part was that our section leader of 4 years (the school transitioned from middle to high) did not go. He still lives in the area so that was a real bummer. We had a guy come up from Miami, one come down from North Carolina on his military leave and one fly down from Pennsylvania to attend. Since most of us have kept in touch with at least person from the line over the years housing wasn't a problem, no one stayed in a hotel. I highly recommend trying to put a reunion together. It took a lot of effort and emails but it was well worth it.