Personal experience

The time I was surrounded by bank security

College Prep, Personal experience /

For three years of my undergrad Music Education study at the University of Kentucky, I rented one of five rooms the elderly landlady rented to college boys. Part of our rental agreement was that we would perform one task with her per month. That could be anything from driving her somewhere to assisting with her Christmas Cards.

Life at the Dagley house included an education UK could not match. She adjusted forever my dialect, diction, grammar and vocabulary.  I uncomfortably experienced how the élite deal with the ordinary, picked up breadcrumbs of how the rich keep, manage and spend money and cringed at her political prejudice and unapologetic racism.

This story is about one of those errands when I took her to the bank.

Bank withdrawalShe wanted to “cash” a check. She didn’t specify why….just handed me a money bag and an envelope for the teller. Imagine…. a college student approaching a bank teller with a nearly blind senior citizen woman, and handing the teller an envelope containing a check, a note to “cash it” with specific instructions of how many of each denomination – and a money bag. I was unaware of the amount of the check until the teller summoned security, which quickly, but politely, positioned around us. Can you say awkward moment? The exchange with the teller went something like this:

Teller: “Ma’am, are you sure you want to cash this….all of this?”

Dagley: “What does the note say?”

Teller: “Yes ma’am, but are you aware of the amount you are asking for?”

Dagley: “You mean the amount for which I am asking? (She was always correcting grammar and pronunciation). Is there confusion about the amount?”

I was not surprised that they were questioning her writing, especially if she wrote it out herself. More probable is that her attorney, a frequent visitor, wrote the check, and that her signature was all over it. When signing things, she would ask us to place the pen in the general area. Her signature was huge and never went in the intended direction.

Teller: Are you sure you have the right number of zeros?

Dagley: How many zeros do you see?

Teller: Ma’am that is ten thousand dollars.

Dagley: “Yes, it is. It is in my account and I want you to put it in this bag.”

Bank officer w/Security: “Miss Dagley, may we have a word with you?”

Dagley: “No. You may not. This is a simple transaction and I want you to complete it NOW.”

I never knew what she did with that $10,000 in cash.

This and more stories about My College Years with an Old Opera Singer HERE.

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Is it just me?

Personal experience, Respect, Sales and Marketing /

Is it just me? Yes, maintenance is often cheaper than waiting for something to break. But unless you really know your mechanics and mechanisms, and honest maintenance/repair people, you can be a victim. Sometimes I feel victimized.

Not all maintenance experiences are bad.

I sent my mower for maintenance instructing “do whatever it needs”. I expected certain things; oil change, oil and air filter and spark plug replacements, blades sharpened, and wheels aligned. I trusted the repair guy (a former student) and he charged me a reasonable amount, especially considering he picks it up and returns it.

There is a local auto shop I’m pleased with. They fix issues I know about and show me options for future consideration without needless pressure.

But then there are the oil change shops that want to “sell up”; filters tires, or a list of multi-hundred dollar recommended maintenance repairs.

Here’s the one that prompted this post.

Eleven months ago, my home air conditioner stopped. I couldn’t find the reason. I found a local business that had several positive recommendations. I called. He came. It was a capacitor, he replaced it and all was good. As we were settling up, he offered a $150 1-yr, 3-visit maintenance option; furnace, air conditioner and water heater. Sounded good. I signed up.

The first “check” was on my furnace. The tech said there was some “out of code” wiring and routing. It would cost $350 for the repair. The furnace could explode at any time. That should have been a red enough flag. I authorized the repair, however.

Today was check #2 — on my air conditioner, which, other than the part he replaced last year, has functioned perfectly. Today he found a part that, if I didn’t change, could cause the unit to not come on or not shut off. If I waited for that to happen, there would also be the cost of the service call on top of the nearly $300 to replace the part, which he happened to have with him.

As we were settling up, he asked two questions:

  1. When did I want to schedule the water heater check? I DID NOT. Not scheduled.
  2. Can he place a sign in my yard? NO!

Then I got a text (and also an email) asking for feedback.

DONE!

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You can’t say that

Assistant Directing, Communication, High Schools, Personal experience, Public Schools, School Security, Social Media, Social Media, Teaching /

You can't say thatAccounts of recent separations of news personalities from their employers remind me of a time my boss told me,

“You can’t say that.”

Years ago, on a hot sunny mid-day, our high school was evacuated over a threat. One of my thoughts at the time was wondering what was going through the minds of those stopped in traffic as 1500+ students, teachers, and staff crossed the state highway en masse. After accounting for all the students who left class, we sat in the football stadium bleachers until the end of the school day when busses and parents picked up students from the stadium rather than the high school. The congestion and confusion on that side street was significant.

The afternoon was especially stressful to those who had to work through the safety protocols to ensure students left only with a legal guardian. How do you call the school when the school is evacuated? How and to whom are calls forwarded? And what about student records with parent/guardian names and information in an area without computers and connections? How do they sign out from a remote location? Parents were frustrated as everyone was trying to do the right thing in a setting we had never before experienced. I should note that the communication and information issues of that day were addressed.

My uncovered bald head was significantly sunburned in those nearly three hours. By the time I got home, my head hurt and I was angry, especially after learning all that was the result of one student’s prank. I made an ill-advised comment on personal social media that punishment should include affixing the offender to the schoolyard flag pole and allowing all who spent those 2-3 hours in the stadium sun file by to express thoughts of the experience.

I should not have said that and I deleted the post, but not before someone shared it with the building boss, who called me to his office the next day. With a copy of my post in his hand, he not-quite laughingly said that, although he might feel the same way, “you can’t say that”.

I wasn’t fired.

 

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Car technology meets Senior Citizenhood

Personal experience /
Don’t think and hurt your brain

An original stupid personal experience story by John Gardner

Yes,

  • Many newer cars (including Joan’s) have key fobs with protection against locking key in car
  • My car does not (2012 Camry)
  • We usually travel in my car and are rarely together in hers
  • When I am taking her car for something, I know to put the key fob in my pocket. 
  • I’m not dumb, right?

 

But, for this last trip, where we were spending a week in her Dad’s area, we drove together in her car. We both had our key fobs on our persons. When I open the driver door, the seat adjusts to me. Cool. Push the start button, car starts. Perfect.

 

So this story happens as we are checking out of a hotel and getting in the car to take her dad to a surgery follow-up appointment. Without thinking, I had the key fob in a pocket that I loaded in the trunk as we were getting ready to go. 

 

As I close the trunk, CAR BEEPS … The reason didn’t register. Joan had already unlocked the car, helped her dad in … and when she gets in the passenger front, the beeping stops. The only weird thing was that the driver seat went to her setting. The reason didn’t register. I just pushed the seat button, adjusts. No problem. I get in… push the start button. Car starts. No problem, right?

 

We get to the hospital, I drop Joan and her dad off at the main door. She gets out of the car. CAR BEEPS…. The reason didn’t register. As she walks away, the beeping stops. 

 

I drive to a parking spot where I intend to wait for them. I push the button. Car shuts off, but beeps a couple times. I decide I want to turn the power on to keep charging my phone. Push the button. CAR BEEPS and power does NOT come on. I push the button to start the car. BEEPS. DEAD. Does NOT start. 

 

I call the car dealer service, describe a beep and no start and they tell me my battery is dead. Great. I’m out of state and know no auto businesses in the area. 

 

I search for a road service company that can at least come jump start me so I can get somewhere to get a new battery. Three people told me they couldn’t help me but Sandy’s Towing could. Call. Quoted $75 for a jump. Go. Driver will call when close.

 

THEN…. 

 

I realized my key fob was in the trunk. Ding. Car was trying to tell me not to lock it in the trunk. It was too far away to start the car. I get the fob, put it in my pocket, get back in the car, push the button…..engine starts. Wave off the jump-start driver and all is well. 

 

Duh….. 

 

Next car I get (mine is a 2012 and I’m approaching 80K miles….. Yeah. Anyway, my next car is going to have to give me warnings IN ENGLISH. Think I’ll find one?

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Virginia Beach Music Festival and the 3rd Floor Balcony

2 Comments / High Schools, Marching Band, Personal experience, Storytelling, Throw Back Thursday /

The Virginia Beach Music Festival was a multi-day event that included competitions in Marching, Concert, Parade, Jazz, and Inspection. 

Normally a band year has multiple seasons. Summer and Fall are mostly Marching Band. Some competitions included an inspection element, which included standing at attention for about 15 minutes while someone went through with white gloves and inspected selected instruments and uniforms. Marching season transitions into Concert Band — and Jazz Band starts up. Late Spring and early Summer is parade season. 

To prepare for Virginia Beach, all that had to be going on simultaneously. 

During school, the concert band would rehearse. Jazz Band was after school and evenings were a combination of marching, parade and inspection practice.

The campus had a long driveway that we used, but would often go through a couple of the neighborhood blocks. Inspections involved Copenhaver’s paddle. We would stand at attention and he would walk in front of us, stopping to stare and to grab and check instruments. If anything was wrong, he’d say, “That’s one”, which meant he would get you with the paddle when he got behind you, which could be several minutes later. And if you moved when he whacked you, guess what. Right. I never got the paddle. 

The first time Holmes participated in 1969, (my Freshman year) Holmes was Grand Champion. We returned in 1970 as “Honor Band” for the event. 

Director Copenhaver was from Virginia and our two Greyhound busses stoped at a park near his hometown for a community-provided picnic. I remember one of the busses got stuck crossing a small creek. 

Two memorable events at the hotel we used. First, was one evening during the week when Mr. Copenhaver was in the parking lot and looked up at many of us on the balconies and said, 

“They know we’re here.”

Other than when actually winning an event, it was the happiest I recall him looking and sounding. 

The other was an evening when a group of seniors came knocking on our door. I was in a room with three other freshmen boys. They were there for “initiation”, which normally included some combination of ice down the underwear with shaving cream there and everywhere else — and then locked out of the room. 

The four of us (I think we all four), went over the balcony. The floors were close enough together that we could go from floor to floor…. Until we could jump to the ground. 

I can’t believe I did that. 

But I never experienced “initiation”. And I never did that to anyone else.

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Community Choirs of Huntington County Celebrating 30 Years

Family, Personal experience, Show Choir, Teaching, Teaching Music, Types of education /

zssss

CCHC 1993
The Children’s Choir of Huntington County in their first Christmas Concert in 1993 at Huntington University and under the founding director, Dr. Rediger

In 1993 the Children’s Choirs of Huntington County were formed. Originally there were two choirs for younger and older children. Dr. Joann Rediger was the founding director and is on stage with the group in this picture at their first Christmas Concert in 1993. As high school and adult choirs have been added, the group name was changed to Community Choirs of Huntington County and currently includes the Children’s Choir, Copper Sound and Joyful Songsters. Follow them on their website at https://childrenschoirofhuntingtoncounty.org/.

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Joan Gardner receives Mary Sell Award

Family, Personal experience, Teaching Music /

Mary Sell is a retired music teacher from the Huntington County Community School Corporation. She volunteered a lot of time for the Community Choirs of Huntington County and an award was created in her name. Joan Gardner received the award at the Spring 2023 concert.

Joan has been a choir parent, an accompanist, a volunteer and a board member for the CCHC. Her two sons, John and David, were in the Children’s Choirs during the very first season they were started – with Dr. Joann Rediger as the director. She was eventually asked to accompany one of the choirs for several years and is currently one of the CCHC Board Members.

This article is also posted on the Community Choirs Website.

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Time for some Friend List Spring Cleaning

Communication, Personal experience, Respect, Social Media, Social Media /
I can handle civil disagreement, especially when it is something I said. If you think I’m wrong, tell me. That’s what friends do. If you think I went too far, tell me. I can (and did – just a couple days ago) apologize and edit or delete something I said that caused unintended ill will. We can still be friends.
There are people I like, respect, admire (even love) … who have different views than I do in religion, politics, socially, even gender and sexual preference areas. I can still be your friend. Can you still be mine?
You can even be sarcastic in disagreeing with me, but know that I am a sarcasm master and not afraid to use it.
But there are some extremes that cross lines I cannot accept. If you want to be my friend, be careful with labels and name-calling, especially toward ME on MY page. And be careful liking (or even loving) hurtful, attacking name-calling comments.
I seldom look at my FB Friend List in years, but it has become necessary — so I’ve done some Spring Cleaning. Along the way I found:
* Deleted accounts still on my list.
* No communication in years (decades even).
* People I can’t remember at all. Probably my fault.
* Multiple accounts. One friend had 5 and I was friends with two of him.
* One of my brothers has two accounts…..double-friended.
* Hatefully anti-Christian…(I can handle friendly disagreement) and am friends with non-Christians…. I won’t attack you personally and I cannot allow you to attack my most core beliefs.
* Hatefully Political. NO politician (or political party) is as perfect as Jesus, evil as Hitler, right OR wrong 100% of the time.
Don’t worry. If you see this post, you’re still good in my book. And if you don’t see it (perhaps someone tells you), don’t ASSUME because FB doesn’t automatically show everything to everybody — even your friends.

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Domain decisions

Leave a Comment / Personal experience, Sales and Marketing, Social Media, Social Media, Virtual Assistant, Virtual/Local Services /

Time for change arrow

Domain decisions.

When it is time to renew your domain name, you might want to research options to get a better price.

I’ve experienced enough that I can see a pattern.

One of my clients, huntingtonbaptist.org, had a domain renewal coming due at and the price was going to be over $37. I contacted my current hosting provider and their price for every year, was under $17. So, I contacted the domain registrar and started the process to transfer the domain, which required gaining access to the client’s account. And THAT required updating some information and THAT required sending in utility bills, a photo id and more…. Okay, access gained. I started the process to unlock the domain and request an authorization code.

THEN….I get an offer to renew the domain for 1 year for $10. DONE!

Having learned that, when I got notice from that one of MY domains (virtualmusicoffice.com), that cost me $38.xx last year was up for renewal, I started the process to transfer. Suddenly my price drops to under $16.

“Burn me once…..”

So I continued the process to unlock, get auth code and start transfer process to my $17/yr host. DONE!

While I was in the transfer mood, I went to the registrar for qdpcorp.com and went ahead and transferred it to my current host.

Conclusion / Recommendations:

  1. Service providers involved included: Tucows, Network Solutions, Hostcentric, Register, and iPage.
  2. The initial price is only for those who auto renew. The LOWER price is for those who might leave.
  3. If you have a domain up for renewal, instead of automatically renewing, call to START the process to transfer it to get the super-duper 1-year-only discount price. [Then be sure to do that again next year].If you don’t know how to do that, proceed to step #2.
  4. HIRE ME!

ps If you don’t know the underlined/italicized terms above;

domain registrar
transfer the domain
unlock the domain
authorization code

then….

Down arrow decision change

 

 

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Just another band prank

Leave a Comment / Assistant Directing, High Schools, Marching Band, Personal experience, Respect, Teaching, Teaching Music /

We were returning home late at night from a long drive return from an out-of-state visit. In a tired way, I reach down in the dark to open the door. It took us a while to get a flashlight and determine what had happened. I love bandsters. They do fun things without damaging anything.

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