For Stock Rigs Only

Hell.....I'd take it

 

Michael....not nice.

 

You get a smokin' hot GF you damn well better do what she wants

 

hadn't even seen this somehow....that's it exactly.

 

Good afternoon folks.

This may sound silly to some of you, but
14 years ago my oldest kid started playing the violin when she was in the 4th grade. My youngest followed suit when he entered the 4th grade. 4th grade is the 1st year for organized orchestra in our school district. As a senior this will be his last "fall concert". There will be other concerts, events and gatherings throughout the school year. But each one marks the "last" of it's kind.

Between the 2 of them there have been years of concerts, honor orchestras, tryouts, practices, ensambles, solos, duets, quartets, frustrations, triumphs, buying them their own violins after graduating up from rentals, tears of happiness and sadness.....all come down to the next few months. I will miss all of this when it finally comes to an end. When the day comes that I don't hear any "sawing" drifting throughout the house it will be the end of an era.

I'm a proud papa.

 

That’s great dad, you have done a great job

 

Thanks Jim. I have and continue to do my best.

When my oldest came to me at about 9 years old (whatever 4th grade was) and said, "dad, I want to play violin", I thought what? Why? I didn't know jack-sh*t about violins and orchestras, etc. But she really wanted to do it. I told my wife this is just a passing phase. We'll get her a cheap rental and when she's tired of it we'll move on. Damn, that 1st year of her playing and practicing was painful to hear....literally. But the phase turned out to be a part of her/our lives. Watching her play beautiful music on her own instrument her senior year was quite emotional. And even though it was sad when it ended it didn't seem like "the end" because of our younger kid. Well....here we are now. The real end is near.

I went from someone who rolled their eyes at this in the beginning to a dad rooting for them at every turn and fully committed. The time, effort, money and resources devoted to all of this is no different than having kids who play sports throughout theirs elementary, middle school and highschool careers. There a lot of blood, sweat and tears that go into it.

My youngest has applied and been excepted into the college he wants to go to next fall. He wants to play at the next level, partly because he can earn some scholarship money doing so and partly because he still wants to play in an organized way.

But, just like sports, the jump from highschool to college orchestra is a massive step forward. He has the skill and we made sure that when it came time to purchase them both their own instruments that they would be ones that could carry them to the next level if necessary. He has been practicing the audition music since this summer even though tryouts are until the fall of '25. So fingers crossed for him.

I'm a big unsophisticated meat head. I would have never seen myself has a nerdy orchestra parent in a million years. But here I am.

 

AttaDaddy! ❤️

 

150+ miles today on very rough and washed out roads/goat trails. I think my father puckered up numerous times. The GB handled all with ease (slow and deliberate) and we made it through. Very happy with the new tires and front shock/spring assemblies. Heading home in the morning.

And.......

 

Nice. Safe travels

 

Good Morning Stock Folk
My snow clearing season has begun ... what do I win?

 

Oooops

Crystal

 

Now you know..