Cliff Washburn

update

2007-10-29T22:36:17Z

Wow... I completely forgot that I even had a LJ acc't. For those of you that don't know, I moved to Eufaula, AL. I'm band director here now. It's a 5A school, and I've got about 80 kids in the band this semester. It's still growing, and I think it should have between 100-120 in a couple years... if things go according to plan. The kids are great... I'm really enjoying it. Of course, there are those few that keep me on my toes... but it's still a great town, and a great job. We went to 2 contests this year, and everyone but the DMs got 1s each time. The DMs are doing a good job, they just don't stand out and aren't as confident as they should be. Things to work on for next year.

I lucked out too... there are about 5 other new teachers this year that I've become really good friends with... so I'm not stuck at home alone all the time. I can actually have some sort of social life.

Anyway... I just wanted to post something since I've forgotten about LJ! Hope everyone is doing well. later.

new job

2007-06-27T20:52:50Z

I know I've not posted on this thing in FOREVER, but not much has been happening in my life.. until now. I just got a new job. I'm going to the be band director at Eufaula High School! It's quite a jump. Lanett was 2A, and Eufaula is 5A. The band is about triple from Lanett, but should be a bit bigger according to the school size... so I've got it cut out for me! Wish me luck!!

notfilc @ 2006-12-29T22:59:00

2006-12-30T03:59:23Z

(X) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(X) Grease
(X) Pirates of the Caribbean
( ) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
( ) Boondock Saints
(X) Fight Club
( ) Starsky and Hutch
(X) Neverending Story
( ) Blazing Saddles
(X) Airplane
Total: 6

(X) The Princess Bride
(X) AnchorMan
( ) Napoleon Dynamite
(X) Labyrinth
(X) Saw
(X) Saw II
(X) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
(X) Anger Management
(X) 50 First Dates
(X) The Princess Diaries
( ) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 15

(X) Scream
(X) Scream 2
(X) Scream 3
(X) Scary Movie
(X) Scary Movie 2
(X) Scary Movie 3
(X) Scary Movie 4
(X) American Pie
(X) American Pie 2
(X) American Wedding
(X) American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 26

(X) Harry Potter 1
(X) Harry Potter 2
(X) Harry Potter 3
(X) Harry Potter 4
( ) Resident Evil 1
( ) Resident Evil 2
( ) The Wedding Singer
( ) Little Black Book
(X) The Village
(X) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 32

(X) Finding Nemo
(X) Finding Neverland
(X) Signs
(X) The Grinch
(X) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
(X) White Chicks
(X) Butterfly Effect
(X) 13 Going on 30
(X) I, Robot
(X) Robots
Total so far: 42

(X) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
( ) Universal Soldier
(X) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
(X) Along Came Polly
(X) Deep Impact
( ) KingPin
(X) Never Been Kissed
(X) Meet The Parents
(X)Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
(X) Joe Dirt
(X) KING KONG
Total so far: 51

(X) A Cinderella Story
(X) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(X) Dumb & Dumber
(X) Dumber & Dumberer
(X) Final Destination
(X) Final Destination 2
(X) Final Destination 3
(X) Halloween
(X) The Ring
(X) The Ring Two
( ) Surviving X-MAS
(X) Flubber
Total so far: 62

( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
(X) Practical Magic
(X) Chicago
(X) Ghost Ship
( ) From Hell
(X) Hellboy
(X) Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
(X) The Whole Nine Yards
( ) The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 68

(X) The Day After Tomorrow
(X) Child's Play
(X) Seed of Chucky
(X) Bride of Chucky
(X) Ten Things I Hate About You
(X) Just Married
(X) Gothika
(X) Nightmare on Elm Street
(X) Sixteen Candles
(X) Remember the Titans
( ) Coach Carter
(X) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
(X) The Mask
(X) Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 81

( ) Bad Boys
( ) Bad Boys 2
(X) Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number Sleven
(X) Ocean's Eleven
(X) Ocean's Twelve
(X) Bourne Identity
( ) Bourne Supremecy
( ) Lone Star
(X) Bedazzled
(X) Predator
(X) Predator II
( ) The Fog
(X) Ice Age
( ) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
( ) Curious George
Total so far: 89

(X) Independence Day
(X) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
(X) Darkness Falls
(X) Christine
(X) ET
(X) Children of the Corn
(X) My Bosses Daughter
(X) Maid in Manhattan
(X) War of the Worlds
(X) Rush Hour
( ) Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 99

( ) Best Bet
( ) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
(X) She's All That
( ) Calendar Girls
( ) Sideways
(X) Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
(X) Ever After
(X) Wizard of Oz
(X) Forrest Gump
(X) Big Trouble in Little China
(X) The Terminator
(X) The Terminator 2
(X) The Terminator 3
Total so far: 108

(X) X-Men
(X) X2
(X) X-3
(X) Spider-Man
(X) Spider-Man 2
( ) Sky High
(X) Jeepers Creepers
(X) Jeepers Creepers 2
(X) Catch Me If You Can
(X) The Little Mermaid
(X) Freaky Friday
(X) Reign of Fire
(X) The Skulls
(X) Cruel Intentions
(X) Cruel Intentions 2
(X) The Hot Chick
(X) Shrek
(X) Shrek 2
Total so far: 125

(X) Swimfan
(X) Miracle on 34th street
(X) Old School
(X) The Notebook
( ) K-Pax
( ) Krippendorf's Tribe
(X) A Walk to Remember
( ) Ice Castles
( ) Boogeyman
( ) The 40-year-old-virgin
Total so far: 130

(X) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(X) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(X) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(X) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(X) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(X) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 136

( ) BASEketball
( ) Hostel
( ) Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
(X) Devils Rejects
(X) Elf
(X) Highlander
(X) Mothman Prophecies
( ) American History X
( ) Three
Total so Far: 140

( ) The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
(X) Monsters Inc.
(X) Titanic
(X) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
(X) Shaun Of the Dead
(X) Willard
Total so far: 145

( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
(X) Hulk
(X) Dawn Of the Dead
(X) Hook
(X) Chronicle Of Narnia The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
(X) 28 days later
( ) Orgazmo
(X) Phantasm
(X) Waterworld
Total so far: 152

(X) Kill Bill vol 1
(X) Kill Bill vol 2
(X) Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
( ) Kingdom of Heaven
( ) The Hills Have Eyes
( ) I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
( ) Army of Darkness
Total so far: 155

(X) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(X) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(X)Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(X) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(X) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(X) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
( ) Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
( ) Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 161

(X) The Matrix
(X) The Matrix Reloaded
(X) The Matrix Revolutions
( ) Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
( ) Evil Dead 2
( ) Team America: World Police
(X) Red Dragon
(X) Silence of the Lambs
(X) Hannibal
Total: 167

WOW... THAT'S A LOT OF MOVIES!!! :-p

summer's over

2006-07-28T03:51:49Z

Well, tomorrow is our last day of band camp. It's been a lot of work, but I think we did really well. Our numbers are slightly b/c this rookie class is tiny, but that means that all the other kids have at least a year of experience. So our learning curve has been really high. The sound really good (well while we're inside b/c they get really tired, really quick when we're outside.) I can't believe we actually have the first 3 tunes on the field in just 5 days. Granted the music isn't as difficult as before, but I think it's really working out well. We're doing a Jazz theme. First tune is "Birdland", 2nd is "And all that jazz" from the musical Chicago, and the 3rd is "Sing, sing, sing." Our closure will be "Land of make believe" and we'll probably have that on the field in by the 2nd week of school. I expect to be completely done with learning the show by the Band-o-rama August 24th. BTW... the preview show is tomorrow (Friday, July 28) at 7 (EST.) C'mon out and support us! :-P Hope all is well. Out 'til later.

Oh, check out the MySpace profile I created for the band:

http://www.myspace.com/lanettgoldenpantherband

american idol

2006-05-25T11:19:56Z

Well, if you haven't noticed, I stopped updating after Chris Daughtry got voted off. After he left, there wasn't anyone left that I really thought was AWESOME! I kept watching, and rooted for Kat, but if even she had won I would have been disappointed. I thought last night's finale was great though! I loved Kat's duet with Meatloaf, and I was very surprised by how well Kevin Covias did! I was proud of the little whipper-snapper. Then I got to see my overall favorite Mandisa again. I still think she has the most real talent of all the top 12. But what do I know? It's just my 2 cents rememeber. My prediction is Taylor will be a Ruben repeat... meaning he'll fade away after a week or two. I just don't see staying power with him... but we'll see.

BTW, I'm winding up at work. I have some band tryouts today (colorguard, section leader, etc) and then tomorrow is a work day to clean up classroom, take inventory, etc... with Graduation tomorrow evening. It's been a long year, but overall successful (for the most part.) I'm definitely looking forward to the summer. I'm taking 8 of my students to Auburn every Monday night for campus band (which I'm having to play percussion because they had absolutely NO drummers show up for) and I'm also a counselor for the summer festivals at Auburn in June. Mrs. Megginson has talked me into volunteering at a music/choir camp near Birmingham (Sumatanga) for a week in July. I think that'll be fun... if it doesn't wear me out. There's also something else I'm possibly doing this summer, but I'll update you with details with that if it pans out. Hopefully I won't be too bored this summer... so if you get bored, let me know, and we can probably be bored together! :-D

Oh, what do you think about this for a marching band show next year? I'm toying with a jazz theme:

Birdland
And all that jazz (from Chicago)
Sing, sing, sing
The Land of Make Believe

Hope all is going well... later.

ai for may 2

2006-05-03T01:18:43Z

Another overall mediocre night. I find my yawning way too often. :( Anyway... here's my 2 cents:

The first song was from the year they were born

Elliott GOOD (and I didn't like his song)
Paris GOOD+ (I liked it, but wasn't quite "GREAT" to me)
Chris GREAT
Katharine OK (too pitchy at this point in the competition)
Taylor GOOD (over the top again)

The second song was from this week's Billboard Charts

Elliott GOOD
Paris GOOD (needed a little more control)
Chris GOOD (was too similar to his first song... sounds almost like a repeat performance)
Katharine GREAT (but I HATED that she was on the floor... kinda tacky in my opinion)
Taylor GOOD

i'm back

2006-05-01T05:23:10Z

Well, I'm back from Gatlinburg. We had a great time. We got 1st place in division II ! ;) No major discipline problems... thank God! Here's a pic of us in front of the Smoky Mountains! It was so beautiful there. I forgot how much I miss living in the mountains.

April 25 AI

2006-04-26T03:09:30Z

They really need to rock out next week... it's starting to get kind of boring. :)

Not overly impressed as a whole this week, but some good stuff.

Katharine - GOOD. She can do better, I pretty much agreed with what the judges said.
Elliott - GREAT. Although I did think the end was boring.
Kellie - POOR. One of my all time favorite songs ever, and I hate her performance about as much as scratching fingernails on a chalkboard. :(
Paris - GOOD. Almost put GREAT, but didn't quite make it in my opinion
Taylor - GOOD. About what I expected from him
Chris - GREAT! By far my pick to win this year!!

PS. I'm taking my band to Gatlinburg Thursday-Saturday this week. Think about me... I'm sure we'll have a blast, but it'll be tough. Check out some of the stuff we're doing:

http://www.gatlinburgspaceneedle.com/

http://www.smokymountainrafting.com/

http://www.dixiestampede.com/

http://www.musicroadhotel.com/

This is the competition we're going to. Wish us luck at 5:00 on Friday!!

http://www.fiestaval.com/fiestavalGatlinburg.aspx

1:30 am boredom - places I've been

2006-04-23T05:43:47Z

I was bored, and saw this one someone else's journal, so figured I'd do it. :-P I've been to more places than I thought!

create your own personalized map of the USA
or write about it on the open travel guide

create your own visited country map
or write about it on the open travel guide

ai

2006-04-20T20:15:29Z

So, after I finally got to watch AI, I'm changing my 2 cents. Just Kellie though... she was aweful! I'm ready for her to go ahead and get on outta there!

Kellie POOR

I was ready for Ace to go too though. He's ok, just doesn't have what it takes. Very surprised though that Chris got in the bottom 2. Just not his week I guess.

AI for April 18

2006-04-20T00:17:17Z

Well, I've not gotten a chance to see the whole thing yet, all I made it home in time to see were the last two performers (Ace & Katharine) I thought everyone did good from the overall recap at the end, and LOVED Katharine's performance. So I'm going to stick with that...

Chris GOOD
Paris GOOD
Taylor GOOD
Elliott GOOD
Kellie GOOD
Ace GOOD
Katharine GREAT

AI 4/12 - QUEEN!

2006-04-12T23:30:02Z

Wow, Queen was the theme! It was really good. Even the "bad" ones did well tonight. I'm forcing myself to be more critical, but still, it's hard to really evaluate them. But anyway, here's my 2 cents

Bucky OK
Ace OK
Kelly OK
Chris GREAT
Katharine GREAT
Elliott GREAT (surprising)
Taylor GREAT (I still don't really like him though... haha. Sorry Breigh)
Paris GOOD (I really liked it though)

AI - country theme :(

2006-04-05T23:49:05Z

I hate country music btw.

Taylor - OK
Mandisa - GREAT
Elliott - GOOD
Paris - GREAT
Ace - GOOD
Kelly - GOOD
Chris - GOOD
Katharine - GREAT
Bucky - OK

AI 3/26

2006-03-29T02:14:08Z

Here's my weekly 2 cents again. Overall, I think they did a pretty good job, but I was definitely not blown away by the overall show of everyone... although a couple did impress me. Anyway:

Lisa - OK, definitely off pitch a little too much

Kelly - GOOD, stereotypical of her

Ace - GOOD, finally a better performance from him, but not GREAT yet

Taylor - GOOD, eh... he's gonna have to really work hard to impress me

Mandisa - GOOD, was disappointed with he. I thought she did very well, but didn't get that gut feeling I usually get when she performs.

Chris - GREAT!!! He is awesome. He's better be careful, b/c he's catching Mandisa in my mind!

Katherine - GREAT, she's really starting to get my attention now.

Bucky - GOOD, I don't really like him too much, and definitely don't like country music, but I thought he pulled off that song.

Paris - GREAT, She's definitely in my top, but gonna have to work really hard to beat out Mandisa & Chris

Elliott - GOOD, not an overall impressive performance, but he executed it pretty good.

Fiddler... last chance

2006-03-25T04:13:51Z

In case you've forgotten, I'm in a production of Fiddler on the Roof. Performances were last night, tonight, and the final show is tomorrow (so it's not too late to come!!) It's going really well, although I'm ready for it to be over with... it's wearing me out... haha. Anyway, here's another picture of the cast, this time on the real stage, with the real set. Enjoy.

That's me up front on the left (tall one in blue with the black hat)

AI for 3/22

2006-03-23T04:12:49Z

Ok, I know how disappointed you all were that I didn't give my 2 cents last week, but I didn't get to see American Idol until like Thursday (I recorded it.) These "Fiddler" rehearsals are wearing me out. Speaking of that, c'mon out tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday for the show in Valley. Hit http://www.nhct.org/ for tickets if you wanna come. Now, back to business. I didn't update last night b/c I didn't get home until after midnight, but I finally watched it this afternoon. I just got back from a dress rehearsal, and recorded the results show, but haven't watched it yet... so I thought I'd post my 2 cents before I watch it. Here is what I thought:

Mandisa - she was GREAT as always. She is sooo good. I think she's gonna go all the way to at least the top 2 (and I think she should win the whole thing.)

Bucky - very OK. I'm just not all that impressed with him.

Paris - GREAT. She's awesome too, but has some really good competition. There are some good ones this year.

Chris - GREAT! He did an fabulous job reinventing that 50s tune to his style. I know that's kind of what the judges all said, but I was thinking that before I heard they're 2 cents.

Katherine - GOOD. I almost said she did GREAT, but I have to put those other 3 slightly above her. I have to cap it off somewhere.

Taylor - OK. I dunno, everyone else just loves him, but he doesn't really do it for me. He's definitely good, and original, but just a little too quirky for me.

Lisa - I thought she did GOOD.

Kevin - I put him as GOOD too. He did a great job on the song, but not in the same category as Mandisa you have to agree!

Elliott - he did GOOD tonight too. I enjoyed his performance, but I don't think he's going to make it to the top 8.

Kelly - she did GOOD too, but I think the fact that she's similar to Carrie Underwood will hurt her. She executed the song well though.

Ace - he's really been disappointed me. He started out so well in the auditions, but now, he doesn't seem to be pulling his weight. I appreciate all the falsetto stuff, but it's unstable up there for him... in my opinion. I thought he just did OK tonight.

i was off this time

2006-03-10T04:16:03Z

Well, I had bad predictions this week. I thought Gedeon was the best, and Will did pretty good.
But my ladies picks were pretty close. Kinnik definitely did bad... but I think Melissa should have had another chance. We'll see how things go this week. :-P

I'm also very disappointed. I have rehearsals every week during AI, but I always record it. But for some stupid reason, tonight I accidentally recorded the hour before Idol. :( So I didn't see the results show. Oh well... thank goodness for the Internet or I wouldn't know what to do! haha

3/8 AI... boys night

2006-03-09T03:11:34Z

Well, here's my 2 cents again on the guys tonight

I thought Gedeon did the best with Chris being a very close 2nd. I was disappointed with Chris. I put him above and beyond the other guys. Overall, I was impressed with the guys though... they did much better as a whole than they have been... although Mandisa still has 'em all in her dust! :-D

GREAT
Gedeon
Chris
Kevin (very nice job with a ballad... although I am partial to Josh Groban stuff :-D)

GOOD
Will
Taylor

OK
Bucky
Elliott

POOR
Ace (I was very disappointed. I have him at the top of my list, but in my opinion, the falsetto just didn't click.)

AI for 3/7

2006-03-08T03:40:26Z

Sorry I missed last week. I was moving. That's right. I moved from my house in West Point, to an apartment in Valley. Please visit me b/c I'm living alone for the first time in my life. I thought I'd get lonely and stuff, but so far it's been pretty good. Kitty bought a house for her and her fiance, so that's where she is. I could have stayed with them, but figured I'd go ahead and get out of their hair now, haha. Anyway, that's why I didn't give you my 2 cents last week on AI. I was very disappointed I didn't see it. Plus, Thursday I was in B'ham for the 2A HS basketball championship game... again. 2nd year in a row Lanett made it to the last game, and lost. We were all disappointed, but oh well. I took the band, but we didn't play. We just cheered them on. Also, I took some kids to Solo & Ensemble this past Saturday at AU. There were 7 solos, and 6 ensembles. All got a 1 but 4. I thought that was pretty darn good. They were all so proud. Lanett hasn't had folks go to that for a few years (except Tony his Sr year... and he's now a music major.)

Anyway, to tonight's point. Here are my personal results to the ladie's tonight on American Idol

Of course, I thought Mandisa did GREAT! She's by far my favorite still. She's so awesome!

GREAT
Mandisa
Katherine

GOOD
Paris
Lisa
Melissa (I thougth she was 3rd best on my list, even though Simon said he thinks she's going home.)
Ayla (I was disappointed tonight with her)
Kelly

no OKs

POOR
Kinnick (she was totally off. I was almost covering my ears... it was really bad in my opinion.)

Fiddler on the Roof

2006-02-27T02:25:26Z

Hey, come see me make a fool out of myself Thursday through Saturday, March 23-25 at 8 p.m. EST at Langdale Theater in Valley. It should be a blast! :-P

Here's a pic of the cast. I'm in the back on the left (in the black police cap... I'm the Constable, which is apparently the head of the Russian military in their town of Anatevka.)

WOO-HOO!

2006-02-25T00:01:46Z

I'm so happy. It's been a long week, and ended very well. I took my Jr High and High School bands to District today. The Jr High needed to hear the comments that were said. There are only 17 of them, but I thought they were playing pretty well... for their experience. Well apparently not. Like I said, I went for comments only, but asked the judge to give a numerical score also (just for me.) They made a 2 3 3! Which is what they really needed to hear. About 7 of those kids can't hush in class and on top of that, think they're awesome. They're coming along I suppose, but it'll be good for them to hear the tapes with judges saying the same things I've been harping to them for months.

ANYWAY, that's not the reason I'm happy. The high school band made an over all 1 today. I'm so proud of them. It's a 1 1 2, overall 1, but for a band that size, I was extremely proud. They've worked hard. I asked them if they wanted to go to state, and the got all excited... but we'll see about that. Seldom do bands that make even one 2 at district do well at state. We'd have to sigh-read... which we definitely do NOT do very well. I've not completely ruled it out, but we'll see. It would at least give us a goal (other than the spring trip to Gatlinburg in April.) Anyway, just thought I'd share. Have a glorious day.

not too bad

2006-02-24T01:42:24Z

I wasn't too off. Bobby & Stevie were my worst picks, and Becky was in my bottom 4. Patrick surprised me. I had him at the top... I guess you win some and lose some. But the guys were harder to judge... no powerhouses to me.

BTW, wish me luck tomorrow at 3:00 & 4:30 EST. That's when my Jr High & HS bands are performing at District.

American Idol, Feb 22

2006-02-23T04:39:17Z

Ok, here's my opinion of the top 12 guys. I definitely think the girls have them beat hands down! I've got no one categorized as "Great" b/c I can't help to compare them to the women. There wasn't one guy that I thought just blew me away. Some good talent, and good performers, but no one with the entire package... yet. Anyway, here's my 2 cents.

BEST (just the best of the group... no Mandisa... haha)

Chris

GREAT
(no one)

GOOD

Patrick

Will

Ace

OK

Bucky

Kevin

Gedeon

Elliot

Taylor

"Sway" (actually, he's OKish, but I gave him the benefit of a doubt b/c of the originality)

POOR

David

Bobby

American Idol: Feb 21

2006-02-22T05:28:38Z

Ok, well see how I actually keep up with this, but I'm going to give my 2 cents on American Idol. :-P I'm ranking them, or categorizing them I suppose. Just for my own records. See how you agree? I'm putting them in 5 categories: Poor, Ok, Good, Great, & Best (that's obviously who I thought did the best of the night.)

After the 12 ladies here are my thoughts:

BEST

Mandisa

GREAT

Ayla

Paris

Kinnick

Katherine

GOOD

Brenna

Melissa

Lisa

OK

Kellie

Becky

Heather

POOR

Stevie

I'm being nice this week... haha... only one Poor. :-P Have a nice day! Can't wait to judge the guys tomorrow. This should be fun

do you agree?

2006-02-15T02:49:43Z

Click this link, and see if your opinion of my personality matches mine :-P

http://kevan.org/johari?name=notfilc