Catching up after a wild weekend in Wenatchee

As I look back on the events that have unfolded over the last several weeks I am coming to the realization that summer does not last as long as it does when you are young. Remember those lazy school days in June when you counted down the days and hours until you were free to roam! It is almost the middle of July and my summer is almost over!

I could say a lot has happened since my last blog, but that would be a lie. On the one hand a lot has happened, but on the other hand the Joe Gunter family has rolled on in our own style. But here is what I know:

Wenatchee:

My last blog left off with me on vacation anticipating a trip to Wenatchee. Shaun and I took a long hot drive in the old Toyota truck. We checked in at the festival and suprisingly not a whole lot was going on. So we headed to our friend Earl's house in East Wenatchee. We spend the afternoon chatting with Earl and his cousin Chucky from Moses Lake. We played "Rock Band" on the playstation most of the afternoon. I can tell you that I faired better siging then I did on the drums and guitar. Finally Phil arrived and we played a few fiddle tunes until Earls with Becky came home. We went out to eat at a fine mexican resteraunt in Cashmere (were the festival was). After that we came home and had a great Texas Style jam. Shaun and Phil debated throughout the night on weither they should enter into the flat-picking contest at the festival the next morning. Check in for the contest was at 10:00 am and Shaun and Phil are notorious for sleeping late. We all went to bed sometime in the wee hours of the morning. I woke up at 6:00 am to a spectacular view of Mission Ridge. I waited until the crack of 9:30 when Phil and Shaun woke up. At 9:45 Phil and Shaun decided that they wanted to enter the flat-picking contest. We covered a quick ten miles to Cashmere in what seemed like minutes. Fortunately we arrived safely. At first Phil and Shaun had a little resistance in checking in but I think the judge was won over by Phils shirt. Phil was wearing a T-shirt that said "Anorexia Survivor". The reason why this is funny is because Phil is a big boy! We though Phil and Shaun were going to do ok and at least one of them would make the finals. There was some amazing pickers! Now mind you Shaun and Phil are no slouches when it comes to flat-picking. But they were smoked by some of the best pickers I have seen in a while. We retreated to a BBQ resteraunt to try and gain some dignity from the incident. We ventured back to Earls house to find Earl working on his pool. He also has a massive renovation going on at his house so he did not want to go back to the festival with Shaun and I. Phil had to leave so after we said our goodbyes Shaun and I headed back to the festival. We were able to jam for a while with some of our other musical friends and a met a lot of nice people. Then we went to the show.

Now I have to tell you that there are some great musicians in the Bluegrass world. But folks...Washington has a great Bluegrass tradition! When ever there is a Bluegrass festival in your area go! Don't question it! Just go! Shaun and I witnessed two of the best Bluegrass bands every!

Cadilac Sky and the Infamous String Dusters are lighting up the Bluegrass world this year. Both bands won several IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) awards! I am still awe struck by the talent that these bands have! We had a great time!

Train Train never stop hard as nails tough as rocks!

When I came back to work after a Bluegrassers dream vacation I imediately went to a training class for work. I am a member of the emergency response team, and am the assistant team leader for the Hostage Negotiation Team. I attended a traing called "Virginia Tech Terror" which delved into the deviant mind of the Korean guy who went nuts and went on a shooting rampage at Virginia Tech College. It was a great class and I feel that every educator and emergency response personal should go to this. Like Bluegrass festivals this is one thing that you should not question and just do!

I also encourage every educator out there to train with local law enforcement and allow them into your schools. You need to train in the harsh reality of school shootings. Don't sit there and say that it will never happen at your school. I am sure that Frontier Jr. High School in Moses Lake Washington can sign you a different tune. Because if it could happen there it could happen anywhere.

Ok...off the soap box. I am also going to a week long training at McNeil Island Corrections Center. Now although this sounds interesting in really isn't. We have to stay on the island in the old superintendants house called the mansion. Which from what I hear is just short of being condemed, but because it is on a state site we can do what every we want with it. But the training should be fun.

I am also reading a great book called "Living the Green Beret Life Style: Total Committment to family, Sport, and Career" by John Giduck. The best way to describe this book is to steal a quote from one of the books critics. It reads..."If John Wayne were to leave a manual on how to be a man. This would be it!

I love one of the statements under a section entitled "Ask not what you can do for America!" Basically the author was sitting with a group of German soldiers particpating in a NATO war game when a German soldier pointed out that Americans alway identify themselves as Americans. They always identify themselves by nationality first and ethic origin last. In European countries the opposite is true.

The author hit the nail on the head in another short paragraph where he talked about how America was founded by imigrants. He said that our forefathers came to America and immersed themselves in American culture. They forced their children to get into anything America and to come home and teach them. They still kept their cultures and traditions, but their loyality lied with America. He said that in this day and age we have a lot of imigrants that we cater to. We are forced to teach, and entertain them in their native language. He drove the point home by saying that Americans need their immigrants! But there can be no question as to were their loyalties lie.

If this last paragraph offends anybody I am not sorry. To say I was sorry would be a lie. But to think that I am a racist would also be judgemental. I am not a racist and neither is the author. He does have a point. Look at your grandparents, and great grandparents. Learn your family history and do not forget the oral history of your families. Tell their story! Live their deam! Remember it is because of their hard work and sacrifice that you are able to read this blog today, and live the life you do!

So...Enough of that. Point is I am passionate about my family, music, and my country. I am also passionate about humanity! I am tired and will write more soon! Happy blogging!