My Project for Trace Adkins

Hopefully you all know that last year, as a member of the West Point Glee Club, I had the opportunity to sing with Trace Adkins for the Academy of Country Music Awards.  He is doing a concert here at West Point on 2 October, as well as a USO Gala in Washington, D.C. the following week and has asked the Glee Club to perform the song with him again.

When we sang in Las Vegas, we sang a shortened version of the song and representatives from the Academy of Country Music put together a video to play in the background for the song.  The video of our performance may help explain it.    Since we don’t have the same time limits as we did there, Trace asked if it would be possible to make a new video for the same purpose.  As the S6 (Information Systems Officer, or just plain of Tech Guy) I volunteered to do it.

The Director of the Glee Club, Mrs. Chase, got me in contact with several sources from various segments of the Army and DoD in order to acquire media for the project.  I spent quite some time really thinking what I wanted to do with it, and based on what I had received at the time (since there was a time constraint on getting it finished) I went to work.

I was surprised with what it was turning into as I worked.  Ultimately, I felt that I had gone where I wanted to go with it with what I had at the time and showed it to Mrs. Chase.  She thought it was good, so we sent it to Trace’s manager.

I received word this morning that he “loved it” with several exclamation marks.  I’ll definitely try and put it online at some point, but I don’t want to undercut Trace in any way, so I’m holding off on that.  This was arguably one of the most nerve-racking and possibly far reaching projects I’ve been able to work on.  I’m really proud of how it turned out.

On a side note, my knee is currently bleeding from my mountain biking class…

Michael

Blogging for the sake blogging

It’s been a hell of a day, that’s for sure.

I only had one class this morning, Psychology.  After that, I went in search of the Superintendent’s office in order to deliver the programs from the Academy of Country Music Awards that the Glee Club brought back with us.  This of course was after I volunteered to deliver them to him and also received some for the BTO (Brigade Tactical Officer).

I went to Taylor Hall, where I had been told his most secret office was.  I wandered around Taylor Hall for a bit, visited the Treasury which I could find and talked to them about an issue.  Eventually, it became pretty clear that I wasn’t going to find it on my own.

As I was trying to head back to the Treasury to ask them if they knew where it was, I took some steps wrong and came down hard on my left ankle.  It hurt REALLY bad.  I roll my ankles a lot, but this was not a normal roll.  I eventually was able to find his office as I limped around.

I stopped by the cadet clinic to have it looked at.  They told me to go to CGR (Central Guard Room) to get taken to the ER.  They didn’t even look at the thing.  Well, I still needed to deliver to the BTO, so I went up to 4th floor of Washington Hall and took care of that.  Then I checked my mail, got a package, took it back to my room (on 4th floor), emailed my team leader and squad leader that I might be gone for lunch formation, emailed some people in my chem class that I might not be back for the exam, and finally went to CGR and got taken to Keller.

I was in the ER for a bit, had x-rays taken, and was ultimately told that it wasn’t broken.  They gave me ibuprofen and sent me on my way.  It still hurts pretty bad, and since I was scheduled to take my APFT on Wednesday, I’m headed to the physical therapists to get it looked at tomorrow morning and hopefully get a profile.  I honestly don’t want to WALK 2 miles on it, let alone run them.

In other news…nope, that’s about it.

39 and a butt days left of this year…bleck.

Michael

Stuck in an Airport? Might as well write a blag.

I’m not sure how many people will get the “blag” reference, but if you do, you’re cool.

We are sitting here in Las Vegas.  Our flight has been delayed at least 2 hours.  For a while they were saying 5 hours.  The best part is that we aren’t even really sure what the delay is about.  They initially said weather, but then they said that the weather had moved out of the JFK area, so who knows.

The show last night was amazing.  I was within talking distance of Taylor Swift, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Matthew McConaughey, etc.  Got a picture with Billy Ray Cyrus.  And of course, Trace Adkins shook my hand.  I also pounded fists with COL Sturdivant, the Head Officer Representative for Glee Club, which was pretty funny.

A guy from iTunes gave us all cards for 5 free downloads so that we can download the song from last night.  Remember, all proceeds from the download go to Wounded Warrior Project, so I encourage it.  I plan on making it my ringtone.

Trace is going to be coming to West Point next academic year to perform, and they were sure to ask us to perform with him when he comes.

The whole experience was absolutely amazing.  To see such a huge show come together and to be a part of it, especially with Trace and the cause we were singing for was really great.  When we returned to our seats after we sang, all the people sitting around us started clapping again, it was so crazy.  I’ve never experienced anything like it, being a symbol of all the things I love.

Kind of a downer here at the airport.  When we came back off the plane to wait, I sat down in an empty seat near an outlet for my computer.  I had been sitting down for a few minutes when a guy came from out of nowhere and said he hoped I did better once I had my commission and that it was rude to take seats that had stuff in them.  Then he grabbed his bag that was sitting at least two feet away.  I was rather astounded.  Break TSA regulations, then harass the person who sits in the empty seat near your bag.  Good call.

Michael

Las Vegas

Just a quick post late on a Saturday night here in Las Vegas.

Tomorrow is our big performance.  Be sure to be watching CBS tomorrow night.  We will be a ways into the show, singing with Trace Adkins.  I’m in the back row, third from the left.

It’s been a pretty amazing experience, and I’m really looking forward to the show and the after party.

Michael

Best Choice of Clubs Ever?

So, Glee Club is probably the best thing I could have ever got involved in.  So far this year, we have performed for an opera in Carnegie Hall, a concert with a pianist which was recorded for a DVD and will be featured on PBS in March, as well as a few other performances here and there.

It’s getting better as the year goes on.  For Spring Break, I won’t get to go home, but I’ll be going to Los Angeles and San Diego on our concert tour, including possibly an appearance on Leno.  We just found out that two weeks after that, we will be performing with Trace Adkins at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas!  How cool is that?

Michael