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1 MARCH 2005:
TRIVIA TOPIC # 3
is now available here. There has been only one complete solution submitted for Topic 1, and that solution still lacks depth in the essay section. Responses for Topic 2, while in most cases creative and in some cases characterful, are so far in all cases wrong.
What in the Name of the Great Cham is the deal with the lyric to Saint James Infirmary, anyway? OK, it's set in a morgue, but that's not the odd bit. The song is from some guy's point of view. At first he seems genuinely sad that his girlfriend is dead and laid out on a slab, but as the song progresses it becomes more about what a great fellow he is, and how he'll dress for the funeral, and how the dead girl will never meet another chap like himself. Who's colder: the "grieving" boyfriend, or the dead girl on the slab in the morgue? It turns out that this song can be traced to an 18th century folk ballad about a sailor who dies or VD contracted from a "handsome lass"; his feelings toward her are ambivalent at the end.
1 FEBRUARY 2005:
THE WSMA SOLO AND ENSEMBLE CONTEST
, Spring concerts, and drama productions will keep the students in these groups pretty busy until early Summer, when it's time to think about Dixie music again - meaning that we don't have any new performances coming up soon. Meanwhile, please dig through your collections and see if you have any photos to submit for our new archive page. 
1 JANUARY 2005:CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE was a lot of fun - but that season is over now. This year, we fielded a brass quartet, a woodwind quartet, and a pair of violins. What with bonfires, cookies, carolers, and Santa on a fire truck, we had a great time. We'd like to thank:
THE MCFARLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, for organizing the event and for providing the bonfire;
ANNE NICHOLS, for being seen in public with us, and for letting us play at her vocal concert;
THE MCFARLAND STATE BANK, for giving us a place to play indoors;
DRUMS 'N MOORE, for letting us crash their party, and
NAZARETH HOUSE and HARMONY HOUSE, for giving us a chance to play the tunes one last time, once we'd finally gotten pretty good at them.
Photo: Autumn Leonard, Danielle Meissen, and Frank Ransley at the McFarland State Bank for Christmas in the Village 2004.
1 DECEMBER 2004:
WE HAVE WINNERS in the Trivia contest!
Well, sort of.
Several people have submitted correct answers to the first ("basic") part of Trivia Topic #1, but have totally blown, or blown off, the other three parts. Nevertheless we are happy to send invaluable coupons, each good for two cookies and a visit with Santa during Christmas in the Village, to: A.H. of Rhinelander; P.W. of Monona; Y.X. of Madison, and T.T. of Dubuque, Iowa. Woo hoo, y'all; way to go.
C.S. of Madison startled the Gentle Editor by submitting correct answers to all four components of Topic 1. However, a prize will not be awarded until C.S. provides more complete material for the "gossip" and "discussion" sections.
TRIVIA TOPIC #2 is now available. Topic 1 has been archived, but is still open for answers until someone gets it completely nailed down.
18, 19 and 20 NOVEMBER 2004:
Higgins and Doolittle 2004
MY FAIR LADY
took MHS by storm. Four members of the AITDJB, all seniors, lent fire to their last musical theatre production at McFarland.
Higgins and Doolittle 2004
Brad Anderson brought his usual decorum and inspired precision to the pit orchestra percussion parts. Tonya Neumann found opportunities to deliver "the Look" on stage, and showed a true calling for aristocracy. Amanda DeBoer and Autumn Leonard, who have been acting together since first grade, gave tour-de-force performances in the lead roles of Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins. The real affection between these two fine young actors informed their performances with a charm and poignancy unusual on the school stage.
1 OCTOBER 2004:
SOME THANKS
The Almost In Time 2004 Dixie performance season is over. It was a hoot.
On behalf of the AITDJB, I'd like to thank all who helped us have a great summer of smokin' hot Dixieland jazz. A complete thank-you list is probably not possible, but we are especially grateful to:
The McFarland School District music faculty: Bill Garvey, Dave Heilman, Anne Nichols, and Brian Vanderbloemen. Without their unbelievably generous support, it would have been much more difficult to find rehearsal space, equipment, and (of course) talented and willing musicians.Finally, my heartfelt thanks to the many fine musicians who have given so enthusiastically of their talents and time to make the band a (local) success, for four years running now. It is always a delight to perform with you, and frequently to rehearse with you: age cannot wither you, nor custom stale your infinite variety. Farewell 'til the next chart.
The McFarland High School and Indian Mound Middle School, especially Jim Hickey, Pat Scheurell, Gary Schneider, and all the custodial staff at MHS.
All the parents who have schlepped, chauffeured, and rescheduled, particularly Beth and Jim Anderson, whose son is a percussionist.
The organizations who have cooperated in providing performance venues, including: The McFarland Community Band, the Village of McFarland, Door Creek Church, the Family Festival, the Talent Showcase, and the Homecoming parade committee. Beth Anderson has been an especially tireless advocate with several of these groups.
The many local businesses who have been kind enough to allow us to hang advertising flyers in their windows. Thanks particularly to the McFarland Thistle for running our announcements, and to Ken's Automotive for the use of their letterboard.
- Quinn