heyjude1202

Hey Chris...thanks for the photos, I know you took some excellent photos of him last year, and I know you will be taking more excellent photos of him this year even if his eyes are closed You have probably gotten lots of photos of the back of his head! See you on the road.

Yes.

Great photos Chris..thanks. Too bad my son's eyes are closed...I know you will catch them open next time. See you on the road...West Chester?, Allentown?, Giants Stadium?

Yesterday, I drove to the corps rehearsal sight and viewed rehearsal...great last run prior to departure. Last night, I arrived at the show site and was very excited and happy to see the guard in FULL UNIFORM!..the uniforms are beautiful, very cool designs. The corps performed after Boston and intermission...good performance, but I thought the final run through had more energy. Audience reaction was okay, but it was okay for all the corps. Rehearsal today and tomorrow in SC...show tomorrow night. Cleaning is probably the focus. Keep climbing Crossmen, there is so much potential with this show, max out the competitive performances and create a spread, then stay ahead, and don't look back. Looking forward to watching the Orlando Regional LIVE Saturday on Fan Network. GO CROSSMEN!!!!!

Thanks Taylor...love that you are overloaded with receipts :)

Hey Scott, I contacted Joe two days ago asking the same question still no reply. My son mentioned something about heading to NYC tonight so maybe they are housed in north Jersey. You may want to contact Joe.

Heard the corps had an awesome day yesterday...the parades were great as usual. Crossmen pit applauded for their American Flag shorts! FYI...Crossmen pit vs. Crown pit ultimate Frisbee,,,,,victory went to Crossmen! Chuck-Wagon round-up....Boston with Brisket, Crown with Barbecue Pork, Crossmen red beans and rice....no winner declared, but all the members ate well and had a fantastic time. Crossmen heading south to NJ Another fantastic drum corps 4th of July.

YES...awesome jump last night...and considering the corps did not rehearse yesterday, the score jump is GREAT. The members felt they had an okay performance...hoping for a fantastic performance tonight. GO CROSSMEN!!!!!

Verified that the the corps is doing laundry, nothing else to do. Loved reading the Crossmen Chronicles... Highlights: 2009 New members receiving their necklaces Part three ending determined by a large crowd gathered at rehearsal...cool

Think there is a lot going on this year, believe the corps is extremely busy and working hard, taking advantage of the rehearsal days, schedule gets busy over the next week, not as much rehearsal time. Haven't heard from my son in days and when I do it is short, as a second year vet he is really happy and keeps saying wait until you see this and wait until you hear that...but doesn't say when this and that are going to be put on the field. They were in Ft. Edwards yesterday, today and show tonight. Then heading to RI/MA. Awsome performance tonight! GO CROSSMEN!!!

Wow...that would have been nice of you, but not necessary, thanks for the thought. One of his high school band directors (Crossmen alumnus) is the current color guard caption head at Capitol Regiment, he has been able to talk with him at many shows lately. To all that did wish Greg a happy birthday...thanks you are awesome. He called after the contest and said there were so many people wishing him happy birthday, it was cool and will be a very memorable birthday.

Performing in Pennsylvania...cooler weather, hopefully no rain Today is the timpanist birthday...Happy 17th Birthday Greg! GO CROSSMEN!

Birthday bump

PLEASE.... Wish the Crossmen's timpanist Greg a Happy 17th Birthday This will be a drum corps spin on a surprise party. Thank you.... I'll write about his reaction after the show.

GO CROSSMEN!!!!!!

YEAH!!!!! What's even better...show in Toledo, OH on Thursday, stayed overnight in Toledo, and practiced all day Friday in Toledo. Packed up Friday night headed to Decatur, IN, they've been practicing all day today, and as you stated get to stay there until tomorrow nights show To add to the corps good fortune, the temperatures have gotten milder (well to the Crossmen anyway, not sure about the other corps)... it has been a high of 85 degrees (15 degrees less than what they have been rehearsing in), evening rehearsals must be glorious as the nightime lows are in the high 60 Ready for Crossmen to throw it down at Sunday and Monday's contests.

My observation and possible answer to this question Move ins occured the week after Memorial Day this year, last year it was Memorial Day and attendance was spotty so I think the administrators made the conscience decision to change the date this year. With many in the membership attending Texas high schools..recently graduated and rising seniors, many were still in school first few days of June. Some of the members were able to take their finals early most had to take finals when they were assigned. So believe ALL members had arrived by June 6 after they were done with school and other obligations (graduation and playing for graduation). It's a long trek for them to travel...it takes 7 hours just to get out of Texas. Heading north a week earlier to me would have put them in a very tough position...all moved in by June 6 on tour by June 13-15 crazy. Believe the staff and administrators knew they were going to come up on this situation...all other corps have numerous shows behind them Crossmen attending their first contest. The kids know the strong potential with this show. All the vets know there is more difficulty via drill and music with this show than in last years show. They had a good show, staff was happy with the performance, just a little bummed about the outcome. They will work through it and move on just as they did last year...to recap, they were behind all these corps last year too. All the reviews I have read have been positive, contrary to the corps reviews from 08. Definately step in the right direction. With a few days of rehearsal outside of the 100 degree temperatures they have experienced for three weeks now, completing the show, building confidence, I anticipate they will be making jumps in score.

First contest of 09 is in the books....Crossmen members are a little bummed but tomorrow is another day...two days of rehearsal and show days on Sunday and Monday. Push through, work hard, think positive.

GO CROSSMEN!!!!

YEAH ITS SHOW DAY!!!!! Crossmen are ready for this...they are focused and determined. Sending lots of good vibes to them and will be thinking about them around 8PM tonight. GO CROSSMEN!!!!!!!

Check out the timpani player on the left...with the towel/shirt on his shoulders, that is my son. This was the one stop my son was dreading...Oklahoma which was also super hot last year, he's so glad the corps is only stopping there ONE time this year..today was the day and it is over...now moving north to cooler temperatures...hopefully.

REPLY Don't feel sorry about spending all your money on DCI, it's what many of us love to do...it's part of what makes us, the drum corps nut. Don't need to get a life, the performers love having you and all the other decade dedicated fans in the audience. The Crossmen can ALWAYS use help at a housing site...be it food truck, uniform mending, carpentry, shuttle service, pit carting. The administrators are extremely friendly and thankful for any time given to the organization...think about it, this would be a perfect opportunity to see first hand that the Crossmen are the Crossmen through and through. When you do volunteer, why not ask any member/staff what that flag on the short pole is, you will see it proudly hanging atop the podium during practice.

Enjoy...

I would disagree with you on the "old" and "new" Crossmen. The "old" Crossmen were a drum and bugle corps. The "new" Crossmen are a drum and bugle band (IMO). Many people are happy with this and think it is the direction that this activity should take. If you agree that this is direction that the activity should take, I am fine with that. Drum and Bugle Corps may have to morph into Drum and Bugle Bands to survive. I just think that in doing so we have lost the very element that made us unique. I was hoping that as the "new" Crossmen matured, they would return to their roots of powerful sound and exciting music. I did not see or feel any attempt to do so in this show Okay...let's look at the two issues you have: First old Crossmen vs new Crossmen.....the alumni of this corps have told you there is no such distinction. The pride my son (a second year vet) feels on that field is the same pride I saw in my Crossmen friends back in 1975, when I competed against them. The history of this corps is strong and something you may be unaware of this corps has been located in several different areas over the years, ..yes Texas is not the NE, but it doesn't matter where they are physically from it's the emotional state that matters in this activity. Next...you state you want the Crossmen to be competitive. In order for them to be competitive, they need to do what the activity trends are...currently it is electronics, without this addition to the corps...they don't stand a chance competitively. PLUS listen to other corps see the trends with music, it's not park and blow...there are many corps playing intertwining musical pieces so the audience will have to pay attention and appreciate the music instead of sitting back and humming along...that's just the reality of it. From what I read, I believe you are just critizing one corps for the changes of an entire activity. Hope you get a chance or two to view the 09 Crossmen and other corps this summer and note the current drum corps trends, like them or not change has taken place. Judy Stewart Sgammato The Saints 73-76 Garfield Cadets 78-79 Bushwackers 83 Carolina Gold BOD 04-07 Crossmen Parent 08-

Having been to the 08 and the 09 preview I can confidently state that the Crossmen are WAY ahead of where they were at this time last year. In 08 after the preview performance, I just looked at my husband shook my head saying they have a show in less than a week how are they going to get it together. They performed in Madison the following week and I anxiously watched on fan network...the corps did a fantastic job and were way better than what I viewed the week before. They worked that entire week heading to the midwest to get things done. And continued to have a strong work ethic the entire summer to push the corps beyond what many openly said couldn't be done. Now it's 09 I watched the corps preview and the demand of the drill they are doing (I know it is more difficult than last years...for that matter the music is more difficult)...yes it is not clean and in many parts a little fuzzy. There are LOTS of vets in the 09 corps and they know what effort it took to get the desired results ...they know how to work and what it takes to attain their goals. This week as they are in OK, MO, IN, and OH (many of these sites are alot cooler than the 100+ temperatures they have been dealing with for over 2 weeks at spring training), this group will continue to stay extremely focused and determined. Looking forward to watching Crossmen 09 grow and develop as the summer progresses.