grammie12

I was their it was from contaminated spaghetti sauce that was not properly refrigerated. I was not the cook at that time. The next year our food truck was built as a result.

I cooked for Phantom Regiment for 15 years and was a certified food handler. At that time we followed the state of Illinois guidelines. We had drink tanks and throw away cups. They had to be cleaned with bleach once a week.. Bleach water was the cleanig agent we used. I. Cleanliness was next to godliness on the food truck. At that time it was suggested that cooks be trained in food handling but it never went anywhere. This is something DCI should promote as I know what happens when people are not properly trained.

I could, but I wont. Some things are best left alone.

The worst finish we ever had was tenth place and I was tthere much to my chagrin. That entailled a new direction and it began in 1987 with Romeo and Juliet. As a result we returned in 1989 with New World Symphony. We have picked ouselves up before and will agan. I hope you all have more faith in us for the future. I think history shows most corps pick themselves up and reinvent themselves. Bob Smith has not been involved with the corps for many years. The Emmerts were in charge before this year and were around for a long time. I am not familiar with the new staff this year. I would assume major changes will be made for next year. There are many things I could say but confidentiallity prevents that. So drum corp life will go on and we will pick oursellves up and continue on.

Its great and really humorous. Keep it up.

I am .me. Hope you were being facetious or your sense of humor is strange. See I am old and senile and know a lot through all my wisdom of life. I really am your first cousin once removed and removed and removed.

Especially for all those doubters the regiment is aware of the specific problems this season and I am sure changes will be made but not the classical style. We have been innovative in the past and sometimes we all get set in our ways and need to be shook up. So lets be positive about theit future. I would love to see Bliecoats win this year. I think it would give more credence to the drum corps activity if the winners were selected by fair judging and give other corps hope.

I watched the show on FN last night. I have been disappointed in the show up to now, but the changes are going in the right direction. Where we end up I dont know, but I want to see a decent show on the field. My fingers are crossed.

For some reason my sense of humor has left me. That does not happen often.

No, was referring to the all the posts. Sorry I did not mean to have any one singled out. The posts jump from good criticism (sorry for the spelling) to irrelevant things such as hair extensions. I guess that is the nature of the beast. Sorry general?????

Boy I hope the fangs retract soon. Wondering if you dissect other corps as you do Phantom..As I said before you can give your opinion witthout being disrespectul and mean. I will have to read other sites and see. Yes, changes need to be made but the negativity clouds what you write and decreases the validity of your ideas.

A little bird told me..I dont state things that I am not sure of and that have not been validated.

This is the discussion I really like as it gives me insight and I appreciate your opinions. I dont always agree but life would sure be dull if we all agreed. The last show that I really liked was Turandot(2012) I will dig out my dvd and watch Into The Light and look at it differently and see what I think now.

Cool down. Every Corps makes changes in the show with drill. Regiment has done it for years.

So how do you know he was pushed out what is your point of reference and it isnt what I think I know.

The closer is being changed this week.

Are you telling me I dont know what I am saying? Yes he did and I know what happened but I am not going to address the issue, because it is none of anyone's business. It was a private matter and had nothing to do with your assumptions.

I am not ducking the question, but I did not see the show but once early on as I was sick that year. In all honesty Idid not give it a chance.

He had serious health issues and that is a fact.. He would have been back.

Believe it or not I do agree that a strong theme is needed. such as American In Paris as you know that is a classical theme in the American genre. It has been my experience with my long years with the corps that usually when I first hear the music I feel if it is going to be a success. There are not many years that my sixth sense has been wrong. I do know the closer is being changed and I am sure other changes will be made. They always seem to be able to pick up the pieces. No, we will not win, but I want a respectable finish for the young man and women who work so hard. The abstract story does not excite me and usually the music does not give me goose bumps, but that is me. It is all in the eyes of the many beholders of what is accepted or rejected. From your past posts they have had a negative vibe and you appeared to have a great dislike for the corps, but I see now that is not true. Many of the posts everyone have written did not have their facts in many cases. All I ask is that we all state our opinions in a fair way. It does not have to be done by what appears to some to be tearing a corps down. I have been around the corps for 40 years and it is not perfect but I love it and that is all that counts. No I dont like the changes DCI is doing, but that does not mean I will turn my back on an activity I love. Lastly, I do want the corps to find itself again and if that happens that is all I want. I want the goosebumps again.

Maybe this will put it all in some sort of perspective. In 1981 and 82 Regiment did Sparatus and it was considered new and innovative as a syllabus was put out explaining the story and concept of the show. In 1985 the Regiment hit a low and finished tenth and it was at that time certain staff decided to go in a new direction and as a result Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake and New World Symphony were born. The following years we had very good shows such as Faust, American In Paris, Sparatus, and Turandot (2012) (stories were the basis of these shows). Yes, their are shows that are not my favorite or that I did not like and one would be Into The Light. Every Corps has their periods of rebirth so to speak where changes nreed to be made and I have found that Regiment does this but it takes time and introspection. We are known for classical music and we should stay their. I find the horn line to me sounds tinny for the last two years. I have no musical background but I tend to think it is the horns we are using. The deep depth has gone away. Of course their are Corps that are not my favorite, BD being one of them. It is the music and their approach that I do not find uplifting or captivating. I do not feel the need to tear them apart at what they do. I respect their vision but it is not my cup of tea. Enough said about BD. Now the issue of story lines. Every Corps has them being either concrete or abstract. SCV has done West Side Story, Christrmas show(2012), Crown did Emc, Madison did their tribute to our soldiers and the list goes on and on. If you really think about it every show has a story line. Some times the story concept is so abstract you have to use your imagination. Mostly it is a matter of of what we like as individuals. Do you think the corps care what we say or write? It is the judges sheets and the crowd that will effect change if needed. As to what is on the field. Many times I do not understand the signifigance of a prop such as Crowns trampolines, Regiments black tubes.to name a few. I can say I do not like Crowns uniform this year or last year. Regiments headdress does not fit the show and is not explainable. So these are my observations and I guess you can have at it. "Dont be cruel to a heart that's true"

Nooooooo??????

Happy Fourth everyone. Here is to all the corps in parades today.

By the way I did see the humor in the knitting reference its my weird sense of humor that took over. I miss the old drum corps days myself. Their are several corps that should have won in the past, but the powers that be have the last word. I feel sorry for all the hard working corps members that have been denied the privilege of winning due to drum corps politics.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Cuodos to your insight and objective analysis. From my rocking chair knitting a shawl its drum corps grammie.