chicasDiGArri411

Oh the bumps and bruises my face had to endure because of the weather. Random wind tunnels in some of the stadiums too...THOSE were the worst (cough cough Giant Stadium cough cough). :P

I kinda skimmed through the replies...so if this was mentioned before, my apologies. I'm with the guard people in saying that we have to be in absolute tip-top shape in order to run through the show...then performing on TOP of that just makes it extremely physically demanding. The thing that makes it easier than the rest (in my opinion) is that we're playing a role...and that's just plain fun. :) We don't think TOO much about all the physical aspects of doing colorguard because we're so set on playing that role. I held a euphonium for almost the duration of a show (with horrible posture and angles, I'm sure) and I just don't think I could do that! With some visuals and different horn positions it makes playing an instrument a little dynamic, but after two minutes...I was ready to give it up, just because I wasn't doing anything different. And you also gotta have some nice arm muscles to hold one of those up too...so it's not all a mental game. My vote is for the guard needing to be in ridiculous shape to do a corps show...but also for the brass having the ability to hold those horn positions for as long as they do. Percussion I have no clue about...but I'm absolutely sure they work just as hard as the rest of the corps. In the end, it's really hard to pick one that does the most work because the work is all so different and difficult in it's own way.

w/Stp: I'm interested to hear Teal Sound's 2004 production now...or another corps with some Dream Theater in the future. Good stuff.

I have my small collection of shows AND music that I watch/listen to constantly. My roomie had no clue what drum corps was until I informed her...and she even enjoys watching some of the shows with me. She sometimes plays music that a corps has done in the past so of course I HAVE to show her that show. She gets a kick out of it...even sometimes wishes she could do it. :P Everyone else on the floor (even in the whole building) doesn't think much of it. They think it's cool that I march but that's about it. They always know when I'm home though because they can hear drum corps blasting! :)

We had a few minor incidents which, at the time, weren't too hilarious because it threw us off schedule...but in retrospect were pretty funny. Our driver (a HEAVY smoker with emphyzema, actually ) sideswept a light pole once and it dented one of the bay doors. The impact was pretty close to my seat and I remember looking outside and seeing a pole...then feeling it hit the side of the bus right next to me. The door was so dented that we could't open it for the rest of tour. Down in Kentucky we were trying to get to our housing site but couldn't because the yellow lines were being painted on the ONLY road we could take to get there. The entire fleet decided to take the chance and go on the road anyway...which left us with some angry workers and some yellow paint on the trucks/busses. Another good story (not a story on the bus, exactly, but something related with driving) was when we were going to Giant Stadium for a show and got VERY lost because the sign to the road we were trying to get on wasn't there. I guess it was stolen? That was the conclusion some staff members came to at least... As far as the "real" bus stories...I agree with everyone else. What happens on the bus stays on the bus...and I thank God for that one. :P

Speaking for Pioneer 2005 only..."Plan B" is probably a great way to describe it. Spontaneous would come in a close second.

ACTUALLY...that's not the case at all. I was simply aggrivated at the word usage. If you read something that says "This number should be sufficient to end the existance of Pioneer once and for all!" and it's about your corps then you'd get defensive too. Notice how I never accused them of it...just made note. I interpreted the message as them saying that there was enough people out there who know about this incident to shut down the organization. That's just plain ridiculous. HOWEVER...now that they have posted this and explained the message they were trying to convey, it's all good. :) I can ensure you that our focus this next camp (and until the summer) will be on our upcoming season and that, even though this issue can't simply be forgotten about, preparing for the summer will stay our main focus.

What can I say? Best day of the year! :P

I counted seven counts after the release...so I guess that means it was an eight. It was pretty up there. :)

I can't stop reading this sentence because, to me, it has such a negative connotation to it. I hope I am wrong...and I also hope that you don't go around wishing for the demise of other organizations like Pioneer. We will get through this. If you've marched with the corps before (I cannot tell by your post if you have) then you would know that.

Yes she does...she had two "solo tosses" I believe. The second one she caught...but not the first. I believe the first one was a rifle and the second one was a sabre...not positive on that one though.

HAHA...it was even funnier when he was getting pointed at and laughed at. The act itself was pretty hilarious...but seeing that sold it. I was rolling on the floor. ^OO^

That's...ummm...well I really don't know. Doesn't look right? Whatever...I like the shirt! ^_^

He made an effort...you can see his hands try to catch it. Problem is...they're too close together to even get a good catch on the thing! Of course he dropped it! That's why it may look as if he didn't attempt...my spin on the situation at least. :)

I ALSO love my bonus year...my birthday is June 3rd.

One of my doctors has an aunt or her mother-in-law (not sure which one) that works for the Cavaliers. She mentioned something about her working there on the off season with finances and such. She might even cook (or has cooked) on tour before...something of that sort. When my doctor asked how my summer went, I told her about how I marched with Pioneer this summer and she knew exactly who I was talking about...I didn't even mention the words 'drum corps' until afterwards! It made my week. ^_^

I think this would be a wonderful idea. There are days during the summer where I tend to forget that there are thousands of other people going through what I am going through, not just my corps. It would be nice to meet some of them...swap stories even. :) It would be a nice break from routine.

Jamie Oakley I believe is who you are talking about.

Same here. I'm pretty sure the booing was for the score, not the placement.

w/Stp:

Cadets 2002 + Opener...especially that guard dance. :) - Botched rifle feature at the end (one guy drops and misses the end toss). BD 1994 + Street Nights and the ending heart the guard made. - Opener...ehh...didn't really do much for me. Cadets 2000 + That tenor/quad feature was pretty sweet. The entire show too. - I liked those big flags...but I didn't really like the hornline doing those body movements (or whatever you want to call them) in the beginning. SCV 2001 + Sabre ripple towards the middle...and the last person tosses higher and catches on the "ding." I LOVE that part! I like the guard in the beginning too and the hornline with the "in your face" action. - Nothing really...hehe.

Yeah...I just watched that show yesterday. Some of the girls that were in the guard came back for the 2005 season and they told me that they had never dropped a thing until that day. I felt so bad! :( Some of the hornline members had their hats blow off too.

Quarterfinals in 2004 had some pretty strong wind...you can hear it in the recordings even.

I must say, the first time I see a show I look at everything. Perhaps the color guard more often than the rest, but I do see it all. It's the DVDs where I look specifically at the color guard. I also think it's easier to watch the entire picture live considering it's all right there in front of your face...no camera angles and shots of half of the section to worry about.

Haha...the Pigh O'Near thing made me laugh too. As far as O'Blenski...nah. He's Polish, I believe. The "ski" at the end of the name kinda gives it away in my opinion. :P