Hello, my name is Kathy...

...and I have a slight problem.  Well, I have many, but one in particular is starting to rear its ugly head.

I like to keep busy.  Free time is just another opportunity for me to add something else to my schedule.  And junior year (the most difficult year I will have in college) is no different.

I've written about this before, but I'll say it again, I love guard.  Marching band, winterguard, drum corps.  I just fell in love with it in high school and still am.  Long story short, I'm trying to make colorguard a fixture at The College once again, forming a guard that will perform with the pep band throughout the year.  It's just a seed of an idea, but I'm already getting anxious at the thought of performing again, with a guard and a choreographed routine.

It was probably a mix of my brother having his high school band camp right now, the Drum Corps International showing in theatres a few weeks back, and one of my high school guard girls posting a picture after her first day at her university's band camp, but hopefully this can turn into something real.

I'm trying not to think about uniforms, if The College has enough equipment, tape, practice space, teaching basics and choreography, and everything that comes with getting a guard show together.  *sigh*  Baby steps.

Currently listening to watching: an amazing guard solo that I came across a few weeks ago

Wish me luck!

"al amenecer"

Yesterday was the first time in a while that my entire family spent real time together.  My father goes fishing every chance he can and seeing as I'm home, I suggested that the entire family go fishing together.  I really just wanted to make my family take a break from their daily routines and relax with each other.

Our 'fishing hole' is at Kent Narrows, MD.  We've been going there for years and it's always a successful trip.

How the morning began:

But soon enough, everyone was up and ready.

My father, with a couple crab he swept up.

We were packing up when I realized that the crab net was weighted pretty nicely for a couple peggy spins and simple tosses.

 

Total haul: about 20 crab and 50 or so white and yellow perch.  Recently, we've been giving away the majority of our catch to friends and family.  There's only so much fish we can eat.

Day well spent?  I think yes.

And if you're wondering, I did do more than take pictures and do guard with a fishing net.  A good chunk of those fish were caught by me.

Currently listening to: "Baby, I'm Yours" The Arctic Monkeys

"Moments"

There's nothing like a good winterguard show to make me all warm and tingly inside.  For those who don't know, I did colorguard and winterguard throughout high school and freshman year of college.  Needless to say, I loved it, and still do.  There's little that I didn't absolutely love about it.  I wish I could do it forever (or at least as long as my body would let me), and I wish I were still doing it now.

Just thinking about it causes me to reminisce about high school and the overall sadness that comes with not being able to do something you love.  Last semester, I was able to sneak a last guard performance into my show choir's spring showcase.  I performed a solo to "Moth's Wings" by Passion Pit.  It was great and it started my now obsession for Passion Pit.

Here's a little walk back in time of my guard history.

2011 WM Winterguard Show

 

2010 WL HS Winterguard Show

 

2009 WL HS Marching Show

 

2009 WL HS Winterguard Show

 

2008 WL HS Marching Show

2007 WL HS Marching Show

And the catalyst for this post, Impact Winterguard's 2012 show.  It kills me that I could never be a part of this guard; the memories and things I would've learned would have been so worth the time and pain.

Currently listening to: "Let Me Be Your Star" Megan Hilty and Katherine McPhee

Reflection

Super impromptu, but completely necessary blog post headed your way. Starting now.

This past weekend, as I started in a previous post, was AIA Championships. And while the guard of which I am now a part didn't really do anything of note, my old high school guard won first place in both prelims and finals. At AIA Championships. I repeat for further emphasis.

But the reason for a post at this time is that my lovely guard girls have been putting up pictures from Championships and just guard love in general. And while I am so incredibly proud and happy and just full of love for them and my coach and my high school and everything that encompassed my high school guard experience, I just miss it. Everything about it, the people, my coach, the love for guard that she gave me because of her ridiculous talent and dedication, and just everything.

I realize that this post may be somewhat scattered, but I'm just writing whatever comes to mind. Looking at those pictures was giving me this frustrating feeling in the pit of my stomach because I love guard, so much. And the fact that I am not in a position to continue doing guard to the extent which I would like, I feel, bothers me the most.

Everyone needs something that makes them feel good, and I cannot lose mine now. However, life does what it does for a reason, right?

Currently listening to:

"Uncharted" Sara Bareilles

Hello, Murphy's Law

Murphy's Law states that "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong."

That seemed to be the moral of yesterday's events.

To start over though, I had my second winterguard competition yesterday and the judges were to see the entire, completed version of our 2011 show. We were no longer changing drill of writing new work, just cleaning.

Well, the competition was at CNU, which is a little more than half an hour away from campus. That gave us time to practice before we had to leave. When we arrived at our usual practice space in the morning, there were people occupying that room and our back-up room. So no practice beforehand; we could still do mock drill and mock work in another room, right? Ehh, kinda. Problem number 2: we were only able to acquire one car to drive the team (seven members), the floor, and all of the equipment to CNU. And being that we don't have a circus clown VW, that would not be possible. The solution: take two trips... We would drive two members and all of the equipment to CNU first and then return for the remaining members.

By the time that the entire team and our equipment was at CNU, I was pretty carsick and just frustrated in general. But do the problems end there? Of course not..that would be too easy. Because this was CNU's first time hosting a competition, no one knew what was going on.. and disorganized officials plus an already annoyed team does not lead to good vibes.

But while some other team members went to get food, I asked them to get me a Sprite and I would stay behind, trying to calm my carsick-ness. When they returned, the officials told them that food and drink wasn't allowed inside of the gym. I guess they missed the 15 or so people bringing in their food and soda..maybe they just hate us? I'll stick with that one. So we were eating outside, in the cold. Yay..

I would now describe the ridiculous layout of this competition, but it wouldn't translate well so I won't. I will say that body warm-up, equipment warm-up, and the actual performance space was in the same gym. Oh, and it was a silent warm-up as to not disrupt the performers. Hm, I guess I ended up describing the layout anyway..

Let me think of what else went wrong..oh yes, the actual performance. Essentially, I screwed up in places I shouldn't have and my top stopper came off right before I ended my solo and the show. Thank you, people who check the equipment. Urghhh. And lastly, one of the members' friends was coming to CNU to take her back to school. And while the original plan was for her to also take back a couple of us, she was not able to..so we all got to stay for the entire competition. That wasn't too bad because I love being at guard competitions with a fiery passion, but I was in a horribly bad mood..and let people know.

A small glimmer of happiness did arise in me yesterday, at the strangest time. There was a tiny percussion division also attending the competition and I absolutely loveed them. So while I don't want to say this, watching an indoor drumline made my day..? Huh??

Whew, well that was my day. Sucks, didn't it? Doesn't it make you appreciate your Saturday so much more now? Haha.

Currently listening to:
"Whatdaya Want From Me" Petie Pizarro <-love this man