We're So Glad You're Home, Momma :D

This Wednesday was greatt! Guard didn't do anything. It was the second to last day of practice, and we all knew that the last day on Thursday didn't count at all. I didn't even get to practice on time that day.

Forcefully awoken, my brother, my sister, and I left around 5:30 to retrieve my mother. Her flight was arriving that morning at JFK Airport all the way in New York from her two week stay in the Philippines. She had gone because her father had passed. Therefore it is only right to find your way back home to pay your greatest respects. Anyways, I wasn't all up for the early wake up call. I was completely glad my mom was back home, but come on- that early?! I slept in the far back seat of our Gray Toyota Sienna, stretched out as comfortably as it allowed me. The stop at a Dunkin Donuts in Newark didn't help either. As soon as I got my regular medium coffee, I put it down for it was far too hot to even drink. Caffeine couldn't save me now. [But hey, I needed the rest for practice]

So finally we arrived at the airport, after paying wallet devouring tolls, and began looking for our mom. We ended up at a quiet terminal A and stopped by a Starbucks because my sister wanted some soup. I had cont\acted my mom and it was clarified that we were in the wrong baggage clain and arrival area. She was at Terminal C, baggage claim D-1. We were far from that. Unfortunately, we had to go all the way out and around back to the parking lot to drive up to where we had to be. Down the elevator for the third time, we finally found our way to the right place and sporrted our mother in a small crowd. We shared loving hugs and kisses, got her luggage and left. Those baggage carts are tricky! My sister didn't realize that one had to push down or lift up on the handle bar in order to let the wheels roll.

As we crossed the little street my mother passed by a woman with grayish white hair and glasses and waved goodbye. She pointed to us and said we were her children. [The lady looked like she was a Lenscrafter ad with her clean look and glasses.] Thats the only way I can describe her! My mother apparently sat with her during the flight and they talked and whatnot. Its always fun to make friends during transportation, I guess. The ride back home was better, as I could actually remain awake and watch my sister pay the $11.00 toll just to get across the Verrazano Bridge. Crazy, right?!

I had texted Shannon to warn her that I wasn't going to make it on time. I also texted Regina, becaus eI would be able to pick her up. It was kind of awkward because as we drove down a local street I saw her walking with Jonathan to catch the bus. The only thing I could do was wave..

I got dressed and hopped in the car with my brother and sister. We dropped off my sister to work and then I to the high school for practice. I found out Shannon was not at practice that day because her apartment building burned in a late fire the previous night. I felt bad, because just a day before she was bleeding from the forehead from a sabre accident! She came back later that day to join practice. The guard spent the rest of the day inside as we learned sabre work and the flagline practiced dancing. Also, we did uniform sizing and pants fitting because we all knew that Thursday was band pictures! Only one day to go!

Beginning Le Sabre!

As discussed in the previous post, I have begun band camp. This day was day numero 2. I can't say anything was too different but the weather sure was the same! HOT. HOT. and. HOT >.> All I can tell you is that my tanlines are improving and hey, theres nothing we can do about it is there? On that Tuesday, I remember being able to feel the heat burning my skin tone 2 shades darker than it already was. I knew that when I would get home and look in the mirror before jumping into the shower, I would find a greater contrast in what my skin looks like now to what it did only three days ago. Oh, I also started spinning sabre that night as well! Our instructors came that night and pulled us separate from the rest of the guard. Shannon, Jaelynn, Regina, and I were about to begin weapon basics. We stood in a small block of four, in first position, with best posture possible. I borrowed an extra pair of Shannon's guard gloves, being that I lost my own pair earlier into last season. Booyyyyyyy did those glove smell bad! They've been through seasons of lots of sweat! Blegh, thinking of it doesn't give me a good feeling. I stood in the back line, with my sabre at a good left flat, as we began to do basics. PJ only asked for one count, but I still felt that nervous butterflies feeling in my stomach. It was not that I had never practiced with a sabre before, but it was the first actual practice where I was spinning with others and not at home. Also, as I stood in the back I look at the other three girls and thought, "Wow, it feel like our first day all over again..". Despite how long any of us had been spinning, we were all in the same scenario right now. We were all equally quiet; no egos were shooting into the sky, and no one was being a smart ass. At first, he said to do simple spins. Then, he moved up to blade tosses (which I love!) singles, doubles, then triples. NEXT, we jumped to regular tosses: singles, doubles, triples, quads, fives, sixes.. oh then we stopped there because we couldn't go any higher. haha. I just thought it was crazy how he was making us do all that in one day! We're spinning sabre in this year's show, and all I can hope for is to be as good as possible!

First Day Of The Longest Stretch

So that Monday was a good one. For some reason, I always get excited on the first day of band camp. I mean really, who isn't? I woke up that morning feeling ready for some hardcore work. I had my water jug ready full with ice cold water, sunblock ready to be applied, money for lunch, and soffee shorts and tank tops ready to be sweat in! (yeah that last one was kind of gross) It kind of felt like the first day of school, but better. When I woke up, I also felt sore in the legs. Thanks to the day before at Mt. Creek and all the walking!

As nice as I felt when I woke up, that feeling didn't last very long. At about 8:40 AM, I was ready to leave, so I woke up my brother. Actually, I've been trying to wake him up since about 8:30 AM. I had everything ready by the stairs, so I was just waiting for my brother. By the time he woke up for real, I thought, "Alright let's leave..any later and I might be late." My brother started looking for his car keys and we started realizing he couldn't find them. Now for a little side note: To know me, you would know that I tend to panic sometimes on last minute things. It was about 8:45AM and I was tearing our living room apart. It didn't help that our house was a mess to begin with since there were no parents in state to clean up. Papers were going every where, bags were being thrown around, and pillows and blankets were on the floor. That scene looked exactly as I will describe: me throwing everything around and looking under the couch and whatnot panicking like theres no tomorrow. I thguht to my self "how the hell am I gonna be late on the FIRST day!" I wasn't up for running laps on day 1. Then, there's my brother still half asleep, walking around, chill, just looking for his keys. I think that moment got my blood pressure off the charts! (I also had to pick up Regina for practice as well. so, that didn't help either.)

My brother then decides to call my sister asking if she took them. She replies stating that my brother had left them in the door the night before, so she took them out and placed them at the bottom of the steps. At this point I'm thinkinging, "grrrreeeatttt....CAN WE LEAVE NOW?!" I really am such a spaz. It's nothing to be proud about haha..me and my procrastination..

So we are finally on our way and I text Shannon that we would be a little late right after picking up Regina. I get the reply:

Shannon 8:52 AM

Oh its okay we're not doing anything yet

Monday, August 17th, 2009

I stopped to think. It was the first day of Band Camp. We have a Breakfast on the first day, every year. I just panicked for no good reason. I'm such a failure. Haha..so yeah go ahead and laugh at me right now. -waits-

So we get there and have a nice, subtle breakfast of bagels, eggs, munchkins, snacks, and drinks in the auditorium. Excitement is shared between rookies and veterans as we eat away. When everyone finished, we made a circle on the stage and sat down to introduce each and every person, new and old. It was kind of nice to know that this year we couldn't even fit every one in the circle! This year our size has moved from about 45 member knocked up to about 70! After that, we went onto the field and did stretching and all that warm up jazz and started drill and basics. By the end of that day I was worn out, anxious to jump in the shower, and sleep; only to do the same thing the next day.

Call be a band nerd. I don't care :) It makes me happy.