March 2, 2005
FBI Swat Guy
sexy
Last week we had career day at school, though it was only for the MTS academey, so I didn't get to participate. But, since they were going to use my first block class, I got to see what was going on before being shipped off to another class as to not be part of the MTS career day.
In my first block class was a guy from the FBI swat team. He was a former marine too. Tough guy, acted all bad-A. Apparently he had a daughter at our school too.
The guns look awesome.
Posted by akijikan at 7:12 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 23, 2004
Fighting fighting. Same same. (or band camp day 5)
So today was the end of the first week of band camp. It was pretty simple.
We stretched but we didn't even have to stick around for basics! YES! I'm especially glad because Mr. Rose has hired the most insane of M&M (Marching and Maneuvering) instructors. He is known as (Mr.) Harvey. He's instructed for the likes of Velocity Indoor Percussion, and other area bands.
But worse, he was in a Drum (and bugle, but that doesn't matter...j/k) corps. And not just any. No, he was in the Cavaliers. He was their drum major in '95 when they won the Championships (among many other times). So this guy is insane about breaking the down the steps and working on basics for hours to make them perfect. Crazy.
But no, we got to miss all that to work on music, so I was glad. We've played everything we have practically into the ground, and I have all that has been given to us (warm-ups, 2 cadences, opener and half of a second song) memorized. So we took a lot of long breaks.
When I go to the bathroom, they consult with the colorguard. Apparently we're going to have a water-balloon fight between them and us (the drumline). This will prove interesting and I expect, fun.
Mark then decides to get a little advance water action. He gets me and three other guys to fill cups with water, two to a person, and get in the back of his truck. We then drive up next to where the guard is practicing and throw the water on them...they were totally surprised and it was hilarious.
But please, I would like you to play close attention to this. This is so awesome.
Every year now for four years I have looked forward to a particular moment. That moment is the first time the drumline finally plays one of the pieces with the band. There is nothing quite like it when it all comes together like that and the band sounds good, and you sound good, and you just know that the marching season is going to be good, no matter how you do at competition or how many games the football team wins or loses. You're ready to get on with all the hard work because you know that it is actually going to pay off in a gratifying existance as a part of a team, and you know you want to be a good part of that team, and the will to work hard just swells in you like the bruise you got in the pit at the concert last night.
Today I experienced that moment for my fourth, and unfortunately, probably last time. It was all that and more, and it almost brought a tear to my eye. I'm so excited for this marching season.
Monday we set drill.
I gotta start wearing sunscreen, my face is a fireball of sunburn.
and I only have three and a half days of band camp left because on Thursday I leave to see my girlfriend in Wisconsin. I am so excited about this. I can't wait!
Posted by akijikan at 8:44 PM | TrackBack
July 21, 2004
Look eye... always look eye... (or Band Camp Day 3)
Third day of band camp. Tracked around school.
Tracking consists of playing and marching.
This sounds nice and fun and normal...do it at 170...enjoy!
Around the school is maybe half a mile...so yeah...I was almost dead afterwards. I wonder how much weight I've lost since the start of band camp. All the running and tracking has to have done something.
I pray.
Posted by akijikan at 10:06 PM | TrackBack
July 20, 2004
Band Camp
I had my second day of band camp.
Tough stuff. I am so out of shape. We had to run laps around the school today. We wouldn't of had to except that David, the drum captain, didn't start warming us up when Richie, the instructor, told us to. So we ran a lap, but some of us are more slow than others (READ - I'm super slow), so we didn't all make it back at the same time. Richie proceeded to line us up in single file and make us run again. This time we couldn't arrive back more than 3 seconds apart from each other. WTF? He never told us we had to arrive together the first time. So we did that, and I held everyone back...w00t.
We did get the music to the opener today. And I think I've got it all learned already. That doesn't happen often that I learn the opener by the second day of band camp. Lol, its rare that we even have music for the opener by the second day of band camp.
My everything hurts...hopefully I'll build some stamina these 2 weeks and get into some kind of shape other than fat gut.
Posted by akijikan at 8:18 PM | TrackBack