It's over. All that is left of my time with BYU colorguard is a long, uncomfortable bus ride to Provo. Then my holiday begins.
The game was really great. We killed the UTEP Miners 52-24. Although I had a blast, the game itself wasn't too spectacular. It was clear from the start that BYU would win the game. So there was no suspense, very unlike the BYU vs U of U game.
After having a quick run-through this morning, the Cougar Marching Band marched over to the tailgate party by the entrance of the stadium. As the guard marched by, we got a couple snide remarks from UTEP fans, but nothing that would really bother us. When we arrived at the tailgate party, the band was blessed with a Mexican breakfast. Oh my word. That was the best breakfast I have had in a long time. I had pork with red chile sauce, bacon, potatoes, and refried beans all wrapped up in a soft, decadent tortilla. It was heaven. And it made me miss Mexico. So to all my pals, if you want to go to Mexico in April, let me know.
Which the guard had finished our plates, we performed for the devoted Cougar fans, then gathered our things and headed for the stadium. Pre-game went well, besides the fact that we reversed the direction we face during the game. It totally threw me off, I had no clue where I was supposed to stand. But once the show started, I got my bearings pretty fast. During the second part of the pre-game, I made it onto the jumbo-tron-- doing a toss. AGH! But I caught it, thank goodness!
Half-time went just as well. I didn't make any major mistakes, but I wasn't filled with the fire I felt at the BYU vs U of U game. But that's okay. Performing before that much energy is a rare occurrence.
After grooving in the stands, spilling cups of water, and performing on the field one last time, the game was over.
So here I am. On a dark bus, on my way back to Provo. Not exactly sure what I want to do. I mean, I had decided earlier in the season that this would be my final year of colorguard. But now that this season is over. I realize, once again, how amazing colorguard is and how beneficial it is to me. I learn so much from band. I make so many wonderful friends. And in moments like the U of U game, guard makes me feel alive. So for some crazy reason, I am considering a second season. But I won't be hasty to make any serious decision for now. I will let time give its two cents.
12/18/10
Albuquerque Nights
I know I have said this before: Pep rallies are highly overrated.
I mean, I had a good time. But it was pretty sad. No BYU fans showed up so we were performing for a hostile UTEP crowd. And we also lost the mascot competition. Even worse, it was in the 30s and I was in a thin uniform. So I stood there for half an hour freezing and shivering in the cold. It was brutal. But soon it was over and the guard had front row seats to the fireworks from the warmth and comfort of the bus.
When the band got back to the hotel, we had a final fireside. It was really nice. The focus was about the blessings that come through hard work and trial, a subject very relevant to Marching Band. It made me think about all the lessons I have learned during my year of Cougar Marching Band. I learned about sacrifice. I learned about perseverance. I learned about obedience and exactness. Colorguard taught me valuable lessons that will stay with me for life. One of the things Brother Mac said that I really liked was about the expansion of the church. He said, "I honestly believe that either your generation or your children's will see a boom in the spread of the Gospel." It strengthened my own resolve to be better, to share the gospel more often, to become the most qualified person to teach my future children in the ways of righteousness and guide them to greatness. I am going to miss band.
After we finished the fireside, some of the guardlings went to Macaroni Grill. I am going to miss my guard sisters. We had a blast. The line at Macaroni Grill was long and ridiculous, but with some haggling by Rosa (my guard big sister), we got a table for 8 in only half an hour. Not bad. Rosa and I then shared some calamari and some pasta Milano. It was delicious! But what I really loved was all the conversation we had, the laughs we shared, the pictures we colored. It was a fun experience.
At 11:15, all the guardlings (all 17 of us) crammed onto Ashlee's king sized bed. Then we preceded with the guard's last devotional. But before all that spiritual stuff, we laughed and laughed. In fact, we got complaints. Still don't know why, the guard had only been in the room for 5 minutes. Weird. Maybe we got punk'd. Anyway, Ashlee's gift to us was a magnet with a picture of the guard on it. I love it. Definitely going on my fridge at home.
Well, we just arrived at the facility where we are going to practice our show. But I think I gave a basic look at the fun and amazingness of a band trip and a Albuquerque night.
Talk to you later!!!
I mean, I had a good time. But it was pretty sad. No BYU fans showed up so we were performing for a hostile UTEP crowd. And we also lost the mascot competition. Even worse, it was in the 30s and I was in a thin uniform. So I stood there for half an hour freezing and shivering in the cold. It was brutal. But soon it was over and the guard had front row seats to the fireworks from the warmth and comfort of the bus.
When the band got back to the hotel, we had a final fireside. It was really nice. The focus was about the blessings that come through hard work and trial, a subject very relevant to Marching Band. It made me think about all the lessons I have learned during my year of Cougar Marching Band. I learned about sacrifice. I learned about perseverance. I learned about obedience and exactness. Colorguard taught me valuable lessons that will stay with me for life. One of the things Brother Mac said that I really liked was about the expansion of the church. He said, "I honestly believe that either your generation or your children's will see a boom in the spread of the Gospel." It strengthened my own resolve to be better, to share the gospel more often, to become the most qualified person to teach my future children in the ways of righteousness and guide them to greatness. I am going to miss band.
After we finished the fireside, some of the guardlings went to Macaroni Grill. I am going to miss my guard sisters. We had a blast. The line at Macaroni Grill was long and ridiculous, but with some haggling by Rosa (my guard big sister), we got a table for 8 in only half an hour. Not bad. Rosa and I then shared some calamari and some pasta Milano. It was delicious! But what I really loved was all the conversation we had, the laughs we shared, the pictures we colored. It was a fun experience.
At 11:15, all the guardlings (all 17 of us) crammed onto Ashlee's king sized bed. Then we preceded with the guard's last devotional. But before all that spiritual stuff, we laughed and laughed. In fact, we got complaints. Still don't know why, the guard had only been in the room for 5 minutes. Weird. Maybe we got punk'd. Anyway, Ashlee's gift to us was a magnet with a picture of the guard on it. I love it. Definitely going on my fridge at home.
Well, we just arrived at the facility where we are going to practice our show. But I think I gave a basic look at the fun and amazingness of a band trip and a Albuquerque night.
Talk to you later!!!
12/17/10
Rehearsal
Just spent the last 3 and a half hours at a high school field.
It was SO cold!!! Yet, the band warmed-up and began practicing pre-game and half-time. It felt so strange holding a flag again since I haven't done any guard for a week and a half. But it only took 2 seconds before I felt totally back in my game. But since the whole band had such a long break, both shows needed some work. So we went back and forth, going over trouble spots until we got it back in our systems. Finally, at the end of practice, the sun crept out from behind the clouds and graced us.
Lunch was cheeseburgers; therefore, I didn't eat. Don't know why they would only get cheeseburgers. What about lactose-intolerant people? But there were Famous Amos cookies which made everything better.
Well, now the buses are on their way to the first Pep Rally. I'll let you know all about it later.
It was SO cold!!! Yet, the band warmed-up and began practicing pre-game and half-time. It felt so strange holding a flag again since I haven't done any guard for a week and a half. But it only took 2 seconds before I felt totally back in my game. But since the whole band had such a long break, both shows needed some work. So we went back and forth, going over trouble spots until we got it back in our systems. Finally, at the end of practice, the sun crept out from behind the clouds and graced us.
Lunch was cheeseburgers; therefore, I didn't eat. Don't know why they would only get cheeseburgers. What about lactose-intolerant people? But there were Famous Amos cookies which made everything better.
Well, now the buses are on their way to the first Pep Rally. I'll let you know all about it later.
ABQ
Right now, I am sitting on a bus on my way to a BYU luncheon at Hard Rock Cafe, relishing the free internet on the bus since it costs 5 bucks for internet at the hotel. And I'm a cheap college student.
The Bowl Game is here. The last bang to my short but meaningful career in colorguard. Honestly, I have mixed feelings about being here. For one, I could be home right now, snuggling with my siblings and bothering my old high school teachers. But I am here, in the snow and rain. I'm here, staying in a hotel room with strangers...
But it isn't as bad as I thought. The 11 hour bus ride yesterday didn't feel like forever and I watched Star Trek and The Italian Job for the first time. I went shopping and had my first Panda Express in months. I started my morning with a venti peppermint hot chocolate with pumpkin bread. So it's not terrible.
2 days and 55 minutes until I am back in the state I love.
The Bowl Game is here. The last bang to my short but meaningful career in colorguard. Honestly, I have mixed feelings about being here. For one, I could be home right now, snuggling with my siblings and bothering my old high school teachers. But I am here, in the snow and rain. I'm here, staying in a hotel room with strangers...
But it isn't as bad as I thought. The 11 hour bus ride yesterday didn't feel like forever and I watched Star Trek and The Italian Job for the first time. I went shopping and had my first Panda Express in months. I started my morning with a venti peppermint hot chocolate with pumpkin bread. So it's not terrible.
2 days and 55 minutes until I am back in the state I love.
12/12/10
Freezing Football Frenzy
Winter arrived. And thanks to the BYU Band motto "Practice rain, or snow, or shine", the colorguard is outside practicing in the biting wind and the swirling snowflakes.
Then game day comes around. I layer up in my apartment: uniform, leggings, warm-ups, sweatshirt, headband, two layers of socks, and, to top it off, a scarf. Then, sheepishly, I leave the warmth of Fugal Hall and make the twenty minute walk to Lavell Edwards Stadium. I arrive at the guard room, my cheeks numb because of the cold, and grab my equipment, then head back outside for practice. Practice isn't quite so bad, I'm moving around which keeps me warm. But finally, the time comes for me to take off my protective bubble and perform Pre-game. I take off my warm-ups. Still feeling okay. But then I peel off my sweatshirt and headband. An icy gust of air hits me right on. My eyes go wide. My hairs on my arms stick straight up. Luckily, every other guard member is feeling the same thing. Thus, we bundled together, right there in the middle of the stadium. Some interesting band members came over and joined our bundle and we huddled together until it was time to go. The guard-girls walked down the portal onto the field, trying not to show how darn cold we are. We stand on the side-line shivering. Then the whistles blow and everything melts away. It's showtime. The cold is shoved to the back of my mind as more important things enter my mind, such as choreography. Finally, the pre-game show is over and I'm running off the field to the guard room. I quickly throw-on my warm clothes again. Ahh. Warmth. Then, I walk over to the stands, prepared to start the process all over again for half-time.
Then game day comes around. I layer up in my apartment: uniform, leggings, warm-ups, sweatshirt, headband, two layers of socks, and, to top it off, a scarf. Then, sheepishly, I leave the warmth of Fugal Hall and make the twenty minute walk to Lavell Edwards Stadium. I arrive at the guard room, my cheeks numb because of the cold, and grab my equipment, then head back outside for practice. Practice isn't quite so bad, I'm moving around which keeps me warm. But finally, the time comes for me to take off my protective bubble and perform Pre-game. I take off my warm-ups. Still feeling okay. But then I peel off my sweatshirt and headband. An icy gust of air hits me right on. My eyes go wide. My hairs on my arms stick straight up. Luckily, every other guard member is feeling the same thing. Thus, we bundled together, right there in the middle of the stadium. Some interesting band members came over and joined our bundle and we huddled together until it was time to go. The guard-girls walked down the portal onto the field, trying not to show how darn cold we are. We stand on the side-line shivering. Then the whistles blow and everything melts away. It's showtime. The cold is shoved to the back of my mind as more important things enter my mind, such as choreography. Finally, the pre-game show is over and I'm running off the field to the guard room. I quickly throw-on my warm clothes again. Ahh. Warmth. Then, I walk over to the stands, prepared to start the process all over again for half-time.
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