update on DCI

it rained... and rained... and rained... and rained.

and yes, it was rained out--or rather, in, indoors with a standstill performance in the gym. nothing says "blast zone" like 134 brass, percussion and "front ensemble" people performing about 10 feet infront of you.

and unfortunately, that left very little room for the colorguard (which was the sole reason my students came to this performance.) we saw one guard the whole night, and though the girls were impressed with that one guard, it didn't make up for the fact that they had to watch 7 other shows without guards. however, the music was awesome, i literally got goosebumps when the first corp hit the first big chord, and alan's hooked again. he's talking about marching crown next year.

okay, that's all for now.

weekend's amazingly coming to a close, though i still have a big event this evening--DCI show in benson. keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't get rained out, that they'll atleast do standstill performances (and that we aren't too delayed in getting back...)

colorguard camp this past week went incredibly well. two new girls, three of my regulars and a performance at the end of the week where all of the parents and even a few of my friends/family came.

only a couple of tutoring sessions this week with all of the colorguard stuff. and of course, a couple of losses in softball with some hot, muggy, humid games (even at 8:30!)

friday afternoon trip to the beach--so nice and so needed. we got down there at 5, stayed out on the beach until 8, got dinner at a diner on the way out and were back to greenville by 11. it hit the spot.

housewarming party for justin's sister on saturday night--grilling out, lots of conversation, and even a game of "cranium" that lasted late into the evening.

and next week looks like tutoring, baby-sitting, and softball (though they will be the last two games of the regular season--thank goodness!)

that's about it for now... i've got writer's block or something. anyways, later, y'all...

little tidbits

tuesday--first win of the season in softball. thursday--lost again by 15 in a shut out. can't win 'em all...

tutoring sessions for the week--check. i like this job.

my office at work is now a lovely, bright shade of carolina blue. i painted for many many hours last week, and i've come to the conclusion that painting cinder block is not as easy as you think. hallie's office has a little picture of sunflowers and ladybugs on one wall. i think i'll stick to that kind of painting.

milo does not do well in the car. he also doesn't do well in the vet. he howled, hissed, growled, and panted (yes, panted) his way through the entire visit, to the point where his shot required me, the vet, the vet assistant and a towel over his head to get through it. it was a pleasant afternoon...

end of the school year breakfast with the girls at the mennonite restaurant--check. huge pieces of french toast made with homemade bread and homemade butter syrup and a big mug of coffee...oh my goodness...doesn't get much better than that.

father's day lunch with dad in goldsboro--check. family time and barbeque=good stuff.



wedding photographers have a hard job. i now appreciate that since i took a stab at wedding photography (my "professional" look in the picture.) long day, about 450 pictures (and this was a relaxed ceremony.) i can only imagine what's invovled in photographing a larger, more traditional ceremony. at any rate, i'm happy with the way the pictures turned out, and i put some of my favorites up on flickr. justin and i finished up the night hanging out with his friend kenny and his son kaleb. fun times.

and this coming week is my colorguard camp in the morning, with a culminating DCI show in benson on sunday evening. gotta go ready for it now...

later, y'all.

quick post

yeah, yeah, i know it's been a while. but i've been enjoying my summer :)

so what's happened over the past couple of weeks? well, let me fill you in...

there was the last week of school, which included exams for the older kids, lots of field trips for the younger ones and days where i just wasn't sure what i was getting paid to do. but we had a good time and i can't believe i've said goodbye to several students that i won't see again. there was also the "end of the school" dance where i helped organize and decorate along with some 8th grade parents, and was the object of some very overt attention from the hired DJ. we're talking making the oh-so-mature "turn around and pretend you're making out with the wall" motion towards me, along with a not so appropriate dedicated song--"let's get it on." yes, that made for an interesting night.

ocracoke...oh, i've fallen in love with it. you can check out my pictures with the link to the right, but man...it doesn't compare with being there. we rode bikes, we went to the beach where almost no one was there, we shopped, we strolled around the quaint little village and ate wonderful seafood--it was just amazing. i didn't want to come back, but i had to finish up my teacher workdays.

monday, there was a surprise field trip for the teachers. we were told to come wearing comfortable clothing and that transportation would be provided for us. well, the bus pulled up and was all decorated with vines and gardening stuff, and we all piled on to go to our secret destination--a backyard barbecue at one of the faculty member's houses. there was also a pool in the backyard, along with a trampoline, and by the end of the afternoon, half of us were in the pool with our clothes on and drying off by jumping on the trampoline. there's a reason we work with kids :)

we finished up the rest of the week with meetings and supply orders and coordinating my tutoring schedule for the summer. it's looking like tuesday and thursday mornings only, which is great cause i can enjoy the rest of my summer as well.

and this weekend, it was visiting with justin's friend jon, seeing a couple of movies, relaxing and enjoying the first of what will be many three day weekends. justin's four ten-hour days schedule gives him fridays off, so we will be enjoying that for the next couple of months while i'm off as well.

coming up--my first wedding photo shoot. i bought tons of photo stuff this weekend, including a 1 gb memory card, rechargable batteries, an oh-so-cute camera bag and a portable tripod. i feel like i'm almost an "amateur professional"--ha, we'll just see how the pictures come out.

alright, off to "sunday in the park." i love free outdoor concerts in the summer. later, y'all.