A look from the desk of Helen. During the week my desk at school is my dining room table, my studio, and a place where I can study. It's often quite messy, but I have heard that a messy desk means you're a hard worker.
I am at work finding different opportunities and studying hard this semester already. I can't believe it's February.
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The first month of the New Year is already coming to a close. So many changes happened for me right before the closing of 2014, leading this year off to an exciting start. I hope everyone's New Years resolutions are going strong. It shouldn't matter that the close of a New Year is when everyone starts something new. Be you! Make choices that are the best for you and what you need, regardless of the time of year. Today is a new day, so rejoice and be glad in it.
Hopefully soon I can keep up with posting about things going on here at school, but while you wait know that I am well and that I genuinely hope you are, too. --Helen Used my watercolor set, a few blank envelopes, a Sharpie, and my hair dryer to make these cool designed envelopes. Now who to send them to?
I spent this Sunday afternoon doing things I have forgotten about. I busted out my sketch book and did somethings and picked up my guitar to try to keep learning. Need to remember to stop trying to plan so far ahead and enjoy things as they happen. I have been to all my classes for the first semester. So far,or at least by what I have judged, my classes all will be relatively enjoyable, all in subjects that I am interested in improving and learning more about. What I love about Ohio Northern is the fact that I can be excited about what I am learning, even if it's in a new situation. Being excited for school and learning again is awesome. The last couple years of high school was rough, so it feels great to be excited about learning something for what I want to eventually make my career.
This week I have been overloaded with club meetings and introductions. The more involved in things that will help me gain experience and benefit myself and my community is what I am going for, but school comes first. Starting to narrow down what I want to be involved in. Despite my participation in Blue Stars and my love of the performing arts, I am not majoring in music-not even minoring. However, I am in the Wind Orchestra and am taking lessons for the first time ever! It's exciting to get one on one help to improve the way I sound. Maybe I will get to be involved in the behind the scenes of the musical productions and presentations, but I am still working that out. Instead, I am majoring in Communications. Minoring in Arts Administration, Multimedia Journalism, and Web Design. I don't have a defined career I am searching for in the end result, I just know that I want to share peoples/companies stories using media possible in the arts field, whether that be in performing arts theater or something else. It's pretty broad area, but I am going to get as many skills as I can and worry about that later. Things are going well. This is only the beginning.
Schedule of performancesMay 21-June 11 Forest City, IA June 12-June 19 La Crosse, WI June 20 Rockford, IL June 21 Paw Paw, MI June 22-June 23 Lexington, KY June 24 Fairfield, OH June 25-June 26 Evansville, IN June 27 Muncie,IN June 28 Madison, WI June 29 Rochester, MN June 30-July 1 Mankato, MN July 2-July 3 Waukee, IA July 4 Chicago, IL July 5 Whitewater, WI July 6-July 7 Lisle, IL July 8 Dubuque, IA July 9-July 12 La Crosse, WI July 13-July 14 Dekalb, IL July 15- July 16 Bentonville, AR July 17 Round Rock, TX July 18- July 20 San Antonio,TX July 21 Lafayette, LA July 22-July 23 Ocean Springs, MS July 24 Opeika, AL July 25 Huntsville, AL July 26- July 28 Atlanta, GA July 29 Salem, VA July 30 Warrenton, VA July 31- August 2 Allentown, PA August 3 Pittsburgh, PA August 4 Centreville, IN Aug 5-Aug 9 Sheridan, IN August 7 QUARTERFINALS Indianapolis, IN August 8 SEMI- FINALS Indianapolis, IN August 9 FINALS Indianapolis, IN August 10 Banquet, Goodbyes MAil Drops1. May 22- June 11, Forest City, IA <recipients name> Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps C/O Waldorf College 106 South 6th Street Forest City, IA 50436-1797 2. June 10-June 19, La Crosse, WI For letters <recipients name> Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps P.O. Box 2523 La Crosse, WI 54602 For packages <recipients name> Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps 1100 Kane St. #125A La Crosse, WI 54603 3. June 19- June 28, Rochester, MN area <recipients name> C/O Gary Tollers 1827 16 1/2 ST NW Rochester, MN 55901 4. June 30-July 12, La Crosse, WI For letters <recipients name> Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps P.O. Box 2523 La Crosse, WI 54602 For packages <recipients name> Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps 1100 Kane St. #125A La Crosse, WI 54603 5. July 12- July 24, Smiths Station, AL <recipients name> Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps General Delivery-Hold For Pick-Up Smiths Station, AL 36877 6. July 29-August 9, Indianapolis, IN <recipients name> C/O Eric and Laura Jones 684 Red Oak Way Mooresville, IN 46158 Your support in attending a performance or even just a letter to let me know you're thinking of me, makes my day just a little brighter when I am away from home. Please remember these dates and locations if you want to say hello. Thank you for your support! I know there will be a lot of curious beginners in the Drum Corps world pretty soon or maybe you are just curious of how you fit three months of stuff into a suitcase? Either way, this is a really long blog post of my recommendations of what to bring on tour: what I did, things you wish you would have packed, and a little advice on things that you don't even cross your mind before leaving. I marched with Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corp in the summer of 2013 and 2014. I was in high school,excited to get a taste of a world-class ensemble, and thrilled to be given a taste of life away from home. I had a great time and got so many experiences that will stay with me for the rest of my life! Having a good time does not come without having exactly what you need,so I thought I'd put together a list of what I did to help anyone that was interested. Please know you don't have to have these things and not every corps have the same regulations, but it's a good start! Here we go. Clothes2 Cut-off Shirts 2 white t-shirts You will want these especially at spring training. When you rehearse during ensemble, (at least last years) it was required you have a white shirt and black shorts. I'm sure it will be specified later, but it doesn't hurt to have them. 1 workout tank Sometimes it will be hot, but you might not want to take your shirt off. 2 normal shirts --freedays 2 sweatshirts One for the bus when it's really cold and you want to be comfy and one for rehearsing on cold mornings that you don't care that it smells funny. 1 rain jacket You will be glad you packed this when it rains in IOWA....Keep it handy in your rehearsal bag. 5+ pairs of shorts You can wash these and sports bras in the shower when they get really bad. One of these pairs of shorts should be pink. On Wednesdays we wear pink! 2 pairs of compression shorts For under your uniform. The corps will provide you with compression gear, but having your own will benefit you when they are uncomfortable and smelly. 1 pair of comfy shorts You might want a pair to keep on the bus or wear on a free day. 2 pairs of light sweats Iowa is cold and rainy...sometimes... So you will want something to keep dry. You might want another pair for the bus to be comfy and not smell weird. 1 pair of Jeans Free day attire. It might be warm, but wearing jeans instead of shorts all the time is a nice change. 1 pair of Khakis shorts When marching in parades or other promotional events, khakis will be our uniform. Don't forget these. You don't want to be "that guy." 10 sports bras/bikini tops Like I said earlier, you can wash these, but it's really nice to have a clean bra. 1 normal bra On laundry days or free days you will be glad you brought one. 18/20 pairs of underwear and socks You NEVER really know when you will get to do laundry, so ALWAYS have clean underwear and socks. That way you'll be guaranteed to ALWAYS have a clean pair... and you won't smell as bad. Gross. Side note: cotton is very very warm and itchy in the summer, so athletic socks are a plus. 2 pairs of GOOD running shoes Taking care of yourself is the name of the game in drum corps. Most important part is your feet. It's worth the extra money now in buying two pairs of good, comfortable shoes so you don't have major feet problems later. Sometimes your shoes will get wet and you ALWAYS want dry feet,especially on Swamp Tour. Make sure you break BOTH pairs of shoes in before you go on tour. You don't want to start of the season with blisters. If you already have messed up feet, I would consider getting insoles for your shoes. 1 pair of Shower shoes I used a pair of flip flops. They will get gross in all of the random showers we use across the country. Only wear these in the shower. Foot fungus is gross. 1 pair of comfy shoes Bring a pair of flip flops, slide-ons, loafers, TOMS.. Something of that kind. When you aren't at rehearsal or showering you might want some comfy shoes to hang around in. I bought an off- brand of TOMS at Wal-Mart on tour that worked out really well. Just a note on clothes: don't buy anything that will make you stand out too much in rehearsal ( ie. neon jackets or sweaters). It is distracting in the ensemble of people. ToiletriesToiletry Bag LL Bean (Medium-Sized) is a really good one that I use. Tampons When you lose a certain amount of body-fat you will not have your period or it will be differently scheduled. Bring a box. Either way, you'll be happy to have them if your or your friends need them. 2-in-1 Shampoo/Conditioner It saves space. Just get a normal size bottle, you can purchase more on a Wal-Mart run. Body wash Facewash Loofa 4 Razors 2 Toothbrushes Toothpaste Floss 3 Contact Cases One for your toiletry bag, one for your rehearsal bag, one for the bus. 2 bottles of Contact Cleaner One for your toiletry bag, one for the bus. Q-tips Tweezers Nail Clippers Aloe Sunscreen DEODORANT NECESSITY! Don't forget. But don't keep it in your rehearsal bag. It will melt in the sun. 2 towels I brought a microfiber towel that I used and dried every day. It worked out really nice, no mildew to my surprise. 1 rehearsal towel A smaller towel that can fit in your rehearsal bag to use for early morning stretch. All the dew on the ground will make your clothes all wet, which is not fun when you just got up. Show Stuff1 Package of Hair ties Lets face it, they are easy to lose and break. For show hair, these are essential. 2 Packages of Bobby pins Sharing is caring, expect to share your bobby pins and use A LOT of them. 1 Large can of Hairspray For all of your flyaways. Expect to share this as well. 1 Bottle of Hair Gel 1 Hair brush 1 Fine tooth comb Packages of hairnets I didn't use these, but I know girls who did. If you have long hair, or awkward layers then these would be for you. 1 Jar of silver polish Before a show, you will be expected to make your instrument nice and shiny. This stuff comes in a jar in cream form. The brand that I found at Wal-Mart before I left was "Weiman Silver Cream." I have known others that got "Wright's Silver Polish." 1 Package Windex wipes 1 Polishing Cloth An old shirt you can use to tear into polishing cloth rags. Or just get a hand towel. Luggage/ContainersLuggage for each corps is different, but here is what I got for my summer. LL Bean Carryall Rolling Gear Bag, Extra-Large LL Bean Quad Backpack LL Bean Toiletry Bag Sleeping Bag Air mattress: mini Coleman Air mattress pump (non battery operated-plug in) Inside of my suitcase I had plastic closet organizers that are flexible and collapsible. I had five of these. One for my show stuff. One for undergarments. One empty for semi-dirty/clean clothes. One for socks. One for shirts. I liked these, because it kept my clothes in separate containers so that my whole suitcase wasn't contaminated by one piece of clothing. Rehearsal1 Backpack Mine has lots of pockets. It's from LL Bean, called the Quad Backpack. 1 Heavy Duty Music Binder It will rain. 1 Package of Sheet Protectors 1 Dot Book Book to write your drill in. ALWAYS have your dot book. BOX 5. I brought an extra with me, so later in the season I could rewrite my drill. 1 Fanny pack/ way to secure dot book I wore my fanny pack to secure my dot book and a pencil. It should be really sturdy, because you wear it all day at rehearsal, every single day. Other ways to secure your dot book are with a shoe string and carabiners. 1 Black Towel For Blue Stars, every horn line member is required to have a black towel for rehearsals. Don't forget it. Don't lose it. 1 Mouthpiece Take care of your Hammond. Don't drop it. 1 Gallon Water jug You will drink 4 gallons of water a day. Don't ever be caught without water. It makes a good chair at lunch, too. It doesn' t have to be color specific. 2 hats Wearing a hat is absolutely necessary. I don't like wearing hats, but you get used to it. You want more than one so they don't smell as bad. You sweat a lot. They will lose a lot of color by the end of the summer. 2 pairs of Sunglasses 2 Trash bags Keep these in your rehearsal bag. When it rains during rehearsal, stuff your backpack into your trash bag. Keep an extra for your friend or buddy up. 1 bottle of sunscreen I used lotion sunscreen because I got more for my money. The spray stuff ran out really quick, but it is convenient. 1 Pencil Case Store pencils, pens, notecards, chapstick, and anything else you need handy in your rehearsal bag. BusBus Box A container for all loose items you want on the bus. Most people use a shoe box sized container. I had one that size and put my snacks and drinks in. I used a paper organizer box for my chargers, iPad, and a book. Shower Caddy with Suction cups Hang it on the window. Easy access for your phone, Gatorade, and other goodies. Bungee Cords Drum Corps people are bungee cord engineers. Who knows, maybe you will want to make a hammock? Febreeze Oh, the bus stench. Keep your seat smelling nice. Movies! FOOD There will be many times that you and your seat partner will feast on lots and lots of food that probably isn't that great for you, but hey... when you are hungry you're hungry. Here is a list of things my seat partner and I had in our snack box. Twizzler Bites, AirHead Xtremes, Cliff Bars, PopTarts, Gatorade, Hawaiian Punch, Granola Bars, Almonds, Goldfish, Whales, Carmel, and Pringles. Bring anything that will make you feel at home on the bus. I always kept a sweatshirt, sweatpants, and pillow on the bus so I was comfortable all the time. Or as comfortable as you can get... DO NOT bring your entire stuffed animal collection or your kitchen sink. Your seat partner might hurt you. First Aid/MEdsTylenol Ibuprofen Benadryl Tiger Balm/Icy Hot Biofreeze Sunscreen (2 tubes) You can buy more along the way. Don't worry about running out. Someone is always willing to share. Bug Spray Band Aids Blisters are no fun. Band aids make it better. Tweezers Pre-Wrap/Athletic Tape You never know if you'll need some for an ankle sprain or just a hair band. Tennis Ball Best massage tool for your feet they hurt. Scissors Technology StuffFor the summer, you shouldn't really bring a whole lot of technology stuff because it might be stolen, but it's no fun to forget a charger. iPhone iPhone Charger Headphones Headphone Splitter Mophie Charging Box Power Strip Protective Phone case Portable Charging Device Mophie phone case, box, or something similar Misc. ItemsZiploc Bags 2 Trash Bags When it is raining throw your bookbag into a bag to protect it from the rain. Hope your friend has an extra if you forget. Or be someone else's friend. Tool I brought a pocket-knife/plyer thing. Everyone loved to have it when they needed to cut something or fix their shako. Pencil case Handy containers for anything Journal It's nice to have something to write in when you need a break from other people or just have a lot on your mind. It's a good way to document your journey as well. Laundry bag Special garment container Mine is a fabric container, that I stored all my socks in so they didn't make my luggage smell. I put this inside of my laundry bag so when we finally did laundry I just threw the whole thing in. Laundry Detergent Packages or Pods A roll of Quarters Debit Card ID Purse SOCKS! Sleeping Bag Protector Carabiners Zip ties If you are getting this all in one trip. You're crazy. But, check back every now and then to see any updates, but this is most things you will need. This is a lot, but trust me. This can all fit. You don't and probably shouldn't have to bring everything on this list. A lot of it does help, but you will figure out a system that works for you. Good luck!I am pleased to announce that I have been contracted for my second season with Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps! Auditions were in November and I have been hard at work into making this season even better than the last. This is a huge year for the Blue Stars celebrating our 50th anniversary season. It's a huge year for me, because I get to be a part of this wonderful experience again. Thank you to everyone who came to see me perform last year and any contribution you made to me. I appreciate it so much. A little goes a long way, and your contributions helped me learn a lot about music, myself, and life on my own! Thank you! Below is a video of us performing in Allentown, PA. I am the second mellophone on the right side of the arc (the shortest one). Here we go! Since I have been home, I have realized how much I missed my camera, photoshop, and just taking pictures, so this school year I am doing a 365 project. Wish me luck. I think it will be a little easier to do this, but I need to remind myself to be creative this year even though I am going to be just as busy as ever. Here is todays picture. I titled it "Planning". Planning my last first day of school outfit is something easy to plan, but senior year means lots of decisions and long-term pla I am so excited to see where He leads me. Class of 2014! Lets make it a good year.
I'm home! I arrived safely back home a week ago and am already really busy! I didn't get to post on here as much as I would have like this summer,but whenever I would go to post I would get started and fall asleep. I am very sorry that that happened, but you all should know that I had an amazing time this summer. Performing in World Class finals was so amazing! To think that last year I was in the crowd of thousands of people, and they were giving us a standing ovation when I was on the field was incredible! I miss my second family already, but I am so happy to be home. Thank you so much for supporting me!
Yesterday was the first regional of this season! Minnesota has such a nice stadium. This regional was really important to show DCI what the Blue Stars are accomplishing. We definetly showed them. We had a great performance and we are only getting better from there.
One of the best things for me was hearing the guy who announces finals call us on to the field for our performance. Hearing his voice was a moment of awe for me. I am a Blue Star. Last year I was sitting in the stands dreaming of doing this. I didn't even know that this was the year! I am living my dream, so I'm going to make the most of it. Another cool thing that happened yesterday is pretty heart warming for me. It's so nice the have fans and to have people who are so excited for what you are doing. We hence we walked near the souvies a guy started to talk to us about how he was going to audition next head. Before we knew we had a group of people curious of how to be a part of our family. It's so awesome. I'm so excited to aare our crown. We have been working pretty hard and still will be until the end. Oh hey! We got our corp jackets today! So exciting! So I haven't updated in a long time! I'm so sorry! Things are going great here.
Right now I'm on a bus heading to LaCrosse, Wiscomsin. We just got done with rehearsal in Metamora, Illinois. Every year Metamora is the place that major changes and additions come to the show. It's that point in the season where you add a ton of stuff to finish off the show. Evey corp has these types of changes this point in the season. These three days have been pretty tough, but the end crowns the work. When it's 90 degrees plus, and you are drenched in sweat and you do set 171 to 182 multiple times and all you want to do is sit down, you push through it. I tell myself to perform every rep. Performing makes the show come a live. Finding that energy is hard. When we were in Evansville, Indiana our show was delayed for a a long period of time. Three corps were scrunched into a small field house in a couple of weight rooms. This show was one of our home shows and had a terf field! We were so ready to take the field and just reel the crowd in. The rain was really bad though. It stopped and we rewarmed up again. As we headed to the field Myles, Emme, and I focused really hard on performing the show to the best of our ability. The terf was so slick and wet that I was praying I wouldn't get hurt. That show I performed it like it would be my last. I knew deep down I would be okay, but having that mentality forced me to perform the crap out of that show. On that note, if you haven't noticed drum corp is a sport of extreme mental focus and emotional stress. You have to invest everything into making the show the best you can. The staff has given us so much information we just have to always apply it. I have to focus really hard to make every rep awesome. In the ballad there are points where the music is so heart wrenching it pulls on my emotions and I get lost in the music. It is so rewarding because everything just clicks in. It's so awesome. I miss you all but exactly from today I will be home in a month. I love you! I will try to update some more in the coming weeks. So today was the first unveiling of Blue Stats 2013! We are in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and I am loving it! Iowa was just problematic. Wisconsin has been so much better.
Today we did our pre tour performances for alumni and other important people in our hometown. There will be more to come,but it was awesome to feel the energy from an audience. One week until we are on the move for real. The uniforms look pretty classy. They are a little loose and baggy right now, but our lovely volunteers are working on fixing them up soon. It's gonna be very sharp. Putting on my uniform today was insane. It's hard to imagine that only last year I was sitting in Lucas Oil cheering on corps. I knew that I would march, but I didn't think it'd be this year. Having that uniform made it seem more real, and I know what it feels like to be a part of something really special and close to a lot of people's hearts. The audience is going to love us, and we are going to work til' the end. FCO Get ready guys, we're going to enter strong! See ya soon |