Day 1 - A new experience

This post is for May 18th. 

Reflecting on my day

When I arrived at Charlotte airport, there was only 1 kid there waiting. And we had the same duffle bag! Oh man tour is going to be hectic with everyone having the same stuff. 

When the shuttle came, there were 6 of us waiting. We all got in and started the hour and 15 minute drive to our spring training facility, Gardner Webb university. This crazy and awesome young adult crown alumni from Washington state was our driver. He took us to Wendy's :) 

At about 4:30 we got to GWU. Too bad the weather is rainy for the next few days. The campus is nice and open. Perfect for a loud brass line to echo ;)  Getting there at the same time and from the same shuttle, my room mate, Phillip, and I found our room and started unpacking. I soon learned that Phillip needs the room reallyyy cold :( ahh whatever. In a few years ill be in control. 

We missed the first block (visual). And right when we finished unpacking and changing, second block was about to start. It was the playing block:) it lasted until 10:30. We warmed up for an hour in a circle outside. It was awesome.. until Matt Harloff started us doing circle drill. It was a nice taste of the torture and pain Spring Training has prepared for us. 

After warmups we made a full volume exercise and spread the circle until it was 100 yards across. Then we played it. It was pretty awesome. Nice and loud. I can't imagine what it will be like in August. 

Once again we rehearsed the pre show and the opener. Two killer pieces. The opener is impossibly challenging and it's astounding that we are pulling it off. But as our brass head, Matt Harloff, kept saying, "It doesn't count unless it's on the move!"      ...a very scary thought. Considering we were all struggling to play the warmup slurs in circle drill. 

As long as we keep fighting and don't enter "survival mode", we will be in great shape. 

It'll take everything we've got to beat last years Crown horn line. And we need to start off strong, right out of the gate. Because we are going to the West Coast. Home of the Blue Devils. 

Arrived at Charlotte airport

There was only one crown kid waiting at the airport. We are both late for spring training but that's okay as long as we don't miss any drill. 

He had the same bag as me. 

Josh chin

What will he do without hanging with me every day of the summer? I guess he'll just sit there and read my blog. 

Packing. Leaving tomorrow

(Uploaded day of departure)

Well. This is it. I'm packing right now. Leaving for spring training tomorrow morning. My parents are going on vacation to Cancun Mexico tomorrow too. We will part ways at the airport. And from there the tanning competition will begin.

Today was very bittersweet. It was my last day at immaculata high school. We had our senior breakfast and the annual yearbook picnic. As I sat with excitement about going to crown tomorrow, I also felt very sad. It is very hard saying goodbye to you're closest friends for the past few years. Even though I saw my girlfriend, Allie, only three hours ago, I already miss her. I know she will be thinking of me all summer. I'll be thinking of her too! So that makes me happy. 

There are a lot of luxuries at home that I won't have over the summer... Like a bed. I can't wait to sleep in a sleeping bag all summer! (not)

Packing is so stressful. How in the world am I supposed to pack for a three month trip! It's so hard! 

Well tomorrow ill be at the place I have  dreamed of for a long time. 

3 days left!

It's 6:27 in the morning. I just finished my daily run. Oh man. 

Now it's 7 at night. I played a tennis match today. Getting more exercise! I'm going to be ready for crown!

First Post. 3 days until move in!

This is my first post. On Saturday May 18th, I'm going to start Spring Training with Carolina Crown! I'm extremely excited and I can't stop packing. I've been running every day to get in shape for a month of intense training. This is my first year ever doing drum corps and I don't know what to expect.  I've dreamed of this for many years and I can't believe I'm touring with my favorite corps.  I still can't imagine how I'll feel after sleeping on gym floors and a bus seat for two months.  It's going to be rough. But it will also be the best summer of my life! Not to mention the best tan of my life too!