yesterday I went to the fair
Sep. 2nd, 2007 06:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bedlamsbardYou know that saying about how the first of the month defines how the rest of the month goes? Well, I'm screwed.
My alarm (set for six am) didn't go off yesterday morning, but fortunately my mom woke me up at six-fifteen; I was just running fifteen minutes later than I was supposed to be. Then my period started. Isn't this just great?
Went to marching band, still pinning my pair and shedding rings while putting my instrument together and straightening my uniform jacket, didn't yell at the freshman who came in white shoes and had to get them completely spray-painted black (she also wore white socks. I don't think Sarge spray-painted those). Did yell at her for wearing her hair wrong, because we are uniform, damn it! One of the sophomores locked his knees at parade rest and fell over, but he was okay.
Last. Death march. Ever. *weeps* I love the death march. It's my favorite part of the parade. We march from the high school to the starting point of the parade -- Lind Hall, the old science building at the college -- single file, with only one drum playing. We usually take up two city blocks. It's amazing. The trumpet player in front of me? Scuffed his feet. We are Ellensburg! We are silent like ninjas! Therefore, if anyone had been able to read my thoughts during the majority of the death march, they would have been, "I will hunt you down, bitch."
Got to the college, lined up, went through pre-inspection -- which sucked, by the way, and there were thoughts of silent rage directed toward the trumpet players who put their instruments toward the wrong foot during the parade rest. One of our trombone players was sick and had to keep running to the bathroom, hurrah. *rolls eyes* Lined up on the road in front of the cheerleaders and behind the AFROTC colorguard from the college, finally got the secondary angles that we have not had all through practice, started once they'd gotten the emergency vehicles on the road.
The march itself was actually pretty good, all things considered. I mean, we've definitely done worse. We went through damn fast, too -- usually we go forty-five minutes for the whole parade route, but we only went thirty today. Fast like lightning! Went to the church a block over from Safeway, where they feed us and we hang around waiting for Eisenhower High School to get done. Ran over to the parade when we heard Ike was coming, but they weren't, we were still forty entries away from Ike -- Ike was 83, Ellensburg was 3. *purrs* Went back for more water, went back to the parade, where we were now on entry 60. Saw the U.S. Border Patrol, cheered, saw Tim's Potato Chips, cheered and ate chips when they threw 'em at us, saw the state fastpitch teams (U-12, winner, and U-14? or U-16, I forget, second place), cheered, saw the 4-H truck, cheered and screamed when we recognized my friend Kyle, saw a bunch of little zippy red cars, cheered because they were school, saw some other entries, finally saw Ike. New cadences, or a new second set of cadences, at least. Ike is much shinier than Ellensburg, uniform wise -- we have navy blue windbreakers and they have the full marching band uniform complete with shako hats. They looked good from the front, but I have no idea how in hell they function without whistle commands. I mean -- all the drum major does is put up his hands. Ike is at least twice Ellensburg's size -- they're a 4A school, we're 2A -- and we can barely hear the first drum major's whistle commands in the middle, not if the second drum major doesn't back her up. Therefore, everytime they stop to mark time, they have Issues, and this was very visible. The back ranks -- and for god's sake, why would you put trombones in the back? Our 'bones are in the front -- were a mess. Also, it just looked weird because the back rank went tuba, bari, tuba, oh my god valve trombone, tuba, oh my god valve trombone. Who has valve trombones? Awesome. Marching wise, a mess. Playing wise, they sounded really good.
Went back to the church, screwed around a little, said hi to some alumni that showed up -- yelled at a guy who put a hole in a can of pop and started spraying it around, then started coming towards the instruments. My friend Lauren yelled at him, our second drum major yelled at him, and I yelled at him, and he looked a little intimidated and backed off. Didn't socialize with Ike.
We won. By one point, and I'm really curious to know what that point was. I mean, the parade's supposed to be rigged, because Ellensburg loses every third year and wins the other two, but I'm really curious to know what that point was. Marched over to the rodeo grounds, hung out in the sun for a while, played the National Anthem in the rodeo grounds -- hey, CSI:NY folk, Miss Rodeo Montana was there! Plus Washington's own rodeo royalty, and Ellensburg's rodeo royalty -- the rodeo queen lives up the road a couple houses from me -- meandered back to the high school and fell over.
Eventually got up, got my pep band music for this year, drove home, put my rings back on and realized that one was missing. And I can't find it! I really hope it's in the band room somewhere, because my ring! Left pinkie finger, stirling silver, leaf-shafed, inlaid green stone, bought in Kyoto, Japan! Went to the Fair with my parents, wandered around, ate fair food, looked at the animals, commented on various animals that my friends or acquaintances have in the barns -- which include, as far as I know: eleven goats, at least half a dozen cows, and four or five horses. Look, country town. Also looked through the fine arts barns, which include, you know, crafts, cooking, and fruits and vegetables.
If you haven't guessed, I'm completely serious about the country town thing.
Went to see the exhibition from Sanda City, Japan, Ellensburg's sister city, which involved spinning bowls on sticks and bouncing various objects on umbrellas -- guys, I'm seriously not kidding -- and my mom interpreting for me, since it was almost all in Japanese. Saw a bunch of fancy rope tricks, knife throwing, and a horse that looked really bored while it did various tricks. Went home and watched a lot of TV.
Realized that this might be my last Fair for four years, since I may very well already be in college by this time next year.
Also, in conclusion, my last year of high school starts on Wednesday.
I really want to see Supernatural do an ep involving a county fair and a rodeo -- a killer ghost cowboy! or something! -- just for the culture clash. I mean, come on. Rodeos are classic Americana.
Also, A Long Time Gone is falling together. Maybe reading about the Great Fire of London and how it compares to the Blitz was a bad idea, because I suddenly know exactly the image I want to end the story on.
My alarm (set for six am) didn't go off yesterday morning, but fortunately my mom woke me up at six-fifteen; I was just running fifteen minutes later than I was supposed to be. Then my period started. Isn't this just great?
Went to marching band, still pinning my pair and shedding rings while putting my instrument together and straightening my uniform jacket, didn't yell at the freshman who came in white shoes and had to get them completely spray-painted black (she also wore white socks. I don't think Sarge spray-painted those). Did yell at her for wearing her hair wrong, because we are uniform, damn it! One of the sophomores locked his knees at parade rest and fell over, but he was okay.
Last. Death march. Ever. *weeps* I love the death march. It's my favorite part of the parade. We march from the high school to the starting point of the parade -- Lind Hall, the old science building at the college -- single file, with only one drum playing. We usually take up two city blocks. It's amazing. The trumpet player in front of me? Scuffed his feet. We are Ellensburg! We are silent like ninjas! Therefore, if anyone had been able to read my thoughts during the majority of the death march, they would have been, "I will hunt you down, bitch."
Got to the college, lined up, went through pre-inspection -- which sucked, by the way, and there were thoughts of silent rage directed toward the trumpet players who put their instruments toward the wrong foot during the parade rest. One of our trombone players was sick and had to keep running to the bathroom, hurrah. *rolls eyes* Lined up on the road in front of the cheerleaders and behind the AFROTC colorguard from the college, finally got the secondary angles that we have not had all through practice, started once they'd gotten the emergency vehicles on the road.
The march itself was actually pretty good, all things considered. I mean, we've definitely done worse. We went through damn fast, too -- usually we go forty-five minutes for the whole parade route, but we only went thirty today. Fast like lightning! Went to the church a block over from Safeway, where they feed us and we hang around waiting for Eisenhower High School to get done. Ran over to the parade when we heard Ike was coming, but they weren't, we were still forty entries away from Ike -- Ike was 83, Ellensburg was 3. *purrs* Went back for more water, went back to the parade, where we were now on entry 60. Saw the U.S. Border Patrol, cheered, saw Tim's Potato Chips, cheered and ate chips when they threw 'em at us, saw the state fastpitch teams (U-12, winner, and U-14? or U-16, I forget, second place), cheered, saw the 4-H truck, cheered and screamed when we recognized my friend Kyle, saw a bunch of little zippy red cars, cheered because they were school, saw some other entries, finally saw Ike. New cadences, or a new second set of cadences, at least. Ike is much shinier than Ellensburg, uniform wise -- we have navy blue windbreakers and they have the full marching band uniform complete with shako hats. They looked good from the front, but I have no idea how in hell they function without whistle commands. I mean -- all the drum major does is put up his hands. Ike is at least twice Ellensburg's size -- they're a 4A school, we're 2A -- and we can barely hear the first drum major's whistle commands in the middle, not if the second drum major doesn't back her up. Therefore, everytime they stop to mark time, they have Issues, and this was very visible. The back ranks -- and for god's sake, why would you put trombones in the back? Our 'bones are in the front -- were a mess. Also, it just looked weird because the back rank went tuba, bari, tuba, oh my god valve trombone, tuba, oh my god valve trombone. Who has valve trombones? Awesome. Marching wise, a mess. Playing wise, they sounded really good.
Went back to the church, screwed around a little, said hi to some alumni that showed up -- yelled at a guy who put a hole in a can of pop and started spraying it around, then started coming towards the instruments. My friend Lauren yelled at him, our second drum major yelled at him, and I yelled at him, and he looked a little intimidated and backed off. Didn't socialize with Ike.
We won. By one point, and I'm really curious to know what that point was. I mean, the parade's supposed to be rigged, because Ellensburg loses every third year and wins the other two, but I'm really curious to know what that point was. Marched over to the rodeo grounds, hung out in the sun for a while, played the National Anthem in the rodeo grounds -- hey, CSI:NY folk, Miss Rodeo Montana was there! Plus Washington's own rodeo royalty, and Ellensburg's rodeo royalty -- the rodeo queen lives up the road a couple houses from me -- meandered back to the high school and fell over.
Eventually got up, got my pep band music for this year, drove home, put my rings back on and realized that one was missing. And I can't find it! I really hope it's in the band room somewhere, because my ring! Left pinkie finger, stirling silver, leaf-shafed, inlaid green stone, bought in Kyoto, Japan! Went to the Fair with my parents, wandered around, ate fair food, looked at the animals, commented on various animals that my friends or acquaintances have in the barns -- which include, as far as I know: eleven goats, at least half a dozen cows, and four or five horses. Look, country town. Also looked through the fine arts barns, which include, you know, crafts, cooking, and fruits and vegetables.
If you haven't guessed, I'm completely serious about the country town thing.
Went to see the exhibition from Sanda City, Japan, Ellensburg's sister city, which involved spinning bowls on sticks and bouncing various objects on umbrellas -- guys, I'm seriously not kidding -- and my mom interpreting for me, since it was almost all in Japanese. Saw a bunch of fancy rope tricks, knife throwing, and a horse that looked really bored while it did various tricks. Went home and watched a lot of TV.
Realized that this might be my last Fair for four years, since I may very well already be in college by this time next year.
Also, in conclusion, my last year of high school starts on Wednesday.
I really want to see Supernatural do an ep involving a county fair and a rodeo -- a killer ghost cowboy! or something! -- just for the culture clash. I mean, come on. Rodeos are classic Americana.
Also, A Long Time Gone is falling together. Maybe reading about the Great Fire of London and how it compares to the Blitz was a bad idea, because I suddenly know exactly the image I want to end the story on.