Indianapolis, Indiana and Back to California
The final runthrough on Tuesday went rough, starting with a kid down and then several falling on the field. It was very hot and humid and people had given their all in the rehearsal. Several horns were smashed. One was so bad the Horn Doctor offered to fix it for free if he could use it for an advertisement. He could not fix it. Luckily no kids were hurt badly. The corps held a private age-out ceremony and played "Year of the Dragon" for the group whose last year this is.
Rehearsing for Quarterfinals in Avon, Indiana
The next day the kids practiced to gear up for the Quarterfinals and there was excitement as family and friends began to appear. On Thursday the corps headed over to Lucas Stadium at 12:30.
On
the field for Quarterfinals performance
Formal photographs after our last show of 2010
After the show, pictures were taken by Jolesch photography and the corps went to the Star of America bus garage in Bloomington for the annual Barbeque they throw for us. It was even better than previous years, if at all possible. On the way back to the school, on bus 5, 4, and 3 and a half (all really bus 4) there was an hour-plus bus fight challenge. The best of which was the Tabuch face-off between twins Nick and Tim (Nick won); The Japan kids, Shusei and Atsuna (she won); Mel and Chris L (she won); and finally the calling out of Chris McCoy and Jon Holloway (they fooled everyone and refused but started with a fake out). We got back to the school for brownie sundaes.
The next day the corps went to a mall for a few hours then over to the Semifinals. Following semifinals the alumni corps for Star of Indiana performed and then there was the ageout ceremony for our 17 ageouts.
The 2010 Mandarins Ageouts
The kids came down to the field and left a water jug, some shoes, a hat used in practices since 2006, and a sign from the color guard. Next to our group and over shadowing it was a real memorial made of shoes arranged by Pacific Crest for their drum major who died in January as this would have been his ageout year. It was heart wrenching. But it showed just how much glue drum corps kids have to each other. God Bless them all!
On Saturday I flew out but the corps had uniform check in and rookie talent show. On Sunday when the first group arrived family, friends, teachers and all showed to welcome to corps members back home.
Home at last! Corps members and their families reunite at the
airport
Home, Sweet Home!
I heard others say the same, for me as a parent and charperone this was the best year yet. Thank you Mandarins, for allowing me to enjoy the last 5 years while Jared has marched. I look forward to helping in the future but this has been a wonderful involvement since he joined in November 2005 and our whole family has nothing but admiration and love for the Mandarins family -- the kids and their families, staff, Administration, Board and the Mar family.
Robin Cole
Clifton, New Jersey
We left right after the Clinton NJ show. It went really well for us in the stands but the staff said it didn't feel as exciting as the show in Allentown. Some said it was a personal best and the score went up.
On the field in Clifton, NJ
The ride was not as bad as we thought it would be. The Guard bus did a fashion show and the winners were rewarded White Castle burgers by Greg Mar. Bus 5, (the back) did a bus play of Star wars for bus 4 (the front). There was a bus fight where the kids wrap themselves in a blanket and see who can stay up, or something to that effect. After a driver change in West Virginia and breakfast in Ohio somewhere, we got into Avon Intermediate (aka home sweet home Indiana) around 2 pm. We were welcomed by school staff and we set up and the kids relaxed until a short lunch and a 5-9 pm rehearsal. Mr Chow made his famous chow mein.
This morning everyone had blueberry pancakes with sausage and eggs. Everyone seems pretty happy to be back here and since it is our 3rd year here it is a familar place. There is a really good feeling, a positive feeling in the group. When the kids asked if they could have meatloaf Weds for quarter finals they said they felt it helped get to semis in 2006, Mr. Chow and Mrs. Mar said yes and the kids were pretty happy about it. Regardless, our kids have put in 100% . They are working really hard. We have a wonderful group of parents who are in the kitchen and driving, and a great staff as well!
Lunch and downtime in the hallways
Rome, New York
Sometimes you just have to sleep when and where you can!
The kids were complaining of being a little tired but everything was great. We had a McDonalds and Walmart a few steps away and the kids got a laundry day there.The city of Rome was very gracious. We pulled our buses up to a house and they allowed us to use their outlets to plug into. Across the street, the lady DeeDee who was newly moved from Ft Worth Tx, came over to thank us for being there. She had the whole guard practicing in her front yard and she thanked us. The stands were not big but filled with people who enthusiastically cheered every corp. We came on and it began to rain so we lost our electronics. The percussion picked it up and the show stayed together. We thought is was pretty great in the stands. We had 10 contras for this show.
Laundry Day
After eating it was a drive to New Hampshire.We got to the school around 4 am and the kids had some mattress time. Waiting for the show a Mercedes Benz pulled up and dropped off Greg and Tony. On the bus we were saying that was the way to arrive to a DCI show, chauffered.
Rehearsal in Lawrence, MA
The kids a great show in Lawrence Mass. and we had a fantastic teriyaki dinner after the show. Then it was onto Allentown PA. We arrived at the school we had stayed at in 2006 at about 7 am. It was a spooky school then and the kids and staff were telling tales about it. However, pleasant surprise, it was freshly remodeled except for the showers.
Our kids again did us real proud at the regionals. And Mrs. Mar, Mrs. Morgester and Mr Chin arrived in time for the show. After we were able to wish our drum major Chris Honda a happy 18th birthday and Mason McGinnis a happy 21st. We are now preparing for the Clinton NJ show and the long trip to Finals in Indiana.
Our Color Guard is happy with their regional performance
San Antonio, Texas
The corps left after the Dallas Show and went to San Antonio where they were put up in the lovliest accomodations -- a private Catholic school that was as nice as any exclusive country club. It was pastoral and scenic, well air conditioned throughout and the cafeteria looked like a very nice restuarant. Plus there was a guard house with a guard 24/7 to admit visitors onto the grounds. We went to the show which was not at the Astrodome this year, but at a high school in Converse Texas. When we got to the site for the show, parents went in search of patches while the corps warmed up. The show was very good. The corps went back to rest and evreyone went to the I & E (individual and Ensemble) performances the next day. Then onto free day at the shopping area around the Alamo and the Rivercity mall.
Rehearsal and housing at the Catholic School
Rehearsal and housing at the Catholic School
Color Guard stretching exercises before the San Antonio show
Ready for a free day in San Antonio
Dallas, Texas
July 23rd, the corps got into Dallas. I had been there for 3 days visiting
my college friend from Florida State. Everyone looked pretty tired.
We had an emergency when Ian Moyer sliced his hand loading the buses
for the show. My friend was able to get him and Jim Tabuchi to a nearby
emergency care facility.
I saw the corps warming up and the kids were in great humor. I was thrilled to see Jon Holloway, Chris McCoy and Don Kaihatsu. It was very hot and humid there. People in the stands thought our show was one of the more entertaining as they were bored by earlier corps. There were a few corps I liked later on but despite the huge mess up on the field start up (they were facing the wrong way, I thought they had just changed the show some) it was entertaining. The lady behind me had marched Skyryders in the 1960s and she said the color guard had the best flags and outfits of the night. Several others nearby agreed with her and begged me to tell our designer that our drill team (color guard) had the best outfits they were very impressed and two insisted I tell our designer.
Brass warmups and stretching before the show
Entering the stadium for competition
On the field in Dallas
On the field in Dallas
Mandarins isn't just best friends, but actually a family where I can see myself growing up and becoming a more responsible person. ~ Karla Marquez
