"Striving For Success Without Hard Work is Like Trying to Harvest Where You Haven't Planted."

~Quote by David Bly

I'm absolutely exhausted.  Yesterday, band was from 12-9.  Today, it was from 8-5.  I went to bed at 9:45 and woke up at 6:50.  Nine hours.

We've gotten a couple of compliments as a band lately.  One really tough guard instructor complimented us, saying that we sounded and looked good.  Our main band director also complimented us, saying that the drill we've learned has been good, especially since we know more of the music than past shows at this point.  I've also received a personal compliment from my band director.  He stopped in an empty spot in our company front, probably wondering if there was a hole.  I stepped over because there wasn't.  He said that he hadn't heard my name in a while, meaning that I wasn't sticking out.  I told him it was because none of the directors were looking at me.

One person merely quit abruptly.  In some ways, I'm regretting my decision to sign up for marching band again, but I'm committed.  If I quite, it will be at the end of the season.

I'm still not great at marching.  More than once, upperclassman have yelled at me because I wasn't making my sets.  That, or I would take step sizes too big.  I've gotten a bit better at tracking the opener, probably just because I've worked with the music more.

I like the community feeling of marching band.  On the way back from lunch, one person offered us chips that he had run to the local gas station for.  I told him he should order a pizza the last ten minutes before lunch and then pick it up.  Then my friend told him that he should sing his order.  Also, the flute section is amazing.  When we have sectional time, and we're supposed to be memorizing music, we bond.  One person came by with a camera, so we tried holding our instruments to our lips and talking.  It was hilarious.

The hours have been long, but the first week is done.