Macy's Day Parade!

I don't know where I should start...it seems so long ago!  We had a VERY early wake up and we were on the bus by 1:45 a.m.  Students had to be in full uniform.  I was in charge of hand warmers, plumes, extra hats, gloves, and black socks.  I had them stored under my bus.  Off to New York City where we started our first part of the journey.  We had an early morning practice...in the dark...until we turned the corner and BOOM...lights, camera and action!  Off the the famous red line where we practiced our entrance for the star performance, the kids nailed it!  All that practice at home really paid off.  We did it twice just to make sure it wasn't an accident.  Then back to the bus for a cat nap!  After snoozing for an hour our driver took us to Hard Rock Cafe where we enjoyed a HUGE breakfast and then hiked back to the busses.  Again...more of a wait and snooze.  And then the fun began...we hiked to the waiting line where we passed hundreds...seemed like it...of floats, clowns, kids, big balloons and then I saw it...Sesame Street Float!!!  All of my favorite characters right behind us again!  And Kermit was right in front of us!!!  I was in heaven.  We stood there watching Jessica Simpson drive by twice and other famous people.  It was amazing.  Then the famous whistle...we were off!  We actually had to JOG that march but I made it to the end!  What an amazing and proud moment for the kids but they were ready to head back to the hotel for a mandatory nap!  No one complained!!!  We then enjoyed a Thanksgiving Turkey Feast and dance for the kids.  They dressed up and looked fantastic...I didn't even recognize a few of them.  Even though I didn't have my immediate family I knew I was surrounded by my second family...all my children...and it was a FANTASTIC Thanksgiving!  :)

New York - Day3

Day 3 started off with WORK!  Yes...we actually had to work on this relaxing vacation.  Our security guard at the hotel heard us practicing the second night in the parking lot of the hotel.  He was a percussion teacher for the high school down the street.  He offered his practice field at the high school Wednesday morning.  It was WONDERFUL.   This was the first day that it was actually a little cold but it felt good.  The kids had a great practice and what a wonderful sight to see them marching around the track with New York City in the background!  I get goosebumps just thinking about it again. 
After practice we went back to the hotel and changed for the day.  We then arrived at Rockefeller Center where we went to the top for viewing.  Breathtaking!!!  That is all I can say!  My camera really did not do it justice at all.  Then back downstairs for lunch and yes...more shopping!  I enjoyed picture taking!  For dinner we ate at Dallas BBQ...I do NOT know why but it was a hot meal.  I still love Kansas City BBQ better!  Then down to Central Park for ice skating!  Yes...we actually took the students ice skating the night before our BIG performance.  Glad to report only one person in first aid.  She marched the parade though the next day (she has a bad knee).  I of course stayed off the ice and enjoyed a hot chocolate!  Would have liked a carriage ride but duty called at the ice rink!  :) 
THEN...off to the hotel early for an early bed time.  We taped the kids in around ten thirty and pulled their tape at 1:15 A.M.  Yes...we had to be on the bus by 2 A.M.  for our early rehearsal! 

Thanks for tuning in and will continue later with the BIG DAY!  :)

New York - Day 2

If I don't keep up with this I am going to forget the trip!  (It seems so long ago!)  Day 2 actually started out at the famous American Museum of National  History...and yes we did all the pictures from the movie.  The first stop was Rexi...this was a picture for my Daughter!  Then for the remainder of the time we covered the entire museum at a quick pace...always on a time schedule.  Then off to 5th avenue to shop and eat! Enjoyed some great cheesecake!  After meeting up with ALL the students and parents, we walked to Planet Hollywood for dinner.  At this time the Directors went to a special Macy's meeting where we were treated like royalty.  It was interesting to meet all the other directors and talk with our guide for the parade.  These are store employees that live for the moment!  Then we raced to what I think is the highlight of my trip...Wicked on Broadway.  I have always wanted to see it and I certainly was NOT disappointed.  The performance was FLAWLESS including the orchestra...best one I have ever heard.  Of course I will never be able to watch the Wizard of Oz again.  Can't say more because I don't want to give anything away!  Then we walked to Times Square where we had a group photo taken.  Forgot to mention...the weather was very warm!  I didn't even need a coat!  (This makes me want to go back!)  Enjoy the pictures and will continue with day 3 later! 

Day 1 - New York City

I finally downloaded my pictures and have really enjoyed reliving my trip!  My dad bought me a brand new camera (early Christmas present) and drove it to me the day before I left!  I know...I am spoiled!  I thought I would try and share some of my favorite memories by days.  I won't count the travel day...I had been up since 1 a.m. and finally got to bed the next night at midnight.  So...day 1 started out with a city tour on a bus and I actually stayed awake!  We had a fantastic tour guide with several stops.  Of course my favorite and most memorable was revisiting ground zero.  There are many changes from 5 years ago but it was still moving to me as well as the kids.  The picture shows one of the memorials created  in memory of 11 co-workers who lost their lives that day.  The artist wrote a little about each victim and then created this beautiful fountain which had droplets of water hitting randomly representing a continuous stream of tears.  I was so proud of the respect that our students showed during our visit. 

Next stop...the Rockettes!  I of course took a little cat nap out of exhaustion but enjoyed the music!  We finished the evening at Bubba Gump...in 2 different shifts with 302 travelers...and a little time in Times Square.  The kids had a blast!  It was a little terrifying trying to move all those travelers down the sidewalk from the Rockettes to Times Square but happy to report we didn't lose a single person!  Hope you enjoy the pictures and will continue later with day 2! 

Home Sweet Home

I don't even know where to begin!  It was a trip of a lifetime and we are all so proud of our kids.  Not only were we very pleased with their performance, but we were thrilled with their behavior in New York City.  Glad to report that many of our students are home with a few still to return later this afternoon.  I missed my family so much but then realized I was surrounded by my second family at our Thanksgiving meal so it helped!  I will have pictures later and will share little at a time.  Saw Jessica Simpson, Jimmy Fallon and Sandra Lee at the Parade and Pink in Times Square.  It is great to be home with my daughter and my dog!  Also enjoyed watching MU beat KU!  :)  I have 2 very SWOLLEN feet, a bad knee and a VERY sore throat.  I think it is going around but at least it didn't hit until the travel day home.  I am feeling a little overwhelmed knowing how far behind I am in my class work...I just wish I felt better.  Thanks for all the well wishes I received already and the compliments.  Apparently I had a close up of me on the CBS coverage.  I don't think I have ever made it on National television before! 

And the journey begins...

Well...I have finished for the week and I am going up to finish packing.  My suitcase is probably half way to New York right now on the semi.  That is going to make tomorrow much easier at the airport.  I am meeting my flight at school at 2:10 a.m.  No much sleep tonight!  I know the students are very excited and the staff very stressed but we will survive.  The weather does NOT look too promising this week so if you all could help me out send some nice sunny days!  Looks like rain every day even on our parade.  Don't worry I personally packed 300 raincoats on the semi!  Please do watch on Thanksgiving on NBC at 10:08...we are supposed to be on air.  The name of our band is the Golden Regiment from Blue Springs Missouri.  I am not taking my laptop but hope that the hotel will have one in the lobby.  I will try to post or tweet when I can!  If not I will be taking lots of pictures and post when I return home...even if it rains!  Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the holidays!

In great anticipation...

Well...the last of the preparations are in progress.  I finished putting all the uniforms back together with a crew of parents!  It is always nice to end up without extra items!  Now I have to load them on the semi with all the hats.  Hopefully that will happen tomorrow.  I believe all the lists are final...flight, bus, and room lists and are ready to copy for the director's packets.  I am in hopes of packing a suitcase for the semi tomorrow night in order to save money on the airline.  With Sunday only a few days away I find myself in great anticipation.  I don't plan on taking my laptop but I am in hopes that the hotel will have a computer available.  You probably won't see any homework happening but I am going to try to keep my blog rolling with trip updates...but don't hold your breath!  Again please watch Thursday morning for the Blue Springs Golden Regiment marching band.  I am on the very last row so you won't see me buy please just keep your fingers crossed that my ankles will make it through the parade!  :)  

Technology...a brand new day!

A new day!!!  Take three...four...five...and six!  This is amazing what a good nights rest will do!  I worked all day with my podcast and was so excited about using it this Monday in class.  I confidently tried to add to Ning and my blog and became VERY frustrated.  The only thing I can figure out is internet problems???  Because now I am able to add to both by doing the EXACT same thing.  I feel like I am going crazy!  Oh well...I worked on Macy's last night anyway!  I had to take orders for 302 travelers at 4 different restaurants.  Then I had to email the numbers by the bus list!  Oh so much fun!!!  After working on all the food order I even skipped dinner...don't worry I will be fine!  :)  Plenty to do so thanks for listening to me vent! 

Rough Day!

Just wanted to share that one of my co-workers was diagnosed last night with breast cancer.  It was a real shock!  She is actually on staff with our band traveling to New York and she has a senior in the band.  We are in hopes that she will be able to still make the trip... she finds out tomorrow.  I just lost my best friend and co-worker in July.  She had been battling colon cancer for 10 years.  I actually had surgery in September to remove a lump but I was one of the fortunate ones.  It feels like I have been in a dream for the last day...maybe denial.  Make sure you hug your family tonight!  Sorry to be a downer tonight but would appreciate your thoughts and prayers.  (And thanks for listening!)

We have our big trip meeting Thursday night.  I think I am close to having all my lists ready to go.  I know I have killed a lot of trees in the process.  There is so much paper work involved!  Rehearsal went great today...the weather was FANTASTIC.  I didn't even wear a coat.  I do not remember a marching season with such beautiful weather.  Hope you all have a great week! 

School - what they don't teach you!

Thanks Janine for your kinds words.  We just finished our big showcase concert today and it is always such an emotional one for parents and seniors but most of all the staff!  What an amazing adventure we have with our students.  We get to watch them come in as frightened 9th graders and mature to nice...not all the time...young ladies and gentlemen.  Most teachers don't have this same luxury and I feel very fortunate.  Now without my own children in the program I have just adopted all the other students!  It was a great day for ending our competition season. 

But back to what Janine brought up...they don't teach you in education every thing you need to know.  After I finish my Masters in Technology, I plan on applying to nursing school, getting a psychology degree, after this year banking, and because this year we are without a custodian in our part of the building I plan on becoming a mover and cleaner!  I applaud all educators for all their "extra" that we do just to make it through the year!  For all those complaining parents I invite them to follow all of you for a week!  Have a great week and thanks for listening!  :)

Trip Meeting

We have scheduled our big trip meeting for next Thursday.  I have to have everything done and copied by then and I am still working on the bus lists!  I did get a peek at the itinerary and it looks like it is going to be a fantastic trip!  I am getting so excited now.  I can't believe we leave in a couple of weeks!  Looks like there will be some free time to shop in New York too!  My only regret...my kids won't be with me.  This is the first band trip without them.  With both kids in school and both working they just didn't think they could make the trip.  Of course...I don't get to spend a lot of quality time with them.  I did notice that we would be kept VERY busy which means I will probably average 3 to 4 hours of sleep a night.  We are going to see Wicked which I have never seen.  I just hope I can stay awake!  Last time I saw the Lion King and I kept nodding off.  It was embarrassing!  What I saw of the musical was fantastic.  I better get back to work!  Lots of paper work and checks to complete!  P.S.  I also have to take 4 different meal orders for all 302 travelers!  When I went into education I had NO idea this was going to be part of the job!

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog!  After a long four frustrating days (still denied from my first blog), I decided to start a new and fresh blog!  After careful consideration and contemplation I decided to write about something that right now has taken over my life...marching band!  Last Saturday we just completed our busy and very successful competition season for the year.  It was WONDERFUL weather and the students were right on!  We are so proud of their hard work and dedication to always improve.  Because our football team is doing so well...we have the pleasure of performing tomorrow night one more time (maybe more???).  We also have been practicing for two days for our indoor concert which takes place this Sunday!  It is more of a "thank you" to all of our supporters.  I also look forward to hearing Janine's daughter play before our portion of the concert!

But what is weighing heavy on my mind is the upcoming trip with 300 travelers to New York City where we will be performing in the Macy's Day Parade!  This will actually be my second march through the streets of New York.  It is one of my FAVORITE parades.  I still remember the feeling of marching down the streets...in the freezing cold...but not noticing because of all the bodies crammed in the city.  There were millions...it seemed like it...of onlookers crowded in the streets and in the buildings along the way.  But the best part...taking stage on the "star" in front of Macy's.  It is such a magical time and I am looking forward to that feeling again.  Last time I actually had my daughter in the parade but this time I am going solo...a little sad about that! 

However...there are still a million things that have to take place before we load that plane on the 20th!  That is what I am so stressed about.  In fact the travel agent is waiting for my bus list right now so I better get back to work.  I look forward to sharing more about my trip and when I come back...I will be more than happy to share some of my pictures.  Just keep your fingers crossed for good weather!  Looking forward to sharing more with you later.