Blogger gets it right....it's about frackin' time!

First of all, let me just say that someone at Blogger has been listening to me complaining about the stupid editor that they make us use on here. It had to have been created by someone who doesn't even create blog posts. While perusing my preferences tonight, I discover an option to use the new editor. I am here to tell you that it is light years beyond what I used before. Inserting pictures is soooooooo much more intuitive now. I don't have to calculate in my head which order to put each batch of photos to get them to show up correctly on the blog. I can upload all of them and pick and choose...even repeatedly. So for all y'all bloggers, don't forget to start using the new editor. Nuff said. Moving right along.....

I know you haven't heard from me and I'm sure you started to panic. Now that I'm back, you may relax and prepare for a journey....a journey into all that I have been doing since the first of the month. Well, at least everything that I've been able to photograph. Since the beginning of the month, I have been in emergency mode, preparing myself to slide into the season of DCA drum & bugle corps for ALLIANCE in Atlanta. I've been spending every evening practicing my baritone, taking long runs, lifting weights, practicing drill, you name it. I've gone down there for two weekends so far and I have to tell you that I've never been happier. Everything feels so comfortable (and yet so uncomfortable at the same time, but that is the essence of drum corps. That's why it's so fun.). I've lost some weight, gained some muscle back, have a great tan, and my chops are in fantastic shape. I have to be careful when I practice though, because I'm almost positive my neighbors can hear me play, and I'm not even playing at the ffff level like I need to be. The camps are great, basically we spend Saturday and Sunday outside (we have no access into the school) working on drill and sectional rehearsals before doing a daily run through to solidify our work. I snapped a picture of our first set in the company front.

We have a trailer for equipment, no Alliance logo yet, but strangely enough, you can still make out the word ALLIED under the paint, from the original owner.

Here's our primary "field" and the tenor/mello feature they've been working on lately.

No bathrooms, but we are allowed to use the porta-potties. The local kids enjoy regularly tipping these over, but these particular ones have been chained to the fence posts.

This past Saturday, the corps competed in the DCA South show in Rockmart, GA. Phillip and I picked up the equipment truck early in the morning (the corps trailer needs repaired).

While we were there Phillip, the awesome contra player who has given me a place to stay, shows off the business card of the gentlemen who has pledged to sponsor the corps.

Late that night, after the show, you see I'm ready to head back to Braselton and get some sleep. Here, I've got my horn already on the truck.

We had to stop for some food, so a few of us stopped at Krystal at about 12:00AM. The dining room was closed, so we stayed out in the parking lot and ate.

I'd never had Krystal before....it was pretty good. Not the best burger I've had, but okay.

Guess what they have in Braselton?! Kroger! It may not be a big deal to the GA folks, but we don't have them in the Upstate. I always liked Kroger.

Why did it take so long for someone to come up with this? They are frackin' awesome.

For lunch one Saturday, the crew headed to a nicer restaurant since we had a long break from rehearsal.

As you can see (or maybe can), the interior is fab-u-lous...has a "ranchy" feel to it. It's like someplace Martin Crane would take Frasier for dinner if he could.

I had a chicken sandwich. It was very good.

Do you know what else I found down there? These are great, too.

In one Subway, I spotted the smallest sink that I have ever seen before. Clue: The faucet is really tiny to make it look more proportional.

A few weeks back, the Palmetto Statesmen sang in the opening ceremony of the championship game in the Big League World Series (On ESPN2). I wish I would have recorded it....

Here we are, coming onto the field for the National Anthem and Carolina in the Morning.

I haven't been riding my poor motorcycle much this month, but I did give her a full wash and wax recently.

I finally broke down and bought some new dress shoes, which have to be safety shoes again. My last pair lasted 2.5 years, so it was time. Since my company gives me an allowance for them, I was able to choose a very comfy pair of Redwings. They're like pillows strapped to my feet. Ahhhhhhh.

Did I tell you we got another dishwasher? It doesn't require any water or soap...and no electricity. Just kibble and kisses.

We've had a warm summer, pretty much been exactly 90 degrees every day since June 1st. Some days creep a little higher than that, though, as you can see below. I know it's not as bad as Tucson...but we had humidity to deal with, too! I know, I can't complain, I did move here for a change of climate. Well, mission accomplished.

I'm going back to Hotlanta this weekend for our last Alliance camp and then next Wednesday, we leave for Rochester, NY where we hope to place in the top ten of DCA Open Class. We are so hyped! Life will return to normalcy after that...

Finally made it to Charleston!

This is way overdue, but we went to Charleston a couple months ago and thought I'd share with you some of the nice pictures I grabbed.

There were beautiful alleyways and gardens tucked between the buildings.

MoonPies! My parents used to buy MoonPies from Sams all the time.

Lots of carriage rides available, and they practically ambush you on the street to give you a ride. It was kind of creepy and also annoying since you'd walk by the same ones several times.


Beautiful church!


Closeup. of the bell tower.


Erin and I stopped for lunch near the market. It was a nice little sandwich shop.


The food was pretty good. Not as good as some other sandwiches I've had, especially from Jimmy Johns.

Another shot of Market Square.

Lots of sweetgrass baskets for sale. $$$$$$$

They have these beautiful open air buildings with all of the market goods inside.

Here's a hotel lobby.

And heeeeeere's Erin! Aren't those palms lovely, too?

I love the old world streets.

Another alley.

Cobblestone roads. Nice!

Another church much further away from Market Square.

Here's a nice park.

Here's a dude. Let's call him "Frank."

I loved this church! Can you believe that my boss used to attend here?

Oldest cemetary in Charleston.

We stopped for some Ben & Jerry's!

I used to live on this in college. Well, that and Subway and Panda Express. Ahhh, the good ol' days.

A nice fountain by the bay. I really wanted to jump inside, but didn't have a change of clothes.

We walked out on the pier.

A look up the shoreline.

Happy couple.

Fountain again.

A beautiful waterfront walkway.

In the same park....lots of people around, walking, yoga'ing, eating, reading, etc.

Looks like a giant pineapple.

Nice condos along the waterfront.

Aircraft carrier Yorktown: my boss said her father helped to build that ship.

Awesome view of the bay bridge.

Interesting social commentary:

Off to the aquarium!

There's a "guy" inside the "country store."

Jelly Fish, but no Peanut Butter Fish anywhere in sight.

View of the large tank.

Couldn't help but think of Finding Nemo here.

These fishies got schooled, yo!

This pic is for my sister-in-law.

This pic is also for my sister-in-law.

That ends our tour, folks! If interested, we could go back the next time you come out to SC for a visit. It's about a 4 hour drive, and there's plenty of time to make a day trip out of it.