The end January 2, 2010

We are on our way home, passing through Arizona, and should be home Sunday morning. Woke up to piles of snow on the ground. I’d almost forgotten that we are heading back into winter.

This is my last blog post. Thanks to everyone for reading and commenting. I have appreciated your support. Thanks also to Diana Williams and the rest of the staff and chaperones for being so accommodating.

Most of all, thanks to the band kids. I don’t need to tell any of you this, but it’s a great group. Once they got used to the idea of a reporter hanging around, they really embraced me and let me be a part of their group. I had fun hanging with them and watching them show off their talents throughout the week.

Check out Sunday’s Globe for a final story about the trip. We’ll see you soon!

Donate Life float January 2, 2010

I had the great pleasure of visiting the Donate Life float on Wednesday after Bandfest. It was still being assembled, but I knew the basic premise of the float: It featured a phoenix (a mythical creature reborn from its ashes), plus the faces of organ donors and roses dedicated to both organ and eye donors and recipients across the country. Several Joplin-area people were honored; read more about that here.

Above: Working on the “New Life Rises” float from Donate Life.

Above: Drum majors Cassie Richardson and Dustin Trenberth in front of the float

I then had the great pleasure of a front-row seat during the float’s trip down Colorado Boulevard during the parade. I thought it turned out beautiful.

Tournament of Roses Parade January 1, 2010

Hi, everyone. I know that by now you’ve seen the parade on TV and have probably talked to your kids, so I’ll just post some of the pictures I’ve taken.

I was standing in the press box, so I had a nice, close view. But as soon as I saw them coming down the street, I got really nervous. I knew this would be my only chance to get pictures of them! And they were moving so fast! That was the only downside to having to work the parade: I was so focused on taking pictures and making sure I was getting good photos that I completely forgot to simply listen to them and watch them as they went past. But a few of you have posted video links in the comments section, so I will definitely check those out when I have the time.

Above: The band approaches the press stand.

Above: Diana Williams turns to check on her band.

Above: The clarinet section approaches.

After the band passed me at the press stand, I high-tailed it a couple of miles down Colorado Boulevard to the section where the Webb City folks were sitting. Thus I managed to watch the band go by a second time.

Above: There goes a row of percussionists…

Above: …and a row of trumpet players.

Above: Michael Oglesby can’t resist filming the experience.

Above: Valeska Lauderdale waves to the Webb City crowd.

Tonight we’re off to Medieval Times, and then we’ll start heading home. We’re loading the buses in about an hour, so I should start making sure I’ve got everything I need from the room. Hope to have one more blog post tonight about the Donate Life float.

Parade January 1, 2010

THE BAND JUST WENT PAST ME ON THE PARADE ROUTE. ANYONE ELSE SEE THEM YET?

Happy New Year January 1, 2010

We had an ice cream social at the hotel and counted down with the ball drop in New York City (which was at 9 p.m. local time). You should have heard the noise these guys made with their noisemakers. My ears are still ringing!

Disneyland December 31, 2009

We spent most of the day at Disneyland. What a gorgeous day — sunny and 70 degrees. A nice change from yesterday!

It was also quite crowded. By 5 p.m. (close to when we left), people were already camped out along Main Street USA, though I wasn’t sure if they were waiting for the parade that started at 5:30 p.m. or for the midnight fireworks.

Lightsabers and Mickey Mouse ears were popular souvenir choices among the band kids, so don’t be surprised if your child comes home with one or both. Space Mountain and Splash Mountain seemed to be popular ride choices.

Above: The entire group poses near the entrance to Disneyland. Bonus points for anyone who can find his or her child.

Jazz 1 Performance December 31, 2009

Jazz 1 performed at Disneyland this afternoon. The crowd was made up mostly of the band, but passersby stopped to listen, too. As soon as the group came out onto the stage, they were greeted by a huge cheer from their bandmates. They played four or five songs — I forgot to keep count — and featured several soloists.

Above: A crowd (including the band, chaperones and Webb City friends and family) gathers to watch the jazz band.

Above: Junior Avery Doran has a solo.

Above: Junior Kasey Ogle and senior Cassie Richardson.

Above: This lovely couple danced for much of the band’s performance.

For more, see Friday’s Joplin Globe or go to joplinglobe.com after midnight.

Parade in the morning! Who’s ready for it?

Morning December 31, 2009

Happy Last Day of 2009. We are headed to Disneyland bright and early this morning. The Jazz 1 group is scheduled to perform at 3:30 PST.

Viewing the Floats December 30, 2009

After Bandfest, we got to see a couple of parade floats that are still frantically being finished up. It was pretty cool.

First we went past the cars that will carry Pasadena’s mayor, the parade’s grand marshal (Capt. Chesley Sullenberger, who landed that flight on the Hudson River), and the family of the Tournament of Roses parade.

Here is a jungle float we saw. On the last picture, note the detail of the snakeskin — it’s all fruit.

Bandfest, Part 2 December 30, 2009

It was dry, but overcast, when the band got up this morning and warmed up in front of the hotel. But it started to mist and drizzle on our bus ride to Pasadena City College. It unfortunately continued to rain for the rest of the day. It was just a chilly, wet mess. Good thing the band had rain jackets — red, of course. What else?

When we arrived at the college, the band initially had a section of open lawn in which to warm up. But we quickly moved into a nearby parking garage to keep dry. As you can imagine, it echoed so loudly in there once they started to play.

And then they silently filed into the field and waited their turn… and then they took the field. I was impressed with their performance. The crowd seemed to like it, too, cheering them on. For more information on their actual performance, and to hear from a couple of students, read Thursday’s Joplin Globe or go to joplinglobe.com.

More shots from Bandfest:

Diana Williams was proud of her band.

P.S. I have to give a shout-out to James Fowler and Hunter Vaughn. They very nicely took care of my computer after Bandfest.