It's Offical!

I leave on Wednesday for Colorado. I am in crunch mode. Sorry Aunt Marie...I will not be coming to Washington until about August (if I am lucky). I have a busy schedule ahead of me over the next two days! I will keep everyone updated!

Sporting a new look...kinda!

I finally got my new glasses in today. They needed to be updated and I got new frames as well! They are cute. I can now show off my shorter hair (I took off about 4.5 inches about two weeks ago) with the new glasses! I will show them off tomorrowafter I have showered and look decent. Maybe I will wear a cute outfit too (I hope it doesn't hit triple digits tomorrow like it's suppose to). I can also show off the nice little tan I got from Hawaii with the glasses and hair! I will post some ictures later! For now, good night!

MAYhem...as my aunt would say...

If you know me, then you know that I never seem to have any down time. I just got back from Hawaii this morning (after an unpleasant bumpy red-eye flight) and I am thinking of all the things I need to do. It is Wednesday in the middle of the day and the clock keeps ticking. My schedule consists of the following...

Today:

• Finish unpacking from my Hawaii trip
• Set up days to meet with friends before I depart
• Contact housing person in Colorado
• Buy two plane tickets (one for Monday out to Colorado and one in August from Indiana to Oregon).
• Finish unpacking my boxes and soritng what goes back to Utah
• If possible, visit my family in Washington before Monday (probably not going to happen but here's to being hopeful).
• Finish approximately six lessons for my I.S class
  

I thought I would take care of a few things first. Below, I have included a few emails I received in the past few weeks. One is of the schedule I have until I leave Colorado for tour. The other is just to show everyone how much I need and little space I have...good luck to me.

Hey Guys,

I have been getting numerous questions about a calendar of rehearsals, camps, etc. Here is what I know:

Spring Training:

May 19-23, 10am to 4pm

May Camp:

May 24, 11am-9pm

May 25, 9am-9pm

May 26, 9am-4pm***SHOW***, colorguard sectional- begins around 7pm

All Days:

May 27-June 10, 9am-9pm

June 11-15, PUEBLO

June 16 & 17, most likely 9am-9pm…

June 18, leave on Tour

All of this is tentative. Plan for these hours to go longer rather than shorter. There may be one other camp sometime before Pueblo… Basically, you’re in drum corps from May 19^th-August 9^th.

Dear Friends,

Here is you tour checklist and a very important note to consider while packing!

Tour Check List:

--but first! A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE. Good news or bad news first? How about the good J We are getting new busses this summer!! Ya-Hoo!!! These busses are fantastic 56-passenger busses, with way more isle space, working AC and DVD players!!! The bad news… the overhead compartments are VERY small. I would plan to only store your rehearsal bag up there at night. A good option would be to invest in one of those s eat back organizer dealies, or suction cup window thingys to organize your stuff, but you need to know, that you will have A LOT less storage space this summer, and need to start thinking about alternative ways of storing things. I would suggest beginning the search for a seat partner when we all get started, and discussing with them ideas on how to share and consolidate… Here is your checklist… remember, this is a guide, not a set in stone kinda thing. You’re all adults and can decide what works for you and what doesn’t. As I said above you have to consolidate. Less is more.

Clothing-

• 10-12 shirts
• 10-12 shorts
• 20 undies
• 14 sports bras (swim suits work well too, but are spendy and we may have days when they aren’t allowed).
• 20 pair socks
• Hoodie/sweater
• 2-3 dance pants
• Sweats, or p.j.’s (the bus gets chilly)
• A REALLY good pair of tennis shoes
• Split Sole Jazz Sneakers
• Flip flops

Hair-

• Spray gel
• Hair Spray
• Bobby pins
• Hairties
• Clips
• Bandanas

Shower/Toiletries-

• Body Wash
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Razor
• Girl Essetentials
  
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrush
• Qtips
• Deodorant
• Face wash
• Day & Night Cold Medicine
• Advil
• Allergy Medicine (non-drowsy)
• Lotion
• Towel

Make-up-

• Eyeshadow
• Eyeliner
• Mascara
• Blush
• Colorstay Lip color
• I don’t know about colors yet, but we will talk about it during all-days

Rehearsal-

• Dot book
• Sheet protectors
• 3 ring binder
• Shoelace (long)
• Gloves
• Tigerbalm
• Sunglasses
• Eyedrops
• Chapstick
• Sunscreen
• Zinc
• Black Tape
• White Tape (if on weapon)
• Strapping tape (if on gun)
• Scissors
• Flathead Screwdriver (Sabres)
• Phillips Screwdriver (Rifles)
• Mechanical Pencils
• Turf Spray (goes on your shoes to prevent Astroturf from melting your shoes)

Bus-

• Mirror
• Small water bottle
• Bus Box (to store snacks… plan for shoebox size)
• Snacks
• Sewing Kit: multiple colors of thread (and relatively large amounts…. The mini spools work great), needles, fray check (or clear nail polish), scissors.
• Warm Socks
• Touch Light
• Blanket
• Bungee Cords
• Suction cup shower baskets, or other organizational tools
• Entertainment item (book, ipod, magazine… sometimes you need to do something other than drum corps…)
• Fitted sheet or seat covers

Misc.-

• Laundry bag
• Detergent
• $10 quarters (to do your laundry with!)

Bed Roll-

• Sleeping bag/air mattress/eggshell foam thing….
• Pillow
• Blanket

Those are all the big things- obviously you need a large duffel bag and a rehearsal bag, and a way to carry your bed. Vets: please feel free to *reply-all* on this if I have forgotten anything. I’m going to repeat one more time: please be smart and consolidate. There is very little space…

Happy Packing!

On a side note, more people replied with things like iPod and iPod charger, Febreeze for when our costumes get smelly, cell phone chargers, regular clothes for free days and special events, extra black clothes in case our costumes don't come for the first few shows, sticky tack for the pictures we put on our windows (yes, we have pictures of family, friends, maps of tour and where we are, leters from people, etc.), and anything else we may need.

Lastly, here are a few helpful sites for those interested...

www.dci.org
www.bknights.org

That is about all I can think of. Off to get some work done!

Kristen

Taking Care of Business

I need to take care of a few things before I leave for my Hawaii trip today (yes, I leave at 3pm!!!)! I thought I would let everyone know my tour information (for now...long story later).

Anyways, here is my tour schedule and address...

June 22 Stillwater, MN
23 Mankato, MN
24 Sioux Falls, SD
26 Dubuque, IA
28 Madison, WI
29 Naperville, IL

July 1 Lexington, KY
2 Fairfield, OH
10 Ogden, UT
12 Denver, CO - Drums Along The Rockies
14 Albuquerque, NM
15 El Paso, TX
17 Dallas, TX
19 San Antonio, TX
20 Denton, TX
21 Broken Arrow, OK
23 Van Buren, AR
26 Atlanta, GA
27 Charlotte, NC
30 Warrenton, VA
31 West Chester, PA

August 1 Allentown, PA
3 Buffalo, NY
4 Toledo, OH
7-9 Bloomington DCI, IN


This is my mailing address ::
Kristen Cummings (Colorguard)
c/o the Blue Knights
1137 South Jason Street
Denver, CO 80223

Also, my email...
cummings.kristen@gmail.com

I will let everyone know when these take affect!

An Eventful May!

I love May! In my opinion today is the start of something new and fresh. Everyone knows the quote April showers bring May flowers...well, I think it is true in a seasonal sense and personally as well. My first day of the month of May started with me visiting a former teacher from high school! He was my American Sign Language teacher all four years and my Skytime (similar to homeroom) teacher! We discussed school and life in general. Then we discussed a project that is ongoing for the both of us. Let me explain...

It all started my senior year of high school. My teacher, we shall call him TDub for reference sake, had an idea in mind that he never thought would get this far. As a huge class project for the American Sign Language (ASL) 3/4 class, he wanted us to reseach colleges that allow ASL as a foreign language requirement for admissions and to see if they have ASL and Deaf Studies programs at the college we reach. We were each given a state and asked to go to work. After many months of research, we had a small list. Long story short I volunteered to put together a website showing all the college that meet the requirements and then some. Now, most of my computer space is occupied with all the information I need to put it together. TDub said if we can get this project put together my the ASLTA conference in 2009, we could present it to the general public at the conference where teachers and students can help us gather more information! Then, he turned to me and asked if I would accompany him on the future trip since I will have helped pull a big part in this project. He said everything has to be ready by Fall 2009 and I don't have to give him a definate answer for at least a year! What an honor. I don't know what to do and for my frequent and casual readers do not tell a lot of people it starts appearing on the internet. Eventually, I will need everyone's help, but until then...shhh... yep a great way to start May.

I just finished working six hours for my dad today and six hours yesterday (roll in the dough!). Now I get to go home and finish unpacking and cleaning my room as well as condition for tour! By the way, anyone willing to donate to my tour fund is gladly welcomed! Just for future reference! Yes, I ot a spot with the Blue Knights in Denver, Colorado and I may have a sabre spot too! I just have to call and confirm everything first before I finally say yes to the spot! I have a lot of hard work between now and Hawaii!!!

Peace out!

Kristen