Nebo Competiton

Saturday was the Nebo Marching Band Competiton in Payson, Utah. I won't bore you with all the details, because it can get pretty boring.

The band performed okay. I think they could have done a little better. But it was the first competition EVER for over half the band. We have a really young band. They just didn't know what to expect. I think we'll do better next time....now that they know the drill.

The guard did pretty good. I will always want them to be better no matter the award outcome. And it was not at all close to perfection, I hope they realize that. We have a long road in front of us.

We did have one major hic-cup during the performance. One of the girls, Rebecka, went to the wrong flag for the 3rd piece. Deanna, the wonder, had to go to a spot she has never marched. And did over half the third song in a spot she didn't know and performed it like she knew what she was doing. These are some of the things she had to deal with, when she travels to one set, lets call it 20 to another, set 21, she needs to NORMALLY travel to the right. On saturday her spot required her to go left. That's just one set. I'm talking like 10 sets she didn't know what she was doing. Poor thing was bawling after because she was so stressed about it. Some how Rebecka didn't have to change a thing. I'm really confused as to how that happened. But Deanna did it and learned a lot from it. Really you never know what is going to happen and need to be aware of everything around you. I hate that she had to learn it like this, but she'll be a better performer because of it.

I thought I wasn't going to bore you with the details. Sorry

After what felt like forever, awards started. It was a really odd awards ceremony so please try to follow along. In Marching band there are "caption" awards. 4 to be exact. Visual, Music, Percussion and Color Guard. I'm going to be honest about this....I really only care about 1 caption. So I can't tell you who got the other 3. Moving on.....

The guy over the PA system starts announcing the captions, first is Music and Timpanogos doesn't get it, I think Grantsville took that one home. Then next came Color Guard. Picture this...me holding my breath and crossing my fingers. It's ugly. But I do it every time. They call Viewmont! I'm a good loser...okay not such a good loser. I immediately take a look at viewmonts guard captain, who accepted the trophy, and silently judge her. I judge her actions, how she moves. I have to come up with a reason as to why they won, since I did not see their show. I am a really poor sport, in my head, Outside I am a gratuitous loser. I can be that right?

Once I finished inspecting my "enemy" I start thinking about things I have to do to change my show. I don't think I can write how many things were going though my head. It would be way too much. I didn't even listen to the next captions. So I have no idea who won. I started paying attention when they announced third place. Again I can't remember who took it home, but it wasn't Timpanogos. Anyway....right after they announce 3rd the PA guy says "we are having technical difficulties, we'll be right back." Now as you know I am really not paying close attention. I was a little curious about what was happening but decided to take the opportunity to keep thinking. Eventually the guy gets back on and says that there was some miscalculations and that some of the captions will be changing. That got my attention. He re announces Music, Grantsville keeps it. Then he moves on to the color guard, "This," he said, "is going to be changing." And that's right he announced that TIMPANOGOS takes that caption.

"I rock! I rock! I rock!"

I was the only person (other than Andi from Provo) to scream. Wrap your head around this....the stadium was silent. Every one was shocked that it was being taken away, and I scream, and do a jig. I scream so loud it echoed off the buildings. It was awesome.

I pretty much rock!

I do feel bad that Veiwmont thought they won and really didn't. I am aware of that. But lets not ruin the awesome moment.

Response to Whitney

I totally forgot about this til today. Whitney had asked me how I added my signature at the bottom of my posts. It is actually easier than you think.

First I made a signature in Photoshop. It's really easy to do.

1. Make an image that is about 500 pixels across (width) and about 60 pixels long (height). Your resolution should be 96. You could use 72 but 96 always creates something nice for the internet.


2. Add an new layer, if you plan on adding an image as your signature. You don't want to be working on your background layer. If you are just using type photoshop will automatically add a new type layer, so skip this step.
   


3. Then pick a font that you want to use. I downloaded my font from
   
   http://kevinandamanda.com/fonts/fontsforpeas/
   


4. Create your signature. I made the font size about 4. If you think mine is to small maybe go up to a 5pt font or a 6pt but you don't want to get any bigger than that, it will just over power your post. If you notice on mine my LOVE is tilted. LOVE is a different layer than our names. I hope this is making sense.
   


5. Delete your background layer. You want your signature transparent. Once you delete the layer you should see a grey and white checker board behind your font. If you see that your signature is transparent. Again, I hope that made sense.
   


6. Once you are happy with your signature save it as a PSD, just so you can change it whenever you want.
   


7. Then save it as a PNG. It will ask if you want it interlaced. Select none.
   

Look you're done creating your signature.

Now you want to add the signature to your blog.

This is where I found my information.

www.kevinandamanda.com

I would follow her directions. They are very clear.

Marching Band & Other Things

I'm just getting worse and worse at this. I guess I just don't find my little life exciting enough to post about. I guess between school, work and Marching Band. I forget to update the blog.

Last night was family night for the Marching Band. Orem High hosted it. 4 Bands performed yesterday. Westlake was first, it's the new school in Saratoga Springs, who is in our class. They were good. If they are any indication of how other schools, in our division, are doing we're going to have some stiff competition. Then we performed. It was very nice. Yesterday was the first time, this season, that every band member was present. It really made a difference for the performance. Yeah we have a long way to go but so does everyone else. Payson was next. They are in the class right above us. They did well too. Rachel has only been with the guard for 3 weeks. I think if she keeps going the way she has they are going to be a rocking team. Then Orem went. Mom made is sound like the guard was just horrible. They were better than my team. I wish all of my students had as much confidence as they showed. I'm really jealous.

Friday we perform at the Homecoming game and then we have a competition on Saturday. I'll let you know what happens.

I really need to start taking pictures of things. I didn't bring the camera last night and so don't have anything to show. I'm going to have to remind myself every time we go somewhere. I have a few pictures from our trip to the zoo. But am so bad at uploading them to the computer that I just forget. Sad.

I'm taking a digital Photograhy class. We've already turned in 2 assignments (3 if your really counting, but the first was a self portrait and I'm not going to show that one....sorry)

Both had to be portraits. The first to use natural lighting. We couldn't crop it or photoshop it. It had to be an image straight from the camera. This is my favorite of the two.

The next assignment was to take a portrait in harsh light and use the flash fill setting on the camera. I tried to get more light on audrey's face but she wouldn't have it. This is the best I could get.


Our next assignment, due on Friday, is a landscape. But we can Photoshop it and crop it. Does any one have an idea where I can take a good picture? I could really use your help.

On the Trampoline

I have two videos here of audrey playing on the trampoline at the craftons, in vegas.

One is just audrey and the other is audrey and tyler throwing dirt on the trampoline. Sorry that I didn't stop them from doing it. I thought it was cute that they were playing together and not fighting...well you'll see you have to watch the two of them til the end. You'll laugh I promise. Again sorry for not stopping them. It was funny.