I’m finally home for good from my month of craziness. So here is everything that happened in my life for the past 4 weeks. Its long but interesting….watch for links to all the pictures…I have a bunch…
1. Colombia, MO. July 8th-10th. This was pretty dang fun. Drove down on Friday in our pimp van, pulling the popup camper. We hit up a bike trail, which led me to a recent obsession with biking. (More on that later). We also went to see a drum corps show. Now for those of you that don’t about drum corps, its honestly one of the most awesome things you can sit and watch for 2 hours. Especially if you are a music lover. Huge bands full of brass players and percussionists. Its totally awesome. Here is the Drum Corps International website…if you are interested. The next morning we hit up the HUGE Bass Pro Shop, but that wasn’t all that great. *HERE ARE SOME PICTURES FROM COLOMBIA*
2. Missionpalooza – KC, MO July 12th-16th This was a great experiance. 75 youth from eastern Kansas and western Missouri got together to do mission work in Kansas City for four days. We helped out at organizations like recycling centers, food distribution centers (for the poor), and day cares for underpriveledged children.
I did most of my work at Operation Breakthrough, a huge daycare/elementary school for kids that don’t have a safe home or money to go to a real school. At first I didn’t really like the idea of working with little kids…I never really considered myself a child entertainer or anything. So I went to the worksite reluctantly.
For about half of the first day I just watched some of my other friends play with the children and stuff. But pretty soon a little kid, probably 4 years old, spotted me and asked if I would play chase (we were at the playground), and I said “Ok you better get running!” And so I started chasing and chasing…and chasing. For an hour and a half! My god I was tired. But…I couldn’t stop. Anytime I would stop to say something to a friend, the little boy would look back at me and give me a really sad face. So I had to continue chasing him so he wouldn’t cry.
So, when his teacher called his class to go back inside he started crying. The poor kid. He just wanted to stay out and play. But his teacher said he had to go. So he glared at his teacher, looked over at me sadly, looked back over at his teacher, and then ran straight at me. He jumped up and gave me a big hug, still crying. So he went off crying and I never saw him again. I’m guessing that night he went home and told the people he thought were loving parents, that didn’t listen. Poor kid.
3 – Total Percussion Camp – Washburn University July 17th-20th Dang I learned a lot here. This was a great camp to learn everything about percussion. We took part in drumline stuff, drumset clinics, and auxillary percussion clinics. We also had a drum circle and a performance at the end of the 4 day camp. In the performance, when we did our drum circle thing, I had a solo. Pretty cool. Some other people you might know that went: Chelsey Cook, Sherry Basset, and Bryan Shallenberger.
4 – Colorado Trip – July 22nd-30th Sight seeing with mom and dad followed by scout camp. Colorado was absolutely awesome. I’ve been before…but not since I was 5. So I kind of remembered some things…but not really. First my parents and I went to Seven Falls. A huge like 150 foot waterfall nestled in a really cool valley. We also took the Inspiration Hike there, to a really good point where you can see all of Colorado Springs below. It was awesome. *HERE ARE SOME AWESOME PICTURES FROM SEVEN FALLS AND INSPIRATION TRAIL*
Next was Garden of the Gods. Huge red rocks and stuff sticking out the ground 500 feet or so. You can walk or drive all around the area and get right up next to the giants. *HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS FROM GARDEN OF THE GODS, but they are kind of dark*
The last thing I did with the ‘rents was go to the top of Pike’s Peak on the Cog Train. This was probably my favorite sight I saw. An hour and a half ride with awesome scenery takes you to the top of the peak. And I got some awesome pictures. It was actually quite nice at the top of the peak…like 40 degrees farenheit or something. Warm day, clear skies, low winds – couldn’t of been better. We even saw a cool little marmot thing and I got a really good picture. Also, while we were at the top we got the donuts they make up there and they were REALLY good. Get them if you ever go there. *HERE ARE THE AWESOME PICTURES FROM PIKE’S PEAK AND THE COG TRAIN RIDE*
LASTLY for Colorado I went to scout camp. Which was really really fun, believe it or not. No I’m not stupid, scouting is awesome. I had tons of fun with all my friends that are in scouts – Jake Baughman, Chris Spain, and Devon Lockard. Dang is was really fun. I also finished off the merit badges and I’m basically done with Eagle (THE HIGHEST RANK IN SCOUTING)(WHICH ONLY 2% OF GUYS THAT ARE EVER SCOUTS BECOME). So thats cool. I ended up being elected Camp Senior Patrol Leader….kind of the lead scout for the camp for the week. I had responsibilities kind of like a president of a club at school would have. Organize things, get problems solved, etc. I got to lead the big campfire on Friday, “Visitor’s Night.” So that was tizzite.
5. Band Marathons – August 2nd-9th *Home but not really* Band marathons are always very fun, but VERY tiring as well. We learned all our music for the marching show for the coming year. The show is “Latin Expedition” and its written by the guy that was the student teacher for our band last semester, Mr. McCarty (he is totally awesome). Anyways everyone better come to a home football game and watch the halftime show. Its gonna be shweet this year.
There is one thing, though, from marching band marathons that I’m thoroughly pissed about. Friday, noontime. Lunch break. Football field at the high school. Ultimate Frisbee…Using a frisbee golf disc (heavy, thick, sharp edges). Brian Shallenberger goes for a throw that he was expecting to go all the way across the field. My head happens to be 15 feet away. And I got seriously jenked in the side of the head with it. GOOOOOSH IT HUUUURT. Like crazy!!! Argh! I fell to the ground, screaming, and almost knocked out. Thrashing back and forth a few people (out of 20) came over to see if I was ok, and weren’t that sympathetic. They just shrugged, continued there game, with me crying in the background. AND I don’t recall Brian ever apologizing. And no one went for an adult, even though my head was bleeding. And no one helped me back to the building. That makes me think that the whole drumline are my best friends…if you know what I mean. I ended up having to get an icepack, and stay very inactive for the rest of the afternoon. FEEL SORRY FOR ME YET? You should!!!!!!! Anyways. It still hurts to open my mouth wide (the frisbee hit just above my ear, right behind my temple, on the end of my jaw bone. If it had been an inch lower it would’ve ruptured my ear drum, and if it was an inch forward, it could’ve injured me VERY seriously. Thank god I didn’t lose any brain cells.
SOOOOO thats my life for the past month. Hope you though it was interesting (ha). Leave comments. OH Almost forgot…………
When I was home for a few days at a time I touch the computer once or twice. I was busy with the following:
1. Buying new shoes. I got me some Keen Hybrids. They are like closed toed sandals. Here is Keen’s product page…these are mine. They are really comfortable.
2. Buying my bike – Its a late 1990s DiamondBack V-link 1.0. Pretty shweet. It was $700 when it was new, but I got it for $150 used, but still in really good condition. A steal. I love it….its awesome. *HERE ARE PICTURES OF MY BIKE*
3. AND TODAYS BIG EVENT!!!!!!! I got my braces off!!!!!!! Yes! I’ll have pictures up after I get them taken with the photographer. YEA!!!!!!!!
So thats all for now folks. I’m glad to be home. Expect many updates now that I’m back!