{BAF in Halifax!!}

PHEW! I know people have been waiting to see photos of us, etc. We've been SO busy, I haven't had a lot of free time to put stuff up here, or even download my own pictures etc. Last night was our first FULL dress rehearsal. So everyone was in their uniforms and we had full lighting cues and everything was AMAZING! Here are some pictures...we look HOT out on the floor! I'm in the very back on the far left-hand side. They didn't use the percussionists for the set bands, so Shannon said, "Uh...didn't you practice the clarinet? Why don't you come up on set with the clarinet?" So I grabbed a clarinet and a flip-folder (thank goodness THAT music isn't memorized!) and am now in the set band too...as well as the "Hits of the Blitz" sequence on the floor. MUCH happier about doing that and not just sitting around! Shanny is so smart...probably why we've been friends all these years! I'm on the right hand side of the set for the clarinet stuff. Hopefully I'll be able to get some closer up pics of that soon. Meghann has arrived, she got here at 2:30am Halifax time on June 29th. I'm a happy Momma to have my baby here! We move into the rental house today, so that should be nice! They have air conditioning and a pool! WooHoo!

{4 Days & a Wake-Up 'til Halifax!}

4 more days and I'll be on a plane to Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada! Amazing how fast the time has flown! Meghann flies out in 10 days to meet Vince and Aleks and then drive up to meet Shanny, Derek and I already in Halifax. I can't wait to start posting some pictures, eh?!

{Once a Marine Musician...ALWAYS a Marine Musician!}

Well...I totally forgot to put this info on the blog! This summer, I have been afforded an AMAZING opportunity! My good friend, Shannon, called me up and asked me if I wanted to be a part of the "Band of America's Few". This is a band comprised completely of former Marine musicians. The main goal of the group is to go and participate in the Nova Scotia International Tattoo in Halifax that takes place every year. The Marine Corps bands used to participate in it, but haven't for many years due to the cost factor. We have a sponsor that wanted us SOOOO badly to participate, he started talking with a few people to see if they could get together a band of former Marines to do it. We're having uniforms custom made, the Headquarters of the Marine Corps is fully aware of it and has signed off on our logo (see above) and we're all getting our musical chops back up and running! So...for 2 weeks this summer I will be in Canada, eh! Participating in a crazy venture that is bringing me back together with Marines I've served with in my fleet band, Marines I was @ the School of Music with, and a whole host of Marines that I'm honored to enter into this with! I can't wait to post photos FROM Canada this summer! The Queen of England will be in attendance for the opening ceremonies this year! How crazy cool is THAT?